Coronavirus News Live Updates: BMC receives 8 bids for procurement of 1 crore vaccine doses

BMC receives 8 bids in response to global EoI for procurement of 1 crore vaccine doses 

BMC has received 8 bids in response to Global Expression of Interest for procurement of 1 crore vaccine doses. Bids have been received from 8 potential suppliers. One bid is for supplier interested in supplyin Pfizer/Astra Zeneca. Remaining 7 supplier bids are for Sputnik vaccine. BMC said it will examine the business relationship between interested suppliers and companies that actually produce vaccines so that the supply will be ensured in a timely manner. Any additional bid shall also be entertained.

“BMC is continuously pursuing availability of vaccine stocks by studying the 4 main aspects of how many days the vaccine will be supplied, how many vaccine stocks will be supplied, the terms and conditions of vaccination rates and the amount of vaccine.”

Karnataka reports 22,758 new COVID cases, Bengaluru caseload at 6,243

Karnataka recorded 22,758 new COVID cases, Bengaluru added 6243 new cases. The positivity rate is at 21.13%. 588 deaths reported in the past 24 hours. 

Karnataka has asked private hospitals to utilise Covaxin stock only for second dose of those above 45 years

Bharat Biotech: Regulatory approvals for COVAXIN in process in over 60 countries 

Bharat Biotech today said regulatory approvals for COVAXIN are in process in more than 60 countries — USA, Brazil, Hungary, among others. The company said emergency use authorisations have been obtained in 13 countries with more to follow. Application for EUL has been submitted to WHO-Geneva, regulatory approvals are expected Jul-Sept 2021. “Most countries recommend vaccinations against COVID-19. Unvaccinated travelers can travel with negative RT-PCR tests prior to travel, in the absence of any other country specific travel restrictions.”

Kerala reports 29,803 new COVID-19 cases, 177 deaths

Kerala reports 29,803 new COVID-19 cases, 33,397 recoveries and 177 deaths.

Active cases: 2,55,406

Total recoveries: 21,32,071

Death toll: 7,731

Maharashtra: Heavy traffic seen on Western Express Highway in Mumbai; COVID restrictions extended till June 1

Maharashtra: Heavy traffic was seen on Western Express Highway near Pathan Wadi Bridge at Malad in Mumbai earlier today. State government had extended COVID-19 restrictions till June 1.

COVID: Hindustan Zinc hands over 500 oxygen concentrators to Rajasthan

Udaipur, Rajasthan, India  Business Wire India   Oxygen concentrators given in a virtual program in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot and Chairman Vedanta, Shri Anil Agarwal     The first tranche of 200 oxygen concentrators were further distributed across key districts of Rajasthan     Company has invested over Rs 28 crores in COVID-19 relief efforts in the state in the last few weeks to battle the 2nd wave of pandemic  Hindustan Zinc (HZL), a Vedanta Group company has always been at the forefront to support community and government in the fight against COVID-19. In continuation of its efforts to meet the shortage of Oxygen in hospitals of Rajasthan, the company has gone a step further and especially imported and brought 500 oxygen concentrators for the state. The Oxygen Concentrators were handed over to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan  Shri Ashok Gehlot by Hindustan Zinc in a virtual program in the presence of Vedanta Group Chairman  Shri. Anil Agarwal, Vedanta CEO  Shri. Sunil Duggal and Hindustan Zinc CEO  Shri. Arun Misra..

Cyclone Yaas: Railways transports 680 MT Liquid Medical Oxygen in 12 hours by 8 Oxygen Express trains 

Railways upscale Oxygen Express operations from Eastern States to beat the Cyclone winds, transport 680 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen in 12 hours in 8 Oxygen Expresses to bring relief to the nation: Indian Railways

Data show Haryana had 6% vaccine wastage of Covieshield, 10.2% wastage of Covaxin 

Data released by the Centre showed Haryana had a 6% vaccine wastage percentage of Covieshield & 10.2% wastage of Covaxin. Thereafter, Health Department swung into action, identified data mismatch & corrected it (Covishield wastage – 3.1% & Covaxin wastage – 2.4%): State govt

Moderna says its COVID-19 shot works in kids as young as 12

Moderna said Tuesday its COVID-19 vaccine strongly protects kids as young as 12, a step that could put the shot on track to become the second option for that age group in the U.S. With global vaccine supplies still tight, much of the world is struggling to vaccinate adults in the quest to end the pandemic. But earlier this month, the U.S. and Canada authorized another vaccine the shot made by Pfizer and BioNTech to be used starting at age 12. Moderna aims to be next in line, saying it will submit its teen data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other global regulators early next month.

MSN Lab initiates Phase III clinical trial of Molnupiravir capsules for COVID-19 treatment

Drug firm MSN Laboratories on Tuesday said it is initiating a phase III clinical trial of Molnupiravir capsules for the treatment of COVID19 in India.  The company said it has received its clinical trial approval on May 19, 2021, from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to perform an efficacy and safety study on Molnupiravir capsules on mild to moderate COVID19 patients.

Sikkim reports 278 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths

Sikkim’s COVID19 tally rose to 13,511 as 278 more people tested positive for the virus while five new fatalities pushed the death toll to 237, a health department bulletin said on Tuesday. The new COVID19 cases were reported from East Sikkim district (178), West Sikkim (49), South Sikkim (44) and North Sikkim district (7), it said.

Sikkim reports 278 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths

Sikkim’s COVID19 tally rose to 13,511 as 278 more people tested positive for the virus while five new fatalities pushed the death toll to 237, a health department bulletin said on Tuesday. The new COVID19 cases were reported from East Sikkim district (178), West Sikkim (49), South Sikkim (44) and North Sikkim district (7), it said.

More children infected with Covid, no need for panic but important to vaccinate, say experts

More children are testing positive in the second Covid wave but the infection is mostly mild and the mortality rate low, say experts, citing increased testing and enhanced understanding of symptoms as among the possible reasons for the rising graph. Though there is enough anecdotal evidence of COVID19 catching children  early teens and younger  there is little reason to panic, said several doctors and scientists. They also stressed on the urgent need to vaccinate children to stem the spread of the infection.

Woman claims in HC ex-gratia not paid for husband’s death on COVID duty

A woman has moved the Delhi High Court claiming that her husband was posted with the CATS during COVID19 last year and succumbed to the virus but the Delhi government denied her the Rs 1 crore exgratia promised to kin of the officials who died on the pandemic duty.  Justice Rekha Palli issued notice to the Delhi government and sought its stand on the woman’s plea who has contended that according to an office note of the Centralized Accident and Trauma Services (CATS), her husband was discharging COVID duties, but the Revenue department was of the view that he was not.

COVID-19: Maharashtra bans home quarantine in 18 districts

In a new development, home isolation is not allowed in 18 disricts of Maharashtra as the positivity rate is high. The state Health Minister Rajesh tope said the COVID positive patients in these districts will have to go to a quarantine centre. “We have decided to stop home isolation for patients of 18 districts where the positivity rate is high. The patients from these districts will have to go to a quarantine centre, won’t be allowed home isolation,” Tope said.

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Malaysia’s worsening COVID-19 outbreak sparks alarm

A worsening coronavirus outbreak in Malaysia has sparked alarm and is spilling over into neighboring Thailand, which recently discovered a more infectious variant in its south believed to have come from Malaysia. Malaysia has experienced a rapid climb in new cases since April that has strained its hospitals and prompted the government to impose a near lockdown until June 7.

High demand for COVID-related respiratory products, says Poly Medicure MD

Himanshu Baid, Managing Director at Poly Medicure, on Tuesday, said there is a high demand for COVID-related respiratory products. Poly Medicure, the manufacturer of medical devices and disposables, reported earnings for the March-ended quarter. Revenue was up 24 percent but margins have come off on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ).

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Karnataka: Strict lockdown will be implemented in Kalaburagi for three days from 6 am on May 27 to 6 am on May 30. The lockdown will restrict everything except essential goods and services, says Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi

GST Council to take up COVID related recommendations on May 28

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council will meet on May 28 to take up recommendations related to fighting the coronavirus pandemic, as per sources in the know. The COVID-related discussions are likely to be in terms of the tax rates for vaccines, drugs and pharmaceuticals.

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Delhi International Airport handles 100 COVID-19 relief flights last month

GMR group-run Delhi International Airport has handled 100 COVID-19 relief flights in the last one month, which have carried 1,750 metric tonnes (MT) of relief cargo from over 36 international destinations. During the second wave of the pandemic, the airport ensured efficient and swift handling of medical aid being received from across the world, with active support from its stakeholders, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said in a release on Tuesday. The country’s busiest airport is the largest cargo hub airport of south Asia region, with two integrated cargo terminals having an annual handling capacity of 1.8 million MT, which is scalable to 2.3 million MT.

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh said the 12th board examination will be conducted. It will be decided based on the situation of the pandemic. He will send a draft to Central minister after Chief Minister’s approval.

Millions of COVID vaccine doses on way to Taiwan, alert level extended

Millions of COVID19 vaccine doses are on their way to Taiwan, the health minister said on Tuesday, as he extended virus-related restrictions until the middle of June even though the trend in new infections is falling.

Maha: COVID-19 recoveries outnumber positive cases in Aurangabad

The daily count of COVID19 recoveries has outnumbered the fresh infections in the last one month in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, an official said on Tuesday. The district on Monday (May 24) recorded 326 COVID19 cases, which is a marked decline from April 24, when it saw 1,497 new infections, the official said. The present COVID19 positivity rate stands at 4.75 per cent, and there are 5,284 active cases in the district, he said.

How Madhya Pradesh plans to become COVID-19 free by May 31?

The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to designate villages as ‘Red, Yellow and Green Zones’ under the aggressive week-long ‘Kill Corona-4’ campaign from Tuesday to make the state Coronavirus free by May 31. In order to curb the rising COVID-19 cases in rural areas, the zones will be classified depending on the number of active cases in each village.

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Why effective communication is key to tackle a pandemic, experts discuss

Effective communication is the heart of any co-ordinated response during a crisis. During a health crisis, communication becomes even more significant. During a pandemic, it’s not just about conveying messages to people, the approach needs to be much broader.

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