Archives for December 2021

GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Sunday issued a new SOP, including mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival, for international travellers, amid rising number of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country.

The new SOP has been formulated on the basis of the protocol for international travellers prepared by the Centre, state Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said in a statement.

India reported 17 more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Sunday – nine in Rajasthan capital Jaipur, seven in Maharashtra’s Pune district and a 37-year-old fully vaccinated man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania – taking the tally to 21 in the country.

Most of those who tested positive either recently arrived from African countries or were in contact with such people.

With this, four states and the national capital have now reported cases of the potentially more contagious variant which has sparked a fresh alert across the world.

The country reported the first two cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Thursday in Karnataka.

Both patients are fully vaccinated.

On Saturday, a 72-year-old NRI from Gujarat and a 33-year-old man from Maharashtra’s Thane tested positive for the new strain.

All international travellers will have to undergo compulsory RT-PCR test for COVID-19 on arrival with children below five years of age having been exempted, Mahanta said.

However, if any child below five years of age coming from abroad is having symptoms for COVID-19, a test will have to be conducted, he said.

If travellers are found positive for the infection, they will have to abide by the state government protocol for the treatment of such patients, and their samples will also be sent to laboratories for genome sequencing to determine the COVID variant.

International travellers, who test negative on arrival, will compulsorily have to undergo seven-day home quarantine, the statement said.

As per the new SOP, district authorities will keep track of overseas travellers and ensure that they follow all the protocols.

It also asked those who are going out of or coming into Assam to upload a self-declaration form on “Air Suvidha” portal before the scheduled journey.

They have to submit travel details for the last 14-days and their negative RT-PCR report, not older than 72 hours.

Each passenger will also have to submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution if found otherwise.

They should also give an undertaking on the portal or to the Ministry of Civil Aviation through airlines before they are allowed to undertake the journey that they would abide by decisions of the appropriate government authority to undergo home or institutional quarantine as warranted.

Pramesh S Jain

A 13-year-old girl student of 9th standard died under mysterious circumstances after she fell from the 12th floor of her apartment in Hulimavu on Saturday night.

The deceased has been identified as Vaishnavi, daughter of Veerendra,a Civil Contractor.

The family resides in Venugopal Nagar in Hulimavu and she was studying in 9th class in a private school.

Senior police officer said that the incident took place at around 10.30pm after Vaishnavi went near the balcony attached to the drawing room after having dinner.

A few minutes later, the family heard her screaming and went to check to find that she had fallen down.

The security guard of the apartment who also heard the sound rushed to the spot and she was shifted to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Hulimavu police inspected the spot and ruled out that it was an accidental fall.We suspect that it is a case of suicide and the reason is yet to be ascertained ” .

The police are trying to retrieve her mobile which was locked.The body was handed over to the family on Sunday after the postmortem and police are awaiting to question her family members .

The Hulimavu police have taken up a case and are probing to ascertain the cause of death said a senior officer.

(Those in distress or those having suicidal tendencies can call Arogya Sahayavani Ph: 104 for help.)

Pramesh S Jain

Taking tough measures to contain the Covid spread,Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai has said that,any place with 3 or more cases of the pandemic would be declared as a Cluster.Earlier the limit was 10 cases.

Speaking to media persons he said,preliminary report on Omicron cases had been received. Health department had been instructed to obtain comprehensive report and treatment protocol being followed in various countries.

According to available information at present the protocol being followed for Delta variant is being followed for Omicron too.I want a scientific system to be followed.

Expert opinion is that Omicron is a fast spreading variant,but has not shown severe implications. However instructions had been issued to intensify tracing and treatment,Bommai said.

As for Cluster Management,two types of clusters had been planned.

one for places like schools,colleges and hostels, and the other for the apartment complex in Bengaluru where cases have been reported.

Every one in the clusters would be tested and treated.Only those with double dose vaccination would be allowed to assemble together in apartment complexes.

No outsiders would be allowed into the apartment.The BBMP Commissioner had been instructed in this regard,Bommai said.

Double dose had been made mandatory for parents of the students who attend classes off-line mode,testing is compulsory for all the inmates and staff of student hostels.

Testing has been made mandatory for those with comorbidities too.Officials had been instructed to take foolproof measures,Bommai said.

Unon Minister’s statement

Replying to a question about the statement of Union Health Minister,Mansukh Mandavia that, none of the states except Punjab had submitted report on deaths caused by oxygen shortage, Bommai said,”I have no information as to in what context the statement has been made.”

Discussion with Health minister :

When asked about Health Minister,Dr Sudhakar’s statement about 10 passengers from South Africa found missing in the state,Bommai said,I have not received official information about it. I will speak to the Health Minister about it.”

Home Minister cares a lot for the Police :

Reacting to comments that Home Minister,Araga Jnanendra had hurt the sentiments of police personnel by making harsh remarks, the Chief Minister said that Jnanendra had already clarified on the issue.

His comment was only about a few specific cases,not in general.Jnanendra is the most caring Home Minister who has immense zeal for welfare of police personnel,” Bommai said.

Belagavi session

Legislature session at Belagavi would be held as scheduled with adequate precautionary measures.

The District administration had been instructed in this regard. Double dose vaccine had been made compulsory for participating in the session, he said.

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah will make a detailed statement in both Houses of Parliament on Monday on the Nagaland incident in which 14 civilians and a jawan were killed in firing by security forces, parliamentary sources said.

In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the home minister will make a detailed statement on the issue in the House on Monday.

Speaker Om Birla said the home minister has given him in writing that he will make a statement on the incident in the House.

Earlier, sources had said Shah may first make the statement in Lok Sabha and then in Rajya Sabha.

On Sunday, the Army expressed deep regret over the incident and ordered a Court of Inquiry.

According to the police in Nagaland’s capital Kohima, it was investigating whether the incident was a case of mistaken identity.

Security forces opened fire on civilians killing 14 and injuring 11 more in Nagaland’s Mon district in three consecutive incidents of firing the first of which was possibly a case of mistaken identity, the state police had said on Sunday.

The first firing which killed six civilians, occurred when army personnel mistook coal mine workers returning home in a pick-up van singing songs on Saturday evening, to be insurgents belonging to the Yung Aung faction of the banned outfit NSCN (K), about whose movements they had been tipped off.

As workers failed to reach their homes, local youth and villagers went in search of them and surrounded the army vehicles.

In the ensuing melee one soldier was killed and army vehicles burnt down.

Soldiers who fired in self-defence killed another seven civilians, said police officials.

Rioting spilled over into Sunday afternoon when angry mobs vandalised the offices of the Konyak Union and an Assam Rifles camp in the area, setting fire to parts of the camp.

At least one more person was killed and another two injured, as security forces fired back at attackers.

The angry mob has been demanding immediate action against security force personnel involved in the firing.

The Nagaland government through a notification has banned mobile, internet and data services as well as bulk SMS in the district to curb “circulation of inflammatory video’s, pictures or text”.

Videos of mob vandalizing the Konyak Union office in Mon and the Assam Rifles camp are however circulating on social media despite the ban on internet services in the district.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who rushed back from Delhi on Sunday will visit the affected district on Monday.

Police said that the post-mortem of those killed is being conducted in Mon and feared that the number of fatalities may increase as at least two of those injured were critical and had to be evacuated to hospitals in Assam while the rest were being treated in Nagaland.

Ordering a Court of Inquiry into the incident, Army said one of its personnel was killed and several others were seriously injured.

It said that the incident and its aftermath is “deeply regretted” and the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level.

The state government has constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IGP Nagaland, officials said.

PRO Defence (Kohima) Lt Col Sumit K Sharma said “Based on credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents, a specific operation was planned to be conducted in the area of Tiru, Mon District, Nagaland. The incident and its aftermath is deeply regretted.”

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio promised a high-level probe into the incident and appealed to all sections of the society to maintain peace.

Mon shares a porous international border with Myanmar, where the Yung Aung faction of NSCN (K) is based.

Official sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief Gen M M Naravane have been briefed about the incident.

“SIT shall investigate the incident from all angles while a court of inquiry has been instituted against the army personnel involved,” Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam and Nagaland said in a statement, while appealing for peace.

Rio tweeted “the unfortunate incident leading to killing of civilians at Oting, Mon, is highly condemnable. Condolences to the bereaved families & speedy recovery of those injured. High level SIT will investigate & justice delivered as per the law of the land. Appeal for peace from all sections.”

Home Minister Amit Shah too tweeted his anguish and expressed “deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. A high-level SIT constituted by the State govt will thoroughly probe this incident to ensure justice to the bereaved families.”

Reacting to the incident, Gandhi however pointed out in a post on social media “This is heart wrenching. GOI must give a real reply. What exactly is the home ministry doing when neither civilians nor security personnel are safe in our own land?” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also demanded a thorough investigation and described it as a “worrisome news”.

In protest against the incident, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisaiton (ENPO) urged the six tribes of the region to withdraw participation from the ongoing Hornbill Festival, which is the state’s biggest tourism extravaganza.

“While expressing deep sorrow and sadness over the indiscriminate firing by Indian security force where more than 10 daily wage laborers from Oting village were blatantly killed, the ENPO vehemently condemn the barbaric act of the security force,” a release issued the organisation said.

The ENPO asked the six tribes to hoist black flags in their respective Morungs at Hornbill Festival venue Naga Heritage Village in Kisama near the state capital against the incident.

“It has to be understood by all concerned that this order/move is not against the State Govt., but to show resentment against the security forces who have committed this heinous crime, and to show solidarity of the 6 tribes,” it said.

Abu Mehta, advisor to the chief minister, said that two minute’s silence will be observed and prayers will be held at Kisama for those killed in the incident.

Meanwhile, the spate of civilian deaths due to firing by security forces has also led to renewed demands for withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 from the Northeast.

Binalakshmi Nepram, founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors’ Network and Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, on Sunday alleged that no security personnel involved in killing civilians in the region have ever been charged or put behind bars for wrong doing.

Terming the AFSPA a “colonial law”, Nepram maintained that it gives security forces a “license to kill”.

National Award-winning filmmaker Utpal Borpujari said even as civilians were killed on the basis of “false intelligence”, AFSPA grants immunity to the perpetrators.

A five-member TMC delegation will visit Nagaland on Monday to stand by the families of those killed and injured in the firing incident in Mon district.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has demanded a thorough investigation into the killing of civilians by security forces in Nagaland.

“This is to inform all that a five-member AITC delegation will be visiting Nagaland *tomorrow* to stand beside the families of those killed and injured in the heart-wrenching incident in Oting, Mon,” the party said in a statement.

The delegation will comprise four MPs- Prasun Banerjee, Sushmita Dev, Aparupa Poddar and Santanu Sen – and party spokesperson Biswajit Deb.

The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre, saying it has again exposed the “rank incompetence and folly of the Modi government in pushing a hitherto peaceful North East into turmoil and violence”.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the government must give a “real reply” as to what the Home Ministry is doing when “neither civilians, nor security personnel are safe in our own land”.

Reacting to the incident, Gandhi tweeted, “This is heart wrenching. GOI must give a real reply. What exactly is the Home Ministry doing when neither civilians, nor security personnel are safe in our own land?”

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a tweet said, “Heartbreaking news coming out of Nagaland, my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. They deserve justice.”

Party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the “killing of 13 civilians in Nagaland firing” has again exposed the “rank incompetence and folly of the Modi government in pushing a hitherto peaceful North East into turmoil and violence”.

The sheer scale of ignorance and incomprehension of the North East and its ethos has made the situation volatile, he said.

“The still born Nagaland Accord, the Assam-Mizoram border firing, the recent Manipur ambush, the toppling of government in Arunachal, the stifling of mandate in Manipur, all point towards the unpardonable sins of the Modi government at complete loss of strategy or direction for the North East,” Surjewala said.

In a tweet from its official Twitter handle, the Congress said, “Tragic news from Nagaland is highly distressing. Repeated incidents of violence in North East is a clear indication of the Modi government’s failure to maintain law and order and protect national security.”

“PM & HM — why is government unable to ensure safety of our civilians and security personnel,” the Congress asked.

NEW DELHI: Amid growing concerns over the new Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the efficacy of Covid vaccines must be evaluated and concerns with regards to the new strain developing immune escape mechanism critically addressed.

In its report, the committee said it apprehends that a rise in mutations in the virus may lead to reporting of more virulent and transmissible strain of the Covid virus in the country and strongly recommended the Union Health Ministry to adopt a zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy and closely track Covid cases across the country.

“The committee believes that timely detection and isolation of potentially infectious people is very crucial in reducing the impact of the pandemic COVID-19. The importance of diagnostic testing therefore, cannot be overlooked,” the panel said in its report.

In view of the loss of life during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee said that the measures taken by the ministry to contain or prevent the spread of SARS-COV-2 proved to be squarely inadequate and suggested that the focus should be on strengthening of health infrastructure, ensuring adequate availability of beds, adequate supply of oxygen cylinders and essential medicines etc.

With the threat of a third wave looming around, the government should utilise the time in strengthening public health infrastructure.

This is evident from the fact that unlike the first wave (peaked in September 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic, which largely was restricted to urban areas where testing was introduced rapidly, the second wave (peaked in May) largely spread through rural towns and villages, it said in its report.

The committee observed that there is a dire need for improving the geographical spread of testing facilities in the rural regions of the country.

It also recommended establishing sync between the PHCs/CHCs with the VRDLs in the states.

Besides, the government must aggressively keep pushing the vaccination programme in terms of granting approval to more vaccines, ramping up vaccine production, enhancing delivery capacity and increasing the vaccination rate, the committee said in its report.

“With the incidence of highly mutated Omicron (B.1.1.529) strain of Covid virus, the committee strongly believes that the efficacy of the vaccines must be evaluated.

The concerns with regards to the new strain developing immunoescape mechanism need to be critically addressed,” it said.

An efficient and widely deployed testing mechanism will go a long way in preventing the spread of the infection, the report noted.

The committee said that although the second wave came almost six months after the peak of the first wave, India’s testing infrastructure remained “abysmal and highly insufficient”.

The report stated that to combat the current pandemic and other future emergencies, India must realise its full testing capacity and augment this capacity even further and that the government should ensure that the testing should far outpace the growth of the cases to arrest future waves of Covid early.

“The committee also noted that with the new strain of Covid, Omicron (B.1.1.529), exhibiting 30 plus mutations, tracking and testing facilities especially at airports must also be strengthened and rigorous testing and screening of travellers must be carried out,” it said.

“The committee is also concerned about the efficacy of the present vaccines and the possibility of mutated strain like Omicron evading vaccine immunity.

The committee, therefore recommends the Government to conduct more research and examine the need of administering booster dose of vaccines for containing the newer strain of virus,” the report said.

The committee recommended Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia INSACOG to closely monitor the new strain of the virus and work towards upgrading the genome sequencing infrastructure in the country.

With WHO designating Omicorn as a “Variant of Concern”, the government must take immediate measures to prevent the transmission of any newer strains in the country, the committee said in its recommendations.

The committee also sought to be apprised of the ‘plan of action’ with respect to the utilisation of Rs 64,179.55 crores allocated for strengthening public health infrastructure for pandemic preparedness.

“The ministry may also apprise the committee about the feedback and assessment pertaining to key performance indicators related to surveillance, testing, hospital infrastructure, logistics at the district levels.

The committee observes that the steps taken to combat the second wave of pandemic were not sufficient and more concrete action could have been undertaken to contain the impact of Covid,” it said.

The committee noted that structural and operational corrections are required to prepare for future health emergencies.

It, therefore, recommended that every state should establish at least one medical college and hospital as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for proper health surveillance during emergency situations.