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Covid-19: Odisha sees highest single-day surge of 1264 cases

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): With 1,264 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, Odisha witnessed its highest single-day surge of positive cases, taking the overall tally to 21,099.

114 people have died of the deadly virus in the state so far. Ganjam district has reported the highest number of new infections – 540 within 24 hours.

According to the I&PR Department, of the new cases, 847 are reported from quarantine centres and 417 from local contacts which include 61 identified new cases from a local Flour Mill of Mancheswar Industrial estate, as declared by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

This flour mill case has raised tensions for the district administration as there might be a chance of spreading the infection to other people.

Apart from this, Berhampur Circle Jail of Ganjam district is reeling under the outbreak of coronavirus as 33 prisoners and 11 jail staff has been detected positive. The infected prisoners have been kept under isolation in the jail campus while the infected staff has been asked to remain in-home quarantine.

-ARK

Shah launches ‘Vriksharopan Abhiyan’

New Delhi (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah today launched the ‘Vriksharopan Abhiyan’ organised by the Coal Ministry. Under the campaign, trees will be planted in colonies, mines, and offices.

The virtual event place took place in over 130 locations which are spread in 38 locations of 10 coal and lignite bearing states.

Under the campaign, Amit Shah also inaugurated and laid foundation stone of six eco-parks and tourism sites.

The Abhiyan organised by the Ministry of Coal involves all coal and Ignite PSUs.

Under this, large scale plantation will be carried out in colonies, offices and mines and in other suitable areas of coal and Ignite PSUs.

The Union Home Minister launched the campaign in the presence of Pralhad Joshi, Union Coal, and Mines Minister, according to the official statement.

-CHK

India reports highest single-day COVID-19 recoveries

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India reported the highest single-day recoveries at 29,557 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recovered cases to 7,82,606. With this the COVID-19 recovery rate has also improved further and stands at 63.18 percent. According to Health Ministry.

For the second day in a row, recoveries in a single day continue to post significant rise.

Higher number of patients getting cured and discharged has contributed to increasing gap between recovered and total active cases. It is pegged at 3,56,439 as of today.

This accomplishment can be attributed to the Central Government led COVID-19 management strategies. Sustained efforts by the Center and and state and UT governments are resulting in more effective containment, aggressive testing, and prompt and efficient clinical treatment strategies.

While the national recovery rate has improved, 19 states and UTs have posted a recovery rate higher than the national average.

Delhi tops the list with 84.83 percent recovery and all northern states are in the list, including Ladakh at 84.31 percent, which has the best recovery rate in India after Delhi.

The Union Government continues to coordinate with the efforts of the States and UTs by sending Central teams of experts to areas witnessing increase in caseload and handholding of COVID hospitals in states through the tele-consultation program led by AIIMS, New Delhi.

These combined efforts have resulted in Case Fatality Rate being managed at low levels. It is 2.41 percent, as on date, and steadily declining.

Furthermore, this has also helped in reducing the actual case load of COVID-19 cases which remains confined to 4,26,167 active patients currently.

-CHK

China launches ‘Tianwen-1,’ its first independent mission to Mars

New Delhi (NVI): China today launched its first independent and unmanned Mars probe, named ‘Tianwen-1’ with an aim to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission.

If successful, Tianwen-1 will make China the first country to orbit, land and deploy a rover in its inaugural mission.

A Long March-5 rocket, which China claims is its largest launch vehicle, left for space carrying the spacecraft with a mass of about 5 tonnes, according to Xinhua news agency. The rocket was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern China’s island Hainan province at around 12:41 pm.

About 36 minutes later, the spacecraft, including an orbiter and a rover, was sent into the Earth-Mars transfer orbit, embarking on an almost seven-month journey to the red planet, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The ambitious Mars mission is named ‘Tianwen-1’ (which means Questions to Heaven in Mandarin) from a poem written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), a leading poet of ancient China.

China has launched its ambitious mission to Mars amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which it has been able to control to some extent, and the worst floods it is experiencing in decades, as a show of strength, especially to the West.

Depending on the success of the mission, China will join the international community of explorers on Mars, comprising the US, Europe, Russia, India.

The UAE has also launched its first mission to the red planet on July 20, which makes another country that may join the community. The Arab country launched ‘Hope Probe’ mission to Mars as a UAE spacecraft blasted off to the red planet from Japan.

-ARK

Centre grants Permanent Commission to women officers in Indian Army

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Women officers in the Indian Army will now be able to play larger roles with the grant of Permanent Commission (PC) for women in the armed forces by the Centre.

The Ministry of Defence today issued the formal letter sanctioning the grant for women officers, empowering eligible women personnel to take on more responsibility in the Army.

The order specifies grant of PC to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Women Officers in all ten streams of the Indian Army i.e Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), and Intelligence Corps in addition to the existing streams of Judge and Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC).

Earlier in anticipation, the Army Headquarters had set in motion a series of preparatory actions for conduct of the Permanent Commission Selection Board for affected Women Officers. The Selection Board will be scheduled as soon as all affected SSC Women Officers exercise their option and complete requisite documentation, an official release by Defence Ministry stated.

“The Indian Army is committed to providing equal opportunities to all personnel including women officers to serve the nation,” it said.

-CHK

Venice gondolas are reducing capacity due to ‘overweight’ tourists

New Delhi (NVI): Even as pandemic has placed a heavy burden on Venice tourism industry, a new restriction has been placed where Venice’s gondola tours are reducing capacity on their boats because of too many overweight tourists, La Repubblica reported.

The new restriction will see the maximum capacity on the city’s famous gondolas reduced from six passengers to five.

However, social distancing did not prompt this change, but it is the expanding average weight of tourists huddling to the destination.

Andrea Balbi, the president of Venice’s Gondola Association said, “Over the last 10 years or so, tourists weigh more — and rather than having them step on a scale before they get on, we are limiting the number.”

The change applies to Venice’s quintessential slim boats that slither along the small canals. The maximum occupancy in the larger “da parada” gondolas, which serve mostly as taxis across the Grand Canal, has also been reduced, from 14 to 12, he added.

Balbi further said that heavier loads often mean the gondolas take on water, making it harder for gondoliers to navigate canal traffic.

Raoul Roveratto, president of the association of substitute gondoliers told Repubblica daily that, “From some countries, it’s like bombs loading on and when (the boat) is fully loaded, the hull sinks and water enters. Going forward with over half a ton of meat on board is dangerous,” he added.

Meanwhile, Venice currently licensed 433 gondoliers and 180 substitutes, but it has recently cut the number of gondolas in service because of the pandemic and the steep decline in tourists, according to media reports.

Italy’s coronavirus lockdown was so noteworthy that the city’s canal water became visibly clearer, due to the massive reduction in traffic.

Earlier this month, the European Union (EU) agreed to a set of recommendations that will allow travelers from outside the bloc to visit again.

However, the country is temporarily returning to normality and Venice is moving towards welcoming back tourists.

-RJV

DRDO sets up COVID-19 testing facility in Leh

New Delhi (NVI): DRDO has established a COVID-19 testing facility at the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) in Leh to augment the existing capacity for identification of coronavirus cases in the union territory of Ladakh, according to an official statement by Defence Ministry.

The testing facility will help in keeping a close watch at the infected persons. The facility meets the safety standards and guidelines of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The facility, inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, is capable of screening 50 samples per day. The facility can also be utilized for training manpower for COVID testing and will be of great help to address future bio-threats and carrying out R&D activities pertinent to agro-animals diseases.

In his address, LG RK Mathur lauded the efforts of DRDO in fighting Covid-19 pandemic and thanked Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO for making this facility available at DIHAR. He expressed hope that the facility will help in the treatment of infected persons.

The Lieutenant Governor was briefed about the bio-safety aspect of the testing facility and precautionary measures to minimize cross-contamination and safety of researcher, health professionals and the environment.

Dr OP Chaurasia Director DIHAR, Brig JB Singh Commandant, Dr Padma Gurmet Director NRISR, Leh, Dr Mutup Dorjey CMO along with his team of doctors from SNM Hospital, Leh and other senior army officials and DRDO scientists were also present on the occasion.

-CHK

J&K: Keralite among 7 more Covid-19 deaths, toll reaches 284

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded seven more deaths due to Covid-19 including a resident from Kerala, taking the death toll due to the deadly virus in the UT to 284.

Officials said that seven patients who died include a 57-year-old male from Firdous Abad in Batamallo, Srinagar, a 55-year-old male from Nawakadal, a 52-year-old woman from Zonimar, a 46-year old woman from Gazriyal in Kupwara, a 60-year-old non-local resident, a 70-year-old lady from Uri in Baramulla and a 40-year-old from Chinkral Mohalla, Habba Kadal in Srinagar.

An official at SKIMS Soura hospital said that a man from Firdousabad, Srinagar was admitted on July 10 and a man from Nawakadal was admitted on July 13 with underlying ailments, both of whom died at SKIMS this morning. He said that a woman from Zonimar area of Srinagar, who was admitted on July 22, while another woman from Gazriyal, Kupwara district who was admitted on July 20 also succumbed to the virus.

He further added that a 60-year-old man from Kerala also died at SKIMS. He was tested positive for Covid-19.

An official from Baramulla district said that a 70-year-old female dialysis patient from Uri area of the district with a series of underlying medical conditions was critically ill. “Her dialysis was done at a private hospital in Srinagar and after dialysis, she was advised to go home and come after one week for another round of dialysis,” he said, adding that she was sampled because of comorbidity by CMO Srinagar and in the late hours yesterday, her result was positive. She died this morning and was laid to rest as per Covid-19 protocol.

Another 40-year-old resident of Chinkral Mohalla in Habba Kadal became the seventh victim of Covid. “He was admitted to SKIMS, Soura on July 18 and had underlying medical conditions. He was tested positive for the virus,” a doctor at SKIMS, said.

With Covid-19 claiming seven more lives in J&K, the death toll in the UT has reached 284, of which 264 were reported from Kashmir and 20 from Jammu.

-ARK

J&K BJP to celebrate 1 year of Article 370 abrogation

BJP
BJP flag

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir BJP will be celebrating the first anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 with a fortnight-long program starting August 5 and the day one will witness the unfurling of tricolor at all district headquarters in the UT, a senior party leader said today.

BJP General Secretary Ashok Koul said that a 15-day long program has been planned to celebrate one year of the historic decision.

On August 5 last year, the Central Government had announced the scrapping of Article 370 after which the erstwhile state of J&K was divided into two Union Territories (UTs)— J&K and Ladakh.

Koul said that as a BJP leader, he is quite satisfied with the outcome of last year’s August 5 announcement. He added that although Kashmir is peaceful than before, the development has not picked up the pace yet due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“See, Kashmir is today peaceful and that’s because of revocation of Article 370. On the development front, Covid-19 played a spoilsport. The way development should have taken place it hasn’t,” Koul told NVI.

He said security forces have been able to kill a record number of militants this year and protests at the encounter sites have also vanished. “Today, we see no clashes at the encounter sites as youth have realized the futility of protests,” he said.

Asked about the 15-day-long program commencing from August 5, Koul said day one will start with the unfurling of Tri-colour in all district, zonal, and tehsil party headquarters in J&K. “Municipal wards and head offices will also witness the hoisting of tricolor on August 5. There are a lot of programs on cards. We have kept a day to remember all police martyrs and all political workers killed so far in the past three decades including those killed recently,” Koul said.

BJP’s J&K spokesman Altaf Thakur said that the party has decided to celebrate the J&K’s complete integration with the Union of India. “Central ministers will address virtual rallies. They will also visit various districts of J&K and meet Refugees, Safai Karamcharis and poor people,” Thakur said.

He added that the schedule of the Union Ministers’ visit to J&K will be out soon.

-ARK

WHO launches Covid-19 Law Lab to provide legal support to manage pandemic

WHO

New Delhi (NVI): In order to help countries across the world establish and implement strong legal frameworks to manage the pandemic, the WHO has launched a new Covid-19 Law Lab to provide vital legal information and support for the global Covid response.

The COVID-19 Law Lab initiative gathers and shares legal documents from over 190 countries across the world to ensure that laws protect the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities and that they adhere to international human rights standards.

The new Lab (at www.COVIDLawLab.org) is a joint project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.

According to WHO, well-designed laws can help build strong health systems; evaluate and approve safe and effective drugs and vaccines; and enforce actions to create healthier and safer public spaces and workplaces.

Critically, they are key to effective implementation of the WHO International Health Regulations: surveillance; infection prevention and control; management of travel and trade; and implementation of measures to maintain essential health services, the global health body said in a statement yesterday.

“Laws and policies that are grounded in science, evidence and human rights can enable people to access health services, protect themselves from COVID-19 and live free from stigma, discrimination and violence,” says Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. “The COVID-19 Law Lab is an important tool for sharing good practices on laws and policies.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a vast increase in urgent legislative action to control and reduce the pandemic, says WHO.

“Strong legal frameworks are critical for national COVID-19 responses,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“Laws that impact health often fall outside the health sector. As health is global, legal frameworks should be aligned with international commitments to respond to current and emerging public health risks. A strong foundation of law for health is more important now than ever before,” he added.

However, laws that are poorly designed, implemented, or enforced can harm marginalized populations, entrench stigma and discrimination, and hinder efforts to end the pandemic, says WHO.

“Harmful laws can exacerbate stigma and discrimination, infringe on people’s rights and undermine public health responses,” according to Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

“To ensure responses to the pandemic are effective, humane and sustainable, governments must use the law as a tool to uphold the human rights and dignity of people affected by COVID-19,” she added.

The COVID-19 Law Lab is a database of laws that countries have implemented in response to the pandemic. It includes state of emergency declarations, quarantine measures, disease surveillance, legal measures relating to mask-wearing, social distancing, and access to medication and vaccines. The database will continue to grow as more countries and themes are added.

It will also feature research on different legal frameworks for COVID-19. These analyses will focus on the human rights impacts of public health laws and help countries identify best practices to guide their immediate responses to COVID-19 and socioeconomic recovery efforts once the pandemic is under control.

It builds off the work of the UHC Legal Solutions Network, which was established to help countries achieve universal health coverage through the implementation of rights-based legal frameworks.

“We need to track and evaluate how laws and policies are being used during the Pandemic to understand what works,” said Dr. Matthew M. Kavanagh, faculty in Georgetown University’s Department of International Health.

Katie Gottschalk, Executive Director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center added, “We must learn lessons from the early stage of pandemic policies to implement the most effective laws going forward – the COVID-19 Law Lab allows us to do just that.”

-ARK

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