Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to reopen schools in places where no COVID-19 cases have been reported in a month. Schools in such areas can open from July 15 for classes 8 to 12 and conduct teaching in an offline mode. “It has become a need of the hour to have a co-educational approach to reach out to the children of the last strata of the state,” minister of school education department Varsha Gaikwad said in a tweet

राज्यातील शेवटच्या घटकातील मुलांपर्यंत शिक्षण पोहोचवण्यासाठी मिश्रित शिक्षणाचा दृष्टिकोन बाळगणे ही काळाची गरज बनली आहे.ही बाब लक्षात घेऊन दूरस्थ शिक्षण आणि ऑनलाईन शिक्षणाला चालना देण्यासोबतच कोरोनामुक्त ग्रामीण भागांत कोरोना प्रतिबंधकतेची संपूर्ण खबरदारी घेऊन शाळा सुरु करीत आहोत. pic.twitter.com/LJLNfykOVE

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) July 7, 2021

All teachers, as well as non-teaching staff, will be vaccinated before schools reopen. Varsha Gaikwad also said following strict COVID-19 guidelines will be mandatory in the wake of a possible third wave of COVID-19.

An eight-member committee comprising collectors, school principals, and health officials will be formed that will decide on COVID-free zones.

“Prior to the commencement of school, corona vaccination of all teachers and non-teaching staff in the respective schools should be done as a matter of priority,” NDTV quoted Gaikwad as saying.

“It is mandatory for all to strictly abide by the Corona prevention rules laid down by the state government before starting school. Considering the possibility of a possible third wave, any kind of negligence will not be tolerated.”

“In a village, where no corona patient has been found for the last one month and in future, the gram panchayat may unanimously decide to keep the village corona-free. Classes 8 to 12 will be sanctioned to start from July 15,” the minister said.

Guidelines for reopening of schools in Maharashtra’s COVID-free zones:

1. A maximum of fifteen to twenty students will be permitted in a classroom at once. Schools will need to make sure there is a distance of at least six feet between two students.

2. Students will need to wash their hands with soap frequently.

3. Use of mask will be compulsory.

4. In case students show signs of COVID-19, they will be sent home.

5. All COVID-19 precautions underlined by the Centre and the state government will have to be implemented.

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Board has revealed the evaluation criteria for the HSC or class 12 students. On a similar ground as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Maharashtra Board will also calculate results based on three-year performance. The best of three marks of class 10, class 11 score, and class 12 internal assessment will be taken into account in calculating class 12 results. The Maharashtra Board is likely to announce the class 12 results by July 31.

The government has released the evaluation criteria after several rounds of consultations with various stakeholders. An official notification said, “Given the pandemic, the state board is permitted to pass all students in the HSC exam.”

 

1. Class 12: 40% weightage

2. Class 11: Marks in final exams 30% weightage 

3. Class 10: 30% weightage to Average of best 3 exams

 

Evaluation criteria:

1. Scores in college-based assessments in class 12 and class 11 will be considered for the evaluation criteria.

2. Marks of student’s best 3 performing subjects in Class 10 board exams will be considered.

3. For the theory portion, scores in one or more (unit test/first-semester exams/practice exams) theory papers of class 12 will carry 40 per cent weightage whereas marks in the final exam of class 11 and the average of the best three performing theory papers of class 10 will have 30 per cent weightage each.

Imp announcement: After several rounds of consultations with various stakeholders, we have finalised the assessment mode & the policy for tabulation of marks for Std.12th HSC board students. Given the pandemic situation, state board is permitted to pass all students #HSCExam pic.twitter.com/zt45CodRKy

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) July 2, 2021

On Friday (July 2), the Maharashtra state school education department released a Government Resolution (GR) announcing the assessment policy stating, “For the theory portion of Class 12 exams, 40 per cent weightage will be based on marks scored in the unit test or first semester exams or practice exams of Class 12, 30 per cent weightage will be given to marks scored in Class 11 and 30 per cent will be based on the average of the best three performing theory papers of Class 10”.

This assessment policy has arrived after multiple rounds of consultations with various stakeholders. Varsha Gaikwad said, “Given the pandemic situation, the state board is permitted to pass all students. The policy is based on the evaluation method similar to the one devised by central education boards to maintain uniformity in Class 12 results”.

“Colleges are requested to meet the timelines for various activities to allow the board to declare results in a timely manner. The board will organise webinars, upload FAQs & set up helplines to give colleges, teachers a detailed understanding of the evaluation process,” Varsha Gaikwad added.

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Mumbai: Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad on Friday (July 2) released the assessment policy for class 12 students. 

Results of Class 12 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board students will be declared by July 31, Varsha Gaikwad said. The Class 12 HSC board examinations were cancelled due to the COVID-19 second wave in Maharashtra.

On Friday (July 2), the Maharashtra state school education department released a Government Resolution (GR) announcing the assessment policy stating, “For the theory portion of Class 12 exams, 40 per cent weightage will be based on marks scored in the unit test or first semester exams or practice exams of Class 12, 30 per cent weightage will be given to marks scored in Class 11 and 30 per cent will be based on the average of the best three performing theory papers of Class 10”.

This assessment policy has arrived after multiple rounds of consultations with various stakeholders. Varsha Gaikwad said, “Given the pandemic situation, the state board is permitted to pass all students. The policy is based on the evaluation method similar to the one devised by central education boards to maintain uniformity in Class 12 results”.

Imp announcement: After several rounds of consultations with various stakeholders, we have finalised the assessment mode & the policy for tabulation of marks for Std.12th HSC board students. Given the pandemic situation, state board is permitted to pass all students #HSCExam pic.twitter.com/zt45CodRKy

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) July 2, 2021

Varsha Gaikwad said that the results of the Class 12 HSC board exams will be announced by July 31. Junior colleges and higher secondary schools have been directed by the state school education department to form a result committee headed by the college principal and comprising of six teachers.

For students who are not satisfied with the final results of Class 12, there will be two opportunities available under the upgrade scheme in the adjoining examinations conducted by the state board when the COVID-19 situation gets back to normal, Gaikwad said.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) will organise webinars, upload FAQs and set up helplines to give colleges, teachers a detailed understanding of the evaluation process.’

“Colleges are requested to meet the timelines for various activities to allow the board to declare results in a timely manner. The board will organise webinars, upload FAQs & set up helplines to give colleges, teachers a detailed understanding of the evaluation process,” Varsha Gaikwad added.

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Lucknow: As the COVID-19 cases in the state are getting reduced, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday (July 2) further eased the COVID-19 restrictions. According to the new guidelines, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has allowed multiplexes, cinema halls, gyms and sports stadiums to open from next week with strict protocols in place. The new guidelines will come into effect from Monday (July 5).

According to the reports, the decision to further unlock Uttar Pradesh was taken on Friday (July 2) during a meeting with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. “The business of cinema hall operators has been affected due to Covid-19. Their needs and problems should be considered sympathetically,” Yogi Adityanath said while addressing the team constituted for Covid-19 management in the state.

Cinema hall/ Multiplex owners have been seeking waiver of electricity bills and other taxes during the period of their closure.

It is important to note that despite all the curbs, the weekend lockdown will continue in Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh government has worked on a policy of testing, tracing and treatment to deal with COVID in the state.

The coronavirus situation in Uttar Pradesh is now under control. The infection rate is negligible. In the past 24 hours, 2,70,723 tests were done in the state, with 133 new cases being diagnosed, while 228 patients have regained health. So far, over 5,83,82,000 tests have been done in the state. 16,81,208 people have been discharged after getting infected.

Over 2.5 lakh COVID-19 tests are being done every day and the positivity rate has come down to less than 1%. 5.81 crore tests have been done so far and 16.80 lakh people have been cured in the state.

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London: British scientists on Sunday (June 20) warned of a “pretty miserable winter” ahead for the country due to the likely emergence of new respiratory viruses, with further lockdowns a possibility.

Professor Calum Semple, member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), a British government advisory body, said that children and elderly people will be especially vulnerable to endemic viruses at the end of the year, Xinhua reported.

Describing it as the “fourth wave winter,” he told Times Radio “there`s a sting in the tail after every pandemic” because social distancing will have reduced people`s exposure to usual endemic respiratory viruses such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

“I suspect we`ll have a pretty miserable winter because the other respiratory viruses are going to come back and bite us quite hard,” he said. “But after that, I think we`ll be seeing business as normal next year.”

Meanwhile, Susan Hopkins, Public Health England`s director for COVID-19, warned “we may have to do further lockdowns this winter” depending on whether hospitals start to become overwhelmed.

“I think we will have alternative ways to manage this, through vaccination, through anti-virals, through drugs, through testing that we didn`t have last winter,” she told the BBC.

Scientists have warned that the third wave of coronavirus infections is “definitely underway” in England due to the fast spread of the Delta variant first identified in India, even though hospital admissions will hopefully not be on the same scale as in January.

The recent data published by Public Health England showed the AstraZeneca vaccine is 92 per cent effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant after two doses, and the Pfizer vaccine, 96 per cent effective.

More than 42.6 million people have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine while more than 31 million people have been fully vaccinated with a second dose, according to the latest official figures.

Experts have warned that coronavirus may continue to evolve for years to come, and eventually, it is likely current vaccines will fail to protect against transmission, infection, or even against disease caused by newer variants.
(Inputs from agency)

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will be starting a special COVID-19 inoculation drive for the 30-44 years, age group, from Saturday, an official said here.

Until now, the inoculation of the 18-44 age group is taking place largely at private hospitals.

The state had demanded permission from the Union government to start a special drive for the 30-44 age group as it largely covers the working sections of the population which would enable further relaxation of restrictions on shops, businesses and commercial activities, said a senior health department official.

The Co-WIN app will have a new category of the 30-44 age group, but people in this category can also register themselves directly at the state-run vaccination centres.

“People can register themselves on Co-WIN or carry necessary documents and get registered at the state-run vaccination centres directly,” said the official.

The Maharashtra government has been allocated 72 lakh vials of vaccines this month of which 25 lakh have been received and distributed. “With increased supply, we want to prioritise the working class,” the official said.

“Private hospitals will continue vaccination of 18-44 age group as per their schedule,” he added.

The vaccination of the above 45 age group will also continue as vials for this category are supplied by the Union government separately, the official said.

(Inputs from agency)

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The visuals have surfaced from Himachal Pradesh’s Solan, where vehicles are stuck in jam. Here, tourists from various parts of the country have arrived for vacation. Due to large number of tourists, Solan is witnessing jam. The question arises will this gathering of tourists in Himachal Pradesh give rise to corona once again? Take a look.

Hyderabad:  When the state government is witnessing a financial crisis due to falling economy and rising covid-related expenses, Telangana government has bought a fleet of 32 luxury cars for state civil servants which puts the chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao under the opposition’s fire.

Opposition has strongly condemned KCR government’s purchasing of luxury vehicles for IAS officers amid COVID crisis

Criticising Mr. Rao’s decision on buying the expensive cars, Congress national spokesperson Sravan Kumar Dasoju said, “At a time when Telangana is reeling under severe financial crisis with no money for Covid medical infrastructure and to buy TSRTC buses, Telangana CM has the audacity to buy 32 Kia luxury cars,” he quipped.

At a time when state of #Telangana is reeling under severe financial crisis with No money for #Covid medical infra & to buy #TSRTC Buses, @TelanganaCMO has the adaucity 2buy 32 #KiaLuxuryCars for Additonal Collectors.. Misuse of Public Money with irresponsibility @ANI @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/b524lSR0ZG

— Dr Sravan Kumar Dasoju (@sravandasoju) June 13, 2021

He called it a misuse of public money with irresponsibility at a time when people are dying due to insufficient medical infrastructure.

Condemning Telangana CM’s car purchasing decision, BJP spokesperson K. Krishna Sagar Rao has called the move “criminal splurge” by Chief Minister Rao to “appease bureaucrats” in the state.

“How can Chief Minister Rao justify spending over 11 crores to buy 32 ultra-luxury vehicles?” Krishna Saagar Rao asked.

According to an ANI report, State Finance Minister Harish Rao had recently said that Telangana had suffered a massive revenue loss of up to Rs 4,100 crore due to the COVID-19 lockdown in May and had asked the Centre to increase the FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limit to 5 per cent from the present 4 per cent, to help it tide over the financial crisis.

The state still has 22,133 active COVID-19 cases and as many as 3,469 deaths have been reported in the state so far.

New Delhi: India’s external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar will be in Italy’s Matera on 29th June for the G20 Foreign minister’s (FM) meet. Italy is the host of the G20 grouping this year and will hold the leader’s summit in Rome on October 30th and 31st. 

Last year G20 under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia held its meetings, including the leaders meet virtually amid the covid pandemic. The G20 FMs meet will see the participation of FM of other countries as well. China, Russia, the US, UK, France, and others are part of the grouping and naturally, this will provide an occasion for several bilateral meetings as well.

If all FMs confirm the visit, this could be the first-ever in-person multilateral meet of FM of 20 countries amid pandemics. COVID crisis had impacted the in-person meeting, considered key in diplomacy. Before this, June saw in person G7 FMs meet, and guest countries with EAM Jaishankar visiting London.

At the last year’s G20 FMs meet, India’s EAM had proposed developing global standards on the movement of people. It had 3 main elements which called for standards on testing procedures and universal acceptability of test results, quarantine procedures.

EAM had last visited Rome in 2019 and took part in the 5th edition of the Mediterranean Dialogues. The conference was attended by more than 40 world leaders.

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Watch the video to listen to Sister Shivani to keep your mental state positive. 

Covid-19 has undoubtedly reaffirmed the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle that includes daily exercise, a nutritious diet, adequate sleep, and weight control, among other things. In the past couple of months, India has witnessed the resurgence of Covid-19, further prolonging the wait for people to resume their normal lives. Consequently, work from home and working long hours has become a prevalent norm. As a result, we need to talk about our well-being and lifestyle management.

Stay connected for regular updates  

New Delhi: Vaccinating 30 per cent of the population is a “big achievement” for Delhi, but it has a long way to go as herd immunity can be achieved only after inoculating at least 70 per cent population, Delhi MLA and AAP leader Atishi said on Saturday (June 12).

A total of 59,90,485 people have received anti-Covid jabs in the national capital of whom more than 14 lakh have got both doses, the AAP leader said, releasing the city’ daily vaccination bulletin.

“Vaccinating 30 per cent of the population is a big achievement, but yet we have to go a long way. If we want to achieve herd immunity, it’s really important to vaccinate 70 per cent of Delhi’s population,” she said.

On Friday, 78,628 people were vaccinated — 60,759 with their first dose and 17,800 their second.

Atishi added that a total of 5,05,000 doses of vaccines were available for the 45+ age group that include 9,000 Covaxin jabs and 4,96,000 Covishield doses.

AAP Senior Leader & MLA @AtishiAAP issuing Delhi’s Vaccination Bulletin | Live https://t.co/wRlOT9ExYc

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 12, 2021

“Covaxin is almost over as 9000 doses would be over in a day, so these doses are being used for the 2nd dose. Covishield stock for 45+ would last for 24 days,” she said.

For the 18-44 age group, a total of 1,00,000 doses of vaccines are available including 33,000 Covaxin and 67,000 Covishield jabs.

“So, if we are to see the stock position, Covaxin stock for the youth would last for three days and Covishield would be available for 2 days. We hope that the Central government maintains a regular supply of vaccines for the youth,” she said.

(Inputs from agency)

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Srinagar: General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is on a two-day visit to Kashmir to review the prevailing security situation in the UT.

On arrival at Srinagar, the Army Chief, accompanied by Lt Gen YK Joshi, the Northern Army Commander and Lt Gen DP Pandey, Chinar Corps Commander visited units and formations in the hinterland where he was briefed by the local Commanders on the existing security situation and the measures being taken to identify and target the over ground workers (OGWs) network involved in radicalisation and recruitment of youth into terrorist ranks. Efforts to prevent local recruitment and facilitate the surrender of local terrorists were also discussed.

While interacting with troops, the COAS expressed his appreciation to the jawans and commanders who are relentlessly battling the dual challenges of Pakistan abetted terror and the global pandemic. He further reinforced the need to be prepared to meet emerging security challenges effectively. Later, the COAS was briefed by the Chinar Corps Commander on the overall situation pertaining to the Line of Control and the hinterland.

The Army Chief complimented the excellent synergy exhibited by all sections of the Civil Administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces and other Security agencies in projecting a ‘Whole of Government’ approach that has resulted in improvement in the security situation conducive for fostering a new era of development in the UT.

In the evening, the COAS called on the Hon’ble Lt Governor Shri Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan and discussed the emerging challenges and road map for long term peace in J&K. The LG appreciated the role played by the Indian Army in restoring and preserving peace in the UT and providing aid to the civil authorities against the COVID 19 pandemic.

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London: A group of the world`s richest nations reached a landmark deal on Saturday (June 5) to close cross-border tax loopholes used by some of the world`s biggest companies.

The Group of Seven said it would back a minimum global corporation tax rate of at least 15%, and put in place measures to ensure taxes were paid in the countries where businesses operate.

“After years of discussion, G7 finance ministers have reached a historic agreement to reform the global tax system to make it fit for the global digital age,” British finance minister Rishi Sunak told reporters.

The accord, which could form the basis of a global pact next month, is aimed at ending a decades-long “race to the bottom” in which countries have competed to attract corporate giants with ultra-low tax rates and exemptions.

That has in turn cost their public coffers hundreds of billions of dollars – a shortfall they now need to recoup all the more urgently to pay for the huge cost of propping up economies ravaged by the coronavirus crisis.

Ministers met face-to-face in London for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a copy of the final agreement seen by Reuters, the G7 ministers said they would “commit to a global minimum tax of at least 15% on a country by country basis”.

“We commit to reaching an equitable solution on the allocation of taxing rights, with market countries awarded taxing rights on at least 20% of profit exceeding a 10% margin for the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises,” the text added.

The ministers also agreed to move towards making companies declare their environmental impact in a more standard way so investors can decide more easily whether to fund them, a key goal for Britain.

Rich nations have struggled for years to agree on a way to raise more revenue from large multinationals such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, which often book profits in jurisdictions where they pay little or no tax.

U.S. President Joe Biden`s administration gave the stalled talks fresh impetus by proposing a minimum global corporation tax rate of 15%, above the level in countries such as Ireland but below the lowest level in the G7.

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In a special session on ABP News’ India vs Corona 2.0 e-Conclave, Dr. Geetika Patel (Medical Director and Trustee, Parul University) put a spotlight on the initiatives taken by her University towards combating COVID-19. She also shared her key learnings from the crisis. 

Relating COVID-19 to an exam, Dr. Patel said, “If we consider the first wave of COVID-19 to be an exam, one would say, it was easy and we passed it. However, if we consider the second wave as the same – I’d say it was tough and we weren’t fully prepared to tackle it.”

Highlighting the University’s initiatives, she said, “Currently, we have 30,000 students in our university. So, in order to instill the values of social responsibility in them, we started a special ‘social responsive cell’. Last year, we had donated food packages to migrant laborers as a part of the initiatives carried out by the cell.” 

“Further, Parul University has treated around 5000 patients and donated 600 beds to the government.  In terms of initiatives taken for the staff – we had provided one month advance salary to everyone and offered financial aid to all employees and their families who were directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19. Plus, psychological counselling was provided to the students who were stressed or facing mental health issues amidst the pandemic.” She added.

ABP News initiated this special conclave to understand the impact of COVID-19 on different sectors and communities. Through a series of conversations with the people who are leading the fight against Covid-19, this edition of India vs Corona e-Conclave looked at how businesses and industries are responding to the crisis, with compassion and innovation.

Sharing her thoughts on India’s fight against COVID-19, Dr. Patel further stated, “We may have overcome the major hurdles of COVID-19 but we still have a long way to go in terms of dealing with this issue in its entirety. Now, we are facing post-covid complications like fungal infections, cardiovascular problems, and other psychological issues. The good thing is, this time we are already preparing ourselves for the third wave. This will surely help us in the long run.”

Apart from this, the conclave delved into various pertinent themes like ‘Tackling Adversity With Innovation’ which involved conversations around business strategies adopted by companies to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their organization, as well as the larger society. Various leaders threw light on how companies are lending a helping hand to the society through their CSR initiatives. 

In an exclusive interaction with ABP News on India vs Corona 2.0 e-Conclave, Mr. Yatin Gupte (Chairman and MD – Joy E-Bikes) discussed how corporate India is lending a helping hand to their employees as well as the communities, in the fight against COVID-19.  

Mr. Gupte emphasized that the crisis might have been unprecedented but it has certainly been a learning experience for every business leader. He further explained how the pandemic has affected their business and what the future looks like from here. “Recovery isn’t easy, it will take time. It will take at least three more quarters to attain economic stability, but we hope that it happens soon. The govt. has been very proactive in the EV sector. We hope they will continue to provide essential subsidies and benefits to help us gain stability in this uncertain market.” 

ABP News initiated this special conclave to understand the impact of COVID-19 on different sectors and communities. Through a series of conversations with the people who are leading the fight against Covid-19, this edition of India vs Corona e-Conclave looked at how businesses and industries are responding to the crisis, with compassion and innovation.

Mr. Yatin Gupte shared some motivational words at the conclave, “We need to be patient; these tough times will pass. We need to have faith in our medical system and our frontline workers who are working towards our safety day in, day out. As responsible citizens, we should focus on preserving oxygen and decreasing our carbon footprint,” he said. 

On the organizational front, he mentioned, “We motivated all our employees by fostering meaningful relationships within the company and reassuring them that their jobs are safe.”  

Apart from this, the conclave delved into various pertinent themes like ‘Tackling Adversity With Innovation’ which involved conversations around business strategies adopted by companies to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their organization, as well as the larger society. Various leaders threw light on how companies are lending a helping hand to the society through their CSR initiatives. 

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In an exclusive interaction with ABP News on India vs Corona 2.0 e-Conclave, Mr. R. S. Sodhi (MD, Amul) spoke about the numerous initiatives taken by their company during the COVID-19 crisis. He also shared some of his learnings and takeaways from the pandemic. 

According to him, one the most crucial learnings amidst the pandemic has been ‘consistent and transparent communication’. “We ensured constant and transparent communication with all our stakeholders, which was extremely essential to maintain during these uncertain times.” 

Mr. Sodhi further revealed that it was important for Amul to maintain the supply-chain amidst the crisis. To ensure everything ran smoothly, all its employees, suppliers, and distributors, as well as the local administration came together. 

ABP News initiated this special conclave to understand the impact of COVID-19 on different sectors and communities. Through a series of conversations with the people who are leading the fight against Covid-19, this edition of India vs Corona e-Conclave looked at how businesses and industries are responding to the crisis, with compassion and innovation.

Mr. Sodhi also delved into the subject of advertising amidst the pandemic, “Advertising is asset management, which is carried out with a long-term strategy in mind. At a time when people were stressed during lockdown, we wanted to assure them that Amul milk will be available to them at all times. We advertised at a time when other brands were withholding their spending. We received very cost-effective packages and went ahead with them.” 

“In fact, our advertising spend is 1% of our sales spend. We have always focused on spending less and still ensuring top-of-mind recall of our brand amongst our customers through quality content and effective campaigning,” he added.

Apart from this, the conclave delved into various pertinent themes like ‘Tackling Adversity With Innovation’ which involved conversations around business strategies adopted by companies to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their organization, as well as the larger society. Various leaders threw light on how companies are lending a helping hand to the society through their CSR initiatives.

Watch this video to know more:

Mathura: Four temples in Mathura are set to reopen as the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a relaxation of the Covid induced lockdown.

Bankey Bihari, Mukut Mukharbind temple Mansi Ganga Goverdhan and Sri Krishna Janmashthan would open on Monday and Dwarkadhish on Tuesday.

Bankey Bihari’s manager Munish Sharma said online registration was mandatory for outsiders while locals would be given entry with their Aadhaar cards. He said five devotees would be allowed entry at a time, adhering to COVID-19 norms.

The temple will be open for visitors from 8 am to 12 noon and 5.30 pm to 7 pm and the online registration would close at 6.30 pm. Mukut Mukharbind temple Mansi Ganga Goverdhan would be open between 7 am and 7 pm, said Rama Kant Goshwami, the receiver of the temple.

All the temples based at Sri Krishna Janmasthan would reopen for devotees between 8 am to 12 noon and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm, said its secretary Kapil Sharma. Dwarkadhish would reopen for visitors on Tuesday between 8.15 am to 8.45 am and 10.15 am to 11 am in the morning session, said its spokesperson Rakesh Tewari.

In the afternoon, timings would be 4.45 pm to 5.15 pm and 6.15 pm to 7 pm. The temples would remain closed on Saturday and Sunday.

(inputs from agency)

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New Delhi: The government on Monday (May 17) revised the clinical guidance for COVID-19 treatment, dropping the off-label use of convalescent plasma as it was found not beneficial in reducing the progression to severe disease or death.

The development came following a meeting of the ICMR-National Task Force for COVID-19 last week wherein all members were in favour of removing the use of convalescent plasma from the guidelines citing its ineffectiveness and inappropriate use in several cases.

An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official said the task force “revised” the Clinical Guidance for Management of Adult COVID-19 Patients and “dropped convalescent plasma (off label)”.

The previous guidelines recommended off-label use of plasma therapy at the stage of early moderate disease, that is, within seven days of the onset of symptoms and if there is the availability of a high titre donor plasma.

The decision to remove it from the guidelines comes in the backdrop of some clinicians and scientists writing to Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan cautioning against the “irrational and non-scientific use” of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in the country.

In the letter, which was also marked to ICMR chief Balram Bhargava and AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, public health professionals alleged that the current guidelines on plasma therapy are not based on existing evidence and pointed out some very early evidence that indicates a possible association between emergence of variants with lower susceptibility to neutralising antibodies in immunosuppressed” people given plasma therapy.

This raises the possibility of more virulent strains developing due to irrational use of plasma therapy which can fuel the pandemic, according to the letter signed by vaccinologist Gagandeep Kang, surgeon Pramesh C S and others.

“We are writing to you as concerned clinicians, public health professionals and scientists from India about the irrational and non-scientific use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in the country.

“This has stemmed from guidelines issued by government agencies, and we request your urgent intervention to address the issue which can prevent harassment of COVID-19 patients, their families, their clinicians and COVID-19 survivors,” said the letter.

“The current research evidence unanimously indicates that there is no benefit offered by convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19. However, it continues to be prescribed rampantly in hospitals across India,? the letter said.

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Coronavirus

Health Minister said here that people in large numbers were inhaling steam as a preventive measure against Covid-19 infection, adding that inhaling steam without proper advice would damage the lungs.

Hyderabad: Retired police officer K.S.N. Murthy, who was popularly known as Gabbar Singh, died of COVID-19.

He was 78 and survived by his wife and two sons.

The former Indian Police Service (IPS) official breathed his last on Sunday (May 16) at a private hospital in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, where he was living since his retirement in the year 2000.

Murthy served in various capacities in the police department in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

Hailing from Andhra, the officer’s first posting in Hyderabad was in the old city in the late 1980s. As Assistant Commissioner of Police, Charminar, he firmly dealt with anti-social elements and habitual offenders.

Known as a strict officer in police circles, he came to be known as Gabbar Singh after the legendary character played by Amjad Khan in the blockbuster ‘Sholay’.

Citizens recall that his name used to terrify rowdy sheeters and he succeeded in bringing down the crime rate in the area under his jurisdiction. Telugu movie `Gabbar Singh` starring popular actor Pawan Kalyan was said to have been inspired by Murthy.

He also served in various capacities in the City Task Force and Superintendent of Police. He was the police commissioner of Vijayawada in 1998-99. He was promoted as inspector general of police before his retirement.

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Noida: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday (May 16) said the state government is alive to the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19 and the spread of black fungus infection among cured patients and is readying itself to tackle them. 

He said the state government is focusing on ensuring awareness and treatment of the black fungus infection, which has emerged as a “challenge” for the people who have recovered from Covid-19.

Apprehensions have been expressed about a possible third wave of the coronavirus in the state, Adityanath said, adding “the government is already preparing an action plan to effectively check the third wave.”

The chief minister made these remarks while addressing reporters during his visit to Noida to review the Covid-19 situation.

Mentioning the “new challenge” of black fungus infection among cured Covid patients, the chief minister said the state government has issued an advisory regarding it besides conducting virtual meetings with health officials and medical colleges in every district.

The chief minister talked of the black fungus infection or mucormycosis a day after AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria attributed the new malady to the misuse of steroids in the treatment of Covid-19 patients and asked hospitals to follow the infection control protocols. 

“It has been seen that secondary infections — whether fungal or bacterial — are causing more mortality. This disease, mucormycosis, can affect the face, infecting the nose, the orbit of the eye or the brain which can even cause vision loss. It can also spread to the lung,” Guleria had said on Saturday.

Talking of his government preparedness to tackle the possible third wave of Covid-19, which, he said, is feared to be affecting children more, the chief minister said, “Every district administration has been asked to prepare a dedicated hospital for women and children.”

“We have 2,220 ambulances of 102 service which are dedicated for women and children and for their emergency services besides providing them telephonic consultation from these hospitals,” he said.

The chief minister said arrangements are also being made to set up paediatric intensive care units (ICU) in every district and every medical college amid the apprehensions of an impending third wave. 

“In the case of Covid-19, we have been able to keep the CFR (case fatality rate) lower than one per cent. Similarly, for black fungus, there should not be any problem if its timely treatment is ensured,” the chief minister said.

“The government’s advisory also calls for a comprehensive awareness campaign to inform people about the cause, symptoms and treatment of black fungus,” Adityanath said.

The government is quickly working on ensuring treatment of black fungus in all districts of the state, he added.

Uttar Pradesh has fought encephalitis and reduced mortality rate by 95 per cent from 2017 to 2020, hence the state has over these years improved medical resources in districts of its eastern region, he said.

(inputs from PTI)

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New Delhi: India is witnessing a surge in active COVID patients with the second wave of coronavirus. The state of Karnataka has reported the highest number of COVID death toll between May 7 and 13 since the outbreak of the pandemic. 

As many as 5000 deaths were reported in the month of May in Karnataka. Bangalore alone has accounted for 2700 deaths from the total number. 3388 deaths were reported during August 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic in the state. The daily death average in Karnataka for the month of May has been around 400 with 211 in Bangalore alone. 

The death statistics have seen an increase of 107 per cent. The deaths during April 24 and 30 were 1448, 1689 deaths between May 1 and 6 and the death toll has risen to 3500 from May 7 and 13. This makes it the deadliest week of the pandemic hitherto. 

With 3.11 lakh fresh coronavirus infections, India saw the lowest rise in daily COVID-19 cases after a gap of 25 days, while the death toll rose to 2,70,284 with 4,077 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The 4,077 new fatalities include 960 from Maharashtra, 349 from Karnataka, 337 from Delhi, 303 from Tamil Nadu, 281 from Uttar Pradesh, 216 from Punjab, 197 from Uttarakhand, 149 from Rajasthan, 144 each from Haryana and West Bengal, 129 from Chhattisgarh.

A total of 2,70,284 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 80,512 from Maharashtra, 21,434 from Karnataka, 21244 from Delhi, 17,359 from Tamil Nadu, 17,238 from Uttar Pradesh, 13,137 from West Bengal, 11,693 from Punjab and 11,590 from Chhattisgarh.

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday (May 16) appealed to doctors who serve as family physicians to join the state’s fight against COVID-19 and advise their patients under home isolation about the right treatment protocols.

During a virtual interaction with private medical practitioners and members of the state COVID-19 task force, Thackeray said patients trust their family doctors more than anyone else.

“The treatment protocols of COVID-19 patients in home isolation can be managed more effectively if their family physicians join the battle against the viral infection,” the chief minister said.

He said family physicians can evaluate the COVID-19 patient’s condition, co-morbidities and oxygen level during home isolation and guide them effectively regarding the need for hospitalisation.

“If the asymptomatic patients in home isolation are treated effectively, it would help reduce the COVID-19 mortality rate,” he said.

He said family doctors should also take into account the increasing sugar level of COVID-19 patients and how it can be restricted.

He appealed to family doctors in the state to join the COVID-19 care centres in their vicinity as consultants.

Maharashtra’s COVID-19 task force member Sanjay Oak stressed the need to ensure hygiene in oxygen pipes and concentrators as well as during home quarantine of patients with uncontrolled co-morbidities to prevent other infections.

Another task force member Shashank Joshi spoke about how home care was crucial and of critical importance for patients.

Thackeray had last week also stressed the role of private doctors, especially family physicians, in the fight against COVID-19, saying they can help in early diagnosis of the infection in their patients and facilitate timely treatment for them.

On Saturday (May 15), Maharashtra reported 34,848 new cases of COVID-19, taking the tally to 53,44,063, while 960 deaths pushed the toll to 80,512, as per the state health department.

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Srinagar: Office of Lieutenant Governor Jammu Kashmir extend the ongoing Corona Curfew by a week – effective from May 17 to May 24 – across all the twenty districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Announcing the decision DIPR on its official Twitter Handle wrote; The Corona Curfew imposed in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir till 7 am on Monday (May 17) is extended further till 7 am on Monday, 24/5/21.”

COVID CONTAINMENT

The Corona Curfew imposed in all 20 distts of J&K till 7 am on Monday, 17/5/21 is extended further till 7 am on Monday, 24/5/21. The curfew will be strict except for a few essential services.#IndiaFightsCorona #JandKFightsCorona#WeShallOvercome

— DIPR-J&K (@diprjk) May 15, 2021

“The curfew will be strict except for a few essential services”, it concluded. 

On April 29, the Jammu and Kashmir government imposed a curfew in 11 districts to curb down the surge in COVID-19 cases. This lockdown was subsequently extended to all the 20 districts the next day till May 17.

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Kannur: India is witnessing the second wave of coronavirus. This wave is proving to be much more severe as compared to the first one. Various state governments have imposed lockdown in order to curd down the infection. As lockdown has been imposed only essential services are exempted and people are advised to strictly stay indoors and followed the COVID guidelines. However, the government has allotted e-pass for the people who need to get help urgently. On a daily basis, authorities receive thousands of e-pass requests from citizens and travel is allowed only if the e-pass states a valid reason. However, one bizarre request received by Kerala police has grabbed eyeballs.

In an interesting event, a resident from Kannur’s Kannapuram applied for an e-pass in order to out for “sex”. According to a local media agency, the man wanted to visit Kannur in the evening. Needless to say, the police were surprised by the request application and even the Assistant Commissioner of Police has given the information about the incident. The Valapattanam police were then asked to locate the individual, who was brought to the station for interrogation.

When police asked about the reason mentioned on the application, the man answered that it was just typing mistake and as he had misspelt the word. He said that he actually wanted to write ‘six o clock’  instead of ‘sex’, and apologised for the same. Later, his apology was accepted by the officials and the man was released. The police also further instructed him to not apply for an e-pass for non-essential purposes.

We at Zee News request everyone to follow the COVID guidelines and do not go out without any essential reason. Stay indoors and and stay safe. 

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