Taking a serious view of over 70 people being infected after attending a marriage and a funeral in Kozhikode and Wayanaad districts recently, the government has decided to restrict the number of those attending such events, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Earlier, the cap on attendees at marriages and funerals was 50.

With weddings and funerals turning out to be COVID-19 spreaders in some places, the Kerala government on Tuesday said a maximum of 20 people would only be allowed to participate in these events.

Taking a serious view of over 70 people being infected after attending a marriage and a funeral in Kozhikode and Wayanaad districts recently, the government has decided to restrict the number of those attending such events, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Hereafter, only 20 people can participate in marriages and funerals, he told reporters.

Earlier, the cap on attendees at marriages and funerals was 50.

In Chekkiad panchayat in Kozhikode, more than 30 people who had participated in a wedding of a doctor onJuly9 tested positive later, Mr Vijayan said.

The groom was among those who had tested positive. Vadakara MP, K Muraleedharan, had also attended the previous day’s functionand was asked by the Kozhikode Collector to go on quarantine.

In Wayanad’s Thavinhal panchayat, eight members of a family, who had participated in a funeral, were found positive for the virus on July 19.

Following this, authorities tested 210 other people who came in contact with them and totally 43 were found infected, the chief minister said.

The tests are continuing and would be held on Wednesday also, district health department sources

The panchayat has been declared as a containment zone. Mr Vijayan also said three health workers of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital tested positive following which it has been decided to test all workers.

Noting that 12 migrant workers who had returned to the state were found infected in Kozhikode district, he said those coming back should give their details to the district labour officer. Instructions had been issued in this regard, he added.

The Governor said he was concerned about the “frightening” situation in the state and the rising active virus cases.

Governor Kalraj Mishra had blocked two previous proposals for the assembly over various reasons 

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, in a statement today cancelling the annual Independence Day “at-home” event over what he called a spurt in coronavirus cases, delivered a message that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will not like to hear.

The Governor said he was concerned about the “frightening” situation in the state and the rising active virus cases.

“When the assembly session was cancelled on March 13, then there were two cases. At the time the session was cancelled to fight the spread of the global pandemic,” said Mr Mishra.

“There were 3381 cases on July 1. Now it is more than 10,000. The unrelenting virus spread is a cause for concern and the state has to take serious steps to save people from this worldwide pandemic.”

The statement comes a day after Chief Minister Gehlot submitted his third proposal for an assembly session from Friday. It is seen as a hint that if the Governor nixes it again, coronavirus could be a legit reason.

Mr Gehlot, who is fighting rebellion by his sacked deputy Sachin Pilot, is seen to be pursuing an assembly session for the singular goal of proving his majority on the floor of the house. He believes he has just about the numbers to win a trust vote at this time and accuses the Governor of stalling a session under pressure from the BJP.

The Governor blocked two previous proposals raising questions including one on coronavirus precautions.

On the last request, Mr Mishra had asked how social distancing and other virus protocol would be maintained during a session.

Yesterday, Mr Gehlot met with his cabinet to discuss the Governor’s questions and sent a revised proposal for a special session citing coronavirus as an agenda

To the Governor’s point on COVID-19 precautions, the Gehlot cabinet said it was up to the Speaker to ensure that all checks were in place. It also pointed out that Goa, Manipur and Puducherry had held sessions in the middle of the virus battle.

Mr Gehlot’s request to the Governor does not mention a trust vote. “We have a majority. We will prove it if required,” said a minister on Tuesday.

Kerala reported 702 new COVID-19 cases in the previous 24 hours. The national capital, which had been struggling with massive daily spike, reported just 613.

We need to let people go back to work, Shashi Tharoor said

The lockdown could not stem the rapid growth of coronavirus cases in Thiruvananthapuram; thus, people should be allowed to return to work, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted on Monday.

“Spoke to Kerala Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta to convey my concerns about reports of extended lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram. Many constituents point out that 3 wks lockdown have not slowed the spread of COVID-19. We need to let people go back to work to balance lives and livelihoods,” he tweeted.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said a committee will explore any scope of relaxing the lockdown rules.

“Due to serious conditions, there is a lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram. A committee led by Chief Secretary will look into the guidelines and issues on giving relaxations” he said.

The number of COVID-19 clusters in the corporation area of the city has also seen an increase, health officials say.

Kerala reported 702 new COVID-19 cases in the previous 24 hours. The doubling rate for COVID-19 in the state is around 13 days compared to 24 days in the beginning of the month.

Kerala’s total of cases touched 19,727, including 63 deaths. As many as 9611 people are presently under treatment, 10,049 patients have recovered and over 1.55 lakh people are under observation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters.

Of the total positive cases today in Kerala, 483 were infected through contact while the source of infection of 35 people are not yet known.

Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, reported the highest number of cases – 161. The city is under a strict lockdown till July 28.

Earlier this month, Mr Vijayan had said some areas of Thiruvananthapuram were experiencing community transmission

“The situation is very serious in some parts of coastal Thiruvananthapuram, where the spread has been fast. Community spread is happening in areas like Pullivula, Poonthura,” he had said.

India on Monday reported nearly 50,000 coronavirus cases, which took the total of those infected past 14 lakh.

As many as 63,250 samples were tested, taking the total specimens screened to 24,14,713 so far.

Chennai accounted for 95,857 cases out of the state’s tally of 2,20,716.

Tamil Nadu on Monday reported 6,993 fresh COVID cases, the highest single day spike, taking the tally to 2,20,716 while 77 deaths propelled the count to 3,571.

As many as 63,250 samples were tested, taking the total specimens screened to 24,14,713 so far.

Of the new infections, Chennai and its nearby three districts of Chengelpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur accounted for 2,422 cases and the remainder was spread across other districts, a health department bulletin said.

Sixty-nine people who died to the virus had comorbidities and eight none, taking the count to 3,571 with Chennai’s count alone rising to 2,032.

The dead included two men aged 95 and 26.

Monday is the third successive day the state has logged nearly 7,000 cases after 6,986 and 6988 on Sunday and Saturday respectively.

Gurdwara Shaheedi Asthan Bhai Taru Ji is a historical place where “Bhai Taru Ji made a supreme sacrifice in 1745”, the spokesperson said

India has lodged a protest with Pakistan over a famous gurdwara in Lahore.

India on Monday lodged a protest with the Pakistan High Commission over reports that attempts are being made to convert a famous gurdwara in Lahore into a mosque.

“A strong protest was lodged with the Pakistan High Commission today on the reported incident whereby Gurdwara Shahidi Asthan, site of martyrdom of Bhai Taru Singh ji at Naulakha Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan has been claimed as the place of Masjid Shahid Ganj and attempts are being made to convert it to a mosque,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a statement.

Gurdwara Shaheedi Asthan Bhai Taru Ji is a historical place where “Bhai Taru Ji made a supreme sacrifice in 1745”, the spokesperson said. It is a place of reverence and considered sacred by Sikhs and the incident has been viewed with grave concern in India, he said.

There have been calls for justice for the minority Sikh community in Pakistan. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, spokesperson of the Akali Dal, tweeted to ask Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to take action against “extremists”.

“Pak extremists want to obliterate this Shaheedi Asthan completely. This is against basic human rights- no one can deny a person freedom to practice their religion Pls warn such extremist elements & take immediate action to save Shaheedi Asthan from illegal squatters,” Mr Sirsa tweeted.

“Pakistan was also called upon to look after the safety, security, well-being of its minority communities including protection of their religious rights and cultural heritage,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

Today, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted: “Strongly condemn attempts being made to convert holy Gurdwara Sri Shaheedi Asthan in Lahore, site of martyrdom of Bhai Taru Singh Ji, into mosque. Urge @DrSJaishankar to convey Punjab’s concerns in strongest terms to Pakistan to safeguard all Sikh places of reverence.”

This is an essential step because it is necessary to have data within the country before the vaccine is administered to Indians, Secretary of Department of Biotechnology said.

The Oxford COVID vaccine appears safe, induces strong immune response, scientists said

Five sites across the country are ready for the third and final phase of human trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Secretary of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Renu Swarup said on Monday.

This is an essential step because it is necessary to have data within the country before the vaccine is administered to Indians

The Serum Institute of India, the largest vaccine maker in the world, has been chosen by Oxford and its partner AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine once it is ready. Trials results for the first two phases were published earlier this month.

According to Ms Swaroop, the DBT is part of any COVID-19 vaccine effort in India “… whether it is funding, whether it is facilitating the regulatory clearances or whether it is giving them access to different networks which exist within the country”.

“The DBT is now setting up Phase 3 clinical sites. We have already started working on them and five sites are now ready to be available for Phase 3 trials,” Ms Swarup told PTI in a telephonic interview.

The Pune-based SII has also sought permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for conducting Phase 2 and 3 of human clinical trials of the potential vaccine.

It had said earlier it will start manufacturing the vaccine even before the final nod so it is ready with sizable volumes once the vaccine gets all permissions.

“DBT is closely working with every manufacturer and Phase 3 trial of Serum (institute) is important because if the vaccine has to be successful and it has to be given to the Indian population we need to have the data within the country.

“For that a Phase 3 trial has been proposed. Five sites are ready. Within some more weeks, they should be ready for manufacturers to take them up for clinical trial studies,” the DBT secretary said.

On July 20, scientists announced that the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University appears safe and induces a strong immune response within the body after the first phase of “promising” human trials against the deadly disease that has infected over 1.45 crore people across the world and claimed more than six lakh lives.

Doses of the vaccine were given to 1,077 healthy adults aged between 18 and 55 in five UK hospitals in April and May as part of the Phase 1 clinical trial and results, published in The Lancet medical journal.

The results show they induced strong antibody and T-cell immune responses for up to 56 days after they were given.

Scientists behind the trials found the response could be even greater after a second dose.

In Phase 1 of human trials, a vaccine is given to a small number of people to test safety. It is also given to check if it stimulates the immune system.

In the second phase, it is administered to hundreds of people split into groups such as children and the elderly to see if the vaccine acts differently in them. The two phases focus on safety and immunogenicity in humans.

In the third phase, the vaccine is administered to thousands of people.

In India, two indigenous vaccines – one by Zydus Cadila and the other by Bharat Biotech – have reached phase one of human trials.

Mamata Banerjee was apparently targeting West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has been at loggerheads with the state government over a host of issues ever since taking office in July last year.

Mamata Banerjee thanked PM for holding several discussions (with CMs) on Covid.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his cooperation in tackling the COVID-19 crisis in West Bengal but alleged that “a few people holding constitutional posts’ are disturbing the state government regularly.

Ms Banerjee was apparently targeting West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has been at loggerheads with the state government over a host of issues ever since taking office in July last year.

Both the state and the central governments are elected bodies and they should work together, she said during an online programme where the prime minister inaugurated new COVID-19 testing facilities in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

“I would like to thank the prime minister for holding several discussions (with chief ministers) on the COVID crisis. And so far, there has been no non-cooperation from his end. I want to thank him for that. But a few people, who are holding constitutional posts, are regularly disturbing the state government. This is not acceptable,” Ms Banerjee said without naming anyone.

Reacting to Ms Banerjee’s comment on Monday, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said the governor did the right thing by pointing out the mistakes of the state government.

“The way the governor has been insulted by ministers of the TMC government is unprecedented,” he said.

The face-off between the West Bengal government and the Raj Bhavan had escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Ms Banerjee accusing Dhankhar of repeatedly interfering in the functioning of the state administration, and the latter asserting that a state cannot be governed as someone’s “personal fiefdom”.

Expressing concern over the alleged deterioration of law and order in West Bengal, Dhankhar had last week said the state police were not functioning according to rules and urged the chief minister to find time and interact with him on the matter.

On July 16, after the governor said that the education system in West Bengal is “politically caged”, Ms Banerjee alleged that the governor was acting “more dangerously” than a BJP mouthpiece and that doesn’t suit someone holding a constitutional post.

Mizoram Coronavirus Cases: Aizawl district has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 205, followed by Lunglei (71), Siaha (26) and Lawngtlai and Mamit (21 each), they said.

Aizawl, Mizoram: COVID-19 cases: The fresh infections have taken the northeastern state’s caseload to 384.

Twenty-two Assam Rifles personnel are among 23 more people testing positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, officials said on Tuesday.

The fresh infections have taken the northeastern state’s caseload to 384, they said.

Twenty-two Assam Rifles personnel posted at Zokhawsanga near Aizawl and a civilian who had recently returned from Nepal have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Zoram Medical College on Monday night, a statement issued by the State Information and Public Relation Department said.

Of the 384 cases, 191 are active while 193 people have recovered, officials said, adding the recovery rate of patients in the state stands at 50.26 per cent.

Aizawl district has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 205, followed by Lunglei (71), Siaha (26) and Lawngtlai and Mamit (21 each), they said.

As of now, Hnahthial, Saitual and Khawzawl districts are coronavirus-free, the officials said.

Mizoram has tested 20,053 samples for COVID-19 till Monday, they added.

While the government has asked people to buy and sell goats online, many are left confused as the guidelines don’t clearly mention any online portal that they can use.

The Maharashtra government has asked for a symbolic celebration of Bakri Eid this year

Unhappy with the Maharashtra government’s guidelines for Bakri Eid celebrations, now less than a week away, a section of Congress leaders have urged Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to review the rules for the Islamic festival.

Congress leader Naseem Khan, whose party rules in the state in coalition with Mr Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, has written to the Chief Minister to call an urgent meeting of ministers to review the guidelines.

According to the Standard Operating Procedures released by the government last Friday, online buying and selling of sacrificial goats as well as symbolic celebration of Bakri Eid, also known as Eid al-Adha, is being encouraged.

But Mr Khan said there cannot be any symbolic celebration for the festival, set to be observed around the world on Friday, and buying goats online is not possible.

“We want the government to rethink and call for an urgent meeting. This has hurt sentiments,” the Congress leader said.

Normally, the Deonar market in Mumbai is the biggest hub where goats are bought or sold. But since the outbreak of the coronavirus and the nationwide lockdown, the market has been closed.

While the government has asked people to buy and sell goats online, many are left confused as the guidelines don’t clearly mention any online portal that they can use. Many buyers are not technology savvy enough to carry out such transactions either.

“Government says we have to buy goats online but there isn’t any portal mentioned anywhere. Guidelines are confusing. They should clear it,” a Mumbai resident Zameer Shaikh said.

Meanwhile, a drastic drop in supply and the closure of the Deonar abattoir has spiked prices of goats for slaughter in the city, news agency PTI reported. This, at a time when sellers in other parts of the country have complained that they are not able to find buyers for their goats.

The price of goats in Mumbai has increased from around Rs 20,000 earlier to Rs 30,000 now, making it out of reach for several families who want to carry out the traditional sacrifice during the festival, it said.

With animal markets closed due to the pandemic, sellers have set up makeshifts stalls in Muslim-dominated areas, and the extra effort on their part to operate the business is resulting in exorbitant prices being demanded.

The country’s seventh largest private sector lender by market capitalisation had raised Rs 15,000 crore by issuing shares at the price of Rs 12 per share.

Ye Bank: The shares shed 54 per cent from the level of Rs 26.65 touched on July 9, 2020.

Shares of Yes Bank were locked at the lower circuit of 10 per cent at Rs 12.30 on the BSE after the listing of fresh shares that were allotted in the follow-on public offer (FPO). The country’s seventh largest private sector lender by market capitalisation had raised Rs 15,000 crore by issuing shares at the price of Rs 12 per share.

“12,504 million equity shares of Yes Bank are listed and admitted for trading on the exchange with effect from July 27, 2020. These shares rank pari-passu with the existing equity shares of the company,” the BSE said in its release.

Yes Bank has already announced that the funds raised through FPO will be used for growth and expansion, including enhancing its solvency, capital adequacy ratio and evolving regulatory requirements.

Yes Bank was on the brink of collapse earlier this year due to its past history of providing easy loans, which ended up as non-performing assets – or bad loans – on its books. Since then, SBI has stepped in to acquire a stake in the private lender and to keep it afloat.e shares of the private sector bank have fallen consistently since the pricing announcement of the FPO. The stock has shed as much as 54 per cent from the level of Rs 26.65 touched on July 9, 2020.

The BSE Sensex was quoting at 37,908.80, higher by 222 points or 0.5 per cent and the NSE Nifty was at 11,127.30, up 72 points or 0.6 per cent at the time.