Covid-19 updates: Centre says scenario in some states ‘huge cause of worry’, Punjab extends curbs; and extra

As Covid-19 instances proceed to spike, the Centre on Tuesday mentioned that the scenario within the nation is “turning from bad to worse” and is a large reason behind fear, particularly for some states.
“The Covid-19 situation is turning from bad to worse. In the last few weeks, especially in some states, it is a huge cause for worry. No state, no part of the country or district should be complacent,” NITI Aayog member (Health) V Ok Paul advised a press briefing, information company PTI reported.

The NITI Aayog member additionally mentioned that the entire nation is “potentially at risk” and that every one efforts to include and save lives needs to be taken.
On the opposite hand, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan mentioned that every one states and Union Territories are reporting a surge in instances. He urged state governments to “significantly and exponentially” enhance the variety of Covid-19 exams. The proportion of RT-PCR exams have to be elevated too, he mentioned.
NITI Aayog member (Health) V Ok Paul throughout the briefing. (ANI)
“On Saturday, we held meeting with these states and also spoke to 47 districts. We requested them to increase the number of tests with a special focus on RT-PCR tests. Rapid antigen tests must be used for screening and in densely populated areas where cases are coming in clusters. The preferred test should be the RT-PCR ones,” Bhushan mentioned.
Those eligible for vaccine shot subsequent can register on CoWin: Health Ministry
The well being ministry additionally mentioned that individuals eligible for vaccination from April 1 can now register themselves within the CoWIN platform, the Aarogya Setu app or go for on-site registrations which might begin after 3 pm on Thursday.
The determination to additional open up the vaccination programme was taken by the federal government final week amid the second wave of surge in Covid-19 instances. The Centre had additionally made adjustments to the Co-WIN platform and communicated to states that not like earlier, when the second dose of the vaccine can be scheduled for Day 29, beneficiaries could have the discretion to decide on the date of the second dose inside the prolonged interval of 4-8 weeks.

According to the ministry knowledge, a complete of 6,11,13,354 vaccine doses have been administered thus far within the nation.
CM Amarinder Singh extends curbs in Punjab
Amid rising Covid instances and deaths, in addition to the persevering with prevalence of the UK pressure within the state, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered extension of curbs until April 10, whereas directing the Health Department to extend the variety of vaccination websites to focus on the precedence teams on an pressing foundation.
Reviewing the Covid scenario with the Chief Secretary and different high officers, the Chief Minister mentioned all restrictions that had been in place until March 31 will now stay in pressure until April 10, after which they’d be once more reviewed.

The Chief Minister additionally ordered the launch of a vaccination drive at prisons after 40 girls inmates in Patiala’s Nabha Open Jail examined optimistic for coronavirus.
The newest knowledge has proven that the UK pressure of the virus continues to be essentially the most prevalent of all the brand new mutant variants within the state. While 326 of the 401 samples despatched initially to NCDC for genome sequencing had been discovered optimistic for the UK variant, of a separate batch of 95 samples despatched to IGIB, 85 had been discovered to be optimistic for a similar mutant pressure.

DGCA tells airports to impose fines on passengers not carrying masks ‘properly’
The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Tuesday advised airports to extend surveillance to make sure Covid-19 norms are adopted. The Aviation regulator additionally requested the airport to think about imposing spot fines, with the assistance of police authorities, on passengers who’re discovered not carrying masks correctly or not following norms of social distancing.

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— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) March 30, 2021
“During the surveillance of some airports, it has come to notice that compliance (of COVID-19 protocols) is not satisfactory,” DGCA in a round on Tuesday mentioned.
“All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on COVID-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously,” it added.
New virus strains extra harmful, require folks to be extra cautious: HP CM
Urging folks to be extra cautious, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur mentioned that new coronavirus strains are extra harmful. As per PTI, Thakur cautioned folks whereas taking inventory of the Covid-19 unfold within the state in a gathering at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, close to Dharamsala.
Outside a testing centre in Thane.
“Health experts have observed that new coronavirus variants leave no symptoms of cough or fever and patients just complain of joint pains, weakness and loss of appetite and Covid-19 pneumonia,” mentioned the chief minister. Thakur mentioned that the virus now takes much less time to irritate in comparison with the previous variant and doesn’t present any signs typically.

“Therefore, it is better to be more careful than staying unguarded and putting ourselves, family and the society in danger,” he added.

Karnataka’s Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has suggested the state authorities to limit viewers capability at cinema halls and theatres to 50 per cent in mild of the rising infections throughout the state. The TAC has additionally highlighted the significance of alternate seating in cinema halls for the following 4 weeks, a interval thought-about to be essential within the ongoing second wave of the pandemic.
However, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is but to take a name on the matter.
Earlier this month, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) — the municipal physique governing Karnataka’s capital metropolis — had put forth the identical advice. “We are still unaware of the number of cases that have come from cinema halls, but it is a closed environment with 100 per cent capacity,” BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad mentioned.
(Inputs from PTI)