New Delhi: Stressing on the need to maintain good coordination between the government and the oxygen producers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said it is time to not only deal with the challenges, but also to provide solutions in a very short time. The Prime Minister was holding a meeting with leading oxygen manufacturers across the country via video conferencing.

Modi appreciated the oxygen producers for increasing their production in the last few weeks. He acknowledged the several steps taken to increase the production of liquid oxygen and thanked the industry for diverting industrial oxygen to meet medical requirements.

To further improve the situation, he spoke about utilising the full potential of the industry to meet the demand for oxygen in the coming days. He noted that there is a need to increase the availability of oxygen cylinders as well as upgrade the logistics facilities for transportation of oxygen. He urged the industry to utilize tankers meant to transport other gases for oxygen supply. “Keeping in mind the requirements of states pertaining to oxygen, the government is working on effective use of Railways and Air Force so that the tankers reach the production centre as soon as possible,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister remarked that the government, the states, the industry and the transporters, and all the hospitals need to come together and work in unison, the better the synergy and coordination the easier it will be able to deal with this challenge.

Appreciating the oxygen producers, he extended the government’s full support to them and hoped the country would be successful in ending the crisis soon.

36 oxygen generation plants to come up in UT

Jammu: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam while chairing a high-level meeting to review the public health response to COVID-19 asked the administration to remain alert and tighten the implementation of existing control measures and SOPs to reverse the upward trend.

Considering the recent surge in the COVID infections, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the officers to strictly implement the strategy of testing, vaccination, strict control in containment zones and promotion of COVID appropriate behaviour among masses to prevent a further surge in the cases.

Informing that certain districts are showing very high positivity rate, the Chief Secretary asked the respective district administrations to ramp up testing in the identified target clusters and prioritize vaccination in the eligible population groups to address the worsening scenario. It was given out that 20-30% of the positive cases being reported are travellers who are being tested at the entry point itself and prevented from mingling with the general population.

It was informed that in the initial phases of COVID-19 vaccination, 75% of health workers, 78% of front line workers, and 38% of citizens above 45 years of age totalling 15,25,604 people have been vaccinated in Jammu and Kashmir with no reported case of any adversity. Districts Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Shopian, in Kashmir Division and Jammu, Kathua, Ramban, Samba, Udhampur in Jammu Division are the districts having over 40% of vaccination coverage amongst citizens above 45 years of age.  The next phase of the vaccination for the 18-45 age group will cover approximately 65 lakh people.

To effectively deliver the vaccines at the grass-root level, Chief Secretary impressed upon greater coordination between the frontline workers of various departments including health, social welfare, school education, rural development, and housing and urban development.

He also urged people to participate in the vaccination drives and get vaccinated on priority to keep themselves and their families safe from the infection. DCs were asked to mobilize the targeted beneficiaries towards the vaccination process through the frontline workers- ASHAs, AWWs, ANMs, etc.

Further, it was informed that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has approved the establishment of 36 oxygen generation plants across the UT to make J&K self-sufficient in catering to the rising demand of oxygen. DCs were asked to ensure the early establishment and functioning of these plants under their respective jurisdictions.

Administrative Secretaries of the departments of Health & Medical Education, Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, besides Divisional Commissioners, Kashmir and Jammu, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), and Deputy Commissioners of all districts participated in the meeting.

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 1937 fresh covid-19 cases while 19 people succumbed to the virus, the highest so far this year, officials said on Friday.

They said 846 of the cases were confirmed from Jammu Division and 1091 from Kashmir in the last 24 hours, taking the total case tally to 156344.

Regarding the fresh fatalities, the officials told GNS that 13 victims belonged to Jammu Division and six were from Kashmir valley. With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 2111—796 in Jammu and 1315 in Kashmir.

Providing district-wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 501 cases, Baramulla 118, Budgam 156,

Pulwama 55, Kupwara 59, Anantnag 75, Bandipora 14, Ganderbal 40, Kulgam 61, Shopian 12, Jammu 525, Udhampur 72, Rajouri 45, Doda 13, Kathua 33, Samba 25, Kishtwar 3, Poonch 30, Ramban 22 and  Reasi  78.

Moreover, they said, 1019 more COVID-19 patients have recovered—482 from Jammu Division and 537 from Kashmir. There are 16993 active cases—7112 in Jammu division and 9881in the Valley, they said.

A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of CD hospital and GMC Anantnag.

The CD cases include male (20) from Arin, four males (30, 43, 31, 29) from NHPC, female (02) from Gojwara, female (22) from Buchpora, male (45) and female (43) from Nowshera, male (30) from Botakadal, female (36) from Zoonimar, female (50) from Eidgah, female (40) from Habba Kadal, male (38) from Rainawari, female (02) from Narwara, female (48) from Rambagh, female (35) from Hawal, male (50) from Nigeen, female (40) from Amdakadal, female (25) from Zadibal, female (65) from Nalabal, male (35) from Zoonimar, female (18) from Noorbagh, male (58) from Lal Bazar, female (11) from Chittibanday, female (40) from Amdakadal, female (14) from 90 Feet Soura, female (35) and two males (02, 04) from Garoora, male (43) from 263 Sonerwani, female (NA) from Buchpora, male (NA) from Fatehkadal, five females (NA, NA, NA, NA, NA) and seven males (NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA) from Khanyar, female (NA) from Rainawari, male (NA) from Kalashpora, female (NA) from Khwaja Bazar, male (NA) from Eidgah, female (NA) from Dalgate, female (NA) from Khanyar, two males (23, 22) from NIFT, male (37) from Khanyar, male (08) and female (13) from Bulbul Bagh, male (67) and five females (90, 60, 60, 44, 60) from NA, male (30) from Nehru Park, female (21) from Batwara, male (65) from Anantnag, NA (NA) and male (57) from Sonwar, NA (NA) from Shivpora, NA (NA) from Srinagar, NA (NA) and male (14) from Barzulla, male (40) from Srinagar, male (60) from Hyderpora, NA (NA) from Khanyar, female (52) and NA (NA) from Nawakadal, female (40) from Magarmal Bagh, two males (36, 38) from Karan Nagar, female (34) from Gulab Bagh, male (16) from Rajbagh, three females (19, 34, 24) and male (30) from Srinagar, female (40) and male (15) from Bemina, male (50) from K P Baghi, male (39) from Mehjoor Nagar, female (48) and male (19) from Bemina, male (62) from Budshah Nagar, male (35) from Quil Bandipora, male (61) from Mangnipora, male (46) from Shalimar, female (23) from Lal Bazar, female (31) from Soura, male (32) from Nishat, female (41) from Buchpora, female (30) from Mallabagh, male (60) from Srinagar, male (35) and female (30) from Habba Kadal, male (63) from Nishat, male (72) from Tangmarg, female (54) from Eidgah, male (05) from Ganderbal, male (34) from Mallabagh, male (31) from Harwan, male (31) from Natipora, male (55) from Ishber, male (32) from Khimber, male (17) from Shalimar, male (33) from Nigeen, male (45) from Bakura, female (23) from Tailbal, female (40) and male (45) from Dalgate, female (72) from Singpora, female (65) from Rainawari, male (34) from Nowshera, female (19) from Rawalpora, male (23) from Bemina, male (32) from Illahibagh, male (40) from Mandibal, male (NA) from Botshah Mohalla, female (50) and two males (51, 17) from Lal Bazar, male (54) from Mandibal, female (22) from Alamdar Colony Lal Bazar, two males (51, 63) from Lal Bazar, female (50) from Baghwanpora, two males (27, 60) from Nowshera, two females (39, 14) and two males (08, 49) from Lal Bazar, female (48) from Buchpora, male (16) from Lal Bazar, male (18) from Srinagar, NA (45) from Mehjoor Nagar, two males (18, 22) from Bemina, female (35) and three males (19, 40, 70) from Budgam, male (29) from Parraypora, male (50) from Rangreth, male (55) from Noorbagh, two males (30, 30) from Buchpora, female (15) from Soura, male (46) from Brain, male (45) from Lal Bazar, male (40) from Nowshera, male (70) from Umer Colony, two females (36, 28) and male (34) from Lal Bazar, female (35) from Qamarwari, male (NA) from Srinagar, female (NA) from Sanatnagar, male (30) from Alochibagh, male (30) from Srinagar, female (55) from NA, female (26) from Kulgam, female (17) from Rajbagh, female (18) from Panthachowk, female (57) from Shivpora, male (40) from NA, male (35) from Dalgate, female (29) from Bemina, male (38) from Dalgate, male (34) from Kathidarwaza, male (29) from Lolab, female (75) and male (80) from Chadoora, female (72) from Nowshera, female (65) from HMT, male (31) from Budshah Nagar, female (50) and male (56) from Alochibagh, female (22) from Kanipora, two females (26, 15) from Alochibagh, male (39) from Mumbai.

The GMC Anantnag cases include four males (45, 20, 24, 19) from Pingwan Trahpoo, female (40) from Kachwan, male (48) from Khundroo, male (24) from Kothair, two males (38, 18) from Khull, female (NA) from Mantipora, male (21) from Brariangan, male (32) from Odura Kulgam, male (33) from Nowpora Kulgam, male (62) from Bakshiabad, male (35) from Moominabad, male (26) from Iqbalabad, male (65) from Dabrun, female (16) from Reshipora Kapran, female (28) from Dodhwagan, female (35) from Khahdar, female (44) from Verinag, male (35) from Omoh, female (35) from Khagund, male (29) from Chowgund, male (36) from Bdc Pul, male (40) from GDC Pul, female (36) from Gdcb Pul, female (40) from Nazneenpora Shopian, female (27) from Rajpora Pul, male (30) from Murran Pul, female (29) from Daramdora Pul, three females (40, 22, 14) from Mitrigam Pul, female (36) from Lelhar, two females (31, 03) from Awantipora, two females (62, 40) from Tral, four females (60, 22, 10, 18) and male (45) from Telengam, female (20) from Kadlabal Pampore, male (30) from Galendar, female (30) from Awantipora, female (40) from Frestbal Pampore, two males (31, 20) from Cemtac Cements, male (56) from Namlabal Pampore, male (45) from Rajpora, male (70) and two females (55, 09) from Dharmgund, male (28) and female (28) from Pinglish, male (42) from Lurgam, male (35) from Hangalbush, male (60) from K Pora, three males (60, 30, 46) from Katapora, male (30) from Noonmai, female (29) from Pulwama, female (50) from Turigam, female (25) from Bugam, female (40) from Harnag, female (70) from Frisal, male (50) from Yaripora, male (46) from Katapora, female (35) from Kokergund, male (70) from Yaripora, female (26) from Bugam, female (40) from Yaripora, male (58) from Hassanpora, female (50) from Yaripora, male (24) from Sempora, male (65) from Chinigam, male (45) from Matibugh, male (34) and female (32) from Zabban, male (27) from Kokergund, female (60) from Katapora, female (60) from Reshipora, male (40) from Hangalbush, male (50) from Kanjikulla, male (67) from Zakura, male (48) from Mattan, male (75) from Yaripora, male (75) and female (13) from K P Road, male (66) from Mattan Chowk, female (45) and male (52) from Ashajipora,  male (24) from Kulgam, male (27) from Chanapora, male (21) from K P Road, female (30) from Anantnag, male (35) from Sirhama, female (30) and male (30) from Kadipora, male (45) from Bijbehara, female (18) from K P Road, female (49) and male (51) from Bijbehara, two females (25, 23) from Sallar, female (32) from S K Colony, female (57) from Ashajipora, female (31) from Bijbhera, male (55) from Dialgam, male (46) from Toru, male (21) from Moominabad, male (40) from Larnoo, female (18) and male (27) from Hanji Danter, male (25) from Anchidora, male (35) from Nai Basti, two males (35, 24) from Khanabal, male (24) from Danter, male (46) from Bijbehara. (GNS)

New Delhi: With the raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc in India, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Friday that he is very concerned about the fast-growing caseloads in the country.
“The situation in India is a devastating reminder of what the virus can do,” Ghebreyesus said during a virtual briefing in Geneva.

The situation in the country seems to be slipping out of hands with each passing day, amid acute shortage of oxygen beds and key emergency drugs like Remdesivir.

India reported yet another grim milestone of highest number of daily new Covid-19 cases on Friday. A total of 3,32,730 Covid cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The country also registered over 2,000 daily deaths for the third consecutive day with the highest spike in single-day deaths at 2,263 on Friday, taking the cumulative death toll in India to 1,86,920 so far.

On Thursday, India had reported 3,14,835 Covid-19 new cases and 2,104 deaths.

Delhi recorded its highest ever fatalities at 306 on Thursday, besides logging more than 26,000 new cases.

Since April 15, India has continued to report over 2 lakh new Covid cases on a daily basis.

New Delhi: China on Friday said it is in communication with India and is ready to provide help to the country to combat the surge in Coronavirus infection.

“The Chinese government and people firmly support the Indian government and people in fighting the coronavirus. China is ready to provide support and help according to India’s need, and is in communication with the Indian side on this,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

She was replying to a question from Shenzhen TV whether China is having communications with India on providing help And what kind of help on offer.

Without giving any details, Zhao said, “China expresses sincere sympathies to India over the deteriorating situation in the country recently,” according to the transcript of the presser accessed here.

“We believe that the Indian people will defeat the virus at an early date,” she said.

On Thursday, China said it has taken note of the shortage of medical supplies.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is a common enemy of all mankind that necessitates international solidarity and mutual assistance. China takes note of the recent grave situation in India with a temporary shortage of anti-epidemic medical supplies.

We stand ready to provide India with necessary support and assistance to get the epidemic under control.”

New Delhi: India has registered 332,730 new COVID-19 cases within the past 24 hours, marking the largest daily increase since the start of the outbreak, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

The total number of infections in the country has reached 16,263,695, according to the ministry.

Within the same period of time, the death toll has risen by 2,263 to 186,920 people.

With 1,93,279 patients having treated since Thursday, the total number of recoveries now stands at 1,36,48,159. The country currently has 24,28,616 active cases.

Some of the worst hit states/UTs that have displayed an upward trend in the daily new COVID-19 cases include Maharashtra that recorded 67,013 cases, Delhi 26,169 cases, Karnataka 25,795 cases, Kerala 26,995, Chhattisgarh 14,519, Gujarat 13,105, Bihar 11,489 and West Bengal 11,948 cases in the past day.

India comes second in terms of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, following the United States with more than 31.92 million patients.

Meanwhile, 13 COVID-19 patients have lost their lives in a fire that broke at Vijay Vallabh hospital in the Intensive Care Unit of Virar in Palghar district of Maharashtra, in the wee hours of Friday.

The incident occurred at around 0315 hrs, as the blaze started due to a short-circuit in the air conditioner in the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital sources said.

On the vaccination front, total 13,54,78,420 people have been administered COVID-19 jabs since January 16, with 22,11,334 people being inoculated since yesterday.

By: Faizan Wani

Srinagar: Kashmir’s renowned influenza expert and HoD Chest Diseases Hospital, Srinagar, Dr Naveed Nazir Shah on Friday claimed that there is no ‘definitive’ treatment available for the deadly COVID-19.

Dr Naveed said that no one knows whether the antiviral drugs are advantageous as same are being administered to the people on an experimental and compassionate basis.

He said the only treatment available at the moment is oxygen which helps the patents as antiviral drugs used in severe to moderate cases have shown that they cannot prevent death but could reduce the virus.

“There is no definitive cure for COVID-19; we are either not sure that any medicine could be its definitive treatment in future as well. All antiviral drugs are being administered to the people on an experimental and compassionate basis,” Dr Naveed told the media here.

He said antiviral could help COVID-19 positive patients to recover quickly and go back to home, but there is no definitive remedy available at the moment for treating the deadly virus.

“Antiviral drugs could reduce the virus but could not prevent mortality; one can be quickly discharged from the hospital with the help of antiviral as the same helps COVID-19 positive patients to recover quickly,” he added.

Dr Naveed who had also tested positive for Corona-Virus last year said there is a war like situation in the world where nobody knows as t what could be the definitive treatment for COVID-19.

New Delhi: Even as India records the highest ever surge in Covid cases, the country’s top virologists and medical experts say that new strains of coronavirus are not so dangerous as perceived by many.

“Though new strains of virus are spreading faster, causing breathlessness in more numbers, but its fatality rate is not so dangerous if compared to the previous ones,” Amulya Panda, Director of National Institute of Immunology (NII), India’s premier institute for developing vaccines, told IANS.

The NII Chief, who led a team of top scientists in developing a new protein based vaccine for Covid-19, said that as of now, the initial findings suggests that various new strains of virus could be dangerous but not more dangerous than the earlier ones.

“We cannot predict that how lethal they (Covid’s new strains) would be in near future for us…but as of now they are not so dangerous,” reiterated Panda, who is also the visiting scientist of University of California at Berkeley.

Explaining the behaviour pattern of the new coronavirus strains, Panda said, “The fundamental quality of this virus is that it keeps on mutating. For instance, just see the HIV virus. It’s been decades now but we have not been able to develop a vaccine against HIV…the reason is that HIV virus mutates on a daily basis.

Similarly the flu virus also mutates, but on a yearly basis…a reason why we have a new flu vaccine every year.”

On the efficacy of vaccines used against Covid-19, the NII Director opined, “All vaccines will be effective to much extent, even if we see new strains. Let me assure you, the vaccine is working….and it will continue to work. I feel that due to mass vaccination of people in the country, the number of critical cases is much less, if one considers the present spread of the virus.”

On triple mutants of Covid-19 traced in different states of the country, prominent radiologist Sandeep Sharma said that we need more data to find out how potent this new variant is.

“There are reports that this variant is more infectious than other variants detected as of now. But there has to be solid data to establish this fact. I can only say that as per CT scans of chest of over hundred covid positive patients seen by me in Delhi recently, condition of several of them looked serious, but not untreatable,” said Sharma, while adding,”I believe that presently the chaos is more because of initial mismanagement in containing the second wave. The numbers swelled because most of us became complacent.”

On the impact and spread of the new mutant of Covid-19 virus in India, leading microbiologist Professor Pratyush Shukla said that though it’s too early to assess but the new strain is different and a bit difficult to deal with.

“What gives hope is that vaccination(of senior citizens) has managed the situation to some extent …it’s(vaccination) definitely a successful endeavour. I feel that second wave could have been handled in a much better way,” Shukla, former General Secretary of Association of Microbiologist in India(AMI) said adding: “The bottomline is that all out efforts for prevention have to be made, meaning strict compliance of Covid protocols, primarily wearing masks.”