Health
Dr Amol Deshmukh writes to PM Modi requesting strict air travel screening to restrict ‘Omicron’ variant of COVID
Dr Amol R Deshmukh
Nagpur’s Dr Amol R Deshmukh (National Coordinator, Research Department, All India Congress Committee) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting strict air travel screening for all international flights to restrict the new found ‘Omicron’ variant of COVID-19. Dr Deshmukh’s letter to PM Modi read:
“Dear Sir,
The WHO has classified a new variant B1.1.529 (termed as Omicron) as a ?variant of concern? identified in South Africa. It has 32 mutations as compared to Delta variant, which has 2 mutations and is expected to be very virulent and infectious. These details will get clearer in next one to two weeks.
As a matter of concern, India could consider stricter and tighter screening at airports for all international flights. The emergence of this variant in southern Africa has disrupted global aviation again. The United Kingdom, United States and EU have imposed travel bans against a number of southern African nations in a bid to stop the spread of a new coronavirus variant.
India should resist resumption of regular international flights which are set to open starting December 15, as announced by the Civil Aviation Ministry. India would benefit from similar action as our economy cannot sustain another lockdown and hence air travel screening should be stricter so that we prevent the variants entry into India. It is to note that New Zealand as a country benefited by this modality alone since the first COVID wave.
I hope you take the above suggestion positively and looking at the present scenario, implement it on priority. I would be happy to extend my support to the concerned department in the planning/implementation process, if required.”
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) added 25 additional beds in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital Kalwa apart from arranging a special ward dedicated to COVID-19 patients. The total number of active patients in the city stood at 252 while five succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, TMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said a ‘death audit’ of patients who died of COVID would be conducted. The TMC has ensured it has additional stock of oxygen concentrators, testing kits, medicines, to name a few. Bangar told HT, “Due to the increasing number of Covid patients, it is necessary for everyone to be alert.”
He added, The number of Covid tests should be increased to stay one step ahead of the disease. As a result, the number of patients is likely to increase due to increased testing. However, as per the ‘test, isolate, treat’ protocol for Covid, it becomes necessary to isolate and treat more and more patients. The testing centres will not remain closed even for a single day. At the same time, more arrangements for testing will be made immediately in public places, markets, railway stations, malls.”
India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.
Also read: Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours
Politics
After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified
Rahul Gandhi
An independent candidate for Lok Sabha elections named Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from contesting polls for failing to lodge account of election expenses. Gandhi, who’s name figures as ‘Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma’ in an Election Commission list of persons, had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent and had received 2196 votes from the Wayanad seat in Kerala – a constituency from where ex-Congress MP Rahul Rajiv Gandhi had won with over seven lakh votes.
However, since it is mandatory for all contestants to submit their account of election expenses among other mandatory requirements under EC rules and the Representation of the People Act.
Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma stood disqualified to contest polls from September 13, 2021 till September 13, 2024. According to Section 10A, the Election Commission can disqualify a contestant for a period of three years from the date of the order if he/she has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by law and has no good reason or justification for the failure.
Also read: ‘CBI under UPA govt. pressurised me to frame Modi,’ recalls Amit Shah
A total of 22 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagpur in past 24 hours on Thursday. Almost 242 people were tested in the city, out of which 15 belonged to urban area while and 6 were from the rural areas, and one from outside Nagpur district.
At present, there are 72 active patients in the city. Three new cases of the new XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 were detected that took the total tally to five in the district.
India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.
Also read: CELESTIAL! Unique alignment of Moon and 5 planets
Thane Municipal Corporation adds 25 beds as COVID cases rise
After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified
Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours
‘CBI under UPA govt. pressurised me to frame Modi,’ recalls Amit Shah
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