LIVE: Coronavirus' changing nature continues to pose danger, says Mandaviya

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The Indian Medical Association on Thursday issued a new advisory in the wake of the sudden surge of Covid cases in diferent nations, including China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, France and Brazil. In its advisory, the IMA advised everyone to; a) wear face mask in all public places; b) maintain social distancing; c) avoid public gatherings and international travel; d) take Covid vaccine including booster dose and e) to follow the government advisory issued from time to time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review Covid situation in India at a high-level meeting today afternoon, reports PTI quoting officials. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday chaired a review meeting of top health officials and experts on the country’s Covid preparedness and directed officials to be alert and reinforce surveillance amid a surge in novel coronavirus cases globally. “Covid is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation,” Mandaviya tweeted on Wednesday after the review meet. 

Reports of a sudden spike in Covid cases in China, Japan, the US, and Brazil have surfaced. At least three cases of the subvariant BF.7 — responsible for the surge in China — have been detected in India so far. The first variant was detected in July in Gujarat. Thereafter, two more cases were found in Gujarat and Odisha, a senior health ministry official informed Business Standard. The official said no surge in cases was detected after the variant was spotted.

2:49 PM

No need to panic, but should voluntarily follow Covid norms: Anil Vij

In the wake of a sudden spurt in Covid cases in some countries, Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said there was no need to panic, but asked people to voluntarily follow precautionary measures like wearing of masks in crowded places and using hand sanitiser.

Vij said if any specific guidelines or directions pertaining to Covid come from the Centre, they will be fully implemented in the state.

"There is no need to panic. But people must themselves follow measures against Covid like wearing masks, using sanitisers etc. Everyone should voluntarily follow these measures," Vij said in a statement.

He said Haryana has adequate stocks of medicine and RT-PCR test facility in every district. Ventilators are also available in sufficient numbers.

"We are fully prepared to fight against corona. Taking experience from the previous Covid waves, we are ready in all respects," he said.

 

2:35 PM

PM Modi to take call on extending PMGKAY beyond Dec: MoS Shobha Karandlaje

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a call on extending the PMGKAY scheme to provide free ration to the poor beyond December, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said, said stressing that the government has sufficient foodgrains stock.

If Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has to be extended, the decision will be taken by the Cabinet, headed by the prime minister. The Cabinet meeting is scheduled tomorrow.

In September, the government had extended PMGKAY for three months till December 31.

"Covid-19 cases are coming. The scheme is till December. ...After that, the decision (on extending it) will be taken by the prime minister," Karandlaje, Minister of State for Agriculture, told reporters.

In last 28 months, the government has spent Rs 1.80 trillion on distribution of free ration to the poor under PMGKAY, she said.

 

2:32 PM

Goyal withdraws remark on Bihar, says no intention to insult state, people

Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday withdrew his remark to RJD leader Manoj Jha that his party would one day turn the entire "country into Bihar" if they have their way, saying he had no intention of insulting the state or its people.

At the start of Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thursday, Jha, who had on Wednesday shot off a letter to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar about the minister's "demeaning" remark, demanded an apology from the BJP leader.

Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry as well as the Leader of the House, said he will immediately withdraw the statement if it has hurt anybody.

"At the outset, let me clarify that there is absolutely no intention of insulting either Bihar or the people of Bihar. And if at all it has hurt anybody, I will immediately withdraw that statement. It was not made with any malice to anybody at all," he said.

2:23 PM

Parliament Winter Session | Lok Sabha adjourned till 4 pm

Parliament Winter Session | Lok Sabha adjourned till 4 pm amid relentless protest by opposition parties demanding debate on border issue with China.

 

2:21 PM

Random sampling of arriving int'l travellers has started at airports: Mandaviya tells Lok Sabha

Amid rising Covid concerns, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tells Lok Sabha, "Random sampling of arriving international travellers has started at airports."
"States asked to conduct genome sequencing of every Covid case, it would enable tracking of new variants," the Union health minister adds.
He further says, "In view of festive season ahead, states asked to be alert, create awareness about masks, sanitisers."

2:18 PM

Ever-changing nature of coronavirus continues to pose danger to health: Mandaviya tells LS

"Ever-changing nature of coronavirus continues to pose danger to global health," says Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in Lok Sabha

 

1:24 PM

IMA issues new advisory in wake of Covid surge in different nations

The Indian Medical Association on Thursday issued a new advisory in the wake of the sudden surge of Covid cases in diferent nations, including China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, France and Brazil. In its advisory, the IMA advised everyone to; a) wear face mask in all public places; b) maintain social distancing; c) avoid public gatherings and international travel; d) take Covid vaccine including booster dose and e) to follow the government advisory issued from time to time.

1:06 PM

Irdai to introduce 'Bima Vahaks' to expand insurance force: Rakesh Joshi

To enhance the insurance force in India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) will soon introduce "Bima Vahaks" in each gram panchayat, Rakesh Joshi, a member of the insurance regulatory body, said on Thursday.

"Each Gram Panchayat will have a 'Bima Vahak' who would be tasked to sell and service simple parametric bundled insurance products, Bima Vistar, covering health, property, life and personal accident," Joshi said at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2022 in Mumbai.

"This bundled product could be bought in units of the sum insured. App-based infrastructure will be put in place to ensure that the policyholder's journey is seamless," he added.

Joshi also said that the insurance companies are developing state-level insurance plans with the state governments. Read more

 

12:58 PM

IndiGo passenger locked in heated argument with crew member; DGCA launches probe

A high-pitched argument between an air- passenger and one of the crew members of an IndiGo flight has gone viral on social media.

The argument started on the airline's Istanbul-Delhi flight over food. Reacting to the issue, in a statement, the airline said that they were looking into the incident and assured that "customers' comfort has always been our top priority.

Sources said that aviation regulator DGCA was looking into the matter.

About the incident, a passenger in the flight Er. Gurpreet Singh Hans said on Twitter he unfortunately booked a ticket on the IndiGo flight.

"Every international long distance (we can manage from Dubai to India) flight has a food choices video in front of seats but can't. Some people can manage but some can't, they need a choice of food," Hans said in his first tweet.

 

12:40 PM

China likely seeing 1 mn Covid infections; 5,000 virus deaths every day

China is likely experiencing 1 million Covid infections and 5,000 virus deaths every day as it grapples with what is expected to be the biggest outbreak the world has ever seen, according to a new analysis.

The situation could get even worse for the country of 1.4 billion people. This current wave may see the daily case rate rise to 3.7 million in January, according to Airfinity Ltd., a London-based analytics firm. There’ll likely then be another surge of infections that will push the daily peak to 4.2 million in March, the group estimated.

Its modeling of the scale and toll of China’s outbreak, which uses provincial data, shows the impact of the country’s abrupt pivot away from Covid Zero far exceeds the government’s tally.

 

11:57 AM

No lockdown in country as 95% population vaccinated: IMA's Anil Goyal

There won't be a lockdown situation in the country since 95 per cent of the people here are vaccinated. The immunity system of Indians is stronger than that of the Chinese... India needs to go back to the basics of the Covid-19 - testing, treating, tracing," says Dr Anil Goyal of the Indian Medical Association.

11:54 AM

UP CM meets entrepreneurs to discuss investment possibilities in state

A group of Indian entrepreneurs met Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and discussed the possibilities of investment in various sectors in the state, according to an official statement.

The delegation, which met the chief minister on Wednesday, also expressed enthusiasm for participation in Global Investors Summit to be held in February next year.

"With the aim of increasing the per capita income in the state, it is our endeavour that the country and the world can be benefited from the immense business opportunities available in the state," the statement quoted him as saying.

The chief minister said the state government is working on several industrial projects in UP.

Industrial development is being carried out through policy-driven governance by formulating around 25 policies to attract investment in various sectors including IT, data centre, defence & aerospace, electric vehicles, warehousing & logistics, tourism, textile, MSME, etc, he said.

 

11:33 AM

Former Delhi Prisons chief Sandeep Goel suspended after connam Sukesh's claim

Former Delhi Prisons chief Sandeep Goel has been suspended. Ministry of Home Affairs issued his suspension order last night. The action was taken a month after he was transferred and asked to report to Delhi Police Headquarters.

The Home Ministry's action comes as conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar last month claimed that he paid Rs 12.5 crores to Goel as "protection money" for his safety in Mandoli Jail where he is lodged in connection with a Rs 200 crore money laundering case.

 

11:31 AM

Amid fear of Covid resurgence, Dhankar, Birla, some MPs mask up in Parl

11:30 AM

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon amid Oppn uproar

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon amid protest by opposition over various issues