News Analysis India

Tag: India Coronavirus

  • India coming out of second wave of COVID, will witness strong economic recovery: S Jaishankar

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India is coming out of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and it will witness a strong economic recovery and contribute to being an engine of growth for the global economy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.

    In a virtual address at the inaugural session of the Indo-Pacific business summit, he said India will be a more dynamic and friendlier business destination and it will be part of more reliable and resilient supply chains that the post-Covid world requires.

    He also said that the Indo-Pacific will be an arena of particular “activity and energy”, noting that the evolving situation in the region reflected the reality of globalisation, the emergence of multipolarity and the benefits of rebalancing.

    “India is coming out of the second wave and will witness a strong economic recovery. It will be a more dynamic and friendlier business destination. We will contribute to being an engine of growth for the global economy,” Jaishankar said.

    “And we will be very much a part of more reliable and resilient supply chains that the post-Covid world requires. International cooperation, especially among businesses, will be very much a key to the better world that we all seek,” he said.

    The external affairs minister also listed measures taken by the government to boost growth in areas of agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and tourism.

    “And all of this is encapsulated by a framework that envisages an India of deeper strengths, greater capacities and more responsibility. And not least, in making it much easier to do business,” he said.

    Referring to the Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar said the region represents a “return of history”.

    “A seamless and integrated space was disconnected decades ago by the strategy of the day. Today, as many Indian Ocean economies trade further east and as Pacific ones too have displayed a presence south and westwards, we are quite sensibly seeing the landscape for what it really is,” he said.

    “Indo-Pacific reflects the reality of globalization, the emergence of multi-polarity and the benefits of rebalancing. It means the overcoming of the Cold War and a rejection of bipolarity and dominance. Most of all, it is an expression of our collective interest in promoting global prosperity and securing the global commons,” he added.

    He said the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) advanced by India clearly validates “this assertion”.

    “As we speak of common good and common efforts, it is natural that this is addressed, amongst other means, through a business summit. So once again, I am so glad to welcome you all to it,” he said.

    At the East Asia summit in Bangkok in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed setting up the IPOI to conserve and sustainably use the maritime domain and to make meaningful efforts to create a safe and secure maritime domain.

    The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China’s increasing military muscle-flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers.

    Several countries and blocs have come out with their vision for the Indo-Pacific considering its growing strategic interests.

    “The transformation of the last decade is today over-shadowed, unfortunately, by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jaishankar said.

    He said has disrupted our supply chains, negatively impacted manufacturing, made international trade unpredictable and ruined many services sectors.

    “Globalised production networks remain vulnerable and fragile, with global merchandise trade falling by 5.6 per cent in 2020, compared to 2019 and the predicted trade in services declining by as much as 15.4 per cent in the same duration,” he said.

    “This decline in merchandise trade is the sharpest since 2009, whereas the decline in services trade is the biggest since 1990. The hit taken by travel, transport and tourism activities is alarming and really moves us into unchartered territory,” he added.

  • India has capacity to store COVID vaccines requiring low temperatures: Centre to Supreme Court

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India has the capacity to store vaccines that may require a lower temperature in the range of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius and there are over 29,000 cold chain points (CCPs) across the country where vaccines are stored at the recommended temperatures, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.

    In an affidavit filed in the apex court in a suo motu case on distribution of essential supplies and services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre has said that at present, the two vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — are required to be stored at a temperature range of two to eight degrees Celsius.

    The Centre has said the requirement for cold storage may change with the arrival of other COVID-19 vaccines in the future and it is fully prepared to take appropriate steps as and when such vaccines are available.

    “The country also has the capacity to store vaccines which may require a lower temperature in the range of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Centigrade. The Sputnik V vaccine requires storage at minus 18 degrees Centigrade,” said the affidavit filed on Saturday.

    “It is submitted that there are more than 29,000 cold chain points (CCPs) across the country in states/UTs, where the vaccines are stored at recommended temperatures,” it said, adding, “Of the above CCPs, four national level stores i.e. Government Medical Store Depot (GMSD) are managed by the Government of India and the remaining are managed by the respective state/UT governments,” it added.

    It said there are 37 state vaccine stores, 114 regional vaccine stores, 723 district vaccine stores and 28,268 sub-district vaccine stores.

    The affidavit said that based on the requirement of both the universal immunisation programme and COVID-19 vaccination, the government has centrally procured and supplied cold chain equipment (CCE) to the states and Union territories (UTs).

    “Further, funds are allocated to the states/UTs under the National Health Mission-Programme Implementation Plan (NHM-PIP) for maintenance of CCEs and also for provisioning cold chain technicians (CCTs) for undertaking the repair and maintenance of CCEs,” it said.

    The affidavit said there are 29,116 CCPs, located from the national to the sub-district level across the country, which have CCEs like walk-in coolers, walk-in freezers, ice-lined refrigerators, deep freezers, cold boxes for the storage of vaccines and freezing of ice packs.

    “The capacity of these CCPs has been augmented for the COVID-19 vaccination drive,” it said.

    The affidavit said the cold storage equipment procured by the government through the domestic budget is indigenously manufactured.

    “The cold storage equipment supplied as aid by the donors i.e.UNICEF constitutes both indigenously-manufactured equipment and imported equipment,” it said.

    In the affidavit, the Centre has also that the digital divide is no more a constraint as walk-in Covid vaccination has been allowed and a poor person and a multi-millionaire in the 18 years and above age group are equally entitled to get the vaccine for free.

    Till June 25, over 31 crore doses of the Covid vaccines have been administered in the country, the government has said while responding to a slew of questions raised by the apex court in its May 31 order.

  • India reports 3,11,170 new COVID-19 cases, 4,077 deaths

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India recorded 3.11 lakh fresh cases of coronavirus in a day taking the total tally of COVID-19 infections to 2,46,84,077, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    A total of 3,11,170 new cases were reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 2,70,284 with 4,077 daily fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    The active cases have reduced to 36,18,458 comprising 14.66 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 84.25 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,07,95,335, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.09 per cent, the data stated.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 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 2 crore on May 4.

    According to the ICMR, 31,48,50,143 samples have been tested up to May 15 with 18,32,950 samples being tested on Saturday.

  • Only 44 per cent of India is wearing a face mask

    Express News Service
    Despite the Covid having ravaged India, toppled our healthcare system, and snatched so many loved ones, a lot of people continue to flout protocol concerning face masks (the only credible protection we have to combat the virus, apart from soap/sanitiser and social distancing).

    Masks are still used either as ‘chin protectors’ or not being worn at all, thereby throwing caution to the wind about their own safety and that of the public.

    “People who show such behaviours usually have antisocial, narcissistic, and schizotypal personalities,” observes Dr Shweta Sharma, Clinical Psychologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurugram.

    ALSO READ: 18+ vaccination push crawls; supply side crunch in various states

    “These people never follow common practices and are always suspicious of what is asked of them to be done.”

    A recent study done by ApnaMask, an initiative by EkDesh, revealed that 90 per cent people are aware of the guidelines issued by the government and risk but only 44 per cent of India is wearing a face mask.

    Another revelation was the assumption that as long as social distancing was maintained, a mask was not required as per 45 per cent of respondents. Further, young people within the age group of 26-35 years believe that social distancing suffices as a preventive measure.

    ALSO READ: New stem cell-based therapy by startup may speed up COVID recovery

    Dr. Preeti Singh, Senior Consultant Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, says, “Risk-taking behaviour, being inconsiderate about others, lack of empathy, lack of remorse or regret after any hurtful or antisocial act are the traits that will be found in people who are not masking up. Apart from this, we also find ignorance and lack of awareness in the majority of people especially from the lower socio-economic strata and rural areas.”

    Compliance towards wearing a mask was seen to be highest among those in the age group of 36-55 years.

    Similar findings have been reported by a study out of Brazil. Researchers from the State University of Londrina found that people who reported ‘antisocial traits’, are less likely to comply with Covid-19 prevention measures.

    ALSO READ: New restrictions to curb COVID-19 spread in Tamil Nadu from May 6

    Sharma explains that antisocial behaviour is characterised by aggression, hostility towards authorities, deceitfulness and defiance.

    Experts also say that many people find masks uncomfortable and others perceive it as their behavioural freedom to be under threat. So, even when we have a strong enough reason to mask up, those people continue to ignore it.

    To that, Dr Chandni Tugnait, Psychotherapist and Healer, asserts, “It gives some a sense of control, to have this choice to rebel. The pandemic has caused immense stress and anxiety, which had led many into denial as a means to cope with the same. Denial leads to avoidance and they stop all information that can induce fear thereby not following any safety protocol and hence worsening the situation. It’s that state where one feels that if they act like ‘it’s’ not there, it won’t touch/impact them.”

    ALSO READ: Oxygen-starved hospitals in Bengaluru on the brink of tragedy

    In some cases, there are people who genuinely lack the ability to feel compassion for themselves and others owing to their insecurities, and hence they act inappropriate and callous.

    “Other contributing factors could be the perception of risk, feeling of loss of freedom and control, demographic factors like political affiliation, income, etc. It all boils down to the difference in people’s behaviour, cognition, emotion and motivation,” Tugnait adds.

    How to encourage flouters to wear a mask

    Singh says it’s high time people understand the role of double masking if they want to stop crashing the medical facilities at such a large scale.

    Suggesting solutions, Singh adds, “First and foremost, a penalty needs to be fixed for the defaulters. Apart from that, awareness camps by NGOs, volunteers, and government should be conducted to create awareness, and schools can play a significant role in educating younger ones.” 

    Sharma feels it’s important to address behavioural problems as early in childhood as possible to prevent it from turning into more severe conditions in future.

    “Motivation enhancement training with Cognitive Behaviour therapy in group settings is the most effective way to handle such people,” adds Sharma. People who are more self-oriented and manipulative are less likely to be influenced by authority figures.

    “They need to be handled in a gentle and loving way rather than an authoritative impression,” says Sharma. 

    Experts says use FM radio, music apps, dating apps and social networking sites as means to create awareness.

    Penalising, according to Sharma, is definitely not the solution, but psychological treatment is an option. Tugnait agrees, saying there are ways in social psychology to get people to comply with the rules. 

    “Effective persuasion and therapies, such as sharing valid and supportive reasons, spreading information through a trusted source, being empathetic towards the varying motivations of different groups and portraying consensus methods,” she concludes.

    9% people are aware of the Covid guidelines issued by the government and risk involved minus a mask

    44% of India is wearing a face mask

    50%  respondents wear a mask during the entire duration while out of home

    30% put on the mask only when someone is in close vicinity

    73% respondents ensure their masks cover mouth and nose when stepping out

    People are still giving two hoots about following Covid protocol by not wearing masks and social distancing. Experts attribute this to having anti-social behaviours, narcissistic attitudes and schizotypal personalities.

  • Total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses given in India crosses 15.89 crore

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 15.89 crore with 17,08,390 doses being given on May 3, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday.

    It said 4,06,339 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine across 12 states and union territories.

    These are Chhattisgarh (1,025), Delhi (40,028), Gujarat (1,08,191), Haryana (55,565), Jammu and Kashmir (5,587), Karnataka (2,353), Maharashtra (73,714), Odisha (6,802), Punjab (635), Rajasthan (76,151), Tamil Nadu (2,744) and Uttar Pradesh (33,544).

    Cumulatively, 15,89,32,921 vaccine doses have been administered through 23,35,822 sessions so far, according to the provisional report till 7 am.

    These include 94,48,289 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 62,97,900 HCWs who have taken the second dose 1,35,05,877 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose and 72,66,380 FLWs who have taken the second dose.

    This also includes 4,06,339 individuals in the age-group of 18-44 years who have taken the first dose.

    Besides, 5,30,50,669 and 41,42,786 beneficiaries over 45 to 60 years have been administered the first and second dose, respectively, while 5,28,16,238 and 1,19,98,443 beneficiaries above 60 years have taken the first and second dose.

    Ten states Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh accounted for 66.

    94 per cent of the cumulative doses given so far in the country As on day-108 of the vaccination drive (May 3), 17,08,390 vaccine doses were given.

    Across 12,739 sessions, 8,38,343 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 8,70,047 beneficiaries received the second dose of vaccine.

  • Only way to stop COVID-19 spread now is full lockdown: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the only way to stop the spread of coronavirus now was a full lockdown with the protection of minimum income guarantee scheme, NYAY, for the vulnerable sections.

    “GOI doesn’t get it. The only way to stop the spread of Corona now is a full lockdown- with the protection of NYAY for the vulnerable sections,” Gandhi said in a tweet.

    “GOI’s inaction is killing many innocent people,” he said.

    The Congress has been asserting that the central and state governments move to control the situation by resorting to partial curfews, travel restrictions, closure and lockdowns will again be restricting economic activity that will hit the poor and, therefore, it was imperative to provide monthly income support.

    Gandhi has been pushing for the implementation of the party’s proposed Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) providing minimum income guarantee to vulnerable sections.

    The Congress have been critical of the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

    India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed the 2-crore mark with 3,57,229 infections being reported in a day, while the death toll increased to 2,22,408 with 3,449 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

  • India records 3,68,147 new COVID-19 cases and 3,417 fatalities in single day

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The daily COVID-19 cases in India showed a slight dip with 3,68,147 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, taking the total tally of cases to 1,99,25,604, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

    The death toll increased to 2,18,959 with 3,417 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    While the country recorded 4,01,993 new cases on May 1, it had registered 3,92,488 cases on May 2.

    Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to 34,13,642 comprising 17.13 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 81.77 per cent.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1, 62,93,003, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.10 per cent, the data stated.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 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 1.50 crore on April 19.

    According to the ICMR, 29,16,47,037 samples have been tested up to May 2 with 15,04,698 samples being tested on Sunday.

  • 20 per cent of India’s COVID-19 deaths in April alone

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Close to 20% of all official deaths reported in India due to Covid-19, occurred over the last four weeks. Within the same time span, fresh Covid cases shot up a gargantuan 58,47,932. It works out to over 32% of the 1.80 crore reported in the country thus far.

    The official tally of 38,719 Covid deaths in April so far out of 2,01,187 total fatalities due to the contagious disease in the country may, however, be because of gross undercounting as is evident from the civic death records and grisly visuals from overwhelmed crematoriums across cities and towns.

    Experts concur. They point out that while an average of 28,000 deaths are reported in India every day, crematoriums in cities would not be overflowing if the Covid fatality is just 2,000-3,000 a day, as is being counted officially as of now.

    ALSO READ: Delayed hospital admission causing Covid deaths to spiral in Telangana

    Epidemiologist Jammi N Rao pointed out that the official toll on April 25 was about 2,850. “So assuming all other deaths were constant, the net addition due to Covid amounted to an extra 10% of the baseline,” he said.

    “Would that excess have resulted in the scale and magnitude of the chaotic scenes we witnessed with cremation grounds working round the clock, queues of bodies waiting for hours and hours to be cremated, the shortage of firewood and so on? I think that is hardly likely.”

    Public health researcher Oommen John, too, said that the number of reported deaths does not reflect the actual number of people who are in prolonged hypoxia (acute breathlessness), which is incompatible to survival.

    ALSO READ: Odisha records massive surge, 1 in 2 persons COVID positive in Kalahandi

    “This is a mystery and would warrant close attention.” What is alarming is the rapid increase in cases despite local restrictions. India, for instance, was reporting less than 75,000 daily cases in the beginning of the month but reached the 1 lakh mark, higher than the peak in September last within a week, which rose to over 2 lakh cases within another week.

    ‘Second wave has engulfed India’s towns & villages too’

    It took just six more days for the country to cross 3 lakh cases, the highest by any country globally since the beginning of the pandemic, and the case trajectory has continued to grow northwards.

    Some biostatisticians, including Bhramar Mukherjee from the Michigan University in the US, have predicted that India’s infection curve could peak in mid-May with 8-10 lakh daily cases after which there could be a swift decline. Those watching the pandemic management in India closely, however, differ slightly.

    ALSO READ: Shortage unlikely, but donate blood ahead of COVID vaccination – Experts

    “In my understanding, the official tally of daily Covid-19 cases may not go beyond 5 lakh cases per day as case is a function of tests conducted and there has not been significant rise in daily tests despite such an aggressive rise of the pandemic,” said a WHO India official, adding that the actual number of cases and deaths may be far higher.

    “The worst part is that the second wave has engulfed metros, tier 2 and 3 towns and even rural areas altogether,” he said.

  • Oxygen shortage: Centre imports 20 cryogenic tankers, allocates them to states

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre has imported 20 cryogenic tankers of 10 MT and 20 MT capacity and allocated them to states to address the shortage of oxygen tankers in the country as it deals with spiralling cases of COVID-19.

    As mapping of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) from manufacturing plants to different states is a dynamic process and transportation of medical oxygen through cryogenic tankers is becoming a bottleneck in making available LMO from the eastern part of the country to other parts, 20 cryogenic ISO containers of capacity 20 MT and 10 MT have been imported to augment the transportation of oxygen, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

    The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in consultation with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the overall guidance of the Empowered Group-II have mapped the allocation of these containers to suppliers in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, the ministry said in the statement.

    India is struggling with a second wave of coronavirus infection and hospitals in several states are reeling under shortage of medical oxygen and beds in view of rising COVID-19 cases.

  • Dalai Lama contributes to PM-CARES Fund to strengthen India’s fight against COVID-19

    By PTI
    DHARAMSHALA: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Tuesday announced to make a contribution to the PM-CARES Fund to strengthen India’s fight against the “alarming COVID-19 surge”.

    “I have been following the continuing challenge that the Covid-19 pandemic has been posing across the world, including in India, with concern,” he said in a statement.

    “At this critical time, during this alarming Covid-19 surge, I have asked the Dalai Lama Trust to make a donation to the PM-CARES Fund as a token of our solidarity with fellow Indian brothers and sisters,” he added.

    “May I take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for all the efforts that are being made to tackle this devastating pandemic, especially by those courageously working on the frontline. I pray that the pandemic threat will end soon,” the spiritual leader said.

    With 3,23,144 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 1,76,36,307, while the national recovery rate has further dropped to 82.54 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

    The Centre had set up the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund in March 2020 with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected.