In a recent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has asked to open vaccination for all adults and make vaccination certificated compulsory to “enter public spaces” and access goods via public distribution system.
“Zero tolerance against the noncompliance of COVID appropriate behaviours, augmentation of infrastructure beds and oxygen availability, moral support and enthusiastic engagements of frontline health workers, ensuring adequate health care-protective gears support and strict adherence to the evidence-based treatment protocols are the key factors needed at this moment,” it said.
“The guidelines enforced for test ,trace and treat concept promulgated by the ministry of health was actively implemented across the country to break the chain .However due to the emergent complacent ,mass gatherings without masks , noncompliance of COVID appropriate behaviours and the deterrent mutations in the virus ,had surpassed our efforts to emerge as a fast spreading second wave. Stern implementation and execution of certain pre-emptive efforts will prove the key to contain the fast spreading pandemic,” the letter further mentioned.
In view of rising Covid cases, IMA has further suggested the following measures:
- All citizens above 18 years of age shall be permitted to receive COVID vaccination.
- Walk in COVID vaccination should be available for all, free of cost at their nearest possible place.
- Private sector family clinics also shall be included actively in the vaccination drive along with private hospitals .Availability of vaccination with all doctors &and family physicians will have positive impact on the vaccination drive.
- District level vaccine task force team shall be constituted with public ,private participation to enforce mass vaccination and monitoring and mitigating the Adverse drug events and build confidence. IMA is willing to actively take part in it.
- Vaccination certificate shall be made a mandatory certificate for entering in to public places and receive products under public distribution system.
- As there is acute spurt of this disease as an measure to immediate break the chain , limited period continuous lock down shall be implemented especially for all the non-essential areas like cinema, cultural and religious events, sports,etc.
India continues to register a daily high rise in the number of Covid cases. 96,982 cases were reported in the last 24 hours out of which 80.04% cases were registered from eight states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
India’s total Active Caseload has reached 7,88,223. It now comprises 6.21% of the country’s total Positive Cases. A net incline of 46,393 cases recorded from the total active caseload in the last 24 hours.
50,143 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours.
In a landmark achievement in India’s fight against Covid19, more than 43 lakh vaccination doses were administered in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single day vaccination coverage in the country so far.
As on Day-80 of the vaccination drive (5th April, 2021), 43,00,966 vaccine doses were given. Out of which, 39,00,505 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 48,095 sessions for 1st dose and 4,00,461 beneficiaries received 2nd dose of vaccine.
Cumulative number of vaccinations today is 8,31,10,926.
The total COVID tests conducted in the country has crossed the 25-crore mark. The cumulative positivity rate has marginally increased to 5.07%.
The Delhi government has imposed night curfew to stop large gatherings and night parties. In the national capital the night curfew will be from 10pm to 5am till 30th April in the wake of #COVID-19.
The centre on Monday rushed 50 high-level public health teams to Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Punjab – the three states where high numbers of Covid-19 case have concerned health experts and government. These teams will help in control and containment measures, News agency ANI reported.
On Sunday, PM Modi held a high-level meeting on the Covid-19 situation in the country, which has deteriorated in the past few weeks, and ordered Centre’s assistance to states where the situation has been particularly bad.
During the meeting, PM Modi took stock of the vaccination drive and the efforts to contain the spread of the disease. He also emphasised on ensuring that Covid-19 protocols are followed, and directed the officials to make sure people observe Covid-appropriate behaviour.
On Monday, India recorded 1.03 lakh new cases, the highest-ever single-day spike since the pandemic began. India is now only the third country after the US and Brazil to register a six-figure addition in Covid-19 cases in a single day.
The Prime Minister has convened another meeting with chief ministers and state health ministers on Thursday. This will be PM Modi’s second meeting on the issue in five days.
States like Delhi and Maharashtra are reporting a daily surge in the number of Covid cases as people are not following safety protocols properly. But unlike last time, is Delhi prepared to face this second wave of coronavirus?
In the view of these rising Covid-19 cases, Delhi Government’s Health and Family Welfare Department has decided to designate the following number of beds in the hospitals mentioned below, for admitting confirmed/suspected cases of Covid-19:
| S. No. | Hospitals | No. of Beds reserved for Covid presently | No. of ICU beds with Ventilator | Total Beds for Covid after Escalation | No. of ICU beds with Ventilator after Escalation |
| 1 | LN Hospital | 300 | 50 | 1000 | 20 |
| 2 | RGSS Hospital | 500 | 200 | 500 | 200 |
| 3 | BSA Hospital | 50 | 16 | 100 | 30 |
| 4 | Burari Hospital | 320 | 10 | 320 | 30 |
| 5 | Ambedkar Hospital | 200 | 200 | 0 | |
| 6 | GTB Hospital | 0 | 500 | 100 | |
| 7 | DDU Hospital | 0 | 100 | 30 | |
| 8 | DCB Hospital | 0 | 100 | 10 | |
| 9 | SGM Hospital | 0 | 20 | 10 | |
| 10 | ASBG Hospital | 0 | 20 | 10 | |
| 11 | SRC Hospital | 0 | 50 | 10 | |
| Total | 1370 | 2910 | 630 |
MD/Directors of all the above mentioned hospitals have been directed to upgrade the number of beds indicated against their hospital with immediate effect and logistics required, if any, may be sourced by using powers delegated u/s 50 of Disaster Management Act.
According the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Centre rushes 50 High Level Public Health teams to Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Punjab for COVID-19 control and containment measures.
The teams deployed in the states and districts of Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhattisgarh will monitor overall implementation of COVID-19 management in areas of Testing, Contact tracing, including surveillance, containment operations, COVID Appropriate behaviors, availability of hospital beds, sufficient logistics including ambulances, ventilators, medical oxygen etc. and COVID-19 vaccination progress. According to the release , “ Team’s deployment shall be coordinated by Sr.Regional Directors , RoHFW, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of respective States and TA/DA of team members shall be borne by respective institutions.”
The teams have been requested to report to the allotted States and Districts by April 07.
Jodhpur: Almost 65-70 people at Rajasthan’s IIT Jodhpur have been tested positive for Covid-19 of which 55-60 cases are active, P Singh Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) informed on Sunday.
He said, “Around March 11, some persons infected with Covid-19 had come here. They were from tribal villages Chandigarh, Gujarat and Jaipur. Then the cases started increasing.”
“We have increased the sampling, so contact tracing can be done,” he added.
“Cases are increasing in Jodhpur. The police and medical departments are on alert. Sampling has been increased, anyone coming from outside Jodhpur, be it airport, bus stand or railway station, RTCPR tests are mandatory for them,” P Singh said.
The Public Transport will be fully operational in Maharashtra with following restrictions:
1.AUTO RICKSHAW – Diver + 2 passengers only
2.TAXI (4 Wheelers) – Driver + 50% vehicle capacity as per RTO
3.BUS – Full seating occupancy as per RTO passing, No standing passengers will be allowed.
4. Its compulsory for all passengers using public transport to wear mask, the offender will have to pay fine of Rs 500 each that includes driver also.The same rule to be followed by 4 wheeler taxi.
5.All vehicles to be sanitized after every trip.
6.All the transport staff to get vaccinated before to come into contact with the public and get negative report after testing .
5. In case not following vaccination and testing guidelines then a fine of 1000 will be charged .
6.In case of out-station passengers trains, railway authorities to ensure that there should be standing passengers in the general compartment and passengers must wear a mask.
7.Fine will be charged for not wearing masks.