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West Bengal to resume flights from 6 cities from Sept 1

domestic flights
Representational/file image

New Delhi (NVI): The West Bengal government wrote a letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry to allow flights to operate from six cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad from September 1.

In a letter, the state government wrote, “Restriction on flights coming in from six cities, is being partially lifted from September 1 onwards.”

However, flights from these cities can come to the state thrice a week, it added.

The state government also urged the ministry to ensure that there is no flight coming to or going out of any airport of West Bengal on September 7, 11 & 12 as the state will observe complete lockdown on these three days.

“Kindly ensure that there is no flight coming to or going out of any airport of West Bengal on 7th, 11th & 12th September as the state will observe complete lockdown on these three days,” the letter further mentioned.

Earlier, the Kolkata airport has announced an extension on restrictions of flights arriving in Kolkata from six metro cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur, and Ahmedabad, till August 31 in view of the coronavirus crisis.

All these cities are COVID-19 hotspots and have reported the highest number of cases in the country so far.

The state government had earlier announced a ban on a passenger flight to Kolkata from these cities from July 6 onwards.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday announced a series of relaxations including resuming flight operations from 6 COVID hotspot states, but extended the closure of educational institutes till September 20.

While announcing complete lockdown across West Bengal on September 7, 11 and 12, Banerjee said metro train services can resume by observing social distancing and other precautionary measures.

“Schools, colleges and other educational institutes would remain closed in the state till September 20. The other existing restrictions would be in place. There would be complete Lockdown in the state on September 7, 11 and 12,” she said.

West Bengal’s coronavirus tally stands at 1,47,775 after 2,974 more people tested positive for the virus in the past 55 hours, while the COVID-19 death toll rose to 2,964.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surpass 24 million worldwide; death toll tops 8.24 lakh

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 24.1 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and 15.7 million have recovered, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 8,24,000 have died.

In the US, the number of coronavirus cases have exceeded 5.8 million while the number of fatalities are nearing 1,80,000.

Brazil’s coronavirus infections have surged past 3.7 million while the death toll climbed to 1,17,000 in the country.

Italy recorded its highest daily tally in coronavirus infections since May. The country reported 1,367 cases and brought the total to 2,62,540. Despite the surge in infections, the government insists there are no plans for a new lockdown.

South Korea has reported 441 new coronavirus cases, the highest number of daily coronavirus cases since March, and parliament has been forced to close amid increasing expectations that the authorities will impose tougher restrictions to control the disease.

The French health ministry has registered 5,429 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, a new post-lockdown high and a level of new infections not seen since the height of the epidemic in early April.

The Australian state of Victoria has reported its lowest number of coronavirus cases in nearly two months.

New Zealand announced 7 new cases, including one imported case who is a woman in her 20s. The other 6 cases are all in the community and have all been linked to the Auckland cluster.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,507 to 2,37,936. The reported death toll rose by five to 9,285, the tally showed.

New cases have risen in Croatia since it opened its borders to tourists for the summer, hitting more than 200 daily cases in late August and a record 358 on Wednesday.

China reported eight new Covid-19 cases, down from 15 a day earlier, the country’s health authority said.

Gaza will remain in lockdown at least until Sunday, health officials said after reporting two deaths and 26 cases in the first public outbreak of the coronavirus in the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

-CHK

India’s Covid-19 tally crosses 33 lakh; death toll tops 60,000

India’s COVID tally tops 10.34 million with 16,505 new cases
(File/ Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India’s coronavirus tally crossed the 33 lakh-mark today and stands at 33,10,234, with the confirmation of biggest single-day spike 75,760 in last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll has gone up to 60,472 with 1,023 new fatalities being reported during this period.

So far, 25,23,772 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country. With this, the recovery rate remains above 76 percent but slips to 76.24 percent from 76.30 percent.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 7,18,711, followed by Tamil Nadu with 3,97,261 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 3,82,469 cases.

The other worst affected states are Karnataka (3,09,406), Uttar Pradesh (2,03,028), Delhi (1,65,764) and West Bengal (1,47,775).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 23,089 followed by 6,839 in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 4,347, while another 1,65,764 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the total of 3,85,76,510 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till August 26. Of these, 9,24,998 were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a complete lockdown in the state on September 7, 11, and 12, amid rising coronavirus cases in the state.

-RJV

CGHS starts tele-consultation services in Delhi/NCR to prevent crowding at hospitals

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): In order to prevent crowding at hospitals amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) will be starting tele-consultation services with specialist doctors to help the beneficiaries.

In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is not advisable for senior citizens to visit public places, particularly health care facilities, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

“In order to facilitate consultations with specialists by CGHS beneficiaries through virtual mode without physically visiting a healthcare facility, CGHS has started tele-consultation services w.e.f. 25.8.2020,” the Ministry said.

Initially, these services will be available to beneficiaries in Delhi/NCR. The e-services are available between 9.00 am and 12 noon on all working days.

CGHS tele-consultation services are using the existing e-Sanjeevani platform of the Health Ministry. For ease of use, this platform has been linked with the ID of the beneficiaries.

For availing of specialist OPD services, the beneficiaries are required to register on the platform using their mobile number after which an OTP will be generated for verification purposes. After verification, the beneficiaries can log on to the system, fill patient registration form, request for a token and upload health records (if required), the ministry said.

The patients will receive patient ID and token through SMS and they will also be intimated about their number in the online queue. On their turn, a ‘call now’ button will be activated and using the same, the beneficiary concerned can initiate a video call with a specialist for consultation.

After the tele-consultation, an e-prescription will be generated. Using this, the patients can get medicines issued from their CGHS Wellness Centre.

The Ministry further said that the new tele-consultation services of CGHS will prove to be a boon for those CGHS beneficiaries who are in need of consultation with specialists, but in the times of COVID-19 are not able to move out.

To begin with, specialist consultation under the services will be available for Medicine, Orthopaedics, Eye and ENT.

-ARK

J&K: Total corona cases reach 34,480 with 704 fresh infections

Jammu and Kashmir

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 704 fresh coronavirus cases, including 96 travelers, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 34,480.

Of the total cases, 26,872 are from Kashmir and 7,608 from the Jammu division.

UT health officials said that among 704 new cases, 509 belong to Kashmir while 195 are from Jammu division. The total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached 26,872 including 20,291 recoveries while the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 7,608 including 5,902 recoveries and 54 deaths.

They said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 7,630 including 5,978 from Kashmir and 1,652 from Jammu division.

With 599 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in J&K has reached 26,193 which is 75.96 percent of the total cases.

Srinagar district alone has 8,553 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in Jammu division where total cases are 7,608.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 198 from Srinagar, 16 from Baramulla, 55 from Pulwama, 64 from Budgam, 47 from Anantnag, 09 from Kulgam, 09 from Shopian, 49 from Kupwara, 22 from Bandipora and 40 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 195 from Jammu division include 98 from Jammu, 17 from Rajouri, 27 from Kathua, 15 from Udhampur, 03 from Ramban, 12 from Samba, 07 from Doda, 07 from Poonch and 09 from Kishtwar,” read the daily Covid bulletin.

As per the daily information bulletin, 4,45,720 persons in the UT are under observation while 43,764 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 7,630 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 3,49,523 persons have completed the surveillance period and 44,146 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 9,02,677 samples are available out of which 8,68,197 have tested negative while 34,480 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 7,630 are active and 26,193 persons have recovered.

-ARK

Pak shells forward areas in J&K’s Poonch

Ceasefire
Representational image

Jammu (NVI): Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing with small and heavy weapons along Line of Control (LoC) in Shahpur, Kirni and Qasba sectors of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, this evening, defence officials said.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire at around 6.50 pm, they said.

“At about 1850 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with Small Arms & shelling with Mortars along LoC in Shahpur, Kirni & Qasba sectors in District Poonch (J&K),” they said, adding that the Indian Army gave a befitting response.

Earlier on Monday, the Pakistani army had violated ceasefire along LoC in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district in J&K.

-ARK

Phase II trial of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine begins in Pune

Argentina first in Latin America to approve Russian Sputnik V vaccine

New Delhi (NVI): The much awaited Phase II clinical trials of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, being manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) began today.

Serum Institute of India (SII) partnered with AstraZeneca to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine candidate for India and low-and-middle income countries.

Five volunteers enrolled to get for the Phase II trial of Covishield vaccine at Bharti Vidyapeeth’s Medical College and Hospital in Pune.

The doctors conducted COVID-19 and antibodies tests on all of them. Three volunteers had tested positive for coronavirus antibodies test, hence they became ineligible for the trial. Two of them were administered the vaccine and are being monitored, according to media reports.

In all, 25 candidates will be given the vaccine in the next seven days.

SII, the world’s largest vaccine maker, selected 17 sites in India to conduct the Phase II trial of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 1,600 candidates will take part in the study.

The other hospitals where trials are to be conducted include B J Medical College Hospital in Pune, AIIMS Delhi, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, Nehru Hospital in Gorakhpur and Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam.

-CHK

J&K: 2 booked for raising ‘Azadi’ slogans in Muharram procession in Srinagar

Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today said that it has booked two persons in Srinagar under sedition law after they were found involved in raising pro-freedom slogans during a Muharram procession here.

The search for a few others is underway who will also be booked under the same charges, police said.

They said that after assessing the contents of a video on social media, some Shia mourners were found raising pro-Azadi slogans in a mourning procession taken out in connection with Muharram at Parimpora area of Srinagar.

“The police station Parimpora took cognizance and identified the location near Hokersar, Nowpora Bund. The area is isolated and there was no history of organising any such unlawful gathering before, neither was there input of any gathering/procession nor was there any police presence, as the area is far from main Imambara,” a police spokesman said.

“It has been revealed that some boys from the adjoining area of Budgam led by three persons- Sajad Hussain Parray, Arif Ahmad Dar and Raja Mehboob took advantage of the area and assembled here and raised pro Azadi slogans.”

The police spokesman said that in this regard, a formal case has been registered against the above accused.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Haseeb Mughal said that midnight raids were conducted in which two persons have been arrested and further arrests are expected in the case while the investigation is going on. “Other persons have been identified and they will be arrested soon,” Mughal added.

It is pertinent to mention here that major Muharram processions in Srinagar are banned since 1989 as the authorities fear that allowing such activities may turn into a massive law and order situation.

The authorities have, however, allowed Muharram processions in the Shia majority areas that remain confined to a particular area only. This year, a major Shia body, Anjuman-e-Shar-e-Shian had announced that there would be no Muharram procession in view of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

-ARK

Himachal Pradesh relaxes restrictions for tourists to enter state

New Delhi (NVI): The government of Himachal Pradesh has relaxed lockdown norms, entry restrictions for tourists and people coming from other states.

The decision to ease out travel restrictions has been taken according to the central government’s latest guidelines, to revive the tourism sector in the state which is largely dependent on tourism for revenue.

The tourism sector which come to a standstill ever since the coronavirus-induced lockdown was announced in March. In an attempt to revive the tourism industry, the state cabinet relaxed the restrictions and guidelines on stay of tourists put in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the hill state.

However, the state government will continue to enforce the stipulation of interstate e-movement passes; only its issuance will be streamlined to make it hassle-free for visitors.

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, he decided to reduce the minimum stay of the tourists to two days from five days.

Meanwhile, the existing norms in regard to COVID-19 negative certificates, which are mandatory for the tourists to enter Himachal Pradesh, have also been relaxed.

In addition, Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that unlike earlier, tourists can now show a COVID-19 negative test report of the test which was done 96 hours before entering the state.

He also said that no one will be given entry without an e-pass. All interstate movement will be monitored via the ongoing registration process. “Any person keen to visit Himachal can enter his particulars on this software and he will get permission on priority,” Bhardwaj added.

Himachal Pradesh’s coronavirus tally stands at 5,154 after 53 more people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, while 2 new fatalities pushed it’s COVID-19 death toll to 30.

Nominations for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021 invited

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2020.

New Delhi (NVI): Ministry of Women and Child Development has invited nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar-2021 from children, individuals and institutions.

The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar was instituted to felicitate meritorious children and institutions of the country. These awards are given under two categories – Bal Shakti Puraskar and Bal Kalyan Puraskar.

While the Bal Shakti Puraskar aims to give recognition to children who have achieved extraordinarily in various fields including innovation, scholastic, sports, art & culture, social service and bravery, the Bal Kalyan Puraskar is given as recognition to Individuals and Institutions, who have made an outstanding contribution towards service for children in the field of child development, child protection and child welfare.

The awards are given by the President in Darbar Hall, Rashtrapati Bhavan, in the week preceding Republic Day every year.

Prime Minister also felicitates the awardees. The awardees of Bal Shakti Puraskar also take part in Republic Day Parade on the January 26 on Rajpath, New Delhi.

The nominations can be done through online application forms submitted by applicants.

-CHK

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