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IPL 2023 Auction: Afghanistan's Naveen-ul-Haq bought by LSG for INR 50 lakh
Making ration free under National Food Security Act will cost about Rs 2 lakh crore; Centre to bear the cost: Union Minister Piyush Goyal
Putin threatens to destroy Ukraine's Patriot Missile Systems, provided by the US
CBI arrests former ICICI Bank CEO-MD Chanda Kochhar, husband Deepak Kochhar in cheating case pertaining to loans to Videocon Group: Official
Union Cabinet approves next revision of pension of defence personnel, family pensioner under 'One Rank One Pension': I&B Minister
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal: Central government to bear cost of Rs 2 lakh crore for providing free foodgrain under National Food Security Act for 1 year
Cabinet approves free provision of food under National Food Security Act for 1 year
Cabinet approves revision to one-rank-one-pension scheme at additional annual cost Rs 8,450 crore
In rest of India, BJP wants to hold many public meetings, but there is Covid only where Bharat Jodo Yatra is: Rahul Gandhi targets govt
NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy say they will sell most of their shares in the broadcaster to Adani Group
The highest number of tourists will be in Goa due to upcoming festivities: Goa Health Minister
-The highest number of tourists will be in Goa due to upcoming festivities for which special attention will be taken, health secretary needs to take review on regular basis & Health Mini should speak to media to communicate the status with people, says Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane
Airlines will be inspecting 2% of the international passengers: Goa Health Minister
-All the states are told not to relax & take COVID precautions but no need to create panic in society. Airlines will be inspecting 2% of the international passengers, saysVishwajit Rane, Goa Health Minister on review meeting with Union Health Minister, Panaji
Congress is irrelevant, says Union Minister Tomar, questions need for Bharat Jodo Yatra
(ANI)
Ahead of Bharat Jodo Yatra tomorrow, Delhi Congress instructs its party workers and leaders who will be participating in the Yatra to come wearing face masks, state sources.
(ANI)
We have also assured him (Mansukh Mandaviya) to help the central govt in dealing with the pandemic: B Gupta
-Today's meeting was conducted to discuss preparedness for COVID-19, as cases are increasing around the world. We have also assured him (Mansukh Mandaviya) to help the central govt in dealing with the pandemic: Jharkhand Health Min B Gupta on review meeting with state health minister.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya advises States to be on the alert and keep all preparedness for COVID19 management
-Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya advises States to be on the alert and keep all preparedness for COVID19 management
-Centre and States need to work in a collaborative spirit as we have done during the previous surges, he says Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
MoHFW directs all States/UTs to focus on 'Test-Track-Treat &Vaccination'
-MoHFW directs all States/UTs to focus on 'Test-Track-Treat &Vaccination' and adherence of COVID19 appropriate behaviour of wearing mask, maintaining hand hygiene and physical distancing, considering the upcoming festival season and new year celebrations
President Droupadi Murmu met T20 World Cup winners for the Blind 2022 at Rashtrapati Bhavan today and congratulated the team for their performance.
(ANI)
A mock drill for emergency response to deal with Covid19 will be conducted in hospitals: Dr K Sudhakar
-He has directed us to increase surveillance & testing & ensure Covid19 appropriate behaviour is followed. A mock drill for emergency response to deal with Covid19 will be conducted in hospitals, says Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on meeting with Union Health minister
PM Modi "pained" by the loss of lives of brave Army personnel due to a road mishap in Sikkim
"Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon," PM says.
President Droupadi Murmu anguished at the loss of lives of brave soldiers of the Indian Army in a road accident in Sikkim.
"My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the President says.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya holds a meeting with State health ministers on the COVID-19 situation
-Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya holds a meeting with State health ministers on the COVID-19 situation and preparedness.
16 Army personnel lost lives, four injured in a road accident at Zema, North Sikkim
16 Army personnel have lost their lives, four injured in a road accident involving an Army truck at Zema, North Sikkim. The accident happened when the vehicle skidded down a steep slope while negotiating a sharp turn, stated the Indian Army.
Health Department conducted a review of Covid19 situation and preparedness: BK Mohapatra in Odisha
BK Mohapatra, Director-Health, Odisha stated that the Health Department conducted a review of Covid19 situation and preparedness. "We have issued an advisory that those with symptoms be tested and positive samples subjected to genome sequencing. We've advised people to wear masks," he said.
Health Dept has increased vigilance at public places: Tamil Nadu Health Minister
The Tamil Nadu Health Minister mentioned that the Health Dept has increased vigilance at public places. Necessary arrangements will be made at international airports like Coimbatore, Chennai, Trichy, Madurai for the random RTPCR testing of passengers from tomorrow as per the order of Central Govt.
‘Tripledemic’ rages on: Fever-filled weeks lie ahead: New York Times
-Americans are embarking upon yet another holiday travel season in the midst of a viral onslaught. New, immune evasive versions of the omicron variant are spreading, and COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are once again rising, although the figures remain far below last winter’s peak.
-But this year the coronavirus has company: Common seasonal viruses, which lay low for the last two winters, have come roaring back. In particular, influenza and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, hit early and hard this fall, causing major outbreaks that are now overlapping with a resurgent coronavirus.
-This viral pileup — what some are calling a “tripledemic” — has already set off an exhausting season of sickness, triggering sky-high demand for pain and fever relievers and pushing children’s hospitals to the brink.
READ FULL STORY HERE
Mental health cases on the rise in Assam, more so since onset of Covid: Assam Health Minister
-The number of patients with mental health problems has increased over the years in Assam, with more such cases coming to the fore since the onset of Covid, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said on Friday.
-Mahanta said in the assembly that 927 suicide cases were reported from April 2021 to March 2022. Kamrup district accounted for the highest number with 119 cases, followed by Barpeta (68) and Baksa (59).
-Between April and November this year, 721 cases of suicide have been reported, with Kamrup again recording the highest such instances (68).
Bharat Biotech's nasal COVID-19 vaccine to be available from today. Here's how you can get it
-The Union health ministry has decided to incorporate changes in the CoWIN app to allow addition of Bharat Biotech's nasal COVID-19 vaccine, paving way for its inclusion as a heterologous booster dose in the country's immunisation drive against coronavirus. The option of this vaccine is set to reflect on CoWin to all users from the December 23 evening.
-This vaccine will now be offered to the adults earlier fully vaccinated with Covaxin or Covishield or to those who may not have taken any coronavirus vaccine so far. It will, however, will only be available at private hospitals and the rate is yet to be determined. Read Full Report Here
Cost of 127 medicines, including paracetamol to go down post NPPA's 5th price cap: Report
-Some medicineswill now be less expensive for a fifth time in the current year due to theNational Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capping the prices of 127 medications, according to a report by Economic Times.For the second time this year, costs for a variety of medications like paracetamol, have decreased. However, the cost of a few medications, including metformin and montelukast, has gone up. Among the 127 medications on the NPPA's list are paracetamol, amoxycillin, rabeprazole, and metformin.
Random RTPCR testing of passengers to begin at international airports like Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Madurai: Tamil Nadu Health Minister
-Health Dept has increased vigilance at public places. Necessary arrangements will be made at international airports like Coimbatore, Chennai, Trichy, Madurai for the random RTPCR testing of passengers from tomorrow as per the order of Central Govt: Tamil Nadu Health Minister
Airlines to issue full refund to passengers on involuntary downgrading of tickets: DGCA
-Sometimes, a passenger who has booked his ticket on first class, business classor premium economy, is downgraded to a lower class at the time of check-in due to various reasons like unserviceable seats, change of aircraft, overbooking, etc.
-The DGCA amendment will allow the passenger, who is downgraded involuntarily from his booked class of ticket, to receive the full value of ticket including taxes as refund from the airline and the airline will carry the passenger free of cost in the next available class.
-However, this proposal will go through stakeholder consultation and the final regulation will be published and made applicableafterwards. Read details here
India's Covid positivity rate declining week-on-week, with 0.14% this week: Health Ministry
-According to a release, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday, the positivity rate is declining week-by-week with only 0.14 per cent positivity in the week ending on December 22.
-"Consistent decline in cases in India is recorded with five states accounting for 78 percent of the daily new cases reported on December 22," the Health Ministry said, adding that 8 states and 4 UTs currently have zero reported active cases.
-The average daily cases on October 7 to 13 were 2,408--1.05 per cent, which later reduced to 153-- 0.14 per cent on December 16 to 22. The average daily cases during the week ending December 21, India has contributed only 0.03 per cent of Covid cases in the cases reported globally.
-India's global contribution of only 153 cases is highly lesser, as compared to 1,54,521-- 26.8 per cent of Japan, Health Ministry's data show.
Experts predict ''a very hard road ahead'' for China as COVID-19 cases spiral
-Bill Hanage, co-director of the Centre for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health estimated 2 million deaths in a December 14 call with reporters. China has got a very, very hard road ahead of it in the coming months, Hanage said. But in the absence of vaccination, it would be much, much worse.
-Will a surge in China spill over into the rest of the world? Neighbouring India has asked its state governments to remain alert, and not let genomic sequencing efforts wane. Jeremy Luban of University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School said large surges in infections increase the potential for a more dangerous mutation to arise.
-Luban has seen no specific reason to be concerned about any alarming variants already simmering in China, except for the fact that a lot of infections are bad. Luban added: The more the rate of transmission could be controlled in China the better.
Civil Aviation ministry issues guidelines for random testing of international arriving passengers
-Airlinesto direct crew members to lead and bring identified 2 percent of international arriving passengers to the testing facility at the airport.
-After random testing, passenger needs tofurnish the correct contact and address details to the Airport Health Officers airport authorities.
-The cost of testing willbe reimbursed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on submission of duly certified bills to APHOs.
-A copy of the positive report tobe shared with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme by the airport. Later, it is tobe shared with the State/ Union Territory (UT) concerned forfollow-up action.
-In case, any travellers are tested positive, their samples should be sent for genetic testing at the designated INSACOG laboratory network
Incoming flights from countries including China with a spike in Covid cases should be banned: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh
-Scrutiny of international flights and 100 percent thermal screening of passengers, especially those who are coming from countries where Covid cases are rising, must be done. Flights from countries including China with a spike in Covid cases should be banned, said Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.
-Union Health Minister wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi even before Indian govt declared medical emergency in the country, or discussed about the new Covid variant. There hasn't been much impact in India. But we should be alert, he added.
Immunity system of Indians is stronger than that of the Chinese: Dr Anil Goyal, IMA on COVID-19 scare in India
-"There won't be a lockdown situation in the country since 95 percentof the people here are vaccinated. The immunity system of Indians is stronger than that of the Chinese...": Dr Anil Goyal, Indian Medical Association (IMA).
-"India needs to go back to COVID basics - testing, treating, tracing", added Dr Goyal.
Bharat Biotech's intranasal Covid vaccine approved by govt, to be available on CO-WIN soon
-Bharat Biotech's intranasal Covid vaccine has been approved by the Union Health Ministry as a booster dose for those above 18 years of age, official sources said on Friday. The needle-free vaccine will be available at private centres. It will be introduced on the Co-WIN platform soon, they said.
-It is likely to be rolled out in the national Covid vaccination programme soon. The nasal vaccine -- BBV154 -- received approval of the Drugs Controller General of India in November for restricted use in an emergency situation for those above 18 years as a heterologous booster dose.
-The approval for the vaccine comes amid a spurt in Covid cases in China and some other countries. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with the health ministers of the states and Union territories at 3 pm over the Covid related situation.
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Thursday cautioned people against complacency and urged them to wear masks in crowded places, while also directing officials to strengthen surveillance measures, especially at international airports
Use face masks in closed spaces, practice social distancing, use sanitisers: Indian Army issues advisory for personnels
-Advisory has asked personnel to take protective measures like use of face masks, especially in closed and overcrowded spaces, practising social distancing. Regular hand hygiene including hand washing and use of hand sanitiser: Indian Army
-A close watch is being kept on the evolving epidemiological situation in the country and Indian Army: Indian Army advisory on the rise of #COVID19 cases across the world including China, USA, Japan
Symptomatic individuals to be tested; those testing positive to isolate for 7 days: Indian Army issues advisory for personnels
-Advisory suggests that all symptomatic individuals will be tested for COVID-19 and those testing positive will be isolated for 7 days. Those having moderate to severe disease will be admitted to the hospital: Indian Army
'Protocols are for everyone': Anurag Thakur slams Congress for continuing Bharat Jodi amid COVID-19 scare
-Bharat Jodo Yatra has been going on for more than a month. Once again the world is hit by the #COVID19 crisis and the Government of India has taken appropriate steps, then why Congress party opposing it? Protocols are for everyone, said Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
Keeping an eye on situation: MEA on Covid surge in China
- India on Thursday said it is keeping an eye on the COVID-19 situation in China, which has witnessed a surge in the number of infections in recent days.
- Following the spurt in COVID-19 cases in China, health authorities in India has asked state governments to step up efforts to contain any possible spread of the infection.
-The increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in China has triggered fears of a severe wave of high mortality rate in that country.
- "We are keeping an eye on the situation (in China). We hope all mankind overcomes the pandemic successfully," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing when asked about the surge in Covid cases in China. (PTI)
Odisha stresses on surveillance, genome sequencing after Omicron subvariant detected
- The Odisha government asked the district administrations to strengthen surveillance and take measures for whole genome sequencing of COVID-positive samples after Omicron subvariant BF.7 was detected in the state.
- In a letter to the district collectors and medical colleges on Wednesday, state health department secretary Shalini Pandit said surveillance and whole genome sequencing (WSG) for COVID-19 management were needed in view of a surge in coronavirus cases in China, Japan, the US, Korea and Brazil.
-In view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in certain counties, it is essential to gear up the disease surveillance and WSG of positive case samples to track the variant through Indian SARS CoV-2 Genomic Consortium (INSACOG) network," she said. (PTI)
Country fully prepared to deal with coronavirus situation: Jyotiraditya Scindia
- The country is fully prepared to deal with the coronavirus situation, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday.
- In the wake of rising coronavirus infections in China and some other countries, the government is taking various measures, including random testing of arriving international passengers, to curb possible spread of infections.
-
Scindia, who is in charge of the ministries of civil aviation and steel, said the country is fully prepared to deal with the coronavirus situation.
- Briefing reporters about the healthcare initiatives taken by the BJP-led central government since 2014, he also expressed confidence that the country will achieve universal healthcare coverage.
- According to the minister, medicines have become more affordable and the out-of-pocket expenditure for medicines has come down. (PTI)
BF.7 variant of coronavirus not worrisome for India, assures senior scientist Rakesh Mishra
- Allaying fears about BF.7 variant of coronavirus, a prominent scientist on Friday said it is a sub-variant of Omicron strain and that India need not worry too much about its severity on the population.
- Speaking to PTI, Rakesh Mishra, Director, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, however cautioned that wearing face masks and avoiding unnecessary crowds is always advisable.
-The former director of CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology further said China has been witnessing an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases as the neighbouring country has not passed through different waves of the infection that India had faced.
Covid-19 surge | Wear masks in public places, follow social distancing: IMA issues advisory
- Amid a sudden surge in Covid cases in China and at least four cases linked to the new variant being confirmed in India, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on December 22, issued an advisory to curb the spread of the virus.
The IMA advised all to take the following necessary steps to overcome the impending COVID outbreak:
1. Face masks are to be used in all public places.
2. Social distancing is to be maintained.
3. Regular hand washing with soap and water or sanitizers.
4. Public gatherings like marriages, political or social meetings etc. to be avoided.
5. Avoid International travel.
6. Consult the doctor in case of any symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, loose motions etc.
7. Get your COVID vaccination including precautionary dose at the earliest.
8. Follow the government advisory issued from time to time.
Union Health Ministry to issue a new advisory for COVID 19 in view of New Year and upcoming festivals: Sources to ANI
Mock drills in hospitals across country on Tuesday to deal with Covid-19 cases
- Sources told news agency ANI that, “A mock drill for emergency response to deal with COVID 19 cases will be conducted in hospitals across the country on Tuesday, 27th December. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also visit a government hospital for the mock drill."
Why COVID-19 is spiking in China and whether you should be worried
- It all started in China in late 2019. Three years down the line, the country, which until December 7 had a Zero Covid-19 policy characterised by massive quarantines, aggressive testing and strict travel restrictions, is confronting its worst coronavirus crisis.
- Plagued by a wave of coronavirus cases, China is suddenly seeing its hospitals overwhelmed and crematoriums overloaded as unrestricted mingling of people over the last few weeks has resulted in a massive explosion of the viral infection.
- The worry for the rest of the world, however, is that, as before, what happens in China may not stay in China. Read full explainer here.
