A woman takes the jab in Delhi (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Tuesday said he has, during his first face-to-face interaction with UN Secretary-General António Guterres since India entered the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in January this year, discussed the Covid challenge with an emphasis on finding an urgent and effective global solution to ramp up the vaccine supply chain for greater production and fairer distribution. Jaishankar was accompanied by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti and Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu as he arrived at the UN Headquarters to meet the UN chief. The meeting lasted almost an hour.
Bharat Biotech on Tuesday said it expects approval for Covaxin from the World Health Organisation for Emergency Use Listing during July-September. The company said regulatory approvals for Covaxin are in process in more than 60 countries including the USA, Brazil and Hungary among others.
Meanwhile, the number of fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours are 1,568 in Delhi, 1,037 in Mumbai, 6,243 in Bengaluru, 2,979 in Kolkata and 4,041 in Chennai.
Covid patients will not be allowed to remain in home isolation in 18 Maharashtra districts and must go to quarantine centres. Maharashtra Health Minister said, “We have decided to stop home isolation for Covid patients in 18 districts where the positivity rate is high. The patients from these districts will have to go to a quarantine centre and won’t be allowed to stay in home isolation.”
India recorded over 1.96 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Tuesday, taking the country’s total infections to over 2.69 crore . The daily spike in new cases have fallen below 2 lakh after a month. Out of these, over 25 lakh are active cases while over 2.40 crore people have recovered after testing positive. With 3,511 news deaths, the toll is now at 3,07,231. This is the the lowest spike since May 3. The drop is mainly because of Maharashtra reporting far lesser number of deaths.
Government teacher Anita sanitizes children's hands as she had tested positive after UP Panchayat polls. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
Punjab reports 4,798 new cases, 6,451 recoveries and 176 deaths.
Assam reports 5,767 new cases, 4,783 discharges and 92 deaths.
Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin says Centre should start producing Covid vaccines at a facility owned by it near Chennai. (PTI)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inspects Kota's New Medical College in a PPE kit.
US health officials say coronavirus infections in fully vaccinated people remain rare.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday issued a report on these breakthrough cases through the end of April, when 101 million Americans were fully vaccinated. Of those, about 10,300 breakthrough infections were reported, that's about 1 infection in every 10,000 fully vaccinated people, based on the available data.
Nearly two-thirds were women, and the median age of all cases was 58. About 25% of the infections involved people who didn't have symptoms. About 10% were hospitalized and about 2% died.
The report is based on voluntary reporting by 46 states and territories and isn't considered a complete tally of all breakthrough infections that may have occurred. Health officials say no vaccine is perfect and infections were expected in some vaccinated people. (AP)
Jharkhand extends lockdown-like restrictions with stricter provisions till June 3, says official. (PTI)
S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, says, “Discussed the COVID challenge with UN Secretary-General António Guterres with emphasis on finding urgent and effective global vaccine solutions to ramp up the vaccine supply chain for greater production and fairer distribution.” (ANI)
Goa CM Pramod Sawant says, “We have created a task force committee and a special executive committee for the anticipated third wave. Pediatricians from private and govt sectors are members of the expert committee. At any time, we can convert 20% of our ICU beds into neonatal ICU beds.” (ANI)
As per the latest data, a total of 513 doctors have died across the country in the second wave of the pandemic: Indian Medical Association
Moderna is expecting to launch a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India next year and is in talks with Cipla among other Indian firms, while another US giant Pfizer is ready to offer 5 crore shots in 2021 itself but it wants significant regulatory relaxations including indemnification, sources said on Tuesday.
While Moderna has conveyed to Indian authorities that it does not have surplus vaccines to share in 2021, there are limited prospects of Johnson & Johnson exporting its jabs from the US to other countries in the near future, the sources privy to discussions added.
Two rounds of high-level meetings chaired by the Cabinet Secretary were held last week on the availability of vaccines in the global as well as domestic markets as it was felt that there is an urgent need to procure the jabs at a time the country is reeling under an unprecedented second wave of COVID-19 and a widening gap between supply and requirement.
In the case of Pfizer, the US pharma giant has indicated availability of 5 crore vaccine doses -- 1 crore in July, 1 crore in August, 2 crore in September and 1 crore in October --for supply to India in 2021 and that it will deal only with Government of India and payment for vaccines will have to be made by GOI to Pfizer India.
The central government will make its own arrangement for further channelization of procured vaccines in the domestic market. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu has reported 34,285 fresh cases and 468 deaths in the last 24 hours. Out of these, 4,041 fresh infections were reported in Chennai.
Maharashtra reports 24,136 new cases, 36,176 patient discharges, and 601 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Uttarakhand reports 2,756 new cases and 81 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Madhya Pradesh reports 2,422 new cases, 7,373 recoveries and 68 deaths in the last 24 hours. (ANI)
West Bengal has reported 17,005 fresh cases and 157 more deaths. Kolkata has recorded 2,979 new infections and 33 deaths.
Mumbai has reported 1,037 fresh cases and 1,427 recoveries.
Bharat Biotech on Tuesday said it expects approval for Covaxin from the World Health Organisation for Emergency Use Authorisation during July-September. The company said regulatory approvals for Covaxin are in process in more than 60 countries including the USA, Brazil and Hungary among others.
"Application for EUL has been submitted to WHO-Geneva, regulatory approvals are expected July-September 2021," it said in a release.
Bharat Biotech further said it has got EUA in 13 countries with more to follow. (PTI)
Assam govt extends curfew in urban areas till June 5. As per fresh guidelines, all shops, commercial establishments and govt and private offices will shut down by 1 pm on all days. (ANI)
Karnataka reports 22,758 new cases and 588 more deaths. Out of the new cases, 6,243 fresh infections were reported in Bengaluru. The state now has 4,24,381 active cases and the positivity rate is at 21.13%.
Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia tells Union Education Minister, “If we can't vaccinate school students, we advise to cancel board exam this year. Results can be declared based on their performance in the last two yrs. Plan 'B' can be prepared for students disagreeing with it.”
He adds, “I would urge you to hold a high-level discussion next month regarding the examination in 2022. We can start preparing for next year now itself.” (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh reports 15,284 new cases, 20,917 recoveries and 106 deaths in the last 24 hours. (ANI)
Haryana health department cut down vaccine wastage from 6%, as per data recently released by central government, to 2-3%. Vaccine wastage percentage was relatively higher in the data released by the Centre as there was data mismatch and the districts have rectified it, says state government. (ANI)
Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu announces that the state government has decided to provide free treatment to COVID-19 patients falling under Sarbat Sehat Beema Yojna in empanelled private hospitals. (ANI)
Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers, says, “In June, nearly 15-16 lakh (Amphotericin B) vials are expected; 8 lakh vials to be produced in India, while from import, we are expecting 7 lakh vials. Requirement for black fungus vials will be fulfilled.” (ANI)
Delhi recorded 1,568 fresh cases of coronavirus and 156 fatalities on Tuesday, while the positivity rate came down marginally to 2.14 per cent, according to the daily health bulletin.
This is the third day in a row when the daily cases in the national capital have remained below 2,000. According to the latest health bulletin, the 156 new fatalities pushed the death toll to 23,565.
On Monday, the national capital had recorded 1,550 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 207 fatalities and the positivity rate 2.52 per cent. (PTI)
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “Covid-19 outbreak has placed unprecedented demand on the health system. Our health facilities and workforce are currently inundated with a plethora of activities related to controlling the pandemic.” (ANI)
In Maharashtra, 1,780 patients are undergoing treatment for Black Fungus infection while 120 others have succumbed to the disease, the state health department has said. (ANI)
Maharashtra Health Minister said, “We have decided to stop home isolation for Covid patients in 18 districts where the positivity rate is high. The patients from these districts will have to go to a quarantine centre and won't be allowed to stay in home isolation.” (ANI)
Dr. Ishwar Gilada, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, while speaking on the possibility of transmission of Covid-19 from pet animals to humans, says, “People without looking at any scientific proof started leaving their pets out on streets. I appeal to people to not act on such misinformation and to not forward such messages.” (ANI)
Dr. Gagandeep Kang, top virologist and member of SC-appointed committee on medical oxygen, says, “Vaccination is slow as there's no or limited supply. There were supposed to be more doses available and those haven't yet become available. As companies ramp up production, vaccination will go up.”
She adds, “Other options would be to import vaccines if we could but globally there's vaccine shortage. Only vaccines available are Russian and Chinese ones. So, we'll have to decide which ones we're willing to buy at least until Indian companies start to make their vaccines.”
Speaking on the high mortality, she said, “Death is a lagging indicator, it comes 2-3 weeks after case numbers climb. Now that the numbers have stabilised, we should expect deaths to also stabilise and start to taper off. If they don't, there's issue with some aspect of our reporting systems.” (ANI)
One lakh Coronil kits of Patanjali Ayurved will be distributed among coronavirus patients in Haryana free of cost, state Health Minister Anil Vij said on Monday.The announcement comes amid a row over Yoga guru Ramdev’s comments against allopathy.
Vij said half of the cost of these kits has been borne by Patanjali and the other half by the Haryana government’s ‘COVID Relief Fund’.
The kit contains three items– Coronil tablets, Swasari Vati and Anu Taila.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said “more information” is “required” from Bharat Biotech, which is seeking emergency use listing (EUL) for its Covaxin vaccine for COVID-19.
The latest ‘Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process’ guidance document, dated May 18, on the WHO website said Bharat Biotech submitted EOI (Expression of Interest) on April 19 and that “more information required”. A pre-submission meeting is expected “to be planned May-June 2021,” the guidance document said.
According to the WHO, submissions to it for prequalification or listing under the emergency use procedure are confidential.
Crowded wards with scarcely a doctor or an attendant in sight, patients holding on to each other to go to washrooms so filthy they gagged and, most agonising, people around them dying. For Covid patients now back home, harrowing images from their hospital stay are the hurdles on their road to recovery.
Over a year after the pandemic began and deeper into the second, deadlier wave, many of those who have been to Covid hell and back are unable to shake off the memories of their days in hospitals, leading to worries about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other anxiety related problems, including insomnia.
It’s a “numbing experience” for many COVID-19 survivors who come out from hospital, observed Dr Samir Parikh, director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, Gurgaon. (PTI)
Ocugen, Bharat Biotech’s American partner for COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, has submitted a “Master File” to the US Food and Drug Administration prior to seeking an emergency use authorisation in that country.
“The company is currently evaluating the clinical and regulatory path for COVAXIN in the United States including obtaining Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Also, eventually biologic license application (BLA) approval in the United States, as well as the company’s commercialization strategy, if authorized or approved,” Ocugen has said in a recent regulatory filing.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who tested positive for Covid-19 on May 21, has been hospitalised as his health condition worsened on Tuesday. Befor this, Buddhadeb was kept in home isolation under the observation of a medical board.
Indian states have approached Russian companies for the supply of Sputnik V vaccines in India, Russian Deputy Envoy Roman Babushkin told news agency ANI. He added that all proposals are being studied "very carefully."
Drug majors Roche India and Cipla on Monday announced launch of Roche’s Antibody Cocktail in India priced at Rs 59,750 per dose for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk.
“The first batch of the Antibody Cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) is now available in India while a second batch will be made available by mid-June. In total they can potentially benefit 2,00,000 patients as each of the 1,00,000 packs that will be available in India offers treatment for two patients,” Cipla and Roche said in a joint statement.
Cipla will distribute the product by leveraging its strong distribution strengths across the country, it added.
On foot and on cycles, 60 families began their journey from Magarkanda village of Kendrapara’s Rajnagar block on Monday morning to reach a temporary shelter in a school building seven kilometres away in view of cyclone Yaas — such evacuations not new to their experience but a raging pandemic adding to fears in several areas this time.
Suda Malik (40), shifted along with his wife, two children and elderly parents, leaving behind two goats and eight cows. “For the last four years we have witnessed repeated cyclones, shifting our base at least four times,” Malik said. “At such times all that matters is that we are able to survive… It is a cycle we have adapted to.”
As cases of black fungus are on the rise, an additional 19,420 vials of Amphotericin- B, the antifungal drug use to treat it, has been allocated to all States/UTs and Central Institutions on May 24, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said on Tuesday. "Besides this, 23,680 vials of Amphotericin- B were allocated across the country on May 21," the ministry added.
India already has the world’s third largest death count. Only the United States, which has recorded over 5.84 lakh deaths, and Brazil, which has seen 4.48 lakh deaths, have a higher death count. India now accounts for 16% of the global confirmed cases, and 9% of global deaths.
The daily count of cases in India peaked on May 6. That day, more than 4.14 lakh cases were discovered. There has been a steady decline in the detection of new cases after that. Since the trend in death numbers usually has a two-week lag, it might be the time that the death count begins to decline as well.
The daily count of cases in India peaked on May 6. That day, more than 4.14 lakh cases were discovered. There has been a steady decline in the detection of new cases after that. Since the trend in death numbers usually has a two-week lag, it might be the time that the death count begins to decline as well.
However, the seven-day moving average of daily death counts is still rising, although considerably slower than a few weeks ago, and with dips in between. In the last two weeks, this seven-day average has increased from 4,000 a day, to 4,190 a day. (Read Amitabh Sinha's explainer here)
India recorded over 1.96 lakh new covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Tuesday, taking the country's total infections to over 2.69 crore . The daily spike in new cases have fallen below 2 lakh after a month. Out of these, over 25 lakh are active cases while over 2.40 crore people have recovered after testing positive. With 3,511 news deaths, the toll is now at 3,07,231.
After global vaccine manufacturers told states they will deal only with the Union government, states are again demanding in chorus that the Centre import and distribute vaccines to all states without losing time.
With increasing pressure on the Centre to vaccinate all citizens, there are expectations that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would be able to make progress on procurement at his likely meeting with vaccine manufacturers in the US.
He left for the US on Monday and will meet senior US administration officials including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19.84 crores (19,84,43,550) as per the 8 pm provisional report, states the Union Health Ministry. (ANI)
A total of 574 cases of black fungus infection reported in Pune, out of which 25 patients succumbed to the disease, says the district administration. (ANI)
Dr K Sudhakar, Karnataka Health Minister, says, “We have recruited 1,763 doctors and general practitioners to strengthen the health sector. As far as mucormycosis cases are concerned, 446 people have been infected, 433 hospitalised and 11 are in home isolation. A total of 12 deaths reported.” (ANI)
Pune Municipal Corporation says vaccination at all government centres in the city to remain closed tomorrow, due to shortage of vaccines. (ANI)
Roche India and Cipla Ltd on Monday announced that the first batch of the antibody cocktail, casirivimab and imdevimab, is now available in India while a second batch will be made available by mid-June.
In total, they can potentially benefit 2,00,000 patients as each of the 1,00,000 packs available offers treatment for two patients. Cipla will distribute the product by leveraging its strong distribution strengths across the country.
The drug will be available at hospitals and Covid-19 treatment centres. The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation had recently provided an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the antibody cocktail in India, read a statement issued. (ENS)
Mumbai has reported 1,057 fresh cases and 48 deaths in the last 24 hours.
West Bengal has reported 17,883 new cases and 153 deaths in the last 24 hours. A total of 3,121 fresh infections and 35 deaths were reported in Kolkata.
Tamil Nadu reported 34,867 fresh cases, 404 deaths and 27,026 recoveries. Out of these, 4985 cases and 81 deaths were reported in Chennai.
Karnataka reported 529 Covid deaths, out of which 315 were from Bengaluru (Urban & Rural) alone. Meanwhile, the city reported 5,701 new cases and 34,378 recoveries. A total of 25,311 new cases were recorded in the entire state.
Himachal Pradesh government extends 'Corona Curfew' till 6 am of May 31. (ANI)
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Narendra Modi, saying that the central government should float a global tender to procure COVID-19 vaccines and provide them to all states free of cost.
During a meeting with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) on the status of application for WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of Covaxin, it was noted that the vaccine had already received regulatory approval from 11 countries.
There was also interest from other 11 companies in 7 countries for technology transfer and production of Covaxin. On the issue of WHO’s authorization for EUL, BBIL noted that they had submitted 90% documentation required. Remaining is expected to be submitted in June.
BBIL is confident about obtaining WHO EUL subsequently, given its experience of getting its other vaccines pre-qualified by WHO. BBIL is in the final stages of submission of required documents for Covaxin’s regulatory approvals in Brazil and Hungary.
They have held extensive bilateral consultations with Hungary and Brazil. BBIL is in final stages of negotiations with US's FDA for conducting small-scale Phase-III clinical trials in the US. BBIL clarified that all regulatory approvals have retrospective and prospective effect. (ANI)
Acting on the recommendation of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) to ramp up childcare infrastructure for children infected by Covid-19, three quarantine centres (QCs) and a Covid Care Centre (CCC) have begun operations in Bengaluru.
Set up by voluntary organisations and child welfare experts, these facilities are expected to help children whose parents are hospitalised or have passed away due to the pandemic, referred by the 1098 helpline or Child Welfare Committee (CWC) – due to various other situations, and residents of Child Care Institutions (CCI) who contract the infection. Read more
Goa reports 1401 fresh cases, 2362 recoveries and 38 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Kerala reported 17,821 fresh cases, 36,039 recoveries and 196 deaths in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases and death toll stand at 2,59,179 and 7554 respectively. (ANI)
Delhi High Court asks Centre to file a status report indicating expected supply, manufacturers and govt attempt for facilitating imports and the allocation made to Delhi. HC says it appears that the present production and imports of medicine to treat Black Fungus may fall short not only for Delhi but for the whole country. (ANI)
In a viral video, a man was seen being assaulted by a BBMP booth-level officer after he mistook a queue for Covid-19 testing to be that for vaccination. He was allegedly assaulted when he refused to undergo test. FIR registered under multiple sections of IPC.
Reacting to the incident, BBMP Commissioner said, “We regret the incident at Nagarathpet testing booth. There's no question of forceful testing. We condemn any physical altercation that happened. Inquiry would be conducted to find out what led to this, who is responsible and also to prevent any such recurrence.” (ANI)