More curbs, Himachal Pradesh limits wedding guests to 20

Shimla, April 29

The Himachal Government has restricted to 20 the number of persons at weddings and banned community feasts as a precautionary move.

O2 hoarders warned

The Kangra administration is taking steps to check hoarding of oxygen cylinders. Warning hoarders of action, it has told traders, units and hospitals to declare stocks, and be ready for inspection.

All earlier restrictions, including closure of educational institutions and five-day week in government offices, have been extended till May 10. Temples would also remain closed till May 10.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said: "Sharp increase in cases is a matter of concern. The government is making efforts to curb the pandemic by taking some stringent steps." He said if situation remained grim, complete lockdown could be considered by the Cabinet. inside

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3aQzsfO

No ‘Fateh kits’, patients approach dispensaries

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 29

Not getting 'Fateh kits' on their doorstep, Covid positive patients in Ludhiana have been visiting dispensaries and healthcare centres for the same after desperate calls to the Civil Surgeon's office. Not only family members, but patients too have been visiting nearby dispensaries.

Violators booked

• Newly elected Ropar MC chief challaned by the district police for not wearing mask during installation
• Day after gathering at Badal village, SAD chief Sukhbir booked for violating protocol

Amid the surge in Covid cases, the district health officials have clearly failed to ensure 'Fateh kits,' consisting of 18 items — including a pulse oximeter, thermometer, steamer, face mask, sanitiser, gargle solution, cough syrup and multi-vitamins — to those infected.

A 22-year-old patient from Dugri said he repeatedly called on 104, but to no avail. "Left with no other option, I myself went to the nearby health centre to collect the kit," he said. The staff at various dispensaries and healthcare centres admitted to people coming to them for the kits.

Civil Surgeon Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar said rapid response teams had been constituted in every block, cities and villages to aid those in home isolation. He said the district had received 16,230 'Fateh kits' of which 4,784 had been distributed during this month.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2PyGHl8

India may need 5 lakh ICU beds in few weeks

Pune, April 29

Forecasting that the Covid-19 pandemic was only going to get worse, noted surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty has said India would need an extra 5 lakh ICU beds, 2 lakh nurses and 1.5 lakh doctors in the next few weeks, and also suggested radical solutions to meet the mountainous challenge.

At present, India had only 75,000 to 90,000 ICU beds and almost all were already occupied even as the second wave of the pandemic hadn't even reached its peak yet, he said. Experts say daily Covid count could go up to 5 lakh cases at its peak.

"While most of the newspaper headlines and prime time television coverage have been over the lack of oxygen for the patients in ICUs, I am having sleepless nights for the next headline, which is going to be that patients are dying in ICUs because there are no nurses and doctors to take care of the patients," said Dr Shetty, the chairman and founder of Narayana Health, a chain of 21 medical centres in India, in his online address at the Symbiosis Golden Jubilee Lecture Series in Pune recently.

He pointed out that for every patient who was tested positive, there were five to 10 persons who were positive but not tested. "That means more than 15 to 20 lakh people are getting infected daily. Statistically, 5 per cent of the positive patients need an ICU bed, irrespective of their age. On an average, a patient in ICU spends at least 10 days there," he said. — PTI

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/332iPJO

Packed, Rohtak crematoriums face wood crunch

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, April 29

Amid a spike in Covid deaths, crematoriums in the city are facing an acute shortage of wood, following which prices have risen by up to 25 per cent.

Suppliers selling it at higher rate in NCR

Instead of local sale, contractors are selling wood at much higher rates in Delhi and Gurugram. — Surendra Batra, Ram bagh cremation ground

Surendra Batra, vice president, Ram Bagh Cremation Ground, said: "More than 15 bodies are being cremated here daily. The demand for wood has gone up three-fold. The contractors are preferring to sell wood at much higher rates in Delhi and Gurugram. We are struggling to arrange supplies here."

He said while they had been paying Rs 500 per quintal for wood, the contractors were now demanding Rs 625-650 per quintal. "Even at this price the supply is limited. The families will have to arrange wood on their own if the issue is not resolved soon," he said.

The district administration has directed the forest officer to halt the auction of wood and create buffer stock so as to avoid inconvenience to people at crematoriums.

Manoj Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, said: "The second Covid wave is more intense. The number of deaths is high. It is the duty of the DFOs to provide wood in sufficient quantity to the corporation authorities." He directed the MC Commissioner to earmark more cremation grounds in addition to two at present for Covid victims.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2RfUkq8

Centre tells states to implement advisory on curbing virus

New Delhi, April 29

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a fresh order to the states and the UTs, asking them to implement the containment measures given in the April 25 advisory. It had advised containment measures in districts where either the Covid positivity rate was over 10 per cent or bed occupancy was over 60 per cent. — TNS

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3vunpg7

JK High Court quashes government circular on re-registration of vehicles

Srinagar, April 29

The Jamp;K High Court on Thursday quashed a government circular on re-registration of vehicles purchased outside the Union Territory and said the life-time road tax paid at the time of purchase cannot be levied again.

In its 28-page order, a Division Bench comprising Justices Vinod Chatterji Koul and Ali Mohammad Magrey asked the transport department to work out a mechanism for re-registering vehicles that have been in the jurisdiction of the Union Territory for more than 12 months.

The circular was issued by the department in the first week of this month.

Road tax can't be levied again, rules court

The Jamp;K High Court says the life-time road tax paid at the time of purchase cannot be levied again.

Transport officials have been asked to work out a mechanism for re-registering vehicles that have been in the UT jurisdiction for over 12 months.

The court, while quashing the circular issued, said it does not take away the powers of the Central or the Jammu and Kashmir governments to deal with the eventuality of screening, scrutinising and verifying validity of documents of a vehicle having an outside registration. The court was hearing petitions filed with regard to the circular by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Irshad Hussain Munshi through their counsels.

The court also said it was not interfering with the powers of the transport authority to deal with cases, which fall under Section 50 of the Motor Vehicles Act (transferring of ownership). This matter, which falls under the application of Section 50, is not the subject in these writ petitions, it said.

The court said it has already noticed "the scheme of law, which provides for assignment of new registration mark but deem it proper to reiterate that if the vehicle once registered in any state in India, it shall not be required to be registered elsewhere in India".

"But when the motor vehicle registered in one state has been kept in another state for a period exceeding 12 months, the owner shall apply to the registering authority within whose jurisdiction the vehicle is for the assignment of new registration mark," it said.

A lifetime tax that is levied at the point of registration of a vehicle in terms of Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Act and it cannot be levied on a vehicle registered, merely on a presumption that a vehicle registered outside Jammu and Kashmir, has remained in the UT for a period exceeding 12 months, the court said. — PTI

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2VVTRJj & k/jk-high-court-quashes-government-circular-on-re-registration-of-vehicles-246063

TMC in Bengal, BJP in Assam: Exit polls

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, April 29

Two major survey agencies projected Trinamool Congress' victory in West Bengal as the exit poll results started streaming in following the conclusion of the final phase of voting in West Bengal on Thursday.

While the exit poll predicted retention of power by the LDF in Kerala, lady luck seem to be shining on MK Stalin with the DMK set to bag majority in Tamil Nadu.

Times Now-CVoter predicted 158 seats for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, 115 for the BJP and 19 seats for the Sanjukta Morcha.

The Republic-CNX gave 138-148 seats to the BJP, 128-138 to

TMC and 11-21 seats to Sanjukta Morcha. ABP-CVoter gave 152-164 seats to the TMC, 109-121 to BJP and 14-25 to Sanjukta Morcha.

In the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, 148 seats are required to attain simple majority. While predicting victory to the TMC, all three exit poll predicted over 100 seats for the BJP that had secured only three seats in the last Assembly elections in 2016.

In the event of TMC having only a slender majority over the BJP, the latter might persuade some newly elected TMC legislators to switch sides and join the BJP, thus enabling the saffron party to form its maiden government in the state.

In Tamil Nadu, Republic-CNX predicted 160-170 seats for the DMK and 58-68 for the AIADMK. ABP-CVoter gave 160-172 seats to the DMK and 58-60 to the AIADMK.

According to ABP-CVoter, the LDF will retain power in Kerala by wining 71-77 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The UDF will secure 62-68 seats, while the BJP could get up to two seats.

While AajTak-Axis and Chanakya predicted comfortable victory for the incumbent BJP-led NDA in Assam, ABP-CVoter foresaw neck-and-neck fight between the NDA and Congress-led Grand Alliance for the 126-member Assembly.

If Republic-CNX is to be believed, the NDA might get 16-19 seats and Congress-led SDA 11-13 in the 30-member Puducherry Assembly. ABP-CVoter gave NDA 19-23 seats.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3aP4KUz

Why MP, Maha O2 quota exceeded demand, Delhi plea ignored: HC

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 29

As the oxygen crisis persists in the Capital, the Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Centre to explain why Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra were given more oxygen than they asked for while Delhi's allocation was not increased as per request of the NCT Government.

At 395, delhi records Highest-ever deaths

Delhi on Thursday recorded 395 deaths, the highest since the pandemic began, and 24,235 cases with a positivity rate of 32.82 per cent, according to a bulletin issued by the city health department. PTI

"We've already had loss of lives in Delhi due to oxygenhellip;. You have to meet oxygen demand head-on and you can't duck it," a Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rekha Palli told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Noting that the projected demand of Delhi was 700 MT a day while its allocation was only 480-490 MT a day, the Bench refused to accept Mehta's submission that the incoming quantity of 340-370 MT to Delhi was sufficient.

It wondered how Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra got 543 MT and 1661 MT against the demand of 445 MT and 1500 MT, respectively.

The Centre had to either show some justification for this or make amends now that the situation had been brought to its attention, it said, posting the matter for further hearing on Friday.

Mehta said the Centre would give the reasons for giving more oxygen to MP and Maharashtra. Noting that it's a "dynamic situation", Mehta said the court should trust the system.

Producing a chart of oxygen demand by several states and the allocations made to them, senior advocate Rahul Mehra ndash; representing Delhi Government ndash; pointed out that only Delhi was not being given what it was asking for. Others were getting more than or close to what they were asking for, he added.

Mehra urged the court to direct the Centre to provide 1K MT oxygen, saying beds alone can't save Covid-19 patients.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Government told the HC that it had withdrawn the order to create Covid-19 facilities for judges, staff and their families in a five-star hotel here.

(With PTI inputs)

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3t6h6O8

Biotech too slashes Covaxin rate, will cost states Rs400/dose

New Delhi, April 29

After the Serum Institute of India cut the cost of Covid vaccine for state governments from Rs 400 to Rs 300, Bharat Biotech has slashed the price for states from Rs 600 a dose to Rs 400 a dose.

The indigenous Covaxin maker did not announce any concessions for private hospitals. The SII too had not reduced costs for private hospitals, which will have to procure their own vaccine doses from the manufacturers from May 1 when the adult inoculation drive begins. The SII is providing vaccines at Rs 600 a dose to private players and Bharat Biotech at Rs 1200 a dose. — TNS

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3u5BtN1

Release seized Remdesivir for hospitals, HC tells Delhi

New Delhi, April 29

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Deputy Commissioner of AAP government's revenue department to issue orders for the release of Remdesivir, used in the treatment of Covid-19, as soon as the medicine is seized by the police from hoarders and black-marketeers.

A Bench issued the direction to ensure that the seized medicine does not remain as case property, does not lose its effectiveness and can be administered to the patients in need. The court said once a seizure was made, the investigating officer (IO) shall immediately inform the DC of the same.

The IO will also ascertain that the seized medicine is genuine and ensure that it is kept in a refrigerated environment. — PTI

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3aNANUU

No ‘Fateh kits’, patients approach dispensaries

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 29

Not getting 'Fateh kits' on their doorstep, Covid positive patients in Ludhiana have been visiting dispensaries and healthcare centres for the same after desperate calls to the Civil Surgeon's office. Not only family members, but patients too have been visiting nearby dispensaries.

Violators booked

• Newly elected Ropar MC chief challaned by the district police for not wearing mask during installation
• Day after gathering at Badal village, SAD chief Sukhbir booked for violating protocol

Amid the surge in Covid cases, the district health officials have clearly failed to ensure 'Fateh kits,' consisting of 18 items — including a pulse oximeter, thermometer, steamer, face mask, sanitiser, gargle solution, cough syrup and multi-vitamins — to those infected.

A 22-year-old patient from Dugri said he repeatedly called on 104, but to no avail. "Left with no other option, I myself went to the nearby health centre to collect the kit," he said. The staff at various dispensaries and healthcare centres admitted to people coming to them for the kits.

Civil Surgeon Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar said rapid response teams had been constituted in every block, cities and villages to aid those in home isolation. He said the district had received 16,230 'Fateh kits' of which 4,784 had been distributed during this month.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2QGRSJb

Packed, Rohtak crematoriums face wood crunch

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, April 29

Amid a spike in Covid deaths, crematoriums in the city are facing an acute shortage of wood, following which prices have risen by up to 25 per cent.

Suppliers selling it at higher rate in NCR

Instead of local sale, contractors are selling wood at much higher rates in Delhi and Gurugram. — Surendra Batra, Ram bagh cremation ground

Surendra Batra, vice president, Ram Bagh Cremation Ground, said: "More than 15 bodies are being cremated here daily. The demand for wood has gone up three-fold. The contractors are preferring to sell wood at much higher rates in Delhi and Gurugram. We are struggling to arrange supplies here."

He said while they had been paying Rs 500 per quintal for wood, the contractors were now demanding Rs 625-650 per quintal. "Even at this price the supply is limited. The families will have to arrange wood on their own if the issue is not resolved soon," he said.

The district administration has directed the forest officer to halt the auction of wood and create buffer stock so as to avoid inconvenience to people at crematoriums.

Manoj Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, said: "The second Covid wave is more intense. The number of deaths is high. It is the duty of the DFOs to provide wood in sufficient quantity to the corporation authorities." He directed the MC Commissioner to earmark more cremation grounds in addition to two at present for Covid victims.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/330v21B

States await supply, private clinics flag crunch for second dose

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 29

With the Covid-19 situation spiralling out of control and many states struggling for vaccine supplies ahead of the May 1 expansion of the inoculation drive, PM Narendra Modi will on Friday chair a meeting of the Council of Ministers, the first amid the second Covid wave.

Edit: Make or Break

Sources indicated that the meeting might deliberate on the need for restrictions and potential lockdowns in districts reporting high infection positivity rate.

The PM is expected to enlist ministerial support to expand the adult Covid vaccine plan starting May 1 with Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Rajasthan, Delhi, West Bengal and Assam already saying today that the May 1 target for rollout cannot be met as vaccine orders with manufacturers have been pre-booked by the Centre.

Delhi today joined the list of states unable to manage vaccines for 18 to 44-year-olds starting May 1, with state Health Minister Satyendra Jain, saying: "We do not have vaccines. We have placed orders for 67 lakh doses."About three lakh are expected by May 3.

Several private hospitals also said they would have to delay vaccinations for people whose second doses were due as stocks were running thin.

In reply to a procurement request from Dr Aqsa Sheikh, in-charge of private vaccination centre at Hamdard University, the SII wrote back, "Due to our current obligations to meet the government's existing requirement and meet additional demand emanating from state governments under the liberalised and accelerated vaccine policy, it is challenging to meet independently the requirement from a large number of private hospitals. Therefore, we urge you to access the vaccines once these become available via the private marker supply channels which would take about five to six months from now."

The Centre for its part denied shortages of vaccine supplies and said 16,16,86,140 doses had been sent free to states and UTs, of which 15,10,77,933 had been consumed as of today and 1,06,08,207 doses were yet to be utilised.

---

Revised norms for home isolation

• Home isolation permissible in asymptomatic and mild cases
• They'll stand discharged after at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms and no fever for 3 days
• No need for testing after the home isolation period is over
• No Remdesivir injections to be administered at home, can be taken only in hospital on the advice of medical experts
• Those above 60 years of age and having co-morbid conditions to be allowed home isolation only after doctor's advice
• The caregiver and close contacts of such patients should take hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as prescribed by doctor
• Patients must use triple-layer medical mask, isolate in well-ventilated rooms; the mask should be discarded after eight hours of use, but only after disinfecting it with 1% sodium hypochlorite

New cases 3,79,257

Deaths in 24 hrs 3,645

Disease burden 1.83 cr

Govt recommends Ayush 64
The Ministry of Ayush has recommended it for mild to moderate symptoms

---

• Ex-PM Manmohan Singh discharged from AIIMS

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3eKe3Gb

Facebook ‘mistakenly’ blocks posts seeking PM’s resignation

New Delhi, April 29

Facebook blocked posts tagged #ResignModi amid raging criticism of the government's handling of the Covid crisis, but restored it hours later calling it a mistake.

The blocking on Wednesday, Facebook said, wasn't at the behest of the government. Facebook isn't the first social media company to censure posts critical of government handling of the Covid-19 crisis. Twitter had removed or restricted access to several critical posts on orders from the government, which called it fake news.

"We temporarily blocked this hashtag by mistake," Facebook said. — PTI

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3vvHenn

Most in India support Covid jab certificate for int’l travel: Study

New Delhi/Geneva, April 29

Amid a raging second wave of Covid-19, a large number of Indians support vaccine certificates for international travel and everyday activities, such as accessing shops, restaurants and offices, a new survey on Thursday showed. Globally too, the survey showed that the public widely supported vaccine certificates for travel and accessing large venues.

55% back it globally

• The survey got the strongest support in India at 84%
• It evinced 5% support in Chile and 70% in Peru
• Got widespread opposition in Russia (72%) and US (52%)

However, support is divided when it comes to measures around daily life, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF)/Ipsos survey conducted online across 28 countries among more than 21,000 adults between March 26 and April 9. The survey found that three in four people backed Covid-19 vaccine certificates for travellers entering their country while two in three thought these certificates would also be effective in making large events safe. "Most public opinions in high and middle-income countries are looking at vaccination certificates as indispensable tools for travel to resume and large public venues to reopen," said Arnaud Bernaert of Geneva-based WEF.

Among Indian respondents, 84 per cent agreed that all travellers entering their country should be required to have a vaccine passport. Globally, the support level dropped when it came to accessing parts of daily life only recently re-opening.— PTI

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3vyK3nt

More curbs, HP limits wedding guests to 20

Shimla, April 29

The Himachal Government has restricted to 20 the number of persons at weddings and banned community feasts as a precautionary move.

O2 hoarders warned

The Kangra administration is taking steps to check hoarding of oxygen cylinders. Warning hoarders of action, it has told traders, units and hospitals to declare stocks, and be ready for inspection.

All earlier restrictions, including closure of educational institutions and five-day week in government offices, have been extended till May 10. Temples would also remain closed till May 10.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said: "Sharp increase in cases is a matter of concern. The government is making efforts to curb the pandemic by taking some stringent steps." He said if situation remained grim, complete lockdown could be considered by the Cabinet. inside

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/331QlA0

You can see how much this good boy loves his tiny human

https://ift.tt/3e4HOTi via /r/aww https://ift.tt/3t4l8qy

Better Than Gordon Ramsay

https://ift.tt/3xzEWVY via /r/aww https://ift.tt/3gVrO81

Priority for second dose

The government has issued new guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, prioritising the vaccination of those who are due for receiving the second dose of

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/priority-for-second-dose/article34446217.ece

Impose two-week lockdown: KGMOA

Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has reiterated that the intense pace of COVID transmission in the State can be broken only if

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/impose-two-week-lockdown-kgmoa/article34446216.ece

Property tax rebate in Bengaluru extended till May 31

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has extended the property tax rebate period till the end of May. An order to this effect was issued by C

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/property-tax-rebate-in-bengaluru-extended-till-may-31/article34442655.ece

Tripura officials raise alert over mutant strains

14 persons found infected with double mutant strain

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tripura-officials-raise-alert-over-mutant-strains/article34444841.ece

😏

https://ift.tt/3vun8d1 via /r/aww https://ift.tt/3u1bjL8

142 succumb in Punjab

Chandigarh, April 28

Punjab on Wednesday recorded the biggest daily jump of 142 fatalities due to COVID-19 that pushed the death toll to 8,772 while 6,472 fresh cases took the cumulative tally to 3,58,186, according to a medical bulletin.

The number of active cases in the state increased to 53,426 from 51,936 on Tuesday, the bulletin stated.

Of the latest fatalities, 22 were reported from Gurdaspur, 18 from Amritsar, 17 from Sangrur, 15 from Ludhiana, 12 from Mohali and 10 from Patiala, it said.

Ludhiana saw the highest number of fresh cases at 952, followed by 867 in Mohali, 614 in Jalandhar, 597 in Patiala and 501 in Amritsar, among other districts. As many as 5,272 coronavirus patients were discharged after they recovered from the infection, taking the number of cured persons to 2,95,988, the bulletin said.

There are 97 critical patients in the state who are on ventilator support while 700 are on oxygen support, it said.

So far, 71,07,801 samples have been collected for testing, it added. PTI

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3u1ywNr

Paracetamol, azithro raw material cost shoots up, pharma cos worried

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 28

A sharp rise in the price of raw material of key drugs used in the treatment of Covid over the last few weeks has unnerved manufacturers in the state.

Enquiries reveal the rates of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) like paracetamol, ivermectin, doxycycline, azithromycin, maropenem 1 gm, etc., have increased up to 300 per cent.

"Ivermectin has seen a price hike from Rs 17,000 per kg to Rs 58,000 per kg while paracetamol has gone up from Rs 350 per kg to Rs 680 per kg. Similarly, doxycycline has jumped from Rs 6,000 per kg to Rs 12,000 per kg and the price of azithromycin has increased to Rs 11,500 per kg from Rs 8,000 per kg prevailing in the market a few weeks ago, said Yuvraj Chhoker, who runs Tiruvision Medicare in Baddi.

Even packaging material like foil and cartons has registered a price hike of 10 to 20 per cent and empty capsules have become dearer by 30 to 40 per cent. The price of I gram maropenem, another raw material, has increased from Rs 100 to Rs 180 added Chhoker.

"The price of the APIs has increased by as much as 300 per cent ever since the second wave of Covid has erupted. There was no check on the price by the government. Since the price of the medicines manufactured using these ingredients is regulated under the drug price control order, their maximum price cannot be enhanced," said SL Singla, adviser, Himachal Pradesh Drug Manufacturers Association.

"Azithromycin has gone off the shelf today as its manufacturing has become unviable. More drugs would follow suit if the government doesn't intervene to either regulate the price of the APIs or to enhance the price of the final product," claimed Singla.

Drug manufacturers asserted that they had given up their margins in this hour of crisis, but the government had done little to address their representations.

With China suspending cargo flights to India, the manufacturers feared that more trouble was in the offing. A sizeable chunk of the APIs comes from China.

Pharma companies are largely dependent on China for their API requirement. A sizeable decline in imports from China triggered its shortage in the domestic markets since the advent of Covid. The API shortage led to uncertainty in the market, fuelling price hike. Also, there was a scramble to manufacture these drugs due to their burgeoning demand, said a manufacturer.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/32YpTHu

Haryana oxygen quota up 70 MT

Chandigarh, April 28

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar today said the Centre had increased the state's daily oxygen quota from 162 MT to 232 MT in view of the prevailing Covid situation.

"The enhanced quota will come from Odisha," said Khattar, denying Remdesivir shortage in the state. "I have asked the Health Department to issue guidelines so that there was no unnecessary prescriptions of Remdesivir and Tocilizumab." Equating the second wave with a tsunami, he said industrial units would soon be given licence to produce oxygen.

Addressing a press conference, he said, "During the first wave, the maximum cases per day had reached around 3,100. But yesterday, the state recorded 11,931 Covid cases, which is around four times the peak witnessed during the first wave."

He said they had prepared health facilities keeping in view the peak figures for the first wave, "but now we are geared up to tackle the latest situation too". "There is no shortage of oxygen, but its availability in the liquid form (required for transportation) is a challenge. We are working to put a network in order," he added. — TNS

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3xGew5h

Covid test must for candidates to enter counting centres

New Delhi, April 28

The Election Commission today said candidates and their agents would not be allowed to enter the counting centres on May 2 unless they have a negative Covid test report or they have taken both doses of vaccine.

No public gathering outside the counting venue will be allowed during the process of counting. The counting of votes for Assembly polls in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, besides bypolls of various Assembly and Lok Sabha seats, would begin at 8 am on May 2. — TNS

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2QD1Zi0