Page 87 - Coronavirus

'Mask up': PM Modi cautions against complacency at crucial Covid meet

States told to audit Covid-specific facilities, including hospital infrastructure

Insurers settled over 225,000 death claims on account of Covid: Irdai

Over 2.25 lakh death claims due to the Covid-19 pandemic were settled by insurance companies up to March 2022, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) said in its annual report released on Thursday. It further said the general insurers and stand-alone health insurers received a huge number of Covid treatment related claims which the industry handled "quite efficiently" and settled claims approximating to Rs 25,000 crore. As per the data in the report, a total of 26,54,001 health insurance claims were settled. Irdai said insurance companies settled over 2.25 lakh death claims on account the pandemic and paid Rs 17,269 crore towards claims up to March 31, 2022. The life insurance industry paid benefits of Rs 5.02 lakh crore in 2021-22, which constitutes 73.1 per cent of the net premium. LIC accounted for 70.39 per cent of total benefits paid and private insurers the remaining 29.61 per cent. "In case of individual life insurance business, the life indust

NCDC testing sewage samples in Delhi to check for Covid-19: Officials

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been collecting sewage samples from seven sites across Delhi and testing them for the presence of coronavirus variants, officials said at a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here. The Omicron sub-variant BF.7 of the coronavirus has not been detected in the sewage surveillance reports for the last four consecutive weeks, according to a presentation made at the meeting. These places are Batla House, Swan Cinema, Shahdara, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Nangloi and Bhalswa Lake. Officials also shared that only 24 per cent of the eligible people have taken the precaution dose of coronavirus vaccine as on December 21). Only 19 percent people in the 18-59 age category have got the booster dose so far. Forty-eight per cent eligible people in the 60+ age group and 62 per cent of the healthcare workers and frontline workers have received precautionary dose. At a meeting to review the Covid situation in Delhi on Thursday even

China likely seeing 1 mn Covid infections, 5,000 virus deaths every day

This current wave may see the daily case rate rise to 3.7 million in January, according to Airfinity Ltd., a London-based analytics firm

As Covid-19 cases fall, Indians drag feet to get their booster shots

Less than 30,000 booster doses daily in December, vaccine coverage flat for two months

Centre on mission to enhance public health by quality drugs: Mandaviya

Cente is on a mission to safeguard and enhance public health by ensuring top notch quality drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices along with maintaining their safety and efficacy, Health Minister said

Sudden Covid rise in China shows lack of efficacy of Chinese vaccines

China's sudden Covid outbreaks point towards a lack of efficacy of its vaccines. This acts as a cause of concern, especially for countries that China supplies its vaccines to, reported Tibet Press

Karnataka makes wearing of face masks mandatory in indoor locations

The Karnataka government on Thursday decided to conduct mandatory testing of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) in the state amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world, including China. The government also decided to make face masks mandatory in closed spaces and airconditioned rooms. The two per cent random testing of international passengers arriving in the state will continue until revised directions from the Centre, state Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said. We are going to issue advisory to wear masks in indoor locations, closed spaces and air-conditioned rooms. Also, there will be mandatory testing of ILI and SARI cases across Karnataka, Sudhakar said briefing reporters after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on COVID-19. The meeting was attended by ministers, health department officials and the members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on COVID-19. Sudhakar said that it was also decided in the .

Persistency ratio must improve for life insurance customers: CEOs at BFSI

Work done by life insurance industry led to economic revival amid Covid

Indian shares extend losses amid concerns of Covid-19 cases, inflation

Indian shares extended fall for a third straight session, with broad-based declines, after the Reserve Bank of India's latest monetary policy minutes revealed strong concerns about inflation and Covid

Centre advises higher surveillance, booster dose amid global surge in Covid

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said states have been asked to focus on heightened surveillance within the community, undertake requisite control and containment measures, and ensure coverage of precaution doses for COVID-19 vaccination, amid a spurt of coronavirus cases in some parts of the world. In a statement in both houses of Parliament, Mandaviya said two per cent random sampling of international travellers arriving at airports has already started from Thursday to minimise ingress of any new variant in the country. "Our enemy is changing with time and we need to continue our collective fight against it with perseverance and determination," he said. The minister said India has been reporting 153 new cases daily on an average as against 5.87 lakh new cases being reported on a daily basis across the world. He said the Ministry of Health was monitoring the situation on a regular basis and has proposed specific interventions to manage the ongoing challenge. "In view

Traders associations in Delhi ask shop owners to follow Covid norms

Many trader associations across Delhi have asked shop owners to wear masks, use sanitisers and follow social distancing norms amid concerns over the surge in Covid cases in some countries. Fearing that the possible surge here will impact their business yet again, some of these associations have also called meetings to discuss their future course of action. Amid a spike in cases in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China and the US, the the Centre has urged all states and Union Territories to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants. Officials had earlier said that the Delhi government is keeping a watch on the COVID-19 situation and the chief minister has directed the health department to ensure genome sequencing of samples and take other steps needed to meet any eventuality. Ashok Randhawa, president of the Mini Market Association at Sarojini Nagar, said shop owners have been asked to start taking precautions by wearing masks and regular

Mandatory Covid tests for all international passengers if needed, says Govt

In the wake of surge in COVID-19 cases in many countries, India has started 2 per cent random sampling of international travellers coming to the country and may consider making it mandatory for all if necessary, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday. He was responding to queries of some Opposition MPs after his suo moto statement in Rajya Sabha on the latest COVID-19 situation and India's preparedness. "We are constantly monitoring the situation. There are no direct flights between China and India but people come via other routes," he said in response to a query by Raghav Chadha of AAP on whether the government would ban direct flights from China. As a health minister, Mandaviya said he has spoken to many countries and WHO about what all precautions are needed to be taken and also understand in which direction the pandemic is moving. "At a primary stage, we have already started doing 2 per cent random sampling of any traveller coming to India," he said. The minister .

PM Modi reviews Covid-19 situation in country at high-level meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the situation related to COVID-19 in the country. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Home Minister Amit Shah, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and top officials attended the virtual meeting. Ahead of the meeting, in a statement in Lok Sabha, Minister Mandaviya asked states to remain alert and create awareness about wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers, especially in view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations. On Wednesday, Mandaviya had reviewed the situation and asked people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places, and getting vaccinated. Official sources have said random sample testing will be done at airports for international passengers arriving from China and other countries. There has been a sudden spurt in Covid cases in China and some other countries.

Test, vax details could be asked for those from nations with Covid surge

The Union health ministry is examining the reintroduction of mandatory 'air suvidha' forms with details of RT-PCR test conducted 72 hours prior to travel or complete vaccination proof for passengers coming from China and other countries reporting high number of Covid cases. A decision on this will be taken after monitoring the situation for a few weeks. The move comes following a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday to review the Covid situation in the country, in view of a sudden spurt in cases in China and some other countries. Random sample testing for coronavirus will be conducted at airports for passengers arriving from China and other countries because of the recent surge in cases in some parts of the world, official sources had said on Wednesday. "The health ministry is examining reintroduction of mandatory 'air suvidha' forms for international arrivals with details of RT-PCR test conducted 72 hours prior to travel or complete vaccination .

Cong will follow Covid guidelines, but Yatra will not be stopped: Khurshid

The Congress will follow all COVID-related guidelines, but the Bharat Jodo Yatra will not be stopped, senior party leader Salman Khurshid said on Thursday. His statement came after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asking them to consider suspending the march if COVID-19 protocols could not be followed. "The Congress will follow all the precautions related to the prevention of Covid, but the yatra will not stop, will not stop, will not stop," Kurshid, the yatra's coordination committee chairman in Uttar Pradesh, told reporters here. He was answering a question on whether the letter will affect the march. In a democratic system, every party and individual has the right to speak their mind, the former union minister said. "The government is scared of this Congress yatra, that is why various orders and letters are being issued," he said. He informed that Rahul Gandhi-led yatra will enter Uttar

Karnataka CM seeks public cooperation for Covid-19 preventive measures

Amid spurt in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world and cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7 found in the country, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday appealed for public cooperation in implementing the preventive measures that the government will prescribe, and also called on them to take the booster dose of vaccine. The Chief Minister has called an emergency meeting of COVID Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Thursday, with experts and officials to analyse the COVID situation and precautionary measures to be taken in the state. "At the time when we were at ease that the COVID was gone, it has aggravated in other countries. From one country China it spreads across, it is contagious. So both state and central governments have taken it very seriously, as viruses move faster than electronics," Bommai said. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, he said in the current situation the focus should be more on prevention. "For prevention the earlier restrictions and ..

After 2 years of Covid lull, Delhi restaurants decked for X'mas, New Year

Business closures, slashed menus, empty seats, furloughed staff -- restaurant and cafe owners in Delhi wish to put these unpleasant memories behind them as they prepare to welcome guests for Christmas and New Year after a two-year lull due to coronavirus. The hospitality industry was one of the worst-hit sectors as multiple waves of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in the last three years had broken its back, forcing many restaurants to shut down permanently or let go many of their staff. However, owners of several restaurants and cafes and their associations feel, the "worst is behind them", hoping that their businesses will once again thrive as "it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas again". Some owners said although there has been a bit of a scare after coronavirus cases were reported in some countries, as far as bookings for Christmas and New Year were concerned, they were back to pre-Covid numbers. The Centre has urged all states and Union Territories to gear up the whole ..

Govt coming up with excuses to stop Bharat Jodo Yatra, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the government is coming up with "excuses" to stop the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', days after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to him to consider suspending the march if Covid protocols could not be followed. The yatra, which started in Kanyakumari on September 7, has covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. "This yatra will go to Kashmir. Now, they have come out with a new idea. They wrote me a letter that Covid was spreading, stop the yatra," Gandhi said while addressing a gathering in Ghasera village in Haryana's Nuh district. The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him entered the state through Nuh on Wednesday after its Rajasthan leg. "Now, they are coming up with excuses to stop the yatra. Wear masks, stop the yatra, Covid is spreading, these are all excuses," he said. Targeting the BJP, which is in power at the Centre and in Haryana, Gandhi said it is scared of the .

Punjab CM to hold meeting with state health officials on Covid situation

As the entire nation gears up for a possible increase in number of Covid cases in the next few days, Punjab CM has called a meeting of the officials of the state health department over the situation