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Coronavirus LIVE Updates: The deadly black fungus or mucormycosis killed as many as 126 people till Wednesday — with Maharashtra alone accounting for 90 deaths. The disease has affected close to 5,500 people across India. With 14 mucormycosis deaths, Haryana’s casualties are second highest in the country. The figures have come to fore a day after Centre urged all states and Union territories to declare it as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act to ensure mandatory surveillance to tackle the “new challenge”.
According to a report in Times of India, Uttar Pradesh has recorded eight deaths, all of them in Lucknow. The figures for the rest of the state are not available. Jharkhand has recorded four deaths while two deaths each have been reported from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Bihar, Assam, Odisha and Goa have reported one death each. Some states, however, said they have not collated data on mucormycosis cases and deaths yet.
he Delhi High Court also asked the Centre to take steps to import Amphotericin-B used for treating Mucormycosis, also known as ‘black fungus’, from wherever it is available in the world to bridge its shortage “before we lose more precious lives” even as a Union minister said Indian companies have placed orders for importing 6 lakh vials of this key anti-fungal drug. Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also said 11 pharma firms in the country will produce the drug with five more approvals being given.
Covid -19 Updates: A dedicated community support helpline has been operationalised by the ministry to provide AYUSH-based approaches & solutions for challenges raised by Covid. The toll-free no. is 14443. The helpline is operational pan-India from 6 am to 12 midnight on all days: Ministry of Ayush
READ | In Clip, MP Constable Punches and Drags Woman for Not Wearing Mask, Two Cops Suspended
An assistant sub-inspector and a woman constable were suspended with immediate effect on Thursday after a video of the latter punching and dragging a woman for not wearing mask in Sagar district went viral on social media.
Delhi HC Asks Centre to Get Black Fungus Medicine from 'Wherever it is Available in the World' | The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Centre to take steps to get the medicine — Amphotericin B — used for treating black fungus which is primarily affecting COVID-19 recovered people, from wherever it is available in the world.
32,44,17,870 samples tested for Covid-19 up to 20th May 2021. Of these, 20,61,683 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Covid -19 Updates: A bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan & Justice Alok Verma of Uttarakhand HC reprimanded the state government, for giving permission first to Kumbh Mela, and now to Chardham amid Covid-19 and asked to "go and see what is happening"
Tamil Nadu: Priests offer special prayer to 'Corona Devi' in a temple in Coimbatore to contain the spread of #COVID19
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2021
"We are continuously praying to 'Corona Devi' to show mercy on us and help us get rid of this virus," said Temple Priest (19.05) pic.twitter.com/wWu8wFm9xt
329 Doctors Succumbed to Covid-19 During 2nd Wave, Bihar Tops List: IMA
The Indian Medical Association on Thursday released fresh figures on Covid-related fatalities among doctors, saying 329 of them succumbed to the disease during the ongoing second wave of the pandemic. Bihar alone saw 80 deaths, the maximum among states, followed by Delhi (73), Uttar Pradesh (41), Andhra Pradesh (22) and Telangana (20), the IMA said.
Covid Patient Dead, But UP Hospital 'Kept Sending SMS About Her Vitals’ to Family for 2 Days
In what could be termed as sheer negligence, a hospital in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh was sending a COVID-19 patient’s vital stats to her family even after her demise. The incident was reported from Hallet hospital in Kanpur, where the hospital management kept sending oxygen levels and other stats of the patient who had died two days back.
3,231 Covid cases in Delhi, the lowest in 50 days
Delhi recorded 3,231 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the lowest in the last 50 days, but fatalities remained high at 235. The positivity rate has dipped further to 5.5%, which is the lowest since April 4.
READ | Tamil Nadu, Telangana Among Several States to Declare Black Fungus as Epidemic Amid Rising Cases, Deaths
The governments of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, Assam and Delhi on Thursday declared 'black fungus' or Mucormycois as a notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 after a number of people were found to be infected with the disease in these states leading deaths in several cases.
FIR has been filed against youth Congress District president Nikhil Kondajji and several others under Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act 2020 for violating Covid-19 guidelines by reportedly partying on May 18, in Davanagere
Maharashtra Issues SOPs Against Sexual Harassment in Covid Wards | The Maharashtra government on Thursday issued stringent SOPs in response to sexual harassment complaints of women in COVID-19 wards across the state. According to the orders, issued today, each women’s COVID-19 ward should now have panic alarm buttons.
Covid-19 Update: Amid fears of contracting Covid, most Japan firms say Olympics should be cancelled or postponed, reports Reuters
Bharat Biotech to Ramp Up Covaxin Production by Additional 200 Million With New Gujarat Plant | Bharat Biotech on Thursday said it has ramped up additional manufacturing capacities for the Covaxin covid-19 jabs as the country faces a severe shortage of vaccines. Chiron Behring, a subsidy of Bharat Biotech in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, plans to produce 200 million doses of Covaxin per annum in the GMP facilities that are already operational for the production of vaccines based on Inactivated Vero Cell Platform Technology, under stringent levels of GMP and biosafety, the company said in a statement.
In view of Covid-19, textiles & jewellery shops are allowed to open with limited staff for home/online delivery of clothes/jewellery, wedding clients are allowed in the shops up to 1 hour. Migrant workers allowed for pineapple collection & related works: Govt of Kerala
Karnataka | Kalaburagi City Corporation has launched 24*7 auto ambulance service for COVID patients. "Sometimes ambulances don't reach on time, with our free service people can get instant help. Three autos to ply in noon & two at night," said Commissioner Snehal Lokhande(20.05) pic.twitter.com/Tk9OW36rSm
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2021
Black Fungus a Misnomer; Not Enough Evidence That Third Wave Will Impact Kids More: Randeep Guleria
As the country witnesses a rising number of mucormycosis cases amid the COVID-19 pandemic, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said there is a need to aggressively work on preventing the fungal infection. He said that cases of fungal infection will probably come down as the COVID-19 cases decrease.
Karnataka | Group of govt officers & others set up Corona call centre to help people in Bengaluru. "We launched this centre to provide 24*7 services including food, medical kits, ambulances, and to help people with credible contacts." said Police Inspector Shantappa (20.05) pic.twitter.com/x9N5wPhFHR
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2021
Covid-19 Positivity Rate Lowest in a Month, But India Can't Afford Laxity, Says Govt | In a press briefing, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Union Health Ministry said, “There is a continued decrease in active cases in the country. Recoveries stand at 86.7 per cent. 21 states have reported more recoveries than daily Covid-19 cases. We have seen a 13-day decline straight. Death data is also going down now. Eight states in the country have more than 1 lakh active cases, nine states have between 50,000-1 lakh active cases and 19 states have less than 50,000 active cases. Tamil Nadu remains a cause of concern."
Chinar Corps-Indian Army, with the help of civil repair team makes a 4-yr-old defunct oxygen plant operational. "After request from district admin, we arranged its spare parts & made it work in 4 days. It can now produce 700 cylinders per day," said Lt Col Niladri Roy
In Odisha's Mayurbhanj, police buried 2 Covid bodies after family refused to touch them due to fear. "Families of Manoranjan Behera & Renuwala Khatua refused to perform their last rites. We took them from their houses & buried them ritually", Inspector-in-charge of Khunta PS said
Covid-19 Live Update: Fall in Daily Covid-19 Cases By Over 50% in Five States; Delhi, UP See Highest Drop
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Goa have reported more than 50 percent drop in daily Covid-19 cases over the week, with Delhi and Uttar Pradesh witnessing highest decrease, official data from the respective states suggest.On the contrary, from May 13 to May 19, the daily cases in Meghalaya, Lakshadweep, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura reported over 30 percent rise, the state government data analysed by News18 suggests.
