By Dr.Aaloc Srivastava
Keeping in view grim Covid scenario, we appealed to relatives and acquaintances many times.It appears, it had negligible impact. May have fallen on immune ears.
India became second on 4th April after USA to exceed one lakh positive cases in a day.Previous peak of 98,795 was on 17 September.These numbers vaulted seven times in 52 days,up from 11,364 to 78,318.It was the sharpest rise .
Maharastra Leads
Given that rise in Maharastra has been mind boggling, State declared “Lock Down 2.0”, in April beginning, ordering full weekend L.D.,night Curfew,eating ban in restaurants and shutting shops,except essentials, till April end.
But situation deteriorated further.Of 13.9 million cases nationally,Maharastra’s share is 3.52 millions, contributing 58 % national cases and 34 % deaths on 7th April.
Coming to 24 hour cases, figure of Maharastra is 60,222 as against 1,84,388 cases, pan India.Active cases nationally too have surpassed 13 lakh mark on 14 April.
To add fat to fire,national positivity rate of 25% and 16 % of Delhi can further scare.
Unpredictable Kejriwal
He relishes swimming against the tide.So 586 % rise in 24 hour cases in a fortnight as compared to 16% rise in Mumbai in a week,can’t be ignored. Also its unfortunate to see 66,300 cases in eleven days.To make matters worse, UT recorded highest ever 17,282 cases in last 24 hours. However, Kejriwal’s review of Covid & Non- Covid deserves kudos.
Apart from Virus onslaught in Chennai,
Bengaluru & Pune,
Punjab and Chattisgarh too need to be mentioned.While both blame Centre to be unfavourably disposed of towards them,situation needs better management.
Dignity In Death
After ensuring correct reporting,adequate arrangements are necessary at ‘departure grounds’,viz carriage of dead body decently,preventing theft of organs,time management,one by one disposal etc.
Augment National Vaccination
Having administered 11.44 crore vaccinations,we have covered barely 2 percent population(1.42 Crores) as regards both the doses.While irregular supplies closed over 100 centers recently,Govt.functionaries tried cover up. Preventive and curative vaccines were also placed in black market.Tiny Bhutan(62%),Israel(51%) & U.K.(49%) occupy top 3 places.One can learn from Israel experience.
While speeding up,we must deal firmly with vaccine black marketting. Reported involvement of some doctors is shameful.Ruling & opposition factor has to be forgotten.Also,be it Chinese or Russian cure, its better to postpone than repent.
Is Full L.D. Solution ?
The former L.D. in contrast to present ‘Chain Breaker’ could have saved many lives.Nomenclature change hardly matters.While most of States appear having pulled up sleeves,SS Maratha warriors refrain from being decisive in public interest but they may AIM to ensure stability of their Government.
Could we blame political weakness or unknown fear for such a state of mind ?
Lock Down coming ,coming,
………. .When ? It’s becoming akin to the infamous Wolf Coming.
When do we get rid of it ?
Labour Class
When migrant workers have begun departing again, is it not easy passage this time ?
Despite creating few Covid records, we are yet to close public gathering joints,cut down vegetable & grocery hours, withdraw city & inter state buses,metros and trains.Are we learning from phase 1 to perform better?
Learn,Burn & Earn
Either in a Pandemic we LEARN or do something in a hurried way to BURN.But we need to also ensure EARN factor for service class.No motivating word from RBI or cajoling expression of IMF is expected to take us out of the mess we have created for ourselves.
Super Spreaders
Why do we need Shahi Snans
,Navratras,Ramzan,Teeka Day,AmbedkarJayanti etc when chips are down ?
Adequate Control over these Super Spreaders is necessary.
The writer is Dr.Aaloc Srivastava, Ex-Chief Secretary, Sikkim.
By Brig.Dr. Shashivadhanan
This is no more a pandemic. It does fall within the definition of a biological war. Whether it’s a lab grown pathogen turned rouge, or an index case of zoonosis, only time will say. The most potent and desirable bioweapons should possess four main characteristic features: low visibility, high potency, substantial accessibility, and relatively easy delivery. Whatever be its origin, the corona virus fulfills all criteria for being labeled the most potent bioweapon. It is following Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest with élan. During the second wave, the virus has become more virulent, it’s mutating so intelligently that RTPCR is unable to effectively detect it .Vaccines too seem ineffective. The spread is like wildfire. There is no definitive treatment for this virus as on date. It does not respect the Geneva Convention. Cast creed, religion, age, gender, geographical boundaries are all passé for this virus. Evidence based medicine has taken a back seat.
Now that we know it’s a war situation, primitive instincts dictate that, each one has to protect one’s own protoplasm. Preventive measures are very easy to follow. We just need to keep our mask on, maintain social distance and sanitize our inquisitive hands. Where death is imminent, humans need not wait for directives from government. In a war you don’t complain staying indoors, you don’t ask why you should not party or go to crowded malls or multiplexes. You don’t choose pleasure over your blessed life. Adopt safety protocols, protect your near and dear ones, and get your vaccine shots rather than insisting on class I evidence. Government need not be treating you like imbeciles requiring directives to keep you alive. Remember all activities should aim at keeping yourself and your dear ones alive. Prevention through self-restraint and self-discipline are of paramount importance. What should matter now is, come out of this war safely. It is a war and “ Corona ko Harana Hai”
The writer is Brig.Dr. Shashivadhanan, Professor(Surgeon & NeuroSurgeon)
A pharma company owner has been arrested by the Indore Crime Branch on Thursday for allegedly selling fake Remdesivir injections.
The accused is a resident of Indore’s Rani Bagh and a case has been registered against him under various sections including fraud, reports ANI.
“Around 400 Remdesivir vials have been recovered from the accused car’s, which were found to be fake after being investigated by the drug department. He owns a pharma company in Indore’s Pithampura. He planned to take advantage of the drug shortage and make money,” Guru Prasad Parashar, additional Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch said.
The police officer added the drugs were manufactured at a pharma unit in Himachal Pradesh, ANI reports.
Mumbai-based Haffkin Institute has received permission from the Centre on Thursday to manufacture Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin on the basis of transfer of technology.
The owner of the institute, the Maharashtra government thanked PM Modi for the approval and tweeted, “The Dept. Of Science and Technology, Government of India, has granted approval to Haffkin Institute to produce Bharat Biotech’s CovaxinCovaxin vaccine on a transfer of technology basis.”
“CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has thanked Prime Minister for approving this request,” the tweet from the CM Office added.
Maharashtra is currently among the highest Covid case spike states.
India reports highest 2,17,353 COVID-19 cases and 1,185 deaths in last 24 hours .The total coronavirus cases in India reported from the time of outbreak is 1,42,91,917 .According the union health ministry Total recoveries are 1,25,47,866 and active cases is 15,69,743.
The total deaths are 1,74,308 and the total vaccination are 11,72,23,509
Union Home Secretary Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla along with Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary chaired a high-level meeting today to review the status of COVID19 in Madhya Pradesh and the public health measures taken for surveillance, containment and management of COVID19 by the health authorities. Shri Iqbal Singh Bains, Chief Secretary, MP, Dr Balram Bhargava, DG ICMR, Dr (Prof) Sunil Kumar, DGHS were present along with Principal Secretary (Health), Mission Director (NHM), and State Surveillance Officers of the MP.
Madhya Pradesh has reported nearly 13.4% week-on-week increase in new COVID cases. In last two weeks, the State has seen almost 79% increase in weekly new cases. In MP, in contrast to the week 7th-13thApril 2021 in the week of 17th-23rd March 2021, RT-PCR tests have increased to 73% (from 67%) while the Antigen tests has decreased to 25% (from 31%). Issues related to adequate availability of N95 Masks, PPE Kits, HCQ tablets availability, ventilator allocation, delivery and installation along with Oxygen requirement and status of allocation of Concentrator Plants were discussed in detail in the meeting.
The Union Home Secretary highlighted critical bottlenecks in the State’s response to COVID: shortage of beds in general and oxygenated beds in particular and other hospital infrastructure.
After a detailed and comprehensive review of the status of COVID-19 in the state, including the mortality figures, the following5-fold strategy for tackling the recent surge was highlighted and discussed:
1. On the front of Testing, the State was advised to-
• Significantly increase testing in all districts with a minimum of 70% RT-PCR tests and use of Rapid Antigen Tests as screening tests in densely populated areas as well as areas where fresh clusters are emerging.
• Mandatorily subject those who have tested negative in Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to RT-PCR test.
2. Tracing, Containment, surveillance to suppress spread
• Tracing of close contacts at least 25 to 30 such close contacts for each infected person and their isolation to be done in 72 hours.
• Do subsequent testing and follow up of all close contacts.
• Delineate Containment Zones as per proper mapping of clusters of cases & their contacts.
3. The State was advised to follow the protocol of Clinical care, treatment & support, for Home / facility care:
• Increase the number of isolation beds, oxygen beds, ventilators/ICU beds, ambulance fleet as per requirement.
• Plan for adequate oxygen supply.
• Focus on mortality reduction by early identification & complying to treatment protocols
4. On front of COVID safe behaviour, the State was advised to
• Use local political, cultural, sports, religious influencers to disseminate proper wearing of masks and maintaining physical distance.
• Use of Police Act, DM Act and other legal/administrative provisions for effective and strict enforcement.
5. Regarding the Vaccination, the State was advised to ensure-
• Time-bound plan of 100% vaccination of eligible HCWs, FLWs and eligible age groups.
A meeting of Empowered Group 2 (EG2) was held today to review the availability of essential medical equipment and oxygen during COVID. Three important decisions taken today are as explained below.
i. Mapping of oxygen sources for 12 high burden states – Medical oxygen is a critical component in the treatment of COVID affected patients. There has been increasing demand for medical oxygen, especially from the 12 states with high burden of active COVID cases viz.– Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. While the demand in Maharashtra expected to beyond available production capacity of the state, states like Madhya Pradesh do not have any production capacity to meet their demand for medical oxygen. Besides, there is a trend of increasing demand in other oxygen producing states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, etc.
To give clarity and assurance to the states on oxygen supplied over the next few weeks of surge in cases, a mapping exercise was undertaken jointly by DPIIT, MOHFW, Ministry of Steel, various critically affected states, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) along with key stakeholders including the representatives from oxygen manufacturers, All India Industrial Gas Manufacturers Association (AIIGMA) as per the directions of Empowered Group -2 (EG2). Sources of medical oxygen and their production capacity was mapped to match the requirement of states and an indicative framework has been developed to guide the states on the sources of medical oxygen.
Accordingly, 4880 MT, 5619 MT and 6593 MT have been indicated to these 12 states for meeting their projected demand as on 20th April, 25th April and 30th April, respectively. MOHFW is issuing orders in this regard and the same would be notified by MHA.
ii. Identification of another 100 hospitals for PSA plants : Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants manufacture oxygen and help hospitals become self-sufficient in their requirement for medical oxygen while also reducing the burden on the national grid for supply of medical oxygen. 162 PSA plants sanctioned under PM-Cares are being closely reviewed for early completion of 100 percent of the plants to enhance self-generation of oxygen in hospitals especially in remote areas. EG2 directed MOHFW to identify another 100 hospitals in far flung locations for consideration of sanction for installation of PSA plants.
iii. Import of 50,000 MT of medical oxygen : In view of increasing demand for medical oxygen, EG2 decided to float a tender for import of 50,000 MT of medical oxygen. MOHFW has been directed to finalise the tender for the same and also explore possible sources for import identified by the missions of MEA.
EG2 is monitoring the situation of demand and supply of medical oxygen continuously to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to support the uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen
Source: Press Bureau of India
Delhi Government announces Weekend Curfew in Delhi but essential services will remain exempted.
“Gyms, spas and auditoriums to be closed. Cinemas halls to operate at 30% capacity only. People will not be allowed to dine-in restaurants, only home deliveries permitted,” said Arvind Kejriwal,CM, Delhi
India crosses 2 Lakh daily cases today.
The nation reports 2,00,739 new COVID19 cases, 93,528 discharges and 1,038 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry
Total cases: 1,40,74,564
Total recoveries: 1,24,29,564
Active cases: 14,71,877
Death toll: 1,73,123
Total vaccination: 11,44,93,238