Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: PM Modi Chairs High-Level Meet To Review Oxygen Supply & Availability Of Medicines

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, May 12: India reported 4,205 deaths in the last 24 hours which is yet another bleak record. There are 3,48,421 new Covid-19 cases, 3,55,338 discharges, as per Union Health Ministry. The World Health Organization on Wednesday said that a variant of Covid-19 behind the acceleration of India's deadly outbreak has been found in 44 countries all over the world. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,93,82,642 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.09 per cent, the data stated. The total tally of COVID-19 cases in country now stands at 2,33,40,938 while 2,49,992 deaths have taken place since early 2020.

Background

India reported 4,205 deaths in the last 24 hours which is yet another bleak record. There are 3,48,421 new Covid-19 cases, 3,55,338 discharges, as per Union Health Ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,93,82,642 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.09 per cent, the data stated. The total tally of COVID-19 cases in country now stands at 2,33,40,938 while 2,49,992 deaths have taken place since early 2020.The Central government on Tuesday said the number of daily Covid-19 cases are on decline in at least 18 states and union territories, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Haryana. However, several states continue to complain shortage of vaccines. States including Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana were forced to shut vaccination centres amid vaccine shortage. In a bid to increase the inoculation drive, the states are now floating global tenders for the jabs.The World Health Organization on Wednesday said that a variant of Covid-19 behind the acceleration of India's deadly outbreak has been found in 44 countries all over the world. Meanwhile, America's top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has expressed concern over India's Covid crisis. He said that India is in such "dire straits" because it made the "incorrect assumption" that they were finished with the COVID-19 and opened up prematurely.

12/05/2021 22:43:28

PM Modi Chairs High-Level Meet To Review Oxygen Supply & Availability Of Medicines

PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the availability, supply of oxygen and medicines on Wednesday. PM was briefed that govt is actively monitoring the supply of drugs being used in the management of Covid as well Mucormycosis.

It was discussed that states are being provided medicines in good quantities. PM was also apprised that production of all drugs including Remdesivir has been ramped up significantly in the last few weeks. PM also took stock of the situation on oxygen availability and supply.

12/05/2021 22:40:05

Mumbai Floats Global Bid To Acquire 1 Cr Covid Vaccines

Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has issued a global bid today to acquire 1 crore COVID-19 vaccines to vaccinate citizens in Mumbai at the earliest on a massive scale in its decisive fight against COVID virus: Municipal Commissioner IS Chahal

12/05/2021 22:03:18

Karnataka To Suspend Covid Vaccination For 18-44 Age Group

Karnataka government has decided that COVID-19 vaccines procured directly by the state for vaccination of persons between 18 to 44 years will be utilized for vaccination of beneficiaries who are due for the second dose, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department said.

Vaccination for 18 to 44 age group (including those who have already booked appointments) will be temporarily suspended from May 14 till further orders. This order will be applicable for COVID vaccination at all Government COVID vaccination centers, it added.

12/05/2021 20:49:51

Could Have Saved Many Lives With Door-To-Door Vaccination: HC Slams Centre

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said if the Union government had started door-to- door vaccination programme for senior citizens a few months back, then lives of many of them, including prominent persons, could have been saved.

Why not start this (door-to-door vaccination) pro- actively when the lives of senior citizens are concerned? the court asked.

12/05/2021 20:37:46

100 Oxygen Expresses Delivered 6,260 MT Of Medical O2 To States

The Indian Railways on Wednesday said that 100 Oxygen Express operated by it so far have delivered 6,260 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) across the country.

"Railways has offloaded 407 MT in Maharashtra, nearly 1,680 MT in UP, 360 MT to MP, 939 MT in Haryana, 123 MT in Telangana, 40 MT in Rajasthan, 120 MT in Karnataka and more than 2,404 MT in Delhi," Railway Ministry spokesperson D.J. Narain said.

12/05/2021 18:16:26

Kerala Reports 43,529 Fresh Covid Cases

43,529 new Coronavirus cases, 95 deaths and 34,600 recoveries reported in Kerala today. With this, death toll has reached 6,053 and total recovered cases are 15,71,738. As many as 1,46,320 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

12/05/2021 18:15:19

Karnataka CET 2021 Postponed Due To Covid Crisis

Amid rising COVID cases and postponement of the 2nd PUC annual examinations, Common Entrance Test (CET) 2021 scheduled for July 7 and 8, has been postponed to August 28 and 29: Dr CN Ashwatha Narayana, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, and Minister of Higher Education

12/05/2021 18:14:17

US Delivers Medical Supplies Worth $100 Million To India

US govt has delivered medical supplies totaling some $100 million, other elements have also stepped up – NGOs & private sector, & we understand that private sector to date has donated additional $400 million, totaling half-billion dollars aid to India: US Dept of State

12/05/2021 17:21:07

Dr Harsh Vardhan Meets Health Ministers Of States To Review Vaccination Drive

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan today held a meeting via video conferencing with health ministers of Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, J&K and Telangana, to review the progress of the COVID19 vaccination drive & steps to accelerate it

12/05/2021 15:59:45

Azam Khan Critical But stable

Senior Samajwadi MP Mohd Azam Khan's condition is now stable though the next 72 hours are crucial for him.

According to Rakesh Kapoor, director Medanta hospital, "The oxygen requirement of the veteran leader has come down but the severity of the ailment continues. He is in the ICU and is being treated by a team of doctors."

12/05/2021 14:49:30

WHO identifies viruses by their scientific names and not with names of countries: WHO South-East Asia

WHO does not identify viruses or variants with names of countries they are first reported from. We refer to them by their scientific names and request all to do the same for consistency: WHO South-East Asia

12/05/2021 13:27:46

WHO has not associated the term “Indian Variant” with B.1.617 variant of Coronavirus: Govt of India

The Government of India has issued a clarification over B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus. "Several media reports have covered the news of WHO classifying B.1.617 as variant of global concern. Some of these reports have termed the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus as an “Indian Variant”. These media reports are without any basis, and unfounded. This is to clarify that WHO has not associated the term “Indian Variant” with the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus in its 32 page document. In fact, the word “Indian” has not been used in its report on the matter."

12/05/2021 12:40:16

Reserve Stock Exhausted, 100 Centres Shut Due To Shortage Of Vaccine: Manish Sisodia

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Wednesday reietrated shortage of Covid-19 vaccines in the national capital. Speaking to media, Sisodia said, "We had demanded 1.34 cr doses, 67 lakhs each of Covaxin & Covishield. Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) wrote to us yesterday that they can't provide. They wrote 'we're making dispatches as per directives of concerned govt officials. 'We sincerely regret that we can't make any additional supplies as required by you.' 

I don't know how much is being supplied to other states but they've written to us that they can't provide to Delhi because they have to supply as per Central Govt. Our reserve stock (of vaccine) is exhausted. The centres administering Covishield vaccines are functioning but we have had to close the centres administering Covaxin. So, we have had to close down more than 100 centres across 17 schools. Centre should act as the governemnt of a country. They should carry out their responsibility and stop all exports, Sisodia said. 

12/05/2021 12:01:33

Chhattisgarh: Complete lockdown in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district till May 15

Chhattisgarh: Complete lockdown to be imposed in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district from midnight today till midnight of 15th May, in view of rise in COVID19 cases

12/05/2021 11:57:57

Bharat Biotech Gets Approval To Start Next Phase Of Clinical Trials Of 'Covaxin' On Children Aged 2-18 Years

An expert panel has recommended Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine 'Covaxin' for phase II/III clinical trial on those aged between 2-18 years. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) on Tuesday recommended that Bharat Biotech be granted permission to conduct the phase 2/3 clinical trials of Covaxin on Children. 

The SEC deliberated upon Hyderabad-based vaccine maker's application seeking permission to conduct phase II/III clinical trials to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of Covaxin jabs in children aged 2 to 18 years.

12/05/2021 10:56:21

Harsh Vardhan To Hold Meeting With State Health Ministers That Are Lagging Behind In Covid-19 Vaccination

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan will have a meeting today, with the Health Ministers of some states that are lagging behind in Covid-19 vaccination. The meeting will be held with the Health Ministers of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Telangana.

12/05/2021 10:23:28

Dr Reddy's enter into royalty-free agreement with Eli Lilly for drug manufacturing in India

Dr Reddy's on Wednesday said "Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd has entered into a royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company for the manufacture and commercialization of the drug, baricitinib, in India." 

12/05/2021 08:49:10

Madhya Pradesh: Nurse, 2 lab technicians arrested for black marketing of Remdesivir

A nurse and 2 lab technicians of a medical college in Shahdol arrested for black marketing of Remdesivir injections. Police said, “We also arrested a pharmacy store owner. Six injections, mobile phones and over Rs 6 lakhs cash recovered from their possession." 

12/05/2021 07:46:08

71 Bodies Found Floating In Bihar, 45 In UP

In a devastating sight, several bodies were seen floating in the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia and Ghazipur districts. According to reports, at least 71 bodies were fished out from the Ganga in Bihar’s Buxar, and at least 45 bodies were seen floating at the Ujiyar, Kulhadia and Bharauli ghats in the Narahi area. Meanwhile, bodies were also seen floating in Ghazipur’s Gahmar and Bara villages. 

12/05/2021 07:40:54

'Incorrect Assumption, India Opened Up Prematurely': Dr Anthony Fauci

The unprecedented second wave of the Coronavirus has pushed India reeling under the shortage of health workers, vaccines, oxygen, drugs and beds. Taking a note of this, America's top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said "The reason that India is in such dire straits now is that they had an original surge and made the incorrect assumption that they were finished with it, and what happened, they opened up prematurely and wind up having a surge right now that we're all very well aware of is extremely devastating."