Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Centre Approves Rs 5 Lakh Financial Aid For 67 Families Of Journalists Who Died Due To Covid
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, May 27, Thursday: As India is facing an acute shortage of vaccine at home, Pfizer has informed the Centre, during a series of interactions, that its COVID-19 vaccine is suitable for all aged 12 and above, and can be stored at 2-8 degrees for over a month. They also discussed indemnity protection against liabilities before they bring vaccines to India. More than 20 crore Indians have been vaccination against Covid-19, with at least 15.71 crore having taken their first dose and 4.35 crore their second, data from the Ministry of Health showed on Thursday.
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Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, May 27, Thursday:: As the country is witnessing a downward trend in the Covid tally, the Government is focusing now on how to tackle the thrid wave which is likely to affect children. Experts suggested that vaccination is the only way to protect the country from the third wave.
India has allowed Bharat Biotech to begin testing of vaccines for children and during series of interactions, Pfizer also informed the Govt of India that its COVID 19 vaccine is suitable for all aged 12 & above, & can be storied at 2-8 degrees for over a month. They also discussed indemnity protection against liabilities before they bring vaccines to India, according to a report by ANI.
Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered US intelligence agencies to report to him in the next three months on whether the Covid-19 virus first emerged in China from an animal source or from a laboratory accident.
Agencies should "redouble their efforts to collect and analyze information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion, and to report back to me in 90 days," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
According to Biden, agencies are currently split over the two possible sources for the virus that swept the planet over the past year, killing more than 3.4 million people -- a figure experts say is undoubtedly an underestimate.
Despite its own needs, India ensured supply of medicines to 123 partner countries: Dr Harsh Vardhan
New Delhi: India ensured supply of medicines to 123 partner countries despite its own needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and has also been active in global efforts to develop diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines to tackle the infection, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.
He was speaking during a virtual interaction with health ministers of NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) countries. Tedros, Director-General, World Health Organisation was also present in the meeting.
Reiterating that India shall always strive for the 'health of all', Vardhan said, Despite its own needs, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we ensured supply of medicines to 123 partner countries, including 59 NAM nations. India has also been active in global efforts to develop diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for COVID-19 because we know and understand that no one is safe until everyone is safe.
He said India has adopted transformative strategies and fast-tracked many initiatives aimed at all the core tenets of Universal Health Coverage like strengthening health systems, including primary healthcare, improving access to free drugs and diagnostics, and reducing catastrophic healthcare spending.
India is moving towards Universal Healthcare for All which means every citizen of India must get world quality treatment facilities. Full immunisation coverage is increasing at a rapid pace with a greater emphasis on village-based micro-plans as we aim to enhance coverage to 90 per cent in a year, an official statement quoted the health minister as saying.
Speaking about India's ambitious National Health Policy, he noted, Our flagship health initiative called Ayushman Bharat aims at providing free health assurance to over 500 million underprivileged people, making it the world's largest health assurance scheme.
And we dream of making this scheme much bigger, ensuring it for every Indian! If a developing nation like India can dream of this level of 'health for all' policy, I think the rest of the world has to think even beyond this, he said.
He, however, expressed concern over the current pandemic that has demonstrated the vulnerability of humankind to exigencies and underlined the need to act with greater speed and predictability.
We need an aggressive roadmap to curtail deaths from diseases that can be eliminated. We need a fresh roadmap to address shortages of medicines and vaccines. Our motto should always be to protect the health of those without wealth , the minister added. (PTI)
Andhra Pradesh CM announces ex-gratia for children who lost parents due to Covid
Andhra Pradesh CM Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy has announced Rs.10 lakhs as ex-gratia in the form of a fixed deposit to the children, who lost their parents due to Covid-19. The scheme is applicable to children below the age of 18 years whose families are below the poverty line, Chief Minister's Office informed.
Punjab Reports 3,914 Fresh Covid-19 Cases
Chandigarh: Punjab on Thursday reported 178 more fatalities due to COVID-19, taking the toll to 14,004, while 3,914 fresh infections took the total number of cases to 5,56,089, according to a medical bulletin.
The number of active cases dropped from 50,549 on Wednesday to 48,231, as per the bulletin.
The state's daily recoveries of 5,995 were in excess of the daily infections of 3,914.
Seventeen deaths were reported from Ludhiana, 15 from Faridkot and 13 each from Bathinda, Amritsar and Sangrur, of the latest fatalities.
Ludhiana reported 411 cases, followed by 401 in Jalandhar, 344 in Bathinda and 313 in Muktsar, among fresh cases.
The state's positivity rate stood at 5.43 per cent, as per the bulletin.
With 5,995 recoveries, the number of cured persons reached 4,93,854, as per the bulletin.
There are 358 critical patients who are on ventilator support, 943 other critical patients and 5,809 on oxygen support, the bulletin said.
A total of 90,01,438 samples have been collected for testing so far in the state, it said.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh registered 200 cases, taking the infection tally to 59,416, according to a medical bulletin.
Seven more people succumbed to the infection, taking the toll in the Union Territory to 729.
The number of active cases dropped from 3,573 on Wednesday to 3,129, as per the bulletin.
With 637 patients being discharged after they recovered from the infection, the number of cured persons reached 55,558, as per the bulletin.
A total of 4,96,588 samples have been taken for testing so far and of them, 4,35,973 tested negative while reports of 78 samples were awaited, the bulletin stated. (PTI)
Delhi govt constitutes committee to assess complaints of deaths due to oxygen shortage
Delhi government constitutes a 6 member committee to assess complaints received regarding deaths due to lack of oxygen on a case-to-case basis. This is for grant of ex-gratia compensation over and above the no-fault ex-gradation of Rs 50,000 already ordered by the government.
The Committee would draw up objective criteria to award compensation, limited to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakhs in each case, the Delhi government stated.
(Photo: ANI)
Meanwhile, the state health department informed that 153 cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) have been reported today, exceeding the total number of cases from 620 to 773.
Telangana receives positive response from AstraZeneca & Sputnik V for global tender
Telangana has received a positive response from AstraZeneca and Sputnik V for global tender for vaccine procurement by the state Government, negotiations are underway: Srinivasa Rao, Telangana Director of Public Health.
Till now, 88 complaints have been received against 64 private hospitals for excessive billing. Showcase notice has been served to these private hospitals, he informed.
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