Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Bengal Records 20,839 Fresh Cases, Tamil Nadu Tally Up By 30,621 In 24 Hrs

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, May 13: The national capital on Wednesday reported 13,287 new Covid-19 cases, while 300 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to the health bulletin issued by Delhi government. The daily positivity rate in the national capital remained below 18 percent for the second consecutive day at 17.03 percent.

Background

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, May 13: In a major decision, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday issued a global tender to acquire 1 crore vaccines, an official said.The bids were issued after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray cleared a proposal, said BMC Commissioner I.S. Chahal."The BMC has issued a global bid to acquire 1 crore COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate the citizens of Mumbai at the earliest possible on a massive scale in its decisive fight against the virus," he said.The national capital on Wednesday reported 13,287 new COVID-19 cases, while 300 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to the health bulletin issued by the Delhi government.Delhi had reported 12,481 cases on Tuesday while on Monday it reported 12,651 cases.The daily positivity rate in the national capital remained below 18 percent for the second consecutive day at 17.03 percent. The positivity rate in Delhi had remained above the 20 percent-mark since April 17, before starting to gradually come down in the past few days.Although all the existing vaccination centers in the national capital have run out of Covaxin stock for the 18-44 age group and will only administer Covishield to this segment, the Delhi government has decided to set up around 200 more vaccination centers across the city.The decision has been taken in an attempt to increase the number of beneficiaries per day per centre as the Delhi government aims to achieve its target of vaccinating the entire national capital in three months.Owing to the short supply of COVID vaccines, Karnataka on Wednesday decided to 'temporarily suspend' vaccination drive for those aged between 18 to 44 years.In a series of tweets, the Karnataka Health department said that the state government has decided that the vaccine procured directly by the state government for vaccination of persons between 18 to 44 years too will be utilised for vaccination of beneficiaries who are due for the second dose.

13/05/2021 23:28:45

Vaccine Shortage Because Of PM Modi: AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi

"Vaccine shortage is only because of Narendra Modi. He placed order late, we don't have transparency. They lie to people that after first dose, take second dose after 4 weeks. Then it got postponed to 6 weeks, now it's 12-16 weeks. It shows their policy paralysis," AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said.

"Until and unless we vaccinate the Indian population, which all experts are telling us, you can't save lives. To do that Modi govt should have ensured that every month 300 million vaccination doses are given and people are vaccinated, they have failed at it," he said.

13/05/2021 22:39:28

Tamil Nadu Records Over 30,000 New Cases, 297 Deaths In Last 24 Hrs

Tamil Nadu reports 30,621 new COVID19 cases, 19,287 recoveries and 297 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 14,99,485
Total recoveries 12,98,945
Death toll 16,768

Active cases 1,83,772

13/05/2021 21:15:31

216 Cr Doses To Be Available In 5 Months, Enough To Cover All: Centre

As states grapple with a shortage of coronavirus vaccines, the Centre Thursday said that over two billion doses will be made available in the country in five months between August and December, enough to vaccinate the entire population.

"Over two billion doses will be made in the country in five months (August to December) for India and for the people of India. Vaccine will be available for all as we move forward," Paul said, adding that the number is likely to be ramped up to three billion by the first quarter of the next year.

13/05/2021 21:14:07

Peak Will Come, Covid Can Again Emerge: Govt

As the country battles the second wave of COVID-19, the government Thursday said the virus may emerge again and so preparations have to be made at the national level in collaboration with states, infrastructure needs to be ramped up while curbs and appropriate behaviour must be followed.

"It was said that the sero-positivity is 20 per cent, 80 per cent of the population is still vulnerable and that virus has not gone anywhere and other countries were also witnessing a resurge," NITI Aayog member (health) Dr V K Paul said.

13/05/2021 20:13:31

Manipur BJP Chief Passes Away Due To Covid-19

Manipur BJP chief Professor S Tikendra Singh passes away at Shija Hospital in Imphal, where he was under treatment for Coronavirus.

13/05/2021 18:27:45

Should We Hang Ourselves Over Non-Availability Of Vaccines? Asks Union Minister

Should we hang ourselves over non-availability of vaccines? Practically, certain things are beyond our control, can we manage them? asks Union Minister Sadananda Gowda. 

13/05/2021 17:37:07

Dr Harsh Vardhan Reviews Covid Situation With Health Ministry Of Various States

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan today held a meeting via video conferencing with health ministers of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Delhi on the #COVID19 situation

13/05/2021 16:07:32

SC Guidelines For Centre, Delhi, UP & Haryana Govts On Migrant Workers

Supreme Court has ordered governments of Delhi, UP and Haryana (for the districts included in NCR) to ensure that adequate transportation is provided to stranded migrant labourers in NCR who want to return to their home.

The top court also directed Centre, Delhi, UP, Haryana govts to provide dry ration to migrant workers in NCR under Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme or any other scheme utilising Public Distribution System from May. It ordered that while providing dry ration authorities won't insist on an identity card.

The court also directed governments of Delhi, Haryana, and UP (for districts included in the national capital region) to open community kitchen at well-advertised places (in NCR) for stranded migrant labourers so that they & their family members who are stranded could get two meals a day.

13/05/2021 15:53:30

We're first municipal corporation in the world to invite global tender for vaccines: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar

"We're the first municipal corporation in the world to invite global tender for vaccines. The last date for submission is May 18. After the completion of the work order, they've to deliver vaccines in under 3 weeks. They've to fulfill guidelines of ICMR & DCGI,": Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said.

"They've to install their cold storage if needed. Efficacy of the vaccines should not be lower than 60% is also under our tender's terms & conditions. We'll not give any advance payment. We will fine companies if they fail to deliver vaccines on time,": the Mumbai Mayor added.

13/05/2021 13:50:38

It Will Take Another 3-4 Days To Provide More Vaccines To Karnataka: Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda

"There are about 75,000 vaccines of Covaxin available in Karnataka at present. Of course, in certain centers, there is a little bit of scarcity. Practically, allotments will be made by the central government on basis of production of 2 manufacturing units,": DV Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister.

"In recent days, the production is not up to the expectations of the government. So, we could not provide vaccines. It will take another 3-4 days to provide more vaccines to Karnataka. Exact figures I can't say,": the Union Minister of added.

"Under the patent tag what steps we've to take to give permission or licenses to others to be looked into. At present, the patent tag does not provide us any (option). It's under consideration," he said on 2 companies producing vaccine doses.

13/05/2021 12:50:42

'If you are not capable of giving second dose to 26 lakh people tell us,' Karnataka High Court tells state govt

Karnataka High Court asks the state government how is it going to give a second dose. "How you are going to give dose to the remaining beneficiaries out of 65 lakh people," the bench asked.

"Our last order had said to give us a road map. Give us the dates. If you are not capable of giving a second dose to 26 lakh people tell us we will record that," the court remarked.

"Tell us the guidelines of Central government regarding giving the second dose. What will happen if people are not given second dose?  Will they not have to be given the first dose again?" it added.

13/05/2021 12:28:22

Delhi's Oxygen Requirement Reduces To 582 MT Per Day; 'We Will Give Surplus To States That Need It,' Says Sisodia

Delhi has reported 10,400 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate has gone down to 14%: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

He added that after assessment of the COVID-19 situation, Delhi's oxygen need is 582 MT per day. "As a responsible government, we will give the surplus oxygen to the States that need it," he said in his press conference.

13/05/2021 10:07:29

Delhi Court dismisses anticipatory bail plea of businessman Navneet Kalra

A Delhi Court dismisses the anticipatory bail plea of businessman Navneet Kalra, in connection with a case relating to the hoarding of oxygen concentrators in a restaurant in South Delhi.

13/05/2021 09:32:37

India Reports 3,62,727 New COVID-19 cases Along With 4,120 Fatalities; Active Cases Reach 37,10,525

India reports 3,62,727 new COVID-19 cases, 3,52,181 discharges and 4,120 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry.

Total cases: 2,37,03,665
Total discharges: 1,97,34,823 
Death toll: 2,58,317
Active cases: 37,10,525   

Total vaccination: 17,72,14,256

13/05/2021 09:40:11

PM Modi To Hold Key Meeting With District Magistrates Of 10 States On May 20

PM Modi to hold a key meeting with District Magistrates of 10 states on May 20. 54 DMs will take part in the virtual meeting to be held to review the COVID-19 situation. The states to be part of the first in a series of meetings will include Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Puducherry, and Odisha.

13/05/2021 08:15:11

US-approved vaccines effective against B1617 variant of COVID-19: Official

Washington: COVID-19 vaccines approved by the United States like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson have effectiveness against the B1617 variant of the virus that is predominant in India, which is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of the pandemic, a top American health official said.

The observation is based on the latest data about the variant and the three major vaccines approved by the United States, said Dr Francis Collins, Director of National Institute of Science.

The data is coming in, and it looks very encouraging that the U.S.-approved vaccines, the Pfizer, the Moderna, the J&J, do have effectiveness against this variant called B1617, Collins told the media.

It's a little less effective in that case than some of the others, but it looks like it ought to be good enough to make Americans protected. And that's really a good thing to hear, he said in response to a question.

Early this week, the World Health Organization classified the B1617 SARS-CoV-2 variant, which was first detected in India, as a variant of concern. The WHO said that evidence showed B1617 was more transmissible. (PTI)

13/05/2021 08:05:01

57 US Congressmen Urge President Biden To Bolster COVID-19 Assistance To India

Washington: Fifty-seven US Congressmen have written to President Joe Biden, urging him to bolster America's COVID-19 assistance to India.

The sharp increase in cases has overwhelmed India's healthcare system. We must do our part to quell the virus everywhere it persists, the lawmakers said in a letter to Biden on Wednesday.

We are extremely concerned with regards to India's deadly COVID-19 second wave. India is now the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today marked India's deadliest day, with 4,205 deaths reported, carrying the total number of confirmed deaths to more than 250,000, said the letter initiated by Congressman Brad Sherman, the Democratic Chair of the Congressional India Caucus.

India's latest surge of COVID-19 infections is a humanitarian crisis that requires our assistance. As long as COVID persists in India, there is the potential for additional variants that could pose a serious threat to a vaccinated America, Sherman said.

In the letter, the Congressmen relayed to the administration that India remains in need of additional medical equipment, supplies and other vital resources to emerge from this crisis.

They requested the administration to provide oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, oxygen generator plants, cryogenic oxygen tanker/container, Remdesivir, Tocilizumab and ventilators/BiPAP to India.

It is also in the US interest that everyone in India be vaccinated, the Congressmen wrote. "To the extent it is possible, we hope that you will work to provide India with vaccines," they said.

With this in mind, we welcome recently announced plans to make available sources of raw materials to help India manufacture more vaccines. Further, we ask that you share with India surplus doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as soon as possible," the Congressmen wrote. (PTI)