Tag: Covid19

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-Top News COVID-19 World News

PM bats for united approach to fight Covid-19 at G7

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (PIB)

Modi seeks support for proposal moved by India and South Africa at the WTO for a TRIPS waiver, move gets strong backing from Australia, others reports Asian Lite

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the G7 states to adopt a united approach to the coronavirus pandemic and future health emergencies with the mantra of “One earth, one health”, amid support for India’s proposal for a waiver of patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines.

The Prime Minister sought the support for proposal moved by India and South Africa at the WTO for a TRIPS waiver. Australia and others came out strongly in support of his proposal.

His emphasis on keeping open supply chains for vaccine raw materials and components to help enhance vaccine production in countries like India received widespread support at the summit.

Modi called for global unity, leadership and solidarity and emphasized the special responsibility of democratic and transparent societies to prevent future pandemic outbreaks. He also mentioned that there should be ‘one earth, one health’ approach, which got echoed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

During his speech, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s ‘whole of society’ approach to fight the pandemic, synergising efforts of all levels of government, industry and civil society.

He spoke of India’s successful use of open source digital tools for contact tracing and vaccine management, and conveyed India’s willingness to share its experience and expertise.

Sources said the Prime Minister expressed India’s commitment to support collective endeavours to improve global health governance.

India first participated in the outreach Session of the G7 Summit in 2003 when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was invited by the then French Presidency. At the time, the focus of the summit was on climate change and global economic growth. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh participated in the annual G7 summit outreach sessions from 2005 to 2009.

France had invited Prime Minister Modi to the G7 ‘Biarritz Summit’ in 2019 as “a goodwill partner”. PM Modi participated in two outreach sessions- on ‘Climate, Biodiversity and Oceans’ and the second on ‘Digital Transformation’.

President Trump had invited PM to attend the G7 Outreach sessions in Camp David to be held in June 2020 under the US Presidency. The Summit was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, PM Modi attended the outreach session at the summit which is being held in the UK, which is the current G7 president.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, also a special invitee to the outreach session, and others supported the proposal for patent waivers, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in his remarks, said countries such as India should be provided adequate raw materials and components to ensure the mass production of doses.

Modi also expressed appreciation for support extended by the G7 states and other countries during the second wave of coronavirus infections in India.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participates in the first Outreach Session of the G7 Summit, through video conferencing, in New Delhi on June 12, 2021. (PIB)

Ways to fight the pandemic, a call for a fresh investigation into the origins of the Coronavirus and China’s aggressive actions around the world have dominated the discussions at the G7 Summit that has brought together the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US in the British seaside resort.

The other countries invited as special guests for the outreach sessions are Australia, South Korea and South Africa.

India has engaged closely with the G7 states on issues such as health, climate and environment, digital and technology, and economic resilience. Indian ministers and officials have been involved in several working level meetings in these areas.

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Health USA

‘Hospital mergers making medical care out of reach’

Major hospital chains also argue that their size and reach helped them better care for patients, allowing them to divert supplies and people to hard-hit areas during the health crisis…reports Asian Lite News

Generous Covid-19 aid from Congress has enabled some of the largest US hospital chains to merge weakened competitors, inflating medical expenses and making it harder for ordinary people to receive treatment, a media report said.

“More consolidation by several major hospital systems enhanced their market prowess in many regions of the US, even as rural hospitals and underserved communities were overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients and struggled to stay afloat,” Xinhua news agency quoted The New York Times report as saying on Saturday.

“The buying spree is likely to prompt further debate and scrutiny of the Provider Relief Fund, a package of $178 billion in congressional aid that drew sharp criticism early on for allocating so much to the wealthiest hospital systems, and that had no limits on mergers and acquisitions,” it said.

“It was not the intent to be a capital infusion to the largest and most financially stable providers to allow them to simply grow their slice of market share,” House Representative Katie Porter, Democrat of California, was quoted as saying in the report.

Meanwhile, hospitals say the Covid-19 aid played no role in these deals, some of which were in the works before the pandemic.

Major hospital chains also argue that their size and reach helped them better care for patients, allowing them to divert supplies and people to hard-hit areas during the health crisis, according to the report.

Lawmakers are pushing for greater oversight of hospitals.

In a hearing on May 19, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, asked for more resources so regulators could tackle “the vicious cycle” of hospital consolidation.

“When mergers are anti-competitive, they must be stopped,” she said.

According to the report, major fund receivers are all buying or already bought some smaller hospitals.

The relief money they won from Congress was usually counted in billions of dollars.

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COVID-19 India News

UP villages get a new goddess

The women, on Sunday, lined up to offer prayers to ‘Corona Mai’ in Kushinagar district….reports Asian Lite News

Women in the villages of Varanasi and Kushinagar have now deified the Coronavirus and have started worshipping ‘Corona Mai’ to lessen her fury and save people from dying.

The women, on Sunday, lined up to offer prayers to ‘Corona Mai’ in Kushinagar district.

In Varanasi, women are coming together in groups on the Ghats to offer prayers and appease the Corona Mai.

Surili Devi of Kushinagar said that they would offer prayers for 21 days to appease the Corona Mai and were confident that the pandemic would recede.

When asked who prescribed them this spiritual method to check the deadly virus, she said, “A number of pandits have said that we should offer prayers to stop the Corona virus.”

She said that everyone was confident that the prayers would work and Corona would go away from their villages.

Women who are lining up to pray for hours, are not maintaining social distancing.

“When we are praying to Corona Mai, there is no need for anything else. The ‘Corona Mai’ will bless us and cure people,” said Ishwari, another devotee.

ALSO READ: Nuclear, space sectors contribute for Covid fight

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-Top News Asia News COVID-19

World Bank grants Pakistan $153mn for Covid fight

This comes under World Bank’s effort to help poor countries purchase and distribute vaccines, tests, and treatments…report Asian Lite News

The World Bank has approved the provision of USD 153 million to support the ongoing national vaccine drive in Pakistan to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes under World Bank’s effort to help poor countries purchase and distribute vaccines, tests, and treatments. As of May 13, the World Bank has approved vaccine projects in 21 countries amounting to more than USD 2 billion.

According to the press statement released on Thursday, these funds will help strengthen the health system’s capacity to implement the vaccination campaign for its prioritized and eligible populations.

“The third wave of COVID-19 emerged in Pakistan in March 2021 and is threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“The World Bank remains a committed partner to support Pakistan in addressing this public health crisis, including through vaccination, and providing support to tackle the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.”

Pakistan’s medical facilities crumbling under rising COVID-19 cases(ANI)

In addition to this financing for vaccines in Pakistan, the World Bank has provided a total of USD 768.5 million to support the vaccination purchase and rollout efforts in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

In addition to financing, the Bank is providing technical assistance and knowledge-sharing workshops for countries in South Asia on different aspects of designing and deploying fair and equitable vaccine strategies.

Till May 13, a total of 3,997,186 people in Pakistan had received the COVID-19 jab, Geo News reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: China, Pakistan mark 70 years of bilateral ties
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-Top News Asia News Sri Lanka

Lanka starts administering Sinopharm vax

Sri lanka vaccination

The vaccines were administered on Saturday at the Panadura Health Office in Kalutara District, in the outskirts of capital Colombo…reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry has started administering the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19 to citizens, soon after the World Health Organization (WHO) approved it for emergency use worldwide.

The vaccines were administered on Saturday at the Panadura Health Office in Kalutara District, in the outskirts of capital Colombo, an area which has reported a rising number of Covid-19 cases in recent days, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking at the launch of the vaccination drive, State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana thanked the Chinese government for sending the Sinopharm vaccines and said this would add to the efforts of the Sri Lankan government to inoculate at least 70 per cent of its population against the virus by the end of the year.

“Today is a very special day for the Panadura MoH office. We want to thank the Chinese government as well as the WHO for approving the Sinopharm under emergency use. Today we began administering the Sinopharm in the Panadura area and want to thank President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for approving to start this program from the Kalutara district,” Jayasumana said.

Sri Lanka vaccination against Covid 19

State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid Disease Control Sudharshani Fernandopulle, also said at the launch that with the WHO and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) approving the Sinopharm vaccine under emergency use in Sri Lanka, authorities will now look to get more vaccines from China to vaccinate the local population.

“Today we began administering the Sinopharm vaccine in the Panadura Health office for locals above the age of 30 years and below the age of 60 years. From tomorrow (Sunday) we will also identify the areas which have reported the highest number of Covid-19 patients in recent days and will begin to administer the Sinopharm vaccines in those areas as well,” Fernandopulle said.

She said some of the areas worst affected by the virus were Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Kandy, and Matale, and authorities were making arrangements to vaccinate the people in these areas as soon as possible.

The Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Sri Lanka last month, under a special grant by the Chinese government to the Health Ministry.

Sri Lanka has so far reported 123,234 confirmed coronavirus cases and 786 deaths.

Also read:Sri Lanka bans travellers from India

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-Top News India News

MP shocker: Patients treated in fields

Hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients and no beds are available in Madhya pradesh…reports Asian Lite News

 In a shocking sight from Madhya Pradesh, patients in its Agar Malwa district were seen being treated in fields with IV fluid bottles dangling from tree branches.

The increasing number of Covid patients in the district has put a lot of pressure on health care system. Hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients and no beds are available. In such a situation, doctors are forced to treat patients whereever they get space.

While the corona epidemic wreaks havoc, a large number of patients in the rural areas are suffering from common cold, cough but are not getting tested for Covid. They are not even ready to go to the district headquarters for treatment. In such a situation, doctors and quacks working in rural areas have found novel ways to treat patients and earn whatever they could.

: Madhya Pradesh shocker: Patients in fields, IV bottles hang from trees
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In the rural areas of Agar Malwa district, patients are being treated in fields with glucose bottles hanging from tree branches, in complete disregard of medical rules. The agricultural fields look like hospital beds and trees have become glucose bottle stands.

Health Officer Manish Kuril says that the action will be taken against doctors who are treating the patients like this.

Tweeting a video of patients being treated in fields, Congress spokesperson Syed Jaffer said: “Agar Malwa is a district which has been under the charge of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for a long time. Now look at the pictures, what has he done for this district? Life is hanging through tree. How bad can it get? The condition has deriorated so much in 16 years. Now it is time for your government to hang up. Believe me.”

Also read:Thousands defy Covid curbs to gather at Gujarat temple

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-Top News UK News

Priti, Jaishankar sign Migration & Mobility partnership

“This is an important outcome for the India-U.K. Virtual Summit that is due to commence shortly,” he said in another tweet…reports Asian Lite News.

“This is an important outcome for the India-U.K. Virtual Summit that is due to commence shortly,” he said in another tweet…reports Asian Lite News.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said that the agreement was an important outcome for the upcoming India-UK Virtual Summit.

“A fruitful meeting this morning with Home Secretary @pritipatel. Signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows. The living bridge between India and U.K. will get stronger as a result,” tweeted the Minister.

“This is an important outcome for the India-U.K. Virtual Summit that is due to commence shortly,” he said in another tweet.

Jaishankar, who is on a four-day visit to the UK from May 3-6, met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in London at G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting earlier today.

The two leaders discussed the COVID-19 challenge, vaccine production capacity, supply chains with him amid the second wave of pandemic in India.

“Good to meet in person my old friend @SecBlinken. Detailed discussion on the global Covid challenge, focussing on expanded vaccine production capacity and reliable supply chains,” tweeted Jaishankar.

After the meeting, Blinken tweeted: “Met today with @DrSJaishankar to discuss our joint efforts to combat COVID-19 and to advance our broader comprehensive global strategic partnership. India is a close friend and partner, and I look forward to further deepening the unique partnership between our two nations.”

Blinken assured Jaishankar that the US was monitoring developments closely and would respond positively to any Indian requirements, they said.

According to sources, oxygen and related equipment continue to be a key priority. The US has also acted on India’s request for more Remdesivir. The next shipment from the US will also be landing in India soon.

The G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union present as an observer.

As host, the UK has invited additional countries to join as guests at the meeting, including India, Australia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, and Brunei in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN. (ANI)

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-Top News Asia News COVID-19

State of emergency declared in Tokyo

The state of emergency, a third of its kind so far declared in the country, will come into effect from Sunday to May 11…reports Asian Lite News

Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday declared a state of emergency over Covid-19 in the national capital Tokyo and the western prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo.

The state of emergency, a third of its kind so far declared in the country, will come into effect from Sunday to May 11, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The emergency is aimed at curbing a surge in Covid-19 cases during the upcoming Golden Week holidays.

People wearing face masks walk on the street in Tokyo, Japan

“We must take strong measures in a focused manner while many people are on holiday during the Golden Week to bring the virus under control,” Suga said.

Stricter restrictions, such as asking restaurants and bars not to serve alcohol and shutting down major commercial facilities, will be in place.

Also read:Blinken ,Japanese FM discuss free ‘Indo-Pacific’

Categories
EU News Travel & Tourism

Greece resumes tourism from May 14

“Holidaymakers will either have to be vaccinated or show a (negative) PCR coronavirus test,” said Official…reports Asian Lite News

Greek Vice-Minister of Tourism Sofia Zacharaki announced on Monday that holidaymakers from European Union (EU) nations will be able to travel Athens without having to quarantine from May 14 onwards.

However, there will be preconditions, dpa news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

“Holidaymakers will either have to be vaccinated or show a (negative) PCR coronavirus test,” she told the Greek news channel Skai.

Afterwards, they will be free to take their holidays in Greece, Zacharaki added.

This regulation will also apply to some non-EU states, among them Serbia and the UK, the Deputy Minister added.

Athens had already abolished the quarantine obligation for visitors from Israel on a bilateral level at the end of March.

Also read:Covid cases surge in Greece again

Israeli holidaymakers must show an official confirmation in English that they have been vaccinated.

In addition, 14 days must have passed since the second vaccination.

Visitors from Israel must also show a negative PCR coronavirus test, which must not be more than 72 hours old.

Since the beginning of the year, the Greek government has been pushing for the development of an EU-wide vaccination passport.

This is to save the Greek tourism sector, which normally accounts for almost a fifth of Greece’s economic output.

“We hope that this EU vaccination passport will be in place by June,” Zacharaki added.

Also read:Greece mulls resuming tourism

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-Top News EU News

Germany on brink of 3rd Covid wave

Pedestrians wearing face masks are seen in Berlin, capital of Germany

“If the numbers of seriously ill Covid-19 patients exceed those experienced during the second wave, we will be in a critical situation,” said a German official…reports Asian Lite News

Germany’s largest university hospital, Berlin’s Charite, has sounded the alarm over the country’s worsening third wave of coronavirus infections.

“If the numbers of seriously ill Covid-19 patients exceed those experienced during the second wave, we will be in a critical situation,” said Martin Kreis, a board member at Charite, DPA news agency reported.

At the beginning of the year, the number of severe Covid-19 cases in Charite’s intensive care units reached its absolute limit. The hospital was unable to accept patients from other parts of Germany as a result.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to care for patients from the Berlin area,” said Kreis.

The number of people entering intensive care units at Charite has increased significantly over the past two weeks, with the 30-60 age group particularly badly affected because they are less likely to have received a vaccination.

Though most of the hospital’s workforce is now vaccinated, but many are suffering from exhaustion and trauma over the many coronavirus-related deaths, Kreis said.

Germany is battling a third wave of infections driven mainly by the British variant of the virus.

The Robert Koch Institute for disease control said Saturday that 24,097 cases and 246 deaths had been registered within 24 hours. The seven-day incidence figure per 100,000 inhabitants stood at 120.6.

Also read:Germany limits use of AstraZeneca jabs