Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Karnataka Govt Announces Extension Of Lockdown By 2 Weeks Till June 7

Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Friday, May 21: As the 'black fungus' or Mucormycois has been declared as an epidemic given the rise in cases and deaths primarily among patients who have recovered from coronavirus not the country is battling with shortage of AmphotericinB that is being used to treat the disease. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the crisis will be resolved soon as five more pharma companies have got new drug approval for producing it in India,

ABP News Bureau Last Updated: 22 May 2021 12:03 AM

Background

Coronavirus HIGHLIHTS, Friday, May 21: India has reported 287,160 deaths from the coronavirus disease till May 19. Of these, 75,305, or a little over 26%, were recorded in the first...More

Coronavirus HIGHLIHTS, Friday, May 21: India has reported 287,160 deaths from the coronavirus disease till May 19. Of these, 75,305, or a little over 26%, were recorded in the first 19 days of May. By the end of May, India would have reported at least 100,000 deaths for the month. No country, not the US, not Brazil, has reported more deaths in a month. And anecdotally, the divergence between reported and actual deaths is likely to have been the most in the month.As concerns continue unabated across the nation amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the daily cases of the novel coronavirus have reportedly dropped by over 50 percent over the week in several states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa and Jharkhand.According to official data, the daily Covid cases in the national capital Delhi have come down by 71.05 per cent from 13,287 on May 13 to 3,846 on May 19.A seven-day rolling average of vaccinations in India showed an alarming decline for the seventh day on Thursday, as the Health Ministry said only 11.66 lakh people got their jabs a day ago, mounting concern about next waves of infections.At 13.42 lakh, the rolling average number of vaccinations was lowest since March 14 when the second wave of coronavirus infections, which overwhelmed the country's healthcare system and left thousands dead, was scaling up.

21/05/2021 21:23:10

Karnataka Govt Announces Extension Of Lockdown By 2 Weeks Till June 7

The Karnataka government on Friday announced extension of lockdown for two weeks from May 24 to June 7 to contain the spread of coronavirus in the State. The stringent restrictions are already in force from May 10 and was slated to end on May 24.

Stating that the lockdown has been extended in view of the public health concerns and the suggestions of the experts, CM Yediyurappa said he expected cooperation from people.

21/05/2021 19:50:54

Delhi To Temporarily Suspend Vaccination For 18-44 Age Group From Monday, Says AAP

The vaccination drive against coronavirus in Delhi will have to be suspended for the 18-44 age group from Monday due to the vaccine stock getting over, AAP MLA Atishi said on Friday.

She said that for the 45-plus age group as well less than a day's stock of Covaxin is left, while the Covishield stock for them can last up to eight days.

21/05/2021 19:48:03

Rajasthan Reports 6,225 New Covid Cases, 129 Deaths

Rajasthan reports 6225 new COVID-19 cases, 18,264 recoveries and 129 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 9,03,418
Total recoveries 7,64,137
Death toll 7475

Active cases 1,31,806

21/05/2021 17:31:14

Delhi Records 200 Cases Of Black Fungus, UP Declares It Epidemic

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday said that there were close to 200 cases of 'black fungus' reported so far in the Capital and advised people to report such cases immediately to doctors and not take medicines on their own.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh government, on Friday, declared the deadly infection, black fungus, as an epidemic. The state has so far registered 169 cases of mucormycosis and eight deaths due to it.

21/05/2021 17:22:24

Rajasthan HC Rejects Bail Plea Of Asaram Bapu

Rajasthan High Court on Friday rejected the interim bail plea of Asaram Bapu, serving life imprisonment in a rape case. He was seeking interim bail on health grounds.

He was admitted to AIIMS after contracting COVID & as per his health bulletin he has completed his quarantine period & can be discharged.

21/05/2021 17:21:27

UP Records 7,735 New Covid Cases, 172 Deaths

Uttar Pradesh reports 7,735 new Coronavirus cases, 17,668 recoveries and 172 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total recoveries 15,34,176
Death toll 18,760
Active cases 1,06,276

21/05/2021 15:08:38

Delhi Records 3000 Cases in Last 24 Hrs

Delhi reports 3,009 new COVID19 cases, 7,288 recoveries and 252 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Active cases: 35,683

Total recoveries: 13,54,445 Death toll: 22,831

21/05/2021 14:58:17

21/05/2021 14:33:36

Haryana Begins Post Covid Care Centre

Post COVID19 care centres 'Umang' will be started in all large govt hospitals in Haryana. Physiotherapists & Yoga teachers will also be present in addition to doctors to treat the difficulties being experienced by patients after recovering from COVID19: Haryana Minister Anil Vij

21/05/2021 13:38:33

Oxygen leakage at Siliguri hospital triggers panic

Oxygen leakage at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri triggered panic among COVID patients and their families on Friday morning, officials said.

The incident happened around 9.15 am when the leakage was detected in a pipe supplying oxygen to the COVID block of the hospital, they said.

The oxygen clouded the room where the leak was detected, triggering panic among the patients who thought that fire may have broken out.

The COVID patients started running out in panic amid the chaos, while large number of people, including their family members, gathered outside the block.

Soon, the fire brigade was informed and two fire tenders were rushed from the Matigara fire station, officials said.

The situation was brought under control after stopping the oxygen supply for some time, they said.

No one was injured and no other sorts of damage were reported due to the incident, they added.

The leakage was repaired and normalcy returned, officials said.

21/05/2021 13:28:49

Health Min asks authorities against excessive use of steroids

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan holds a meeting via video conference with health ministers of 9 States & UTs to review the prevailing COVID situation & progress of vaccination drive in their respective regions. Health Minister said in the press conference that the mutation virus might affect children in the near future. Dr Harsh Vardhan advised authorities to check on diabetic patients also advise against indiscriminate use of steroids to keep a check on Black fungus.

21/05/2021 13:22:06

Medanta Chairman Shares Symptoms Of Black Fungus

The first symptoms of COVID-associated Mucormycosis are pain/stuffiness in the nose, inflammation on cheek, fungus patch inside the mouth, swelling in the eyelid etc. It requires aggressive medical treatment: Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman, Medanta on Black fungus.

Dr Trehan said that the key to controlling Black fungus is the judicious use of steroids and good control of diabetes.

21/05/2021 13:11:35

Leader of Chipko Movement, Sunderlal Bahuguna, succumbs to Covid-19

Celebrated environmentalist and leader of Chipko Movement, Sunderlal Bahuguna succumbed to Covid-19 at AIIMS Rishikesh on Friday.

21/05/2021 13:11:47

Uttar Pradesh declares black fungus as epidemic

Uttar Pradesh becomes the 6th state to declare black fungus as an epidemic. The centre has notified states to announced Mucormycosis as epidemic due to the rise in cases in Covid patients.

21/05/2021 12:09:29

PM Modi gets teary eyed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Varanasi doctors and health care staff in Varanasi via video conference. PM lauded the frontline workers who are working day and night to treat the Covid victims. PM Modi got emotional while speaking about those deceased due to Covid and expressed grief for the families who lost their loved ones.

21/05/2021 11:26:46

Uttarakhand Govt Deceiving Itself: Nainital HC

A bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan & Justice Alok Verma of Uttarakhand HC reprimanded the state government, for giving permission first to Kumbh Mela, and now to Chardham, and asked to "go and see what is happening".

Nainital High Court said that the ever-decreasing number of COVID19 tests shows that the State government is deceiving itself and the people as well

21/05/2021 10:38:31

Karnataka will receive 2 lakh doses of Covishield today

Karnataka will receive 2 lakh doses of Covishield today. So far we've received 1,24,20,510 doses incl 1,13,26340 (1,01,60,060 Covisheid&11,66,280 covaxin) from GoI & 10,94,170 (9,50,000 covishield&1,44,170 covaxin) from state procurement: Karnataka Health Minister

21/05/2021 10:32:21

Health Minister To Hold Meet With CMs

Union Health Min Dr Harsh Vardhan to chair a meeting on COVID19 situation & vaccination progress with Health Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry&LG's/Administrator of A&N Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, J&K, Ladakh & Lakshadweep

21/05/2021 10:09:23

COVID-19: Karnataka to resume vaccination of 18-44 age group from Saturday

The Karnataka government will resume the COVID-19 vaccination drive for people in the 18-44 years age group from Saturday.

The frontline warriors will be the first to receive the jabs followed by other eligible groups in the list, the state government said in an order on Thursday.

The decision came eight days after the government ordered the suspension of the vaccination drive for this group in the absence of adequate supply of vaccines.

"Vaccination for 18-44 years age group is being resumed from May 22 and state procured vaccines will be utilised to vaccinate the eligible beneficiaries," the order stated.

21/05/2021 10:06:48

21/05/2021 08:04:05

COVID: 4 more deaths in Noida, 2 in Ghaziabad

Uttar Pradesh''s Ghaziabad recorded two more COVID-19 deaths that pushed its toll to 402 while four more people succumbed in Gautam Buddh Nagar, raising its fatality count to 406, official data showed on Thursday.

The cumulative death toll of the two neighbouring district''s adjoining Delhi reached 808, according to data released by the state''s Health Department for a 24-hour period.

In terms of new cases, Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded 239 fresh infections during the period and its tally mounted to 60,890. Its active cases reached 4,964, the data showed.

Meanwhile, Ghaziabad logged 364 new cases that pushed its case tally to 52,707 and active cases to 2,760, it showed.

A total of 436 patients in Gautam Buddh Nagar and 608 in Ghaziabad were discharged after treatment during the period as the overall recoveries in the districts reached 55,520 and 49,545, respectively.

21/05/2021 07:42:01

Total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in india surpasses 19 crore

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has surpassed 19 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.

On the day-125 of the vaccination drive on Thursday, a total of 14,56,088 vaccine doses -- 12,73,785 first dose and 1,82,303 second dose -- were given according to provisional report till 8 PM, the ministry data showed.

The ministry said of these 7,36,514 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 received their first dose on Thursday, and cumulatively the number reached 85,84,054 since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive on May 1.

"India achieves a new landmark in its vaccination drive as the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19 Cr (19,18,10,604) as per the 8 pm provisional report," the ministry said about the overall vaccination figures so far.

The total figure includes 97,23,296 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 66,80,206 HCWs who have taken the second dose.

As many as 1,47,84,918 frontline workers (FLWs) have received the first dose, and 82,84,445 FLWs their second dose.

Also, 85,84,054 individuals in the 18-44 years age group have received the first dose. Besides, 5,98,12,707 and 95,75,946 beneficiaries aged over 45 to 60 years old have been administered the first and second dose respectively while, 5,62,36,899 and 1,81,28,133 above 60 years have taken the first and second dose.

21/05/2021 07:41:22

NHRC notice to centre, states over denial of benefits under schemes during COVID-19

The NHRC has sent notices to the centre and states over the alleged denial of benefits to beneficiaries of various public schemes during the coronavirus pandemic due to "non-completion of biometric authentication," officials said.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a statement said, it has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging "denial of benefits to the people during the Covid pandenic, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PMGKAY) and other schemes under the integral management of public distribution system (IMPDS), due to non-completion of biometric authentication of the beneficiaries".

Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and the chief secretaries, administrators of all the states and Union Territories, it said.

The reports have been sought from them within four weeks on the action taken, regarding the issue of problematic biometric authentication or end-to-end computerisation of Public Distribution System (PDS) operations .

The commission has also specifically directed the chief secretary of Mizoram to submit action taken report within one week on the alleged denial of benefits to Chakma villagers of Vasei and Damdep Godown of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), District-Lawngtlai, despite having Aadhaar cards, ration cards under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna, it added.

The report should clearly specify the steps taken by the district administration to mitigate the hardships of the villagers, the commission said.

21/05/2021 07:39:15

Covid-19 Positivity Rate Lowest in a Month, But India Can't Afford Laxity, Says Govt

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday said the positivity rate of Covid-19 cases was at 13.31 per cent, which is lowest in a month. However, it further said India still cannot afford laxity even for a day as seven states such as Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram have shown increase in coronavirus cases.

In a press briefing, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry said, “There is a continued decrease in active cases in the country. Recoveries stand at 86.7 per cent. 21 states have reported more recoveries than daily Covid-19 cases. We have seen a 13-day decline straight. Death data is also going down now. Eight states in the country have more than 1 lakh active cases, nine states have between 50,000-1 lakh active cases and 19 states have less than 50,000 active cases. Tamil Nadu remains a cause of concern."

21/05/2021 07:37:51

Shortage of AmphotericinB needed to treat patients with black fungus

The governments of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, Assam and Delhi on Thursday declared 'black fungus' or Mucormycois as a notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 after a number of people were found to be infected with the disease in these states leading deaths in several cases.

The move came hours after the Centre asked all states to declare the disease as an epidemic given the rise in cases and deaths primarily among patients who have recovered from coronavirus. “All government and private health facilities and medical colleges have to follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis," Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal has said in a letter to states. This fungal infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality amongst COVID 19 patients, Agarwal said.

Amid a reported shortage of AmphotericinB that is being used to treat the disease, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the crisis will be resolved soon. “Within three days, five more pharma companies have got new drug approval for producing it in India, in addition to the existing six pharma companies," Mandaviya said in a tweet.