New Delhi: For the third straight day, India registered more than 3.5 lakh Covid-19 cases, with 3,86,452 fresh infections, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic began, taking the COVID-19 tally to 1,87,62,976, according to the Union Health Ministry on Friday morning.

Besides, the country also saw 3498 deaths in the past 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 2,08,330.

The active caseload in the country is 31,70,228 comprising 16.90 per cent of the total infections while 1, 53,84,418 people have recovered from disease so far amounting 81.99 per cent of the recovery rate.

Meanwhile, the case fatality rate stayed at 1.11 per cent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 28,63,92,086 samples have been tested so far for coronavirus. In another significant development, more than 19 lakh (19,20,107) tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, making it the highest single-day tests done in India.

On the vaccination front, total 15,22,45,179 people have been vaccinated across the country till now, of which 22,24,548 doses administered in the past 24 hours.

On Thursday, the country reported 379,257 cases and 3,645 deaths, which is the highest single-day spike in cases and deaths. On Wednesday, 3,60,960 new infections and 3,293 deaths were recorded.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss the alarming Covid situation in the country.

The meeting noted that the present pandemic predicament is a “once in a century crisis”, which has thrown a big challenge to the world.

In the meeting, the government of India’s ‘Team India’ approach to fight the pandemic based on the collective efforts of the Centre, state governments and the people was highlighted.

“All arms of the government are working unitedly and rapidly to deal with the situation,” the Prime Minister said

He also urged the ministers to stay in touch with the people of their respective areas, and keep taking their feedbacks.

The Prime Minister stressed upon the need to ensure that issues at the local level are promptly identified and addressed.

The Council of Ministers also reviewed all the efforts made in the last 14 months by the Central and state governments and the people of India.

The efforts by the Centre in coordination with the states towards building infrastructure in the form of ramping up hospital beds, PSA oxygen facilities etc., resolving issues in production, storage and transportation of oxygen, tackling matters relating to availability of essential medicines were briefed. The measures being taken to further ramp up their supply and availability were also pointed out.

The support measures for the vulnerable population in the form of provision of foodgrains and financial aid to the Jan Dhan account holders were also highlighted.

It was also noted that India has successfully produced two vaccines and there are many candidates at various stages of approval and induction.

The Council of Ministers also stressed the importance of Covid appropriate behaviour, including wearing mask, maintaining physical distance of 6 feet and washing hands frequently.

The Council reiterated that the participation of the society is a key aspect to accomplish the gigantic task ahead and expressed its confidence that the country will rise to the occasion and defeat the virus.

New Delhi: There would be no lockdown across the states as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has advised them to go in for “containment” in districts and areas where the second wave surged.

The ministry directed states and Union Territories to consider containment measures such as restrictions on gatherings, operations of markets, offices, schools and universities, and intensified testing and tracking for immediate implementation based on their assessment of the situation until May 31.

It has suggested intensive, local and focused containment measures in districts and areas with test positivity of 10 per cent and more in the last one week and where more than 60 per cent of oxygen-supported or ICU beds are occupied.

Despite the surge in Covid-positive cases and deaths in April, the MHA’s fresh guidelines on Covid containment steered clear of imposing lockdowns and left it to states and UTs to devise their own containment strategies.

The advisory asks states to encourage work from home. All District Magistrates are required to strictly enforce state-level directives on containment measures as well as the national guidelines.

The Union Health Ministry had called for measures like night curfew, prohibiting public gatherings for political, social, religious, sports or entertainment purposes, capping attendance at marriages to 50 and at funerals to 20, closing of shopping complexes, cinema halls, gyms, spas, restaurants, stadia, operating public transport at 50 per cent, and a cap of 50 per cent attendance in government and private offices.

“However, these are indicative activities, and states and UTs should make a careful analysis of the local situation, areas to be covered, and probability of transmission and then take a decision,” the Health Ministry had advised.

The restrictions were prescribed for 14 days across the containment zones, which shall be declared such after a public announcement outlining the rationale and the nature of restrictions while asking for a test-track-treat-vaccine approach and ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Apart from suggesting 100 per cent vaccination of eligible age groups, the Health Ministry had also said that details of hospital beds and vacancy status be made available online on a daily basis.

It also said details on availability of oxygen, drugs, vaccines and vaccination centres, including the guidelines related to use of drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, should be widely publicised to generate public confidence.

A similar advisory was issued on April 26 based on the Health Ministry guidelines where the states were asked to impose localised restrictions for at least 14 days to flatten the Covid-19 curve.

The guidelines will be applicable till May 31. The previous guidelines issued on March 23 are effective till April 30.

The fresh guidelines for Covid-19 management came amid a sudden spike in the number of cases and a shortage of beds, ICUs and oxygen in some parts of the country like Delhi.

The implementation framework for community containment and large containment areas, as advised by the Health Ministry, has also been enclosed with the MHA order.

New Delhi: India has ordered 4,50,000 vials of antiviral drug Remdesivir from US and Egyptian pharmaceutical companies, out of which 75,000 vials are expected to reach the country on Friday, the government said.

“It is expected that Gilead Sciences Inc. USA will dispatch 75,000 to 1,00,00 vials in the next one or two days. Further one hundred thousand quantities will also be supplied before or by May 15. Egyptian Pharma Company EVA pharma will supply approximately 10,000 vials initially followed by 50,000 vials every 15 days or till July,’ Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said in a statement.

It said the government has ramped up the production capacity of Remdesivir in the country.

As on April 27, the production capacity of the seven licensed domestic manufacturers increased from 38 lakh vials per month to 1.03 crore vials per month. Total 13.73 lakh vials have been supplied across the country by the Drug companies in the last seven days (21-28 April, 2021). The daily supply has gone up from 67,900 vials on April 11 to 2.09 lakh vials on April 28.

An advisory was issued by MHA to states and UTs to facilitate smooth movement of Remdesivir supplies.

Government also prohibited the export of Remdesivir to enhance its availability in India. To ensure affordability of the injection among the masses, NPPA on April 17 released the revised maximum retail price thus bringing down the cost of all the major brands to below Rs 3500 per vial.

In order to facilitate higher production and availability of Remdesivir, the Department of Revenue on April 20 exempted the customs duty on Remdesivir injection, its API and Beta cyclodextrin used in manufacture of Remdesivir, till October 31.

Srinagar:  The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday said that the COVID-19 vaccination for the age group of 18-45 will not begin from May 1 in the Union Territory.

An official said that the actual vaccination date will be announced once the vaccine supply is established. However, he said that the vaccination will not be a walk in, but only through per-registration of slots.

He said 18-45 age group persons are requested not to crowd vaccination centers without booking slots, adding the vaccination continues for the above 45 age group normally.

“While the registration for vaccination of eligibles persons in the age group 18-45 has been opened on COWIN, the actual vaccination will not begin from May 1, 2021. It will begin from a date to be announced later once the vaccine supply is established,” he said.

“Vaccination will not be a walk in but only through pre-registration of slots. No slots have been opened for booking a session. Please wait for the announcement of the vaccination start date for the 18-45 age group,” he said.

“J&K has ordered 1.24 crores vaccine to cover the entire 18-45 age group. This is among the highest in the country,” he added.

 Police registers 103 FIR, detains 118 persons for violating SoPs, slaps fine on 730 violators

By: Mubashir Aalam Wani

Srinagar, Apr 30: Most of the roads across Srinagar and ten other districts of Jammu and Kashmir wore a deserted look on Friday in wake of the 84-hour-long lockdown imposed by the government in an order to prevent the virus from spreading.

On the first day of the lockdown, 118 persons were detained for violating SoPs while as 103 FIRs were lodged in various police stations the past 24 hours.

The lockdown or Corona Curfew was imposed on Thursday evening and will remain in place till Monday morning in 11 districts including the summer capital of the Union Territory. The remaining nine districts also remained under strict restrictions from this evening to Monday morning.

The police and paramilitary troopers were deployed on roads since the wee hours of this morning to enforce the lockdown strictly.

The barricades and concertina wires were erected at many places and bridges to thwart the public movement. The officers from different departments were also seen on roads to ensure that the lockdown is implemented in letter and spirit.

However, the emergency services, standalone shops were normally functioning throughout the restriction bound districts as the government had exempted them from the restrictions.

Besides, public transport with 50 per cent seating capacity was also allowed to ply today by the authorities.

Meanwhile, police acted tough against those violating the lockdown restrictions.

“During the last 24 hours, police detained 118 persons, lodged 103 FIRs and also realized fine to the tune of Rs 90,610 from 730 people for violating the guidelines, rules throughout Kashmir valley,” a police spokesman said.

He said four vehicles were also seized for violating guidelines and restrictions.

Police urged people to cooperate in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs, guidelines, protocols for the safety of the people.

“The special drive shall remain continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures,” the spokesman said.(KNO)

Srinagar: No congregational Friday prayers were held in most shrines and mosques in the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, in view of the 84-hour-long COVID-19 lock down which commenced from Thursday evening following surge in the corona virus positive cases.

The historic Jamia masjid in the down town Srinagar remained closed. All the gates of the Masjid were closed.

Though the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf board has announced that 133 shrine and other mosques under its management will not be closed, no Friday prayers were offered in large number of shrines and mosques.

The Auqaf Board had appealed to people to offer prayers in their homes to avoid further spread of virus. However, the board further appealed that less number of people should offer prayers in shrine and mosques after keeping social distance and wearing masks properly.

The main gates of dozens of shrine, including Hazrat Naqashband Sahib, Khankahi Moula shrine of  Hazrat Mir Sayyed Ali Hamdani and Gous-e-Azam Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani at Khanyar were closed.

No Friday prayers could be offered in majority mosques on main roads in the down town and civil lines and other areas of Srinagar. However, prayers were offered in mosques in the interior areas and devotees could be seen wearing masks and keeping social distance.

Friday Prayers also could not be offered at the shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Nooruddin Wali Charar-e-Sharief in the central Kashmir district of Badgam

All religious leaders have also said that people can offer prayers in their homes to avoid further spread of deadly virus.

The Anujman Auqaf Jamia Masjid (AAJM) had already announced that the historic worship place will remain closed for all congregational prayers till further orders.

The Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association (JKSA) headed by Imran Raza Ansari has also announced that due to present pandemic situation and spike in COVID-19 positive cases all Friday congregations prayers and other majlis have been cancelled.

The administration had imposed corona lockdown from 1900 hrs from Thursday and till 0700 hrs on Monday in Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Badgam, Kulgam, Pulwama and Ganderbal in the Kashmir valley.

Srinagar: As the Valley received light rains on Friday afternoon, the weatherman here has predicted intermittent light rains till next Friday.

Deputy Director of Meteorological department (MeT), Mukhtar Ahmad said the erratic weather conditions would continue till next Friday.

“The intermittent light rainfall as per the forecast would occur in the afternoon like today,” he said.

However, he said that the light rainfall would occur on May 05 and 06 as well.

Pertinently, Kashmir parts received fresh rainfall on Friday afternoon while some of the areas also received hailstorm as well, causing damage to the crops—(KNO)

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led administration has on Friday amended to exclude Health and Medical Education Department identified Gazzetted level teaching and faculty posts on academic arrangement basis, from the operation of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment Act 2010.

A notification in this regard states that “In exercise of the powers conferred under clause (ii) of proviso to section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment Act. 2010 (Act No. XVI of 2010), the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir hereby excludes from the operation of the Act such categories of Gazzetted Level teaching/faculty posts as may be identified by the Health and Medical Education Department from time to time for the purpose of appointment on academic arrangement basis under the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Medical and Dental Education (Appointment on Academic Arrangement Basis) Rules 2020 in all the Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir subject to the condition that such posts have been advertised at least once and remained unfilled.

The order states that such exemption shall be valid till 31.03.2022.

Jammu:  The government sanctioned experience/loyalty bonus in favour of contractual staff hired under National Health Mission (NHM) for the financial year 2020-21.

As per an order issued in this regard, sanction has been accorded for 10 per cent experience/loyalty bonus to those employees who have completed minimum three years of service under NHM. Moreover, employees who have already drawn the experience/loyalty bonus for the period of three years and completing five years of service during the financial year (2020-21), will be entitled to the deferential percentage (i.e 15-10) of 5 per cent of experience/ loyalty bonus.

Choudhary Mohammed Yasin, Mission Director NHM, J&K while thanking Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education Department, for according formal approval for releasing the experience/ loyalty bonus in favour of NHM employees for recognition of their services said that the bonus will be drawn as arrears by all the DDOs which will be the part of monthly remuneration of NHM employees, which means that the base remuneration for the financial year 2020-21, would include the base salary as on March 31, 2020 plus annual increment and experience/ loyalty bonus based on the services of the employee.

He further added that in these unprecedented and challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, “Covid Warriors” of Health and Medical Education Department including NHM employees have risen to the challenge and are effectively and selflessly providing holistic health care services to counter the spread of the Corona virus and treat the infected.