News Analysis India

Tag: Pandemic

  • Surveillance system strengthened, teams on alert in view of Omicron threat: Telangana government

    By PTI

    HYDERABAD: The Telangana government said on Sunday that it has strengthened the surveillance system and alerted teams in view of the threat of the new coronavirus variant Omicron, even as the state recorded 135 new cases and one death, taking the caseload to 6,75,614 and the toll to 3,989.

    The new ‘Omicron’ variant has been detected in South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong and some European countries and hence fully vaccinated passengers arriving from there will be quarantined at home and be monitored, state Director of Public Health, G Srinivasa Rao told reporters.

    Tests will be done on those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and samples sent to the CDFD lab for genome sequencing if anyone tests positive, he said. A health department bulletin said active cases in the state stood at 3,535.

    The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation reported the highest number of cases (62), followed by Rangareddy (11) and Karimnagar districts (10). A total of 22,356 samples were tested today, taking the cumulative number of specimens examined to 2,85,11,075.

    A total of 144 COVID-19 recoveries were reported today, taking the total number of recoveries to 6,68,090. The recovery rate and case fatality rate in the state was 98.88 per cent and 0.59 per cent respectively, the bulletin said.

  • Cumulative COVID-19 vaccine coverage crosses 122 crore: Government

    The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase.

  • 129 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses provided to states, UTs: Health Ministry

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Over 129 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union Territories so far through free of cost channel and through direct state procurement category, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.

    More than 21.65 crore balance and unutilized Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and Union Territories, it said.

    The ministry asserted that the Union government was committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country.

    The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to states and Union Territories for enabling better planning by them and streamlining the vaccine supply chain, the Health Ministry said.

    As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has been supporting the states and UTs by providing them COVID-19 vaccines free of cost, it underlined.

  • 28 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Ladakh, 15 recovered

    By PTI

    LEH: Ladakh reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 in last one day, pushing the overall tally to 21,298, officials said on Saturday.

    Of 224 active cases in the Union Territory, Leh has 216 and Kargil eight, the officials said. Out of 2069 tests conducted on Friday, 27 returned positive in Leh and one in Kargil, they said.

    No death was reported in last 24 hours from here, officials said. Ladakh has so far registered 212 Covid-related deaths — 154 in Leh and 58 in Kargil — since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.

    It has witnessed a spurt in the positive cases since the beginning of this month, recording four COVID-related deaths and 336 new cases with most of them being reported from Leh.

    The officials said 13 Coronavirus-infected patients were discharged from a hospital in Leh and two others in Kargil, thereby taking the number of recoveries in Ladakh to 20,862 — 97.95 percent of the virus caseload.

  • India logs 10,302 fresh Covid infections, 267 more deaths; active cases decline to 1,24,868

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India’s COVID-19 infection tally rose by 10,302 in a day to reach 3,44,99,925 while the number of active cases declined to 1,24,868 during the same period, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.

    The death toll climbed to 4,65,349 with 267 more fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am. Active cases decreased by 1,752 in 24 hours and now comprise 0.36 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020.

    Also, the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.29 per cent, the highest since March last year, the Health Ministry said. The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 43 days in a row and less than 50,000 for 146 consecutive days.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.96 per cent. It has been less than 2 per cent for the last 47 days. The weekly positivity rate was 0.93 per cent.

    It has been below two per cent for the last 57 days. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,39,09,708 while the case fatality rate was 1.35 per cent. So far, over 115.79 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country under the nationwide COVID-19 inoculation drive.

    India’s COVID-19 case 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 this year and three crore on June 23.

  • Opinion on booster shots likely next week

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: An expert panel which will decide on recommending Covid-19 booster doses for the most vulnerable people in India could come up with its suggestions as early as next week, sources have told this newspaper.

    Officials in the Union health ministry said the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is scheduled to meet early next week where a possible policy to offer additional Covid-19 shots to the immune-compromised and those with serious comorbidities will be discussed.

    “There is an emerging understanding that quite a sizable chunk of the population may need additional shots even after completing the two-dose schedule,” said an official.“However, only the expert panel can specify who needs the booster shots and how long after having received the second dose,” he added.

    The development comes amid fresh researches that even though some of the Covid vaccines may be capable of triggering immune response by up to one year or more, antibodies against SARS CoV2 may be dwindling swiftly by six months after the second dose.

    Studies have also shown that the existing Covid vaccines, though potent, are far from being perfect and while they reduce the risks of hospitalisation and severe disease, they do not eliminate them. Globally, 38 countries, including the US, Germany, Austria, Canada and France, are administering booster doses. The booster doses delivered in the US so far are the highest. 

    However, the decision to deliver booster shots has been criticised by the World Health Organization and last week, its Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it a “scandal” as poorer countries continue to wait for the first jab.

    “It makes no sense to give boosters to healthy adults or to vaccinate children, when health workers, older people and other high-risk groups around the world are still waiting for their first dose. The exception, as we have said, is immunocompromised individuals,” he had said in a statement.

    In India, there have been reporters of several private hospitals delivering boosters to healthcare workers — who were among the first to receive Covid shots — without registering on CoWIN.

    Raj Covid death after 3 monthsTriggering worry among healthcare workers in Rajashan, the state reported first Covid-related death in over three months. The state has been witnessing a surge in cases recently

  • Experts may decide next week on COVID booster shots

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: An expert panel which will decide on recommending COVID-19 booster doses for the most vulnerable people in India could come up with its suggestions as early as next week, sources have told this newspaper.

    Officials in the Union health ministry said the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is scheduled to meet early next week where a possible policy to offer additional Covid-19 shots to the immune-compromised and those with serious comorbidities will be discussed.

    “There is an emerging understanding that quite a sizable chunk of the population may need additional shots even after completing the two-dose schedule. However, only the expert panel can specify who needs the booster shots and how long after having received the second dose,” said an official.

    The development comes amid fresh researches that even though some of the COVID vaccines may be capable of triggering immune response by up to one year or more, antibodies against SARS CoV2 may be dwindling swiftly by six months after the second dose.

    Studies have also shown that the existing COVID vaccines, though potent, are far from being perfect and while they reduce the risks of hospitalisation and severe disease, they do not eliminate them. Globally, 38 countries, including the US, Germany, Austria, Canada and France, are administering booster doses. The booster doses delivered in the US so far are the highest. 

    However, the decision to deliver booster shots has been criticised by the World Health Organization and last week, its Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it a “scandal” as poorer countries continue to wait for the first jab.

    “It makes no sense to give boosters to healthy adults or to vaccinate children, when health workers, older people and other high-risk groups around the world are still waiting for their first dose. The exception, as we have said, is immunocompromised individuals,” he had said in a statement.

    In India, there have been reporters of several private hospitals delivering boosters to healthcare workers – who were among the first to receive COVID shots – without registering on CoWIN.

    Rajasthan reports COVID death after three months

    Triggering worry among healthcare workers in Rajashan, the state reported first COVID-related death in over three months. The state has been witnessing a surge in cases recently

  • Mizoram reports 497 new COVID-19 cases, six more deaths

    By PTI

    AIZWAL: Fresh COVID-19 infections in Mizoram decreased by 73 in the last 24 hours against the previous day pushing the total caseload in the state to 1,30,912, a health department official said on Friday.

    Altogether 497 new coronavirus cases were detected during the day, the official said. The day’s positivity rate marginally increased to 13.46 per cent from 13.26 per cent on Thursday. Among the new cases, 200 were detected in Aizawl, followed by 75 each in Khawzawl and Serchhip districts.

    Mizoram recorded six COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 473. The current death rate stood at 0.36 per cent. No coronavirus fatalities were reported on Thursday.

    As many as 838 cured patients have recovered during the day, higher than 344 on Thursday, taking the number of recovered people to 1,25,170. The current recovery rate of coronavirus patients is 95.61 per cent.

    At present, there are 5,269 active COVID-19 cases in the state. The north-eastern state has so far conducted 13.91 lakh sample tests for COVID-19, including 3,692 on Thursday.

    Over seven lakh people have been inoculated, with 5.46 lakh fully vaccinated with both doses of state immunization officer Dr.Lalzawmi said.

  • Madhya Pradesh: All coronavirus-related restrictions withdrawn; CM says pandemic is under control

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: All coronavirus-related restrictions in Madhya Pradesh have been withdrawn with immediate effect, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced here on Wednesday.

    “There is complete control over the COVID-19 pandemic in Madhya Pradesh. So, we have decided to withdraw all the restrictions imposed during the pandemic with immediate effect,” he said in a statement.

    “Now all social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious events can be held with full capacity,” he added.

    But it will be mandatory for government employees, shopkeepers/vendors, and employees of cinema halls to be completely vaccinated, while movie-goers must have had at least one dose of anti-coronavirus vaccines, Chouhan said.

    The COVID-19 situation in the state is under control as only five new cases were detected on Wednesday and the number of active cases fell to 78, he said.

    Processions will be allowed and there would be no restrictions on the number of people attending marriages and funerals, either.

    Night curfew has been withdrawn while cinema halls, shopping malls, swimming pools, gyms, yoga centres, restaurants and clubs will be able to run at full capacity.

    Schools, colleges, hostels, coaching classes too can have full attendance, Chouhan said. At fairs, vendors who have had both shots of vaccine will be allowed to put up stalls. “Both the doses are required for students above 18 years, besides staff at hostels and schools. At cinema halls, the staff should be fully vaccinated while the audience members should have had at least one dose of vaccine,” the statement said.

    But people must follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, wear masks and maintain social distancing besides getting vaccinated, he said. Being fully vaccinated will be mandatory for government employees.

    “Over 91 per cent people in the state have got the first dose of the vaccine while only 47 per cent have got both the doses. I appeal the people to get both the doses and cooperate with health officials,” the chief minister said.

  • Delhi restaurateurs laud new excise policy, say it can help recover losses incurred due to Covid

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Restaurateurs in Delhi have welcomed the new excise regime which came into effect on Wednesday, saying when implemented fully, it will help recover losses incurred by the sector due to the Covid-induced lockdowns.

    With the new regime in place, the L-17 licensees, which include independent restaurants or gastro-bars, may serve any Indian or foreign liquor anywhere like the balcony, terrace, or lower area of the restaurant with the condition that the alcohol serving area be screened off from public view.

    They can also play live music and have professional performances, bands, DJ, karaoke, singing and dancing at the premises. Rahul Singh, owner of The Beer Cafe and trustee of the National Restaurant Association of India said the new policy is “path-breaking” and will ‘revolutionize’ the restaurant sector.

    “Delhi is the most visited city in India and has the heritage and diverse cuisine to suit every palate. Availability of alco beverage with one’s meal enhances the experience of an outing in a safe and regulated environment. However, it was one of the most under-served megacities with just under 600 restaurants having the license to serve liquor,” he said.

    The new policy is in sync with current times and social perspectives by providing ease of doing business and favorable conditions like extended time, reduced age, and many others which will augment the state revenues, he opined.

    “The new policy is path-breaking and will revolutionize the restaurant sector which is one of the largest employment generators and has dependent allied sectors which be positively impacted too,” he added.

    Joy Singh, co-partner, Raasta, and Yeti, termed the new policy as “very progressive” as it reduces paperwork for procuring a liquor license.

    “There will be fewer documents required for procuring a liquor license. It’s a very progressive policy and after it is fully implemented, it will be a boon for us. It should help us increase numbers and recover losses incurred during the pandemic,” he said.

    However, a restaurateur requesting anonymity said there are some doubts regarding the new policy which needs clarification like when can we start operating till 3 am and whether the order to reduce the drinking age has come into effect yet or not.