Centre hikes Oxygen quota for seven States & Delhi UT

Health Ministry said, in view of sudden spike in the demand for oxygen in some states due to an exponential rise in the number of COVID patients, the Centre has increased the quota of Oxygen in the States.These States are Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Uttrakhand. In Maharashtra, the quota has been increased from 1646 Metric Tonnes (MT) to 1661 MT.In Delhi it has been raised from 378 MT to 480 MT, in Madhya Pradesh from 445 MT to 543 MT, in Haryana 156 MT to 162, in Uttar Pradesh 751 to 753 MT, in Punjab from 126 to 136 MT, in Andhra Pradesh from 360 to 440 MT and in Uttarakhand the oxygen quota was increased from 83 Metric Tonnes to 103 Metric Tonnes.

-Central government has said that door-to-door vaccination for COVID-19 is not possible.In an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 has been guiding all aspects of the vaccination drive in India. It has given 5 reasons for not having a door-to-door policy for vaccination.The Affidavit says, in case of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), there might be a delay in reaching the health facility and managing that case may not be as per requirement.It further says, there might be challenges to ensure that the beneficiary of the vaccination is under observation for at least 30 minutes after vaccination.The Union government has also informed that, the vaccine to be administered might be placed in and out of the 'vaccine carrier' for each vaccination thereby increasing the chances of contamination and exposure beyond recommended temperature.This could in turn affect the vaccine efficacy and cause AEFIs which will be reduce the confidence in the vaccines.Also Due to increase in time to reach beneficiaries, there could be an increase in wastage of vaccines.The Health ministry said, it might not be possible to follow the protocols for physical distancing and infection prevention and control during the door to door campaigning.Responding to a query put by the court regarding the mandatory requirement of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for administering vaccine, the Ministry responded that the occurrence of AEFI is very rare and may not necessarily require admission in an ICU.Hence, there is no such requirement for an ICU for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

-Indian Air Force has been pressed into action to augment the government's efforts to contain Covid-19 in the country.IAF has now started airlifting oxygen containers, cylinders, essential medicine, equipment and medical personnel to assist the government in combating the pandemic.The Air Force also airlifted doctors and nursing staff from Kochi, Mumbai, Vizag, and Bengaluru for the establishment of a DRDO Covid-19 makeshift hospital in Delhi.The IAF has also airlifted DRDO oxygen containers from Bangalore for Covid centres in Delhi. Retired military doctors and nursing staff be enlisted for assistance if they volunteer.

-In Ladakh, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has imposed new restrictions in Leh district due to sudden spike in  Covid cases. Under the directions from the State Executive Committee of Ladakh Disaster Management Committee, to control the Covid spread, the Leh DDMA Chairman Shrikant Suse ordered for closure of all indoor sports facilities, public libraries and gyms. Similarly, restrictions imposed on indoor and outdoor gatherings with a ceiling of 25 persons or 50 percent of hall capacity and 50 persons or 50 percent of the space with social distancing in outdoors respectively. However, Leh shall remain under night curfew from 10pm to 5am, with an exception to essential services and medical emergencies. Leh police are cracking on Covid SOP violators in the town. So far, twelve FIRs lodged on violators. Leh police also have busted a fake RTPCR racket.Police filed an FIR on Dr RP Sah, a BHMS medical officer from Dumka in Jharkhand, for providing fake RT-PCR reports in favour of many labourers coming to Leh.On the other, to contain any corona virus spread in Higher Education Institutions, Ladakh UT Higher Education Secretary Padma Angmo issued circular suspending classwork, classroom activities till  April 30.However, exams, labs, research and internship may continue with compliance of COVID-19 SOPs.

-Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged the industry to wait and watch for next few days to assess the situation amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and assured them of full government support. She was addressing the FICCI National Executive Committee Members through virtual mode. Speaking on the oxygen supply, Ms Sitharaman said that the supply has been very neatly mapped and new permissions have been given particularly for the hard stressed 12 states.The supply is being monitored at district level along with reviews which are being undertaken and for next 15 days they will be closely monitored. She said, the government has exempted all inter-state movement of oxygen tankers, exempted from registration and permits and  they can operate round the clock. She said, cylinder filling plants are operating 24 hours to fill the gaps with necessary safeguards.Elaborating on the augmented pharma capacity, she stated that steps have been taken adequately for drugs which are important and the government has given fast-track approvals for Remdesvir production. The Finance Minister also said that as soon as the medical oxygen demand will be met, the industry would also get the necessary supply of oxygen since the import of medical oxygen has been allowed.