Month: January 2022

On the first day of ‘precaution dose’ for the identified categories of beneficiaries for COVID-19 vaccination on Monday, more than nine lakh doses were administered to the eligible age group.

The Union Health Ministry, in its official press release today evening said, “On the first day of Precaution Dose for the identified categories of beneficiaries for COVID vaccination today, more than 9 lakh doses were administered to the eligible age group.”

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 152.78 crore (1,52,78,35,951) today. More than 82 lakh (82,76,158) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm today.

As India on Monday began administering ‘precaution doses’ under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded those who got vaccinated today and requested all those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

“India began administering precaution doses. Kudos to those who have got vaccinated today. I would request all those who are eligible to get vaccinated. As we all know, vaccination remains among the most effective means to fight COVID-19,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Over 9 lakh “Precaution Doses” were administered to the identified categories of beneficiaries for COVID vaccination today, the health ministry said.

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 152.78 Crore (1,52,78,35,951) today. More than 82 lakh (82,76,158) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm today. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.

The administration of ‘precaution dose’ of COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare, frontline workers and those above 60 years in the country began on Monday.

The online registration for ‘precaution dose’ on the Co-WIN platform began on Friday (January 8). All HCWs, FLWs and citizens aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to access the vaccination for precaution dose through their existing Co-WIN account. The precaution dose can only be taken after 9 months i.e., 39 weeks from the date of administration of 2nd dose.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has recommended that precaution dose for healthcare workers, frontline workers and senior citizens with co-morbidities will be the same as given previously. It had also informed that the senior citizens with co-morbidities will not be required to produce a doctor’s certificate or prescription at the time of administration of the precaution dose.

Eligibility of beneficiaries for the precaution dose will be based on the date of administration of second dose as recorded in the Co-WIN system. Co-WIN system will send SMS to such beneficiaries for availing the precaution dose when the dose becomes due. Registration and appointment services can be accessed through both, the online and the onsite modes. The details of the administration of the precaution dose will be suitably reflected in the vaccination certificates. (ANI)

In a major push towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat in the military sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is going to shelve a number of defence import projects being acquired through the Buy (Global) route.

This initiative from the government comes at a time when the Centre is coming up with the new Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy which will lay down the way ahead for strengthening defence production within the country and help in their export to friendly foreign countries.

A high-level meeting of the Defence Ministry will take place virtually on Wednesday in which all the import projects under Buy (Global) category would be reviewed and are likely to be scrapped or put on hold by the government, government sources told ANI.

Buy Global category means that defence forces can fully import the item from foreign vendors. Sources said that now first preference would be given to the acquisition of Indian Developed Designed and Manufactured (IDDM) products.

The major push for ‘Make in India’ is going to ensure that projects worth several thousand crores would be given to the Indian manufacturers, they said. The decision would mean that a large number of projects of the Indian Navy, Air Force and the Army would get impacted including the ones which are in a fairly advanced stage like the Kamov helicopter acquisition project of the Indian Navy.

A number of projects related to aircraft including combat platforms, guns and vessels are going to be affected by this new intuition of the government.

The initiative is coming after Prime Minister Modi took a review meeting with the Defence Ministry officials including the then Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat where it was felt that strong measures will have to be taken to ensure that country moves firmly towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat in the defence sector.

After the meeting took place, an Additional Secretary-rank officer of the Defence Ministry wrote a note to the three Services saying that “All stakeholders may take an in-principle call that no import of defence items is going forward.”

“All capital and revenue procurement proposed or currently underway to be critically reviewed. This review is to be completed by January 15,” it said.

The Prime Minister has been personally reviewing the progress of Make in India in the defence sector and has from time to time asked officials in both services and the Defence Ministry to ensure that more steps are taken to promote Make in India in defence. (ANI)

Omicron is behaving very mildly and rarely affecting newborn babies, a senior doctor at Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital, Saket said on Monday.

India has been witnessing a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases for the past few weeks. Taking cognisance of this information, Chief Advisor, Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, Dr. Arvind Taneja told ANI today, “This virus is behaving very mildly and rarely affecting newborn babies to the extent that, even mothers who have given birth during this period are not affected. The babies are not born with any defects or abnormalities.”

“This virus is affecting children mildly. Mildly here means that they are getting a mild running nose, cough. In a few cases, high fever was reported but that does translate to the Omicron effect. If any person in the family is detected positive for COVID-19, they should home-quarantine themselves. That is the only precaution to take at the moment to curtail the spread of the virus,” he said.

Taneja said, “I believe that once the virus comes into the home, it spreads like wildfire. The third wave has already hit Delhi and major metropolises like Mumbai. Within a few weeks in January, the Omicron driven third wave will come like a Tsunami and will also disappear like a Tsunami.”

The doctor also lauded the Prime Minister’s decision to roll out precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people aged above 60 years and vaccines for teens between 15-18 years of age. He said, “It is better to immunise this age group to reduce transmissibility. Senior citizens fall under the category of high-risk groups. Every healthcare, frontline worker, senior citizen and teens between 15-18 years of age should be fully vaccinated.”

The COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged between 15 and 18 years has been started on January 3, 2022.

India achieved a milestone in its COVID-19 vaccination drive as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 150 crore mark on Friday.

India is currently witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases and reported 1,79,723 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the daily positivity rate in the country to 13.29 per cent, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday.

A total of 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus have been reported so far. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases (1,216), followed by Rajasthan (529) and Delhi (513).

About 1,552 patients infected with Omicron have recovered.

The Ministry further informed that the active caseload in the country currently stands at 7,23,619 which accounts for 2.03 per cent of the country’s total number of cases. The weekly positivity rate currently is at 7.29 per cent, while the daily positivity rate stands at 13.29 per cent.

Total cases of COVID-19 in the country have risen to 35,528,004, the health ministry said today morning. As many as 46,569 patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. The cumulative tally of COVID recovered patients now stands at 3,45,00,172. The recovery rate is at 96.62 per cent.

The country also reported 146 new deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,83,936. India conducted 13,52,717 COVID-19 tests in the last 24 hours. The country has conducted 69,15,75,352 tests so far, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research data. (ANI)

By Shalini Bhardwaj

Any person, who has come in contact with a COVID-infected patient, does not need to be tested unless the person is identified in the ‘high-risk’ category based on age or comorbidities, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said in its latest guideline on Monday.

In the advisory on Purposive Testing Strategy for COVID-19, ICMR stated that people who need not be tested include “Contacts of confirmed cases of COVID-19 unless identified as high risk based on age or comorbidities.”

Besides, asymptomatic individuals in community settings, patients who stand discharged as per home isolation guidelines, patients discharged from a COVID-19 facility as per revised discharge policy and individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel need not be tested, ICMR has said.

But individuals with cough, fever, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, breathlessness and other respiratory symptoms should be tested, the government body said.

Among others who may be tested for COVID-19 include at-risk contacts of laboratory confirmed cases, individuals undertaking international travel and international travellers arriving at Indian airports, seaports and ports, it said.

In a hospital setting, ICMR said no emergency procedure – like surgeries and deliveries – should be delayed for lack of a test.

The patients should not be referred to other facilities for lack of a testing facility, it said.

Asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical/non-surgical invasive procedures including pregnant women in or near labour who are hospitalised for delivery should not be tested unless warranted or symptoms develop, read the advisory. (ANI)

Delhi reported 19,166 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, the highest since May 5 last year, informed the state in a health bulletin on Monday.

As many as 15,68,896 people have been infected with COVID-19 infection in Delhi so far. With these 19,166 new cases, the active caseload has gone up to 65,806 in Delhi which is the highest May 15 last year. On May 15, Delhi’s active caseload stood at 66,295.

As many as 17 persons have succumbed to the coronavirus infection in the national capital in the past 24 hours, taking the cumulative death toll at 25,177 at present.

However, a total of 14,076 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 14,77,913 in the national capital.

Presently, the cumulative positivity rate stands at 4.68 per cent while the case fatality rate is 1.60 per cent.

Meanwhile, Delhi has administered 25,030 beneficiaries with the COVID-19 vaccine in the past 24 hours, while a total of 2,75,22,072 beneficiaries have been given COVID-19 vaccines so far in the national capital. (ANI)

Two accused in the ‘Bulli Bai’ app case- Shweta Singh and Mayank Rawal- have been sent to Mumbai Cyber Police custody till January 14 by the Bandra court on Monday. They were detained from Uttarakhand on January 5.

The court initially remanded Shweta Singh and Mayank Rawal to police custody till January 10.

Meanwhile, the Bandra Court sent Vishal Kumar Jha, another accused in the same case to 14-day judicial custody.

Two other accused Niraj Bishnoi and Aumkerashwar Thakur are in Delhi police custody.

Niraj was arrested from Assam’s Jorhat while Aumkerashwar was apprehended from Indore in Madhya Pradesh. On January 9, the ‘Sulli Deals’ app creator Aumkerashwar Thakur was sent to 4-day police custody in Delhi.

As per information from Delhi Police, all the accused were connected to each other virtually via chat rooms. Further investigation is on in the case. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently under home quarantine with “mild symptoms.”

“I have tested positive for Corona today with mild symptoms. I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” tweeted the Defence Minister.

On January 8, Singh had addressed a webinar wherein 100 new Sainik schools were provided opportunities for girls to join the Armed Forces.

India reported 1,79,723 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the daily positivity rate in the country to 13.29 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday.

A total of 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus have been reported so far. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases (1,216), followed by Rajasthan (529) and Delhi (513).

About 1,552 patients infected with the new variant have recovered.

The Ministry further informed that the active caseload in the country currently stands at 7,23,619 which accounts for 2.03 per cent of the country’s total number of cases.

The weekly positivity rate currently is at 7.29 per cent, while the daily positivity rate stands at 13.29 per cent. Total cases of COVID-19 in the country have risen to 35,528,004. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to set up an independent committee, which will be headed by former SC judge to probe Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach in Ferozepur district of Punjab on January 5.

Meanwhile, the three-bench judge, headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana, asked the Centre and Punjab governments not to go ahead with their inquiries in the matter. Other members of the bench are Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli.

The decision came after the Punjab government urged the apex court to set up a court-monitored probe into the incident.

During the hearing, DS Patwalia, Advocate General of Punjab, said that the government has issued seven show-cause notices to the officers seeking an explanation why no action should be taken against them for the incident. Senior advocate Patwalia told the court that the records have been taken into consideration by the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

PM Modi’s convoy was stuck on a flyover when he was on his way to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district to visit National Martyr’s Memorial. (ANI)

‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Succession’ were among the big winners of the 79th Golden Globe Awards, which were announced recently via social media.

This year’s Golden Globes took place with no media in attendance or celebrities walking the red carpet, like years past.
The 2022 Golden Globes did not air or live stream anywhere as the organisation behind the award show, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), has been embroiled in scandals since the 2021 show.

As per Variety, last year it was revealed that the HFPA had no Black members and participated in questionable business practices. NBC pulled out of the telecast for this year’s ceremony, and since then the HFPA has diversified its membership and revamped its bylaws.

HFPA President Helen Hoehne announced this year’s nominees at a scaled-down event in December, where she was joined by Snoop Dogg in reading the nominations.

In stark contrast to the Golden Globes over the years, there were only a handful of celebrity appearances, including promotional videos from Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger on the award show’s official Twitter account.

‘The Power of the Dog’ (Netflix) won best drama and ‘West Side Story’ (20th Century/Disney) nabbed best musical or comedy. Jane Campion picked up the best director trophy for helming ‘The Power of the Dog’, and Kodi Smit-McPhee won best supporting actor for the western film.

‘West Side Story’ star Rachel Zegler was named best actress in a musical or comedy, and her co-star Ariana DeBose took home the supporting actress prize.

Nicole Kidman won the best actress in a drama, while Will Smith nabbed the best actor. Andrew Garfield took home best actor in a musical or comedy.

For TV, ‘Succession’ won best drama series and ‘Hacks’ won best musical or comedy series, both from HBO. ‘Succession’ star Jeremy Strong was named best actor in a drama and co-star Sarah Snook picked up best supporting actress.

‘Hacks’ star Jean Smart earned the best actress in a musical or comedy. Michaela Jae Rodriguez won the best actress in a drama, and Jason Sudeikis took home best actor in a musical or comedy.

Here’s the full winners’ list:

Best Motion Picture, Drama

‘Belfast’ (Focus Features)

‘CODA’ (Apple)

‘Dune’ (Warner Bros.)

‘King Richard’ (Warner Bros.)

‘The Power of the Dog’ (Netflix) (WINNER)

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy

‘Cyrano’ (MGM)

‘Don’t Look Up’ (Netflix)

‘Licorice Pizza’ (MGM)

‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’ (Netflix)

‘West Side Story’ (20th Century Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) (WINNER)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Mahershala Ali (‘Swan Song’)

Javier Bardem (‘Being the Ricardos’)

Benedict Cumberbatch (‘The Power of the Dog’)

Will Smith (‘King Richard’) (WINNER)

Denzel Washington (‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

Jessica Chastain (‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’)

Olivia Colman (‘The Lost Daughter’)

Nicole Kidman (‘Being the Ricardos’) (WINNER)

Lady Gaga (‘House of Gucci’)

Kristen Stewart (‘Spencer’)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Leonardo DiCaprio (‘Don’t Look Up’)

Peter Dinklage (‘Cyrano’)

Andrew Garfield (‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’) (WINNER)

Cooper Hoffman (‘Licorice Pizza’)

Anthony Ramos (‘In the Heights’)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Marion Cotillard (‘Annette’)

Alana Haim (‘Licorice Pizza’)

Jennifer Lawrence (‘Don’t Look Up’)

Emma Stone (‘Cruella’)

Rachel Zegler (‘West Side Story’) (WINNER)

Best Director, Motion Picture

Kenneth Branagh (‘Belfast’)

Jane Campion (‘The Power of the Dog’) (WINNER)

Maggie Gyllenhaal (‘The Lost Daughter’)

Steven Spielberg (‘West Side Story’)

Denis Villeneuve (‘Dune’)

Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

Ben Affleck (‘The Tender Bar’)

Jamie Dornan (‘Belfast’)

Ciaran Hinds (‘Belfast’)

Troy Kotsur (‘CODA’)

Kodi Smit-McPhee (‘The Power of the Dog’) (WINNER)

Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture

Caitriona Balfe (‘Belfast’)

Ariana DeBose (‘West Side Story’) (WINNER)

Kirsten Dunst (‘The Power of the Dog’)

Aunjanue Ellis (‘King Richard’)

Ruth Negga (‘Passing’)

Best Television Series, Drama

‘Lupin’ (Netflix)

‘The Morning Show’ (Apple TV Plus)

‘Pose’ (FX)

‘Squid Game’ (Netflix)

‘Succession’ (HBO) (WINNER)

Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy

‘The Great’ (Hulu)

‘Hacks’ (HBO Max) (WINNER)

‘Only Murders in the Building’ (Hulu)

‘Reservation Dogs’ (FX on Hulu)

‘Ted Lasso’ (Apple TV Plus)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama

Brian Cox (‘Succession’)

Lee Jung-jae (‘Squid Game’)

Billy Porter (‘Pose’)

Jeremy Strong (‘Succession’) (WINNER)

Omar Sy (‘Lupin)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama

Uzo Aduba (‘In Treatment’)

Jennifer Aniston (‘The Morning Show’)

Christine Baranski (‘The Good Fight)

Elisabeth Moss (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’)

Michaela Jae Rodriguez (‘Pose’) (WINNER)

Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy

Anthony Anderson (‘Black-ish’)

Nicholas Hoult (‘The Great’)

Steve Martin (‘Only Murders in the Building’)

Martin Short (‘Only Murders in the Building’)

Jason Sudeikis (‘Ted Lasso’) (WINNER)

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy

Hannah Einbinder (‘Hacks’)

Elle Fanning (‘The Great’)

Issa Rae (‘Insecure’)

Tracee Ellis Ross (‘Black-ish’)

Jean Smart (‘Hacks’) (WINNER)

Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture made for Television

‘Dopesick’ (Hulu)

‘Impeachment: American Crime Story’ (FX)

‘Maid’ (Netflix)

‘Mare of Easttown’ (HBO)

‘The Underground Railroad’ (Amazon Prime Video) (WINNER)

Best Performance by an Actor, Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture made for Television

Paul Bettany (‘WandaVision’)

Oscar Isaac (‘Scenes From a Marriage’)

Michael Keaton (‘Dopesick’) (WINNER)

Ewan McGregor (‘Halston’)

Tahar Rahim (‘The Serpent’)

Best Performance by an Actress, Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture made for Television

Jessica Chastain (‘Scenes From a Marriage’)

Cynthia Erivo (‘Genius: Aretha’)

Elizabeth Olsen (‘WandaVision’)

Margaret Qualley (‘Maid’)

Kate Winslet (‘Mare of Easttown’) (WINNER)

Best Supporting Actor, Television

Billy Crudup (‘The Morning Show’)

Kieran Culkin (‘Succession’)

Mark Duplass (‘The Morning Show’)

Brett Goldstein (‘Ted Lasso’)

O Yeong-su (‘Squid Game’) (WINNER)

Best Supporting Actress, Television

Jennifer Coolidge (‘White Lotus’)

Kaitlyn Dever (‘Dopesick’)

Andie MacDowell (‘Maid’)

Sarah Snook (‘Succession’) (WINNER)

Hannah Waddingham (‘Ted Lasso’)

Best Original Score, Motion Picture

‘The French Dispatch’ (Searchlight Pictures) — Alexandre Desplat

‘Encanto’ (Walt Disney Pictures) — Germaine Franco

‘The Power of the Dog’ (Netflix) — Jonny Greenwood

‘Parallel Mothers’ (Sony Pictures Classic) — Alberto Iglesias

‘Dune’ (Warner Bros.) — Hans Zimmer (WINNER)

Best Picture, Foreign Language

‘Compartment No. 6’ (Sony Pictures Classics) — Finland, Russia, Germany

‘Drive My Car’ (Janus Films) — Japan (WINNER)

‘The Hand of God’ (Netflix) — Italy

‘A Hero’ (Amazon Studios) — France, Iran

‘Parallel Mothers’ (Sony Pictures Classics) — Spain

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture

Paul Thomas Anderson — ‘Licorice Pizza’ (MGM/United Artists Releasing)

Kenneth Branagh — ‘Belfast’ (Focus Features) (WINNER)

Jane Campion — ‘The Power of the Dog’ (Netflix)

Adam McKay — ‘Don’t Look Up’ (Netflix)

Aaron Sorkin — ‘Being the Ricardos’ (Amazon Studios)

Best Original Song, Motion Picture

‘Be Alive’ from ‘King Richard’ (Warner Bros.) — Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Dixson

‘Dos Oruguitas’ from ‘Encanto’ (Walt Disney Pictures) — Lin-Manuel Miranda

‘Down to Joy’ from ‘Belfast’ (Focus Features) — Van Morrison

‘Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)’ from ‘Respect’ (MGM/United Artists Releasing) — Jamie Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King

‘No Time to Die’ from ‘No Time to Die’ (MGM/United Artists Releasing) — Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell (WINNER)

Best Motion Picture, Animated

‘Encanto’ (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) (WINNER)

‘Flee’ (Neon)

‘Luca’ (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

‘My Sunny Maad’ (Totem Films)

‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ (Walt Disney Studios)

The nominations for the 79th Golden Globes were announced on December 13, 2021. (ANI)

About 1,000 Delhi Police personnel have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, amidst a surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, police said on Monday.

According to information by Delhi Police, all the infected police personnel are under quarantine and their medical condition is stable.

Additional Commissioner Chinmoy Biswal and the Public Relations Officer (PRO) are among the police personnel in all units and at all police stations, including the police headquarters who have have been hit by COVID-19 infection.

Meanwhile, Delhi reported 22,751 new COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours, the highest since May 1 last year, said the state health department on Sunday.

On May 1, the national capital had reported 25,219 COVID-19 cases.

As per a bulletin issued by the health department, the positivity rate for the day stands at 23.53 per cent. With this, the total cases of the COVID-19 in the city have gone up to 15,49,730 including 60,733 active cases.

However, the city also reported 17 COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours. So far, 25,160 people have succumbed to the infection in Delhi. (ANI)