New Delhi: India on Monday reported 3,68,147 new cases of COVID-19 during the past 24 hours, pushing the country caseload to 1,99,25,604, while the death toll mounted to 2,18,959 with 3,417 more fatalities.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the active cases rose by 63,998 to stand at 34,13,642. It is now 17.13 per cent of the total caseload.

Of the fresh cases, 10 states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar accounted for 73.78 per cent of the new cases. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 56,647 followed by Karnataka with 37,733 while Kerala reported 31,959 new cases.

In terms of deaths, Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (669) followed by Delhi (407) and Uttar Pradesh with 288 daily deaths.

The past 24 hours saw 3,00,732 people recovering from the deadly virus, taking the total recovery count to 1,62,93,003, which is 81.77 per cent of the case tally. The fatality rate stood at 1.10 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that a total of 29,16,47,037 samples have been tested so far for coronavirus. Out of this, 15,04,698 were tested in the past one day.

On the vaccination front, as many as 15,71,98,207 vaccine doses have been administered so far while a total of 29,16,47,037 tests have been conducted as on date.

New Delhi:  A team of Israeli researchers have identified a link between coronavirus and stroke victims, especially in healthy young people, media reports said.

The global study led by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem involved at least 136 medical centers in 32 countries, i24news.tv reported.

Of the 380 patients who suffered stroke while suffering from Covid-19, nearly 38 per cent were asymptomatic to the coronavirus, and had no recognisable symptoms from the virus such as cough or fever. The diagnosis came only after they were admitted to the hospital for stroke.

The study, published in the journal ‘Stroke’, led researchers to fear that the virus may increase the risk of stroke, even in people without chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Of the 432 patients, 323 had acute ischemic stroke, 91 had intracranial hemorrhage, and 18 had cerebral venous or sinus thrombosis.

The younger patients with ischemic strokes had no known existence of the types of aclassical’ risk factors that contribute to the onset of stroke such as vascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or smoking, the report said.

“This study further strengthened our understanding of the link between coronavirus and stroke in young patients,” said Ronen Leker, a professor from the varsity.

“In the future, we recommend performing PCR tests routinely on all young stroke patients, especially those who have had a stroke, especially in those with no known pathologies,” Leker added.

Srinagar:  Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday said pregnant women should get Covid-19 vaccine.

“Expecting mothers are now considered a high risk group and we should extend vaccine to them on priority basis,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement.

Quoting a new study published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he said Covid-19 vaccine has been found to be safe for both mother and the baby.

Nisar said the study showed that the vaccine generates a robust immune response in pregnant women, equivalent to the general population.

“Additionally, protective antibodies were also isolated in umbilical cord and breast milk, implying protection to the unborn and the newborn,” he said.

Nisar said the CDC recommends that vaccine should be given to pregnant women.  “While the Union health ministry is not recommending vaccine to pregnant women at this time as there was no data available to ensure safety in pregnancy,” he said.

“But, now we have evidence. And, we should offer vaccines to them,” he added.

The DAK President said pregnant women are experiencing more severe illness in the second wave than was observed in the first wave. “We are seeing an increase in the number of pregnant women requiring intensive care and ending up on ventilators”.

“While previous reports had concluded that pregnant women were not at increased risk of severe disease, recent evidence suggests that they are more vulnerable to severe Covid,” Nisar said. “As per a recent study by Oxford University, Pregnant women infected with Covid-19 face a higher risk of complications than previously known.”

He said the medical literature indicates that maternal Covid-19 infection affects pregnancy outcomes, with increased evidence of iatrogenic preterm births and cesarean section births due to maternal or fetal compromise or both.

“Additionally, convincing evidence suggests now that vertical transmission of Covid-19 occurs and is a relatively common route of transmission to those neonates diagnosed with the infection immediately after birth,” the DAK president said.

“The higher risk of severe Covid-19 suggests that pregnancy should be now considered a high risk condition and we should prioritize immunization in pregnant women,” added Nisar.

Jammu:  In order to strengthen Covid control efforts across the Jammu & Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Monday directed for constituting Covid Management teams consisting of DC, SP, CMO, other senior officers including Principal of the concerned Government Medical College at District level, wherever available, besides local monitoring teams at Block level, Tehsil Level and Panchayat level, for effective Covid management.

The Lieutenant Governor was chairing a meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police from across the UT, through virtual mode to review the Covid scenario in J&K.

During the meeting, the Lt Governor emphasized on enhanced coordination of officers at district level along with constitution of local monitoring teams.

While reviewing the district-wise status of Covid control measures, the Lt Governor directed the district administrations for speeding up the Vaccination drive, besides intensifying testing and contacts tracing across the Union Territory.

The Lt Governor asked the DCs and SPs to maintain effective synergy for strict enforcement of restrictions in the areas being declared as Micro Containment Zones and ensure proper functioning of Covid Control rooms in every District.

Keep strict vigil on black marketing and rates of essentials, and ensure stern action against those involved in hoarding of essentials & medicines. Every officer should remain available, through online mode also, for providing public utilities and ensuring that important & routine works do not suffer during restrictions and public do not face any inconvenience, Lt Governor instructed the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police.

The Lt Governor directed the concerned officers for ensuring implementation of an effective Covid Management plan from District level to the villages at Panchayat level.

Emphasizing on proper functionality of oxygen generation plants, the Lt Governor asked the Divisional Commissioners to keep a close monitoring on functioning of these oxygen generation plants, besides ensuring uninterrupted 24×7 power supply to the oxygen plants and an alternative backup of oxygen supply.

During the meeting, Chief Secretary briefed that two divisional level Committees have been constituted to ensure proper and judicious utilization of Oxygen supply, audit of the availability and consumption of oxygen in all hospitals across UT, assess the requirement of each hospital, besides the amount of back up and buffer stock required.

It was also informed that three war rooms have also been set up under the chairmanship of Secretary, Industries & Commerce to coordinate and ensure supply of oxygen and check hoarding.

The Lt Governor directed the Health department to ensure the availability of Doctors through online mode for all patients (Covid and Non Covid) to provide them necessary medical advice.

The Lt Governor further suggested for roping in religious leaders and elected representatives for creating awareness among the people regarding the advisories and SOPs of Union Health Ministry and J&K’s Health department to combat Covid-19 spread.

While stressing upon the efforts to reach out to the people with correct information, the Lt Governor directed the Deputy Commissioners and SPs to provide factual information on Covid situation to counter miscreants at the District level itself.

Directions were also passed to the concerned officers for completion of the payments under MGNREGA within 10 days instead of 15 days, on priority basis, besides ensuring continuous extension of pensions and benefits of various beneficiary oriented schemes.

The Lt Governor also shared with all DCs and SPs, the decisions and suggestions brought out during an Apex Group meeting. He stressed for judicious and rational admission of Covid patients from level-1 and level-2 hospitals to level-3 hospitals.

Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Dilbag Singh, DGP; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department; Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education; Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department and Information Department; Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; Mukesh Singh, ADGP; Pandurang K Pole, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir; Choudhary Mohammad Yasin, Mission Director, NHM and HoDs of various departments attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode.

• Directs for speeding up vaccination, testing & Tracing

• Asks for constituting Covid Management teams at District, Tehsil, Block & Panchayat level

• Directs for availability of doctors through online mode for Covid, non-Covid patients

• Payments under MGNREGA to be completed within 10 days

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reviewed the growing need of adequate human resources for responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and took several important decisions to boost availability of medical personnel in Covid duty.

A decision was also taken to postpone NEET-PG for at least four months and the exam will not be held before August 31 this year. Students will also be given at least one month time after announcement of exam before it is conducted.

“This will make a large number of qualified doctors available for Covid duties,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

It was also decided to allow deployment of medical interns in Covid management duties under the supervision of their faculty, as part of the internship rotation.

The services of final year MBBS students can be utilised for providing services like tele-consultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases after due orientation by and under supervision of faculty, it said. This will reduce the workload on existing doctors engaged in Covid duty and provide boost to efforts of triaging, it added.

The services of final year Post Graduate students (broad as well as super-specialities) as residents may continue to be utilised until fresh batches of PG students have joined, the statement said,.

B.Sc. or GNM qualified nurses may be utilised in full-time Covid nursing duties under the supervision of senior doctors and nurses, it said/

The individuals providing services in Covid management will be given priority in forthcoming regular government recruitments after they complete minimum of 100 days of Covid duty, the statement said, adding that the medical students or professionals sought to be engaged in Covid-related work will be suitably vaccinated and all health professionals thus engaged will be covered under the insurance scheme of government for health workers engaged in fighting Covid-19.

All such professionals who sign up for minimum 100 days of Covid duty and complete it successfully will also be given the Prime Minister’s distinguished “Covid National Service Samman”.

Noting that doctors, nurses and allied professionals form the backbone of Covid management and are also the frontline personnel, the PM mentioned that their presence in adequate strength is critical to address the needs of the patients well.

New Delhi: In the wake of the second wave of Covid-19, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the central and state governments to consider enforcing a ban on mass gatherings and super spreader events as well as consider imposing a lockdown.

“We would seriously urge the central and state governments to consider imposing a ban on mass gatherings and super spreader events. They may also consider imposing a lockdown to curb the virus in the second wave in the interest of public welfare,” the Supreme Court said.

“Having said that, we are cognizant of the socio-economic impact of a lockdown, specifically, on the marginalised communities. Thus, in case the measure of a lockdown is imposed, arrangements must be made beforehand to cater to the needs of these communities,” the apex court added.

The SC also has asked the Central and state governments to put on record their efforts taken so far to curb the spread of the deadly virus which has so far infected 1,99,25,604 with 34,13,642 active cases and a total of 2,18,959 deaths.

The top court further asked the Centre and the states to inform it about the measures that they have planned to deal with the global disease in the near future.

Considering Covid-19 crisis, the court then directed that “no patient shall be denied hospitalisation or essential drugs in any state or Union Territory for lack of local residential or identity proof”.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud issued the directive that the central government should formulate a national policy on admissions to hospitals within two weeks.

The judge said that the policy should also be followed by all state governments and that no patients till then will be denied admission or essential drugs in absence of local residential or identity proof.

The Supreme Court’s order noted that getting admission in hospital with a bed is one of the biggest challenges being faced by thousands of people across the country since the beginning of the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

The top court observed that citizens have been suffering immeasurable hardship.

“Different states and local authorities follow their own protocols. Differing standards for admission in different hospitals across the nation leads to chaos and uncertainty. The situation cannot brook any delay,” it said.

“Accordingly, we direct the central government to frame a policy in this regard, in exercise of its statutory powers under the Disaster Management Act, which will be followed nationally. The presence of such a policy shall ensure that no one in need is turned away from a hospital, due to no fault of their own.”

In its order released late Sunday night, the Supreme Court had also directed that the central government to create a buffer stock of oxygen in collaboration with state governments to ensure supply lines continue to function even in unforeseen circumstances and decentralise the location of the emergency stocks.

Covid Apex Management Group directs for mobile vaccination; establishes Covid war rooms

Jammu: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Monday chaired the maiden meeting of the COVID Apex Management Group to review the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and accordingly calibrate strategies for its control and mitigation.

To scientifically ascertain the medical oxygen demand in J&K, Chief Secretary directed a detailed audit of oxygen demand across all hospitals and medical institutions.

He directed constitution of divisional level teams to conduct the audit within two days and specify the requirement of gaseous oxygen to meet the needs of patients in COVID facilities, non-COVID hospitals, private hospitals, and Army hospitals. It was impressed upon the concerned to also include in the audit the estimation for future increase in COVID dedicated beds taking the existing tally from 4200 to 7000; and facilities to be provided at COVID care centres with at least 7000 oxygen-supported beds.

Similarly, to precisely assess the availability of oxygen in the Union territory through in-house production and imports, Divisional Commissioners were asked to constitute divisional level expert committees to conduct the audit of oxygen generation and storage at various pressure levels. The oxygen supply audit will depict available resources, as well as arrangements, being made to increase supply in the future.

The Chief Secretary also directed establishment of an oxygen war room headed by the Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce with subsidiary war rooms under respective Divisional Commissioner to monitor and manage supply and distribution of oxygen in Jammu and Kashmir by coordinating with suppliers and user agencies. Meanwhile, the Health & Medical Education Department was asked to ensure optimal uses of oxygen across the hospitals with minimal wastage.

Further, Divisional Commissioners were directed to establish 24X7 call centres in Srinagar and Jammu for proper patient management and strict implementation of hospital referral policy. They were asked to advertise the helpline numbers in print, electronic and social media, besides, circulating them among the larger population through bulk text messages by using Swasthya Nidhi data.

It was informed that COVID call centres will be operated by a team supported by medical professionals. They will collect vital information from patients and suitably direct them to triage points for seeking medical advice and assistance. The COVID triage points will be established at district hospitals, CD hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar, and at the emergency blocks of GMC, Jammu/Srinagar, and SKIMS, Srinagar.

The Chief Secretary reiterated strict implementation of hospital referral policy for efficient patient management across the hierarchy of COVID care hospitals with access to tertiary healthcare reserved for critically ill patients. Accordingly, Divisional Commissioners were asked to ensure optimal utilization of resources, wherein the tertiary hospitals would only admit critical COVID patients being referred from district hospitals and walk-in patients would first be evaluated at triage points and suitably referred to proper healthcare facilities based on the severity of infection.

Emphasizing that only vaccination will retard the rate of COVID transmission, the Chief Secretary said that vaccination rate should be maintained. He directed Director, Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir in consultation with Commissioner, Jammu/Srinagar Municipal Corporation to establish mobile vaccination centres with arrangements for AEFI management closer to the residential areas and vaccinate the eligible population amidst ongoing restrictions.

Financial Commissioner, Finance,  Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Principal Secretary, Home, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor,  Principal Secretary, Public Works (R&B), Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, besides, Divisional Commissioners, Kashmir and Jammu, Commissioners, Municipal Corporations, Jammu and Srinagar, Mission Director, National Health Mission along with experts from GMC Jammu, IIT Jammu and SMVDU participated in the meeting.

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: In a shocking incident, a two-month-old baby, who tested positive for Covid-19 and died in Jammu hospital yesterday, was abandoned by none other than his own parents, who fled from the hospital without taking the body of their baby along.

Medical Superintendent SMGS hospital Jammu Dr Dara Singh said a two-month-old baby was admitted on Sunday morning at around 7 am.

“The baby was suffering from congenital heart disease and other problems and he died of cardiac arrest at around 8 PM,” he said.  “Soon after cardiac arrest, RAT test was done which came positive after which we asked his parents to undergo Covid test as well, but instead of going for testing, they ran away.”

He said that they continuously called them but baby’s parents aren’t receiving repeated calls from the hospital. “We have kept the body of the baby in the hospital mortuary,” Dar Singh said.

Official sources said that if the baby’s parents won’t come to take the baby, the hospital authorities will cremate the baby under proper Covid SoPs.

Pertinently, this is the first kind of incident in Jammu and Kashmir since the Covid pandemic started, which has left the humanity shaken—(KNO)

Srinagar:  Though the mercury remained above normal, the Meteorological department on Monday issued a fresh warning  for isolated lightening, thundershowers and gusty winds in Jammu and Kashmir during the next four days.

A Met department spokesman this evening said there could be isolated lightening, thundershowers and 30 km to 40 km gusty winds in Kashmir and Jammu region from Tuesday till Friday.

He said isolated to very light  rain and thundershowers could occur in the Kashmir valley an Pirpanchal range in Jammu division towards late in the afternoon. There is possibility of increase in precipitation during the subsequent two days, he said.

While the maximum temperature today was 4.8 degree to 6.3 degree above normal, the minimum temperature was 0.5 degree to 1.9 notches above normal in different parts of the valley.

He said Srinagar recorded 28.4 degree maximum temperature today which was 6.1 notches above normal. The minimum temperature was 11.6 degree, 1.9 degree above normal.

The Spokesman said the sky would be mainly clear to very light rain and thundershowers. The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 27 degree and 11 degree respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, due to above normal temperature, snow on the upper heights has started melting with the result water level in water bodies, which was almost zero during winter, has witnessed some increase.

Srinagar: Wishing journalist fraternity on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said media plays a strong bridge between the government and the people.

In a message which was tweeted on official Twitter profile of the office of LG, Sinha said “On the occasion of ‘World Press Freedom Day’, I extend my warm wishes to the journalists fraternity. The media plays a catalytic role in a country’s development & acts as a strong bridge between the Government & People”.

“I appreciate all the journalists for determined and constructive role being played by them in the challenging time of #COVID19”, tweet further said.

Sinha said, “Two Kashmiri senior journalists are making J&K proud with their arduous efforts to help people across the nation. They are the true brand ambassadors of #Kashmiriyat.”

“I commend Danish @TellDM & Aditya @AdityaRajKaul for their selfless service during the #COVID19 pandemic. I have been watching @TellDM  and @AdityaRajKaul using social media to actually help people and save lives. The UT of #JammuAndKashmir is filled with such bright and compassionate youngsters. I wish them all health and happiness,” the LG said.