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India’s Covid tally breaches 10.28 mn, death toll at 1.48 lakh

COVID cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases in India saw the single-day rise of 20,036 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 10,286,710, Union Health Ministry confirmed today.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 1,48,994, with 256 new fatalities being reported during the same period.

Currently, 98,83,461 patients have been cured an recovered across the country, while the active cases remained below 2.6 lakh mark and stands at 2,54,254. With this, the national recovery rate stands at 96.08 percent in India.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 19,32,112 followed by Karnataka with 9,19,496 and Andhra Pradesh with 8,92,286 positive cases.

The other worst hit states are Tamil Nadu (8,18,014), Kerala (7,60,933), Delhi (6,25,369) and Uttar Pradesh (5,85,902).

Meanwhile, of the total fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 49,521 deaths, followed by Karnataka with 12,090 fatalities.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 10,536, while 6,09,322 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, more than 17.31 crore samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 31. Of these, 10,62,420 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, thousands of class 10 and 12 students are expected to return to classrooms today when Karnataka reopens schools for in-person classes after a gap of nearly 10 months.

-RJV

Indian Navy chief visits INS Dwarka, reviews security situation at Okha in Gujarat

Indian Navy chief visits INS Dwarka, reviews security situation at Okha in Guj

New Delhi (NVI) Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh today visited Indian Naval Ship Dwarka and forward operating base at Okha in Gujarat to review the security situation on new year’s eve.

The Naval Chief was briefed by the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat, Daman and Diu on maritime operations and security aspects relevant to Gujarat, Daman & Diu (GD&D) Naval Area, PIB’s defence wing said in a statement.

He also took stock of coastal surveillance initiatives by GD&D Area and interacted with personnel from Naval Station Okha and other units, it said.

“Appreciating the quality work put in by the station, he encouraged the personnel to keep up the good work as INS Dwarka enters its golden jubilee year. The CNS also wished all personnel and families at GD&D Area the very best for the new year,” it said.

-ARK

Civillian shot dead by militants in Srinagar

Bomb disposal squad

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): A civilian was shot dead by unknown militants in Hari Singh High Street area of Srinagar this evening, police said.

Unknown gunmen barged into the jewelry shop of a civilian identified as Satpal and fired upon him, they said.

The victim was shifted to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

Reports said that Satpal, who lived in Indra Nagar area of Srinagar, was running a jewelry shop.  No militant outfit claimed responsibility for his killing so far.

A police official said the area has been cordoned off and the search operation has been launched to nab the attackers.

-ARK

CBSE class 10, 12 board exams from May 4 to June 10: Education Minister

JEE advanced
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI) The CBSE class 10 and 12 Board exams will be held from May 4 to June 10, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced today.

However, the datesheet has not been released yet.

Pokhriyal had last week said that he will announce the dates for the exams on December 31.

Pertinent to mention here that the exam wil have 33 per cent internal choice as well as 30 per cent syllabus has been reduced.

Pokhriyal also said that there could be an alternative to practical exams owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The exam will be held in the offline written mode, as usual.

 

TN extends lockdown curbs till Jan 31

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The Tamil Nadu government today extended the coronavirus lockdown restrictions across the state till January 31, 2021.

Under the latest restrictions, the state government has banned public entry to all beaches across the state on Pongal Day which is celebrated on January 16.

According to the reports, the decision to extend the lockdown was taken after the state Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami reviewed the coronavirus situation in Tamil Nadu.

Issuing the notification, the state government said the lockdown is being extended across the state with relaxations, except in infection containment zones.

The state government provided relaxations to places of worship as well as to political, sports, entertainment meetings, with increasing the limit of visitors to 200 persons or 50 per cent capacity.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu has already banned New Year celebrations in the state in all beaches on December 31 and January 1.

So far, the coronavirus tally in Tamil Nadu stood at 8,17,077, while the toll increased to 12,109 with 17 more fatalities, the Health Ministry data shows.

-RJV

India condemns attacks on Yemen’s Aden airport

MEA

New Delhi (NVI): India today strongly condemned the attack on Yemen’s Aden airport that has killed over 25 people and wounded around 110 people. The deadly explosions rocked Yemen’s Aden airport yesterday just moments after a plane carrying a newly formed government landed there, according to reports.

“India strongly condemns the attack at Aden airport yesterday upon the arrival of Cabinet members of the recently formed government. We express our sincere condolences to the people and Government of Yemen and the families of those who were killed in the attack. We wish the early recovery of those injured,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in a statement today.

“The killing of innocent civilians is unacceptable and cannot be justified for any reasons whatsoever. We hope that the recent efforts for achieving peace and stability in Yemen will continue for an inclusive and negotiated settlement,” he said.

Over 100 people have been injured in the attack that was carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels who fired four ballistic missiles at the airport, said Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

According to the reports, another explosion took place close to a palace in the city where the Cabinet members were transferred following the airport attack.

However, a bomb-laden drone that attempted to target the palace was later shot down by the Saudi-led coalition, according to local media reports.

The government ministers were reported to be unharmed in the attack. The International Committee of the Red Cross said one of its employees was among those confirmed dead.

Pertinent to mention here that thousands of people have been killed and displaced in Yemen’s ongoing war. The United Nations has called it the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.

-ARK/RJV

Deadly blasts at Yemen’s Aden airport kill 25, over 100 wounded

New Delhi (NVI): At least 25 people were killed as deadly explosions rocked Yemen’s Aden airport just moments after a plane carrying a newly formed government landed there, according to reports.

Over 100 people have been injured in the attack that was carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels who fired four ballistic missiles at the airport, said Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

According to the reports, another explosion took place close to a palace in the city where the Cabinet members were transferred following the airport attack.

However, a bomb-laden drone that attempted to target the palace was later shot down by the Saudi-led coalition, according to local media reports.

The government ministers were reported to be unharmed in the attack. The International Committee of the Red Cross said one of its employees was among those confirmed dead.

Pertinent to mention here that thousands of people have been killed and displaced in Yemen’s ongoing war. The United Nations has called it the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.

-ARK

India to conduct dry run for COVID-19 vaccine in all states, UTs on Jan 2

Covaxin
Representational/file image

New Delhi (NVI): The Central government today decided to conduct a dry run of the COVID-19 vaccination in all states and union territories on January 2, the Health Ministry said.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting to review preparedness at session sites for COVID-19 vaccination, which was chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Pr. Secretaries (Health), NHM MDs, and other health administrators of all States/UTs.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Health said, the activity is proposed to be conducted in all state capitals in at least 3 session sites.

“Some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain/have poor logistical support, while Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to schedule the dry run in major cities other than their capital,” it added

The objective of the dry run is to assess operational feasibility in the use of Co-WIN application in field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide way forward prior to actual implementation.

“For each of the three session sites, the concerned Medical Officer In-charge will identify 25 test beneficiaries (healthcare workers). The states and UTs have been asked to ensure that the data of these beneficiaries is uploaded in Co-WIN. These beneficiaries will also be available at the session site for the dry run,” the statement stated.

The ministry has also asked the States and UTs to ensure physical verification of all proposed sites for adequacy of space, logistical arrangements, internet connectivity, electricity, safety etc.

Also, prepare at least three model session sites in each state for demonstration and ensure that the Model Sites have separate entry and exit in a ‘three-room set-up’ with adequate space outside for awareness generation activities.

According to the data, as many as 96,000 vaccinators have been trained for this purpose. Out of these, 2,360 participants have been trained in National Training of Trainers and over 57,000 participants trained in district level training in 719 districts.

Earlier, the first round of the dry run was conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab on December 28 and 29 in two districts each where five session sites with 25 beneficiaries each were identified.

“No major issues were observed in the operational aspects during this dry run and all states expressed confidence in the operational guidelines and IT platform for large scale programme implementation,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the government has also asked all states and UTs to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine roll out. With the objective of gearing up for the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine across the country.

-RJV

Health Min delivered over 36,000 ventilators to govt hospitals amid COVID this year

Health Min delivered over 36,000 ventilators to govt hospitals amid COVID this year

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Health Ministry delivered 36,433 ventilators to government hospitals in all States and Union Territories across the country in the past nine months, to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in this year, according to an official statement.

The average cost of ventilators in India between February-March was Rs 15 lakh but now the cost ranges between Rs 2 to Rs 10 lakhs, due to the Indian industry taking up manufacturing of ventilators, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

“The Central government recognised the challenges posed by the pandemic in the very initial stages and successfully ensured more than adequate availability and supplies of essential medical items across the country,” it said.

The ministry informed that all the public health facilities in the country had only about 16,000 ventilators from independence of the country till pre-COVID times. “But in less than 12 months, 36,433 ‘Make in India’ ventilators have been supplied to all the public health facilities,” it said.

At the beginning of the pandemic, India was almost totally dependent on imported Ventilators, PPE Kits and N-95 Masks. There were, in fact, no standard specifications for these products which are essential in the fight against the pandemic.

In addition to this, from a miniscule domestic production capacity in March, India has now become the world’s second largest manufacturer with a production capacity of more than 10 lakh PPE coveralls per day, the ministry said.

Moreover, there are already nearly 1,700 indigenous manufacturers and suppliers and about 170 lakh PPE kits have been distributed free of cost to the States and Union Territories (UTs) and Central Institutions.

The buffer stock of PPE kits available with the Central and State governments has grown from about 2 lakh in March to more than 89 lakh at present. The average price has come down substantially from nearly Rs 600 to about Rs 200 per kit in 9 months.

Similarly, till March 2020 there were only 3 suppliers of N-95 masks with a modest production capacity of less than 1 lakh masks per day.

“At present, there are more than 3,000 manufacturers and the domestic production capacity has risen to over 8 lakh N-95 masks per day. These are also being exported from India in large quantities,” the statement noted.

More than 4 crore N-95 masks have so far been distributed free of cost to various States, UTs and Central Institutions. The average prices have dropped from about Rs 40 to Rs.12 per mask during the same period

Furthermore, the government has already placed orders for procurement of nearly 83 crore syringes. “Additionally, bids have also been invited for nearly 35 crore syringes, which will be used for COVID-19 vaccination and also for the Universal Immunization Programme,” the ministry added.

-RJV/ARK

Russia not unhappy; Putin sends New Year greetings to Kovind, Modi

Russia not unhappy; Putin sends New Year greetings to Kovind, Modi
Russian President Vladimir Putin

New Delhi (NVI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent New Year greetings to his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and expressed hope that in 2021, the two countries would “continue to work towards stepping up constructive bilateral cooperation as well as coordinating efforts to address topical issues on the regional and global agendas.”

Putin’s greetings came against the backdrop of a claim made in an Indian media report last week that Russia was unhappy with India over Quad, which is a grouping of India, US, Japan and Australia.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his greetings on the New Year 2021 to President of the Republic of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi,” the Russian Embassy here said.

Putin “noted that Russia and India were connected by relations of privileged strategic partnership, which, despite this year’s difficulties and problems, including the coronavirus pandemic, are developing confidently,” it said.

“Vladimir Putin stressed that the two countries maintain a substantive political dialogue and carry out promising joint projects in various spheres, while cooperation within the SCO and BRICS yields good results,” the Embassy said.

The gesture by Putin makes it clear that he is keen to maintain and develop the strategic relations between the two countries, irrespective of the Quad.

Last week, an Indian media report had claimed that there was “unease” in Russia because of Quad and that had led to postponement of bilateral annual summit this year for the first time in two decades.

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev had rubbished that media claim as “false information”.

“Find it to be far from reality. Special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India is progressing well despite the COVID-19,” the Ambassador had said in a statement.

“Staying in a close touch with our Indian friends to work out new dates for the summit, postponed due to epidemiological reasons,” he added.

“We are confident that it will be held in the near future, while the Russian-Indian relations will continue its further development,” the Ambassador had asserted.

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