News Analysis India

Tag: Pandemic

  • Slightly younger population infected more in this COVID-19 wave, says government

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A comparatively younger population with an average age of 44 years has been infected more in this Covid wave, the government said on Thursday, highlighting there was significantly less use of drugs for treatment this time.

    Addressing the weekly press conference, ICMR DG Balram Bhargava said in this Covid wave, sore throat was seen more in the patients.

    A slightly younger population having an average age of 44 years was infected more in this wave in comparison to the previous ones, he said.

    In the earlier waves, the average age of the section of the population infected was 55 years, Bhargava added.

    The conclusion was drawn from the National Clinical Registry of COVID-19, in which data was collected about hospitalised patients from 37 medical facilities.

    “There were two time periods which we studied. One was November 15 to December 15, which was presumed to be dominated by the strain of Delta, and the other was December 16 to January 17, when the presumed dominant strain was Omicron,” he said.

    As many as 1,520 hospitalised individuals were analysed, and their mean age during this third surge was about 44 years, a slightly younger population, Bhargava said.

    “Having said that, the co-morbidities present in this younger population were pretty high. About 46 per cent had co-morbidities, these are the people who are younger. But nearly half of them had some co-morbidities and their symptoms were much less. But the predominant symptom, which is higher in this population during the January period, was sore throat. Sore throat was more common than the earlier period,” he said.

    “We also found that there was a significantly lesser use of drugs during this surge and significantly improved outcomes with much less complications of renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and others,” Bhargava said.

    Looking at the outcomes, Bhargava said the death rate was 10 per cent in vaccinated people and 22 per cent in those unvaccinated.

    “In vaccinated versus unvaccinated, death was 10 per cent (91 per cent co-morbidities) vs 22 per cent (83 per cent co-morbidities). So really nine out of 10 had co-morbidities in this young population who died and were vaccinated. Of the unvaccinated, 83 per cent had co-morbidities. So not being vaccinated and having co-morbidities really are the drivers which decide the course of the patient,” Bhargava said.

  • 34 states, UTs recording decline in COVID-19 cases, positivity rate: Government

    Lav Agarwal said, “A decline in COVID-19 case fatality rate has been noted with an increase in administration of vaccine doses.”

  • Jharkhand’s COVID-19 tally rises to 4,29,773 with 601 fresh cases

    By PTI

    RANCHI: Jharkhand on Thursday reported 601 new COVID-19 cases, 21 less than the previous day, with the tally mounting to 4,29,773, a health department bulletin said.

    The COVID-19 death toll rose to 5,306 as three more persons – one from capital Ranchi and two from Saraikela district succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, it said.

    East Singhbhum district registered the highest number of new infections at 214, followed by the state capital Ranchi at 177 and Simdega at 36.

    Jharkhand now has 3,781 active COVID-19 cases, while 1,189 people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 4,20,686, it said.

    About two crore samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the state so far, including 50,216 since Wednesday.

  • UP polls: Mayawati kicks off BSP campaign from Agra, says BJP, SP and Cong ‘anti-Dalit’

    By PTI

    AGRA: BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday hit out at BJP, SP and Congress for not doing enough for Dalits and asserted that her party has a track record of working for all sections of society as she launched her party’s campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

    Terming the rival parties “anti-Dalit”, she said though they make various promises in their manifestos ahead of polls, they forget about them after coming to power.

    Mayawati, who has been conspicuous by her absence from the high-octane campaigning in the state, also said she has been living in Lucknow for a year and working to rebuild the BSP.

    She said some “casteist media groups” are trying to demoralise BSP supporters by saying that their party leaders are missing on the ground.

    The BSP is contesting all 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. The party has declared names of candidates for the majority of the seats. Targeting the ruling BJP, Mayawati said the party is pursuing the “narrow-minded agendas” of the RSS.

    “Their (BJP) policies are focused on promoting casteist, capitalist, and narrow-minded agendas of the RSS. This has resulted in an environment of religious tension and hate in the state,” she said.

    “People from Dalit and backward communities have not benefitted from the BJP government’s policies, including reservation in government jobs, because it has involved the private sector in most of its projects,” she added.

    “The upper caste also feels neglected under the BJP. The government’s policies have led to price rise and an increased number of people living in poverty. “It appears that the fuel prices will be increased once the elections are over. Youngsters from the state are forced to migrate due to the lack of employment opportunities,” Mayawati said.

    ALSO READ: UP elections: Mayawati launches attack on SP, Congress and BJP in first poll rally in Agra

    The BSP chief claimed the migrants who returned to the state during Covid pandemic were forced to go back due to the lack of employment opportunities in the state. She said the common people in Uttar Pradesh have only suffered under the rule of BJP, Congress, and Samajwadi Party.

    “The BSP, which has worked for the upliftment of people from all sections of society, is the only alternative for good governance,” she added. Mayawati also accused the SP of adopting a “step-motherly” approach towards Dalits and most backward sections of society.

    “After coming to power (in 2012), the SP changed names of districts we had christened after Dalit icons,” she said. “When a bill on reservation in promotion for Dalit officers was brought in Parliament, the SP tore it and did not allow it to get approved,” she claimed.

    The BSP chief said criminals and the mafia flourished under the SP government. The Muzaffarnagar riots also took place during the SP’s tenure.

    Mayawati attacked the Congress over its “hostile” attitude towards Dalits, alleging that its government had denied the Bharat Ratna to B R Ambedkar, who is considered the architect of the Indian Constitution, and to Dalit icon Kanshi Ram.

    ALSO READ: BJP, Samajwadi Party giving casteist colour to Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls: BSP chief Mayawati

    “They (Congress) also did not implement the Mandal Commission report on reservation in government jobs. After a prolonged struggle, the BSP got it implemented when the V P Singh government was in power,” she said.

    Mayawati also targeted the media for building the narrative that BSP leaders were absent on the ground.

     “Some casteist media groups have tried to demoralise our supporters by saying that BSP leaders are missing and not moving anywhere.  I have been living in Lucknow for the last year and have worked to build the party again in Uttar Pradesh. I want to tell the media that I have been busy with election work all this time and the BSP will return with a majority in Uttar Pradesh,” she said.

    Rival parties had on several occasions ruled the BSP “out of the race”. However, Mayawati hit back at them saying they would be proved wrong as had happened in 2007.

    The BSP came to power with a majority in Uttar Pradesh in 2007, proving pre-poll predictions wrong. Mayawati became the chief minister for the fourth time that year.

  • FIR against ex-MP Nilesh Rane, others for obstructing public servant from discharging duty

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Police have registered an FIR against former MP Nilesh Rane and others for gathering outside a court in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, in violation of the COVID-19 norms, and allegedly obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, an official said on Wednesday.

    Nilesh Rane, the son of Union minister Narayan Rane, and some other people on Tuesday assembled near the court, which had rejected the bail plea of his brother and state BJP MLA Nitesh Rane in a case, he said.

    An argument had allegedly taken place between Nilesh Rane and police near the court.

    Later, an FIR was registered on Tuesday evening at Oras police station against the former MP and others under IPC sections 186 (voluntarily obstructing any public servant in discharge of his functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), and the Disaster Management Act, the official said.

    Nitesh Rane is facing an attempt to murder case in Sindhudurg, where a court on Tuesday denied bail to the legislator, saying his application for relief was “premature and not maintainable”.

    The MLA later moved the Bombay High Court to seek bail and in his plea claimed he had been implicated and that this was a “classic case of political vendetta or rivalry at the behest of the ruling dispensation” against him and his father.

    The plea further alleged that people belonging to opposition parties in Maharashtra and holding public positions are being “victimised” by the state government (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) by way of registration of false criminal cases.

  • Ajanta, Ellora caves reopen; online tickets, vaccination must for visitors

    By PTI

    AURANGABAD: The world famous Ajanta and Ellora caves and various other monuments reopened here in Maharashtra on Wednesday after being shut for about three weeks in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases, an official said.

    Online purchase of tickets and full vaccination are mandatory for visitors, the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) Aurangabad circle superintendent Dr Milan Kumar Chauley told PTI. The monuments were closed on January 8 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. The district administration has now allowed the monuments to reopen.

    While there is no restriction on the number of visitors as of now, physical tickets will not be available and only those who have taken both the doses of vaccine against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter the tourist sites, the ASI official said.

    Apart from the Ajanta and Ellora caves, the other prominent tourist attractions here are the Daulatabad (Devgiri) Fort, Aurangabad caves and Bibi ka Maqbara.

  • Arunachal reports more COVID recoveries than new cases, schools reopen for vaccinated students

    By PTI

    ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh reported more recoveries than new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as 583 people were cured in the last 24 hours, a Health Department official said.

    The state reported 246 new cases, taking the tally to 62,656, he said. The toll rose to 288 after a COVID patient died on Tuesday at a health facility in Itanagar, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

    The 24-year-old man from Upper Subansiri district died due to cardio-respiratory arrest while suffering from COVID pneumonia, the official said. Altogether 59,871 people have recovered from the disease in the state so far.

    Of the 246 new cases, 75 were registered in the Capital Complex Region, 30 in Lower Subansiri, 25 in West Kameng, 15 in East Siang and 13 in Leparada, Jampa said.

    Of the new patients, 109 have symptoms, while the rest are asymptomatic. Arunachal Pradesh at present has 2,497 active cases.

    The new cases were reported after testing 1,881 samples, recording a positivity rate of 13.07 per cent. The Arunachal Pradesh government extended Covid restrictions till February 14, while announcing certain relaxations.

    The government permitted vaccinated teenagers to attend physical classes in schools. All workplaces, businesses and commercial establishments would be allowed to operate till 8 pm with 50 per cent attendance, said an official notification.

    Visitors have been banned in government offices, and meetings, if possible, should be hosted on virtual platforms, it said.

    All government officials will have to submit their vaccination certificates in their respective offices, it said. Bars, restaurants, gyms, swimming pools, cinema halls, and auditorium would continue to operate with 50 per cent occupancy, it added.

  • Centre extends work from home for 50% staffers below level of Under Secretary till Feb 15

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday extended work from home arrangement for 50 per cent of its employees below the level of Under Secretary till February 15, according to a Personnel Ministry order.

    Persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees would continue to be exempted from attending offices.

    The Personnel Ministry had on January 3 issued an order allowing work from home 50 per cent of employees below the level of Under Secretary till January 31, because of the rise in Covid cases.

    In an order issued on Monday extending the arrangements till February 15, it said Central government officers and staffers will have to follow staggered timing — 9 am to 5.30 pm and 10 am to 6.30 pm — to avoid overcrowding in offices.

    “Physical attendance of government servants below the level of Under Secretary shall be restricted to 50 per cent of the actual strength and the remaining 50 per cent shall work from home. A roster may be prepared accordingly by all the departments concerned,” it had said.

    All officers of the level of Under Secretary and above are to attend office regularly, the order stated.

    Personnel Ministry also extended the suspension of biometric attendance for the employees till February 15. It had earlier this month suspended the marking of biometric attendance for all its employees till January 31, as a precautionary measure to check the spread of Covid.

  • Delhi reports 3,674 fresh Covid cases, 30 deaths

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  Delhi on Sunday logged 3,674 fresh Covid cases with a positivity rate of 6.37 per cent, while 30 more people succumbed to the viral disease, according to data shared by the city health department.

    With this, the national capital’s caseload increased to 18,27,489 and the death toll climbed to 25,827, the bulletin stated. A total of 57,686 Covid tests were conducted in the city a day ago, it said.

    The number of daily cases in Delhi has been on the decline after touching the record high of 28,867 on January 13. The city had recorded a positivity rate of 30.6 per cent on January 14, the highest during the ongoing wave of the pandemic.

    It took just 10 days for daily cases to drop below 10,000. On Saturday, Delhi recorded 4,483 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 7.41 per cent and 28 deaths.

    On Friday, 4,044 cases with a positivity rate of 8.60 per cent and 25 deaths were recorded. The city logged 4,291 cases with a positivity rate of 9.56 per cent and 34 deaths on Thursday.

    The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Thursday decided to lift the weekend curfew and the odd-even system of opening shops selling non-essential items besides allowing restaurants, bars, and theatres to reopen at 50 per cent capacity, given the improving Covid situation.

    The number of Covid patients under home isolation stood at 16,165 on Sunday, down from 18,536 on Saturday. There are 38,853 containment zones in the city, the bulletin said.

    There are 15,428 beds for Covid patients in Delhi hospitals and 1,567 (10.16 per cent) of them are occupied. A total of 1,772 patients are in hospitals, the health department’s bulletin on Saturday stated.

  • Naidu, Birla discuss Covid-safe Budget Session

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday discussed preparations for the Budget session of Parliament amid the surge in coronavirus cases.

    The session begins Monday with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind to members of both the Houses.

    During the meet, Birla suggested that members of both the Houses can be seated at different locations by name to avoid confusion, crowding, and inquiries. Naidu accepted the suggestion, parliamentary sources said.

    Due to Covid norms, the two Houses are meeting at different times. Members of the two Houses will be accommodated in chambers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as well as galleries to prevent crowding.

    To implement the sitting arrangement by name, parties have been approached to draw up a list of members who would be accommodated in various locations. Seats were allotted in chambers and galleries of both the Houses based on the strength of parties.

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    Given the reduction in the time of sitting of both the Houses by one hour per sitting due to staggered timings, Naidu and Birla took stock of the time available for different items of business. They underscored the need for cooperation from all sections of both the Houses for effective utilisation of available time.

    While Rajya Sabha would meet from 10 am to 3 pm, the Lok Sabha would sit from 4 pm to 9 pm. Officials informed the two presiding officers that the Parliament House complex has been sanitised and all possible measures are being taken to contain the spread of coronavirus.

    They were told that all MPs have been requested to take RT-PCR test 48 before the commencement of the Session. Part one of the session would end on February 11. The second part would begin on March 14 and conclude on April 8.