India reports 3,303 new Covid cases and 39 deaths in last 24 hours.
India reports 39 deaths in 24 hours: Govt
Have to implement strategy of test-track-treat effectively: PM
Highlighting that vaccination continues to be the biggest protective shield against Covid, PM Modi on Wednesday said “precaution doses”, or booster shots, are available for all adults in the country. Teachers, parents and other eligible people can take precautionary doses, he said. Currently, nearly 80% of children between 15 and 18 years have received at least one dose of the vaccine, whereas 56% are fully vaccinated. Among adolescents of 12-14 years, 58% have initiated vaccination with the first dose, whereas 14% are fully jabbed with two doses.
Very few recombinant variants here: INSACOG
Based on genome-sequencing analysis, the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia (INSACOG) has said very few recombinant variants of the coronavirus have been found in India and none of those has shown either increased transmission, locally or otherwise, nor were they associated with severe disease or hospitalisation. In its weekly bulletin of April 11 that was released on Wednesday, INSACOG said the incidences of suspected recombinants and the possible public health relevance are being closely monitored. It said a total of 2,40,570 samples have been sequenced till now. On the global scenario, the INSACOG said two recombinant variants, XD and XE, are being closely monitored worldwide.
Priority is to vaccinate all eligible kids, PM tells CMs
Aiming to speed up coverage of Covid immunisation among eligible children, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday underlined the need for special campaigns in schools to intensify the drive, even as he maintained that vaccinating all kids is the government’s top priority. During an interaction with state chief ministers to review the situation, PM stressed the need for testing of all serious influenza cases and genome sequencing of the positive cases, while warning that the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic has not yet been surpassed and the rise in cases in the last two weeks manifests the need to stay alert.
At Covid meet, PM asks oppn states to reduce VAT on fuels
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invoked cooperative federalism to urge oppositionruled states to provide consumers relief from high fuel prices by reducing VAT (value added tax) on petrol and diesel in step with the excise duty reduction by the Centre in November last year. “Many states like, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand did not agree to our request for some reason or the other, and the burden on the people of these states continued,” he said during a virtual meeting with CMs to discuss the Covid situation. Pointing out the economic challenges arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he said, “I request all states that during the current global challenges, we should work as ateam in line with the ethos of cooperative federalism. ”
Based on genome-sequencing analysis, the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia (INSACOG) has said very few recombinant variants of the coronavirus have been found in India and none of those has shown either increased transmission, locally or otherwise, nor were they associated with severe disease or hospitalisation.
Kerala brings back mask rule, Maharashtra to decide soon
The mask mandate has returned in Kerala, while Maharashtra might soon make face covers compulsory again as the country has been recording a spike in Covid cases lately. Kerala joined a growiing list of states such as Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka that have brought back the mask rule. Kerala lifted all Covid containment measures in the first week of April based on a directive from the Centre. But the recent surge in cases prompted the Kerala government to make wearing masks in public mandatory. Anyone found without a mask in public places will be fined.
Govt may cut waiting period for booster shot to 6 months
The government is likely to soon reduce the gap between the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and the precaution dose from the current nine months to six months, official sources said on Wednesday. A recommendation on lessening the gap is expected to be made by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) which is set to hold a meeting on April 29, they said.
Covid safety adds another layer of test as many appear for CBSE English paper
A large number of CBSE students arrived at their respective examination centres for the English paper of the Class X board examinations on Wednesday, with the schools ensuring that all Covid-19 protocols were followed. While Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) earlier issued detailed guidelines, several school principals said all precautionary steps were taken, and students and parents were also urged to report if anybody was unwell.
Delhi reports 1,367 fresh Covid cases, +ve rate 4.5%
Delhi reported 1,367 fresh Covid-19 cases and one fatality, while the positivity rate stood at 4. 5%, according to data shared by the health department on Wednesday. It was the sixth consecutive day that the capital recorded over 1,000 new cases in a day. The infection tally in the national capital stands at 18,78,458 and the death toll has reached 26,170, the bulletin stated.
Aiming to speed up coverage of Covid immunisation among eligible children, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday underlined the need for special campaigns in schools to intensify the drive, even as he maintained that vaccinating all kids is the government’s top priority.
China’s eastern financial hub of Shanghai reported 47 new Covid-19 deaths on April 27, down from 48 a day earlier, the local government said on Thursday.
Mainland China reported 11,367 new coronavirus cases for April 27, of which 1,503 were symptomatic and 9,864 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.
India’s expanding Covid-19 vaccination programme set to achieve new milestones
We have around 14,000 hospital beds including oxygen beds in the state. Mask mandate should not be relaxed, it is imperative to control the spread of Covid-19: Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo after Covid19 meet with PM today
Delhi | Currently, Covid-19 symptoms include mild symptoms like fever, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. Diarrhoea has been observed as a Covid symptom recently: Dr Nikhil Modi, Senior pulmonologist, Apollo Hospital
Mask up, follow protocols to stop new Covid-19 wave from entering Maha: Thackeray
Incidences of suspected recombinants and the possible public health relevance are being closely monitored: INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics) bulletin
Based on genome sequencing analysis,very few recombinant variants have been discovered in India. So far, none showed either increased transmission(locally or otherwise)or associated with severe disease or hospitalization: INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics)bulletin