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Covid-19 cases in India rise to 3.32 lakh, death toll at 9,520

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 3,32,424 and fatalities from the virus have gone up to 9,520, according to Union Health Ministry.

In the past 24 hours, 11,502 fresh COVID-19 infections and 325 deaths were reported in the country.

At least 1,69,797 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 1,07,958 coronavirus cases followed by Tamil Nadu with 44,661 and Delhi with 41,182 positive cases.

In terms of deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 3,950 fatalities, ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 1,327 while another 15,823 patients have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (23,544), Uttar Pradesh (13,615), Rajasthan (12,694) and Madhya Pradesh (10,802).

Whereas, north-east states have started recording an increasing number of daily COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today called an all-party meeting to review management of COVID-19 situation in Delhi.

J&K: 10 CRPF men, baby among 163 new Covid cases as tally crosses 5,000

Jammu and Kashmir

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed two more deaths due to the coronavirus while 10 CRPF men, a baby and five cops were among fresh cases that tested positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of cases in the UT to 5,041.

With the two fresh deaths, the number of people who have died due to the Covid-19 in J&K has reached 59 which includes 52 from Kashmir and 7 from Jammu. The two persons who died today include an 85-year-old man from Darepora, Kralpora in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, who died at CD hospital Srinagar and a 69-year-old man from Gandhi Nagar, Jammu who died at GMC Jammu. Both had tested positive for the virus a few days ago.

Officials said that among the new 163 cases, there were 10 CRPF men, 5 policemen and an 11-month-old baby. “Among the new cases, 135 belong to Kashmir division while 28 are from Jammu division,” they said. The total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 3,878 including 1,978 recoveries and 52 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 1,163 including 411 recoveries and 7 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 2,593 including 1,848 from Kashmir and 745 from Jammu.

They further added that among the new cases, 32 are travelers and 120 more patients were discharged after their recovery.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 5 from Anantnag, 16 from Kulgam, 10 from Srinagar, 11 from Budgam, 9 from Kupwara, 45 from Shopian, 3 from Baramulla, 3 from Bandipora and 33 from Pulwama in Kashmir division while 28 from Jammu division include 6 each from Jammu and Doda districts, 3 from Udhampur, 4 from Kathua, 8 from Samba and 1 from Rajouri.

As per officials figures, 631 positive cases including 8 deaths and 338 recoveries are from Kulgam, 515 including 11 deaths and 166 recoveries are from Baramulla, 525 including 13 deaths and 158 recoveries are from Srinagar, 489 including 376 recoveries and 5 deaths are from Anantnag, 538 including 294 recoveries and 5 deaths are from Shopian, 397 including 287 recoveries and 4 deaths are from Kupwara, 239 including 174 recoveries and 1 death are from Bandipora, 239 including 112 recoveries and 3 deaths are from Budgam, 245 including 33 recoveries and 2 deaths are from Pulwama and 62 including 40 recoveries are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu, 273 including 137 recoveries and 4 deaths are from Jammu district, 195 including 55 recoveries are from Ramban, 158 including 39 recoveries and 1 death is from Udhampur, 159 including 71 recoveries are from Kathua, 104 including 30 recoveries from Poonch, 66 including one death and 12 recoveries are from Rajouri, 63 including 23 recoveries and 1 death are from Doda, 24 including 11 recoveries are from Reasi and 22 including 04 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 2,35,200 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 40,634 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides, 2,593 persons are in hospital isolation while 31 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 1,39,201 persons have completed surveillance period and 52,682 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 2,66,163 samples are available out of which 2,61,122 tested negative while 5,041 have been tested positive. Among them, 2593 are active, 2389 persons have recovered and 59 have died.

Health Min includes Remdesivir as ‘investigational therapy’ for emergency Covid use

Remdesivir
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Remdesivir drug has been included as an “investigational therapy” only for restricted emergency use in Covid-19 treatment, the Union Health Ministry said today.

The Ministry has released guidelines for its use along with off label use of Tocilizumab and Convalescent Plasma.

The Health Ministry’s status on the drug comes amid reports in a section of the media regarding the use of Remdesivir as part of the Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19, and its availability in the country.

An updated Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19 was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare yesterday.

The said protocol also clearly mentions that the use of these therapies is based on limited available evidence and limited availability at present. “Use of Remdesivir under emergency use may be considered in patients with moderate disease (those on oxygen) but with no specified contraindications,” the ministry said in a statement.

This drug has still not been approved (market authorization) by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), where like India it continues only under an Emergency Use Authorization, it said.

Restricted emergency use of drugs in the country for treatment of suspected or laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in adults and children hospitalised with severe disease is subject to the following conditions- Written informed consent of each patient required, results of additional clinical trials to be submitted, active surveillance data of all treated patients to be submitted, risk management plan along with active post marketing surveillance and reporting of serious adverse events also to be submitted. Additionally, first three batches of imported consignments are to be tested and reports submitted to Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the ministry statement read.

M/s Gilead had applied to the Indian Drug Regulatory Agency, namely CDSCO, for import and marketing of Remdesivir on May 29 this year. After due deliberations, permission under Emergency Use Authorization was granted on June 1, 2020 in the interest of patient safety and obtaining further data, MoHFW said.

Six Indian companies, namely M/s Hetero, M/s Cipla, M/s BDR, M/s Jubilant, M/s Mylan and Dr. Reddy’s Labs have also applied to CDSCO for permission to manufacture and market the drug in India.

Five of these have also entered into an agreement with M/s Gilead. These applications are being processed by the CDSCO on priority and in accordance with the laid down procedures.The companies are at various intermediate stages of inspection of manufacturing facilities, verification of data, stability testing, emergency laboratory testing as per protocol etc.

Being an injectable formulation, testing for assay, identity, impurities, bacterial endotoxin test and sterility become very critical for patient safety and this data need to be provided by the companies. CDSCO is awaiting the data and is providing complete support to these companies. It has already waived off the requirement of local clinical trials for these companies by invoking emergency provisions. The regulatory processes are being facilitated and expedited by CDSCO, the Health Ministry said.

Amit Shah calls all-party meet tomorrow to review Covid-19 crisis in Delhi

Home Minister Amit Shah at a meeting to review COVID-19 situation in Delhi on June 14.

New Delhi (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold an all-party meeting in Delhi tomorrow to review the Covid-19 crisis in the national capital which has seen a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the last few days.

The Covid-19 cases in Delhi have seen a surge after the Centre announced the lifting of the lockdown in a phased manner across the country.

Earlier today, Home Minister held a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and other senior officials here to discuss the pandemic situation in the national capital.

Crucial decisions regarding the prevention of Covid infection from spreading in Delhi and the treatment of patients were taken at the meeting.

Tomorrow’s meeting will take place at 11 am and is likely to be attended by Delhi-based parties including the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Delhi unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

In the meeting held today, Amit Shah assured all possible help from Centre to the national capital to combat the spread of coronavirus.

In a series of tweets, Shah said that taking note of the lack of beds for Covid-19 patients, Centre has taken an urgent decision to provide 500 railways coaches to Delhi. He said these railway coaches will not only increase 8,000 beds in Delhi but they will also be equipped with all facilities to combat Covid-19 infection.

Apart from that, the Home Minister said that corona testing will be tripled in Delhi after the next six days. “Corona testing in Delhi will be doubled in the next couple of days and it will be further tripled after six days,” he said, adding that testing facility will be started at every polling booth in containment zones.

Shah also said that to enable contact mapping in a better way, a comprehensive door to door survey of each person will be done in containment zones in Delhi. “Its report will come in a week. Besides, for effective monitoring, every person will be asked to download Aarogya Setu App,” he said.

He added that the Centre has decided to form a committee of senior doctors at AIIMS for telephonic guidance to small hospitals in Delhi regarding correct information and instructions. He said that this helpline number will be released tomorrow.

He has directed the Central Government, Delhi Government and all three Municipal Corporations of Delhi to ensure proper implementation of the decisions taken in the meeting held earlier this morning such as house-to-house survey, Corona testing etc to the lowest level, the MHA said in a statement.

Delhi is now nearing the 40,000 mark while the coronavirus has claimed over 1200 live so far. Delhi has recorded 38,958 confirmed cases so far with 1,271 deaths. There are 22,742 confirmed cases and 14,945 recoveries, according to the latest data with the Health Ministry.

Southwest monsoon advances over entire Maharashtra: IMD

New Delhi (NVI): The southwest monsoon, which hit Maharashtra four days back, has now covered the entire state including its capital Mumbai, the Indian Meteorological Department said today.

The weather department in a release said that the monsoon has advanced over entire Maharashtra including Mumbai, parts of south Gujarat and some more parts of central and East India.

“The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Central Arabian Sea, some parts of northeast Arabian Sea, Gujarat state, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, remaining parts of Maharashtra (including Mumbai), some parts of Madhya Pradesh, most parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and some more parts of Bihar,” the Ministry of Earth Science said.

“The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) now passes through Lat.20°N/Long.60°E, Lat.20°N/Long.70°E, Surat, Nandurbar, Betul, Seoni, Pendra Road, Ambikapur, Gaya, Patna and Lat.27°N/Long.85°E,” it added.

IMD in its latest report said that conditions are becoming favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of North Arabian Sea, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, remaining parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar and some parts of East Uttar Pradesh during next 48 hours.

Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is very likely to continue over Maharashtra, Gujarat, most parts of central and east India during next 4-5 days with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Gujarat and isolated heavy over south Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Marathwada during next 2-3 days, it added.

Pakistan’s Covid-19 tally crosses 1,41,000; death toll at 2,647

(Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan has been witnessing a daily surge in the number of coronavirus cases as the tally crossed 1,41,000 today with 2,647 deaths.

The country’s health ministry said today that Pakistan has witnessed its highest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases with 6,825 new infections. More than 80 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, it said.

The Sindh Province reported maximum 2,287 new cases in the country, even as the Pakistan government aims to conduct 1,00,000 daily Covid tests by the end of July.

“We were only testing 500 people at the start of the pandemic. Now we are able to conduct 30,000 tests per day and the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to take our capacity to more than 100,000 tests per day by the end of July. We are constantly increasing our capacity,” Pakistan’s Federal minister Asad Umar was quoted as saying by the Dawn.

The minister added that the federal government would help the provinces in increasing oxygen capacity in hospitals.

Meanwhile, the total confirmed cases in the country stand at 1,41,517 out of which 51,735 have recovered.

Sindh province has the maximum number of cases at 53,805, Punjab has 52,601, Balochistan 8,028, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 17, 450, Islamabad 7,934, Gilgit Baltistan 1,095 and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir has 604 positive cases.

Migrant labourers returning home may get work under Jal Jeevan Mission: Centre

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): As migrant labourers are returning to their villages amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation and have no immediate plans to go back to cities, the Centre is planning to deploy such workers in its flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide them with employment.

“In the prevailing CoVid-19 pandemic situation, works related to water supply and water conservation to commence immediately in villages to provide works to the skilled/semi-skilled migrant workers to provide livelihood as well as to provide potable water in the households of rural people,” the Jal Shakti Ministry said in a statement.

The Mission aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) i.e. Har Ghar Jal to every rural household by 2024.

JJM aims at ensuring potable water supply in adequate quantity (@ the rate of 55 litres per person per day) and of prescribed quality to every rural household on regular and long-term basis.

“Since the objective of the Mission is universal coverage, emphasis is laid on the principle of ‘equity and inclusiveness’ i.e. every family in the village gets tap water connection in their households and none is left behind,” the ministry said.

In addition to this, the provision of household tap connection in rural areas will help in removing ‘drudgery’ of women, especially girls as fetching water is their responsibility. It will also improve the ‘ease of living’ for people living in rural areas.

The Ministry further stated that safe access to potable water in household premises will not only improve the health of rural people in terms of control of water-borne diseases, it will also provide opportunity for economic activities for rural women by saving their precious time, which otherwise is lost in fetching water from a distance.

Under the mission, the government is focusing on ensuring functionality of water supply systems and more emphasis is given on ‘service delivery’ with the objective to convert PHED (Public health Engineering Department) and Gram Panchayat or User groups as ‘public utilities’, rather than merely creating water supply infrastructure, the ministry said.

The Jal Shakti Ministry further stated that to achieve the objectives of the Mission to provide tap connection to each rural household in every habitation/village on long-term basis, skilled manpower in areas like masonry, plumbing, fitting, electricity, etc., needed for creation of water supply schemes and their operation & maintenance and such manpower will be required in each village/habitation.

The Ministry has roped in National Skill Development Corporation to create a pool of skilled Human Resources in rural areas to make villages a self-reliant unit without depending on others for regular upkeep and maintenance of water supply systems.

With an outlay of Rs 3.60 lakh crore for the Mission, the Centre’s share is 2.08 Lakh Crore and the remaining Rs 1.52 Crore is to be borne by states. Announced on August 15, 2019 by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day address to the nation, in 2019-20, Rs. 10,000 Crore was allocated for JJM and during 2020-21, provision of Rs. 23,500 Crore has been made for the JJM.

The funding pattern under JJM is 100:0 for UTs without legislature; 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States, and UTs with legislature; and 50:50 for all other States. Further, to instill a sense of competition among the States, good performance, in terms of physical and financial progress, is incentivized in the form of additional fund, the Ministry said.

Sushant Singh Rajput dies by suicide

New Delhi (NVI): Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who rose to fame with his role in MS Dhoni biopic, was found dead today at his Mumbai residence. The 34-year-old actor was found hanging at his residence.

His body was sent for postmortem today and Mumbai Police is investigating the death.

Sushant was born in Patna, Bihar on 21 January, 1986. Before his success in Bollywood, he was appreciated for his role as male lead of Ekta Kapoor’s TV show Pavitra Rishta alongside Ankita Lokhande.

The actor made his Bollywood debut with the 2013 film Kai Po Che! Sushant was last seen in Drive opposite Jacqueline Fernandez.

The actor’s death was condoled by Bollywood fraternity as well as sports stars and political leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the death of actor and tweeted: “Sushant Singh Rajput…a bright young actor gone too soon. He excelled on TV and in films. His rise in the world of entertainment inspired many and he leaves behind several memorable performances. Shocked by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and fans. Om Shanti.”

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also took to Twitter said he was shocked by the death of the young actor. “Shocked and sad to hear about the loss of Sushant Singh Rajput. Such a young and talented actor. My condolences to his family and friends. May his soul RIP,” he tweeted.

500 train coaches to be provided to Delhi, testing to be tripled: Amit Shah

Amit Shah meets farmer leaders
File Photo: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

New Delhi (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah today held a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal where he assured all possible help from Centre to the national capital to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and senior officials from the government were also present in the meeting. In a series of tweets, Amit Shah listed the decisions taken during the meeting.

“Modi government is committed to stopping the spreading coronavirus in national capital Delhi. Taking note of the lack of beds for Covid-19 patients, Centre has taken an urgent decision to provide 500 railways coaches to Delhi,” Shah said in one of his tweets.

“These railway coaches will not only increase 8,000 beds in Delhi but they will also be equipped with all facilities to combat Covid-19 infection,” he added.

Apart from that, the Home Minister said that corona testing will be tripled in Delhi after the next six days. “Corona testing in Delhi will be doubled in the next couple of days and it will be further tripled after six days,” he said, adding that testing facility will be started at every polling booth in containment zones.

Shah said that to enable contact mapping in a better way, a comprehensive door to door survey of each person will be done in containment zones in Delhi. “Its report will come in a week. Besides, for effective monitoring, every person will be asked to download Aarogya Setu App,” he said.

He also said that the Centre has decided to form a committee of senior doctors at AIIMS for telephonic guidance to small hospitals in Delhi regarding correct information and instructions. He said that this helpline number will be released tomorrow.

Besides, he said that a committee has been made to enable that 60 per cent beds at private hospitals can be availed by corona patients at reduced rates. The committee, which will give its report tomorrow, will also decide rates for corona treatment and testing in these hospitals, he said.

The Central government has also assured Delhi of providing important resources like oxygen cylinder, ventilator, Pulse oximeter to fight Covid-19, he added.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted after the meeting saying it was productive and any key decisions were taken. “Extremely productive meeting betn Del govt and Central govt. Many key decisions taken. We will fight against corona together,” he tweeted.

Delhi has recorded 38,958 confirmed cases so far with 1,271 deaths. There are 22,742 confirmed cases and 14,945 recoveries, according to the latest data with the Health Ministry.

After Poonch, Pakistan violates ceasefire in Kashmir’s Baramulla

Representational Image (File)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A heavy exchange of firing is going on since morning at Rampur sector in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla as Pakistan army violated ceasefire after it engaged in heavy shelling along the LoC in Poonch last night, officials said. The Indian Army is giving a befitting response.

An Indian Army jawan was killed and two other soldiers were injured in the intense firing and heavy shelling along LoC in Poonch last night.

Locals in Uri said that they woke up to deafening sounds of mortars fired by the Pakistani army in the wee hours. “This is for the third time in the recent past that we have witnessed such an intense shelling from across LoC,” a group of villagers from Churunda village told NVI, adding that many families were seen moving towards the main town for safety, carrying their belongings.

“Our life has become hell as exchange of firing between the two sides is taking a toll on our psyche. We are fed up with this firing between the two sides,” Abdul Aziz Khatana, a village elder of Nambla village said.

Defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that Pakistan violated ceasefire in Rampur sector in Baramulla district in the wee hours after it resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC. “Pakistani army fired mortars and other weapons. Befitting response is being given,” he said.

Villagers said that firing was going on between the two sides intermittently and they have kept their livestock locked in sheds while the majority of the civilian population in Uri villages have kept themselves confined to their homes.

Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom said that they are aware of the ceasefire violation in Rampur sector and are closely monitoring the situation. “So far there is no civilian causality or damage to the property. We are in constant touch with the concerned to get the details,” he said.

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