Weekly or monthly lucky draw programmes for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are among the strategies planned by the government to encourage people yet to take the first dose and those overdue for the second jab to get inoculated, sources said on Sunday.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest developments:
SC asks Centre to gather info on ex gratia payment to COVID-19 victims’ kin
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to “gather information” from the States on the progress made by them in disbursement of the ex gratia compensation of ₹50000 to the kin of those who died of COVID-19.
A Bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar also sought information on the headway made so far by the States in constituting grievance redressal committees to hear complaints made by the families regarding compensation payment.
Supreme Court asks Centre to gather info on ex gratia payment to COVID-19 victims’ kin
Kamal Haasan tests positive for COVID-19
Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan on November 22 said that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and that he has isolated himself at a hospital.
Mr. Haasan said that he had a mild cough after he returned from his recent trip to Chicago in the United States. “Please remind yourself that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet and be careful,” he tweeted.
Daily COVID-19 cases in country lowest in 538 days
India recorded 8,488 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 538 days, taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,45,18,901, while the active cases declined to 1,18,443, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The death toll climbed to 4,65,911 with 249 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 45 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 148 consecutive days now.
The active cases comprise 0.34% of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.31%, the highest since March 2020, the Ministry said. -PTI
Australia to welcome vaccinated foreign students, workers
The Australian government expects 200,000 vaccinated foreign students and skilled workers will soon return without quarantining when the country further relaxes pandemic restrictions next week.
From December 1, students, skilled workers and travelers on working vacations will be allowed to land at Sydney and Melbourne airports without needing to seek exemptions from a travel ban, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on November 22.
“The return of skilled workers and students to Australia is a major milestone in our pathway back, it’s a major milestone about what Australians have been able to achieve and enable us to do,” Mr. Morrison said. - AP
Australia to welcome vaccinated foreign students, workers
Austria begins national lockdown to fight surging infections
Austria went into a nationwide lockdown early Monday, November 22, 2021 to combat soaring coronavirus infections, a step being closely watched by other European governments struggling with national outbreaks that are straining health care systems.
The measures are expected to last for a maximum of 20 days but will be reevaluated after 10. They require people to stay home apart from basic reasons like getting groceries, going to the doctor and exercising. Restaurants and most shops must close and larger events will be canceled. Schools and day care centers can remain open, but parents are encouraged to keep their children home.
COVID-19 | Austria begins national lockdown to fight surging infections
Schools to reopen in Gujarat from November 22
The Gujarat State Government on Sunday announced the reopening of schools for students from Classes 1 to 5 from Monday, November 22.
Gujarat’s Education Minister Jitu Vaghani said that all schools will have to adhere to COVID-19 protocols and follow rules laid down by the authorities.
Schools to reopen in Gujarat from November 22
97.3% of COVID-19 beds at govt. hospitals in Bengaluru vacant
With a gradual decline in cases, 97.3% of beds allocated for COVID-19 in government hospitals in Bengaluru are lying vacant. With the State Government having stopped referring patients to private hospitals, they have started utilising beds earlier reserved for COVID-19 patients for other admissions.
As per data, only 49 of the total 1,849 COVID-19 beds were occupied as of Saturday (November 20). As many as 32 of the total 693 general beds and 11 of the 831 high-dependency units with oxygenated beds were occupied. Likewise, only five of the 120 ICU beds and just one of the 205 ICU beds with ventilators were occupied.
97.3% of COVID-19 beds at govt. hospitals in Bengaluru vacant
Australia to further ease international border restrictions
Australia will allow foreign visa holders to enter the country from the start of December, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, as it takes further steps to restart international travel and support the economy.
Australia shut its international border in May 2020 and allowed only restricted numbers of citizens and permanent residents to enter in a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19. -Reuters
Post-COVID, positive change in police attitude towards public: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a police meet on Sunday that post-COVID-19, there had been a positive change in police attitude towards the general public.
The Prime Minister addressed the valedictory session of the three-day annual DGPs’ conference that was held in Lucknow in a hybrid format this year.
Post-COVID, positive change in police attitude towards public: Modi
French police forces go to Guadeloupe amid COVID-19 riots
French authorities sent police special forces to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, an overseas territory of France, as protests over COVID-19 restrictions erupted into rioting and looting for the third day in a row.
On Sunday, many road blockades by protesters made traveling across the island nearly impossible. Firefighters reported 48 interventions overnight into Sunday morning. -AP
Around 35,000 protest against COVID restrictions in Brussels, police say
Around 35,000 people took to the streets in Brussels on Sunday to protest against restrictions imposed by the government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, police said.
There were some confrontations between demonstrators and police, with protesters throwing smoke bombs and fireworks, the newspaper Le Soir reported. -Reuters
