Coronavirus News Updates: Bihar's COVID-19 toll jumps past 4,000 mark with highest single-day count of 111 deaths

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Mumbai reports less than 1,000 COVID-19 cases after two and half months

Mumbai reported 953 new coronavirus infections and 44 fatalities on Tuesday, taking its tally of cases to 6,90,889 and death toll to 14,352, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

For the first time since 2 March, the city reported less than 1,000 COVID-19 cases, though the number of tests also dropped.

On 2 March, the financial capital of the country had recorded 849 COVID-19 cases, after which daily infections surged to four digits. On Monday, the city had logged 1,240 new cases and 48 fatalities.

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Pune sees 3,741 cases, 108 deaths; 2,892 recover

Pune district reported 3,741 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 9,76,429, while this period also saw 108 deaths and 2,892 people getting discharged, an official said on Tuesday. The toll in the district stands at 15,549, he said.

“Of the new cases, Pune city accounted for 1,021 and its current tally is 4,61,008. Pimpri Chinchwad’s caseload increased by 605 to touch 2,43,185. The number of cases in the rural and cantonment areas of the district is 2,72,236,” he added.

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Leading Bihar cardiologist succumbs to COVID at Hyderabad hospital

A leading cardiologist of Bihar, who was recently airlifted to Hyderabad for treatment of COVID- related complications, on Tuesday breathed his last at a hospital in the southern city, according to information received in Patna.

Condolences came pouring in for Dr Prabhat Kumar, credited with having launched the first angioplasty facility in the city, as the news of his death spread.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union minister and local MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, state health minister Mangal Pandey and leader of opposition in the assembly Tejashwi Yadav were among those who expressed their shock and surprise over the death.

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Tamil Nadu reports 33,059 new COVID-19 cases today

Tamil Nadu clocked 33,059 new COVID-19 cases, including 12 returnees from various destinations, pushing the caseload to 16,64,350 while a record 364 deaths took the toll to 18,369, the Health Department said on Tuesday.

According to a medical bulletin, 21,362 people were discharged on Tuesday, taking the tally to 14,03,052, leaving 2,42,929 active cases. Chennai accounted for 6,016 new infections, totaling to 4,50,267 till date. The metropolis also leads in the number of fatalities with 5,939 deaths.

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Total number of COVID vaccine doses given in India crosses 18.57 cr

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has gone past 18.57 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

It said 5,14,408 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday and cumulatively 64,60,624 across 36 states and union territories since the start of the third phase of the vaccination drive.

The 64,60,624 beneficiaries include 10,10,263 from Rajasthan, 8,67,815 from Bihar, 7,69,590 from Delhi, 6,60,686 from Maharashtra, 6,38,790 from Uttar Pradesh, 5,46,468 from Haryana and 5,12,689 from Gujarat and 3,08,282 from Assam.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 18,57,66,518 according to the 8 pm provisional report, the ministry said.

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Bihar’s COVID-19 toll jumps past 4,000-mark with highest single day figure of 111

Bihar recorded 111 COVID-19 fatalities on Tuesday, its highest single-day spike, causing toll to soar past 4,000-mark, an indication of the grim situation prevailing in the state despite recent improvements in positivity rate and active caseload.

According to the health department, the state’s toll has now reached 4039 and the districts reporting the highest number of fresh fatalities were Patna (14), West Champaran (10), Muzaffarpur (nine) and Nalanda (seven).

Although now seemingly on the wane, the ongoing second wave has wrought massive devastation in the state which can be gauged from the fact that more than half of the total COVID-19 deaths here have been reported in the past four weeks.

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Covaxin trials to begin on children aged 2-18 years, says Centre

The Phase 2-3 clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, which has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), for in the age group of 2 to 18 years, will begin in the coming 10 to 12 days, Dr VK Paul, Member, NITI Aayog said. “I have been told that trials will begin in the next 10-12 days,” Dr VK Paul said on Tuesday during a press briefing on Covid-19.

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Tripura govt imposes night curfew till 26 May

Amid fresh wave of COVID-19, the Tripura government on Tuesday announced night curfew in the entire state starting May 19, a senior minister said. It will be in force from 6 pm to 5 am till May 26.

The decision was announced at the state secretariat by state Law Minister and Cabinet spokesperson Ratan Lal Nath. The state government had already announced a nine-day ‘Corona Curfew from May 17 in Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas because of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Nath said the restrictions imposed for the Corona Curfew in the AMC areas would be in force during night curfew in the entire state.

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Maharashtra reports 28,438 new COVID-19 cases, 52,898 recoveries

Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded 28,438 fresh coronavirus positive cases, a drop of 1,822 compared to Monday’s detections, and 679 deaths, the state health department said. The state’s overall case tally now stands at 54,33,506 and the toll at 83,777, it said.

Maharashtra had on Monday reported 26,616 infections and 516 COVID-19 fatalities. Of the 679 deaths, 422 occurred over the past 48 hours, while 257 fatalities had taken place last week, but they were added to the overall toll data on Tuesday, the department said.

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AP launches new policy with aim of ramping up oxygen production

Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday unveiled the AP Industrial Gases and Medical Oxygen Manufacturing Policy 2021-22 with the main aim of augmenting oxygen production capacity in the state from the present 360 tonnes to 700 tonnes in tune with the growing demand.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled the policy here on Tuesday night, an official release said. The policy targets establishment of at least 50 Pressure Swing Adsorption technology oxygen plants in both captive (in hospitals) and non-captive modes.

Drafted by the Department of Industries, in concert with the Department of Medical and Health, the new policy will be in place for a period of one year, the release said.

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Telangana extends lockdown till 30 May

The Telangana government on Tuesday extended the lockdown to contain the spread of COVID- 19 till May 30, an official release said. The ongoing lockdown which began on May 12 was supposed to end by May 22, according to an earlier official communication.

“Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to extend the lockdown in the State up to May 30. The CM spoke with the Ministers over the phone and elicited their opinion.

After receiving the opinion of the Cabinet Ministers, the CM has decided to extend the lockdown till May 30,” it said.

The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to issue an order on the extension of the lockdown.

As the Ministers are busy monitoring COVID-19 pandemic curtailment measures and medical services at the field level, KCR cancelled thecabinet meeting, which is scheduled on May 20, it added.

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Madhya Pradesh reports 5,412 cases, 70 deaths

Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday reported 5,412 COVID-19 cases and 70 deaths, taking its tally to 7,42,718 and toll to 7,139, an official said. The recovery of 11,358 people took the number of such cases to 6,52,612, leaving the state with 82,967 active cases, of which Indore and Bhopal account for 12,811 and 12,572 respectively, he said.

“Indore’s caseload rose by 1,262 to touch 1,40,447, and that of Bhopal reached 1,14,526 as 661 people were detected with the infection. Indore reported five deaths, which took its toll to 1,274, and seven deaths in Bhopal increased the fatality count to 861,” he said.

With 69,454 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the number of tests in MP crossed 89.19 lakh, he added. In May so far, Madhya Pradesh has added 1,79,391 cases and seen 1,523 deaths.

-PTI

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Jammu and Kashmir forms committee to tackle possible third wave

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday formed a 10-member committee of eminent doctors to formulate an action plan for tackling a possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the Union Territory, officials said. The committee will be headed by former director of SKIMS Soura, Dr Mohammad Sultan Khuroo and co-chaired by Executive Director of AIIMS Jammu, Dr Shakti Gupta, an order issued by General Administration department said. The other members include Dr Samia Rashid, Dr Yashpal Sharma, Dr A G Ahangar, Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan, Dr Muzaffar Jan, Dr Rahul Gupta, Dr Yasin Chaudhary and Dr Khalid. 

PTI

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Punjab villages achieving cent per cent vaccination target to be given Rs 10 lakh, announces CM

Villages achieving cent per cent COVID vaccination target in Punjab will get Rs 10 lakh as a special development grant, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Tuesday.  The idea behind this grant is to incentivise villages to give up vaccine hesitancy, he said while interacting online with village panchayats in view of the rise in coronavirus cases in rural areas.

He also appealed to sarpanches (village heads) and panches (members) across the state to lead their villages in the fight against COVID under the state government’s ‘Corona Mukt Pind Abhiyan’, an official statement said. The chief minister urged them to motivate the people to undergo testing even in case of mild symptoms and to get themselves vaccinated.

PTI

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Total lockdown in East Khasi Hills district from 8 pm tomorrrow till 31 May

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday announced total lockdown in East Khasi Hills district from Wednesday 8 pm till 31 May following the spike in COVID-19 cases. East Khasi Hills district of which state capital Shillong is a part, now has 3,076 active COVID-19 cases out of

the total 5,332 cases in the state and has reported 301 coronavirus deaths out of the total 332 deaths.

PTI

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BMC extends global EOI for vaccines till 25 May

The global Expression of Interest (EoI) issued by Brihnamumbai Municipal Corporation to procure one crore COVID-19 vaccines was on Tuesday extended by a week till 25 May as no supplier came forward, civic officials said. The EoI was first floated on 12 May with 18 May as the deadline for those wanting to answer it, but not a single bid or query came in, they said.

“As per the EoI conditions, the supplier will have to give the entire consignment of vaccines within three weeks from the day the work order is issued. It is open for vaccine manufacturers, their Indian partners, authorised distributors, while entities from countries sharing borders with India have been barred,” an official explained.

PTI

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Will examine data of 2-DG drug for adding it to national COVID treatment protocol: Govt

The government will consider including India’s first indigenous anti-COVID drug 2-DG in the national COVID-19 treatment protocol after examining the data of the medicine, officials said Tuesday.  At a press conference, NITI Aayog member (health) Dr V K Paul said Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted permission for emergency use of the drug after looking at the data.

The drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose has been developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad.  In response to a question, Paul said, “We will examine in COVID-19 National Task Force meeting for adding the drug in the national treatment protocol.”

PTI

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Arunachal Pradesh receives 86,510 Covishield doses for 45+ age group

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Govt officers living in ivory towers, not alive to COVID-19 situation, says Delhi HC

COVID-19 has not spared even a single family and still Central government’s officers are living in “ivory towers” oblivious of ground realities, observed the Delhi High Court which on Tuesday was of the view that manufacturing of Sputnik V vaccine in India is giving an opportunity to the nation staring at shortage of vaccines.  God bless this country, was another remark of a bench of Justices Manmohan and Navin Chawla which castigated the Centre for not being alive to the pandemic situation that is taking so many lives.

The bench said the collaboration of Panacea Biotec with Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) for manufacturing of Sputnik V vaccine should be seen as an opportunity to ensure its usage here and in such matters instructions are to be taken from the highest authorities that too within 30 minutes.  It said “no one is applying its mind” when there is an opportunity for the government to get millions of vaccines and it should use this as a window. Otherwise, deaths will continue to happen. Every day you are castigated by each and every court and still you are not awake.

PTI

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Kerala logs 31,337 new casees, 97 deaths, 45,926 recoveries

 Kerala on Tuesday reported 31,337 fresh COVID-19 cases, pushing the caseload to 21,70,651, while the toll mounted to 6,612 with 97 more deaths, the state government said.  As many as 45,926 persons have been cured, taking the recoveries to 18,46,105 and the active cases to 3,47,626.   In the last 24 hour, 1,34,553 samples were tested and the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) was 23.29 percent. So far, 1,81,49,395 samples have been tested.

PTI

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Singapore to vaccinate children aged 12 to 15 against COVID-19

Singapore has decided to vaccinate students aged 12 to 15 following a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in schools in the city-state, local media reported on Tuesday. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that those aged 12 to 15 are to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech injection.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was previously given only to those aged 16 years and above.  Ong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19, said that the Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) decision was supported by the expert committee on COVID-19 vaccines. “Both teams (expert committee and HSA) have assessed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine demonstrated high efficacy and safety for this age group,” Ong said at a virtual press conference.

PTI

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Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Assam may see peak in COVID cases in next 2 weeks, suggests SUTRA model

 States like Tamil Nadu, Assam and Punjab may see the peak of second wave of coronavirus cases in the next two weeks, the SUTRA model that charts the trajectory of COVID-19 suggests. However, the relief is that Delhi and states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh have well passed their peak, the model further suggests.

It also says that the country reached its peak by 4 May and then the daily cases have seen downward trend. However, on 7 May, the country recorded 4,14,188 cases, the single highest in any day. “Big states like Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Assam are yet to see their peak,” said Prof. M Vidyasagar of IIT-Hyderabad, one of the three scientists working on the modelling. The models suggest Tamil Nadu may see a peak by  29-31 May while Puducherry may witness a peak on May 19-20. States in east and northeast India are yet to see their peak. Assam may see a peak by 20-21 May, the model suggests.

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Delhi Prisons Department begins vaccination of inmates in 18-45 age group

The Delhi Prisons Department on Tuesday started vaccination of the inmates in the 18-45 age group against the coronavirus, officials said.   “Hundred inmates in the 18 to 45 age group have been vaccinated on Tuesday in the central jail number 5 at Tihar. A total of 1,472 inmates above 45 years of age have been vaccinated across the three jails since the vaccination drive started,” Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel said.

Jail officials said that in order to arrest the spread of COVID-19, the process of decongestion of prisons has been initiated. So far, around 1,000 under-trial prisoners have been released on interim bail. Around 600 convicts have been released on emergency parole after the prisons department received the city government’s nod.

PTI

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Never exported vaccines at cost of people in India, says SII CEO

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonwalla in a statement on Tuesday said it had never exported vaccines at the cost of people in India and it remains committed to supporting the vaccination drive in the country.

The statement said that in January there was a large stockpile of vaccines, the vaccination drive had started successfully and the number of cases recorded were at an all-time low while around the same time many countries were in acute crisis and in desperate need of help. “Our government extended support wherever possible during this period,” the statement read adding that India has now received support from other countries in recirpocation. The statement further said that the pandemic is not limited by geographic and political boundaries and " we will not be safe till everyone globally is able to defate this virus at a global scale". Poonawalla also said that SII had commitments to COVAX, so that vaccines could be distributed globally.

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Delhi will have only three days’ Covishield stock for 18-44 age group, says Atishi

“After Tuesday evening, the city will have only three days of Covishield stock left for the 18-44 age group. We appeal to the central government to make more vaccines available for this category immediately,” AAP MLA Atishi said, adding the city government might have to stop vaccination for them from next week. 

PTI

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Delhi receives over 60,000 Covaxin doses for 45-plus, key workers,says Atishi

Delhi on Tuesday received over 60,000 Covaxin doses for key workers and those aged above 45, AAP MLA Atishi said.  Still, the city has only two days of Covaxin stock left for this category, while Covishield doses for the group can last up to four days, she said. 

She also said that 1.13 lakh beneficiaries received jabs on 17 May. Around 10.75 lakh people have got both doses since the inoculation drive began in January

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Booster effect even at six months, don’t worry: experts on Covishield dose gap

Four to six weeks, six to eight or eight to 12? The increasing gap between two Covishield doses in India while the UK reduces its window has laypersons confused, but several experts say there is little reason to worry and second jabs anytime before six months can still be effective boosters. Responding to concerns that India increased the gap primarily because vaccines were in short supply and many states had complained of acute shortage in supplies, immunologist Satyajit Rath said vaccine dosing is quite flexible and forgiving.

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Over 11,030 MT of liquid medical oxygen delivered across India on Oxygen Express trains, says Railways

The Indian Railways has so far delivered more than 11,030 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in over 675 tankers to various states across the country, the national transporter said on Tuesday. Oxygen Expresses had been delivering nearly 800 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen to the country daily in the last few days.

Since 19 April , when the first empty trucks left from Mumbai to be loaded with oxygen, marking the beginning of the Oxygen Express service, the Railways has upscaled its operations to deliver over 11,030 tonnes of medical oxygen to 13 states. 

PTI

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Maharashtra must aim to produce 3,000 MT medical oxygen per day, says Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra cannot afford to rely on others for medical oxygen in the present COVID-19 situation and priority must be given to produce 3,000 metric tons of the vital gas per day in the state itself, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday. He was speaking after commissioning online an oxygen generation plant and inaugurating an RT-PCR laboratory in Saibaba General Hospital in Shirdi in Ahmednagar, some 240 kilometres from Mumbai.

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Ensure maximum COVID-19 testing in Tripura orphanages, jails: HC

Two days after 36 minor girls in two orphanages tested positive for the coronavirus, the High Court of Tripura has directed the Tripura government to conduct maximum testing in state-run orphanages and jails. While hearing a suo-motu case on the COVID-19 preparedness of the state, a division bench comprising Chief Justice A A Kureshi and Justice S Talapatra on Monday said, the state government needs to conduct maximum tests in those places.

Thirty-two children at the Jawaharlal Nehru Girls Home at Narsingarh tested positive for coronavirus while four cases were detected at Ujan Abhoynagar Childrens Home on Saturday, state Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath had said.

PTI

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Since April, over 1,600 teachers and workers of Basic Education Department died of COVID in UP, claims teacher’s body

Over 1,600 teachers and workers of the Basic Education Department have died in Uttar Pradesh since the first week of April due to COVID-19, a teachers’ body said on Tuesday, claiming that 90 per cent of them were on panchayat polls duty.  “As many as 1,621 teachers and workers of the Basic Education Department have died since the first week of April following the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 to 1 May. Of these 1,621 deaths, more than 90 percent of the teachers were on panchayat election duty,” Dr Dinesh Chandra Sharma, president of the Uttar Pradesh Praathmik Shikshak Sangh, told news agency PTI. He also claimed while 8-10 people died due to heart attack, the majority of deaths were due to COVID-19.

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‘Cries for beds, ventilators, oxygen echoing in wilderness’: Verappa Moily slams govt 

Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Tuesday slammed the Centre over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged that the “cries for beds, ventilators, oxygen and drugs are echoing in wilderness”. In a statement, Moily said the nation is in the grip of trauma both in terms of economy and public health. 

“It (India) is exposed to paralysis and uncertainty. No governments or economists or scientists or the medical fraternity are coming forward with a solution or solace,” the former Union minister said.  “The cries for beds, ventilators, oxygen and drugs are echoing in wilderness. There are no takers for dead bodies and in some places bodies are being disposed of in rivers and streams. The basic rules of human dignity are not ensured to the deceased,” Moily said.

PTI

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Delhi to provide free education to children whose parents died of COVID-19

For children who’ve lost both parents, and one of them to COVID-19, Rs 2,500 will be given per month till the child is 25 years of age, apart from ensuring that their education is free, News18 quotes the Delhi CM as saying.

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Delhi CM announces Rs 50,00 ex-gratia to families of COVID-19 victims

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces Rs.50,000 ex gratia amount for the families of those who lost someone to COVID-19, say reports. In case of death of earning member, apart from ex gratia of Rs 50,000, additional pension of Rs 2500 per month will be given to the family, the chief minister said. According to News18 , the chief minister said 10 kgs of free ration will be given to 72 lakh card holders. The poor and needy even without ration card will be provided free ration, he added.

Number of mucormycosis cases low but cannot take for granted , says VK Paul

Centre has spoken to all states about Mucormycosis, says Dr VK Paul. Till now the number is not much but we cannot take it for granted, he says. A combination of (uncontrolled) diabetes and COVID with irrational use of steroids, likelihood of this infection comes up, he says. We have to resolve that we don’t let this disease spread, he said. 

About children getting infected with COVID-19, he said that it is known when COVID affects younger people it is asymptomatic. As per a ICMR in Decemebr, sero-positivity in children was similar to that among children. It is well known that children get infected but are asymptomatic, The response is to wear masks, maintain distance. If COVID is observed in children Centre’s protocol released on website should be followed, he says. Covaxin has been granted permission for trial in children and this will begin in the next 10-12 days, he says.

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Pandemic curve stabilising in many states, says VK Paul

Dr VK Paul, member (health) NITI Aayog said the pandemic curve is stabilising in many states due to comprehensive efforts in testing, contaimnet and efforts of people. Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Andhra, WB among states of concerns, he says. CFR also reasonably under control which is also good, he says but cautions against slackening in efforts.

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Karnataka govt to  take care of children orphaned due to COVID second wave

The Karnataka government has decided to rehabilitate children up to the age of 18 yearsorphaned by the second wave of coronavirus and set up special

pediatric COVID care centres in 30 districts of the state. “The government is ready to rehabilitate children who were orphaned by the second wave of COVID-19.Children need not be afraid as we have decided to set up separate quarantine facilities as well as hostels for those up to 18 years,” Woman and Child Welfare Minister Shashikala Jolle said at a press conference.

 Jolle said the government has set up a helpline ‘1098’ and a senior IAS officer Mohan Raj has been appointed as nodal officer to ensure that such children are taken care of.

PTI

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199 districts showing declines in cases and positivity in last three weeks, says health ministry

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Tamil Nadu, Tripura among states showing increase in both cases and positivity, says health ministry

A positivity rate of 15% in 22 states, 5-15 % in 13 states, and less than 5% positivity in one state, says health ministry.  Tamil Nadu, Tripura , Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are among states showing increase in both cases and positivity , the ministry said. Maharashtra, UP, Delhi, Bihar, MP and Chhattisgath ae showing a decline in COVID-19 cases and decline in positivity, it said.