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India reports 22,065 new COVID cases, lowest daily rise since July 7

COVID-19 cases
Representative image

New Delhi (NVI): India registered 22,065 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the lowest single day count since July 7, a significant milestone in its fight against COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry said.

“This is the lowest daily cases after 161 days. The new added COVID-19 cases were 22,252 on July 7, 2020,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

“With a high number of COVID patients recovering every day and the sustained fall in the mortality rate, India’s steady trend of registering dipping active cases continues,” it added.

The ministry said the active cases have also drastically declined below 3.4 lakh. The total positive cases of the country are 3,39,820 and now comprise merely 3.43 per cent of the total cases.

In addition, the slide in the active cases is supplemented by an exponential rise in the recoveries.

Meanwhile, the total recovered cases have crossed 94 lakh mark and currently stands at 94,22,636.The gap between active cases and recovered cases is continuously increasing and stands at 90,82,816.

The ministry further said, the national recovery rate has further escalated to 95.12 per cent in India. However, India’s recovery rate is one of the highest in the world for countries with high caseload.

“34,477 patients have recovered and discharged in the last 24 hours. 74.24 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States and UTs,” the ministry said.

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of single day recoveries with 4,610 cases, followed by Kerala with 4,481 and West Bengal with 2,980 recovered cases, it added.

Furthermore, as many as 73.52 per cent of the new cases are from 10 States and UTs. Out of these, Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 2,949, followed by Kerala with 2,707 new cases.

The ministry also informed that, 354 case fatalities have been reported in the past 24 hours. Ten States and UTs account for 79.66 per cent of these.

“Maharashtra and Delhi both reported maximum casualties with 60 new deaths and West Bengal follows with 43 daily deaths,” it added.

-RJV

Afghanistan: Kabul’s deputy governor, assistant killed in IED blast

New Delhi (NVI): Kabul’s deputy governor and his assistant were killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, police said, adding that an IED was placed on their vehicle by unknown assailants.

The blast took place at around 9.40 am local time in the Macroryan 4 area in Kabul’s PD9 today.

Deputy Governor Mahboobullah Mohebi was travelling with his security guards when the blast occurred.

Afghanistan’s TOLO news, quoting Kabul police, reported on Twitter that “Mohibullah Mohammadi, the deputy governor of Kabul, and his secretary were killed in a blast from an IED placed on their vehicle”.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast in which two of Mohebi’s guards were also injured.

This is the second incident that occurred today in Kabul.

Earlier, it was reported that at least one policeman was killed and two others were wounded by gunmen in the Bagrami district of Kabul.

Last week, an Afghan government prosecutor was shot dead in eastern Kabul on his way to work.

-CHK

Singapore to open business travel bubble from January for all countries

New Delhi (NVI): Singapore will open a new segregated travel lane for a limited number of business, official and high economic value travellers from all countries as part of the government’s efforts to revive its key travel and hospitality sectors.

The first travellers will be able to arrive from the second half of January through the new lane, which will be open to those who are coming for short-term stays of up to 14 days, the ministry of trade and industry said in a statement.

It will complement other arrangements that Singapore has for business travel including with China, Germany and Indonesia.

Singapore has spent billions of dollars in a bid to shield its economy from its worst-ever downturn and is trying to reopen international travel as it prepares to host the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering of political and business leaders next year.

However, travellers under the latest arrangement will have to stick to strict health and testing protocols, and will need to stay within a ‘bubble’ at segregated facilities.

Furthermore, while travellers will be allowed to meet with local visitors, there will be floor-to-ceiling dividers separating them.

-CHK

Netherlands announces new five-week lockdown to battle Covid-19

Netherlands imposes new five-week lockdown to battle Covid-19
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The Netherlands announced a new five-week nationwide lockdown that will cover Christmas and extend till January, in a effort to curb rising COVID-19 cases.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte made the announcement in a televised speech saying the country will go into a strict lockdown for five weeks, from December 15 to January 19.

Under the tough new lockdown measures, all schools, non-essential businesses in Netherland like movie theaters and salon, and many other public venues and spaces will remain close till January 19. Also, citizens have been advised to refrain from booking non-essential travel abroad until mid-March.

The government also said that restrictions will be eased slightly for the three days of Christmas, when Dutch households are allowed three instead of two guests, not counting children under 13.

“We need to bite this very sour apple before things get better. And yes they will get better. There will come a time when coronavirus will be behind us, when our lives will be normal again,” Rutte said in a televised address to the nation.

He added that, “It won’t be now, or in a week, or a month. But with the vaccine, 2021 will indeed be a year of hope and of light at the end of the tunnel.”

Since mid-October, bars and restaurants have been closed, although many restaurants, cafes and coffeeshops have offered takeout sales. The partial lockdown initially slowed high infection rates in the country, but they have been rising again in recent days.

In addition, this announcement of new lockdown comes amid concern at the surge in infections in Netherland, recently seeing some 10,000 COVID-19 cases recorded in a single day.

So far, the pandemic has killed more than 10,100 people in the Netherlands, while the tally of confirmed patients since the start of the outbreak stands at 6,32,085, the John Hopkins University data shows.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases exceed 72.8 mn globally; US death toll tops 3 lakh

Coronav

New Delhi (NVI): More than 72.8 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll has crossed 16,21,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 47.2 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

The number of fatalities caused due to the coronavirus in the US have surpassed 3,00,000 while the number of infections have exceeded 16.5 million in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases have crossed the 69 lakh-mark and stands at 6,927,145 while the number of deaths have surged past 1,81,000 in the country.

Meanwhile, Singapore will open a new segregated travel lane for a limited number of business, official and high economic value travellers from all countries, as part of efforts to revive its key travel and hospitality sectors.

Pfizer Inc and partners have delivered the first Covid-19 vaccines to 141 of 145 locations targeted by the US government for the first day of a nationwide rollout on Monday.

But healthcare facilities in four island territories – American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, the North Mariana Islands and Guam – are still awaiting their supplies.

Furthermore, Canada kicked off its inoculation campaign against Covid-19 on Monday by injecting frontline healthcare workers and elderly nursing home residents, becoming just the third nation in the world to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Mainland China reported 17 new Covid-19 cases on December 14, up from 16 cases a day earlier.

Daily infection rates in South Korea are hovering at record levels with another 880 new cases reported as of midnight Monday, up from 718 a day earlier, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte imposed a tough new five-week nationwide lockdown on Monday, saying schools, nonessential shops, museums and gyms will close down at midnight until January 19.

-CHK

PM pays tribute to Sardar Patel

PM pays tribute to Sardar Patel
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to the ‘Iron Man of India’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 70th death anniversary.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister wrote, “I pay tribute to Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who laid the foundation of a strong, strong and prosperous India on his death anniversary. Their path will always inspire us to protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country,” he stated in Hindi.

Born on October 31, 1875, Sardar Patel was India’s first Home Minister also known as the Iron Man of India and is known for his selfless service to the nation.

He played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle and played an instrumental role after the Independence. Patel, who is credited with uniting all states of the pre-independent country, passed away on December 15, 1950.

In October 2018, PM Modi inaugurated the world’s largest statue in his honour. The Statue of Unity, which is 182 metres tall and located in Gujarat’s Kevadiya.

-RJV

India’s Covid tally crosses 99-lakh mark with 22,065 new cases

(File/Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): India has registered 22,065 new infections of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, pushing the overall caseload to 99,06,165, according to the Ministry of Health.

This the first time in last five months when the daily new coronavirus cases have fallen below 23,000.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,43,709 with 354 fatalities reported during this period.

Notably, 94,22,636 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country, while the active cases remained below 3.40-lakh and stands at 3,39,820, as per the ministry data.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 18,83,365, followed by Karnataka with 9,02,240 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,75,836 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (8,00,029), Kerala (6,72,037), Delhi (6,08,830) and Uttar Pradesh (5,66,728).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 48,269 fatalities, followed by Karnataka with 11,954 deaths.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 10,074, while 5,83,509 patients have been cured and recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), over 15.55 samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 14. Of these, 9,93,665 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, the Centre issued guildelines yesterday ahead of the COVID-19 vaccination programme that is expected to start soon. The Centre has directed states to ensure safe injection practices.

 

-RJV

EESL’s UJALA, e-mobility & SLNP programmes get Elets awards for Digital Excellence

36.69 crore LED bulbs distributed, 1.14 crore LED streetlights installed in 6 yrs: EESL

New Delhi (NVI): In yet another recognition for its efforts to build a sustainable India, Energy Efficiency Services Limited’s UJALA, Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) and National E-Mobility Programme have won prestigious Elets Awards of Digital Excellence.

The 10th Elets Knowledge Exchange Summit & Awards event was held from December 10-12. The awards were presented to Saurabh Kumar, Executive Vice Chairman (EESL).

Taking to Twitter on the occasion of World Energy Conservation Day, the company said: “This award is a testament to our efforts in building a #sustainable India.”

EESL, a joint venture by Power PSU’s, received the awards for National E-Mobility Programme under Green Transport category, for Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP), and Unnat Jyoti Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) under Environmental Sustainability category.

-ARK

Critical care nurse from New York receives first Covid vaccine in US

Critical care nurse from New York receives first Covid vaccine in US

New Delhi (NVI): A critical care nurse from New York City became the first person in the United States to get the Covid vaccine shot as the country began with its massive vaccination drive today.

Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine shot live on television.

The moment was live-streamed with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also present. After receiving the vaccine shot, Lindsay said, “I feel great. I feel relieved.”

Notably, the US is the worst-affected country by the pandemic in the world with over 2,99,000 people killed so far. Around 35,000 have died in New York City alone.

The biggest vaccination drive in the history of the US started yesterday as trucks carrying Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were pulled out of a Michigan warehouse.

Under Operation Warp Speed, a total of 636 hospitals and clinics across the states will be delivered the Pfizer vaccines.

Pfizer is expected to deliver an estimated 2.9 million doses this week via UPS and FedEx.

-ARK

India, Iran, Uzbekistan hold first trilateral meet on Chabahar port use

India, Iran, Uzbekistan hold first trilateral meet on Chabahar port use

New Delhi (NVI): The first Trilateral Working Group Meeting between India, Iran and Uzbekistan on the joint use of Chabahar Port was held virtually today, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The meeting comes amid reports that US-President elect Joe Biden will engage Iran on the nuclear issue. The virtual meeting was jointly chaired by deputy ministers of Iran, Uzbekistan and a Secretary from India.

Secretary (Shipping) Sanjeev Ranjan represented the Indian side while D Dehkanov was present from Uzbekistan and Shahram Adamnejad from Iran side.

During the meeting, the participants discussed joint use of Chabahar Port for trade and transit purposes and enhanced regional connectivity, the MEA said in a statement. All sides also noted the significant role played by Chabahar port for the region to deliver humanitarian assistance during the COVID pandemic, it said.

Apart from that, all sides also welcomed India’s proposal to hold “Chabahar Day” on the sidelines of the International Maritime Summit scheduled to be hosted by India in January 2021.

The meeting was held as a follow up of decisions taken during the virtual summit held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 11.

The Chabahar port is being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan to boost trade ties among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi.

The port is also close to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is being developed by China as part of its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Notably, the CPEC links China to the Indian Ocean through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

 -ARK

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