News Analysis India

Tag: lockdown

  • INTERVIEW | ‘Went stir-crazy in lockdown’: Hollywood actor Brad Pitt

    Express News Service

    What was your reaction when you were pitched Bullet Train?I like to think of it as the perfect movie for right now. It’s a great heist movie with really funny stuff happening. We have an amazing cast, which I was very happy to be asked to work with at a time when not many people were able to work. I felt very lucky to be a part of it.

    Would you say this movie saved you during lockdown?Sure. Like everyone, I went a little stir-crazy, got a little depressed and went a little bit cuckoo during that whole time, so when (director) David Leitch came to me with this, I couldn’t wait to get going. The script came along at that really dark period of lockdown, before we knew how we were going to get out of it, and it was just so damn funny. It had so many great parts, which meant we could attract a great cast. It just seemed perfect for that time, and I’m really happy the movie came out at a time when the streets are open again and we can be around each other.

    Bullet Train includes some great action scenes. Did you enjoy that?Yeah. David comes from the stunt world, so he understands that stuff very well. He was my stunt double back in ’98. We met while making Fight Club and he trained me for the fights. It worked so well that we went on with that pairing with a bunch of other films until about 2004 and then he left me to do other things. Now he’s a big-time director and it’s come back full-circle. It’s really nice for me to have him as the boss now.

    Your character talks a lot about luck and fate. What is your personal take on these topics?I do like that in this really funny film, there is this undercurrent message of how we are all agents of fate in some way. I argue with myself a lot about how much is fate and how much is personal will and manifestation, or however you want to define it. I think they’re both at play, but only because I don’t have a better answer.

    Did you miss the red-carpet premieres and all the hype that comes with a big release like this?No, not in that way. I didn’t realise that it had been three years because we were in lockdown and so we hadn’t brought anything to the table in a while. At the same time, it was nice to put everything we had into this story and that it came together, because the planets really have to align for a movie to be good. We’re really proud of this one and now it’s nice to let people finally see it.

    Was there a new experience while making this movie?We pulled this whole thing off on one soundstage and it took technical mastery of the latest equipment to be able to do it. That was really exciting. But I just can’t say enough about that time. We were all kind of losing it, so to be able to get to work, have a laugh and know that we were bringing something that is going to be nice for everyone was really the prevailing theme. That will always resonate with me.

    There were reports that you might retire from acting and then you made Bullet Train.That’s not what I said… not what I meant, at least. I think I described it as being on the last leg of the journey. I was talking about going from being a young adult to middle-age and how it feels like I’m going from middle-age to what I called the last leg. I didn’t mean I was retiring or anything like that.

    Does getting older worry you?Everyone has to contend with getting older. There’s a time when you’ve just got to let go and accept it. So, do I worry about getting older? No.

    You mentioned working with David Leitch when he was your stunt-double for Fight Club. How do you look back at that time and that film now?Fight Club is one of my favourites. I’m very proud of that movie. It was the most fun and working with Fincher (director of Fight Club) was an incredible experience. Making that movie made me realise that it’s the people I’m working with that matters more than anything else.

    How do you pick your projects now?Same as always. I’m looking for something new, something that I haven’t explored before, something that feels fresh and is in a new direction. As I say, more than anything, as I get older, it’s about the company I keep and the people I get to work with, and variety.

    What was your reaction when you were pitched Bullet Train?
    I like to think of it as the perfect movie for right now. It’s a great heist movie with really funny stuff happening. We have an amazing cast, which I was very happy to be asked to work with at a time when not many people were able to work. I felt very lucky to be a part of it.

    Would you say this movie saved you during lockdown?
    Sure. Like everyone, I went a little stir-crazy, got a little depressed and went a little bit cuckoo during that whole time, so when (director) David Leitch came to me with this, I couldn’t wait to get going. The script came along at that really dark period of lockdown, before we knew how we were going to get out of it, and it was just so damn funny. It had so many great parts, which meant we could attract a great cast. It just seemed perfect for that time, and I’m really happy the movie came out at a time when the streets are open again and we can be around each other.

    Bullet Train includes some great action scenes. Did you enjoy that?
    Yeah. David comes from the stunt world, so he understands that stuff very well. He was my stunt double back in ’98. We met while making Fight Club and he trained me for the fights. It worked so well that we went on with that pairing with a bunch of other films until about 2004 and then he left me to do other things. Now he’s a big-time director and it’s come back full-circle. It’s really nice for me to have him as the boss now.

    Your character talks a lot about luck and fate. What is your personal take on these topics?
    I do like that in this really funny film, there is this undercurrent message of how we are all agents of fate in some way. I argue with myself a lot about how much is fate and how much is personal will and manifestation, or however you want to define it. I think they’re both at play, but only because I don’t have a better answer.

    Did you miss the red-carpet premieres and all the hype that comes with a big release like this?
    No, not in that way. I didn’t realise that it had been three years because we were in lockdown and so we hadn’t brought anything to the table in a while. At the same time, it was nice to put everything we had into this story and that it came together, because the planets really have to align for a movie to be good. We’re really proud of this one and now it’s nice to let people finally see it.

    Was there a new experience while making this movie?
    We pulled this whole thing off on one soundstage and it took technical mastery of the latest equipment to be able to do it. That was really exciting. But I just can’t say enough about that time. We were all kind of losing it, so to be able to get to work, have a laugh and know that we were bringing something that is going to be nice for everyone was really the prevailing theme. That will always resonate with me.

    There were reports that you might retire from acting and then you made Bullet Train.
    That’s not what I said… not what I meant, at least. I think I described it as being on the last leg of the journey. I was talking about going from being a young adult to middle-age and how it feels like I’m going from middle-age to what I called the last leg. I didn’t mean I was retiring or anything like that.

    Does getting older worry you?
    Everyone has to contend with getting older. There’s a time when you’ve just got to let go and accept it. So, do I worry about getting older? No.

    You mentioned working with David Leitch when he was your stunt-double for Fight Club. How do you look back at that time and that film now?
    Fight Club is one of my favourites. I’m very proud of that movie. It was the most fun and working with Fincher (director of Fight Club) was an incredible experience. Making that movie made me realise that it’s the people I’m working with that matters more than anything else.

    How do you pick your projects now?
    Same as always. I’m looking for something new, something that I haven’t explored before, something that feels fresh and is in a new direction. As I say, more than anything, as I get older, it’s about the company I keep and the people I get to work with, and variety.

  • Mizoram’s COVID-positivity rate jumps to 30 per cent

    By PTI

    AIZAWL: Mizoram reported 218 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday at a positivity rate of 30.28 per cent, a health official said.

    Aizawl district reported the highest number of fresh cases at 84, followed by Lunglei district (54) and Mamit district (26), he said.

    The Northeastern state has so far reported 2,32,602 cases. The death toll remained at 710 with no new fatalities recorded. The positivity rate jumped to 30.28 per cent from 22.22 per cent on Friday, the official said, adding that the new cases were detected after testing 719 samples.

    There are 1,013 active cases in the state at present, while 2,30,879 people have recovered, including 127 in the last 24 hours, he said.

    AIZAWL: Mizoram reported 218 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday at a positivity rate of 30.28 per cent, a health official said.

    Aizawl district reported the highest number of fresh cases at 84, followed by Lunglei district (54) and Mamit district (26), he said.

    The Northeastern state has so far reported 2,32,602 cases. The death toll remained at 710 with no new fatalities recorded. The positivity rate jumped to 30.28 per cent from 22.22 per cent on Friday, the official said, adding that the new cases were detected after testing 719 samples.

    There are 1,013 active cases in the state at present, while 2,30,879 people have recovered, including 127 in the last 24 hours, he said.

  • Delhi LG approves withdrawal of cases against migrant labourers for lockdown violations

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the withdrawal of 15 cases against 64 migrant labourers for violating lockdown measures during the pandemic, an official statement said on Tuesday.

    These cases were registered by the Delhi government’s Directorate of Prosecution, it said. According to the statement, Saxena has also directed the Delhi Police to file a closure report in 10 similar cases involving more than 100 migrant labourers.

    Taking a humane and reasoned view that these violations committed by poor migrants were essentially petty in nature and in a situation of extreme distress, Saxena believed this decision will save them from “unnecessary harassment and running around”, an official said.

    In line with the Supreme Court’s judgment dated June 9, the LG has taken this view keeping in mind the helpless condition of the migrants in the national capital during the pandemic, many of whom had lost their livelihoods and could not afford their rents and existential needs, he said.

    Forty-three such cases under Section (51) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and other offences were filed against the migrant labourers for allegedly violating measures of the lockdown by moving on the roads. Of these, 18 have already been disposed of and decided upon by the courts.

    In 15 cases where chargesheets have already been filed in the courts, the LG has ordered the withdrawal of prosecution, and in the remaining 10 cases where chargesheets are yet to be filed or accused are untraced, the LG has asked the Delhi Police to file a closure report.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the withdrawal of 15 cases against 64 migrant labourers for violating lockdown measures during the pandemic, an official statement said on Tuesday.

    These cases were registered by the Delhi government’s Directorate of Prosecution, it said. According to the statement, Saxena has also directed the Delhi Police to file a closure report in 10 similar cases involving more than 100 migrant labourers.

    Taking a humane and reasoned view that these violations committed by poor migrants were essentially petty in nature and in a situation of extreme distress, Saxena believed this decision will save them from “unnecessary harassment and running around”, an official said.

    In line with the Supreme Court’s judgment dated June 9, the LG has taken this view keeping in mind the helpless condition of the migrants in the national capital during the pandemic, many of whom had lost their livelihoods and could not afford their rents and existential needs, he said.

    Forty-three such cases under Section (51) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and other offences were filed against the migrant labourers for allegedly violating measures of the lockdown by moving on the roads. Of these, 18 have already been disposed of and decided upon by the courts.

    In 15 cases where chargesheets have already been filed in the courts, the LG has ordered the withdrawal of prosecution, and in the remaining 10 cases where chargesheets are yet to be filed or accused are untraced, the LG has asked the Delhi Police to file a closure report.

  • Free Covid precaution doses for 18-59 age group from July 15 at government centres: officials

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: People in the 18-59 age group will get free precaution doses of the Covid vaccine at government vaccination centres under a 75-day special drive likely to begin from July 15, official sources said on Wednesday.

    The drive, aimed at boosting the uptake of Covid precaution doses, will be held as part of the government’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, they said.

    So far, less than 1 per cent of the target population of 77 crore in the 18-59 age group have been administered the precaution dose.

    However, around 26 per cent of the estimated 16 crore eligible population aged 60 and above as well as healthcare and frontline workers have received the booster dose, an official source said.

    “A majority of the Indian population got their second dose over nine months ago. Studies at ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and other international research institutions have suggested that antibody levels wane around six months after the primary vaccination with both doses giving a booster increases the immune response,” the official said.

    “The government is therefore planning to start a special drive for 75 days during which individuals aged between 18 and 59 years will be administered precaution doses for free at government vaccination centres starting from July 15,” he said.

    The Union Health Ministry last week reduced the gap between the second and precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine for all beneficiaries from nine to six months.

    This followed a recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).

    To accelerate the pace of vaccination and encourage booster shots, the government initiated the second round of the ‘Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0’ across states and UTs on June 1. The two-month programme is currently underway.

    According to government data, 96 per cent of India’s population has been administered the first dose of Covid vaccine while 87 per cent of the people have taken both doses.

    On April 10 this year, India began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years.

    The countrywide vaccination drive had rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year.

    On March 1 last year, COVID-19 vaccination began for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified comorbid conditions.

    Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began on April 1 last year. The government then decided to expand the ambit of the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 years to be inoculated against Covid from May 1 last year.

    Inoculation of those in the age group of 15-18 commenced on January 3 this year. The country began inoculating children aged 12-14 from March 16.

  • India records 17,073 new Covid cases, 21 deaths; daily positivity rate 5.62 per cent

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 17,073 new coronavirus infections, raising its tally to 4,34,07,046, while the daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after over four months, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,25,020 with 21 fresh fatalities, data updated at 8 am by the ministry stated. The active cases increased to 94,420, comprising 0.22 per cent of the total infections.

    The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.57 per cent, the ministry said. An increase of 1,844 cases was recorded in the active COVID-19 case count in a span of 24 hours, as per the data.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.62 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 3.39 per cent, it stated. The daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after a gap of 139 days.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,27,87,606, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent.

    According to the ministry, 197.11 crore doses of vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 inoculation drive.

    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.

    The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23 and four crore cases on January 25 this year.

    The 21 new fatalities include six from Kerala, five from Maharashtra, four from Delhi, two each from Goa and Punjab and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, the data stated.

  • Covid: Rise, fall in cases ‘common’ when disease transitions to endemic phase, say experts

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rise and fall in cases from time to time is a common phenomenon when an infectious disease transitions from pandemic to endemic phase, experts said on Friday as India witnesses an upward trend in Covid infections.

    Underlining the current rise in coronavirus cases is so far limited to certain districts of the country, they said not wearing masks, increased travel and social interactions and low uptake of booster doses of Covid vaccine could possibly be behind the increase.

    Dr Sanjay Rai, a senior epidemiologist at AIIMS, said SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus which has already seen over 1,000 mutations even though the number of variants of concern are only five.

    Even in the case of Omicron variant, mutations happened in the receptor binding domain which increased the chances of reinfection and breakthrough infections, he said.

    ALSO READ: India records 15,940 Covid infections, 20 fatalities in a day

    The trend of cases rising repeatedly is a “common phenomenon” when a disease transitions from pandemic to endemic phase, said Dr Rai who is also the principal investigator of Covaxin trials for both adults and children at AIIMS.

    As long as there is no increase in severity or dramatic changes in hospitalisation and death numbers, sheer increase of cases is not a cause of concern, he said.

    Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Gujarat, Goa and Punjab have been recording an increase in weekly cases and positivity since June 10.

    According to official sources, 51 districts in India, including 12 from Kerala, seven from Mizoram and five each from Maharashtra and Assam, are reporting a weekly Covid positivity rate of over 10 per cent.

    ALSO READ: Vaccine prevented 42 lakh Covid deaths in India in 2021, shows study

    In 53 districts, including 10 from Rajasthan and five from Delhi, the weekly positivity is between five and 10 per cent, they said.

    “India witnessed a very devastating second wave of Covid infections last year which was very unfortunate. But it has led to development of a community level natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

    “Global evidence show that natural infection provides better and longer protection against COVID-19. Also, there has been a high vaccination coverage. Hence, a severe wave in the future is unlikely until a new mutant variant is capable of invading the existing natural immunity and causing severe disease,” Dr Rai added.

    Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases physician, said SARS-CoV-2 is as much around as it was a few months ago.

    “Therefore, a rise and fall in the number of infections from time to time is very much expected because that is how infectious and respiratory disease behave. Which is why every rise in cases is not a reason of concern or worry,” he said.

    Also, a large proportion of India’s adult population has received two shots of COVID-19 vaccines and a majority in all age groups are estimated to have developed immunity after natural infection, Dr Lahariya said.

    So, people have developed hybrid immunity which provides protection from subsequent infections resulting in symptomatic diseases, he explained.

    “Moreover, 27 months into the pandemic, tracking daily new cases is not a good parameter to assess the spread. It simply reflects that the virus is around and we already know that.

    “Now is the time to track Covid-related hospitalisations and severe clinical outcome. If these parameters do not change drastically, there is no need to worry,” Dr Lahariya said.

    He said that whether Covid has become endemic or is still pandemic is of limited practical relevance. “However, it is fair to conclude that COVID-19 is not a population level challenge anymore, it is more of an individual risk now. Therefore, government interventions should be more targeted at vulnerable people. It is time individuals assess their risk and determine what Covid appropriate behaviour they wish to adopt,” he said.

    Dr Samiran Panda, Additional Director General at ICMR, said these spike in cases remain restricted to certain pockets in districts and cannot be seen as a general rise in infections for the entire district or state. “These occasional localised upward trend fortunately are not associated with severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths.

    However, use of masks would offer protection not only against Covid but also from other diseases such as tuberculosis as well as air pollution,” Dr Panda said.

  • India sees 12,899 fresh COVID-19 cases with 15 new fatalities

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Sunday recorded 12,899 fresh COVID-19 cases that pushed its infection tally to 4,32,96,692, while the number of active cases increased to 72,474, according to Union health ministry data.

    The death toll climbed to 5,24,855 with 15 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.17 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.62 per cent, the health ministry said.

    An increase of 4,366 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.89 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 2.50 per cent, the ministry said.

    ALSO READ: States, UTs asked to submit ‘larger number’ of samples for whole-genome sequencing

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,26,99,363. The case fatality rate stood at 1.21 per cent, it said. According to the ministry, 196.14 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the country under the nationwide inoculation drive.

    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 1-crore mark on December 19.

    ALSO READ: Free COVID vaccine booster jabs in private hospitals across Tamil Nadu soon

    India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4, 3 crore on June 23 and 4 crore on January 25 this year.

  • Covid spike: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stresses on vaccination

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: As the Covid-19 cases are rising in some states, especially in Maharashtra and Kerala, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday warned states and Union Territories that the pandemic is not over yet and the protocol must be observed and vaccination should speed up.

    Highlighting the need to be alert and not to forget Covid-appropriate behaviour, Mandaviya told health ministers of states and UTs in a meeting to review the status and progress of the door-to-door vaccination drive ‘Har Ghar Dastak 2.0’ launched on June 1 that there was a need to be cautious and to strengthen the genome sequencing.

    “The Covid-19 is not over yet. With rising Covid-19 cases in some states, it is important to be alert and not to forget Covid-appropriate behaviour,” Mandaviya said. Stressing the importance of vaccination among vulnerable age groups, he urged the state health ministers to personally review the status and progress of the particular month-long drive.

    “Let us accelerate our efforts to identify all beneficiaries in the 12-17 age groups for the 1st and 2nd doses so that they can attend schools with the protection of the vaccine,” he added. He said there was a need to widen vaccination coverage for schoolchildren as well as giving precautionary doses to the elderly.

    India has been registering a continued surge in daily new Covid-19 cases since June 1. On Monday, the country recorded 8,084 fresh Covid-19 cases and ten deaths. This is the third day India’s daily new cases crossed the 8,000 mark. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) will be reviewing the data of genomic surveillance of variants to detect whether any new variant is causing the spike, officials added.

  • Active COVID-19 cases increase to 44,513

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India logged 8,582 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,32,22,017, while the active cases increased to 44,513, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

    The death toll climbed to 5,24,761 with four fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprises 0.10 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.66 per cent, the ministry said.

    An increase of 4,143 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.71 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 2.02 per cent, according to the ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,26,52,743, while the case fatality rate was 1.21 per cent.

    The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 195.07 crore.

    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. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year.

  • India logs 7,584 Covid cases, 24 more deaths in a day

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 7,584 in a day to reach 4,32,05,106 while the number of active cases has increased to 36,267, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    The death toll has climbed to 5,24,747 with 24 more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. Active case tally increased by 3,769 and now comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.70 per cent, the health ministry said.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.26 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 1.50 per cent.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,26,44,092, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent. The total number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the country so far has exceeded 194.76 crore.

    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, 2021, and three crore on June 23.