Kanpur Police to adopt strict measures to break infection spread
Despite the surging threat of a raging pandemic, Kanpur is shrouded in a sense of laxity and callousness. While hotspots and containment zones were completely sealed last year, this time around, several cases of negligence have emerged, raising alarms and COVID tallies here. On Friday, an easy public movement was noted in several containment zones in the city, such as Tilak Nagar, Kakadev and Swaroop Nagar among others.
As consequence, police officers have now resorted to strict restrictions and vigil to ensure that this movement is curtailed. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kanpur, has further directed the officer in charge at all police stations to monitor containment zones in their jurisdictions, at regular intervals. All people, except for those involved in essential services, will not be allowed to move freely. Violation or disobedience of these norms will result in penalisation.
On Friday, Kanpur's case tallies surged by 777 new cases to reach a cumulative tally of 77,522 infections. On the other hand, around 1,647 recoveries were noted here in the last 24 hours. With 31 deaths, the district logged in the highest share of deaths reported in UP on Friday. As yet, around 1,401 people have succumbed to the virus here.
Firm COVID restrictions in Rajasthan
Police blockades at district borders in Rajasthan are acting as an accessory tool to arrest the second swell of coronavirus infection in the state. Besides domestic perimeters, police blockades have also been stationed at other routes connecting the outlying districts, namely Tonk, Delhi, and Agra Raod. The Ajmer frontier, from Jaipur, is also shut. Officials at these tolls are inquiring about the purpose of travel from the commuters and only those with substantial reasons, are allowed to pass through.
The nakabandi has reportedly escalated, in line with the increase in COVID-19 cases. In the last 24 hours, about 18,231 have been added to the total caseload here. Of this, the highest share of 4,902 cases was reported in Jaipur. With an active load of 1,99,147 patients in the state, the administration has called for a complete lockdown from May 10.
Lockdown norms in Rajasthan
As per new rules, wedding functions shall remain cancelled till May 31. 'Band, Baaja Baraat' and associated facilities, weddings at marriage lawns, have been suspended with immediate effect while court marriages and home weddings with only 11 guests are allowed. Inter-state travel has also been restricted and travellers reaching Rajasthan will be permitted entry only after they produce a negative RT-PCR report, tested within 72 hours of arrival.
If commuters do not provide this report, they will be quarantined for 15 days. Additionally, all religious places will remain closed while essential services have been exempted from the lockdown restrictions.
When citizens across the country are grappling due to a dire shortage of oxygen amid the second wave of the pandemic, a group of alumni from IIT Kanpur have taken it upon their shoulders to assure enhanced supplies of the medical necessity. Through a crowdfunded initiative, 'Breathe India', the group has raised more than 3 crores and ordered oxygen concentrators for medical centres across Delhi. Now, they are expanding this scope of help to Uttar Pradesh with the help of a Lucknow-based NGO.
Right Walk Foundation in Lucknow to support 'Breathe India' in UP
After remarkable triumphs in the first week of the campaign, the alumni collective has now associated with Lucknow's Right Walk Foundation for its programs in Uttar Pradesh. Here, the group aims to distribute concentrators, oxygen cylinders, oximeters and other equipment among the underprivileged individuals. With this, the net target of the campaign has been augmented to ₹4 crores and the initiators anticipate that they would reach this goal soon.
Working on the lines of 'social inclusion', Right Walk Foundation assures support and assistance to slum-dwelling communities across 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Highlighting the need for public advocacy, the organisation attempts to create an ecosystem of equity and sustainability.
Successful in assuring widespread relief
As per the information provided on their campaign page, over 250 concentrators are being provided through this program to hospitals and COVID care centres. Marking collaborative efforts with SaveLife Foundation, this group of samaritans have been successful in assuring relief in a much greater measure, than their initial expectations. All of the resources are being delivered across Delhi, working in alignment with the requirements observed by the Delhi Government.
The facilitators consist of Ashutosh Ranka, Isha Agarwal, Nikhil Asati, Kavya Eluru, Randhir Shah- each one from a different batch of IIT-K. Together, they have embarked on a journey to help scores of citizens and save hundreds of Life.
Amid anticipation of the third COVID wave, the Maharashtra government announced on Friday, that around 16,000 vacant positions in the state's Health Department would be filled soon. After the CM approved the plan for new appointments, immediate interventions are being worked upon to ensure that the vacancies are filled as soon as possible. As per the official records, 12,000 of these posts lie in C and D categories while the remaining are from the A and B groups.
A move to enhance & strengthen the workforce of Health Department
Previously, the state administration had initiated a proposal to conduct recruitment for 50% of these vacant posts but it could not be materialised because of certain issues in the Supreme Court. After the matter got resolved, the Health Minister called for urgent appointments on all these vacant posts. If a third wave were to arrive, it has to be ensured that the state's medical infrastructure stands equipped with sufficient manpower.
Though the initial deliberations have been undertaken, the final process shall commence after a comprehensive go-ahead is attained by the CM and the Deputy CM. With the induction of the new professionals, the employee base of Maharashtra's Health Department shall be augmented and strengthened to suit the current demands.
Appointments awaited across 4 categories
While the selections for the posts of specialists in Group A are made through Maharashtra Public Service Commission, Group B officials are chosen by the Public Health Department Selection Board. Besides this, Group C and D of the employment categories comprise of lower-level and clerical staff.
COVID treatment: Benefits & Aid
In a bid to save lives amid the pandemic crisis, MP's CM on Friday, announced the enforcement of the 'Chief Minister COVID Treatment Scheme' in all the districts of the state, with urgency. The Secretary, Public Health and Family Welfare, has also has issued a letter to all collectors, chief medical and health officials, for information and implementation of the scheme.
The strategy of the COVID treatment plan here, is simple. It will offer zero-cost treatment to the economically weaker sections of the society and 'Ayushman Health Cards' will also be issued to all members of the family, who are dealing with one or more COVID patients. Benefits of the National Insurance Scheme (Auyushman Bharat Yojna) have been expanded in Madhya Pradesh, informed the Health Official and people can claim these accordingly, for coronavirus treatment in the year 2021-2022.
At present, about 299 COVID care centres, across 52 districts in Madhya Pradesh, are engaged to provide coronavirus treatment to people suffering from mild symptoms of the infections. The CMO announced that these centres have collectively opened up to 19,796 beds for the benefit of the public and all treatment here will be provided at no cost.
MP prepares for the possible 'Third Wave' attack!
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has highlighted the need to strengthen the medical infrastructure, to prepare ahead of the probable 'third wave' of COVID-19 infection. He has directed to ensure that efforts are being undertaken to increase the availability of Remdesivir injections, oxygen plants in every hospital and other supplies. He has also extended government grants to inspire private entrepreneurs to develop high yielding oxygen generating units.
The CM also announced to constitute a committee for experts that will guide the state to ramp up its infrastructure. The team will be tasked to study the potential of COVID rise in the state and will suggest what preparations and arrangements should be made for it.
Oxygen relief for state officials
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh announced that personnel of the state government can now claim for reimbursement for oxygen concentrators, by the authority of a doctor's prescriptions. This will usher in economic support to workers and their families, during these tough times of the pandemic. Besides this, the state also regulated the fares of private ambulance services and the treatment of COVID patients in private hospitals to ensure financial benefits for the general public.
Additionally, the Chief Minister has directed related officials to provide work-from-home facility to the sick or disabled government employees and pregnant staffers in private offices. Parallelly, the cabinet head emphasised that more than one-third of employees should be present at government offices at one time, to honour the norms of social distancing.
COVID medical infrastructure to be raised in UP
Besides this, the state has decided to ramp up COVID management across UP by means of increased helplines, testing, tracking and treatment facilities. As per reports, about 10 new telephone numbers will be activated at the Integrated Command Control Centres, in each district, to address public woes and emergencies. Besides this, oxygen availability at L-1 hospitals, beds in COVID hospitals and other facilities will also be increased.
Streamlined with this scale, the District Magistrate of Lucknow, Kanpur and other regions in UP have been asked to increase the number of rapid response teams in their jurisdictions. These teams will also be tasked to run special campaigns in rural UP to screen and test the citizens there, for the coronavirus infection.
Officials need to ensure that COVID-19 patients in home isolation receive the medical kits on time. The entire campaign will be reviewed by the Chief Secretary's office and the Chief Minister's office, read reports. Further, the monitoring committees have been tasked to ensure that the ICCCs are upgraded with the necessary information of these isolated patients.
Vaccination for 18+ age group to begin in 11 districts
The Chief Minister informed that the vaccination for the 18+ age group (phase 3 inoculation) will begin in 11 more districts in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. He has directed the local public representative and the minister in charge, to be present at any vaccination centre during the launch of the immunity drive. Their presence will encourage the people to come and get the jab.
Goa Airport strengthens its mission to help people
During such times when the pandemic is worsening in the state and beyond, Goa International Airport has strengthened its mission to help the citizens in dealing with it. According to a statement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the airport authorities will help tackle these unprecedented circumstances created by the COVID pandemic, by ensuring a seamless supply of medical essentials. These would include COVID vaccines, Fabiflu pills, COVID-19 testing kits, amid other elements.
When the first phase of the pandemic was active, Goa International Airport reportedly supported eight LifeLine Udan flights, that were deployed for the transport of essential medical cargo, to distant regions in the country.
Additionally, the Ministry stated, "Goa Airport so far airlifted 13 boxes of Covid vaccine (Covishield) received from Chennai on April 18, 2021, 9 Boxes of Covid vaccine (Covishield) received from Mumbai on April 30, 2021, and 122 Kg of Covid-19 testing kits received from Delhi on April 23, 2021."
Jaipur administration prepares 2 lakh home-isolation kits
The Jaipur District Collector, in association with the Anganwadi, has started to conduct a house-to-house survey across the territory, to track people who have COVID-like symptoms and prepare a list of patients with cold, cough fever among others. These people will then be eligible for a home-isolation kit to commence self-treatment, even without a COVID positive report.
As per reports of this survey, one out of every three people in Jaipur has an ILI (influenza-like illness) case definition, which has raised alarms across the districts. According to the World Health Organisation, the ILI definition refers to the following conditions:
- measured fever of ≥ 38°C (100.4°F)
- cough
- fatigue
- headache
The Jaipur health department has prepared about 2 lakh corona home-isolation kits and these will be distributed to all patients exhibiting the above-listed symptoms. The success of this campaign will effectively reduce the avenues of coronavirus transmission and break the chain of infection. Reportedly, Jaipur remains the biggest hotspot of COVID infection in Rajasthan and this escalation has been largely caused due to slow testing and treatment.
Jaipur witnessed its highest single-day COVD spike on Friday, when 4,902 patients were tested positive in just 24 hours. At present, the active load stands at 48,024 cases while recovery accounts for 88,026 discharges. Death toll charts as high as 1,068 virus-related casualties.