Coronavirus in India

[OMB]

yes export must be halted anyway as India has run out of stocks. Wish he had warned of this earlier.

 

[cricketjoshila]

yes export must be halted anyway as India has run out of stocks. Wish he had warned of this earlier.

India has not run out of vaccines. As govt explained, consumption and replenishment of vaccine is a dynamic process.

 

[OMB]

India has not run out of vaccines. As govt explained, consumption and replenishment of vaccine is a dynamic process.

alright. I heard or rather read otherwise. that there are 5 to 7 days worth of stock as of today.

 

[Hornbill]

In a 3-page letter, [MENTION=370]Rahul[/MENTION]Gandhi calls for immediate halt on vaccine exports.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday wrote to PM Narendra Modi, demanding an immediate moratorium on Covid-19 vaccine exports.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/na...accine-exports-bjp-takes-potshot-2288197.html

Rahul should have said this when modi decided to use vaccine diplomacy to improve strained bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.

 

[cricketjoshila]

alright. I heard or rather read otherwise. that there are 5 to 7 days worth of stock as of today.

Stocks to be replenished between 15th to 20th of April as per the government.

 

[MP2011]

Rahul should have said this when modi decided to use vaccine diplomacy to improve strained bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.

He'd have been lynched by sanghis had he said that at that time. At least now that this megalomaniac move is failing spectacularly, it makes perfect political sense and time to attack the government.

 

[MenInG]

As India battles a second COVID-19 wave, devotees gathered in large numbers gathered at 'Har ki Pauri' on Sunday evening to view the Ganga aarti in Haridwar. The Maha Kumbh Mela's 'Shahi Snan' is scheduled to be held on 12th and 14th April. Visuals from the Ganga riverside show a large crowd of devotees, social distancing norms going for a toss with most of them not wearing masks. Uttarakhand has 6241 active COVID cases, 99486 recovered cases and 1752 fatalities. The hill state has administered 13,09,166 vaccine doses till date.

Earlier in the day, Sanjay Gunjyal, Inspector-General of Police, Haridwar said, "the first bath was held on March 11 on the occasion of Mahashivratri, while the second will be held on April 12 and on April 14, the third royal bath will be taken by the 13 Akhadas". The IG also informed that the 13 Akhadas' processions will take place on highways where no vehicular traffic will be permitted.

Common devotees will be allowed to bathe in Bramha Kund until 7 am, after which no one will be allowed because the area will be reserved for the Akhadas. The royal bath will be open until the evening. However, other devotees are permitted to take holy dip on other ghats," he stated.

Apart from the 'Snan' guidelines, the state has allowed only people with a negative RT-PCR test report will be allowed to take part in the Kumbh Mela. The report should not be older than 72 hours and should be carried along by everyone, including those who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, every time while visiting between April 1-30. All entry points of Uttarakhand have been equipped with testing facilities, and if tested positive, there have been made arrangements for isolation as well.

The authorities have made it mandatory for the devotees to comply with COVID appropriate behaviour, which includes wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing at all time and sanitizing your hand with sanitiser or soap at regular intervals. Sanitiser dispensers have been placed all across for this purpose. Anybody found flouting norms will be subjected to penalties.

Uttarakhand govt frees 51 temples

On Friday, Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat revoked the earlier Trivendra Singh Rawat govt's 'Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act' - freeing 51 temples from state government's control - including Haridwar and Badrinath. After meeting with leaders with Vishwa Hindu Parishad, CM Rawat said that the government will be 'freeing 51 temples from govt control'. In 2019, the Trivendra Singh Rawat government had passed the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act in the Assembly taking over control of major Hindu religious institutions, as per reports, which was upheld by the Uttarakhand High Court.

https://www.republicworld.com/india...-of-shahi-snan-covid-curbs-go-for-a-toss.html

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The sheer scale and severity of Indias second wave was headline news on bbc news this evening.

I hope all our Indian friends stay safe and well. It seems like India is in for a tough few months.

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: India has reported 1,52,879 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours with the overall tally reaching 1,33,58,805.

According to data released by the Union Health Ministry, as many as 839 deaths were reported taking the total COVID-19 related deaths in India to 1,69,275.

With this surge in the number of active cases, India is now the fourth-worst COVID-19 affected country worldwide.

Several state governments have imposed lockdown and night curfew to curb rising coronavirus cases.

According to the Union Health Ministry five states – Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala – account for 70.82 per cent of the active COVID-19 cases in the country.

Key cities and states where lockdown/night curfew has been imposed:

Maharashtra
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said an appropriate decision regarding imposing a lockdown in Maharashtra will be taken after April 14.

A weekend lockdown from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am has been imposed in Mumbai to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Delhi
Delhi government has imposed a night curfew, from 10 pm to 5 am, till April 30.

Madhya Pradesh
Lockdown in Indore, which was initially scheduled to end on Monday, i.e. April 12, has now been extended till 6:00 am on April 19.

Lockdown is in force in Indore city, Rau, Mhow, Shajapur, Ujjain, Barwani, Rajgarh, and Vidisha.

Lockdown from April 12 till the morning of April 22 in Balaghat, Narsinghpur, and Seoni districts as well as Jabalpur city.

Betul, Ratlam, Khargone, and Katni are also under complete lockdown from 6 pm on April 9 to 6 am on April 17.

Chhindwara is under an eight-day complete lockdown and will continue till 6 am on April 16.

Uttar Pradesh
Night curfew has been imposed in Lucknow, Kanpur, and Varanasi with effect from 9 pm to 6 am till April 30.

Meerut: 10 pm to 5 am till April 18

Ghaziabad: 10 pm to 5 am till April 17

Noida: 10 pm to 5 am till April 17

Kanpur: 10 pm to 6 am till April 30

Prayagraj: 10 pm to 8 am till April 20

Bareilly: 9 pm to 6 am till April 20

Moradabad: 10 pm to 6 am till April 16

Agra: 10 pm to 6 am till April 20

Karnataka
Night curfew has been imposed in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Tumakuru, and Udupi-Manipal from 10 pm to 5 am, till April 20.

Jammu & Kashmir
Night curfew has been imposed in urban areas of eight districts (Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Baramulla, Kathua, Anantnag, Budgam, Kupwara) from 10 pm to 6 am.

Rajasthan
Night curfew has been imposed in Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Abu Road starting from 8 pm to 6 am till April 30.

In Udaipur, the night curfew will start from 6 pm to 6 am.

Gujarat
Night curfew imposed in Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Gandhinagar, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Morbi, Dahod, Patan, Godhra, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Bharuch, Surendranagar, Surat, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Vadodara from 8 pm to 6 am, until April 30.

In Amreli, the night curfew will be imposed from 9 pm to 6 am, until April 15.

Punjab
The Punjab government has imposed a statewide night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.

In Chandigarh, curfew timings are 10.30 pm to 5 am.

Odisha
Night curfew is in place from 10 pm to 5 am in Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nawarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri since April 5.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...ight-curfew-has-been-imposed-full-list/743909

 

[MenInG]

ndia overtakes Brazil as world's second worst-hit country by COVID-19

India reported a record 168,912 COVID-19 infections overnight, data from the health ministry showed, overtaking Brazil to become the second-most affected country globally by the coronavirus.

India’s overall tally reached 13.53 million, surpassing Brazil’s 13.45 million cases, according to data compiled by Reuters. The United States led the global tally with 31.2 million cases.

Deaths in India stood at 904, taking the total to 170,179, data showed.

 

[kabbirann]

What with the Kumbh mela going ahead full steam and then the elections, does not seem like anyone cares.

Maybe the Indian muslims need to congregate again for Indians to get serious about Corona.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Sputnik V has been cleared. This is good news for us.

 

[kaayal]

Sputnik V has been cleared. This is good news for us.

But why they are blocking Pfizer and J&J? They are much more effective.

 

[kaayal]

The world's poorest countries are at India's mercy for vaccines. It's unsustainable

Unlike western governments, which poured billions into the research and development of vaccines, there is no evidence that the Indian government has provided a cent in research and development funding to the Serum Institute. (This did not stop it turning every overseas vaccine delivery into a photo op)The government then commandeered approval of every single Covax shipment sent out from Serum – even, according to one well-placed source within the institute, directing how many doses would be sent and when.

The Indian government has not publicly commented on its involvement in the vaccine shipments and has refused requests for comment.

Last month, faced with a surge in infections, the Indian government announced an expansion of its domestic vaccination programme to include 345 million people, and halted all exports of vaccines. About 60m vaccine doses have already been dispensed, and the government needs another 630m to cover everyone in this phase alone. One other vaccine is approved for use – Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin – but it is being produced and utilised in smaller quantities. As more vaccines are approved, the pressure on Serum might decrease. For now, however, the bulk of India’s vaccination goals will be met by just one supplier, which faces the impossible choice of either letting down the other 91 countries depending on it, or offending its own government.

The consequences are devastating. To date, 28m Covax Facility doses have been produced by Serum for the developing world – 10m of which went to India. The second largest shipment went to Nigeria, which received 4m doses, or enough to cover only 1% of its population. Given the new Indian government order of 100m doses, further supplies to countries like Nigeria may be delayed until July. And given the Indian government’s need of 500m more vaccine doses in the short run, that date could surely be pushed out even further.

This colossal mess was entirely predictable, and could have been avoided at every turn. Rich countries such as the UK , the US and those of the EU and rich organisations such as Covax should have used their funding of western pharmaceutical companies to nip vaccine monopolies in the bud. Oxford University should have stuck to its plans of allowing anyone, anywhere, to make its vaccine. AstraZeneca and Covax should have licensed as many manufacturers in as many countries as they could to make enough vaccines for the world. The Indian government should have never been effectively put in charge of the wellbeing of every poor country on the planet.

For years, India has been called, “the pharmacy of the developing world”. It’s time to rethink that title. We will need many more pharmacies in many more countries to survive this pandemic.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/02/india-in-charge-of-developing-world-covid-vaccine-supply-unsustainable?fbclid=IwAR14JOYFQmv_Noux47Qc_PmeC_QmhBgKU8LJwUIsss0l4OEtl5AKCXEw8-8

 

[Nikhil_cric]

But why they are blocking Pfizer and J&J? They are much more effective.

Pfizer I suppose its understandable. No idea about Johnson and Johnson. I thought Sputnik V was the most effective of all vaccines?

 

[Hornbill]

But why they are blocking Pfizer and J&J? They are much more effective.

Maybe they want US to give permission to import vaccines from india especially covaxin.

 

[kaayal]

Maybe they want US to give permission to import vaccines from india especially covaxin.

Thinnulla theetikullannu parayuna avastha aanithu.

At least they could have made it available for those who can afford. There are private companies who will bring it here if the DCGA approved its use in India.

 

[kaayal]

Pfizer I suppose its understandable. No idea about Johnson and Johnson. I thought Sputnik V was the most effective of all vaccines?

What’s understandable about Pfizer?? If you are talking about the logistics then there are private players who can afford that (even for small amounts). But without the DGCA Approval we can’t do anything.

And No. Pfizer, J&J and Novavax are much more effective than Sputnik V regarding efficacy. You can google that.

 

[kaayal]

All said, i am glad that we have at least one more vaccine to give to the masses.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

What’s understandable about Pfizer?? If you are talking about the logistics then there are private players who can afford that (even for small amounts). But without the DGCA Approval we can’t do anything.

And No. Pfizer, J&J and Novavax are much more effective than Sputnik V regarding efficacy. You can google that.

Ok. I have no idea then. From your experience, how accurate are the Covid numbers in India?

 

[cricketjoshila]

But why they are blocking Pfizer and J&J? They are much more effective.

The other two haven't conducted their bridging trials in India.

 

[cricketjoshila]

What’s understandable about Pfizer?? If you are talking about the logistics then there are private players who can afford that (even for small amounts). But without the DGCA Approval we can’t do anything.

And No. Pfizer, J&J and Novavax are much more effective than Sputnik V regarding efficacy. You can google that.

J and J is not more effective than Sputnik.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Thinnulla theetikullannu parayuna avastha aanithu.

At least they could have made it available for those who can afford. There are private companies who will bring it here if the DCGA approved its use in India.

Dont fall for that troll post.

Pfizer was asked to do a bridging trial. They refused.

J and J is going to start its trial soon.

 

[kaayal]

Ok. I have no idea then. From your experience, how accurate are the Covid numbers in India?

These official numbers are only the tip of icebergs. Out of these, some are more transparent (like Maharashtra) but some aren’t. I don’t trust any including that of Kerala.

Read this news yesterday.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/gas-furnaces-grills-melt-as-cremations-continue-24x7/articleshow/82008914.cms

 

[cricketjoshila]

The world's poorest countries are at India's mercy for vaccines. It's unsustainable

Unlike western governments, which poured billions into the research and development of vaccines, there is no evidence that the Indian government has provided a cent in research and development funding to the Serum Institute. (This did not stop it turning every overseas vaccine delivery into a photo op)The government then commandeered approval of every single Covax shipment sent out from Serum – even, according to one well-placed source within the institute, directing how many doses would be sent and when.

The Indian government has not publicly commented on its involvement in the vaccine shipments and has refused requests for comment.

Last month, faced with a surge in infections, the Indian government announced an expansion of its domestic vaccination programme to include 345 million people, and halted all exports of vaccines. About 60m vaccine doses have already been dispensed, and the government needs another 630m to cover everyone in this phase alone. One other vaccine is approved for use – Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin – but it is being produced and utilised in smaller quantities. As more vaccines are approved, the pressure on Serum might decrease. For now, however, the bulk of India’s vaccination goals will be met by just one supplier, which faces the impossible choice of either letting down the other 91 countries depending on it, or offending its own government.

The consequences are devastating. To date, 28m Covax Facility doses have been produced by Serum for the developing world – 10m of which went to India. The second largest shipment went to Nigeria, which received 4m doses, or enough to cover only 1% of its population. Given the new Indian government order of 100m doses, further supplies to countries like Nigeria may be delayed until July. And given the Indian government’s need of 500m more vaccine doses in the short run, that date could surely be pushed out even further.

This colossal mess was entirely predictable, and could have been avoided at every turn. Rich countries such as the UK , the US and those of the EU and rich organisations such as Covax should have used their funding of western pharmaceutical companies to nip vaccine monopolies in the bud. Oxford University should have stuck to its plans of allowing anyone, anywhere, to make its vaccine. AstraZeneca and Covax should have licensed as many manufacturers in as many countries as they could to make enough vaccines for the world. The Indian government should have never been effectively put in charge of the wellbeing of every poor country on the planet.

For years, India has been called, “the pharmacy of the developing world”. It’s time to rethink that title. We will need many more pharmacies in many more countries to survive this pandemic.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/02/india-in-charge-of-developing-world-covid-vaccine-supply-unsustainable?fbclid=IwAR14JOYFQmv_Noux47Qc_PmeC_QmhBgKU8LJwUIsss0l4OEtl5AKCXEw8-8

These two NGO workers substituting a writers, forget that like EU and US India too has laws that give government the right to stop exports. In their attempt to take shots at tge Indian govt they also forgot that each country will safeguard its own interests first, yet India exported millions of vaccines to other countries, while western nation haven't even sent out one.

 

[kaayal]

Dont fall for that troll post.

Pfizer was asked to do a bridging trial. They refused.

J and J is going to start its trial soon.

May be their no plans to manufacture the vaccine in India is also a reason.

 

[cricketjoshila]

May be their no plans to manufacture the vaccine in India is also a reason.

Pfizer apparently wanted to manufacture 300mn doses in India.

Novavax will start trials soon.

 

[Hornbill]

Thinnulla theetikullannu parayuna avastha aanithu.

At least they could have made it available for those who can afford. There are private companies who will bring it here if the DCGA approved its use in India.

I'm sure our mantrijis and their sponsors have already taken best available vaccine against covid .Their blind worshippers still believes in gimmicks shown by them to promote local covaxin.

 

[cricketjoshila]

I'm sure our mantrijis and their sponsors have already taken best available vaccine against covid .Their blind worshippers still believes in gimmicks shown by them to promote local covaxin.

Any proof of this or just blank firing?

 

[Hornbill]

All said, i am glad that we have at least one more vaccine to give to the masses.

Private medical institutions in Kerala which takes billions of rupees (black money) as donations for seats are the major suppliers of covaxin, have you noticed this.

 

[Hornbill]

Any proof of this or just blank firing?

Sirji you're not among them as you preferred covidsheild instead of covaxin

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Kejriwal indirectly making fun of Modi and people are loving it and making it viral.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Sir you're not among them as you preferred covidsheild instead of covaxin

I got what was available at the center i was allotted.

My family members have got Covaxin.

Infact i recommended Covaxin over Covishield as Covaxin has higher efficacy.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Private medical institutions in Kerala which takes billions of rupees (black money) as donations for seats are the major suppliers of covaxin, have you noticed this.

Covaxin is manufactured by Bharat Biotech and supplied by government.

 

[Hornbill]

I got what was available at the center i was allotted.

My family members have got Covaxin.

Infact i recommended Covaxin over Covishield as Covaxin has higher efficacy.

You can enquire which vaccine is available at the center and have the option to change center based on the availability of vaccine you prefer.

 

[cricketjoshila]

You can enquire which vaccine is available at the center and have the option to change center based on the availability of vaccine you prefer.

I got my vaccine in January with other health care workers in my hospital. There was no change of center allowed then.

 

[kaayal]

Private medical institutions in Kerala which takes billions of rupees (black money) as donations for seats are the major suppliers of covaxin, have you noticed this.

I don’t know anything about this tie up tbh. Almost all my elderly family members got vaccinated with Covishield in private and public set up. So never bothered about Covaxin.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Several million Hindus have gathered to take a dip in the Ganges river as a deadly second Covid-19 wave continues to sweep India.

The devotees are marking an auspicious bathing day on Monday at the Kumbh Mela religious festival in Haridwar city in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

Officials say they are struggling to impose safety norms due to huge crowds.

Hindus believe the river is holy and bathing in it will cleanse them of their sins and bring salvation.

The Kumbh Mela takes place every 12 years and the venue is chosen from amongst four cities, including Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.

Haridwar's turn to host the gathering came amid a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus infections, with India consistently reporting more than 100,000 cases daily in the past few weeks.

On Monday, India logged more than 168,000 new cases, overtaking Brazil to become the country with the second-highest number of cases globally.

With the total case tally of more than 13.5 million cases, India is now only behind the United States which has reported more than 31 million cases. With 13.4 million cases, Brazil is now at number three.

Health experts had appealed for the Kumbh Mela festival to be cancelled, but the government went ahead saying safety rules would be followed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56713993

The scenes are crazy, so many people close to each other.

Indians were ranting at some Muslims a year ago but now millions more here but its ok for Modi & Co,

 

[King-Misbah]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56713993

The scenes are crazy, so many people close to each other.

Indians were ranting at some Muslims a year ago but now millions more here but its ok for Modi & Co,

I am sure Joshila Bhai will give a good reason. He is true Modi baht of Pakpassion.

 

[Technics 1210]

All that is needed now is for the IPL to be cancelled and/or WT20 to be relocated to another country.

Remember the number of infected people in India is much higher than claimed - for obvious reasons.

All the money in the world and still struggling with the vaccine.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

All that is needed now is for the IPL to be cancelled and/or WT20 to be relocated to another country.

Remember the number of infected people in India is much higher than claimed - for obvious reasons.

All the money in the world and still struggling with the vaccine.

IPL is helping keep viruses down by keeping population at home watching matches

 

[Technics 1210]

IPL is helping keep viruses down by keeping population at home watching matches

Yet infection rates are rising.

I cannot see the WT20 being played in empty stadiums in India.

 

[kaayal]

Kejriwal indirectly making fun of Modi and people are loving it and making it viral.

Bina vaccine hum kab ladayi jeeti thi [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION]?

 

[MenInG]

Haridwar: Fears about the ongoing Kumbh Mela becoming a super-spreader event has in a way come true after several devotees who flouted Covid-19 norms and took the holy dip tested positive on Monday evening.

At a time when the coronavirus cases in the country are spiking at an alarming rate, thousands of saffron-clad seers and Naga sadhus flouted Covid norms to converge at Har Ki Pauri to take the shahi snan (holy dip) in the Ganges on Monday.

More than 28 lakh devotees turned up for the second holy dip, and of the 18,169 devotees who were tested between Sunday 11.30 pm and Monday 5 pm, as many as 102 people were found positive, according to the Indian Express.

The report found that there were also no arrangements in place for thermal screening of devotees anywhere, and no actions were also being taken against people who were not wearing masks in spite of a new AI-enabled CCTV system in track that.

The sadhus from different akhadas, led by their Mahamandaleshwaras, took turns to take out the Shobha Yatras through the main path of the pilgrimage city to gather at Brahma Kund, Hari ki Pauri for the royal bath on ‘Somvati Amavasya’.

Many of them marched barefoot without wearing masks or observing social distancing. These seers then took a dip in the Ganges as the Uttarakhand government showered flower petals from helicopters.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...-haridwar-after-shahi-snan-says-report/744510

 

[KingKhanWC]

I am sure Joshila Bhai will give a good reason. He is true Modi baht of Pakpassion.

The silence on this issue is astounding but not suprising. For months the RSS talked of some Jamaat but here you have people almost naked huddling together and going into water.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The silence on this issue is astounding but not suprising. For months the RSS talked of some Jamaat but here you have people almost naked huddling together and going into water.

To be fair, TJ can hold jamaat over zoom but hindus will need to physically go to the Ganges and jump in naked. I don't think this act of worship can be recreated in a bath tub at home so its understandable that people will flock to bathe in the water.

What isn't understandable is how the state can sit back idly and not manage the gathering by enforcing some rules.

 

[OMB]

Coronavirus live updates: CBSE postpones Class 12 board exams, cancels Class 10 board exams

India reported a record single-day rise of 1,84,372 new coronavirus infections pushing the total tally of cases to 1,38,73,825, while the active cases surpassed the 13-lakh mark, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday. Meanwhile, board exams for Class 10th have been cancelled and 12th exams have been postponed, said the education ministry after a high-level meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi.

Cancellation of board exams a great relief for students, parents: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

14:34 (IST) Apr 14
I am happy that Class 10 exams are being cancelled and dates are being rescheduled for class 12 exams. Like Class 10 students, I appeal to the govt to promote Class 12 students on the basis of internal assessment: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia

I am happy that Class 10 exams are being cancelled and dates are being rescheduled for class 12 exams. Like Class 10 students, I appeal to the govt to promote Class 12 students on the basis of internal assessment: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia
14:33 (IST) Apr 14
CBSE, in normal circumstances, schedules board exams for Classes X and XII from February 15 to the first week of April.

14:33 (IST) Apr 14
21,50,761 students were scheduled to appear in Class X CBSE borad exams while 14,30,243 students were supposed to take the Class XII exams.

CORONAVIRUS TOP STORIES
READ MORE STORIES
14:32 (IST) Apr 14
Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Wednesday said that the decision was made due to a spike in coronavirus cases.

14:17 (IST) Apr 14
CBSE board Class 10 exam cancelled, Class 12 exam postponed

The CBSE board Class 10 exam has been cancelled and CBSE class 12 board exams 2021 which was scheduled to commence from May 4 has been postponed till further notice.

READ FULL STORY
14:09 (IST) Apr 14
Students of Class 10 to be promoted on basis of internal assessment. If a student is not satisfied with the assessment then he/she can appear for the examination once the situation (Covid-19) is normal

Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank
14:01 (IST) Apr 14
Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allocated to him/her on this basis will be given an opportunity to sit in an exam as and when the conditions are conducive to hold the exams.


14:00 (IST) Apr 14
The board exams for Class Xth to be held from 4th May to June 14th, 2021 are hereby cancelled. The results of Class Xth board will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the board.

14:00 (IST) Apr 14
The situation will be reviewed on 1st June 2021 by the Board, and details will be shared subsequently. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations.

14:00 (IST) Apr 14
The board exams for Class XIIth to be held from May 4th to June, 14th, 2021 are hereby postponed. These exams will be held hereafter.

13:59 (IST) Apr 14
Board exams for Class 10th cancelled & 12th postponed. Results of Class 10th will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the board. Class 12th exams will be held later, the situation will be reviewed on 1st June by the board: Ministry of education

13:56 (IST) Apr 14
Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting today to review the examinations to be held at various levels in view of the developing Corona situation. Union Education Minister, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, School and Higher Education Secretaries and other top officials attended the meeting.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/coronavirus-lockdown-in-india-covid-19-vaccine-cases-live-updates-14-april-2021/liveblog/82055423.cms

 

[MP2011]

Poor decision to cancel 10th exams, CBSE could have conducted them online at least. Now how are these students supposed to have any experience when they sit for their 12th board exams.

This decision was taken with a populist mindset and the likes of Congress, Kejriwal etc are equally to be blamed.

Should never have delayed the board exams in first place as March was still good in terms of active cases.

All in all, an extremely shoddy representation of how not to handle such important matters!

 

[MP2011]

Almost 2 lakh cases yesterday! Absolutely horrible state we are going through!

 

[pillionrider]

From Pharmacy of the world to Covid hub of the world.

Wah Modiji wah, wah.

Only Ganga Ma can save us, it seems.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Poor decision to cancel 10th exams, CBSE could have conducted them online at least. Now how are these students supposed to have any experience when they sit for their 12th board exams.

This decision was taken with a populist mindset and the likes of Congress, Kejriwal etc are equally to be blamed.

Should never have delayed the board exams in first place as March was still good in terms of active cases.

All in all, an extremely shoddy representation of how not to handle such important matters!

Why aren't the students and their parents protesting about cancellation of the 10th exams? This is a protesting nation after all.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Almost 2 lakh cases yesterday! Absolutely horrible state we are going through!

Which states have the majority of the cases?

 

[Itachi]

Poor decision to cancel 10th exams, CBSE could have conducted them online at least. Now how are these students supposed to have any experience when they sit for their 12th board exams.

This decision was taken with a populist mindset and the likes of Congress, Kejriwal etc are equally to be blamed.

Should never have delayed the board exams in first place as March was still good in terms of active cases.

All in all, an extremely shoddy representation of how not to handle such important matters!

You know.... When bhagbhirunhaag criticizes, there's usually some content and he not only criticizes but also goes on to write how it should have happened.

Your post (almost all now a days) is just a like a guy ranting sitting in front a paan shop who has no cluse about the system, logistics, obstacles and reads some news only to rant later.

You should make yourself familiar about how things are going as the spreading is going on.

 

[MP2011]

You know.... When bhagbhirunhaag criticizes, there's usually some content and he not only criticizes but also goes on to write how it should have happened.

Your post (almost all now a days) is just a like a guy ranting sitting in front a paan shop who has no cluse about the system, logistics, obstacles and reads some news only to rant later.

You should make yourself familiar about how things are going as the spreading is going on.

Like you have any clue apart from kowtowing this establishment! Lol, try your rant elsewhere. Not like my posts? Why would you, as they castigate obvious incompetence of your masters, do not read them or quote them!

Like your masters, you have serious comprehension issues, go sort them out first before ranting about something you don't have any clue about!

 

[MP2011]

From Pharmacy of the world to Covid hub of the world.

Wah Modiji wah, wah.

Only Ganga Ma can save us, it seems.

Lol, the creature still doesn't seem to care about it! It's all elections or his own image on his agenda!

 

[MenInG]

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Breaking all records, India registered its biggest-ever single day spike with 200,739 fresh cases. With this, India's Covid tally has shot up to 14,074,564 cases, according to MoHFW. India is the 2nd worst-hit nation in terms of total Covid-19 cases. India also witnessed 1,037 fatalities due to covid-19 in a single day. The death toll from the deadly infection stands at 173,152.

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 58,952 fresh coronavirus cases. With 17,282 fresh infections, Delhi recorded highest ever coronavirus diseases cases, breaking its own previous daily spikes. Karnataka reported the highest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases this year by recording 11,265 new infections in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, CBSE board exams for Class 10th have been cancelled and 12th exams have been postponed.

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (3,578,160), Kerala (1,172,882), Karnataka (1,094,912), Tamil Nadu (940,145), and Andhra Pradesh (928,664).

https://www.business-standard.com/a...ll-world-covid-highlights-121041500106_1.html

 

[MP2011]

Does anyone know when are 21 days going to get over? That will be the day when we'll finally win Covid over!

 

[CricketCartoons]

Like you have any clue apart from kowtowing this establishment! Lol, try your rant elsewhere. Not like my posts? Why would you, as they castigate obvious incompetence of your masters, do not read them or quote them!

Like your masters, you have serious comprehension issues, go sort them out first before ranting about something you don't have any clue about!

Why are the students and their parents not protesting?

 

[MP2011]

India Set To Fulfil World's 70% COVID-19 Vaccine Needs: Amit Shah

Kankavli: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said India is set to fulfil 70 per cent of the world's coronavirus vaccine needs and two vaccines are currently being exported to 14 countries.
He said the Modi government has worked to upgrade the health infrastructure in the country in the last six-and-a-half years.

Speaking at the inauguration of a private medical college, Mr Shah also said that 55 lakh people in the country have been given COVID-19 vaccine in the last 21 days and the Centre is working to expedite the vaccination process.

"India is set to fulfil 70 per cent of the world's coronavirus vaccine needs. Two vaccines are being exported to 14 countries," he said.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ind...s-70-covid-19-vaccine-needs-amit-shah-2365331

 

[Hornbill]

Poor decision to cancel 10th exams, CBSE could have conducted them online at least. Now how are these students supposed to have any experience when they sit for their 12th board exams.

This decision was taken with a populist mindset and the likes of Congress, Kejriwal etc are equally to be blamed.

Should never have delayed the board exams in first place as March was still good in terms of active cases.

All in all, an extremely shoddy representation of how not to handle such important matters!

Modiji deserves all the credit for conducting pariksha pe charcha on time during these tough circumstances.

 

[MP2011]

wah motabhai, wah! That's the kind of governance we were yearning for and bhakts just love!

 

[MP2011]

Modiji deserves all the credit for conducting pariksha pe charcha on time during these tough circumstances.

Yeah, after his 'peptalk' to students, no way they needed these exams to test them! And hence its good riddance they've been shelved!

 

[Itachi]

Like you have any clue apart from kowtowing this establishment! Lol, try your rant elsewhere. Not like my posts? Why would you, as they castigate obvious incompetence of your masters, do not read them or quote them!

Like your masters, you have serious comprehension issues, go sort them out first before ranting about something you don't have any clue about!

CJ, Kayaal are all in the front line..

I work in rural sectors which during lockdown, took responsibility of logistics related to various commodities and works close with the women group of villages which performs a crucial role in terms of vaccination along with the elderly of the villages.

You hear some news and rant about it in PP. That's ok. But as a true indian, even while criticizing, give the suggestions about how it can be done in a better way. May be it is feasible, may be it is not feasible. But it's the intention that matters.

You are right now just anti establishments rather than an Indian who wants to address the crucial weakness of the system and tries to rectify it.

Its easy to criticize. But much harder when you try to implement.

 

[MP2011]

If you didn't have comprehension and obvious bhakti issues, you'd have read and understood the suggestions I've shared on this thread itself.

But then, there is no cure for gross incompetence and criminal negligence this government has shown since last 1 year or so on Covid front.

Even today, these clowns are talking about exporting vaccines to world despite so many states facing severe shortage of vaccines.

You want to give free pass to these incompetent fools, go ahead, it suits you, I know how much they've harmed India in last 1 year alone.

 

[MP2011]

And lol at harder to implement! You have ready made excuse for these clowns who have absolute power at every level and still have failed miserably on all fronts!

You got to have a scientific temperament and ability to listen to what others are saying.

When health minister of the country himself is promoting that thug's Coronil, it says how serious he is in taking on this menace!

When your premier asks you to bang thalis and light lamps, it says more about the "entire political science" studied in his masters!

When he (and his deputy) boasts about exporting vaccines to the world, when vaccination centres are shutting down due to paucity of vaccines, people are dying in his own country for want of vaccines!

Economy, 'nuff said!

 

[OMB]

India clocks over 2 lakh fresh cases in new record: How nation's daily COVID-19 tally doubled in just 10 days

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

In a recent interaction with the chief ministers of all states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that laxity in protecting oneself from the virus could very well translate to a long-drawn-out battle against the virus.
India's poor rates of genome sequencing also mean that we do not fully know whether the 'variants of concern' now circulating within the country are responsible for the surge being witnessed.
At least three documented variants – B.1.351 (South African variant), B.1.1.7 (UK variant), and P.1 (Brazilian variant) – have already been found in the country

On Thursday, India reported 2,00,739 fresh cases of COVID-19, once again surpassing its previous daily record, driven largely by relentless surges in infections in the country's metros. What this now means is that India's daily figures have jumped from one lakh to two lakh within a span of just ten days.

The country had breached the one lakh mark for daily cases on April 5. Today's tally also meant that COVID-19 infections have been rising steadily for 36 consecutive days with India's active case count of 14,71,877 now accounting for 10.46 per cent of total infections. The nation's recovery rate has also declined to 88.31 per cent.

Responding to the alarming resurgence of the virus, the central government has proposed three primary reasons for the spread. A failure to adhere to proven safety protocols like social distancing and the wearing of face masks, ineffective implementation of containment measures, and overall pandemic fatigue, it noted, has been responsible for the resurgence of the virus.

In a recent interaction with the chief ministers of all states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that laxity in protecting oneself from the virus could very well translate to a long-drawn-out battle against the virus. His warning arrived at a moment when reports of vaccine shortages around the country are doing the rounds, prompting the government to change its regulatory policy, effectively paving the way for the importation of foreign-made vaccines.

India's production capacity of medical oxygen more than consumption, says Empowered Group 2.India’s production capacity of medical oxygen more than consumption, states to be mapped to sources: Govt
covid 19 test, coronavirus testWest Bengal COVID-19 situation grim, strict adherence to coronavirus norms during election required: Doctors
But India's poor rates of genome sequencing also mean that we do not fully know whether the 'variants of concern' now circulating within the country are responsible for the surge being witnessed.

At least three documented variants – B.1.351 (South African variant), B.1.1.7 (UK variant), and P.1 (Brazilian variant) – have already been found in the country. As the virus replicates, mutations of the virus are expected, however, those that increase its transmissibility, lethality and immune escape capacity are what concern scientists and authorities the most. There are also worries that homegrown variants may now be circulating within the country.

The government has stated that there is currently no evidence that the variants found (including the 'double-mutant) are what has led to India surpassing the peak it saw in September. However, this probably has something to do with how slow genome sequencing is taking place within the country.

Launching INSACOG in December 2020, the government set a target to sequence 5 per cent of all positive samples from each state, along with 100 per cent of samples from international travellers who tested positive. But by March 30, the government revealed that just over 11,000 samples had been analysed, making up only a tenth of that target. As such, some experts have contended that the role of the variants circulating in the country is not being effectively assessed.

What is certain though is the worrying rise in India's reproduction number (R-naught) which, as of April 12, stood at 1.30. Experts are in agreement that for an outbreak to fizzle out, that number has to fall below one. As of Monday, Uttar Pradesh (1.83) had the highest R-value of all states, followed by Jharkhand (1.76). West Bengal (1.66), where elections are currently being held, Telangana (1.66), Chhatisgarh (1.57), Delhi (1.48), Rajasthan (1.48), Gujarat (1.34), Tamil Nadu (1.37), Karnataka (1.37) and Maharashtra (1.24) have all exhibited rising trends concerning the effective COVID-19 reproduction rate.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/india-clocks-over-2-lakh-fresh-cases-in-new-record-how-nations-daily-covid-19-tally-doubled-in-just-10-days/745381

 

[OMB]

Explained: B.1.617 variant and the surge

Genome sequencing data have presented evidence of the 'double mutant' in 61% of samples in Maharashtra. But whether this new variant is driving India's ongoing surge can be said only after more data is available.



During a meeting with district laboratories in Maharashtra last week, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) shared limited data showing a break-up of 361 genome-sequenced samples collected between January and March this year.

The headline finding from the analysis: the presence of a double mutation was detected in 220 — almost 61 per cent — of the samples. This double variant was last week classified as the “B.1.617” variant.

What is the B.1.617?
The B.1.617 variant of SARS-CoV-2 carries two mutations, E484Q and L452R. Both are separately found in many other coronavirus variants, but they have been reported together for the first time in India.

The two mutations are found in the virus’s spike protein. The spike protein helps the virus to bind itself to the human cell’s receptors and gain entry into a host cell.

The E484Q mutation is similar to E484K, a mutation found in the United Kingdom (lineage B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351) variants of the coronavirus.

The L452R mutation has been found in fast spreading variants in California (B.1.427 and B.1.429). It can increase the binding power of spike proteins with ACE2 receptors on human cells, making it more transmissible. L452R can also potentially enhance viral replication.

Together, E484Q and L452R are more infectious, and can evade antibodies.

Where has the B.1.617 been found?
There is limited data. It was first reported from Maharashtra. In January, 19 samples from various districts were sequenced, and B.1.617 was found in four. In February, 234 samples were sequenced from 18 districts, and 151 samples — from at least 16 districts — had this variant. And in March, as many as 65 of 94 samples had it.

So far, Amravati, Nagpur, Akola, Wardha, Pune, Thane, Aurangabad, and Chandrapur districts have presented strong evidence of the presence of B.1.617. Fewer samples were sequenced in other districts, and the variant was found in some. Sequencing is pending for more samples.

Is this variant more virulent?
There is no evidence so far. Most patients can do with home isolation, although clinical experience needs to be combined with genome sequencing data to generate scientific evidence. Clinical anecdotes from doctors suggests the variant spreads faster, is more infectious, can infect entire families, but is less virulent and doesn’t cause dramatically more hospitalisations.

“Most patients are asymptomatic and that is a good indication. But in absolute numbers so many cases have put a burden on health infrastructure,” said Dr Shashank Joshi, an expert on the Maharashtra Covid Task Force.

How much has it spread?

Dr Sujeet Singh, director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has pointed out that very few samples from Maharashtra have been sequenced so far, and it is too early to draw definitive conclusions on how widespread the double mutant is. However, the central government had reported in March that 15-20 per cent samples in Maharashtra had this variant; on the basis of the latest sequencing data we know that this number is now over 60 per cent.

Clinicians and district administrators in Maharashtra are reporting that unlike in the first wave, entire families are getting infected in the second wave. This could indicate either that physical distancing and isolation measures are inadequate in the household, or that the virus has become more transmissible.

Could B.1.617 be driving the ongoing surge in Covid-19 cases?

Dr Gangandeep Kang, professor of microbiology at Christian Medical College, Vellore, said 60.9 per cent samples carrying this variant “most likely” showed a link between the mutation and the surge — however, for an accurate answer at least 1 per cent of Covid-19 samples must be sequenced every week. With India at present testing over 1 lakh cases daily, and this would translate to roughly 1,000 genome sequences every day.

“We also need to look at how many people a person is able to infect, and the RT-PCR cycle threshold. We need to do live tracking. Data from January holds little value in April,” Dr Kang said.

Dr Gautam Menon, professor at Ashoka University, Sonepat, and at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, said: “What we have is suggestive but we need more genome sequencing data to understand which variant is driving the number of new infections in different states… To suggest that the rise in cases is due to this double mutant variant, we should have more time points. For instance, if we could say that we detected 30 per cent of this variant in samples on March 30, and then 40 per cent in samples on April 14, that would indicate that the new variant is dominating the spread of the disease.”

Dr Menon too, underlined the need for greater data transparency. “It is possible, although increasingly unlikely, that the cases could also be connected to the previous strain,” he said. “Unless we know to what extent the increase can be attributed to the new variant, we will not be able to determine conclusively whether relaxations in Covid-appropriate behaviour with the older strain drove the increases or whether the increased infectivity of the new variant is responsible.”

Prof Vinod Scaria, principal scientist, CSIR-IGIB, agreed that “we cannot conclusively say that these variants are driving the surge in the second wave”. However, evidence suggests that at least in some states, the B.1.1617 lineage is predominant, and could be contributing to the rise in cases, he said. “This lineage is defined by 15 genetic variants including six spike protein variants. Two of these (E484Q and L452R) are involved in immune escape as well as increased infectivity,” Prof Scaria said.

Can the variant evade vaccines?

Again, the data are limited. Some people have indeed been infected after the first dose, but there is no data on whether their samples were sent for genome sequencing.

“We know that the South African variant is more capable of escaping immune response. We know that UK variant is the most transmissible. But we know nothing about B.1.617 so far, because we are not putting together data to draw conclusions,” Dr Kang said.

Dr Menon underlined that while vaccines are not expected to prevent infection, they certainly prevent severe disease and death. “We expect that this will remain true even with the new variant. The only medium- to long-term solution to deal with Covid-19 is for people to get vaccinated.”

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/maharashtra-double-mutant-found-b-1-617-variant-and-the-surge-7274080/

 

[MP2011]

I remember so many governments having declared win over Covid and patting their own backs, 2-3 months ago. Delhi, UP & Central govts being the foremost amongst them!

 

[MenInG]

India has recorded more than 200,000 new coronavirus infections in a single day as hospitals report severe shortages of beds and oxygen and extra space is found in hotels.

A doctor in New Delhi said he is treating 35-year-olds for pneumonia and the situation is "chaotic".

The record number of daily cases - 200,739 - takes the total past 14m, second only to the United States.

It is the seventh record daily increase in the last eight days.

The country's health ministry has also reported a further 1,038 COVID-19 deaths in the latest 24-hour period, taking the total to 173,123, in a population of almost 1.4bn.

Boris Johnson has decided to shorten a trip he is due to take to India later this month because of the worsening situation.

The financial hub of Mumbai - India's largest city - has gone into lockdown. The state of Maharashtra, home to Mumbai, accounts for about a quarter of all coronavirus infections.

Hospitals in Maharashtra, and in other areas including Gujarat and Delhi, have reported being overwhelmed.

"The situation is horrible. We are a 900-bed hospital, but there are about 60 patients waiting and we don't have space for them," said Avinash Gawande, an official at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nagpur.

Doctors in the capital fear the surge could be more deadly than last year's.

"This virus is more infectious and virulent," said Dhiren Gupta, a paediatrician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi.

"We have 35-year-olds with pneumonia in intensive care, which was not happening last year. The situation is chaotic."

More than a dozen hotels and banqueting halls in the capital have been converted into COVID centres attached to hospitals, while medical facilities in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat reported oxygen shortages.

The government said oxygen is being produced at full capacity.

"Along with the ramped up production of the oxygen manufacturing units and the surplus stocks available, the present availability of oxygen is sufficient," the health ministry said in a statement.

It is feared that recent local and state elections, involving huge rallies, may have been super-spreader events.

There has also been a major Hindu festival, with hundreds of thousands of devotees bathing in the Ganges river in the northern city of Haridwar.

The health ministry said more than three million vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday, with the total now past 114 million.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19...in-a-single-day-as-mumbai-locks-down-12275842

 

[Itachi]

If you didn't have comprehension and obvious bhakti issues, you'd have read and understood the suggestions I've shared on this thread itself.

But then, there is no cure for gross incompetence and criminal negligence this government has shown since last 1 year or so on Covid front.

Even today, these clowns are talking about exporting vaccines to world despite so many states facing severe shortage of vaccines.

You want to give free pass to these incompetent fools, go ahead, it suits you, I know how much they've harmed India in last 1 year alone.

Please elaborate your suggestions. If you have written before, any link to the post ID will do.

 

[BreadPakoda]

‘Super-spreader’: Over 1,000 COVID positive at India’s Kumbh Mela

Virus detected in more than 1,000 people in Haridwar city along the Ganges River where the weeks-long festival is being observed.

The latest figures came as Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state, tweeted on Wednesday that he had also tested positive for COVID-19.

A second wave of coronavirus infections is sweeping across India, with the country on Wednesday hitting a new high of 184,372 new cases.

With a total of almost 13.9 million COVID-19 infections, India now has the second-highest number of cases in the world. The country’s daily death toll passed 1,000 on Wednesday for the first time since mid-October.

Local authorities in many states have imposed night curfews and clamped down on movement and activities.

‘Our faith is the biggest thing’
Experts have blamed large religious events, packed political rallies in poll-bound states and crowded public places for the surge.Still, hundreds of thousands of ash-smeared ascetics and devout Hindus jostled to take a dip in the Ganges during the religious festival on Wednesday, hoping to wash away their sins, as India reported another record surge in coronavirus infections.

“Our faith is the biggest thing for us. It is because of that strong belief that so many people have come here to take a dip in Ganga,” Siddharth Chakrapani, a member of one of the Kumbh Mela organising committees, told AFP news agency.
“They believe that Maa (mother) Ganga will save them from this pandemic.”

As huge crowds made their way towards the river on a special day of bathing during the Kumbh Mela, health authorities had to pull back a COVID-19 testing crew.


“We have moved away our sampling team to avoid a stampede-like situation,” said SK Jha, chief medical officer of the northern city of Haridwar, where the event is being held.

“We do, of course, expect cases to rise when the priests and other crowd move away.”

Police said 650,000 devotees had bathed in the river since Wednesday morning and people were being fined for failing to observe social distancing in some areas.

‘It’s already a super-spreader’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, however, has refused to call off the festival that is scheduled to last the whole month, possibly fearing a backlash from religious leaders in the Hindu-majority country.

“It is already a super-spreader because there is no space to test hundreds of thousands in a crammed city and the government neither has the facilities nor the manpower,” said a senior Uttarakhand official.

Devout Hindus believe bathing in the Ganges absolves people of sins, and during the Kumbh Mela, it brings salvation from the cycle of life and death.


A short distance from the river, Hotel Sachin International had converted itself into a COVID isolation centre. All 72 rooms were packed with more than 150 patients, a hotel executive said.

“We started taking in patients on April 5, and three days ago all our rooms got filled,” the employee said, declining to be identified because of a gag order from local authorities.

The hotel did not respond to an email seeking comment. A doctor from the region said at least four other hotels have been turned into COVID wards.

“What you are seeing is not Kumbh Mela but it’s a corona atom bomb,” tweeted Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, alongside a picture of a sea of devotees. “I wonder who will be made accountable for this viral explosion.”

Comparisons with Tablighi Jamaat row
Critics of the Indian government have also compared the government’s response to the festival to the response last year when Indian Muslims faced rising Islamophobia following accusations that an initial surge in infections was tied to a three-day meeting of an Islamic missionary group, the Tablighi Jamaat, in New Delhi.

Some leaders from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and India’s freewheeling TV channels, which have long favoured the government’s Hindu-nationalist policies, labelled Muslims as “jihadis” and “super spreaders” in March 2020 when the seven-day rolling average of coronavirus cases in the country was not even 200 per day.

The blame triggered a wave of violence, business boycotts and hate speech towards Muslims.


India’s 200 million Muslims account for 14 percent of the population and are the largest minority group in the Hindu-majority nation.

Worst-hit state imposes curbs
Starting on Wednesday, India’s worst-hit and richest state, Maharashtra, will impose stricter restrictions for 15 days to stem the surge of coronavirus infections that is threatening to overcome hospitals.

In state capital Mumbai, migrant workers at a railway station said they were leaving for their homes in other states after the tighter restrictions were announced.

“Since I don’t have any work, I am not able to pay my rent,” migrant worker Imraan Khan told AFP.

Last year, a sudden, harsh, nationwide lockdown left millions jobless overnight. Stranded in cities with no income or food, thousands of migrant workers walked on highways to get home. Since then, state leaders have repeatedly stressed that another lockdown was not on the cards.

Officials in Maharashtra have stressed that the closure of most industries, businesses, public places and limits on the movement of people did not constitute a lockdown.
But the distinction did little to allay Ramachal Yadav’s anxieties. On Wednesday morning, he joined others at a Mumbai railway station getting on a train back home. “There is no work,” said the 45-year-old.

The scenes playing out in Maharashtra in the past week mirror those developing in other parts of the country: patients gasping for air turned away from hospitals that are running out of oxygen and weeping families waiting for their turn to bid farewell to their loved ones at crematoria.

Compounding concerns is the question of whether India, despite being the world’s largest maker of vaccines, will have enough to immunise its vast population swiftly enough to slow down the virus.

India on Tuesday authorised vaccines that had been given an emergency nod by the World Health Organization or regulators in the United States, Europe, Britain or Japan. Indian regulators also approved Russia’s Sputnik V for emergency use.

But experts said the decision was unlikely to have any immediate impact on supplies available in the country.

“All one can think of is that I hope I don’t fall ill over the next month or so,” said Dr Vineeta Bal, who studies immune systems at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Maharashtra’s Pune city.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021...over-1000-covid-positive-at-indias-kumbh-mela

Bunch of idiots. Will they be called anti-nationals by the mass media? Or is that term reserved only for Muslims?

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: India on Friday recorded 2,17,353 new coronavirus cases in the highest single-day spike ever since the pandemic began last year. The death toll surged to 1,74,308 with 1,185 more COVID-19 patients succumbing in the last 24 hours, the union ministry of health and family welfare stated.

It is the second consecutive day when over 2 lakh COVID infections have been reported.

It is the 10th consecutive day when India reported over 1 lakh Daily coronavirus cases.

India's daily COVID cases in last 11 days:

April 15: 2,00739

April 14: 1,84,372

April 13: 1,61,736

April 12: 1,68,912

April 11: 1,52,879

April 10: 1,45,384

April 9: 1,31,968

April 8 : 1,26,789

April 7: 1,15,736

April 6: 96,982

April 5: 1,03558

India's daily coronavirus deaths in last 11 days

April 15: 1038

April 14: 1027

April 13: 879

April 12: 904

April 11: 839

April 10: 794

April 9: 780

April 8: 685

April 7: 630

April 6: 446

April 5: 478

As far as COVID-19 vaccine program is concerned, the government said that 11,72,23,509 vaccinations have been done so far.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...s-to-1569743-1185-fresh-death-reported/745787

 

[in_cutter]

So why was India not put on the red list but Pakistan was?

COVID-19: Indian double mutation variant arrives in Britain and has 'hallmarks of very dangerous virus'

 

[in_cutter]

https://twitter.com/dr2nisreenalwan/status/1382805165967822850?s=21

 

[in_cutter]

No comment from Indian trolls that were jumping up & down in the Pakistan red listed thread?

 

[Itachi]

No comment from Indian trolls that were jumping up & down in the Pakistan red listed thread?

If you despise their behavior, why you are going down the same path? Be an example, not a follower.

Its not time to fight. It's time to unite and help people in any way you can.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

Hope situation gets better in both India, Pakistan.

Germany doing great

 

[cricketjoshila]

No comment from Indian trolls that were jumping up & down in the Pakistan red listed thread?

Comments regarding what?

It is UK's decision,who they put on the red list.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

 

[KingKhanWC]

So why was India not put on the red list but Pakistan was?

COVID-19: Indian double mutation variant arrives in Britain and has 'hallmarks of very dangerous virus'

Because the Baffoon Boris is going to India soon, wanting them to produce more rubbish vaccines to send to the UK.

The Indian variant has alreadly arrived in the UK.