India’s new Covid-19 cases have peaked, Cambridge tracker shows
The number of new coronavirus infections in India has peaked, according to a new tracker developed by researchers at Cambridge Judge Business School and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. “But there is substantial variation among states and union territories in their trajectories, with cases continuing to increase over the next two weeks in areas such as Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Tripura,” the researchers wrote. The projections are based on reported numbers and are in line with those from some other experts, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advisers. India reported a record 414,188 new cases on May 7 -- about 32% higher than the world’s previous peak reported by the U.S. last year but with just a fraction of the testing and vast undercounting -- and official data suggest daily deaths could continue near the unprecedented 4,000-level. Health services remain overwhelmed and several hospitals face a shortage in oxygen supplies. With the state being criticized for failing to ensure critical needs including oxygen and medicines, businesses are suspending operations and offering employees time off “to heal.” A variant of the virus first identified in India appears to have higher rates of transmission and preliminary evidence suggests potentially reduced effectiveness of certain antibodies, the World Health Organization said in its latest report.
May 12, 2021
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Bharat Biotech's Covaxin recommended by expert panel for phase 2/3 trials on 2-18 year-olds
Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin was on Tuesday recommended by an expert panel for phase II/III clinical trial on those aged between two to 18 years, official sources said. The trial will take place in 525 subjects at various sites, including AIIMS, Delhi, AIIMS, Patna and Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Covid-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) on Tuesday deliberated upon Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's application seeking permission to conduct phase II/III clinical trials to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of Covaxin jabs in children aged 2 to 18 years. "After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for conduct of proposed phase II/III clinical trial of whole virion inactivated coronavirus vaccine in the 2 to 18 years age group subject to the condition that the firm should submit the interim safety data of phase II clinical trial along with DSMB recommendations to the CDSCO before proceeding to phase III part of the study," a source said. Earlier the proposal was deliberated in the SEC meeting dated February 24 and the firm was asked to submit a revised clinical trial protocol. Covaxin, indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being used in adults in India's ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive.
May 12, 2021
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Covid-19: Strict lockdown comes into effect in Telangana
As Telangana imposed lockdown from May 12 and permitted public movement only from 6 am to 10 am, people were seen stepping out to make essential purchases. Several vegetable markets and grocery stores in Hyderabad opened at 6 am to cater to the needs of people. The Cyberabad police briefed the cops of duty to ensure that the lockdown regulations are being followed and action is taken against the violators. Telangana imposed 10 days lockdown from 10 am on May 12. Cyberabad police verifying the details of motorists passing through Cyber towers junction before the enforcement of lockdown. Commissioner VC Sajjanar monitored the situation in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
May 12, 2021
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Covid-19: Cases spreading in villages, small towns
Covid cases are on increase in small towns and rural area in the country, though it is on declined in the cities. In 13 of the 24 states where districts can be split into rural and urban, there are more cases in villages and small towns than in big cities. In the other 11 states, cases are growing faster in rural areas. The data also suggests that as the Covid wave shifts from cities to towns, the underreporting of cases increases. This is because the smaller centres don't do enough tests. While one positive result in every 20 tests is considered acceptable, there are many districts where every second test is positive.
May 12, 2021
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Covid-19: Maharashtra govt may suspend vaccination drive for 18+ age group till June 1
Due to a shortage of vaccines in Maharashtra, the state government may freeze the vaccination drive for the people of the 18-45 age group. The state task force has advised the Uddhav Thackray government to suspend the drive for 18-44 years till June 1. Taskforce expects by June 1 more doses will be available. By Tuesday evening, many districts had gone ahead and suspended vaccination for the 18-44 age group altogether, although Mumbai has not taken such a call. BMC officials said they haven’t decided to suspend the drive yet, but a decision may come in a day or two if the vaccine shortage becomes more acute. The Maharashtra government had earlier in the day decided to divert nearly 2.75 lakh Covaxin doses that were purchased for the 18-44 group to complete the second doses for the older group.
May 12, 2021
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MP: Young tiger killed after getting hit by train in Betul
In a tragic incident, a young tiger was killed after getting hit by a moving train in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul region. Forest department officials immediately reached the spot and started investigating the matter. The body of the tiger was laid beside the track, by the pilot of the train. It was reported that the deceased tiger was just one year old. The incident took place near the sensitive area of Satpura Tiger Reserve.
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May 11, 2021
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Covid-awareness: Army Jawan pedals 2.4k km to spread word on immunity
A 24-year-old army Jawan cycled 2,400 kilometers across 33 districts of Telangana to raise awareness on the importance of physical fitness in fighting Covid-19. Jittaboina Bharath, who had to report back to duty on May 25 at Sikkim, started his 14-day journey on April 26 from Jangaon. Bharat reached Hyderabad on May 9 after covering an average of 170 km every day.
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May 11, 2021
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Covid impact: IndiGo to raise upto Rs 3,000 crore through QIP
To tide over Covid’s debilitating impact, IndiGo — India’s only airline with cash reserves — has decided to raise upto Rs 3,000 crore through QIP. In a regulatory filing with BSE on Monday, the airline said its board of directors have “approved raising of funds for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 3,000 crore through an issue of equity shares by way of a qualified institutions placement.” The ongoing Covid wave has hit travel very badly with both domestic and international traffic nosediving. Close to 20 countries have imposed travel restrictions from India like flight suspensions or going in for stricter entry norms. The requirement of Covid negative test reports by many states has hit domestic travel also. Scheduled domestic flights restarted on May 25, 2020, after a two-month suspension with about 30,000 passengers travelling (across the country) on Day One. This number kept growing as things improved. March 27, 2021, for instance, saw 2.8 lakh domestic passengers (across the country) on 2,336 flights. But ongoing Covid wave saw the number of domestic flyers decline to 79,000 on May 8, according to aviation ministry’s tweets. A majority of Indian carriers are cash-strapped and struggling to survive. If this ongoing torrid Covid wave does not end soon, Indian aviation space could see some more casualties like Kingfisher and Jet not so long back.
May 11, 2021
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IPL 2021: Lack of alternate practice facilities led to breach in Covid protocols
It has emerged that the lack of alternate T20-specific practice facilities in the cities may have caused the breach in Covid protocols. Delhi and Ahmedabad cities with rapidly increasing Covid cases hosted the second phase and the positive cases among players and staff that led to the postponement of the tournament emerged during matches in those cities. Besides, the two cities struggled for alternate practice facilities for teams. 'There is a belief within many Board of Control for Cricket of India (BCCI) and state officials that the decision to take the second phase to Delhi and Ahmedabad was wrong. There were four teams in each city and except for the main ground, which is an international-level facility and hosted matches, the alternate facilities meant for practice were open to exposure to Covid-19,' an official said.
May 11, 2021
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Covid-19: Centre turns down Serum's request to export 50L doses to UK
Sensing the crunch, the Centre has rejected Serum Institute of India's request to export 50 lakh doses of Covishield to the UK under its prior commitments. The decision was taken in the wake of a severe supply crunch of vaccines locally and the government insisting the local production be supplied to protect Indians first. States have been prompted to approach the Pune-based company to negotiate contracts to procure these doses to meet local demand. The doses are likely to be used to vaccinate those between 18-44 age. 'These 50 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine are now available for inoculating people between 18-44 years of age. States have been asked to procure it. Private hospitals can also get them,' an official source said.
May 11, 2021
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Hyderabad: Long queues, delays upsets vaccine beneficiaries at King Koti Hospital
Beneficiaries were administered their second Covid-19 vaccination shot at Hyderabad's King Koti Hospital. People had to wait for a long time for their turn leading to quarrel with staff. Till May 12, only second dose of vaccination are being given to beneficiaries in Hyderabad. Those registering for their first shots will be vaccinated after May 12.
May 10, 2021
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Nagpur: Rules flouted during wedding, 200 guests forced to undergo RT-PCR tests
A team of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation health department conducted RT-PCR test on over 50 people who had attended a marriage ceremony three days back. Covid-19 guidelines were openly flouted by the groom's family and over 200 people had attended the ceremony. Majority of the guests were not wearing masks and no physical distancing was maintained during the celebrations that continued post-midnight. A fine of Rs 50,000 was also imposed on the family.
May 10, 2021
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Delhi: Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid asks Muslims to offer Eid prayers at home
Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Dr Mufti Mohd Mukarram Ahmed has asked Muslims to offer EID prayers at home amid the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. He also appealed to the people to take all precautions and venture out of home only if necessary.
May 10, 2021
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Mumbai: Covid-19 isolation centre inaugurated at Friends School Academy in Mulund
Actor Sonu Nigam and Manoj Kotak inaugurated an isolation centre at Friends School Academy in Mulund. The isolation centre at Friends School Academy has oxygen support facility for patients.
May 10, 2021
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Chandigarh: Army's Western Command sets up 100-bedded Covid Hospital in Chandigarh
The Indian Army's Western Command has dedicated three Covid hospitals to the civil administration under the Operation Namaste. Of these, a 100-bedded Covid Hospital has been set up in Chandigarh at International Students Hostel of Punjab University. Apart from this, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hospital in Faridabad and Rajindra Government Hospital in Patiala would also be made operational on May 11 and 12 respectively.
May 10, 2021
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Visakhapatnam: Workers clear ice deposit from oxygen plant at King George Hospital
Workers remove ice deposit from vaporiser of oxygen plant at King George Hospital. It is important to ensure proper functioning of oxygen plant round the clock by removing ice deposits.
May 10, 2021
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Covid-19: How can India avert the third wave?
As India reels under the second wave of Covid-19, experts believe that the country will encounter a third wave of Covid-19 sooner or later. Some experts also say that children and newborns will be at higher risk in the possible third wave. The Covid infection in the second wave got deadlier and thousands of lives were lost. The Times of India spoke to Dr Samiran Panda, Head-Epidemiology and Scientist at ICMR to know more about the projection, possibility of future covid waves hitting India and why kids could be at higher risk of contracting the virus.
May 10, 2021
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Mind your belly fat, it poses major challenge in Covid treatment, recovery
Identified as a comorbidity, obesity has turned out to be a major challenge in Covid treatment, especially in the second wave. Obese patients take more time to recovery as their body movement gets restricted while they also need higher ventilation pressure. Doctors said the younger population, which has put on belly fat in last one year, too is at as much risk as an obese person. As compared to patients having proportionate body mass index (BMI) but a potbelly, those with a lean tummy recovered faster from Covid. Ahead of the third wave, doctors said people still have time to improve their fitness and physique to protect themselves from getting severe Covid. Dr Imran Noor Mohammed, critical care specialist, said lung capacity goes down due to abdomen pressure. “Lungs remain compressed because of fat on chest and abdomen. The way lungs must work becomes difficult. Obese patients also need bipap for a longer time and higher requirement of ventilator. The inflammatory markers too are high due to body fat. If the abdomen is flat, the recovery is fast,” he said. As lung expansion, a crucial activity in Covid, becomes cumbersome among obese patients, a lot depends on physiotherapy en route to recovery. “Prone position is also not possible for many obese patients. These are logistic challenges while treatment hurdles are related to size of oxygen masks, which is often not available,” Dr Mohammad said adding that even lean obesity is harmful in Covid scenario.
May 10, 2021
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Telangana: More women falling prey to Covid infection in second wave, shows data
Data from the health department show that number of women getting infected with Covid-19 has gone up during the second wave of infections. At present, women account for 38.5 per cent of total infections in the state, a number which was at around 34 per cent in July last year. On the national scale, women account for 36 per cent of the infections, slightly better than Telangana’s count. Associate professor at Nizamabad Government General Hospital, Dr Kiran Madala, said they have been keenly observing their ICU admissions and the female patient load certainly has increased.
May 10, 2021
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Pune: Traffic closed at Chandni Chowk due to flyover construction work
Traffic will be closed at Chandni chowk for flyover construction work, traffic police have informed. That is, the old road from Paud road, Bavdhan, Chandani Chowk to Kothrud has been closed to traffic and excavation work is in full swing on Katraj-Dehu bypass.
May 10, 2021
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