LIVE! Mumbai's daily cases dip below 2,000 again

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Thu, 13 May 2021

Mumbai's daily cases dip below 2,000 again

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21:09 Mumbai's daily cases dip below 2,000 again

A day after reporting 2,116 coronavirus positive cases, Mumbai's daily case count dipped below 2,000 on Thursday, although the number of deaths remained high at 68, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

The city recorded 1,946 new cases during the day, which took its caseload to 6,84,048, while the fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 14,076, it said.

This is the third time this week that Mumbai's daily infection count has remained below the 2,000-mark.

As per the update, 6,29,410 patients have recovered from the infection so far, including 2,037 who were discharged from hospitals on Thursday.

A total of 30,886 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, which took Mumbai's overall test count to 58,26,074, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.

Of the 68 deceased, 40 had co-morbidities. While 39 of them were above 60 years of age, seven others were below 40 years of age, it added.

In the last 13 days, the COVID-19 fatalities in Mumbai have remained in the range of 51 to 90.

Mumbai is one of the worst coronavirus-hit metropolises in the country.

The city had witnessed the highest ever 11,163 daily infections on April 4, while the highest number of 90 deaths were recorded on May 4 this year.

The city's recovery rate is 92 per cent, it said.

As per the BMC update, the city's average growth rate of COVID-19 cases for the period between April May 5 to May 11was 0.36 per cent, while the case doubling rate was 189 days.

There are 85 containment zones in Mumbai, where 432 buildings have been sealed to break the chain of the virus. -- PTI

The armies of India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged sweets at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, defence officials said.

On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the tradition of exchanging sweets between India and Pakistan on major festivals like Eid, Holi, Diwali and respective National days was revived and meetings were held at the Tithwal crossing on Kishanganga River in Tangdhar, Kupwara and Kaman Aman Setu in Uri to exchange sweets and pleasantries, a spokesperson said in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, an official said in Jammu: Indian and Pakistan army exchanged sweets on the occasion of Eid today at Chakan Da Bagh crossing point Mendhar-hotspring crossing along the LoC in Poonch.

They said the sweets and compliments were exchanged by both the armies in an atmosphere of bonhomie and festivities in wake of the newly achieved calm along the LoC as a result of renewed ceasefire which has brought warmth between the two neighbours.

The gesture was appreciated by both the armies and expected to promote goodwill and mutual trust, they said.

Exchange of inadvertently crossed over youths on three occasions in the last two months at the zero line in Tithwal bode well for the future, the spokesperson said.

The exchange of sweets and pleasantries was conducted with full adherence to all COVID protocols by both sides, they said. -- PTI

20:25 Karnataka to float global tender for vaccines

The Karnataka government on Thursday announced floating a global tender for procuring twocrore COVID-19 vaccines owing to supply shortage.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said a Task Force hasbeen set up to oversee the preparation for a probable thirdwave of COVID-19.

"The state has placed a purchase order for three croredoses of vaccines, two crore doses of Covishield and onecrore doses of Covaxin. We are floating global tenders for an additional twocrores," Yediyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru.

He was briefing them about the various measuresinitiated by his government to deal with the pandemic andimproving the health infrastructure in the state.

On the occasion, he said the government was appointing Prof Kang as an adviser on vaccination strategy.

"She Prof Kang is a member of several advisory committees for the World Health Organisation (WHO), mainly related to research and the use of vaccines," he added.

According to Yediyurappa, so far 1.10 crore doses have been supplied by the Centre, of which 99.5 lakh are Covishield vaccines and 10.9 lakh are Covaxin.

He said that 14.87 lakh beneficiaries have completed six weeks after taking the first dose of Covishield vaccine and are eligible for second one, whereas 5.10 lakh beneficiaries have completed four weeks after taking the first dose of Covaxin.

Thus, a total of 19.97 lakh people are eligible for second dose as on Thursday.

The state government had on Wednesday announcedsuspension of the vaccination drive for people between theage group of 18 and 44 years due to the shortage of vaccine.

It said the available stock will be utilised tovaccinate people who are due for second dose.

The chief minister also explained the various measures adopted since the outbreak of COVID in the state last year.

He claimed that the recent lockdown-like restrictions brought down the infections in the state from over 50,000 to less than 40,000 now.

To meet the increased oxygen requirement, the government decided to increase the supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO), massive scaling of localised generation capacity through oxygen generators and large scale procurement of concentrators and cylinders. -- PTI

19:57 Sputnik V to be available by next week: Govt

As states grapple with a shortage of coronavirus vaccines, the Centre on 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.

It also said Russian anti-Covid vaccine Sputnik V is likely to be available by next week.

"Two billion doses (216 crore) will be made in the country in five months for India and for people of India. Vaccine will be available for all as we move forward," Niti Ayog Member V K Paul said, adding by the first quarter of the next year, the number is likely to be three billion.

He estimated that between August to December, production of 75 crore doses of Covishield is estimated, while 55 cores doses of Covaxin will be made available.

Further, Biological E is expected to produce 30 crore doses, Zydus Cadila 5 crore, Serum Institute of India 20 crore doses of Novavax, and Bharat Biotech 10 crore doses of its nasal vaccine, while Gennova will make available 6 crore doses and Sputnik V 15.6 crore doses. -- PTI

19:38

Actor Rajinikanth took his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine today in Chennai. -- ANI

19:33 COVID-19: Indrani Mukerjea seeks interim bail

Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, has sought interim bail on health grounds after testing COVID-19 positive.

The prosecution on Thursday submitted its reply opposing her bail plea before special CBl court judge J C Jagadale.

The court noted that it has received Mukerjea's written submissions on the bail alongwith a letter from the Byculla jail in central Mumbai, where she is currently lodged.

Mukerjea had tested coronavirus positive in the last week of April, following which, she had written to the court seeking interim bail on health grounds.

Meanwhile, her regular bail plea is pending before the Bombay high court.

In June last year also, she had sought interim bail, citing the spread of COVID-19 in the prison.

Mukerjea is facing trial for allegedly killing her daughter Sheena Bora.

Bora, 24, was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Mukerjea, her then driver Shyamvar Rai and Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012.

Her body was burnt in a forest in neighbouring Raigad district.

Mukerjea was arrested in August 2015.

Later, former media baron Peter Mukerjea was also arrested for allegedly being part of the conspiracy.

He is currently out on bail granted by the high court earlier this year. -- PTI

19:00 Bodies in Ganga: NHRC notice to Centre, states

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, after receiving complaints about several dead bodies found floating in the Ganga river in the two states.

'It (NHRC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of both the states and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, today calling for action taken report within four weeks,' its statement noted.

According to residents in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, at least 52 bodies were seen floating at the Ujiyar, Kulhadia and Bharauli ghats in the Narahi area.

Similar reports of bodies floating in Ganga have come from Bihar.

In its statement, the NHRC said that it seems the public authorities have failed to take concentric efforts in educating the masses and checking the immersion of half burnt or unburnt dead bodies into the Ganga.

India has been badly hit by the second wave of coronavirus infections and cremation grounds and burial grounds across the country have been overburdened. -- PTI

17:59 Govt extends gap between 2 jabs of Covishield

The government has accepted the COVID-19 Working Group's recommendation for extending the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks, the Union health ministry said, while announcing the extension on Thursday.

However, no change has been suggested for the dosage interval for Covaxin, it said.

"Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended," the ministry said.

The present gap between two doses of Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is 6-8 weeks.

"The recommendation of the COVID-19 Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog, in its meeting on May 12, 2021," the ministry said.

It has accepted this recommendation of the COVID-19 Working Group of extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks, the health ministry added.

The COVID-19 Working Group is chaired by Dr N K Arora, who is director at the INCLEN Trust. Its members comprise Dr Rakesh Agarwal, Director and Dean, JIPMER, Puducherry; Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr J P Mulliyal, former professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr Naveen Khanna, Group Leader, International Centre For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology (ICGEB), JNU, New Delhi; Dr Amulya Panda, Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi; and Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with district magistrates of 100 districts with high caseloads of COVID-19 infections in two meetings on May 18 and 20, government sources said on Thursday.

While DMs of 46 districts from nine states will be part of the first meeting, those from 54 districts from 10 states will attend the second meeting, they said, adding that respective chief ministers will be present in these interactions.

This will be the first such interaction that the prime minister will have with top district-level administrative officers on the COVID-19 situation.

So far, he has held a number of meetings with chief ministers from across the country and also, in some cases, from high caseload states on the pandemic situation since its first outbreak in 2020.

According to the latest data from the Union health ministry, just 10 states account for over 72 per cent of new COVID-19 cases reported in a span of 24 hours and these include Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan.

Also, just 10 states account for 74.30 per cent of the new deaths.

India added 3,62,727 new coronavirus infections in a day taking the COVID-19 tally of cases to 2,37,03,665, while the death toll rose to 2,58,317 with 4,120 daily fatalities, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Thursday. -- PTI

17:14 Should we hang ourselves: Gowda on no vaccines

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday sought to know whether people in the government should hang themselves for their failure to produce vaccines as was directed by the government.

"The court has with good intention said everyone in the country should get vaccinated. I want to ask you, if the court says tomorrow that you have to give this much (of vaccine), if it has not been produced yet, should we hang ourselves?" Gowda told reporters in Bengaluru.

Replying to queries on the shortage of vaccine, the Union minister stressed on the plan of action of the government and said its decisions are not guided by any political gain or by any other reason.

Gowda said the government has been doing its job sincerely and honestly during which time some shortcomings have surfaced.

"Practically, certain things are beyond our control, can we manage them?" the Union minister sought to know.

He, however, clarified that the government has been doing its best to ensure that in a day or two, things improve and people get vaccinated.

Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary C T Ravi, who was present with Gowda, claimed that things would have been worse if arrangements had not been made well in time.

"If proper arrangements were not made well in advance then there would have been fatalities 10 times or 100 times more," Ravi said.

He said oxygen supply has been increased from 300 metric tonnes to 1,500 tonnes due to systematic preparation.

"But our preparations failed because of the unimaginable spread of coronavirus," Ravi told reporters.

Regarding courts pulling up the government on the issue of coronavirus, Ravi said, "Judges are not all-knowing (Sarvajna). Whatever is available with us, based on that the technical advisory committee will recommend how much (vaccine) has to be distributed. Based on their report, we will take a decision."

With the alarming rise in COVID cases in the State, which is reporting 40,000 to 50,000 cases daily, the demand for vaccines has grown manifold.

According to the Karnataka government officials, the state has placed an order of three crore vaccines and the money has already been paid to the two vaccine manufacturers.

However, only seven lakh doses have arrived in the State.

The panicked citizens have been queuing up before the vaccination centres in the State for inoculation only to be turned down. -- PTI

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a warning and said that a low pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 16, which may bring heavy rainfall at some places in Goa and south Konkan region.

The IMD said, 'A low pressure area has formed over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area today. It is very likely to become well marked over Lakshadweep area by Friday morning.'

It will concentrate into a depression over the same region by Saturday morning and intensify into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours, it said in the warning report.

It is very likely to intensify further and move north-northwestwards Gujarat and adjoining Pakistan coasts, it said.

It is likely to reach near Gujarat coast around May 18 evening, the IMD added.

Due to this, south Konkan and Goa region would receive light to moderate rainfall at many places on Saturday and its intensity would increase further and it would receive heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on Sunday and Monday, it said.

According to the department, 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm rainfall in 24 hours is considered as heavy, while precipitation between 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in 24 hours is termed as very heavy rainfall.

Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts form the south Konkan region of Maharashtra.

Similarly, Gujarat coast would receive rainfall from May 17 onwards.

The intensity is expected to escalate during the subsequent days with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Saurashtra and Kutch on May 18 and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kutch and adjoining southwest Rajasthan on May 19.

As the region is going to be affected by cyclone storm, the rains would be accompanied with gusty winds with a speed ranging from 50 kilometre per hours to 80 kmph in next 5-6 days.

On Wednesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had held a meeting and asked the officials of coastal districts in the state to remain alert and take necessary safety measures in view of the IMD's prediction about formation of a cyclone in the Arabian sea. -- PTI

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. ANI Photo

16:00 Chhattisgarh junks tenders for new assembly bldg

In view of a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Chhattisgarh government on Thursday cancelled tenders for the construction of the new assembly building and also stopped work on major projects in the state.

It has also decided to take more stringent measures to prevent the infection from spreading.

Construction work of the new governor's house, assembly house, chief minister's house, residences of ministers and senior officers, new circuit house in the 'Nava Raipur' area (New Raipur) has now been stopped with immediate effect, a statement issued by the state government said.

The 'bhoomi pujan' (ground breaking ceremony) for these works was done on November 25, 2019.

'Our citizens - our priority. Foundation stone for the construction of new assembly building, Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister's residence, residence of ministers and senior officials, new circuit house was laid before start of Corona. Today, all these construction works have been stopped in these times of crisis,' Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel tweeted.

The statement said that 'the state government instructed all departments on April 26 that, like the previous year, austerity should be exercised in the financial year 2021-22'.

'Now, even further, on the instructions of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the major construction works in Nava Raipur have been stopped with immediate effect,' it said.

The chief engineer of the Public Works Department has issued orders to contractors to stop construction work on these projects, it said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has attacked the Congress over the construction of the new assembly and chief minister's residence in Chhattisgarh, after the opposition party hit out at the Modi government for carrying on the construction of the Central Vista project in Delhi. -- PTI

An alleged Al Qaeda member who is a doctor and lodged in Tihar jail, moved a Delhi court on Thursday seeking permission to assist the prison authorities to deal with the COVID-19 cases.

In an application before Special Judge Dharmender Rana on Wednesday, the accused -- Sabeel Ahmed -- submitted that his experience and expertise as a medical professional would be helpful in dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases and treatment of inmates in the central jail.

Ahmed, member of banned terrorist outfit Al Qaeda in the Indian Sub-Continent (AQIS), was arrested on February 22 by the special cell of Delhi Police, for allegedly providing logistic and financial assistance to other members of the organisation in India and abroad.

Ahmed's advocate M S Khan sought a direction to the jail superintendent for allowing the accused to assist the jail administration.

It is pertinent to mention herein that accused is a qualified MBBS doctor with seven years of experience in treatment of critical cases.

His experience and expertise being a medical professional would be helpful for dealing with the surge in COVID cases and treatment of inmates in central jail, Tihar, the application said.

'It is, therefore, most respectfully and in the interest of justice prayed that directions may be issued to the jail superintendent for allowing the accused to assist the jail administration in for medical purposes on such terms and conditions as may be deemed fit and proper,' it added.

He is also an accused in suicidal terror attack at Glasgow Airport (United Kingdom) on June 30, 2007.

He was deported from Saudi Arabia on August 20, 2020 and was taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency in another terror case lodged in Bengaluru.

His custody was later taken by the special cell of Delhi Police in the present matter on February 22, this year. -- PTI

Delhi's oxygen requirement has dipped from 700 MT a day to 582 MT and the government has written to the Centre that its surplus oxygen be given to other states, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Thursday.

He also said the city's positivity rate is down to 14 per cent with 10,400 cases recorded in a 24-hour period.

"The number of new cases has come down to around 10,400 from a high of around 28,000. The positivity rate has dipped from 35 per cent to 14 per cent. More beds are available in the COVID hospitals now and the demand for oxygen has also dipped," Sisodia said at a virtual press conference.

Delhi needed 700 metric tonnes of oxygen per day when the coronavirus cases peaked.

In view of the reduced bed occupancy and dip in the number of daily cases, the government has re-calculated the demand, which is 582 MT now, he added.

The Centre had recently increased Delhi's quota of oxygen to 590 MT per day.

"The Delhi government has written to the Centre, urging it to give the surplus oxygen to other states. We are a responsible government," Sisodia, who is also the nodal minister for COVID-19 management in the capital, said.

He thanked the Centre and the Delhi high court for coming to the aid of Delhiites when they were in distress due to a surge in the number of coronavirus cases.

The number of oxygen-related SOS calls from hospitals has also reduced sharply, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said, adding that only one or two such cases were reported in the last 24 to 48 hours.

The national capital reported 13,287 COVID-19 cases and 300 more fatalities due to the viral disease on Wednesday with a positivity rate of 17 per cent.

It reported 12,481 cases on Tuesday, 12,651 on Monday, 13,336 on Sunday, 17,364 on Saturday, 19,832 last Friday, 19,133 last Thursday, 20,960 last Wednesday and 19,953 last Tuesday.

The positivity rate was 17.8 per cent on Tuesday, 19.10 per cent on Monday, 21.67 per cent on Sunday and 23.34 per cent on Saturday.

On April 22, a positivity rate of 36.2 per cent, the highest so far, was recorded. -- PTI

Image only for representation.

13:59 UPSC postpones June 27 civil services exam

JUST IN: The Union Public Service Commission has postponed the civil services preliminary examination that was scheduled to be held on June 27 amid surge in COVID-19 cases.

The examination will now be held on October 10.

Representative image only

13:54 14 Unnao doctors resign over 'harassment'

Fourteen doctors working at community and primary health centres in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao have tendered their resignation alleging misbehaviour and mental harassment by administration officers.

The doctors, however, assured that they will not let their COVID-related work be affected till talks are going on with the district magistrate and the chief medical officer over the resignations.

The fourteen doctors, who are in-charge of CHCs and PHCs here, submitted their resignation letters at the CMO office on Wednesday evening.

They also forwarded a copy of their resignation letters to the additional chief secretary (Health), director general (Health) and other senior officers.

"We will not fight under the banner of Provincial Medical Services (PMS) association. This is our fight. The DM and CMO misbehave with us even after we have been working in limited resources in rural areas for the past one year. Instead of cooperating, administration officers misbehave with us," Dr Sanjiv alleged.

"Our work is being reviewed by the sub divisional magistrate (SDM) and block development officer (BDO) level officers," he added.

The agitated doctors claimed that their salaries were also withheld several times.

However, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ashutosh Kumar refuted all the claims and said all the doctors have returned to their work.

"We don't talk like that. We all will work together," Kumar said.

Meanwhile, the doctors said they will decide on the future course of action after meeting the chief medical officer and the district magistrate in the evening. -- PTI

Weather forecasting company Skymet has released its monsoon forecast for 2021.

It expects the upcoming monsoon to be 'healthy normal' to the tune of 103 per cent (with an error margin of +/- 5%) of the long period average (LPA) of 880.6 mm for the four-month period from June to September.

This would make it third consecutive year of normal or above normal monsoon.

Skymet predicts this year the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala is likely to be on May 30.

Onset of Southwest Monsoon over Kerala is largely influenced by the oceanic conditions, both in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Likely cyclone formation in the Arabian Sea will be consequential for advance of monsoon stream over Indian waters.

However, tropical storm 'Tauktae' will vacate the Indian region by May 22, 2021 following which the westerly winds and cross equatorial flow will strengthen over Arabian Sea, it says.

This also will be assisted by the MJO (Madden Julian Oscillation) entering Indian Ocean with moderate amplitude. Pre-monsoon showers will be intense and hefty over Kerala, Skymet says.

Image only for representation.

13:25 Nepal hospitals stop admitting Covid patients due to oxygen scarcity

Patients in Nepal are gasping for breath, as authorities said they were facing an acute shortage of medical oxygen due to which 16 people infected with COVID-19 died recently, according to media reports.

The deadly virus has so far infected 413,111 people and claimed 4,084 lives in the country, which has a population of approximately 29.5 million.

The government on Wednesday asked private hospitals to instal their own oxygen plants to meet the need of oxygen within 15 days, the Himalayan Times reported.

According to the decision, all private hospitals with more than 100 beds will have to install their own oxygen plant and the government will provide the necessary support for this purpose.

The Ministry of Health and Population said it was the responsibility of all the hospitals to set up their own oxygen plants.

"Since many private hospitals have not done so, we will help them set up the plant to meet the increasing demand of oxygen for COVID patients," said Dr Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson for the ministry.

The government has estimated that around 15,000 oxygen cylinders are required to meet the current demand for oxygen.

In contrast, there are only around 8,000 oxygen cylinders in the country.

COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre, an apex government body for dealing with the pandemic, during Wednesday's meeting, pointed out that the country might need 50,000 oxygen cylinders by July-end.

Some government hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley on Wednesday said that they no longer had oxygen supply to treat COVID patients, but they had enough cylinders to fill oxygen, the report said.

At least 12 hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley have announced plans to stop admitting COVID-19 patients for treatment due to shortage of oxygen, My Republica reported on Wednesday.

The hospital is facing an acute shortage of oxygen and the government is providing only 100 oxygen cylinders per day so we cannot admit any new COVID-19 patients to the hospital, the Grande International Hospital in Kathmandu said.

Various hospitals in the Bhaktapur district of the Valley are struggling to save the lives of COVID-19 patients due to the shortage of medical oxygen, the Himalayan Times reported.

Many hospitals in the district have been flooded with patients following the second wave of the infection. Due to the shortage, many hospitals have refused to admit coronavirus patients.

Meanwhile, in Rupandehi district of Nepal, a total of 16 COVID-19 patients died due to oxygen shortage on Wednesday, the Kathmandu Post reported.

Seven patients died at Bhim Hospital of Bhairahawa, five at Butwal's COVID Special Hospital, and four at Bhairahawa's Universal Teaching Hospital.

Most COVID-19 health facilities in Rupandehi have been reporting a shortage of oxygen supply since Tuesday.

The hospitals providing treatment to COVID-19 patients had appealed to the government bodies seeking help and informing them about the catastrophic results if immediate steps were not taken.

Efforts are on to refill oxygen from Chitwan, Pokhara and Biratnagar excluding the production within the province.

Liquid oxygen is also being ferried, Shankar Pokharel, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, posted on Facebook on Wednesday. -- PTI

12:50 Covaxin cleared for phase 2/3 trials on kids

India's apex drug regulator has granted permission for conducting the phase II/III clinical trial of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine in the age group of 2 to 18 years, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.

The trial will be conducted on 525 healthy volunteers.

"The National Regulator of the country, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), after careful examination, has accepted the recommendation of Subject Expert Committee (SEC) and accorded permission to conduct the Phase II/III clinical trial of Covaxin (COVID vaccine) in the age group 2 to 18 years, to its manufacturer Bharat Biotech Ltd on May 12," the ministry said.

Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech had proposed to carry out the clinical trial in the age group of 2 to 18 years.

In the trial, the vaccine will be given by intramuscular route in two doses at day 0 and day 28.

As rapid regulatory response, the proposal was deliberated in Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 meeting held on May 11.

The Committee, after detailed deliberation, recommended for grant of permission to conduct proposed phase II/III clinical trial to certain conditions.

Earlier the proposal was deliberated in the SEC meeting on February 24 and the firm was asked to submit a revised clinical trial protocol.

Covaxin, which has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being used on adults in India's ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive. -- PTI

The Madhya Pradesh government will provide free education and a pension of Rs 5,000 per month to children whose parents died of COVID-19, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.

The CM assured that his government will take care of those who lost their earning members during the pandemic.

The state government will also stand as guarantor for those availing interest free loans to start businesses, Chouhan said in a statement to media.

"We will provide education free of cost to the children who have lost their parents. They will be provided free ration even if they are not eligible for it," he said.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely hit many families.

Children have lost their parents, while aged people are left alone as those taking care of them died due to the viral infection.

"Our government will stand by such children and families and provide Rs 5,000 pension per month to them," Chouhan said.

He said many aged people have lost their children. They have no one to take care of them and they are facing problems of survival.

"We can't leave such persons alone. They are now the responsibility of the Madhya Pradesh government," he said.

Chouhan said children who have lost their parents should not worry about their life.

"They are the children of the state and it will look after them," the chief minister said.

Home Minister Narottam Mishra claimed MP is the first state in the country to start such a scheme for children and aged people whose kin died in the pandemic.

Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday reported 8,970 new cases of COVID-19 and 84 fatalities, taking the tally of infections to 7,00,202 and the death toll to 6,679, as per the state health department. -- PTI

The Maharashtra government has extended the current Covid-19 restrictions in the state till 7am on June 1, to fight the pandemic.

It has also made negative RT-PCR report mandatory for those entering the state.

Bharat Biotech's Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella's tweet saying 50 of their employees tested positive for COVID received bouquets and brickbats from netizens with some saying Covaxin was saving lives while a few questioned as to why the staff were not vaccinated.

Referring to comments by some political bosses over COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin supply issues, Ella on Wednesday tweeted, 'Quite disheartening to the teams to hear some states complaining about our intentions. 50 of our employees are off work due to covid, yet we continue to work under pandemic lockdowns 24x7 for U.'

Reacting to her tweet, one user wrote: 'How come your 50 employees down with Covid? We're they not vaccinated? Also, why not hire more people on temporary basis?'

Ella's tweet got 9,373 likes and was retweeted by 2,564 people (at 10.30 AM on May 13).

'Hi just wanted to say Thank you. Both my grandparents are over 75 & took their first jab 5 weeks back, both tested COVID positive 2 weeks back. Low fever were their only symptoms, tested negative today, on the road to recovery with no major issues,' tweeted another netizen.

'Thank you Bharat Biotech for your hard work and commitment on delivering vaccines every corner of India,' another Twitter user said.

Another user said, 'If you say that your employees are sick of covid, it speaks volumes about efficacy of your vaccine.'

Ella said as many as 18 states received Covaxin though in smaller shipments.

The Hyderabad-based firm is supplying Covaxin to 18 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi.

The other states are Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal. -- PTI

11:18 Increase gap in Covishield doses : Govt panel

Government advisory committee National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NTAGI) has recommended increasing the gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks, sources said.

No such change has been recommended for Covaxin dosage interval, they said.

The panel has also recommended that those testing positive for COVID-19 should defer vaccination for six months after recovery.

'Pregnant women may be offered a choice to take any COVID-19 vaccine and lactating women are eligible for jabs at any time after delivery,' the panel has recommended.

More details awaited. -- PTI

Days after bodies of suspected COVID-19 patients washed up on the shores of the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, more have been found buried in the sand in Unnao.

A team of the local police is in the process of carrying out an inquiry and searches are being conducted for more bodies. According to District Magistrate Ravinder Kumar, the bodies were found buried in an area far from the river.

"Our team has found buried bodies in an area far from the river. Search being conducted for more bodies in other areas. I have asked a team to carry out an inquiry. Action will be taken accordingly," the DM said.

Over the last two days, horrific scenes of dead bodies floating in the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur and Bihar's Buxar caused panic among locals who feared that the bodies were of deceased COVID patients.

According to Bihar Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, 71 bodies were taken out from the river in Buxar district and their last rites performed and a net has been placed in the Ganga in Ranighat, bordering UP and Bihar, to stop any similar incident from happening again.

Local residents have complained of stench coming from the bloated, decomposed corpses and accused the authorities of ineptitude.

These incidents have sparked fears about the scale of the Covid crisis in the country. Authorities believe the relatives of those who succumbed to the virus, may not have been able to find space for the last rites. -- ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, alleging that he is missing along with vaccines, oxygen and medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic and what remains is the central vista project and the PM's photos.

"The prime minister is also missing, along with the vaccine, oxygen and medicines. All that remain are the central vista project, GST on medicines and the prime minister's photos here and there," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Gandhi has been attacking the prime minister over the government's handling of the pandemic and has been critical of the Centre for the lack of oxygen, medicines and vaccines in the country amid a surge in the number of cases during the second wave of COVID-19.

With a single-day rise of 3,62,727 cases, India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 2,37,03,665 on Thursday, while the death toll due to the viral disease rose to 2,58,317 with 4,120 more people succumbing to it, according to the health ministry. -- PTI

Hollywood star Gal Gadot came under fire on social media after she posted a message of peace in the wake of the latest round of fighting between Israel and Palestine.

Gadot, a former Israeli Defence Forces fighter, posted a statement on Twitter, saying it breaks her heart to her see her "country is at war".

"My heart breaks. My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people. This is a vicious cycle that has been going on for far too long," the 36-year-old actor wrote.

The Wonder Woman star said both Israel and its "neighbour" deserve to live as "free and safe" nations.

"I pray for the victims and their families, I pray for this unimaginable hostility to end, I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we could live side by side in peace. I pray for better days," Gadot added.

However, her post on Twitter was flooded with replies that criticised her of being a "propaganda" tool for Israel, given her past military service record.

Some also called out her for using the word "neighbour" instead of referencing Palestine by name.

The backlash was so severe and vitriolic that Gadot disabled the comments section to her tweet.

At least 53 Palestinians and six Israelis have been killed in spiralling violence as of Wednesday as Gaza-based militants fired hundreds of rockets on Israel since Monday evening.

Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes at Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the coastal strip. -- PTI

A Delhi Court on Thursday refused to grant anticipatory bail to businessman Navneet Kalra in connection with the seizure of oxygen concentrators, required by COVID-19 patients, from his upscale restaurants including 'Khan Chacha' in the national capital.

"Application is dismissed," Additional Session Judge Sandeep Garg pronounced the order.

Fearing arrest, the businessman had moved the court earlier this week to seek bail in the case.

During a recent raid, 524 oxygen concentrators were recovered from three restaurants owned by Kalra and it is suspected that he has left Delhi along with his family.

These concentrators are crucial medical equipment used for COVID-19 management. -- PTI

India on Thursday reported 3,62,727 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally of infections to 2,37,03,665, according to the Union health ministry data.

The death toll climbed to 2,58,317 with 4,120 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

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

08:50 World ignored COVID-19 warnings: Report

The world had ignored warnings which resulted in the outbreak of COVID-19, and the international system could have prevented it from escalating into the devastating pandemic, an independent global panel concluded on Wednesday.

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in its report said, "It is clear to the Panel that the world was not prepared and had ignored warnings which resulted in a massive failure: an outbreak of SARS-COV-2 became a devastating pandemic."

After analysing the early response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the probe panel concluded that "the international system could have been different, and prevented it from escalating into the devastating pandemic it became."

The panel concluded that the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) did not lead to an urgent, coordinated, worldwide response.

"It was not until the number of COVID-19 cases increased dramatically and COVID-19 had spread internationally that governments took serious action to prevent transmission," the panel said.

It further said that countries that devalued science failed to build trust in their response and pursued inconsistent strategies that left them lagging behind the epidemic and with high infection and death rates.

In a bid to avoid future pandemics, the panel called for the setting up of a high-level Global Health Threats Council led by Heads of State and Government.

"Strengthen the independence, authority and financing of WHO. Strengthen the authority and independence of the Director-General, including by having a single term of office of seven years with no option for re-election," the panel further recommended.

Furthermore, the panel called for granting explicit authority to the world health bodies to publish information about outbreaks with pandemic potential immediately without requiring the prior approval of the national government.

According to the Johns Hopkins University, 160,058,714 cases and 3,326,305 deaths have been reported globally. -- ANI

08:19 We stand with Gaza, Palestine: Pak PM

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed solidarity with Palestine on Wednesday, as tensions escalated between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, leading to the death of scores.

"I am PM of Pakistan and #WeStandWithGaza #WeStandWithPalestine," Khan posted on micro-blogging website Twitter.

He also carried a critical quote of American anti-imperialism intellectual Noam Chomsky on Israeli treatment of Palestinians.

"You take my water, burn my olive trees, destroy my house, take my job, steal my land, imprison my father, kill my mother, bombard my country, starve us all, humiliate us all but I am to blame: I shot a rocket back," according to the quote.

Khan has earlier condemned the Israeli attack on worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque and has urged the international community to take immediate action to protect Palestinians.

At least 53 Palestinians and six Israelis have been killed in spiralling violence as of Wednesday as Gaza-based militants fired hundreds of rockets on Israel since Monday evening.

Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes at Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the coastal strip. -- PTI

00:12 Lion at Jaipur zoo tests positive for Covid

A lion, named Tripur, living in Jaipur zoo, tested positive for COVID, Indian Veterinary Research Institute officials said.

While Tripur was positive for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, the sample reports of a panther, a white tiger and a lioness from Jaipur, were inconclusive, IVRI Joint Director KP Singh said, adding there was a need to resample them.

The 13 animal samples received from Rajasthan's capital include three lions, three tigers and one panther. Singh said eight samples including, three tigers, one civet cat, one black buck received from Chhatbir Zoo in Punjab and one of a black buck in Bareilly were tested negative for the virus.

The chain of transmission of the virus, Singh suspected, could have taken place through asymptomatic human carriers like caretakers of animals. On May 4, the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology said eight Asiatic lions in the Hyderabad zoo tested positive for COVID.

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