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Wed, 21 April 2021
Going beyond call of duty, Delhi cops arrange oxygen
Timeline Refresh
23:49 TMC's Madan Mitra tests Covid positive
Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra was admitted to SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, after he complained of breathing problems, where he tested positive for Covid-19.
23:21 Pune hospital vandalised following patient's death
A group of around 20 unidentified people allegedly vandalised a private hospital in Pune city and beat up a doctor as well as other staff following the death of a patient early on Wednesday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Prime Hospital in Kondhwa, he said.
A complaint in this regard was lodged by a 25-year-old doctor, a visiting medical practitioner.
"At around 12.30 am, he visited the hospital. At that time, an ambulance carrying a patient reached the hospital. The complainant checked the patient, but as he could not locate the vein of the patient, he informed a senior doctor," the official from Kondhwa police station said.
On being checked, the patient was found dead, he said. "Angry over his death, the mob accompanying the patient became violent and assaulted the complainant with iron rods. They also hit a hospital staffer and ransacked the glass of a security cabin besides throwing stones at the hospital door," he added.
A complaint in this regard was registered under relevant sections of the IPC, he said.
23:15 Going beyond call of duty, Delhi cops arrange oxygen
Going beyond the call of duty, Delhi Police personnel got COVID patients admitted to hospitals, arranged oxygen cylinders, and supplied food and essential commodities to elderly couple amid a lockdown in the national capital that is grappling with soaring coronavirus cases.
For two days, the police have been flooded with requests from city hospitals to arrange oxygen cylinders amid a crunch in its supply.
Police arranged 11 oxygen cylinders for Amarleela Hospital in West Delhi's Janakpuri when it sent out a distress call around 9 am its stock of oxygen was nearly exhausted.
"Local oxygen suppliers were contacted and 11 oxygen cylinders were arranged for the hospital from Kirti Nagar, Gole Market and Mayapuri," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Prashant Gautam said.
A green corridor was created to facilitate the movement of a truck, carrying oxygen containers, stuck on KMP flyover at Kundli Border, to Jaipur Golden Hospital in Rohini which was running out of supply.
"It was ensured that the oxygen truck safely reached the hospital in minimum possible time," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
In Shahdara, SHO Vivek Vihar and his team managed to save the lives of 52 COVID patients admitted to ESI hospital in Jhilmil by arranging oxygen on an emergency basis on early Wednesday morning, police said.
The lives of 130 patients were at risk due to the shortage of oxygen Santom Hospital. The medical superintendent of the facility approached Rohini district police which then managed to arrange oxygen cylinders and created a green corridor for the ambulance to transport those to the facility.
In Vasant Vihar, police arranged oxygen cylinder for a COIVD-19 patient in isolation within minutes of receiving information, they said.
On Monday night, a green corridor was created for two tankers carrying 19,500 litres of liquid oxygen from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana borders to Sri Action Balaji Hospital, an exclusive COVID-19 facility in outer Delhi's Paschim Vihar.
The Jangpura police post of southeast district came to the rescue of patients on Tuesday by arranging 10 oxygen cylinders for Holi Family Hospital and five for Jeevan Hospital.
In northwest Delhi's Trinagar, police came to the rescue of a 51-year-old coronavirus patient after his wife requested police to arrange an oxygen cylinder as his oxygen level had fallen below 50 and could not be admitted to a hospital due to a shortage of beds.
"Our team immediately responded and arranged an oxygen cylinder from UP's Sahibabad. It was timely delivered to the family members of the patient who is stable now," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani.
In another instance, a 71-year-old COVID positive woman in Bharat Nagar area was admitted to Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital by beat constable Harkesh after information was received that her health condition was deteriorating. She lives alone here as her son is in Singapore, the officer said.
The southeast district police came to the rescue of an elderly couple in Kalkaji Extension on Tuesday after the elderly woman said her maid was unable to come for daily chores due to the pandemic.
"The couple were provided food and other basic commodities and were assured that maid would come to their house daily following proper COVID protocols," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) R P Meena. -- PTI
22:44 Maharashtra govt issues fresh restrictions
The Maharashtra government has issued fresh restrictions to be imposed in the state from 8pm on April 22 to 7am on May 1
As per the orders, attendance in government offices reduces to 15%, except departments engaged in emergency services.
Also, all private offices that were allowed to function as part of the exempted category to have been asked to reduce attendance from 50% to 15%.
Marriage ceremony may be conducted only as a single event in a single hall not extending beyond 2 hours with maximum of total 25 persons attending the same. Any family seen to be flaunting the restraints or not following these in letter and spirit may be fined Rs 50,000.
Private buses can ply with 50% of seating capacity with no standing travellers.
22:17 Gujarat reports highest daily rise of 12,553 Covid cases
Gujarat added 12,553 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest daily count so far, while 125 patients died due to the infection, the most in a day, officials said.
The number of cases in Gujarat rose to 4,40,731 with the addition of 12,553 new infections, said a release by the Health Department.
The previous highest one-day case count - 12,206 - was reported on April 20.
As many as 125 patients succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, the highest so far in the period, taking the toll to 5,740, the release said.
The previous highest one-day death count (121) was registered on April 20.
Surat district recorded 29 deaths, followed by 23 in Ahmedabad, 12 each in Vadodara and Rajkot, 8 in Jamnagar and 6 in Bhavnagar, the department said.
Deaths were also reported in various other districts of the state.
Ahmedabad city registered 4,821 new COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours, followed by 1,849 in Surat city, 495 in Mehsana district, 491 in Surat district, 475 in Vadodara city, 397 in Rajkot city and 307 in Jamnagar city.
As many as 4,802 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the tally of recovered cases to 3,50,865, the release said.
Gujarat's COVID-19 recovery rate dropped below 80 per cent to stand at 79.61 per cent, it said.
The number of active cases rose to 84,126, of which 361 patients are on ventilators, while 83,765 are stable, the department said.
As many as 90.93 lakh people have been given the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Gujarat till date, while 16.22 lakh have received the second dose, said the release. -- PTI
21:38 Night curfew imposed in Mangaluru till May 4
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been issued for a period of 14 days from Wednesday till May 4 from 9 pm to 6 am on weekdays within the Mangaluru city police commissionerate limits in the wake of the spread of Covid-19.
During weekends, the order would be in force from 9 pm on Friday till 6 am on Monday, city police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said.
Only vehicles used for emergency services would be allowed, he said.
Persons with health problems would be allowed to travel with the help of a companion, he said.
People working on night shifts should carry identity cards from their institutions, the police official said.
Theatres, shopping malls, gymnasium, sports complex and swimming pools would remain shut, he said.
Only 50 people would be allowed to take part in weddings and 20 people for funerals, the order said.
Earlier, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner K V Rajendra told reporters that people attending marriages should carry their identity cards with them.
The daily rituals at temples can be done by the priests but public entry would be restricted.
During the weekend curfew, there is provision to buy essential commodities from 6 am to 10 am, he said.
21:11 Poll-bound WB reports highest 1-day Covid spike
West Bengal on Wednesday registered its highest single-day spike of 10,784 new COVID-19 cases, which took the tally in the state to 6,88,956, the health department said in a bulletin.
The death toll also rose to 10,710 after 58 fresh fatalities were reported.
In the last 24 hours, 5,616 patients were cured of the disease in the state, and the recovery rate stands at 89.23 per cent.
West Bengal now has 63,496 active cases, the bulletin said.
Since Tuesday, 50,014 samples have been tested for coronavirus, it added. -- PTI
21:08 Delhi HC slams Centre for not providing oxygen
The Delhi high court on Wednesday directed the Centre to forthwith provide oxygen by whatever means to the hospitals in the national capital which are treating serious Covid-19 patients and are facing scarcity of oxygen.
"Why is the Centre not waking up to the gravity of the situation? We are shocked and dismayed hospitals running out of oxygen but steel plants are running," the high court said.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said responsibility to ensure oxygen supply is squarely on the central government's shoulders and if necessary, entire supply of oxygen to industries including steel and petroleum can be diverted for medical usage.
"The steel and petrochemical industries are oxygen guzzlers and diverting oxygen from there can meet hospitals' requirements," the bench said.
"If Tatas can divert oxygen they are generating for their steel plants to medical use, why can't others? This is the height of greed. Is there no sense of humanity left or not," the court observed.
The court was hearing a plea with regard to urgent need of oxygen in some Delhi hospitals.
20:58 7,684 new coronavirus cases in Mumbai, 62 deaths
The tally of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai crossed the six lakh-mark on Wednesday as it added 7,684 cases, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
The city also recorded 62 deaths, highest in a day since July 21, 2020 when the same number of fatalities had been witnessed.
Mumbai's caseload rose to 6,01,590 and death toll increased to 12,501, the civic body said.
As many as 47,270 tests were done on Wednesday, taking the number of samples tested for coronavirus to 50,75,152.
On Tuesday, the city had reported 7,214 new cases and 35 deaths.
On April 4, Mumbai had reported its highest 11,163 COVID-19 cases, but since April 16, the daily spike is below 9,000.
The number of recovered patients went up to 5,03,053 with 6,790 patients discharged from hospitals during the day.
There are 84,743 active COVID-19 patients in the city.
The city's rate of recovery is 84 per cent, while the overall growth rate of COVID-19 cases is 1.42 per cent and average growth rate is 48 days. -- PTI
20:34 Centre has increased Delhi's oxygen quota: Kejri
With several private and city government hospitals in Delhi running low on medical oxygen for Covid-19 patients, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that the Centre has enhanced the national capital's oxygen quota.
"Central govt has increased Delhi's quota of oxygen. We r very grateful to centre for this (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.
Hours before this announcement, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had alleged in a press briefing that an official of the Haryana government stopped oxygen supply to Delhi from a plant in Faridabad.
Several hospitals in Delhi also alleged that the Haryana government was not allowing vendors to supply oxygen to them and there is only limited stock left as hundreds of coronavirus patients battled for their life in these healthcare facilities.
20:22 Panchayat polls process put off due to COVID surge in Bihar
The Bihar election commision on Wednesday decided to postpone issuing notification for the panchayat polls for now in view of the raging coronavirus cases in Bihar.
Preparations were underway to issue order for the panchayat elections by the end of April.
Considering COVID-19 surge it has been decided to put off announcement of polls for the rural bodies for now, a statement of the state election office said.
"Further decision will be taken upon reviewing the situation after 15 days," the statement said.
Many staff of the state election office have also tested positive for the disease.
Election process for panchayats has to be completed by June 15 when the term of the three-tier local bodies end.
The Panchayat elections will be held for 2.58 lakh posts under Panchayati Raj Institutions with 1,14,667 ward members and panchas in gram panchayats. There are a total of 8,387 posts of the panchayat heads (Mukhiyas) and as many sarpanchas, 11,491 panchayat samitis and 1,161 posts of district board members.
The elections have to be conducted in 45,103 village-based polling booths through the EVMs.
When a question was posed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his press interaction programme on Sunday last as whether panchayat polls will be held in the state in view of the raging coronavirus situation, he had said the election office will take appropriate steps in this regard.
Bihar is also witnessing dangerous second surge of coronavirus. -- PTI
Shashi Tharoor
20:15 Congress leaders Tharoor, Adhir test Covid positive
Congress's member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, and West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have tested positive for Covid-19.
'After waiting two days for a test appointment and another day and a half for the results, I finally have confirmation: I am Covid positive. Hoping to deal with it in a 'positive' frame of mind, with rest, steam and plenty of fluids. My sister and 85 year old mother are in the same boat,' Tharoor tweeted.
Chowdhuy posted on Twitter: 'I have been tested Covid positive, requesting all who came in contact with me for last 7 days must comply with Covid protocols. I will be continuing my campaign through virtual platform, I do suggest and request all to take utmost care to keep away Covid from your lives.'
20:09 Not feasible to club 3 phases of WB poll: EC
The Election Commission on Wednesday told the Trinamool Congress that its suggestion to club the remaining three phases of West Bengal assembly polls was not implementable.
In a letter to the Trinamool Congress, the poll panel cited election law and various steps it has taken to ensure safety of voters in view of the coronavirus pandemic to rule out any change in the poll schedule for the state.
While phase six of the West Bengal polls is scheduled on April 22, the seventh and eighth phases are on April 26 and 29. -- PTI
19:27 Night curfew in Goa, curbs on bars and casinos
The Goa government on Wednesday announced a 10-day-long night curfew in the state effective from Wednesday and imposed curbs on restaurants, cinema halls and casinos in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases.
The government also announced the postponement of the upcoming 10th and 12th standard examinations of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
The curfew, from 10 pm to 6 am, will come into force on Wednesday (April 21) and remain in operation till April 30, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said after chairing a high-level meeting.
Petrol pumps, pharmacies and other essential services will remain open during the curfew hours, he said.
Sawant said during the night curfew only commercial vehicles transporting essential goods would be allowed to ply.
The curfew and other curbs would be in force till April 30 after which the state government will review the situation and take a call on their extension, he said.
The public will not be allowed to be on the road during the curfew, he added.
The government said casinos, bars, restaurants, river cruises, water parks, entertainment parks, cinema theatres, gyms and parlours will operate only at 50 per cent capacity.
Sawant announced that the 10th and 12th standard examinations of the state board is being postponed. He said the board will inform students about the new dates 15 days in advance. The chief minister said schools and colleges would be closed except for holding online examinations.
However, Sawant said the upcoming elections to five municipal councils will be held as per schedule and with Covid-19 protocols in place.
19:07 Xi to attend Biden's climate summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping will take part in United States President Joe Biden's climate summit being organised virtually on Thursday and Friday in which several world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will participate.
At the invitation of Biden, President Xi will attend and deliver an "important speech" at the Leaders' Summit on Climate on Thursday by video link from Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Modi, to the two-day conference beginning April 22, which according to a While House statement will underscore the urgency and the economic benefits of stronger climate action.
It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow, the statement said.
Chinese experts consider invitation to Xi for the summit as a positive signal for the China-US relationship, facing growing tensions on a number of issues like Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The Chinese top leader's attendance was confirmed just a day before the summit, and a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed he will be speaking at the summit, showing that the two countries are willing to take part in global efforts to address the climate issue despite tensions with the US, state-run Global Times daily reported.
The US and China are the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
Former US President Donald Trump withdrew America from the Paris Climate deal but Biden announced the return of the US to the Paris climate accord after he took over the presidency. Climate change has been a major area of focus for Biden.
Ahead of the US-led climate summit, Xi held a video summit exchanging in-depth views and reaching a consensus for cooperation on climate change with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
China's attendance signals that cooperation between China and the US is still the mainstream tone, Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the daily. -- PTI
18:56 Over 21k tested Covid +ve after taking 1st dose: Govt
More than 21,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 after taking the first dose of either Covishield or Covaxin, while over 5,500 contracted the infection after taking the second dose, the Centre said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said 0.04 per cent of 17,37,178 individuals, who received the second dose of Covaxin, were positive for COVID-19, while 0.03 per cent of 1,57,32,754 people, who took the second dose of Covishield, contracted the infection.
Bhargava who presented the data said vaccines reduce the risk of infection and prevent death and severe infection.
"After vaccination if one gets infection then it is known as breakthrough infection," he said.
So far, 1.1 crore doses of Covaxin have been administered. Out of which 93 lakh received the first dose and out of that 4,208 (0.04 per cent) people got the infection which is four per 10,000 individuals. About 17,37,178 people received the second dose of which only 695 (0.04 per cent) tested positive for COVID-19, Bhargava said.
Of Covishield, 11.6 crore doses have been given. Ten crore received the first dose and 17,145 i.e. 2 per 10,000 people contracted the infection. About 1,57,32,754 individuals took the second dose of covishield and of that 5,014 (0.03 per cent) got infected. Two to four per 10,000 breakthrough infections have occurred, a very small number. This was mainly healthcare workers prone to more occupational hazards, he said.
According to the data, 5,709 people contracted the infection after the second dose of either of the two vaccines.
"This is a very small number and not at all worrisome. Secondly, the highly transmissable second wave also contribute miniscule to the percentage so this could have been even zero per cent," he said.
NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul noted that there is a risk even after taking vaccination so "we stress people to follow COVID appropriate behaviour even after taking the vaccination". -- PTI
18:41 Haryana govt official stopped oxygen supply: Sisodia
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged on Wednesday that an official of the Haryana government stopped oxygen supply to Delhi from a plant in Faridabad.
Sisodia said the AAP govt had been demanding that the Centre increase Delhi's quota of oxygen from 378 metric tonnes to 700 metric tonnes.
The central government, which decides the quota of oxygen for states, is yet to take a step in this direction, he said at a press conference.
"We again demand that the Centre increase our oxygen quota to 700 MT in view of the increased consumption. Patients from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, are admitted in city hospitals," Sisodia said.
He claimed that an official of the Haryana government stopped oxygen supply from a plant in Faridabad.
A similar incident took place in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. This led to a crisis in some hospitals, Sisodia said, adding the oxygen supply had been restored now.
The Delhi government demands that states should get their allotted share of oxygen without others interfering into it, he added.
Several hospitals in Delhi on Wednesday alleged that the Haryana government was not allowing vendors to supply oxygen to them and there is only limited stock left as hundreds of coronavirus patients battled for their life in these healthcare facilities.
No reaction was immediately available from the Haryana government.
According to an official, Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital had five hours of oxygen left around 4.30 pm. There are 58 COVID patients, including 10 in ICU, in the hospital.
"The vendor, as per its representative, is not being allowed by the Haryana government to supply oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen to Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital, Pusa Road. Supply left is sufficient only for five hours," the official said. -- PTI
18:03 Lanka asks Chinese ship to leave Hambantota port after radioactive material found on it
Sri Lanka has asked a Chinese ship to leave the southern port of Hambantota after it was found to be carrying radioactive material, officials said on Wednesday.
Anil Ranjith, the top official of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority (SLAEA), said that the ship was on its way to China from the port of Rotterdam when it developed technical difficulties and entered the Hambantota Port.
The SLAEA said the vessel had failed to disclose its radioactive cargo when it docked in at the port.
The ship was managed by the China Merchants Port Holding Company.
The main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said in parliament that the Sri Lanka Navy, who is in charge of the Hambantota port security, had not been allowed to carry out inspections on the vessel.
The local agent of the vessel had not informed the presence of dangerous cargo on board cargo when they sought permission from the Harbour Master to enter the port.
Ranjith said it was a commercial vessel, which carried radioactive material the particular material served as fuel for nuclear power plants. -- PTI
17:42 Wear mask even after vaccine: Dr Guleria
AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria: "...Oxygen is a treatment, it's like a drug.. Taking oxygen intermittently is an absolute waste of oxygen. There is no data that shows that this will be of any help to you & therefore you shouldn't do.
"As a country, if we work together, use oxygen and Remdesivir judiciously, then, there will be no shortage anywhere. In terms of the number of people who need oxygen and oxygen supply, we are well balanced.
"The vaccine prevents you from getting the disease in the form of severe illness. It may not prevent you from getting the infection. Important to understand that even after the vaccine we may have a positive report, it is why important to wear a mask even after vaccine."
(Clockwise from top) Dr Trehan, Dr Shetty, Dr Guleria
17:22 Get tested if you have symptoms: Dr Shetty
Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS-Delhi, Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health and Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman, Medanta address issues related to COVID-19 in the country.
Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health: If your O2 saturation is above 94% then there is no problem. But if it is falling after exercise, then, you need to call a doctor. It's important you get the right treatment at the right time.
There is a possibility that you may be asymptomatic, then, doctors will tell you to stay at home, isolate yourself, wear a mask and check your oxygen saturation every 6 hours.
If you have any symptom like body ache, cold, cough, indigestion, vomiting - I have one important message- get yourself tested for COVID19. It is the most important thing.
Dr Naresh Trehan, Medanta, on COVID19: Today we have enough oxygen if we try to use it judiciously. I want to tell the public that if you don't need oxygen then don't use it as a security blanket. Waste of oxygen will only lead to depriving someone who needs it.
We've now made a protocol that Remdesivir to be given not to everyone who tests positive. Only after doctors look at test results, symptoms, comorbidities of a patient, then it's to be given. Remdesivir isn't a 'Ramban', it only decreases viral load in people who need it.
Less percentage of people require hospitalisation. The hospital beds should be utilised judiciously and with responsibility. This responsibility rests on all of us.
Dr Guleria, AIIMS: In COVID, more than 85% of people will recover without any specific treatment in the form of Remdesivir etc. Most will have symptoms like common cold, sore throat etc. Over 5-7 days, they'll recover with symptomatic treatment. Only 15% may go to moderate disease.
16:55 Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital has just 5 hours of oxygen
Recurrent nightmare for India's hospitals. Five hours of oxygen left at Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital as 58 COVID-19 patients are admitted there including 10 in the intensive care unit (ICU). 35 patients await admission to the hospital.
Pyres of Covid patients burn at a crematorium in Delhi
16:49 0.04% people got Covid after Covaxin jab: Govt
Ministry of health press briefing: "There are 21,57,000 active cases in India currently i.e. twice the number of maximum active COVID-19 cases last year.
"More than 13 crore people have been vaccinated in the country so far including 30 lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours.
"Around 87% of health workers and 79% of front-line workers have received their first dose of COVID19 vaccines," says Union Health Secy Rajesh Bhushan.
"About 0.04 pc people tested positive after second dose of Covaxin and 0.03 per cent after second dose of Covishield.
"In those below 10 years, 4.03 per cent COVID-19 cases were reported in first wave, while 2.97 per cent cases registered in second wave."
16:39 TMC's Madan Mitra hospitalised
TMC leader Madan Mitra has been admitted to SSKM Hospital, Kolkata after he complained of breathing problems
Representational image
16:26 Delhi Covid hospital says O2 will run out in 2 hrs
With 300 COVID-19 patients and a limit of two hours, St. Stephen's Hospital, Tis Hazari, Delhi is struggling to survive and seeks immediate help. "Oxygen supplier Linde India has stopped our supply," an official from St Stephen's Hospital told ANI.
Earlier today, Dr DS Rana, Chairperson of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, "The problem of acute medical oxygen shortage in the national capital will be resolved in a day or two."
The lack of of medical oxygen was flagged by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the city."
16:06 President Biden says he told George Floyd's daughter, "daddy did change the world"
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday narrated a conversation he had with George's Floyd's seven-year-old daughter in which he affirmed that her father's murder had sparked global change.
Biden said he met Gianna Floyd at her father's funeral in June last year and "told her how brave I thought she was." "I knelt down and held her hand, I said 'Daddy is looking down at you so proud,'" said Biden. "She said to me then... 'Daddy changed the world.'" Biden said when he spoke with Gianna again on Tuesday after a US jury found Derek Chauvin, a former police officer guilty of murder of African-American Floyd on a Minneapolis street, he told her, "Daddy did change the world. Let that be his legacy: a legacy of peace, not violence of justice."
Chauvin was found guilty by a federal jury on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. "This is the time for this country to come together, to unite as Americans. There can never be any safe harbour for hate in America," he said. Biden described the verdict in the Chauvin trial a rare but "a giant step forward in the march towards justice in America."
"Today the jury of Minnesota found the former police officer, Derek Chauvin, guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd," said Biden, speaking from the White House. "It was a murder in the full light of day and it ripped the blinders off for the whole world to see ... the systemic racism... a stain on our nation's soul, the knee on the neck of justice for Black Americans," the president said. He also called the guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial an indictment on unjust policing.
15:43 Dr Guleria, Dr Trehan, Dr Shetty's address at 5pm
At 5 pm today, Dr Randeep Guleria Director AIIMS Delhi, Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health and Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman, Medanta will together address issues related to COVID-19 in the country.
India witnessed a jump of 295,041 cases of the coronavirus disease and 2,023 deaths in the last 24 hours, both figures are the highest ever since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the latest data released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday morning.
15:28 Union education minister tests positive
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank tests positive for COVID-19.
15:27 Oxygen reallocation will impact small biz: Crisil
Reallocating oxygen for medical purposes to take care of the rising COVID cases will have an adverse impact on small businesses in some sectors, domestic rating agency Crisil said on Wednesday.
It said the "hiccup" seems temporary for now, and it is unlikely to impact the credit quality of the affected businesses. The impact will be greater for companies in Maharashtra, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, where medical oxygen demand has increased multiple times due to high COVID-19 caseloads, the agency added.
The central government has barred industrial use of oxygen except in nine designated sectors from Thursday onwards to divert the available stocks for life-saving medicinal use.
Demand for medical oxygen is estimated to have rocketed five-fold in the second week of April versus pre-pandemic levels as COVID-19 infections took off, Crisil Ratings said.
"The disruption in the supply of oxygen for industrial use would temporarily impact the revenues of small and mid-sized companies into metal fabrication, automotive components, shipbreaking, paper, and engineering," its director Gautam Shahi said.
15:13 22 ventilator patients die, low O2 suspected
Update: The number of patients who have succumbed at the hospital in Nashik have gone up to 22. Patients died due to low oxygen supply following leakage in Nashik.
14:57 11 ventilator patients die, low O2 suspected
At least 11 patients who were on ventilators at a hospital in Nashik have died, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday, adding oxygen leakage at a storage tank could be linked to these fatalities and promised a probe.
These patients were being treated at a hospital run by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for the COVID-19 patients. "As per the information available with us, 11 patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died. The leakage was spotted at the oxygen tank which was supplying oxygen to these patients. The interrupted supply could be linked to the deaths of the 11 patients in the hospital," Tope told reporters here. He said the Maharashtra government will look into the matter and conduct a thorough probe.
"We will issue a statement later after the investigation is over," Tope added. A video of oxygen purportedly leaking from the storage plant has gone viral on social media since this morning. Some relatives of the deceased COVID-19 patients have alleged that the "lowered supply of oxygen" claimed the lives of their kin. PTI
Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth in a 2003 photograph
14:56 Britain's mourning Queen marks low-key 95th birthday
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is marking a low-key 95th birthday on Wednesday, days after husband Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday. While the national mourning period in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh officially concluded on Sunday, the monarch remains in mourning until Friday and there is unlikely to be any of the usual birthday markers such as the release of an official photograph by Buckingham Palace.
The Queen is expected to spend the day privately at Windsor Castle, where she will be joined by some close members of the royal family. I would like to send my warm wishes to Her Majesty The Queen on her 95th birthday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a Twitter statement. "I have always had the highest admiration for Her Majesty and her service to this country and the Commonwealth. I am proud to serve as her Prime Minister," he said.
Prince Philip, the longest-serving consort to a British monarch, died on April 9, just under two months away from his 100th birthday, which was due to be the focus of royal celebrations this year with the Queen's 95th already set to be a lower key affair.
14:45 Oxygen tanker leak outside Nashik hospital
An Oxygen tanker leaked while tankers were being filled at Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik, Maharashtra. Officials are present at the spot, operation to contain the leak is underway. Oxygen supply was halted for around 30 minutes.
Around 31 patients out of 80 who need oxygen have been shifted to other hospitals.
The gas had spread throughout the area causing widespread panic. Fire trucks were rushed to the spot to stop the leak.
Indrani Mukerjea
14:30 Maha: Indrani Mukerjea, 39 other inmates coronavirus positive
Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani Mukerjea and 39 other inmates of the Byculla prison here have tested positive for coronavirus and shifted to a quarantine centre, an official said on Wednesday. These 40 inmates were found positive for coronavirus after they were subjected to Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), he said.
"Most of the 40 inmates are asymptomatic. They were shifted to the isolation centre of the prison at Patankar School in Byculla in Central Mumbai as a precautionary measure," he said.
The RAT was performed on Sunday as one of the women prisoners was found infected and shifted to the COVID centre at St George Hospital in South Mumbai, the official said.
Subsequently, RAT was conducted on 350 women prisoners, 225 men inmates and 60 staff of the jail, out of whom 40 women tested positive for coronavirus.
Mukerjea has been lodged at the Byculla prison since her arrest in the murder case in August 2015. The prosecution's case is that Mukerjea, along with her former husbands Sanjeev Khanna and Peter Mukerjea, had killed Sheena Bora, who was born of her previous relationship, in the year 2012. PTI DC
13:58 Second COVID wave Modi-made disaster: Mamata
Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the second COVID-19 wave in the country and its management is a "Modi-made disaster".
Addressing an election rally at Balurghat in Dakshin Dinajpur district, the TMC chief asserted that West Bengal will be run only by a "Bengal engine government" and not by "Modi's double-engine".
"The second COVID wave is more intense. I would say this is a Modi-made disaster. There are no injections or oxygen. Vaccines and medicines are being shipped abroad even as there is a scarcity of these items in the country," she told the rally.
She claimed that this election is a fight to save West Bengal and "protect the honour of the Bengali mother".
"Our state will be run by a Bengal engine government and not by Modi's double-engine government. We will not allow Gujarat to capture our state or run it from Delhi. Bengal will rule Bengal," she said.
The term "double-engine government" often used by BJP leaders denotes the government of the same party at the Centre and the state.
The TMC chief also urged people not to vote for Left- Congress-ISF alliance candidates claiming that voting for them will strengthen the BJP's hand. Banerjee said that the Centre had said seven months ago that the pandemic has subsided.
She said that her administration is finding it difficult to set up safe homes as many government accommodations are being used to house central forces.
"We are finding it difficult to set up safe homes. Although we have increased the number of beds, I would suggest that patients who don't have severe symptoms, please remain in home isolation," Banerjee said. He also asked COVID patients with mild symptoms to cast their votes after 6 pm.
Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh. Pic courtesy: @BanglarGorboMB
13:54 Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh dies battling COVID-19
Noted Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh died on Wednesday morning while he was in isolation at his residence after testing positive for COVID-19, his family said. Ghosh, 89, was found to be COVID-positive on April 14. He was in home isolation on the advice of doctors, according to Health Department sources.
Ghosh, who suffered from several comorbidities, was hospitalised a few months ago due to deterioration of his health condition.
Considered to be an authority on Rabindranath Tagore, Ghosh is known for 'Adim Lata - Gulmomay' and 'Murkha Baro Samajik Nay', among other books.
Ghosh, known for being vocal on various social and political issues, was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011 and conferred the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 2016. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977 for his book 'Babarer Prarthana'. His works have been translated into several languages, including English and Hindi. Ghosh is survived by his daughters Semanti and Srabanti, and wife Pratima. -- PTI
A Covishield jab being administered in Prayagraj, UP
13:50 Covishield comprises 90% of vaccinations in India
Covishield, from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable, comprises over 90 per cent of the 12.76 crore COVID-19 vaccines administered across the country so far, according to government data on Wednesday.
Of this, 15 states and union territories have only given Covishield, being manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Instiute of India.
The other vaccine being administered in India is the indigenous Covaxin from Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad.
Giving details, of the 127,605,870 COVID-19 vaccination jabs administered till now, 11,60,65,107 are of Covishield while 1,15,40,763 are of Covaxin, according to the government's CO-WIN portal.
Moreover, about 15 states and union territories, including Goa, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir, have administered only Covishield to its beneficiaries. Experts said Covishield is being produced at a much higher scale than Covaxin due to which its availability is more.
Dr Samiran Panda, the Head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research, said soon the production of Covaxin will be ramped up.
"Following which, the vaccine production capacity will increase significantly," he said.
Bharat Biotech on Tuesday said capacity expansion has been implemented across multiple facilities in Hyderabad and Bangalore, to reach approximately 700 million doses per year.
The Department of Biotechnology is also providing financial support as grants to vaccine manufacturing facilities for enhanced production capacities.
"The current production capacity of indigenously developed Covaxin vaccine will be doubled by May-June 2021 and then increased nearly 6-7 fold by July-August 2021 i.e increasing the production from 10 million vaccine doses in April, 2021 to 60-70 million vaccine dose per month in July-August," said the ministry of science and technology in a statement on Monday.
13:31 Covishield vax to cost between Rs 400 and Rs 600
Serum Institute of India (SII) announces the prices of its Covishield vaccine. "Following the Govt of India directives, we are announcing the prices of the Covishield vaccine which is Rs 400 per dose for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals."
Under the third phase of the vaccination drive commencing on May 1, the vaccine manufacturers would supply 50 per cent of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) released doses to the central government and would be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to state governments and in the open market.
13:29 Hopes of entire nation in hands Bengal voters: Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday held the BJP responsible for the "medical catastrophe" in the country and urged the people of West Bengal to speak for the entire nation while voting in the ongoing assembly polls. The sixth phase of the assembly election in the state will be held on Thursday.
"An election is to hold the government accountable. The BJP is solely responsible for the medical catastrophe that has fallen on the country. The hopes of the entire nation are in the hands of the voters of W(est) Bengal," Chidambaram tweeted.
"Voters in the 6th round of polling in West Bengal tomorrow (22 April) have a great opportunity to speak for the entire country," he said. The Congress leader condemned the current situation due to COVID-19 in the country.
"What has changed since April 2020? If anything, things have become much worse," he said. Chidambaram also said the plight of migrant workers, as shown on TV, in long queues outside railway and bus stations was "heart rending".
"There is no shortage of vaccines, says Health Minister. Believe the minister. There is only a shortage of patients. Central government will issue an advertisement calling for applications from patients who want vaccines," he said in another tweet.
"There is no crowding at railway stations, says Railway minister. Believe the minister. The long queues shown on TV channels are there only to assist the Railway Police to guard the stations," he added.
The Congress has been critical of the handling of the pandemic in India, where the COVID-19 infection tally climbed to 1,56,16,130 on Wednesday, with 2,95,041 new cases, while the active caseload surpassed the 21-lakh mark. PTI
13:15 What a doll
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra lashes out at the Congress for playing politics on Covid strategy.
PS: The Narendra Modi idol behind him even has a caption at the base saying 'The Best PM in the (world, presumably)'.
13:04 Bengal gears up for Phase-VI Assembly polls tomorrow
The West Bengal electoral battlefield is gearing up for the next bout of 'Khela' as the sixth phase of voting for Assembly polls will be held on Thursday.
In Phase-VI, polling will be held in 43 constituencies in four districts to decide the fate of a total of 306 candidates including 27 women. Among the 43 constituencies, nine are in Uttar Dinajpur, eight in Purba Bardhaman, nine in Nadia and 17 are in the North 24 Parganas district.
Over 1.03 crore voters including 50.65 lakh women and 256 of the third gender are there in this phase of the election. As many as 14,480 polling stations have been designated in the sixth phase.
Development and unemployment dominate the core issues. However, the districts of North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman have experienced a bit of development as compared to the other districts. But, the lack of employment opportunities haunts the ruling government.
The BJP is targeting the incumbent TMC over 'tolabaazi' (extortion), 'cut money' and syndicate raj and appeasement politics. Plus, an air of anti-incumbency can also be felt against the ruling TMC government in the state.
13:01 Japan PM cancels India visit amid pandemic
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has called off a planned visit to India and the Philippines, government sources said Wednesday, apparently due to a resurgence of coronavirus infections in Japan. He follows in UK PM Boris Johnson's lead.
12:56 Abject failure! Priyanka slams PM's vax strategy
Slamming the government's alleged lack of preparedness to deal with the COVID-19 second wave and terming its vaccine strategy "abject failure", Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the BJP-led Centre cannot shift the blame as Jawaharlal Nehru isn't in-charge, Narendra Modi is and he should protect Indians.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, the Congress general secretary said constructive suggestions from opposition parties are being dismissed as politicisation rather than being accepted in the spirit that the nation is in crisis, every single life matters and, therefore, "all of us must stand together and do whatever we can to save lives regardless of our politics".
"They (government) are wasting time engaging in pettiness, making a minister respond to a letter addressed by a former prime minister who served this nation selflessly and with dignity to the present Prime Minister, Union Ministers are blaming state governments for increased oxygen consumption and central government press releases are targeting Opposition governments," she said.
Priyanka Gandhi's remarks come two days after Health Minister Harsh Vardhan responded to former prime minister Manmohan Singh's letter with suggestions on COVID-19 management, and alleged that the second wave of the pandemic was fuelled by Congress-ruled states as they were busy raising doubts about vaccines rather than vaccinating people.
Talking about the Congress' long-standing demand for universalization of COVID-19 vaccination and the government's inoculation strategy, Priyanka Gandhi slammed the government for exporting vaccine doses for a "PR exercise". "Thanks to 70 years of forward-thinking governance, today India is the largest manufacturer of vaccines in the world," she said.
"The Union government enabled the export of six crore vaccines between January and March 2021. A huge PR exercise was conducted with photos of vaccines arriving in countries like Mauritius, Guyana and Nepal being circulated. During this same period, Indian citizens received only three to four crore doses," she said.
"Why didn't the government prioritise Indians first. Why did the prime minister place self-promotion above the nation? In a state like UP with a 22 crore population, only 1 crore doses have been administered," the Congress general secretary in-charge Uttar Pradesh said.
Foreign agencies purchased vaccines from Indian vaccine manufacturers much before the Indian government placed an order and several large countries placed advance orders for vaccines twice the size of their population, she said, adding that India placed its first order only in January 2021.
The Modi government's lack of foresight has compelled India to become an importer of vaccines today and even now, their "vaccine strategy is flawed and discriminatory", Priyanka Gandhi said.
"Why are free vaccines not being made available to 18-45 year olds? The new variants are supposedly even more virulent and many young people are affected. And why is the government allowing middlemen into the equation without price controls?" she said. This is not a coherent strategy, it is an "abject failure", Priyanka Gandhi said.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant
12:46 Goa CM follows PM's bidding, avoids lockdown
The Goa government will prefer imposition of certain stringent restrictions given the rise in COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday but ruled out clamping of a lockdown.
The chief minister is scheduled to address a high- level meeting of officials from the Department of Disaster Management and the field of medicine at 5 pm on Wednesday. The chief minister said the government will finalise certain "firm measures" at this meeting.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that imposition of a lockdown should be the last option. Lockdown will not control coronavirus. We have to impose some restrictions to control the situation," Sawant told reporters. Sawant said he had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday and briefed him about the steps taken by the state government to break the transmission of coronavirus.
12:39 Didn't allow BJP to buy Remdesivir: Maha minister
Amid a political slugfest over Remdesivir, Maharashtra FDA Minister Rajendra Shingne has denied claims of the BJP that he had allowed the saffron party or any individual to purchase or distribute the injections, which are in high demand for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Shingne alleged the BJP was spreading wrong information even as he acknowledged that some leaders of the saffron party had approached him earlier on Remdesivir.
"No organisation or political party has the permission to purchase or distribute Remdesivir in the name of helping COVID-19 patients. The party (BJP) is spreading unnecessarily wrong information in various forms of media," the Foods and Drug Administration (FDA) minister told reporters on Tuesday night.
Mumbai police had last Saturday questioned Rajesh Dokania, director of Daman-based Bruck pharma, over the alleged excess stock of the Remdesivir drug.
However, the questioning took a political turn when senior BJP leaders, including former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar, rushed to the police station and questioned the police's move to grill Dokania. Fadnavis had admitted that BJP leaders had contacted Bruck Pharma to supply the stock to Maharashtra as the state is facing a shortage of Remdesivir vials.
"We even informed the state FDA minister (Shingne) about it and approached the Union government seeking necessary permissions. Some Maharashtra BJP leaders went to Daman recently to meet Bruck Pharma officials, requesting them to sell their exportable stock in Maharashtra," he had said.
Against this backdrop, Shingne said, "It is true that BJP leaders had approached me but I had not given any permission to the party or any individual to purchase or distribute Remdesivir injections".
12:33 DRDO to set up 2 COVID-19 hospitals in Panipat, Hisar
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up two dedicated COVID-19 hospitals of 500 beds each in Panipat and Hisar, Haryana's Home and Health Minister Anil Vij said on Wednesday.
The Army's Western Command has been asked to provide doctors and other medical staff for the facilities, he said. "DRDO will set up two Dedicated Covid Hospitals in Haryana of 500 beds each at Panipat and Hissar," Vij tweeted.
"Work to start (on setting up of these hospitals) immediately," he added. Haryana has registered a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in the last three weeks. On April 20, the state recorded 7,811 new cases of COVID-19, its biggest single-day spike so far, while 35 people succumbed to the viral disease on Tuesday.
12:19 Sharad Pawar undergoes post-operative procedure
A postoperative procedure has been performed on NCP chief Sharad Pawar at a private hospital here, the party spokesperson Nawab Malik said on Wednesday.
"Sharad Pawar underwent a follow-up procedure at the Breach Candy hospital on Tuesday late night days after his gall bladder removal surgery which was conducted on April 12. He was admitted to the hospital (for the follow-up procedure) on Tuesday evening," Malik said.
Malik said Pawar, 80, is recuperating. Pawar had undergone laparoscopic surgery (a minimally invasive procedure) on his gall bladder at the hospital on April 12. He was discharged on April 15.
Earlier, the NCP president had undergone an emergency endoscopy for the removal of a stone from his bile duct at the hospital on March 30. Pawar's party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in Maharashtra. PTI
12:04 Covid vaccine may cost Rs 1,000 in pvt market
A Covid-19 shot is likely to be available at Rs 900-1,000 in the private market in India, sources in the know said. This would be the maximum retail price, including trade margins, and vaccine makers would stand to make around Rs 650 per dose.
Vaccine manufacturers in India are planning to ramp up production after the government announced liberalising of the procurement process and making everyone above the age of 18 eligible for jabs. The supply of jabs is expected to increase from June, according to an Economic Times report.
In a meeting with PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday, vaccine makers were told to increase production capacity. Adar Poonawallas Serum Institute of India is expected to increase production by May with an increase in production capacity.
By June supply of jabs in India is expected to increase upto 200 million with an increase in production from SII and Bharat Biotech and taking into account imports from Sputnik. It currently stands at 70 million.
Courtesy, PRO Defence Pune on Twitter
11:35 Wg Cdr Shantanu to represent India at Paralympics Qualifiers
Wing Commander Shantanu, a serving officer of the Indian Air Force, has been selected to represent India at the World Rowing Asia / Oceania Continental Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta which is to be held in May 2021 at Tokyo, Japan, tweets the PRO Defence Pune.
The ministry of defence, in its press release, added that Shantanu picked up the sport in April 2019 and was selected by the Rowing Federation of India for the October 2019 Asian Rowing Training Camp and Championship which was held in South Korea. He finished 5th in Asia then and became the First Indian Paraplegic to represent India at the event.
Wing Commander Shantanu's story is inspirational. 'Having suffered severe damage to his spinal cord in a motorcycle accident in January 2017, Wing Commander Shantanu was on ventilator support for nearly two months. After having stabilized, he was shifted to the Spinal Cord Injury Ward (SCIC ward) at MH Kirkee, Pune. There, he undertook Aqua therapy and Hydro therapy. He picked up swimming as a competitive sport, winning two gold medals at the Maharashtra State Level Swimming Championship organized by Paralympic Swimming Association of Maharashtra in June 2018,' the MoD says.
To know more about his remarkable story, do read Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd)'s feature on Rediff.com, 'Celebrating Heroes: Meet the IAF's first para rower'.
11:24 M S Dhoni's parents in hospital for Covid-19
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's parents have been admitted to a hospital in Ranchi after testing positive for COVID-19.
According to doctors at Pulse Superspeciality Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand, the cricketer's parents' oxygen levels are stable.
A total of 2,95,041 fresh infections were registered in the country in a span of 24 hours, while the active cases crossed the 21-lakh mark, the data updated at 8 am showed.
10:58 Priyanka slams govt's insensitivity during Covid
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday slammed the Centre for showing insensitivity towards people during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying when people are screaming for shortages of medical oxygen, medicines and hospital beds, the central leaders are seen laughing during election rallies.
"Even today they're busy with campaigning. They are laughing from the stages (at rallies). People are crying, screaming for help, seeking oxygen, beds, medicines, and you're going to huge rallies and laughing! How can you?" the Congress leader said in an interview.
Elaborating about the deteriorating situation across the country due to COVID-19, She said that the Centre is engaged in election rallies for the West Bengal assembly polls.
Blaming the BJP-led government at the Centre for the alarming spread of COVID-19,She said that the Centre is concerned more about power rather than public health.
Hitting out at Central government for the shortage of oxygen cylinders in the hospitals, the Congress leader alleged that the shortage of medical oxygen was due to the lack of logistics, and asked why the government did not make arrangements when a second COVID-19 wave was likely to hit the country harder.
While adding that " the government has failed to put in place a proper plan to battle the second wave of infections."
"Why did it not make arrangements when a second wave was inevitable? The country is facing a shortage of oxygen because there was no strategy, this is the government's failure and bad planning," she added.
She asked the PM to act now as India is the biggest producer of oxygen.
The Congress leader said, "India's production capacity for oxygen is one of the largest in the world. Then why's there a shortage? You had 8-9 months (between first and second wave), your own serosurveys indicated that a second wave is imminent, you ignored it."
"You had time. Today, only 2,000 trucks in India can transport oxygen. How tragic it is that oxygen is available but it's not reaching where it should. 1.1 million Remdesivir injections were exported in the last 6 months. Today, we are facing a shortage," she added.
"The government exported 6 crore vaccines between January-March. During this time 3-4 crore Indians were vaccinated. Why were Indians not prioritised? Vaccine shortage is due to bad planning, Remdesivir shortage is due to no planning, oxygen shortage due to no strategy. It's the government's failure," she said while criticising the Centre for the shortage of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir as the country battles a second wave of infections.
-- ANI
10:01 India reports nearly 3 lakh new Covid-19 cases
India witnessed a jump of 295,041 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 2,023 deaths in the last 24 hours, both figures are the highest ever since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the latest data released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday morning.
The countrys total infection tally has topped 15.6 million and the active Covid-19 caseload stands at 2,157,538.
While India struggles to cope with the second wave of the pandemic in which the fatalities are also rising at a rapid pace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said the challenge is huge, we have to overcome it collectively with determination, courage, and preparation.
09:41 Vikas Dubey encounter: Clean chit to UP Police
There is no evidence against the Uttar Pradesh police in the killing of gangster Vikas Dubey after his arrest last year, an inquiry commission has said in its report, which blames the public, the media and the criminal's family for not coming forward with proof.
Vikas Dubey and his five associates were killed by the UP police in July, days after the gangster set up an ambush in which eight policemen were killed.
Vikas Dubey was being brought back to UP in a police convoy when he was shot dead. The police said the car in which Dubey was traveling flipped and he snatched a policeman's gun, tried to escape and opened fire when they shot him.
There is "no material evidence" to rebut the police version of the encounter but there is "sufficient material" to support it, the three-member inquiry panel has said in a report submitted to the UP government and the Supreme Court.
The judicial panel was set up by the Supreme Court after petitions called for an investigation into the encounter, alleging it was a set-up by the police.
Sources say the inquiry commission headed by Justice BS Chauhan has said no one came forward with any evidence against the police.
The "non-participation by citizenry and media" defeated the purpose of establishing the Inquiry Commission, the panel has reportedly said.
Neither did Vikas Dubey's wife or family members come forward with any evidence against the police despite best efforts by the panel, sources said.
The inquiry commission says it issued notices in local papers for evidence but nobody turned up.
09:14 3 ONGC personnel in Assam abducted
3 ONGC employees -- 2 Junior Engineer Assistants (Production) & a Junior Technician (Production) -- have been abducted by unknown armed miscreants in the early hours of April 21 2021.
The abduction took place on a rig site of ONGC in Lakwa field of Sivasagar District.
The abducted employees were taken by the miscreants in an operational vehicle belonging to ONGC. Later, the vehicle was found abandoned near the Nimonagarh jungles close to the Assam-Nagaland border.
A complaint has been lodged by ONGC with the local police.
08:43 Maha lockdown? CM may announce decision today
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to announce whether the state needs to be placed under a strict lockdown in his address scheduled after 8 pm on Wednesday, Maharashtra ministers have confirmed.
On Tuesday, the issue of a stricter lockdown was discussed in the Cabinet where the majority was in favour of a long lockdown in the state, extending for a week or two, instead of night curfew or the imposition of Section 144.
"Tomorrow after 8 pm, the chief minister will announce the decision on lockdown in the state. We have requested the CM to announce a complete lockdown in the state from tomorrow at 8 pm. This was the request of all ministers to the chief minister. Now it is his decision," Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra reported 62,907 fresh Covid-19 cases and 519 deaths. Out of 519 deaths, over 200 were from last week and before, but was added to the toll on Tuesday, the health department clarified. The number of active cases in the state stands at 6,83,856.
08:03 US ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder
A federal grand jury has found Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, guilty on all three counts of murder of African American George Floyd last year.
Floyd, 46, was killed in a brutal abuse of police force on May 25 last year during an arrest after a store clerk alleged, he had passed a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis.
Chauvin, 45, pinned down Floyd with his knee on the pavement of a south Minneapolis intersection for more than nine minutes. "I can't breathe. I can't breathe," were his last words.
The horrific death of Floyd resulted in a nationwide violent protest. A 12-member federal jury in Minneapolis found Chauvin guilty on all three counts: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
US President Joe Biden said it was a murder in the full light of day and it ripped the blinders off for the whole world to see the systemic racism in the country.
"The systemic racism is a stain on our nation's soul. The knee on the neck of justice for black Americans. Profound fear and trauma. The pain, the exhaustion that black and brown Americans experience every single day," Biden said.
-- PTI
00:15 Bharat Biotech to produce 30 mln doses next month
Bharat Biotech will produce 30 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, next month against 15 million doses in March to support vaccination campaign in the country, its chairman and managing director Krishna Ella said on Tuesday.
The vaccine maker in a statement has said that the company has ramped up its production capacity of Covaxin to 700 million doses per annum.
The comments have come at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has exhorted vaccine makers to scale up their production capacity to inoculate all Indians in the shortest possible time.
The government has also approved a payment of about Rs 4,500 crore as advance to vaccine makers like Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech against future supplies.
Speaking at an event, Ella said that the company will be activating two new facilities at Bengaluru. The company started with one production facility in the beginning, and now it has four production facilities activated in Hyderabad.
"Last month we produced 15 million doses, this month we are reaching 20 million doses, next month we will be making around 30 million doses followed by 70 to 75 million doses," Ella said.
He said that the company expects to reach a production capacity of up to 800 million doses per annum by July-August. "We are ramping up the production and by July-August we will be able to reach 700 to 800 million doses production capacity per annum," Ella said.
Ella also emphasised that the company has never taken any money from the Government of India for production or for clinical trials so far.
Stating the need for vaccination, Ella said injectable vaccines only protect the lower lung not the upper lung so many people may still get the disease after vaccination but it won't be lethal and one gets protection against the seriousness of the disease. Wearing a mask is a must even after vaccination.
When asked about his take on other vaccines against COVID-19 coming to India, Ella said if the vaccines are well tested and well proven, Indian citizens should have all the options available. He also added that people should believe that Indian science is not behind any of the western countries. -- PTI
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