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France lifts lockdown from today; reopens restaurants, bars

Le Jules Verne a restaurant located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower

New Delhi (NVI): Restaurants and bars in France were permitted to reopen from today, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

In his address yesterday, Macron had announced that restaurants and bars in mainland France can resume indoor services. He added that students will be mandated to return to schools after a week, on June 22.

“The fight against the epidemic is not finished but I am happy about this first victory against the virus,” he was quoted as saying by the local media.

According to reports, the mainland France, including the city of Paris and the surrounding region, will become a “green zone” from today. Officials there also believe the city has a low number of active COVID-19 cases and can begin to reopen closed businesses.

Depending on the number of coronavirus cases in an area, France had used red, orange and green colour codes.

However, the French territories of Mayotte and French Guiana will remain in the orange zone, according to local media reports.

Apart from that, France will also reopen its borders to other EU nations today. For other countries outside EU who have controlled their COVID-19 outbreak, France will open its borders beginning on July 1.

Delhi to conduct 18,000 Covid tests per day by Jun 20: Amit Shah at all-party meet

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 today said that Delhi Government will test 18,000 people per day for Covid-19 by June 20, at the all-party meeting held to discuss the pandemic situation in the national capital.

The meeting was attended by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and other parties that hold constituencies in Delhi.

After the meeting, Delhi BJP chief Adesh Kumar Gupta said that the decision on testing 18,000 people per day in Delhi was taken by Home Minister Amit Shah. Apart from that, the BJP’s demand of waiving 50 per cent charges on testing was also approved by Shah, he added.

The all-party meeting comes a day after the Home Minister met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other senior officials yesterday to discuss the management of Covid-19 from spreading and its treatment in Delhi. Shah had also met Delhi mayors and commissioners of civic bodies in a second meeting yesterday to ensure proper implementation of decisions taken in the first meeting to make Delhi Corona free.

In the meeting, that was also attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, crucial decisions were taken regarding the handling of Covid-19 crisis situation in Delhi.

In compliance with the Home Minister’s orders yesterday, the Health Ministry yesterday directed that bodies of suspected corona cases in Delhi be handed over to relatives immediately without waiting for lab confirmation, the MHA said in a tweet.

“Bodies to be disposed of with precaution as per Health Ministry guidelines dated 15.03.2020,” the MHA added. This comes after the Supreme Court censored the Delhi government two days back over the handling of Covid-19 dead bodies, observing that it was “horrendous, horrific, pathetic”.

In others decisions taken at the meeting yesterday, Shad 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.

The coronavirus cases in Delhi have surged past the 40,000 mark at 41,182 while 1327 deaths have been recorded so far. There are 24,032 active cases and 15,823 have recovered.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): India is the fourth worst-affected country in the world index due to coronavirus pandemic, after it surpassed United Kingdom in the total number of confirmed cases, as the country continues to witness huge spike in the infected cases.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 3,32,424 including 8,520 casualties, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In the last 24 hours, a record 11,502 new cases of coronavirus and 325 deaths have been reported in India, both being at a record high in a single day till now. Maharashtra tops the country with the maximum number of coronavirus cases and has reported nearly 90,000 confirmed cases so far.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 38

Andhra Pradesh- 6,163

Arunachal Pradesh- 91

Assam- 4,049

Bihar- 6,470

Chandigarh- 352

Chhattisgarh- 1,662

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 26

Delhi- 41,182

Gujarat- 23,544

Goa- 564

Haryana– 7,208

Himachal Pradesh- 518

Jammu and Kashmir- 5,041

Jharkhand- 1,745

Karnataka- 7,000

Kerala- 2,461

Ladakh- 549

Madhya Pradesh- 10,802

Maharashtra- 1,07,958

Manipur- 458

Meghalaya- 44

Mizoram- 112

Nagaland- 168

Odisha- 3,909

Puducherry- 194

Punjab- 3,140

Rajasthan- 12,694

Sikkim- 68

Tamil Nadu- 44,661

Telangana- 4,974

Tripura- 1,076

Uttarakhand- 1,819

Uttar Pradesh- 13,615

West Bengal – 11,087

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 84

Assam- 8

Bihar- 36

Chandigarh- 5

Chhattisgarh- 8

Delhi- 1,327

Gujarat- 1,477

Haryana- 88

Himachal Pradesh- 7

Jammu and Kashmir- 59

Jharkhand- 8

Karnataka- 86

Kerala- 19

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 459

Maharashtra- 3,950

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 11

Puducherry- 5

Punjab- 67

Rajasthan- 292

Tamil Nadu- 435

Telangana- 185

Tripura- 1

Uttar Pradesh- 399

Uttarakhand- 24

West Bengal- 475

A total of 1,69,798 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,53,106 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2020: History, significance and theme

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Elder abuse is a global social issue that affects the health and human rights of millions of older people around the world. So, on this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we need to pay attention to the problems of elderly people.

The main objective of the day is to voice opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on elderly people.

The day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), who first established the commemoration in 2006.

The abuse of elderly people is one of the least addressed problems in the world, but it is fast gaining attention. Issues of physical, emotional and financial abuse of elders needs to be addressed. It is a problem that exists in both developing and developed countries yet is typically underreported globally.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2020 is being observed with the theme, “Safeguard older persons during COVID-19 and beyond.”

According to United Nations (UN) report, an estimated 66 per cent of people aged 70 and over have at least one underlying condition, placing them at increased risk of severe impact from COVID-19.

COVID-19 pandemic may significantly lower older persons’ incomes and living standards. Currently, less than 20 per cent of older people of retirement age receive a pension, the UN said in a statement.

Although all age groups are at risk of contracting COVID-19, older persons are at a significantly higher risk of mortality and severe disease following infection. It is crucial to minimize these risks by addressing the needs of human rights of elderly persons in our efforts to fight the pandemic.

Response to COVID-19 is an opportunity to make inclusive, equitable and age-friendly society guided by the 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development To Leave No One Behind, the UN said.

Coronavirus cases surpass 7.9 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): Nearly 7.9 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. More than 3.7 million have recovered, while at least 432,632 have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

China has turned to mass testing and district lockdowns in Beijing after a jump in cases connected with a wholesale food market in the capital.

Authorities announced 49 new cases, 36 of which were linked to the Xinfadi seafood supermarket in Beijing’s southern Fengtai district.

Meanwhile in the US, there are nearly 2.1 million cases of coronavirus including at least 1,15,732 deaths.

In Brazil, more than 8.6 million have been infected with the deadly contagion while around 43,000 people have died due to the novel coronavirus.

Thailand has reported no new cases or deaths, and its 21st day without local transmission. All recent cases have been found in Thai people returning from overseas.

In addition to this, Australia is looking to infrastructure spending to boost its economy – the country’s facing its first recession in 30 years as a result of the coronavirus.

Disneyland in Hong Kong has announced it will reopen on June 18 nearly six months after it closed in late January.

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.

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