News Analysis India

Tag: COVID19

  • Physical sessions for classes IX to XII in Goa schools may resume before Diwali: CM Pramod Sawant

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Physical sessions for classes 9 to 12, which have been shut in Goa since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, may resume before the Diwali festival, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said. An expert committee of doctors has given its go ahead for the resumption of these classes in a phased manner, Sawant told reporters on Wednesday.

    The decision of the expert committee would be placed before the state COVID-19 Task Force, which will take a final call on it, he said. “Once the task force gives its approval, the state education department would be informed and it will start the classes step-by-step. These classes may resume before Diwali,” the CM said.

    Sawant said that classes 10 and 12, whose students have to appear for board exams, could resume first, followed by classes 9 and 11. “Depending on the infrastructure of schools, the classes will begin for classes 9 to 12 by following all COVID-19 protocols and norms,” he added.

    On Wednesday, Goa reported 83 new coronavirus infections, which took its caseload to 1,76,318, while four fatalities raised the death toll to 3,312, a health department official earlier said. The number of recovered patients in the state rose to 1,72,176 on Wednesday and there were 830 active COVID-19 cases in the coastal state, he said.

  • No new COVID-19 case reported in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

    By PTI

    PORT BLAIR: Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not record any new COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours, a health department official said on Thursday. The COVID-19 tally in the union territory remained at 7,620, he said.

    Two more persons recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the archipelago to 7,482, the official said.

    The union territory now has nine active COVID-19 cases and all the patients are in the South Andaman district, he said, adding that the other two districts – North and Middle Andaman and Nicobar – are now coronavirus free.

    The COVID-19 death toll remained at 129 as no new fatality was reported. The administration has so far tested 5,50,232 samples for COVID-19 and the cumulative test positivity rate is 1.38 per cent, he said. A total of 4,40,904 beneficiaries have been inoculated in the archipelago so far, of which 2,89,442 have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 1,51,462 both doses of the vaccine, the official said.

  • India records 23,529 fresh cases of COVID-19, 311 deaths reported

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India recorded a single-day rise of 23,529 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking its infection tally to 3,37,39,980, while the count of active cases dipped to 2,77,020, the lowest in 195 days, according to Union Health Ministry data.

    The death toll due to the disease has climbed to 4,48,062 with 311 daily fatalities being recorded, according to the data updated at 8 am. The ministry said that the number of active cases has declined to 2,77,020, comprising 0.82 per cent of the total infections – the lowest since March 2020.

    It added that the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.85 per cent, the highest since March 2020. A decrease of 5,500 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. Also, 15,06,254 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the country on Wednesday, taking the total number of such examinations done so far to 56,89,56,439, the data showed.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.56 per cent. It has been below three per cent for 31 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.74 per cent. This figure has been below three per cent for 97 days, according to the health ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 3,30,14,898, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.33 per cent. The cumulative number of coronavirus vaccine doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide inoculation drive has exceeded 88.34 crore.

  • 75 per cent COVID-19 patients were overcharged by private hospitals in Maharashtra: Survey

    Dr Abhay Shukla of the Jan Aarogya Abhiyan said that though the Maharashtra government had announced that the rates of treatment will be regulated, the instructions were not heeded.

  • Private hospitals across India come with novel ways to clear COVID vaccine stocks

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Struggling with the poor demand of COVID vaccines that comes at a price, many private hospitals across India have come up with a novel way of attracting beneficiaries: letting go of the service fee that the government permits them to charge.

    The hospitals, as of now, are allowed to charge Rs 150 per shot from the beneficiaries, in addition to the cost of the vaccines. Most private vaccination centres normally charge Rs 780 for a Covishield dose and Rs 1,410 for Covaxin.

    As per the information shared by the Union Health Ministry recently, only about 6 per cent of the total vaccinations in the country starting May – when the vaccination was opened for all adults – were carried out in the private sector. 

    This, when the government has said that a maximum of 25 per cent for the vaccines being manufactured in India can be available in private hospitals and offered to beneficiaries at predefined rates. The vaccines that are landing up in these facilities, however, are finding few takers. 

    Girdhar Gyani, director general of the Association of Healthcare Providers of India told The New Indian Express that many hospitals such as those under Yashoda group in Hyderabad, Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences and Narayana Health have decided not to charge administrative fee from beneficiaries. 

    “It is a fact that most private hospitals are now struggling to find takers as vaccines are easily available for free in government hospitals and, therefore, many of these centres are coming up with innovative ways to clear their stock,” he added

    Starting June 21, when the Centre took over the job of providing all 75 per cent of the remaining vaccines to states, the supplies in government hospitals have dramatically improved across the country. The situation has, in fact, gotten worse for the private hospitals since the end of August when the supplies by the vaccine manufacturers substantially improved.

     It is also evident from the fact that the participation of private hospitals on days when India administered over 1 crore doses in a day, including September 17 when 2.5 crore plus shots were given, has remained negligible. 

    A senior executive of a major private hospital chain in the national capital too conceded that while the demand is slowly going down, “there is an excess supply of vaccines across the country”. “In fact, we are even contemplating to ask the government for allow administering booster doses to healthcare workers and 60-plus population so that the doses which are available with us do not get wasted,” the  senior executive added.

    Centre’s move helped government hospitals

    When the Centre took over the job of providing vaccines to states Since June 21, the supplies in government hospitals have dramatically improved. The situation has, however, gotten worse for the private hospitals since the end of August when the supplies substantially improved

  • UNGA address will focus on COVID, need to combat terrorism: PM Modi ahead of US visit

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said his visit to the United States would be an occasion to strengthen the Indo-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and consolidate ties with Japan and Australia.

    In a statement just before leaving for the US, Modi said he will conclude his visit with an address at the United Nations General Assembly focusing on the pressing global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to combat terrorism, climate change and other important issues.

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    “I will be visiting the USA from 22-25 September, 2021 at the invitation of His Excellency President Joe Biden of the United States of America. During my visit, I will review the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with President Biden and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. I am also looking forward to meeting Vice President Kamala Harris to explore opportunities for cooperation between our two nations particularly in the area of science and technology,” the prime minister said.

    Modi said that he will participate in the first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit along with President Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Premier Yoshihide Suga. The Summit provides an opportunity to take stock of the outcomes of the Quad leaders’ Virtual Summit in March this year and identify priorities for future engagements based on our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region, he said.

    “I will also meet Prime Minister Morrison of Australia and Prime Minister Suga of Japan to take stock of the strong bilateral relations with their respective countries and continue our useful exchanges on regional and global issues,” Modi said.

    “My visit to the US would be an occasion to strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the USA, consolidate relations with our strategic partners – Japan and Australia – and to take forward our collaboration on important global issues,” he said in his departure statement.

  • WHO chief thanks Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for announcing resumption of COVID vaccine export

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday thanked Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for announcing resumption of COVID-19 vaccine shipments to the COVAX global pool in October.

    COVAX is an initiative for equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines. “Thank you Health Minister @mansukhmandviya for announcing #India will resume crucial #COVID19 vaccine shipments to #COVAX in October. This is an important development in support of reaching the 40% vaccination target in all countries by the end of the year. #VaccinEquity,” Ghebreyesus said in a tweet.

    Thank you Health Minister @mansukhmandviya for announcing #India will resume crucial #COVID19 vaccine shipments to #COVAX in October. This is an important development in support of reaching the 40% vaccination target in all countries by the end of the year. #VaccinEquity
    — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 21, 2021
    Mandaviya on Monday announced that India will resume export of surplus COVID-19 vaccines in the fourth quarter of 2021 under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ programme and to meet its commitment to the COVAX global pool, but vaccinating its own citizens remains the topmost priority of the government.

    Talking about the expected production and supply trends in the coming months, the minister said the government will receive over 30 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines in October and over 100 crore doses in the coming quarter from October-December.

    The cumulative doses administered so far across the country has crossed 82.65 crore.

    Asserting that vaccination of its citizens remains the government’s topmost priority, Mandaviya had said, “India will be resuming export of COVID-19 vaccines under Vaccine Maitri in order to fulfil the commitment of India towards COVAX in line with our motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.”

    He said that the surplus supply of vaccines will be used to fulfil India’s commitment towards the world for the collective fight against COVID-19. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO.

  • India reports 26,964 cases of COVID-19, active tally in country lowest in 186 days

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 26,964 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,35,31,498, while the active cases declined to 3,01,989, the lowest in 186 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

    The death toll climbed to 4,45,768 with 383 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.

    The ministry said that the active cases comprise 0.90 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.77 per cent, the highest since March 2020.

    26,964 new COVID cases, 34,167 recoveries, and 383 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.Express Photo | @ashwinacharya05 pic.twitter.com/sRCqUWDwH8
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) September 22, 2021
    A reduction of 7,586 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

  • ICMR asks states to make proof of completed COVID vaccination must for travel

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Senior scientists associated with the ICMR have come up with a set of prescriptions to lower the risk of a localised COVID-19 surge due to any increase in population density in the wake of the upcoming festive season and people undertaking “revenge travels”.  

    The researchers have suggested to the state governments that they may consider requiring proof of completed vaccination status or a recent COVID negative test result in order to stay at accommodations in destinations within the state.

    These requirements, says their paper, could be applied at the point of arrival in holiday accommodation, where current rules require the collection of traveller detail.

    All travellers should also register their contact details upon arrival to facilitate contact tracing in the event of any upsurge in infection, the researchers associated with the ICMR, including its director general Balram Bhargava, and Imperial College, London, have recommended.

    The analysis noted that following the second wave, there has been an upsurge in domestic travel to holiday destinations, particularly Himalayan towns. Modelling suggests that such travel could enhance the peak of a third wave in these states by almost 50 per cent. Principles of ‘responsible travel’ should be adhered to, the authors have said.

    The researchers said that data from Himachal Pradesh suggests that in a typical holiday season, tourism can increase the population, and thus population density, by 40 per cent. Taking this into consideration, the third-wave peak could increase by up to 47 per cent during the holiday season, and could occur two weeks earlier, compared to a scenario of easing restrictions in the absence of holiday travel.

    The analysis also threw up a scenario where population density in India has a stronger effect on transmission than in the USA and therefore the holiday period could amplify the third-wave peak by up to 103 per cent and cumulative incidence in that wave by 43 per cent, and hasten the timing of the epidemic peak by four weeks, compared to a scenario of easing restrictions in the absence of holiday travel.

    Johnson & Johnson claims 79 per cent protection 

    As India hopes to receive the first batch of single-shot COVID-19 vaccine by US pharma major Johnson & Johnson in October, the company released data from the real world to claim that it offers nearly 81 per cent protection against hospitalisation, even against delta variant.

    Calling it the largest real world evidence study reported to date in the US, the company said the vaccine showed stable effectiveness of 79 per cent against infections and 81 per cent against COVID-related hospitalisations.

    There was no evidence of reduced effectiveness over the study duration, including when the delta variant. The study included 3,90,000 people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine versus about 1.52 million unvaccinated people from March to late July. 

    R-value drops below 1 in September

    R-value, which reflects how rapidly coronavirus pandemic is spreading, dropped to 0.92 by mid-September after spiralling over 1 by August-end, according to researchers. However, the R-values of major cities, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, are over 1.

    The R-value of Delhi and Pune are below 1. The R-values of Maharashtra and Kerala are below 1, giving a much needed relief to these two states with the highest number of active cases. The R-value was 1.17 by the end of August. It declined to 1.11 between September 4-7.

  • COVID-19 booster dose is not central theme as of now: ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday said COVID-19 booster shot is not the central theme in scientific discussion as well as in the public health domain at the moment and getting the two doses remain the main priority.

    Responding to a question at a press briefing, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said administering both the doses is absolutely essential and there should be no breakage in that. “We need to remember one thing very clearly that booster dose is not the central theme at the moment in the scientific discussion as well as in the public health domain. Getting the two doses remains the major priority,” Bhargava said.

    “Several agencies have recommended that antibody levels should not be measured…but the important understanding is that full vaccination of both the doses is absolutely essential and there should be no breakage in that,” he said.

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    Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said 20 per cent of India’s adult population have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine and 62 per cent have got at least one dose. Also, 99 per cent of the healthcare workers have received the first dose while 82 per cent of the eligible healthcare workers have taken the second dose.

    Bhushan further said that 100 per cent of the frontline workers have been administered the first dose while 78 per cent of them have been given the second dose. So far, all adult people in five states and union territories — Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Chandigarh and Lakshadweep — have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

    ALSO READ| Kerala logs 68 per cent of total COVID-19 cases reported in India: Union Health Ministry

    According to data, the average daily doses administered in a month has increased from 19.69 lakh in May to 39.89 lakh in June, then further to 43.41 lakh in July and to 59.19 lakh in August. The average daily vaccination in the first 15 days of September has been 74.40 lakh per day, Bhushan said.