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ICMR approves Coviself, selft test kit for Covid-19. Here’s what you need to know about it

coviself

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday approved the self-use Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19 developed by Mylab Discovery Solutions. The test is developed in India and is named as CoviSelf.

Pune’s Mylab have said that the test takes two minutes and the result appears in 15 mins. They said that any adult can easily use this kit to test themselves.

ANI quoted the director of Mylab Discovery Solutions Sujeet Jain as saying, “It takes 2 minutes to conduct test & 15 minutes to get a result. It will be available by end of next week in more than seven lakh pharmacies and our online pharmacy partners across India. Our target is to reach 90% pin code in India.”

“This test is for self-use. If you test positive via this there is no need for RT-PCR test, as per ICMR. Any adult can use this kit by reading our manual,” he added.

Only symptomatic individuals and immediate contacts of people who have tested positive in laboratory-conducted tests should use this kit, the ICMR has said. “Indiscriminate testing is not advised,” the top medical body said while issuing detailed guidelines on the kit’s use.

“All symptomatic individuals who test negative by RAT should get themselves immediately tested by RT-PCR,” the ICMR added.

The ICMR said the home testing mobile app is available in Google play store and Apple store and must be downloaded by all users. The mobile app is a comprehensive guide of the testing procedure and will provide a positive or negative test result to the patient. All users are advised to click a picture of the test strip after completing the test procedure with the same mobile phone which has been used for downloading the mobile app and user registration.

Each kit, priced at Rs 250, will be provided with all testing materials, instructions to use (IFU) leaflet, and a biohazard bag to safely dispose of it after testing. The test is designed to be done using a nasal swab (not the deep nasopharyngeal swab) to reduce the discomfort.

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All party meeting held by MK Stalin decided to intensify lockdown

TN lockdown

An unanimous resolution was passed by an all-party meeting led by TN chief minister M K Stalin on Thursday evening to intensify the on-going lockdown in Tamil Nadu on a day when the state reported 30,608 new cases taking the active caseload to 1,83,722. With 297 patients succumbing to the Covid19 virus on Thursday, the number of deaths is also rising.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu election: DMK to come in power after staying in opposition for a decade

From May 10 onwards, the state went into a full lockdown which will go on until May 24 to bring down rising cases in the second wave of Covid-19. Purchase of essential items like groceries is allowed until 12 noon. Restaurants can function only for takeaways and delivery executives are permitted. All other activities have been halted and marriages and funerals were allowed with a specific number of people. The specifics of how the restrictions and the partial lockdown will be further intensified are yet to be released by the government.

Health minister M Subramanian said after the meeting, “Officials will meet tonight to decide on the aspects to intensify the lockdown and make an announcement.”

Also Read: MK Stalin sworn in as the new CM of Tamil Nadu as DMK won a clear majority

At the meeting, a total of five resolutions were adopted. An advisory committee has been formed which would comprise representatives of all legislature parties in the state to make recommendations on control-measures. All parties would extend their cooperation for relief work. All political parties have agreed to stop organizing public meetings and political events and to set an example by adhering to the Covid-19 norms.

In the almost three-hours long meeting held at the state secretariat, Stalin said that the relaxations in the lockdown were announced only to ensure that livelihoods are not affected but people were using this as loopholes to violate lockdown norms.

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Decline in Covid19 infections in Chandigarh tricity for second day in a row

Covid

On Thursday, Chandigarh tricity registered a decline in Covid-19 infections for the second day in a row with 2,042 new cases.

With 2,082 cases, the tricity’s daily tally had dropped below 2,200 after four days on Wednesday, during which it had also recorded its highest single-day surge with 2,612 cases on May 10.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

Mohali’s cases rose to 991 from Wednesday’s 713, while Chandigarh and Panchkula contributed to Thursday’s decline with 760 and 291 cases, respectively. The day before (i.e. Wednesday) Chandigarh and Panchkula had logged 776 and 593 cases, respectively.

Number of daily deaths, too, dropped from Wednesday’s 29 to 23, but remained above 20 for the seventh straight day.

Chandigarh reported the highest number of deaths at 10, followed by eight in Mohali and five in Panchkula. On Wednesday, Chandigarh tricity had equalled its all-time high of 14 deaths on May 5 and Panchkula had set a new record with eight deaths.

Also Read: An unique Microchip unveiled by Pentagon- the chip can detect presence of Coronavirus in blood

In terms of caseload, Chandigarh’s total has reached 53,393 cases and 609 deaths. As many as 8,441 patients are still recuperating at hospitals or in-home isolation. With 837 patients getting discharged, the number of recoveries has reached 44,343 (81%).

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India should scale-up manufacturing of vaccines against Coronavirus disease, said Dr. A. Fauci

Anthony_Fauci

Top public health expert of USA, Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday called for scaling up the manufacturing of vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in India. He reiterated that vaccination is the only long-term solution to control the raging pandemic.

Speaking to local television in the United States, Dr. Fauci said, “The endgame of this all is going to be to get people vaccinated. India is the largest vaccine-producing country in the world. They have got to get their resources, not only from within, but also from without.”

Calling for global cooperation, Dr. Fauci further said, that other countries also “need to chip in to be able to get either supply to the Indians to make their own vaccines or to get vaccines donated.”

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

Currently, India is struggling with an unprecedented second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with more than 400,000 cases being registered daily over the past few days. The healthcare system has also reached a breaking point, with hospitals swamped with patients. People are struggling to secure things like oximeters, key medicines as the sudden surge has led to an acute shortage of medical necessities.

Also Read: Issues faced by India in dealing with Covid 19 resurge- Is it too late to contain the Second Wave

Soumya Swaminathan, Chief scientist of World Health Organization, on Saturday, warned that a Covid-19 variant spreading in India is more contagious and maybe dodging vaccine protections, contributing to the country’s explosive outbreak of Covid19 cases.

The top epidemiologist of USA, Dr. Fauci, 88 is one of the leading global voices on coronavirus pandemic. He is currently serving as the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Also Read: Second Wave of Covid19-Export of Remdesivir & its APIs banned when states are facing shortage of vaccines

Speaking further on India’s Covid-19 situation, he said that big companies should scale up manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines in a way that India gets “literally hundreds of millions of doses.”

Calling India’s situation “tragic”, he further said, “the oxygen situation is something that was really critical. I mean, to have people not have oxygen is really tragic.” He suggested that India should build makeshift hospitals as China did a year ago to deal with the pandemic.

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After Prof Ashish Jha, the Lancet journal heavily criticized GOI over Covid19 situation in India

Lancet

On Saturday, International medical journal “The Lancet” said in an editorial that India “squandered” its early successes in controlling Covid-19 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government could preside over “a self-inflicted national catastrophe”.

This observation comes within days when one of the most highly regarded global experts in the field of global health, Prof Ashish Jha had said that the Modi government’s refusal to accept advice from its own scientists as well as its refusal to be guided by indisputable data is one of the main causes of the present Covid-19 crisis in India.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

Dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, Professor Ashish Jha had also said that the Kumbh Mela shahi snans, held in March and April, when two and three million people gathered together without masks and social distancing, would be the biggest super-spreaders in this pandemic’s history.

Also Read: Issues faced by India in dealing with Covid 19 resurge- Is it too late to contain the Second Wave

In a piece highly critical of the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the widely respected publication, “The Lancet” said that the success of India overcoming the crisis will depend on PM Modi’s administration “owning up to its mistakes”.

The journal said, “[PM] Modi’s actions in attempting to stifle criticism and open discussion during the crisis are inexcusable.”

The Lancet editorial said, “India squandered its early successes in controlling Covid-19. Until April, the government’s Covid-19 taskforce had not met in months. The consequences of that decision are clear before us, and India must now restructure its response while the crisis rages.”

It further added, “The success of that effort will depend on the government owning up to its mistakes, providing responsible leadership and transparency, and implementing a public health response that has science at its heart.”

Also Read: After receiving flak from courts on deficiency of Oxygen, central government possibly trying to blame farmers

The journal called out the government for giving out the impression that India had beaten Covid-19 after several months of low case counts, despite repeated warnings of the dangers of a second wave and the emergence of new strains.

The editorial of the journal Lancet said, “Before the second wave of cases of COVID-19 began to mount in early March, Indian Minister of Health Harsh Vardhan declared that India was in the “endgame” of the epidemic.”

Also Read: Second Wave of Covid19-Export of Remdesivir & its APIs banned when states are facing shortage of vaccines

Lancet further said, “Despite warnings about the risks of super-spreader events, the government allowed religious festivals to go ahead, drawing millions of people from around the country, along with huge political rallies-conspicuous for their lack of Covid-19 mitigation measures.”

Describing India’s vaccination policy “botched” and “falling apart” at the central level, the journal noted that the government abruptly shifted course without discussing the change in policy with states and has managed to vaccinate less than 2 percent of the population.

The Lancet journal also said, “At times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has seemed more intent on removing criticism on Twitter than trying to control the pandemic.”

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Farmer-unions are planning for a street protest on May 08 against Covid lockdown

Balbir Singh Rajewal

Punjab-based farmer-unions, which have been agitating against the central farm-laws, on Wednesday said that they will hold street protests against the coronavirus lockdown on May 8 in the state and urged people to defy the restrictions.

Also Read: The unprecedented protests by farmers: Background, Unions, Loopholes in the laws & role of Charan Singh

Farmer-leader Balbir Singh Rajewal while addressing a press conference at the Singhu border protest site, alleged that the government has imposed a lockdown to hide its failure to handle the coronavirus situation and wants to weaken the ongoing farmers’ movement. Rajewal was speaking on behalf of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions that is spearheading the agitation against the Centre’s three contentious farm-laws.

Also Read: Biden administration may place Ambani and Adani under sanctions guided by Magnitsky Act of 2012

Singh said, “The 32 farmer unions of Punjab have decided to protest against the lockdown on May 8 (in Punjab) where our field workers will come out on streets and ask people to open their shops and not follow the lockdown.”

Also Read: Three Ms of ongoing farmers’ movement- Mewat, Meo & Mahapanchayat- their Social & historical impacts

When the results of the West Bengal  election was coming out through the vote counting showing that TMC had defeated BJP, the farmers at the Singhu border protest site celebrated by distributing sweets. This is because farmer-leaders had campaigned in the poll-bound states urging people to vote for any party other than BJP that is pushing in favour of the farm-laws which can allegedly damage & decimate the livelihood of the farmers.

Also Read: Biden administration may place Ambani and Adani under sanctions guided by Magnitsky Act of 2012

Like several other states reeling from the Covid19 surge, Punjab has imposed extensive curbs, in addition to measures like a weekend lockdown and night curfew till May 15.

“The three black farm laws were also made during the lockdown last year. Lockdown is no solution. It only results in losses to the economy and unemployment. This government is just hiding its failures under the garb of lockdown like how they have failed in providing oxygen, beds and other medical facilities to patients,” Rajewal claimed.

The 78-year-old leader said that he would also push for a “nationwide protest against lockdown” in the next meeting with the SKM leaders.

Also Read: How far has the farmers’ movement rolled in the backdrop of the second wave of Covid19

Meanwhile, over a thousand farmers on Wednesday headed towards the Delhi borders from Beas, a town near Amritsar, to join those protesting against the farm laws.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

Kisan Sangharsh Committee State secretary Gurbachan Singh Chabba said that he along with other farmer leaders including Sawan Singh Pandher has set off for the national capital with the group, which includes women and children.

He said that farmers had assembled at Beas from different villages of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur districts in Punjab.

Eleven rounds of talks between farmers and GOI have failed with regards to the protests. In January, the government had offered to suspend the farm laws for 12-18 months, which was rejected by the farmer unions.

Supreme Court of India stayed the implementation of the farm-laws till further orders and set up committee to resolve the impasse.

The SKM leader on Wednesday also urged people to join the farmers’ protest to strengthen the movement.

 

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IndiGo airlifts oxygen concentrators from Thailand, Qatar, & other countries into India

Amid the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic in India, IndiGo has airlifted 2,717 oxygen concentrators from Thailand, China, Qatar, Hong Kong and Singapore to the country, the airline said on Wednesday. The airline is leading in terms of transportation of Oxygen and other aid provisions with regards to containing the pandemic.

IndiGo said in a statement that in total, the airline has transported 4,142 oxygen concentrators, weighing about 72,461 kg, within India or from outside India.

India has been severely hit by the second wave of the coronavirus infection. Hospitals in several states are reeling under a severe shortage of oxygen, drugs, equipment, and beds.

The airline’s statement noted, “As many as 2,717 have been airlifted from Thailand, China, Qatar, Hong Kong, and Singapore to India, while 1,425 oxygen concentrators have been transported domestically between 36 airports.”

It further mentioned that a massive load of other medical supplies has also been flown in on IndiGo flights to support the country.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

As per the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday, a record 3,780 fresh Covid-19 fatalities were registered in a single day in India taking the death toll to 2,26,188, while 3,82,315 new coronavirus infections were recorded in the country.

Also Read: Issues faced by India in dealing with Covid 19 resurge- Is it too late to contain the Second Wave

Interest of foreign airline in IndiGo

Qatar Airways has shown interest to pick up stake in IndiGo. Akbar Al Baker, the Chief executive officer of the Doha-headquartered airline has stated about the interest of the Qatar airways in IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline. Qatar Airways identifies IndiGo as the most efficient airline of India.

In 2019, Qatar airways had entered into a code share agreement with IndiGo. It has dispatched a flight of aircraft carrying 300 tonnes of coronavirus aid, free of charge, from around the world to India and will be flying in more such aid shipments into the country.

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UP CM Yogi gets death threat saying ‘you only have 4 days left’; probe launched

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reportedly received death threats from an unknown person, who warned that he has ‘only four days left’.

A complaint was registered at the Sushant Golf City police station in Lucknow over the incident, and police have constituted a surveillance team to trace the sender of the threat.

The threat was received on the WhatsApp emergency dial number ‘112’ of the Uttar Pradesh Police on the evening of April 29, police officials said.

In September, November, and December last year as well, calls were received threatening Adityanath.

Earlier last month, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had received an e-mail threatening to kill CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In November, a 15-year-old boy had sent a message on the same number. The police had traced the mobile number of the juvenile to Agra and arrested and sent him to a juvenile home. According to reports, the teenager was miffed over the closure of schools in the state in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was given a category ‘Z+’ VVIP armed security cover in 2017, with 25-28 armed commandos following him wherever he goes.

Meanwhile, Yogi, who has recently recovered from COVID-19, directed officials to start community kitchens to provide food to the poor and migrant laborers amid the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Last month, the Yogi Adityanath government had asked officials to safely transport stranded migrant workers to their respective destinations after they had returned from Delhi and Maharashtra following the lockdown imposed in the states on account of the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

 

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TV journalist Rohit Sardana passed away- prominent leaders expressed condolences

The second wave of the pandemic led to another unexpected death. On Friday, prominent TV journalist Rohit Sardana passed away while he was having Covid-19 infection. He died of cardiac arrest while he was also Covid-19 infected at the same time.  Mr. Sardana, 41, was an executive editor and TV news anchor with the Aaj Tak channel of the India Today Group. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and parents. Sudhir Chaudhary, Zee News Editor-in-Chief stated about his sudden demise through a tweet.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

The news came as a shock to many. It is because last night he was active on Twitter, helping people during the second wave of the pandemic.

Also Read: Death of Congress Spokesperson-Mockery of the debate discourse

PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah,  Rajnath Singh, Congress spokespersons Randeep Singh Surjewala & Jaiveer Shergill, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia expressed condolences over the death of Sardana.

Also Read: Issues faced by India in dealing with Covid 19 resurge- Is it too late to contain the Second Wave

Rohit Sardana was with Aaj Tak and anchored a popular show ‘Dangal’ that featured debates on current affairs. Mr. Sardana had earlier worked with Zee News, where he used to host the debate-based show ‘Taal Thok Ke’. He was awarded the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Puraskar by the government in 2018.

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Soli Jehangir Sorabjee, the former Attorney General died of Covid19

Soli Jehangir Sorabjee

One of India’s finest legal minds, Soli Sorabjee, the Former Attorney General, died of Covid19 this morning. He was 91.

A senior lawyer and Padma Vibhushan recipient, Mr. Sorabjee was being treated at a private hospital in Delhi.

Soli Jehangir Sorabjee was born in Mumbai in 1930. He started his law practice in 1953 with the Bombay High Court. In 1971, he was designated senior counsel by the Supreme Court. Mr. Sorabjee became Attorney General first in 1989 and then from 1998 to 2004.

As he was a passionate human rights lawyer, Soli Sorabjee was appointed a UN Special Rapporteur for Nigeria in 1997.

Also Read: Gaps in Police reforms in India- only committees and nearly no action

Mr. Sorabjee had joined the UN Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and was its chairman from 1998 to 2004. He was also a member of the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Sorabjee had served as a member of the UN world court or the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. In 2002, he became a member of the Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution of India.

Mr. Sorabjee also played an important role in the work towards police reforms in India. He was the head of the Police Act Drafting Committee, which prepared the Model Police Act in 2006, which was a major step of guidance towards the states to reform the police organizations.