The AIIMS Director on Tuesday warned that the disease burden may increase drastically if COVID-19 and air pollution get combined. There is an urgent need to look for sustainable solutions and be more aggressive towards controlling air pollution, more so with the COVID-19 pandemic being around, as it can lead to a huge burden of diseases if both get combined, he said.
There is definitely an ongoing wave, especially in many parts of India, and air pollution is making it worse, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said at ASSOCHAM webinar on ‘COVID-19-Coming of the Second Wave: Myth or Reality’, according to a statement by the industry body.
“So, we need to act on multiple fronts to get hold as far as this pandemic is concerned,” he said.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here . A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the updates:
COVID-19 active caseload falls below 5 lakh
Crossing another “milestone” in the fight against the pandemic, the COVID-19 active caseload in India has fallen below the 5 lakh-mark for the first time after 106 days and comprises merely 5.73% of the total cases, the Union Health Ministry said on November 11.
70% of the 44,281 new coronavirus infections reported in a span of 24 hours are from ten States and UTs with Delhi continuing to report the highest daily new cases at 7,830. It is followed by Kerala with 6,010 cases, the Ministry said.
There are 4,94,657 active cases of coronavirus infections as on date. It was 4,96,988 on July 28. — PTI
COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V shows 92% efficacy, says Russia
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has proven to be 92% efficacious among a group of volunteers who are part of phase 3 trials to test the vaccine, the Russian Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The results were based on an analysis of 20 participants in the trial who were confirmed COVID-19 -positive. The trials consist of 20,000 people who got one dose of the vaccine and 16,000 who got two, 14 days apart. The efficacy percentage means that when cases were split among the placebo group and the vaccinated group, 92% of those who were vaccinated were safe.
High Court pulls up AAP government for relaxing norms as cases spike in Delhi
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the AAP government for relaxing norms for public movement and gatherings in the national capital, even as COVID-19 cases were increasing and questioned whether it has any policy or strategy in place to deal with the “alarming” situation.
A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramanium Prasad said that when Delhi, as city state, was “hands down beating” Maharashtra and Kerala in the number of daily new cases in the past two weeks, what concrete steps have been taken by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to contain the spread of infection.
The court noted that the daily number of new COVID-19 cases received for November 10 was at 8,593 and “still counting” and the number of containment zones in the city were 4,016.
Govt needs to define COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the government will have to define a vaccine distribution strategy to ensure that every Indian gets the COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE have said that their vaccine candidate has been found to be more than 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19.
In a tweet, Gandhi said, “Even though Pfizer has created a promising vaccine, the logistics for making it available to every Indian need to be worked out“.
“Government of India (GOI) has to define a vaccine distribution strategy and how it will reach every Indian,” he said.
He attached a media report with his tweet, saying that no cold chain logistic company in India has the capability to transport the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 to India which required a temperature of minus 70 degrees.
8-month-old baby among 61 new COVID-19 patients
Mizoram’s COVID-19 tally rose to 3,217 on Wednesday as 61 more people, including an eight- month-old baby, tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Forty-four fresh infections were detected in Aizawl district during RT-PCR tests, 16 in Lawngtlai through rapid antigen tests and one was found in Hnahthial using a TrueNat machine, he said.
An Army jawan and two policemen are among the new patients, the official said.
Forty-nine more people have been cured of the disease, he said.
Health Ministry takes stock of cold chain for vaccine supply
The Union Health Ministry has said its expert committee on vaccine administration is looking at the status of vaccine development world-wide, its regulatory approvals, logistic requirements and dose requirement. “Priority population groups, identified by the government, no matter where they are stationed [in urban or rural areas] would be given COVID-vaccine. India, however, will need many more cold storage facilities, equipment etc. We are now taking stock of the storage facilities and are well equipped to augment our capacity,’’ said Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, at a press conference on Tuesday.
Kerala faces unprecedented challenge as Sabarimala pilgrimage begins next week
As the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku season at Sabarimala begins next week, an unprecedented challenge awaits the State authorities in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though the number of attendees has been limited to just 1,000 a day, the health authorities regard any loopholes in the proposed health measures for the two-months long season may put the State's health-care system in jeopardy. Hence, an elaborate plan has been drawn up to offer the pilgrims a range of health service while also curtailing a potential surge in the pandemic.
Provide more COVID-19 beds: Kejriwal to Centre
With new COVID-19 cases in the city showing an upward trend, the Delhi government has requested the Central government to provide at least 1,092 additional beds with manpower as there is a “shortage” of 4,900 beds, as per official projections.
“I request you to issue directions to the authorities concerned to ensure steps to provide at least 1,092 additional beds, including 300 ICU beds with manpower are taken on priority,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in a letter dated November 7, which is seen by The Hindu .
Kanniyakumari-Kerala border under watch, says CM
As Kerala is witnessing a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases after a lull, the Kanniyakumari district’s border with the neighbouring State will be monitored round the clock to check the entry of infected persons, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said on Tuesday.
Addressing a COVID-19 review meeting at the Kanniyakumari Collectorate, Mr. Palaniswami said the district officials had been directed to organise 35 fever clinics every day at people’s doorstep to detect cases. Thus far, 43,410 persons have been screened through fever clinics for ensuring timely isolation of patients and appropriate treatment. “To make these efforts more effective and to ensure better results, stringent surveillance has been put in place on the Kanniyakumari–Kerala border. Inter-State travellers from the district should be very cautious and take all precautionary measures to shield themselves from the infection,” he said.
Puducherry imposes curbs on sale, use of firecrackers this Deepavali
The order by Collector T. Arun stated that on the basis of the Supreme Court judgement on degradation of air and aggravation of health conditions from indiscriminate use of firecrackers, the manufacture, sale and use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris) is hereby banned. The sale shall only be through licensed traders.
During Deepavali festival, bursting of firecrackers should strictly be from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in respect of Puducherry, Mahe and Yanam regions on Saturday.
(With inputs from our Correspondents, agencies)
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