New Delhi, Dec 31,2020: The Centre on Thursday asked all states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine roll out.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level meeting today to review the preparedness at session sites for COVID-19 vaccination with Pr. Secretaries (Health), NHM MDs and other health administrators of all States/UTs through video conference.
The dry run will be conducted by all the State and UT governments on January 2, 2021 (Saturday), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement here.
The activity is proposed to be conducted in all state capitals in at least 3 session sites; some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain/have poor logistical support; Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to schedule the dry run in major cities other than their capital.
The objective of the dry run for COVID-19 vaccine introduction is to assess operational feasibility in the use of Co-WIN application in field environment, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges and guide way forward prior to actual implementation. This is also expected to give confidence to programme managers at various levels.
The planning for the vaccine introduction will be as per the Operational Guidelines issued by the Ministry on December 20.
For each of the three session sites, the concerned Medical Officer In-charge will identify 25 test beneficiaries (healthcare workers). The states/UTs have been asked to ensure that the data of these beneficiaries is uploaded in Co-WIN.
These beneficiaries will also be available at the session site for the dry run. The states and UTs will prepare the facilities and users to be created on CoWIN application including uploading the data of Health Care Worker (HCW) beneficiaries.
New Delhi, Dec 31,2020: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has imposed a night curfew in the National Capital in order to check the spread of Novel Coronavirus.
No New Year celebrations, congregations, gatherings will be allowed during the night curfew. The restrictions will be in place from 2300 hours of December 31 to 0600 hours of January 01 and also from 2300 hours of January 01 to 0600 hours of January 02, DDMA said in a statement issued late Wednesday.
During the two-day night curfew, not more than five persons will be allowed to assemble at a public place, the statement added.
“A detailed assessment of the situation in Delhi has been made and considering the threat posed by the mutant UK strain of COVID-19 virus and after observing the local incidents of Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi, it is apprehended that gatherings, congregations, and public celebrations of New Year pose a considerable threat of the spread of the virus and may cause a setback to the appreciable gains made in the suppression of chain of transmission of COVID-19 cases in Delhi,” the statement read.
However, there shall be no restrictions on interstate and intrastate movement of persons and goods during the curfew period.
On Wednesday, the National Capital had reported 677 fresh cases of COVID-19, taking the total number of infections to 624,000.
Besides, 21 more people also succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 10,523.
Till Wednesday, the Union Health Ministry said, 20 UK returnees were detected with the new COVID strain, which first found in Britain. Of these, eight have been registered by a Delhi lab.
Buenos Aires, Dec 31,2020: Argentina’s Senate has passed a law legalising abortion, a victory for the women’s movement that has been fighting for the right for decades.
Under Wednesday’s majority vote, abortion is legalised up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and is also legal after that time in cases of rape or danger to the mother’s life.
The vote was passed with 38 votes in favor, 29 against and one abstention, after a marathon 12-hour session that began late Tuesday.
It was already approved by Argentinas Chamber of Deputies and has the support of President Alberto Fern ndez, meaning the Senate vote is its final hurdle.
Argentine senators debated for hour after hour over legalising abortion, wrangling into the early hours of Wednesday before a vote that marked the culmination of a decades-long fight by women’s groups in Pope Francis’ homeland and have repercussions across a continent where the procedure is largely illegal.
Jakarta (Indonesia), Dec 31,2020: Indonesia on Wednesday banned a militant Muslim group with a long record of vandalizing nightspots, hurling stones at Western embassies and attacking religious rivals.
The security affairs minister, Mohammad Mahfud, told reporters that the Islamic Defenders Front, known by its Indonesian acronym FPI, had continued to carry out activities that violate order and security even though it was disbanded last year as a mass organization.
The government also banned the use of the FPI symbols and attributes.
The group, which wants Islamic Shariah law to apply to Indonesia’s 230 million Muslims, has gained significant influence in recent years through humanitarian and charity work.
It was a key organizer of massive street protests in 2016 and 2017 against the Christian governor of Jakarta, who was subsequently imprisoned for blasphemy.
Its leader, Rizieq Shihab, turned himself in to authorities earlier this month after he was accused of inciting people to breach pandemic restrictions by holding events with large crowds.
Munich [Germany], December 30 ,2020: The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) on Tuesday called on Turkey to abide by international law and the “principle of non-refoulement” and refrain from signing the extradition treaty with the government of China.
“If adopted by Turkey, the extradition treaty is likely to become another instrument of persecution for China, aiding the Chinese government in its coordinated efforts to forcibly return Uyghurs living abroad,” WUC said in a statement.
This statement comes after the extradition treaty between the two countries was announced on Monday, when China’s Standing Committee of the People’s Congress ratified the bilateral agreement signed in 2017.
The pro-Uyghur body said that latest Sino-Turkish treaty aims to target ”Uyghurs” who are suspected of terrorism.
“Since 2017, China has been interning an estimated 1.8-3 millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in concentration camps, under the guise of counterterrorism. Recent leaked documents revealed that China has criminalised and detained Uyghurs for everyday lawful, non-violent behaviour, as well as for travelling or having family abroad,” the statement said.
It said that announcement of ratification of the treaty has created great worry among the Uyghur community in Turkey, which is home to an estimated 50,000 Uyghurs.
“Due to the repression against the Uyghurs in East Turkistan, a large number of these Uyghurs have fled and become stateless, living under precarious conditions. The new treaty would aggravate their situation even further, as it would place these Uyghurs at a greater risk of being forcibly returned to China, where they could face severe maltreatment,” the statement further said.
After Uyghurs flee China, the Chinese government relentlessly pursues Uyghur refugees and uses its power and influence to pressure host countries into returning Uyghur refugees and asylum seekers. Upon their return, Uyghurs are subjected to enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture, and other serious human rights violations.
In the past 20 years, over 300 confirmed Uyghurs have been forcibly returned to China from 16 different countries. These numbers don’t include the Uyghurs who were secretly returned to China by neighbouring states. These individuals were students, refugees, and asylum seekers.
“Turkey is considered to be a second home for Uyghurs, who have taken refuge in this country that has cultural and linguistic ties with the Uyghur people,” WUC president Dolkun Isa said. “Given the genocide that is unfolding in East Turkistan, the Turkish government has a responsibility to protect all Uyghurs living in Turkey.”
“Turkey has an obligation under international law and the principle of non-refoulement to prevent Uyghurs in Turkey from being returned to China. Failing to do so will put these Uyghurs at risk of severe maltreatment. It would also taint Turkey’s reputation as a country that has long welcomed Uyghurs fleeing persecution in China and has spoken out against these abuses,” WUC said.
In international human rights law, the principle of non-refoulement means that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture or inhuman treatment.
Jammu, Dec 30,2020: Jammu and Kashmir recorded the elimination of 203 terrorists including 166 local militants by security forces in 2020, while 43 civilians were killed and 92 others injured in the union territory, official sources said.
The security forces have also arrested 49 terrorists and ensured surrender of nine militants during the year, they said.
This is the result of the coordinated efforts of the Army, Police and the CRPF working in the joint security grid, the officials said.
As many as 203 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year and of these 166 were locals and 37 were from Pakistan or of foreign origin, they said.
There have been 96 terror-related incidents in 2020. While 43 civilians were killed, 92 others suffered injuries in these incidents, they said.
The civilian casualties have come down as in 2019, 47 civilians were killed and 185 persons injured, they said.
During 2020, there was recovery of 14 IEDs as compared to 36 recovered in 2019, they said.
In 2019, 152 terrorists, including 120 locals and 32 of Pakistan-origin were killed by the security forces in J&K. In 2018, 215 terrorists were neutralized by security forces.
A total of 257 terrorists, 91 security personnel and 39 civilians were killed in 614 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, as per the report.
In 2017, 213 terrorists, 80 security personnel and 40 civilians were killed in 342 terror incidents in the state, the report said.
In 2016, a total of 150 terrorists, 82 security personnel and 15 civilians were killed in 322 terror incidents, while in 2015, 108 terrorists, 39 security personnel and 17 civilians were killed in 208 terror incidents, it said.
A total of 110 terrorists, 47 security personnel and 28 civilians were killed in 222 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, the report said.
According to the sources, South Kashmir has seen the maximum number of encounters where the highest number of terrorists were eliminated. Areas like Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama which have seen instances of recruitment of local youths by terror groups have recorded maximum encounters.
New Delhi , December 29 ,2020: Six UK returnees have been found positive for the new UK variant coronavirus genome in India. The Union Health Minister stated that samples of three UK returnees have been tested and found positive for new UK strain in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, two in Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad and one in National Institute of Virology, Pune.
All these persons have been kept in single room isolation in designated Health Care facilities by respective State Governments.
Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine. Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is going on, the Union Health Ministry stated.
The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the States for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs.
According to the Union Health Ministry, between November 25 and December 23, about 33,000 passengers disembarked at various Indian airports from the UK. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by States and Union Territories to RT-PCR tests.
So far only 114 have been found positive for COVID-19.
These positive samples have been sent to 10 INSACOG labs (NIBMG Kolkata, ILS Bhubaneswar, NIV Pune, CCS Pune, CCMB Hyderabad, CDFD Hyderabad, InSTEM Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, IGIB Delhi, NCDC Delhi) for genome sequencing.
The government of India took cognizance of the reports of the mutant variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus reported from the UK and put in place a pro-active and preventive strategy to detect and contain the mutant variant, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
This strategy includes, but is not limited to, the following steps– temporary suspension of all flights coming from the UK with effect from the midnight of 23rd December 2020 till 31st December 2020, according to an official release.
Mandatory testing of all UK returnee air passengers through RT-PCR test. The samples of all UK returnees found positive in the RT-PCR test to be genome sequenced by a consortium of 10 govt. labs i.e. INSACOG.
Meeting of the National Task Force (NTF) on Covid-19 on 26th December 2020 to consider and recommend Testing, Treatment, Surveillance and Containment Strategy.
Standard Operating Protocol for States/UTs to tackle the mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 issued on 22nd December 2020.
The entire issue was examined at length by NTF on 26th December 2020 and the NTF concluded that there is no need to change either the existing National Treatment Protocol or existing Testing Protocols in view of the mutant variant. NTF also recommended that in addition to the existing surveillance strategy, it is critical to conduct enhanced genomic surveillance.
It is important to note that the presence of the new UK Variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore, so far.
Pretoria, Dec 29,2020: As a new strain of the Corona virus has been detected in the country, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced new COVID-19 restrictions that include strict mask wearing rules and a curfew extension.
As per the statement released on the president’s website, the new coronavirus strain that has emerged in South Africa could be more infectious than the variant that caused the first wave.
Because of the risks associated with this new strain (501.V2), South Africa’s authorities have decided to extend the curfew, which will now be in force from 21:00 until 06:00.
Mask wearing will now be mandatory and violators will face a fine “or imprisonment for up to six months, or both a fine and imprisonment,” said the president’ statement.
Mass gatherings, except funerals, are being banned for 14 days, both indoors and outdoors. Alcohol sales are now prohibited in stores.
The new restrictions will be in force until January 15 after which they will be subject to review.
South Africa has more than one million confirmed coronavirus cases and the country’s COVID-19 death toll stands at around 27,000.