Chandigarh –With 81% of the latest 401 samples sent by the state for genome sequencing turning up positive for the new UK Covid variant, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday appealed to the people to get themselves vaccinated, even as he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 since this mutant has been found to be infecting young people more.
Expressing concern over the emerging situation, the Chief Minister stressed the need for the central government to urgently open up the vaccination for a bigger section of the populace. The process needs to be expedited, he said, pointing to the fact that experts had found the existing Covishield vaccine to be equally effective against the UK variant – B.1.1.7. It was essential to vaccinate more and more people to break the chain of transmission, he added.
Captain Amarinder Singh appealed people to follow all Covid safety protcols
Captain Amarinder also urged the people to strictly adhere to all Covid safety protocols, including wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing. The state government, which has already announced fresh restrictions, would be forced to impose more curbs if the people do not follow the Covid appropriate behaviour, he warned.
The appeal from the Chief Minister came after the state’s Covid expert committee head, Dr K.K. Talwar, apprised him of the developments on the new variant in the state, which has been witnessing a surge in the number of COVID-19 positive cases during the last few weeks. The state health department had sent 478 COVID positive samples to NIB, IGIB, and NCDC for genome sequencing, of which results of 90 samples were received and those showed only two samples for N440K variant.
A team from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, visited the state to review the increase in positivity. The team was informed about the pending results of genome sequencing. Thereafter, 401 more samples, collected between 1.1.2021 to 10.3.2021, were sent to NCDC for genome sequencing. The result of these samples was worrying as it showed presence of B.1.1.7 variant in 326 COVID samples, said Dr K.K. Talwar.
The Chief Minister said he had been informed by Dr Talwar that though this UK variant B.1.1.7 is more infectious yet not more virulent. Further, the Oxford (Covishield) vaccine is equally effective against this new UK variant.
The B.1.1.7 variant is now spreading rapidly in many parts of the world, representing 98% of the new cases in UK and 90% in Spain. UK authorities have suggested it is up to 70% more transmissible than the original virus.
Centre has written to States/UTs to Increase the Interval between two doses of COVISHIELD to 6-8 weeks based on NTAGI and NEGVAC Recommendation.
The gap between two doses of the Covishield vaccine should be increased from 28 days to 6-8 weeks for better results immediately , the government has written to states and Union Territories.
The revised guidelines are only for Serum Institute of India’s Covishield which is developed by Oxford AstraZeneca.
“In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific COVID-19 vaccine, Covishiled has been revised by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization(NTAGI) and subsequently by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administartion for COVID-19 ,” the letter said.
According to the earlier guidelines issued by the Health Ministry was two doses of vaccine needed to be taken 28 days for both the vaccines.
According to a provisional report issued by the health ministry, 46,951 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours. Of these, 84.49% are reported from 6 States of Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 30,535 (65.03%). This is followed by Punjab with 2,644 while Kerala reported 1,875 new cases.
India’s total Active Caseload has reached 3,34,646 today. India’s present active caseload now stands at 2.87% of India’s total Positive Cases.
India’s cumulative recoveries stand at 1,11,51,468 today. The national Recovery Rate is 95.75%.
21,180 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours.
On the other hand, 212 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
The Maharashtra reports 30,535 maximum new cases in last 24 hours .The total recoveries are 11,314 and 99 deaths in the last 24 hours.
India reports the highest COVID-19 cases 43,846 with 22,956 recoveries and 197 deaths in the last 24 hours. According to the Union Health Ministry the total cases are 1,15,99,130.
The total deaths recorded since the outbreak of COVID-19 in India is 1,59,755 and the total number of vaccination are 4,46,03,841.
By Munesh Kumar
Chennai: Covid vaccine drive has been started for the general public in Chennai. Ahead of elections campaigning and Second wave of #COVID-19 Chennai corporation health department and inaugurated by the Chennai corporation commissioner has organised the vaccination drive for general public.
According to City health officer Dr.Jagadeesan ,” This drive was conducted for general public who cann’t reach to the primary health care centers in and around their localities.”
“This is the third phase of the drive but first for the general public. We just started this drive hope will have good response. f needed this kind of the drive may continue in future. We expect more than 2000 peoples today for the vaccine. We have both the vaccine COVISHIELD and COVAXIN.
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare India has reported in last 24 hours 40,953 new #COVID19 cases.The total recoveries are 23,653 and 188 deaths in the last 24 hours.
The total overall recoveries in India since the outbreak of #COVID19 is 1,15,55,284 and active cases are 1,11,07,332 Active cases.
India has scaled vaccination and has surpassed 4 crores vaccination coverage. The vaccine doses have been administered through 6,86,469 sessions, as per the provisional report by the Union Ministry of Health Family Welfare.
Five States, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in the COVID daily new cases. 83.7% of the new cases are from these five states. 40,953 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours.
Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 25,681. It is followed by Punjab with 2,470 while Kerala reported 1,984 new cases. India’s total Active Caseload has reached 2,88,394 today, comprising 2.50% of the total Positive Cases. A net incline of 17,112 cases recorded from the total active caseload in the last 24 hours.
188 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged to all the stakeholders to come forward with more dedicated tests , trace and carry appropriate behavior.
In an official statement IMA has appealed and warned regarding the un-scientific drugs and procedures to treat COVID-19, “IMA urges all to come forward with more dedicated Test, trace and carry on appropriate protocol for treating without falling prey to un-scientific selfish centered promotion of certain drug and procedures.”
“IMA appeals to the people to not to get panic as India is fully powered to treat the acute effects of this disease and hence use designated centers of excellence for early treatment if you contact the disease and also avoid unnecessary travel and public gatherings.” it stated
The association has also requested people to take vaccination at the earliest without hesitancy and also adopt appropriate behavior.
“We request all our people to kindly take vaccination at the earliest ,spiritually adopt the principles of Covid appropriate behaviors like physical distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and appropriate masking to protect the people from spread of Infection, Test, Trace and appropriate treatments as promoted by our Honorable Prime Minister shall be our tool to protect us from this pandemic. Vaccination drive should be promoted with much more fastness and even to the extent of providing them at doorsteps without any payments. The Covid protocol should be strictly enforced during the election rituals and more care to improve physical infrastructure of having well ventilated rooms, restrictions of continuous or cumulative contact time etc. in schools and polling booths.”