The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given nod to the Serum Institute of India (SII) for conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, developed by the University of Oxford, in the country.
Government officials told PTI that the approval for conducting phase 2 and 3 clinical trials by the SII was granted by DCGI Dr.V.G. Somani late Sunday night after a thorough evaluation based on the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee on COVID-19.
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Here are the latest updates:
Doctors to take final call on admission, discharge of COVID-19 patients
Aiming to free up private hospital beds for COVID-19 patients requiring emergency treatment, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission in an advisory said that only the doctor will decide on admission or discharge.
The decision of the examining doctor taken without any extraneous consideration or recommendation will be deemed final, it said.
If the number of waiting patients is more than the number of vacant beds, the doctor on duty would examine each patient and allot beds to the most deserving ones ignoring any extraneous considerations or recommendations. The decision of the doctor on duty will be final and binding upon all, said an advisory from the Commission.
Two-thirds of migrants have returned to cities or wish to do so: survey
Nearly two-thirds of migrant workers, who had left for home due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, have either returned to cities or wish to do so in absence of skilled employment in villages, according to a new study that surveyed 4,835 households.
The collaborative study on ‘How is the hinterland unlocking’ was carried out by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India), Action for Social Advancement, Grameen Sahara, i-Saksham, PRADAN, SAATHI-UP, SeSTA, Seva Mandir and Transform Rural India Foundation.
The study is based on a rapid assessment survey of 4,835 households across 11 States in 48 districts carried out in the period of June 24 to July 8.
The study found that 29% of migrants, who had left for villages, are now back in cities, while 45% want to return to cities.
Body on push cart: SHRC calls for a report
Body of a woman, who died due to COVID-19, being taken in a push cart at Gudalur in Theni district on Saturday.
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Monday called for a report from the authorities over an incident in Theni district in which the body of a woman was taken to the burial ground on a pushcart, after an ambulance failed to turn up.
SHRC member A. Chittaranjan Mohandoss took suo motu cognisance of a report published in Hindu Tamil Thisai and called for a report from Theni Collector and the Commissioner of Municipal Administration within four weeks.
According to the report in Hindu Tamil Thisai, a 45-year old woman in Alagupillai Street in Gudalur died after testing positive for COVID-19.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan continues to stay in hospital
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will undergo further hospitalisation after a COVID-19 test conducted on the 9th day returned positive, health officials and a state minister said on Monday.
MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra confirmed the development to reporters and said the CM will stay in hospital for now, adding that the state cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday would be a virtual one.
Govt issues guidelines for yoga institutes and gyms
The Union government, in its Unlock 3, allowed yoga centres and gyms to reopen from August. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on Monday released guidelines on preventive measures to be taken in these premises to contain the spread of COVID-19
- Gyms and yoga institutes will not be allowed to function in containment zones.
- Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet as far as feasible.
- During exercise, people can wear only a visor as masks such as N-95 may cause breathing difficulties.
- Where available, utilize any outdoor space by relocating equipment outside
- Spas, sauna, steam bath and swimming pool shall remain closed
- The practice of Yogic Kriyas may be avoided for the time being.
- Only asymptomatic persons should be allowed in the premises.
- Those having oxygen saturation below 95% should not be allowed to exercise.
- Hand sanitizer stations must be provided near each gymnasium equipments.
- Members should preferably bring their own exercise mats which they may take back with them.
Karnataka Governor tests negative for COVID-19
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Monday underwent COVID-19 test and tested negative, according to an official release from the Raj Bhavan here.
On July 31, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai met the Governor at Raj Bhavan and held discussions on various matters related to the administration.
On Sunday Mr. Yediyurappa tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to Manipal Hospital in the city.
“After knowing that the Chief Minister tested positive, the Governor, myself and ADG to the Governor have undergone Corona Ag test and tested as negative done on August 3, 2020 at 12.30 p.m” said the official release issued by Tejas Bhatti, personal secretary the Governor.
20 security personnel among fresh COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya
Twenty-eight more people, including 20 security personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya, taking the northeastern state’s virus count to 902 on Monday.
Of the new cases, 13 are Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, seven are from the armed forces and eight are civilians.
Kerala CM says no leniency for those who violate protocol
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said the government would show no leniency to those who refuse to wear masks in public, jump quarantine or fail to maintain physical distance.
Inaugurating the commissioning of 102 family health centres via video link, Mr. Vijayan said he had noticed an incremental slackening of the vigil against the disease in Kerala.
Some people had taken the easing of regulations for granted. They had extended the limits of the COVID-19 protocol mandated restrictions on public conduct by organising and attending mass events with no care for public safety.
(The State’s official case tally reached 25,911, with the reporting of 1,169 new cases on Sunday alone.)
Search on for COVID patients who gave false information in Lucknow
About 2,300 people, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Lucknow, had given false information pertaining to their names, mobile numbers and addresses, a health official said on Monday.
While 1,171 people out of those who gave false information have been tracked, a hunt is on for the others.
These people are not only from Lucknow but other cities also who were tested in the state capital, he said.
COVID-19 tests in India cross 2-crore mark
The total number of tests for detection of COVID-19 has crossed the two-crore mark in India, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data.
A cumulative total of 2,02,02,858 samples have been tested up to August 2 with 3,81,027 samples being tested on Sunday, the ICMR said.
The total number of tests for detection of COVID-19 had crossed the one-crore mark in India on July 6.
Yediyurappa's daughter tests positive
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's daughter Padmavathi has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been admitted to the same hospital, where her father is undergoing treatment for the infection.
His son B Y Vijayendra said he was going in for seven days of home quarantine as a precautionary measure. - Tanu Kulkarni
Ravi Shankar Prasad on self isolation
IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has gone into self isolation, as he had met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday evening.
Mr. Prasad does not have any symptoms and the self-isolation is purely based on existing protocol, a source said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and is getting admitted to a hospital following the advice of doctors. - PTI
Mizoram to treat infected security personnel, civilian patients at separate COVID-19 hospitals
The Mizoram government has decided to treat coronavirus-infected security personnel and civilian patients at separate COVID-19 hospitals in the state.
Officials observed it was not “medically healthy” to treat infected security personnel and civilian patients at the same hospital.
It was decided that the nursing school in Sercchip town will be reserved for infected Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, while jawans of other paramilitary and armed forces will be treated at the AYUSH Hospital at Thenzawl in Sercchip district and the Tribal Art Centre at Tanhril in Aizawl. Then there is COVID-19 care centre at Zokhawsang near Aizawl for Assam Rifles.
Civilian patients will be treated at the Beraw COVID- 19 care centre and the multipurpose centre at ITI locality in Aizawl. - PTI
Four deaths in Puducherry
Four more COVID-19 deaths were recorded in Puducherry on Monday, taking the toll to 56.
The UT also saw 178 new cases from tests on 782 swabs in the past 24 hours---representing a positivity rate of 22.8 per cent. The case fatality remained at 1.4 per cent.
Puducherry accounted for 125 of the new cases taking the case load across city institutions to 1,032.
Yanam enclave saw 42 new admissions and Karaikal nine while Mahe moved out of green zone status with the detection of two cases.
The tally in the UT is 56 deaths, 1,515 active cases, a cumulative total of 3,982 cases and 2,411 patients discharged. - Dinesh Varma
Restrictions imposed in Kashmir Valley, markets shut
Restrictions were imposed in the Kashmir valley on Monday, with officials saying that the curbs have been enforced as part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The restrictions come two days ahead of the first anniversary of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
No movement of people, except essential services and medical emergencies, was being allowed, the officials said.
Karthi Chidambaram tests positive
Congress MP from Sivaganga Karthi Chidambaram has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been under home quarantine.
"I have just tested positive for #Covid. My symptoms are mild and as per medical advice I am under home quarantine. I would urge all those who have recently been in contact with me to follow medical protocol," Mr. Karthi tweeted.
Bihar State CPI secretary Satya Narain Singh succumbs to infection
Bihar State secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and two-time former MLA Satya Narain Singh died of COVID-19 late on Sunday.
Suffering from the pandemic, he was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, on July 30 where he died.
“He breathed his last at 9.30 p.m. on Sunday. Before being admitted to AIIMS, Patna, he was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 infection at a private hospital of the State capital,” said an AIIMS doctor.
'Yediyurappa may have to remain in hospital for 8-10 days'
Medical Education Minister Sudhakar K said Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa might have to stay in the hospital for 8 to 10 days.
Dr. Sudhakar said Mr. Yediyurappa has “very mild cough and his chest is clear.”
“All those who met the Chief Minister in the last 3-4 days...ideally they should be quarantined till they receive their results/report. Those who came in contact with him in the couple of programmes will have to isolate themselves and subject themselves for testing,” the Minister said.
Four southern States account for 3,86,171 COVID-19 cases
The cumulative tally in the pandemic for four southern States excluding Tamil Nadu stood at 3,86,171 cases reported as of Sunday.
People throng the Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, August 02, 2020. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
- Kerala’s case tally was 25,911 on Sunday, with the reporting of 1,169 new cases.
- Telangana’s cases stood at 66,677 as 1,891 more samples tested positive on Saturday (reported on Sunday).
- In Andhra Pradesh, 67 new deaths and 8,555 new cases were reported on Sunday. The overall tally rose to 1,58,764 and the death toll to 1,474. There were 74,404 active cases.
- In Karnataka, 5,532 new positive cases were detected on Sunday; the total was 1,34,819. Also, 84 new deaths were reported, touching a total of 2,496.
Fatality rate in Kalyana Karnataka is lower than State, national average
Even though Kalyana Karnataka region opened India’s COVID-19 fatality account by reporting the country’s first death from one of its cities — Kalaburagi — in the second week of March this year, the region continues to maintain lower death rate as compared to State and national average.
An analysis of COVID-19 data showed that the region recorded a 1.48 % death rate as against the national average of 2.1 % and the State average of 1.86 % as on July 31, 2020.
NGOs join hands with the govt. in the fight against pandemic
Volunteers from Anjuman-e-Islam preparing oxygen cylinders to be distributed free to COVID-19 patients in Belagavi.
Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are helping poor patients battle COVID-19 by providing them free oxygen cylinders.
The Anjuman-e-Islam committee in Belagavi has tied up with industrial gas industries and plans to provide oxygen cylinders to the needy. The committee will provide 120 cylinders in the first phase. It plans to increase the numbers in the next few weeks.
Assam unlocks as COVID-19 positivity rate declines
The Assam government on Sunday announced a slew of lockdown relaxations but as an experiment for 12 days in view of the decline in the COVID-19 positivity rate. This follows the decision on reopening schools and colleges from September 1 if the situation improves and the Centre gives the go-ahead.
Callers offer BCG vaccine to elderly without mentioning trial
Disinfectant sprayed on buildings in Raja Street, Coimbatore on Sunday during the complete lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19 | Photo Credit: S. SIVA SARAVANAN
In the ongoing BCG vaccine trial, a few elderly residents of Chennai have been receiving calls from persons representing the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), offering the vaccine as a “protection” and “immunity booster”. But these residents, who had tested negative for COVID-19, are not being appropriately informed that this is a “trial”.
BCCI advises individuals over 60 to stay away from cricket training
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has advised coaches and support staff members above 60 years of age to be discouraged from participating in training. The suggestion is included in the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for resumption of domestic cricket, which were shared with all the 38 affiliate units of the BCCI on Sunday.
CM warns of action against overcharging pvt. hospitals
A day after the Health Department suspended the recognition of Be Well Hospitals in Kilpauk, Chennai, as a COVID-19 facility after it overcharged a patient, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has warned of strict action against private hospitals charging in excess.
In a tweet on Sunday, Mr. Palaniswami said that all private hospitals treating COVID-19 patients should display government-recognised treatment costs for the benefit of the people.