People are talking about the third wave of coronavirus as casually as a "weather update", the government said on Tuesday, noting that "gross violations" of Covid-appropriate behaviour being seen in several parts of the country can nullify the gains made so far in pandemic management.
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Congress alleges shortage of vaccines in states, says third COVID wave may hit India 'very badly'
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the weekly pace of vaccinations has declined to nearly 60 % of what was seen in the week after June 21.
Rahul Gandhi, who has been persistently targeting the Centre over its handling of the pandemic, said there are "jumlas (rhetoric)" but no vaccines.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh pointed to complaints of shortage of vaccines in several states and urged the Modi government to double the vaccine procurement and allocate the same to states fairly.
"The Government led by PM Narendra Modi claimed that it will fully vaccinate all adults by year end. For that, 80 lakh doses need to be given daily. Yet, only 34 lakh doses are being given daily," Mr. Kharge said in a series of tweets.
"Thanks to Modi Government’s failure, the 3rd wave may hit India very badly," he said.
He claimed Delhi’s vaccine stock is so low that 500 centres had to be closed due to shortage. — PTI
Olympic athletes to put on own medals at Tokyo ceremonies
Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics will put their medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus.
The "very significant change" to traditional medal ceremonies in the 339 events was revealed on Wednesday by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
"The medals will not be given around the neck," Bach told international media on a conference call from Tokyo. — PTI
Olympic athletes to put on own medals at Tokyo ceremonies
Mandaviya dismisses vaccine shortage charge
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has rubbished allegations by State governments of COVID-19 vaccine shortage due to the Central government not ensuring adequate supplies. He said in a tweet, “11.46 Cr doses of vaccine were made available to States Govts in June so that vaccination can be done through government and private hospitals.’’
He further tweeted, “This availability has been increased to 13.50 Crores in the month of July.”
Mandaviya dismisses vaccine shortage charge
Centre asks States to facilitate private vaccination centres in getting COVID vaccines
The slow pace of procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccine by private centres in some states is a cause of '"serious worry", the Centre said and advised States and UTs to review the status daily and ensure indents for doses are quickly placed with the vaccine manufacturers.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level meeting with Health Secretaries and senior immunisation officials of 15 States and UTs on July 14 during which the areas of concern were highlighted, including delay in ordering and lifting of doses and payment.
The roles of the States and UTs for demand aggregation and roles of the vaccine manufacturers in quick dispatch were further outlined in the meeting.
Mr. Bhushan said many private COVID vaccination centres (PCVCs) have not placed any indent for the earmarked quantum of COVID-19 vaccines.
Many State governments need to facilitate vaccine procurement by the PCVCs, a Health Ministry statement said. — PTI
Farm loan waiver for COVID-19 victims in Karnataka
Co-operation Minister S.T. Somashekar on July 14 said the government would soon announce a waiver of ₹79.47 crore in farm loans borrowed by 10,187 farmers in Karnataka who succumbed to COVID-19.
Loans borrowed from apex, district credit cooperative banks and primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS) would be waived. Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa would formally announce the decision in 3-4 days, Mr. Somashekar said.
Farm loan waiver for COVID-19 victims in Karnataka
Tokyo Olympics 2020 | Physio John Gloster says ban on spectators could work to India’s advantage
No crowds at Tokyo Olympics could spell advantage India, feels renowned physiotherapist John Gloster, who has worked with 11 Games-bound athletes from the country, focussing more on the mental aspect of their well-being.
Speaking to PTI in an exclusive interview, Gloster, who has also been a physiotherapist with the Indian cricket team and IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, spoke about his experience with some from the Olympic-bound group. The Australian served as India cricket physio from 2005 to 2008. — PTI
Tokyo Olympics 2020 | Physio John Gloster says ban on spectators could work to India’s advantage
Delhi HC asks CBSE if Class X, XII exam fees could be refunded
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) whether it would refund the examination fees taken for Class X and Class XII examinations as they stood cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice Prateek Jalan directed the CBSE to decide within eight weeks on the petition by Deepa Joshi, mother of a Class X student of a school here, who had paid ₹ 2,100 as fee.
Delhi HC asks CBSE if Class X, XII exam fees could be refunded
MHA says people flouting COVID-19 norms, sends note to States
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday asked the States and Union Territories to make the officials concerned personally responsible for any laxity in the strict enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
Blatant violations of COVID-19 norms had been observed in several parts of the country, particularly in public transport and at hill stations, it noted.
MHA says people flouting COVID-19 norms, sends note to States
Karnataka police check motorists and passengers at Maharashtra border
Following reports of a rise in cases of COVID-19 Delta variant in Maharashtra, Belagavi district police have increased vigil at inter-State border points.
Police conducted random checks of RT-PCR negative certificates or COVID-19 vaccination certificates, which travellers are expected to carry during inter-State travel. This follows a recent circular by the Karnataka government that the Delta is a Variant of Concern and district authorities should take steps to reduce its spread.
Karnataka police check motorists and passengers at Maharashtra border
Court denies bail to murder case accused saying they are safe in jail than outside
Observing that the accused lodged in jails are in a “secure situation” compared to the daily working people in society who are exposed to the “outside social atmosphere”, a court in Mumbai had rejected the interim bail plea of Chintan Upadhaya, arrested in connection with the murder of his artist wife and her lawyer in 2015, and another accused who had sought the relief citing the COVID-19 pandemic. — PTI
COVID-19 | Court denies bail to murder case accused saying they are safe in jail than outside
Sri Lanka economy in crisis as debt mounts, reserves dwindle
Sri Lanka has cut back on imports of farm chemicals, cars and even its staple spice turmeric as its foreign exchange reserves dwindle, hindering its ability to repay a mountain of debt as the South Asian island nation struggles to recover from the pandemic.
Toothbrush handles, venetian blinds, strawberries, vinegar, wet wipes and sugar are among the hundreds of foreign-made goods that were banned or made subject to special licensing requirements meant to chip away at a trade deficit that has been deepening the country's financial quandary for years.
Sri Lanka economy in crisis as debt mounts, reserves dwindle
Supreme Court asks U.P. to clarify stand on Kanwar Yatra amid pandemic
The Supreme Court on July 14 took suo motu cognisance of a Uttar Pradesh government move to reportedly go ahead with the annual Kanwar Yatra amid fears of a third wave of the pandemic.
A Bench led by Justice Rohinton F. Nariman referred to media reports that U.P. was pushing for the yatra even as Uttarakhand had suspended it.
Supreme Court asks U.P. to clarify stand on Kanwar Yatra amid pandemic
Will send COVID-19 vaccines as soon as India clears legal hurdles: U.S.
The United States on July 13 said that it was ready to ship COVID-19 vaccines as soon as it got a green signal from the Indian government that has sought further time to review legal provisions related to accepting the donation.
“We are ready to ship those vaccines expeditiously when we have a green light from the Government of India,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference. — PTI
Will send COVID-19 vaccines as soon as India clears legal hurdles: U.S.
BMRCL penalises passengers for not wearing mask on Namma Metro
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has formed five teams comprising home guards, security staff and officials to crack down on commuters who are not wearing masks or following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
BMRCL penalises passengers for not wearing mask on Namma Metro
Indonesia reports record COVID-19 cases, orders oxygen supplies
Indonesia reported on Tuesday a record increase of coronavirus infections, as authorities unveiled plans to order liquid oxygen and tens of thousands of concentrators from abroad to treat patients suffering from the respiratory disease.
The Southeast Asian nation is fighting a devastating new virus outbreak fuelled by the highly contagious delta variant that has stretched parts of the health system to breaking point. — Reuters
Indonesia reports record COVID-19 cases, orders oxygen supplies
Schools for classes 11 and 12 to reopen in M.P. from July 26 with 50% capacity: CM
Schools for classes 11 and 12 in Madhya Pradesh will reopen with 50% capacity beginning July 26 given a significant fall in the daily COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on July 14.
He said schools for junior classes will be allowed to reopen gradually depending upon the situation.
Mr. Chouhan made this announcement while dedicating a building of Vidya Bharati, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to the people in Bhopal.
“Students have been sitting at home for so many days now. Markets are open now and even the movement of people has started. Children are also visiting markets. Therefore, the state government also feels that the schools should reopen from the week starting July 26. The classes for 11 and 12 will be started with half capacity,” Mr. Chouhan said. — PTI
India records 38,792 fresh Covid cases, 624 deaths
India recorded 38,792 new coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally to 3,09,46,074, while the death toll reached 4,11,408 with 624 more fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Wednesday.
The active cases have declined to 4,29,946 and comprise 1.39 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 97.28 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.
A decrease of 2,832 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. - PTI
Over 1.51 crore unutilised vaccine doses available with states, private hospitals: Centre
More than 1.51 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states, UTs and private hospitals to be administered, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
Over 39.59 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far through all sources and a further 30,250 doses are in the pipeline.
Of this, the total consumption including wastage is 38,07,68,770 doses, the ministry said. - PTI
Vaccination declines by 60% as States say they have no doses
The weekly pace of vaccination has declined to nearly 60% of what was seen in the week after June 21, when the Centre entirely took over vaccine procurement from the States. The slackening has resulted in several States complaining of a shortage and an inability to cater to demand.
On June 21, the first day of the new policy, nearly 91 lakh doses were administered and until June 27, about 4 crore were administered. While the week after didn’t match up, the period from July 5-July 11 has seen only 2.3 crore doses dispensed. So far about 38 crore vaccines have been administered since the drive commenced in January.
Vaccination declines by 60% as States say they have no doses
Uttarakhand suspends Kanwar Yatra
Uttarakhand has decided to suspend this year's Kanwar Yatra in view of the COVID-19 situation, “giving top priority to the protection of human life”. The decision was taken by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami following a meeting with senior State officials on Tuesday evening.
“A detailed discussion was held on the occurrence of the Delta Plus variant of COVID, the possibility of a third wave and its effects in the country and abroad. The opinion of experts in this regard was also considered,” said an official statement issued after the meeting.
Mr. Dhami directed that officials of neighbouring States should also be requested to coordinate and take effective action so that they can be successful in stopping the pandemic.
