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Tag: Rajesh Tope

  • Third COVID wave may get over by mid-March as cases declining: Maharashtra minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI

    JALNA: Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said the number of COVID-19 cases had begun declining statewide and predicted that the third wave of the pandemic might get over by the second or third week of March.

    He said the state, which was reporting 48,000 cases per day during the third wave which started some weeks ago, was now seeing the tally increase by 15,000 daily, adding that the infection curve was flattening in major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Raigad.

    Speaking to reporters here, the minister said the Centre must start the process of vaccinating children in the 12-15 age segment against COVID-19. He said that Maharashtra was ready with the health infrastructure to vaccinate this age group.

    Coronavirus-induced curbs will continue to be lowered as the number of cases go down, Tope added.

  • Maharashtra: Centre denies Rajesh Tope’s vaccine shortage claim

    By Online Desk

    CHENNAI: The Centre on Friday described as “ill-informed and “incorrect” some media reports alleging vaccine shortage in Maharashtra, further stating that due to lack of vaccine the State Government is unable to increase the pace of vaccination in the state. 

    State health minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said that Maharashtra is facing shortage of both Covaxin and Covishield vaccines.

    He told reporters that since vaccination drive for teenagers and precaution doses are being given to senior citizens, frontline and health workers, there is a shortage of vaccine. Tope said that the state has demanded an additional 50 lakh Covishield and 40 lakh Covaxin doses from the Centre.

    Meanwhile, a press statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare chose to clarify that, as per the reports available today (January 14, 2022), Maharashtra has over 24 lakh unutilized doses of Covaxin available with it. An additional 6.35 lakh doses have been received today. As per their weekly consumption data available on Co-WIN, the average consumption by Maharashtra for Covaxin to cover the eligible beneficiaries for 15-17 years and for precaution dose is almost 2.94 lakh doses per day. Therefore, the State has adequate vaccine doses for about 10 days to cover the eligible beneficiaries with Covaxin.

    Furthermore, for Covishield, the state has 1.24 crore unutilized and balance doses available as on date. With an average consumption of 3.57 lakhs per day, this will sustain for more than 30 days for the beneficiaries to be vaccinated using the vaccine.

    “Hence, the media reports are not factually correct and do not reflect the correct picture of the available stock of balance and unutilized COVID vaccine doses with Maharashtra,” the Centre claimed.

  • Kin of 42 activists who died during Maratha quota agitation will get government jobs: Maharashtra Minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI

    JALNA: The next of kin of 42 persons who died during the agitation for Maratha reservation will be given government jobs, state public health minister Rajesh Tope said here on Saturday.

    He will speak to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in this regard, he said.

    The government has already given compensation of Rs 10 lakh to their families, he told reporters here.

    Maratha organizations carried out a state-wide agitation for quota for the community in jobs and education between 2016 and 2018.

    The state government eventually provided quota for the Marathas, but the law was struck down by the Supreme Court.

  • Mild third wave of COVID-19 pandemic likely in December: Maharashtra health minister

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the third wave of coronavirus pandemic is expected in December but it will be mild in impact.

    Speaking to a news channel, he had said medical oxygen and ICU beds will not be required during the third wave period.

    “The third wave is expected to be mild and medical oxygen and ICU beds will not be required,” he said.

    Speaking about the current COVID-19 scenario, Tope said as 80 per cent of citizens are vaccinated in Maharashtra, the infection level and the mortality rate is less at present.

    Maharashtra had recorded 766 COVID-19 infections and 19 fatalities in the 24 hours preceding Tuesday even as the active cases in the state remained below 10,000 for the third consecutive day, the health department had said on Tuesday.

    Maharashtra’s tally of COVID-19 cases stood at 66,31,297 as of Tuesday.

    Tope said the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic was experienced in September 2020 and the second one in April 2021.

    Tope said he had met Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya last week seeking the Centre’s nod for administering a booster dose of vaccine for health workers, frontline workers, senior citizens and vulnerable sections and sought to inoculate children in the age group of 12 to 18 years against coronavirus.

    “Mandaviya said he would discuss the issue with ICMR and get back,” Tope added.

    AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria had said on Tuesday that a third Covid wave of a magnitude comparable to the first two is unlikely to hit India, as he underlined that absence of surge in cases at the moment suggests that vaccines are still protecting against the virus and there is no need for a booster dose for now.

    Medical experts too had said that a third wave as devastating as the second one is unlikely though cases may rise, perhaps across late December-February, the impact will be milder.

  • Case registered against BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar for using derogatory language against Maharashtra Minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI

    JALNA: A case was registered against BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar for allegedly using derogatory language against Maharashtra Health Minister and NCP leader Rajesh Tope during a protest here, police said on Sunday.

    Lonikar had staged a demonstration at the Jalna district collectorate on Thursday alleging unequal distribution of District Planning Committee Development funds.

    He alleged that compensation for flood-affected farmers in his constituency, Partur, was also not released.

    Tope is the guardian minister of the Jalna district.

    Local leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party had lodged complaints against Lonikar at various police stations.

    On a similar complaint lodged by NCP activist Shivprasad Changle in Ambad police station in Jalna, a case was registered against Lonikar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for insulting and hurting sentiments, police said in a release.

  • Vaccine hesitancy seen in Muslim areas, Maharashtra government to rope in Salman to promote inoculation: Minister

    By PTI

    JALNA: Maharashtra Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said there was hesitancy about taking anti-coronavirus vaccines in Muslim-dominated areas, and the government will take the help of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan to convince people to take the jab.

    Maharashtra is leading in terms of the number of vaccine shots administered, but in some areas the pace of vaccination is low, Tope said, speaking to reporters here on Monday.

    “There is still some hesitancy in Muslim-dominated areas. We have decided to use Salman Khan and religious leaders to convince the Muslim community to take the vaccine,” he said.

    “Religious leaders and film actors wield great influence and people listen to them,” he added. Over 10.25 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the state so far, and by the end of November all eligible persons will have received at least the first dose, the minister said.

    About the possibility of a third wave of the viral infection, Tope said as per the experts, the pandemic has a seven-month cycle, but due to large-scale vaccination, the next wave would not be severe. People should follow the COVID safety protocol and get vaccinated, he added.

  • Consultation to be held post Diwali on entry for single-dose beneficaries: Maharashtra Minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI

    JALNA: The COVID-19 task force and senior officials will be consulted after Diwali to see if people who have received just one dose of the vaccine can be allowed entry into malls and trains, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday.

    He said people were facing hardships due to the 12 to 16 week gap between two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Speaking to reporters here, Tope, however, added that a final decision on this issue would be taken by the chief minister.

    He admitted that COVID-19 cases were on the decline in the state.

  • COVID-19: Maharashtra to vaccinate teaching, non-teaching staff by September 5, says Tope

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Sunday said the state government plans to fully vaccinate all teaching and non-teaching staff against COVID-19 by September 5, and this would be the first step towards reopening of schools.

    Speaking to reporters in Jalna, the minister said a special drive was being conducted for this, adding that a state task force was of the view that schools in districts where there were no positive cases can be reopened.

    The state government is being alert due to the upcoming festival season, taking cue for Kerala where 31,000 COVID-19 cases were recorded in a single day post Onam celebrations, he added.

    The state on Sunday reported 4,666 new coronavirus positive cases, which increased its tally to 64,56,939, while 131 deaths pushed the toll to 1,37,157, the health department said.

    A total of 3,510 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, which took the state’s recovery count to 62,63,416.

    Maharashtra’s recovery rate is 97 per cent and fatality rate is 2.12 per cent.

    There are 52,844 active cases at present.

    So far, 2,03,210 tests have been carried out in the state for COVID-19 detection, which took the overall test count to 5,36,59,613.

    Jalna, Akola, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia districts and Parbhani city did not report a single infection case on Sunday, while there was no death due to the virus in Nagpur and Akola divisions of Vidarbha region during the day, the department said.

    Mumbai city reported 345 new cases and two deaths.

    With this, the caseload in the city went up to 7,43,499 and death toll to 15,974 deaths.

    Mumbai region saw 845 cases and 11 deaths during the day, which took its overall tally to 16,62,394 and 34,976 deaths.

    Nashik division reported 828 cases, including 716 in Ahmednagar district, while Pune division reported 1,908 cases, including 406 in Satara, 505 in Solapur, 579 in Pune district.

    Kolhapur division logged 815 cases, including 419 in Sangli district, Aurangabad division 58 cases, Latur division 174 cases, Akola division 28 cases and Nagpur division reported 10 fresh cases.

    Maharashtra’s coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 64,56,939, death toll 1,37,157, active cases 52,844, recoveries 62,63,416, total number of tests 5,36,59,613, tests today 2,03,210.

  • COVID vaccination to be stepped up in four districts with high caseload: Maharashtra minister

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said efforts are being taken to expedite vaccination in four districts, including Pune, where the COVID-19 positivity rate was high. He said that necessary directives in this regard have been issued to the administration of these four districts – Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Pune.

    The spike in COVID-19 cases in these districts was higher than the rest of the state, the minister said. “The health department is focusing on tracking, testing and treatment of patients. Nodal officers have been asked to expedite COVID-19 vaccination. We are pushing for uninterrupted vaccine supply from the central government,” he said.

    Positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for the virus out of those who have been tested. The minister said strict implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols was necessary to prevent a possible third wave of the pandemic.

    Data shows that countries which have vaccinated maximum percentage of their adult population have been able to contain the third wave of the pandemic, Tope said.

  • Easing of COVID restrictions likely in 25 Maharashtra districts including Mumbai: State minister

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Mumbai and 24 other districts of Maharashtra which have reported COVID-19 positivity rates lower than the state’s average are likely to get more relaxation from restrictions, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday.

    The government is also considering if those who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus can be allowed to travel by local trains in Mumbai, he said.

    Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the state’s COVID-19 task force chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tope said in the remaining 11 districts, where the infection rate is high, more restrictions may be imposed.

    “We have discussed introducing more relaxation in 25 districts including Mumbai where the positivity rate is much lower than the state’s average. A decision with a detailed set of instructions will be out in a couple of days,” he said.

    But there will be no relaxation in the remaining districts of Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Beed and Ahmednagar where the infection positivity rate is higher than the average, the minister said. “If required, the local authorities may introduce more stringent restrictions (in these areas) to contain the spread of coronavirus,” he said.

    The issue of allowing those who have taken both the doses of coronavirus vaccine to travel by local trains in Mumbai was also discussed extensively in the meeting, he said. “We are still discussing the ways to verify if a passenger has taken both doses. We will also speak to the railway authorities,” the minister said.

    At present only those engaged in essential and emergency services are allowed to travel by local trains in the state capital.