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YouTube bans videos spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The online video-sharing platform, YouTube has announced that it would remove videos from its site which contain misleading claims about coronavirus vaccines as part of an effort to tackle COVID-19 misinformation.

“A COVID-19 vaccine may be imminent, therefore we’re ensuring we have the right policies in place to be able to remove misinformation related to coronavirus vaccines from the platform,” YouTube said in a statement.

The video platform also informed that it would ban any content with claims about COVID-19 vaccines which contradicts expert consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization (WHO).

“This would include removing claims that the vaccine will kill people or cause infertility, or that microchips will be implanted in people who receive the vaccine,” the statement said.

YouTube noted that it already removes content that disputes the existence or transmission of COVID-19, promotes medically unsubstantiated methods of treatment, discourages people from seeking medical care or explicitly disputes health authorities’ guidance on self-isolation or social distancing.

However, the conspiracy theories and misinformation about the new COVID-19 vaccines have proliferated on social media during the pandemic on YouTube and through viral videos shared across multiple platforms, the World Economic Forum reported.

“To date, we have removed over 2,00,000 videos related to dangerous or misleading COVID-19 information since early February,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement.

Andy Pattison, manager of digital solutions at the World Health Organization said that the WHO meets weekly with the policy team at YouTube to discuss content trends and potentially problematic videos.

Pattison said the WHO was encouraged by YouTube’s announcement on ban of coronavirus vaccine misinformation.

Furthermore, the company stated it was limiting the spread of COVID-19 related misinformation on the site, including certain borderline videos about COVID-19 vaccines. It added that it would be announcing more steps in the coming weeks to emphasize authoritative information about COVID-19 vaccines on the site.

This new policy of YouTube comes after Facebook also expanded its own policy on vaccination content to ban adverts which advocate against COVID-19 vaccines.

-RJV

PM to deliver keynote address at Grand Challenges Annual Meeting on Oct 19

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural function of Grand Challenges Annual Meeting on October 19 through video conferencing.

The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, for the last 15 years, has fostered international innovation collaborations to address the biggest challenges in health and development, Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting this year will convene virtually from 19-21 October, bringing together policymakers and scientific leaders, it added.

It will also call for deepened scientific collaborations in solving global health problems, with great emphasis on COVID-19 with an “India for the World” framing, the PMO said.

Moreover, the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2020 will be co-hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and NITI Aayog, along with the Grand Challenges Canada, the United States Agency for International Development and Wellcome.

World leaders, eminent scientists and researchers from across the globe will join this annual meeting to discuss key priorities for accelerating progress across the Sustainable Development Goals in the post-pandemic world and elaborate on addressing the challenges to manage COVID-19, the statement noted.

The three-day program will also feature leaders talks, panel discussions and virtual informal conversations on topics ranging from scientific interventions for fighting the pandemic, managing the pandemic and accelerating the development and implementation of global solutions to combat this pandemic and prevent the next one.

Approximately 1,600 people from 40 countries will participate in this Annual meeting, the PMO said.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will deliver the opening remarks and Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will present the plenary framing conversation.

Notably, the Grand Challenges India was set up as a partnership of the Department of Biotechnology and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012, and Wellcome also joined the partnership.

It works across a range of health and developmental priorities ranging from agriculture, nutrition, sanitation, maternal and child health to infectious diseases, the PMO said in a release.

-RJV

Eradication of Poverty Day: Theme, history and significance

New Delhi (NVI): International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on October 17 across the world. It is the day to mark worldwide poverty, hunger, violence, fear, and find ways to mitigate it.

The theme for this year is “Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all”. According to United Nations, the growing recognition of the multi-dimensionality of poverty means that these two issues (social and environmental justice) are inseparably intertwined and that social justice cannot be fully realized without aggressively rectifying environmental injustices at the same time.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through its resolution adopted on December 22, 1992 declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year marks the 27th anniversary of the declaration by the UNGA.

During the coronavirus outbreak, the poorest have the highest risk of exposure to the virus and they have the least access to quality healthcare. And people living in conflict zones still face the most severe threats of hunger and even famine amid COVID-19.

In the wake of the pandemic, global extreme poverty is expected to rise for the first time in over 20 years while an additional 115 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty this year, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In his message to observe the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres maintained that poor people are the first one to risk the exposure to the virus, and then having the least access to quality healthcare.

In addition to this, despite the world experiencing an unprecedented level of economic development and technological advancement, millions of people living in extreme poverty is a moral outrage.

India’s Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today called for building a more equitable society on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

“Today, let us strive together for the uplift of the downtrodden & build a more equitable society. We need to address the root cause of poverty in all its dimensions, be it economic, social, legal or environmental,” the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu.

-CHK

IRCTC’s Tejas trains resume services

Tejas Express

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) restarted the first set of Tejas Express trains from today, seven months after the services were suspended amid the pandemic.

The two Tejas Express services, the Lucknow-New Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai are the first set of trains to run by IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways.

However, the third IRCTC-operated train, the Kashi Mahakal Express between Indore and Varanasi will not begin its services as of now.

According to IRCTC, it has conducted an extensive training programme for educating and training its employees of Tejas trains to manage the operations and provide services according to the new normal.

The IRCTC has resumed bookings for the trains on its official website and the IRCTC Rail Connect App, while considering the COVID-19 situation the two Tejas Express trains will not have dynamic pricing, as per the reports.

Furthermore, to ensure the safety of passengers, a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) observing COVID-19 protocol has been issued.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

Fact Check

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has crossed the 74 lakh-mark and stands at 74,32,681 after 62,212 fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,12,998 after 837 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 15,76,062, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,75,470 cases, and Karnataka with 7,51,390 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,072

Andhra Pradesh- 7,75,470

Arunachal Pradesh- 13,169

Assam- 1,99,749

Bihar- 2,02,290

Chandigarh- 13,532

Chhattisgarh- 1,55,987

Dadra Nagar Haveli & Diu – 3,177

Delhi- 3,24,459

Gujarat- 1,57,312

Goa- 40,091

Haryana– 1,47,933

Himachal Pradesh- 18,522

Jammu and Kashmir- 86,754

Jharkhand- 95,425

Karnataka- 7,51,390

Kerala- 3,25,212

Ladakh- 5,441

Madhya Pradesh- 1,57,936

Maharashtra- 15,76,062

Manipur- 14,715

Meghalaya- 8,303

Mizoram- 2,245

Nagaland- 7,604

Odisha- 2,64,149

Puducherry- 32,766

Punjab- 1,26,737

Rajasthan- 1,69,289

Sikkim- 3,531

Tamil Nadu- 6,79,191

Telangana- 2,20,675

Tripura- 29,327

Uttarakhand- 57,042

Uttar Pradesh- 4,49,935

West Bengal – 3,13,188

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 56

Andhra Pradesh- 6,382

Arunachal Pradesh- 30

Assam- 853

Bihar- 98

Chandigarh- 206

Chhattisgarh- 1,425

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 5,946

Goa- 531

Gujarat- 3,617

Haryana- 1,634

Himachal Pradesh- 262

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,366

Jharkhand- 824

Karnataka- 10,356

Kerala- 1,113

Ladakh- 65

Madhya Pradesh- 2,735

Maharashtra- 41,502

Manipur- 109

Meghalaya- 75

Nagaland- 22

Odisha- 1,104

Puducherry- 571

Punjab- 3,980

Rajasthan- 1,723

Sikkim- 59

Tamil Nadu- 10,529

Telangana- 1,265

Tripura- 326

Uttar Pradesh- 6,589

Uttarakhand- 829

West Bengal- 5,931

However, a total of 65,24,595 people have been cured or discharged. The total active cases stands at 7,95,087 in the country.

-CHK

Remdesivir, several other drugs have little to no effect against COVID-19: WHO

vaccine
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): The anti-viral drug Remdesivir and several others have little or no effect in the recovery and mortality of COVID-19 patients, according to a WHO study.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the ‘Solidarity Therapeutics Trial’ has generated conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of repurposed drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 in record time of just six months.

The study, which spans more than 30 countries, looked at the effects of these treatments on overall mortality, initiation of ventilation, and duration of hospital stay in patients.

Other uses of the drugs in treatment of patients in the community or for prevention, would have to be examined using different trials, it added.

Moreover, the results from the study indicate that Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Interferon regimens appeared to have little or no effect on 28-day mortality or the in-hospital course of COVID-19 among hospitalised patients.

“These–remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir and Interferon regimens — appeared to have little or no effect on hospitalised COVID-19 patients, as indicated by overall mortality, initiation of ventilation and duration of hospital stay,” the study said.

The interim results from the world’s largest randomised control trial on COVID-19 therapeutics have been uploaded as preprint at medRxiv, the WHO said, adding that the results are under review for publication in a medical journal.

However, the study was conducted in 405 hospitals across 30 countries which involved 11,266 adults.

The organization further said that the global platform of the Solidarity Trial is ready to rapidly evaluate promising new treatment options, with nearly 500 hospitals open as trial sites. Also, newer antiviral drugs, immunomodulators and anti-SARS COV-2 monoclonal antibodies are now being considered for evaluation, it noted.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surge past 39 million globally

Coronavirus cases surpass 52 mn globally; US reports record 1.36 lakh infections

New Delhi (NVI): More than 39 million people have been infected by coronavirus worldwide, with over 11,03,300 deaths reported, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.

At least 26.9 million patients have been cured and recovered from the deadly contagion globally.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus cases have reached more than 8 million while the total number of fatalities have surpassed 2,18,097 in the country.

On the other hand, multiple regions across the United States have seen days of continuous high-level surge in new cases after entering October.

Brazil, remains number one COVID-19 affected country in Latin America, registered 30,914 cases within past 24 hours and surpassed 5.2 million. The country’s death toll stands at 1,53,214.

France registered 25,086 new coronavirus cases, a drop from the record high of 30,621 the day before but significantly higher than a week ago, taking the cumulative number of cases to 8,34,770.

Argentina also reported 16,546 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 965,609. There were 381 deaths reported in the past 24 hours for a total of 25,723, according to the government’s report.

Moreover, France is starting a month-long curfew affecting around 20 million people in Paris and eight other metropolitan areas. Establishments like restaurants, cinemas and theatres will be forced to close at 9 pm starting from today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will revise its guidance on the use of Remdesivir in coming weeks following the results of the solidarity trial in which it was found not to reduce the risk of death, as per the reports.

-RJV

Terrorist killed in encounter in J&K’s Anantnag, operation underway

Security forces launch search op in South Kashmir's Pulwama
(File/Representational Image)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): An unidentified terrorist has been been killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in Larnoo area of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, defence officials said today.

A senior police officer said that an unidentified terrorist has been killed while as operation is on in the area.

Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 19 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area.

He also said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

This year so far, 182 terrorists have been killed which include over 50 foreign terrorists, majority of whom were killed in South Kashmir districts.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally crosses 74-lakh mark, death toll tops 1,12,900

corona
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India increased to 74,32,681 with a single jump of 62,212 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,12,998 with 837 new fatalities reported during this period.

So far, 65,24,596 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases stands at 7,95,087.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 15,76,062, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,75,470 cases, and Karnataka with 7,51,390 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (6,79,191), Uttar Pradesh (4,49,935) and Delhi (3,24,459).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 41,502 fatalities, followed by Tamil Nadu with 10,529 deaths.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 5,946, while 2,95,699 patients have been cured and recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 9,32,54,017 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to October 16 with 9,99,090 samples being tested yesterday.

Furthermore, the Health Ministry said that, the significant achievement is the outcome of Centre-led targeted strategies leading to high number of COVID-19 recoveries and steadily falling number of fatalities in the country.

-RJV

PM greets people on day 1 of Navratri

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended his greetings to people on the first day of Navratri festival and wished them peace, happiness and prosperity.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Many congratulations on the auspicious festival of Navratri. May jagat janani Ma Jagadamba bring happiness, peace and prosperity to all of you. Jai Mata Di!”.

In another tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Pranams to Maa Shailputri on Day 1 of Navratri. With her blessings, may our planet be safe, healthy and prosperous. May her blessings give us strength to bring a positive change in the lives of the poor and downtrodden.”

The nine-day long festival is dedicated to the various forms of Goddess Durga and her nine forms.

Navratri is celebrated in different ways across the country. Over the next nine days, devotees offer their prayers to Goddess Durga and observe fasts.

The festival has begun today with Shailputri puja, and will end on October 26 with Vijay Dashami and Durga visarjan.

-RJV

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