The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. P.K. Mishra on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting to comprehensively review the COVID-19 preparedness and response, noted a release issued by the Health Ministry.
“The meeting focused on evidence based learning on management of cases across the Districts and States and also discussed the stage of vaccine development and vaccine distribution plan,” noted the release.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
Delhi slum eviction: COVID pandemic took away everything, now roof being taken away, say residents
The COVID-19 pandemic took away her family’s livelihood and now 48-year-old Veeramma fears she will lose her roof in the wake of the Supreme Court ordering the removal of 48,000 slum dwellings along railway tracks in Delhi.
“My husband was born here. My son was born here. My in-laws breathed their last in this house. This is all we have,” said Veeramma as she sat on crushed stones outside her home at a slum cluster alongside a railway track near Jal Vihar in Lajpat Nagar.
The 48-year-old, who works as a domestic help, said her employers haven’t called her back to work yet.
“My husband cannot move. My son is a daily wager, he doesn’t have much work, too. We don’t have enough ration to feed the family for another week,” said Veeramma looking at her two-year-old granddaughter, a third generation to be born in the slum cluster.
“We don’t have the money for my granddaughter’s milk. Even if we beg, we won’t get anything. The times were never so bad,” she said.
The Supreme Court had on August 31 ordered the removal of 48,000 slum dwellings along railway tracks in Delhi within three months. As per rough estimates, there are around 2,40,000 people living in slums in Naraina Vihar, Azadpur, Vihar, Shakur Basti, Mayapuri, Sriniwaspuri, Anand Parbat and Okhla among others. - PTI
Eight of 10 imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore came from India
Eight of the 10 imported COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore came from India, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.
Two of those eight were Singaporeans and five permanent residents who returned on August 30-31. The other one was a short-term visit pass holder and a spouse of a Singaporean, who arrived from India on September 5.
The other two imported patients are work pass holders employed here who arrived here from Germany on August 30 and the Philippines on August 29.
Singapore reported 49 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, taking the national tally of cases to 57,406. The sole community infection is a foreigner holding work pass, officials said. - PTI
Mizoram’s lone BJP MLA tests positive for COVID-19
Mizoram’s lone BJP legislator Budhha Dhan Chakma has tested positive for COVID-19, official sources said on Sunday.
He was among the 35 people who were diagnosed with coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, they said.
Mr. Chakma, 47, is the only legislator in Mizoram to have tested positive for COVID-19.
“I am very surprised that I have tested positive for COVID-19. But I am asymptomatic and doing very well. Luckily, all my other family members have tested negative,” he said.
He said he will be shifted to Zoram Medical College (ZMC) for treatment.
“I have asked the health department to shift me to ZMC as being a COVID-19 patient it is not safe to be at home. I hope I will be shifted to the medical college in the evening,” he said.
A former Congress member, Mr. Chakma was the Minister of State for Sericulture and Fisheries in the previous Lal Thanhawla government. - PTI
Five inmates under treatment for COVID-19 in Delhi prisons: Official
Five inmates, who recently arrived in jails in Delhi, have tested positive for COVID-19 and are undergoing treatment, officials said on Sunday.
This comes less than a month after the Delhi Prisons Department declared there was no active COVID-19 case among the inmates in its three jail complexes.
According to the data shared by the officials, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Delhi Prisons now stands at 25, including 20 jail staff.
“A total of 70 prison inmates tested positive for COVID-19. Sixty-three of them have recovered and two died, leaving five active cases. There were 188 prison staff exposed to the novel coronavirus. Of them, 168 have recovered and 20 are still under treatment for the disease,” Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel said.
Earlier, on August 21, the Delhi Prisons Department had stated that none of the inmates in the three jail complexes of Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli are COVID-19 positive and that the coronavirus situation in jails here has improved.
Among prisons in the national capital, the first case of the coronavirus was reported in Rohini Jail on May 13. Two coronavirus positive inmates of Mandoli Jail died on June 15 and July 4. Both were senior citizens, according to the officials. - PTI
Assam’s Cachar DC refuses to go on leave for wedding as COVID-19 cases spike, instead groom flies in
The deputy commissioner of Assam’s Cachar district who is leading the fight against the coronavirus pandemic from the front preferred duty over personal life as she refused to take leave even for a day for her marriage and instead the groom flew in for the ceremony.
Keerthi Jalli, a 2013 batch IAS officer, surprised family and friends when she told them that she could not come home in Hyderabad for her wedding by leaving aside her crucial official responsibilities.
Rather, she told them, she would be happy to get married at her official bungalow in Silchar if the groom comes to her place of posting.
“I just could not think of taking leave for my wedding. I understand it is the most important event of anyone’s life, but I could not imagine going away from my district where the average positive cases is about 100 and I am fighting to save lives,” Ms. Jalli said.
Her family, in-laws, especially the groom, appreciated her decision.
The groom, Aditya Shashikant, who is from Pune, came to Silchar well in advance so that he could remain in mandatory quarantine, following the local COVID-19 protocols. - PTI
After discharge, Naik thanks PM, ministers, doctors
A day after he was discharged from hospital post recovery from the coronavirus infection, Union AYUSH minister Shripad Naik on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan and Goa CM Pramod Sawant.
In a statement issued here, the North Goa BJP MP also thanked Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane, AYUSH secretary Rajesh Kotecha and doctors Randeep Guleria of AIIMS, Manjunath Desai, GMCH Dean Shivanand Bandekar and Manipal Hospitals’ Shekhar Salkar. - PTI
Scientists publish images of coronavirus infected cells
Scientists have produced images of the novel coronavirus infecting lab-grown respiratory tract cells, findings that illustrate the number of virus particles that are produced and released per cell inside the lungs.
The researchers, including Camille Ehre from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Children’s Research Institute, captured these images to illustrate how intense SARS-CoV-2 infection of the airways can be in very graphic and easily understood images.
The generated high-powered microscopic images show a large number of the virus particles on human respiratory surfaces, ready to spread infection across tissues, and to other people.
In the research, the scientists inoculated the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 into human bronchial epithelial cells of the lungs, which they then examined 96 hours later using the high-powered scanning electron microscopy.
The images, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, were re-colorised, and show infected hairy ciliated cells with strands of mucus attached to cilia tips.
The scientists explained that the cilia are hair-like structures on the surface of airway epithelial cells that transport mucus and trapped viruses from the lungs.
Using a higher power magnification, they showed the structure and density of SARS-CoV-2 produced by human airway epithelia.
These virus particles, the researchers said, are the complete, infectious form of the virus released onto respiratory surfaces by infected host cells. - PTI
’Future Is Not Fixed’: Virtual art show highlights impact of pandemic
A unique virtual art show, inspired by the lingering sense of uncertainty about the future in the times of coronavirus, is showcasing works of 24 distinguishing artists in what is claimed to be a first of its kind joint presentation by two noted art galleries -- Nature Morte and Vadhera.
The art exhibition titled “Future is not Fixed” will showcase several artworks including paintings, digital prints, and sculptures made using building blocks of architecture like frames, doors, windows and furnishings, among others.
“Fuelled by a perspective unacquainted, a narrative unknown,” the virtual show appeals to the “imagination of the tainted fixtures of the worlds we once lived and sought to live”, said the organisers.
“This period will go down in history. It will never be forgotten. It will be documented in umpteen ways and interpreted by visual artists in a million more. This show is an attempt to illustrate these feelings as we live through this point in history. This is the reality of today and this is the truth. The future is not fixed. Not at all anymore,” said Arjun Sawhney, curator of the show.
The show features works of 24 distinguished artists including Bharti Kher, Subodh Gupta, Thukral & Tagra, Dhruvi Acharya, Anju Dodiya, Gigi Scaria, Sudhir Patwardhan, Jitish Kallat and Riyas Komu. - PTI
COVID-19 treatment accounted for 11% of health insurance claims in April-Aug: Study
Treatment for COVID-19 accounted for as much as 11% of the total health insurance claims paid by insurance companies during the first five months of the current financial year, says a research conducted by Policybazaar.com.
The research further revealed that 89% of health insurance claims during April 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 were for other major illnesses, including cancer, heart problems, kidney and treatment.
Policybazaar.com, which accounts for about 10% of India’s retail health insurance market, said the data pertains to April 1 to August 31.
The insurtech brand further said the increasing incidence of coronavirus cases and the rising cost of treatment have been promoting more and more people to opt for health insurance in these uncertain times.
“As per Policybazaar data, COVID claims are only 11% out of overall claims. The rest 89% are of other major illnesses...,” it said. - PTI
Yoga, chyawanprash part of new management protocol for recovered COVID-19 patients
Yogasana, Pranayama, meditation and intake of chyawanprash are among some of the suggestions given by the Union Health Ministry in its new management protocol for patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
Calling for a holistic approach for follow up care and well-being of all post-COVID recovered patients, the Health ministry said such patients must continue COVID appropriate behaviour by use of mask, hand and respiratory hygiene, physical distancing.
The protocol provides an approach for managing patients who have recovered from COVID-19 for care at home. - PTI
Amid high demand, tempo with oxygen cylinders stolen
A tempo carrying seven oxygen cylinders meant for hospitals amid the coronavirus outbreak was stolen in Pune’s Chakan area, police said on Sunday.
The complainant has a business of transporting such cylinders and he had parked his tempo outside his house on Thursday night from where it went missing a few hours later, Inspector Balaji Sontake of Mhalunge post said.
“We have registered a theft case and efforts are on to trace the tempo and nab the accused who stole it,” said the official.
There is high demand for oxygen in hospitals due to the coronavirus outbreak and the district administration here has even formed dedicated teams to oversee and coordinate supply between oxygen manufacturing units and medical facilities. - PTI
BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar tests positive for COVID-19
BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar said on Sunday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
Mr. Majumdar, who represents the Balurghat Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal, is in Delhi where he went through a test for COVID-19 and was found to be positive, party sources said.
The Monsoon session will start from Monday and COVID tests have been made mandatory for those attending it.
“Have tested #Covid19 positive today. I am doing well & taking doctor’s advice,” Majumdar tweeted.
“Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms,” he added.
Mr. Majumdar is among a slew of senior politicians from West Bengal to be diagnosed with COVID-19.
On September 11, Jalpaiguri BJP MP Jayanta Roy was found to be positive for COVID-19, party sources said. - PTI
Goa extends ₹50 lakh insurance cover to health workers
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said an insurance cover of ₹50 lakh has been extended to all health workers who are at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19.
The insurance cover is provided under the central governments flagship Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
“Insurance cover of ₹50 lakh has been extended to all health workers in Goa,” Mr. Sawant tweeted.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana provides an insurance cover of ₹50 lakh per health worker in case of loss of life due to COVID-19 or accidental loss of life on account of coronavirus-related duties, he said.
The scheme is funded through the National Disaster Response Fund, operated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. - PTI
Stress, self-injuries and suicide: India battles mental health crisis as COVID tally spikes
Hemmed inside their homes for months on end as a pandemic raged outside, millions of people are emerging timorously into a world that has drastically changed -- an uneasy adjustment process resulting in a spectrum of mental health issues ranging from depression to that final step, suicide. The dread of contracting the disease combined with the realisation that the incidence of COVID-19 spiralled instead of being contained in the lockdown and that the days of suspending life as they knew it could extend indefinitely has been profoundly disturbing for many.
Add to this new normal, ill-health, joblessness, financial crises and the everyday stresses that people anyway had to deal with and the COVID-19 tunnel stretches dark and seemingly endless with no light at the end of it.
This prolonged uncertainty has led people to feel a lot more anxious. So people who were on a mild anxiety spectrum earlier have moved to moderate and severe anxiety. When anxiety gets severe, the kinds of behaviour of self harm increase, said Arvinder Singh, psychologist, psychotherapist and director of the Ashoka Centre for Well-Being in New Delhi.
As India’s COVID-19 tally crossed 47.5 lakh with 94,372 new cases reported on Sunday, Mr. Singh’s concerns find echo across the country.
The worries are rooted in reports of more people inflicting injuries on themselves, several ending their lives and many complaining of depression and severe anxiety.
In Gujarat, for instance, the 108 emergency ambulance service received about 800 cases of “self injuries” and 90 cases of suicide in April, May, June and July, officials said. The numbers began to spike soon after the nationwide lockdown, which came into effect on March 25. - PTI
Delhi govt. directs 33 private hospitals to reserve 80% of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Sunday the city government has instructed 33 big private hospitals in the national capital to reserve 80% of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients, amid a shortage of such beds at some facilities.
Delhi has been witnessing a surge in novel coronavirus cases from the last week of August. Delhi recorded its biggest single-day jump of 4,321 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the city’s tally to over 2.14 lakh, authorities said. It was for the fourth day in a row that over 4,000 fresh cases were recorded in Delhi.
“Yesterday, we instructed 33 private hospitals to reserve 80 per cent of their ICU beds for coronavirus patients. This has been done since issues were being faced with regards to ICU beds in some private hospitals. I also held a video conference over this and an order has been issued in this regard,” he said.
Mr. Jain said there are sufficient number of ICU beds in state-run and Centre-run hospitals, and also said there are sufficient number of other beds in hospitals.
“We have also instructed hospitals to increase bed strength by 30% for coronavirus patients, in case they want to. More than 50% beds are available in hospitals. Out of the total 14,372 beds available for COVID-19 patients, 7,938 are vacant, according to live status on Delhi Corona app,” he added. - PTI
58% of recovered cases coming from five states
A total of 37,02,595 people have recuperated from COVID-19 in the country so far, with 58% of the recovered cases being reported from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, the Centre said on Sunday.
The same five states account for 60% of total 9,73,175 active cases in the country.
The national recovery rate now stands at 77.88%.
While Maharashtra has reported 17.2% recovered cases, Tamil Nadu has 13.1%, Andhra Pradesh 12.2%, Karnataka 7.9% and Uttar Pradesh 7.8%, the Union Health Ministry said.
Maharashtra continues to lead with more than 13,000 recoveries while Andhra Pradesh has contributed more than 10,000 to the single-day recoveries, it said.
A total of 78,399 recoveries have been registered in a span of 24 hours in the country, according to the Health Ministry’s data updated at 8 a.m.
Of the 94,372 new infections that have been reported in 24 hours, Maharashtra alone has contributed to more than 22,000 cases followed by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka with more than 9,000 cases each, the Ministry highlighted.
“Nearly 57% of the new cases are reported from five states. These are also contributing 58% of the new recovered cases,” the Ministry underlined. - PTI
COVID-19 disrupts Maoists’ supply chain in Chhattisgarh: Police
Maoists are facing a crisis, specially disruption of supplies, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and also suffered “huge causalities” during an encounter with security forces in Sukma district in March, an official said citing Naxal documents seized by Chhattisgarh Police.
Cashing-in on the situation, security forces have stepped up anti-Naxal operations in strongholds of ultras in the state’s Bastar division, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI on Sunday.
These documents, including some letters written by cadres, were recovered by a joint team of security forces following an exchange of fire with Naxals in a forest near Entapad village of Sukma on September 8, he said.
The gunfight lasted for about half-an-hour after which Naxals escaped into the dense forest leaving behind their bags, documents and other camping material, he said.
“An analysis of the recovered documents has revealed that Maoists have been experiencing tremendous hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic following the lockdown imposed in March this year,” the official said. - PTI
Crisis-hit tourism industry pins hope on festive season
The tourism sector, crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic, hopes to see some businesses in the upcoming Durga puja and Diwali seasons with queries from interested travellers coming in, officials of the industry bodies said on Sunday.
In the domestic and short-haul segments, people are showing interest, Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI) eastern region head Anil Punjabi said.
“There is interest and queries are coming in about destinations and safety measures, but these are yet to be translated into bookings,” he said, adding that people have changed their priorities amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“There will be businesses in the Durga Puja and Diwali seasons with interest growing among people, though it is likely to be much less than what it used to be in the previous years,” Mr. Punjabi said.
With people starting to learn to live with the pandemic, at least some of them are likely to start travelling with requisite safety measures, he said.
The TAFI eastern region head said the tour operators are providing people with all kind of information regarding tourists’ destinations and the safety of the places.
A lot depends on how the COVID-19 situation emerges in the next few days as people would not want any cancellation. - PTI
COVID-19 claims lives of seven more people in Rajasthan
Rajasthan recorded seven deaths and 731 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, according to a health department bulletin.
While the number of positive cases in the state has increased to 1,01436, the total number of fatalities climbed to 1,228.
Bikaner reported two fresh deaths, Dungarpur (1), Jaipur (2), Jhalawar (1) and Udaipur (1). - PTI
Odisha’s COVID-19 tally crosses 1.5-lakh mark, death toll mounts to 626
The COVID-19 tally in Odisha rose to 1,50,807 with 3,913 more people testing positive for the disease on Sunday, while 10 fresh fatalities pushed the state’s death toll to 626, a health department official said.
The new cases were reported from all the 30 districts of the state, he said.
Of the fresh cases, 2,348 were reported from various quarantine centres, and 1,565 were detected during contact tracing, the official said.
Three new deaths were registered in Khurda district, two in Cuttack and one each in Balasore, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj and Subarnapur.
Ganjam accounted for 215 of the 626 fatalities in the state, followed by Khurda (92).
Fifty-three COVID-19 patients have died in the coastal state due to comorbidities, the official said. - PTI
Kolkata Metro resumes services with NEET special trains
The wheels of Kolkata Metro started rolling again with passengers on Sunday after nearly six months with special services for NEET examinees and their guardians.
Regular passenger services will commence on Monday with social distancing measures and other safety protocols in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Metro official said.
NEET aspirants, many accompanied by their guardians, queued up in front of metro stations to reach their examination centres well before 10 am when the first trains started from both ends of the North-South line — Noapara and Kavi Subhash.
The examinees and their guardians were allowed inside the stations upon showing the admit cards to police personnel posted at the entry gates.
The candidates and their guardians went through thermal checking and sanitised their hands before buying paper tickets at the counters.
The special services will continue till 7 p.m. at intervals of 15 minutes, officials said.
Regular passenger services on the North-South and the East-West lines will commence on Monday.
Officials said that 110 trains will be operated on the North-South line every day, except Sundays when the services will be shut for sanitisation of rakes and stations.
The East-West Metro will also recommence services from September 14 between Sector V and Yuva Bharati Krirangan stations with 36 trains in each direction, they said.
- PTI
Social, political events responsible for surge in COVID-19 cases in Agartala: study
Passengers undergo thermal screening at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, during the COVID-19 lockdown, in Agartala, Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Passengers undergo thermal screening at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, during the COVID-19 lockdown, in Agartala, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. | Photo Credit: PTI
Social events and political rallies have led to a rise in COVID-19 cases in Tripura capital after the lockdown was withdrawn on August 5, a study conducted by the state government said.
The survey, carried out by the administration of West Tripura district of which Agartala is a part, showed that the COVID-19 tally started rising from August 17.
“The lockdown was lifted on August 5. We found that the COVID-19 caseload was increasing from August 17, and a sharp growth was noticed from August 26.
“Many social functions, including 3,000 weddings and some pujas, and political rallies took place in the district after the lockdown restrictions were withdrawn,” West Tripura District Magistrate Sailesh Kumar Yadav said on Saturday.
People became relaxed and they did not follow the health safety norms, he said.
“This is the only reason behind the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the district, mainly in Agartala,” Yadav said.
“We are conducting 400-700 tests every day in these places. We have detected three hotspot areas in Agartala,” he said.
Delays in visiting hospitals are among the reasons for increased deaths, he added.
- PTI
Centre has agreed to supply 50 tonne oxygen every day to Madhya Pradesh, says CM
The Centre had agreed to supply 50 tonne of oxygen a day to Madhya Pradesh on its request, said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The State has been facing a shortage of medical oxygen even as COVID-19 cases surge.
“Today on my request, the government of India has agreed to supply 50 tonne oxygen a day after which our availability has increased to 180 tonne a day,” Mr. Chouhan tweeted on Saturday, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the assistance.
No data on post-COVID deaths, survey needed to find out details: Minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma. File | Photo Credit: PTI
Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the state does not have any data on “post-COVID deaths” and coronavirus patients dying with comorbidities.
“The post-COVID deaths are more (than the official figure of COVID-19 fatalities). I do not know that because some people died at home and some at private hospitals after they recovered from COVID-19 and were discharged,” he said.
The state government does not have the data of post- COVID deaths and a survey will have to be conducted to find that out, he said.
“After this entire pandemic is over, we will have a data refining (exercise). At present, we are going ahead as per ICMR guidelines,” the minister said.
He also expressed anguish over an increase in Assam’s caseload because of a gradual withdrawal from following COVID-19 precautions like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
Sarma also warned people that if they throng pandals during the upcoming Durga Puja festival, the condition of Assam will drastically worsen in terms of COVID-19 cases.
He expressed displeasure over the permissions given by the Deputy Commissioners of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts for the campaign meetings of the Bodoland Territorial Council elections.
“I have seen pictures where people are not wearing masks and there is no social distancing. I am sorry to say that immature political leadership, whether BJP or Congress,... (is responsible for this),” Sarma said.
- PTI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah re-admitted to AIIMS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah was re-admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, on Saturday night almost two weeks after he was discharged from there. He was earlier admitted to the AIIMS for post COVID-19-care.
Power Ministers of Meghalaya, Manipur test positive
The Power Ministers of Meghalaya and Manipur, namely James K. Sangma and T. Bishwajit, tested COVID-19 positive on Saturday.
Manipur Power Minister T. Bishwajit, his two daughters and one security guard were found to be COVID-19 positive. The Minister and his daughters are in home quarantine.
Nearly 800 doctors to be recruited for COVID-19 work
Migrant workers who have returned to the chennai city after several months now are being tested at Kandanchavadi in Chennai | Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Steps are being taken to recruit nearly 800 doctors through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) to augment human resources at government hospitals in the State, according to officials of the Health Department.
11 hospitals pay ₹32 lakh for overcharging patients
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has cracked down on 11 private hospitals in the city for allegedly overcharging patients, and made them pay ₹32 lakh by reducing bills and issuing refunds.
In Pudukottai, if you don’t wear a mask, you get tested
Health officials and police personnel in Pudukottai district have started intercepting people not wearing masks and subjecting them to COVID-19 tests. Officials say the initiative is meant to raise awareness on the importance of wearing masks.