Coronavirus LIVE Updates: People's laxity towards COVID-19 norms is cause of rise in cases, says Harsh Vardhan

09:47 (IST)

Coronavirus LATEST Updates

Over 11.3 lakh samples tested on Saturday, says ICMR

A total of 23,35, 65,119 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to 20 March, of which 11,33,602 were tested on Saturday, according to the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).

COVID-19 Testing Update. For more details visit: https://t.co/dI1pqvXAsZ @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes #ICMRFIGHTSCOVID19 #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #CoronaUpdatesInIndia #COVID19 #Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/HlhTEsFQad

— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) March 21, 2021

09:37 (IST)

Coronavirus LATEST Updates

Maharashtra's Thane district record 1,932 new cases

 

With the addition of 1,932 coronavirus cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 2,86,249, an official said on Sunday. These new cases were reported on Saturday, he said. As the virus claimed the life of seven persons, the toll in the district rose to 6,377. The district's COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.23 percent, he added. So far, 2,65,610 patients have recuperated from the infection and the recovery rate stands at 92.79 percent. There are 14,262 active cases in the district at present, the official said.

09:26 (IST)

Coronavirus LATEST Updates

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Andamans

 

No new COVID-19 case was reported in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Sunday, a health official said. The Union Territory's caseload stands at 5,038, of

which seven are active cases, while 4,969 people have recovered from the disease and 62 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said. The administration has so far tested over 3.02 lakh samples for COVID-19, the official said. A total of 12,374 health workers and frontline personnel have been vaccinated so far, of whom 4,774 have received the second dose. Around 2,606 people above 45 years of age have also been inoculated, he added. 

 

PTI

09:07 (IST)

Coronavirus LATEST Updates

Himachal Pradesh limits attendance at social gathering to 50% occupancy

 The Himachal Pradesh government has issued instructions to limit attendance at indoor and outdoor gatherings to 50 percent of the occupancy, with a maximum number of 200 for indoor in the social functions. Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said prior permission for holding social gatherings would also be required after two-three days.

Thakur was talking to the media after presiding over a meeting through video conference with the deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and chief medical officers to review the situation of the pandemic in the state. The chief minister stated that all the official fairs in the state would not be organised, but those that are ongoing would continue by adopting the standard operating procedures. The RT-PCR tests will be increased and containment zone approach will be implemented strictly, he added.

PTI

08:56 (IST)

People's laxity towards COVID-19 main reason behind rise in cases, says Vardhan

Holding the laxity shown by people in following safety protocols as the reason behind the recent surge in coronavirus cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday urged them not to let their guard down against the infection, else the situation may turn "dangerous". "With vaccines available now, people feel they should not wear masks. Maximum people hang their masks around their neck, some keep it in their pocket and some do not use it at all," the minister said on Saturday evening. COVID-19 cases have again started rising at some places in the country for the past some time and the laxity shown by people towards the infection is the basic reason behind it, Vardhan said, adding that the situation may turn "dangerous".

 

PTI

Coronavirus Latest Updates: Holding the laxity shown by people in following safety protocols as the reason behind the recent surge in coronavirus cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday urged them not to let their guard down against the infection, else the situation may turn "dangerous".

"With vaccines available now, people feel they should not wear masks. Maximum people hang their masks around their neck, some keep it in their pocket and some do not use it at all," the minister said on Saturday evening.

COVID-19 cases have again started rising at some places in the country for the past some time and the laxity shown by people towards the infection is the basic reason behind it, Vardhan said, adding that the situation may turn "dangerous".

"I want to appeal to people of the country that they should not let the COVID appropriate behaviour get weakened at any cost. Maintaining social distancing, wearing masks properly and washing hands with soap probably are the biggest tools to win the fight against COVID-19," said Vardhan.

The Union health minister further said the two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, which had been made available in the country are the second tool in this fight against contagion.

He also said there was no need for vaccination for all from the scientific point of view while asserting that the two vaccines developed in the country are completely safe and effective.

The vaccination drive should also be turned into a mass movement, he said, adding that the vaccines are available at 50,000 government and private health facilities in the country.

The Union health minister said the priority groups have been set after keeping in the mind the scientific criteria and studying the behaviour of COVID-19.

"You know that the behaviour of COVID virus is dynamic and the vaccination process is also dynamic. Under this dynamic process, the criteria will be expanded as and when the time requires," he said.

Asserting that saving lives is a priority for the government, the minister said Rs 35,000 crores had been earmarked in the Union Budget for the COVID-19 vaccination.

While expressing concern over the rise in cases in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, Vardhan said there was no doubt that coronavirus cases were rising in six to seven states, including Punjab and Maharashtra, and stressed that these states should be more careful.

He also said sequencing of the virus and its mutants was going on and one of the two vaccines was also effective against mutants.

Earlier, addressing a gathering to mark World Oral Health Day, Vardhan said the premier institutes like PGIMER have a bigger responsibility of mentoring and hand-holding, of creating successful models which contribute towards the ultimate goal of 'health for all.'

"The year 2020 may go down in history as the 'Year of COVID', but it will also be remembered as the 'Year of Scientific Community'.

"The way our medical professionals and scientific community rose to the occasion, and even after one year still fighting without any trace of fatigue, thereby successfully managing the pandemic in a country of 1.3 billion, is a testimony that we have the DNA, sincerity, commitment and passion to accomplish the vision of good quality health for everyone," he said.

Complimenting PGIMER for its initiatives, the minister stated that the state-of-art facilities and equipment inaugurated are a major step forward in healthcare innovation and will go a long way in addressing the healthcare needs of the community of the region.

Vardhan also inaugurated a national resource centre for oral health care of children and elderly, an advanced PET-CT facility, 384 slice dual-source CT scan and a refractive surgery suite at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

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