Online appointments for 2nd Dose of Covishield only after 84 days

Centre has directed states to prevent dumping of dead bodies in Ganga and focus on their safe disposal and providing support for ensuring dignified cremation. Secretary, Jal Shakti Ministry, Pankaj Kumar said, stopping dumping of bodies as well as their safe disposal and protection of water quality has to be attended to on war footing. The Secretary reviewed the position and action taken in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where the States appraised the latest position and further action points were decided. The Secretary highlighted the instructions already given and wanted expeditious action and also underscored the need to give equal attention to such incidents in urban as well as rural areas along Ganga and other rivers. He said that after knowing the progress from states, CWC, CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards would also be giving their feedback and action plans.

-Indian Railways has delivered more than 9,440 Metric Tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen, LMO in nearly 590 tankers to various states across the country so far.Nearly 150 Oxygen Expresses have completed their journey so far and brought relief to various States. Twelve loaded Oxygen Expresses are on run with more than 970 Metric Tonnes of LMO in 55 tankers now. Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu got a big boost in Oxygen supply with several Oxygen Expresses delivering their loads yesterday night and today. NCR region crossed the delivery of more than 5000 MT of Oxygen for further distribution. Oxygen Expresses have been delivering nearly 800 Metric Tonnes of LMO to the Nation each day for last few days.Indian Railways said, it is its endeavour to deliver as much LMO as possible in the shortest time possible to the requesting states.

-The CoWIN digital portal has also been reconfigured to reflect this extension of interval for two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks.The Health Ministry said, there have been reports in a section of the media suggesting that people who had pre-booked their appointment for the second dose in less than 84 days on CoWIN are being turned back from vaccination centres without getting the second dose of Covishield. It clarified that the requisite changes have now been done in the CoWIN digital portal. As a result, further online or on-site appointments will not be possible if the period after 1st dose date for a beneficiary is less than 84 days. Additionally, already booked online appointments for 2nd dose of Covishield will remain valid and are not being cancelled by COWIN. Further, the beneficiaries are advised to reschedule their appointments for a later date beyond the 84th day from the date of 1st dose vaccination.The Centre has reiterated to the States and UTs that the online appointments booked for 2nd dose of COVISHELD prior to this change of the interval between the two doses of Covishield, must be honoured.

-In Jammu and Kashmir, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation, has started distributing an additional free 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person for the months of May and June through its different ration ghats among 66.26 lakh AAY and NHH ration card holders. This additional distribution is in addition to the normal quantity of ration given under National Food Security Act.The additional 5 KG ration per person for two months is being distributed under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. For the purpose, 33129.83 MT of foodgrains have been allocated for the month of May and June each. The initiative will cover 8.86 Lakh Antyodhaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and 57.40 lakh Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries in Jammu and Kashmir. 

-Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the COVID- 19 situation with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the districts through video conference today. The Chief Minister instructed to depute one Additional Deputy Commissioner in each district to supervise the vaccination centres. Sarma also asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that critical COVID patients should get treatment even late in the night. For that, the Chief Minister asked DCs to regularly visit the hospitals. Sarma instructed the SPs to implement the restrictions imposed in containment zones in the state to contain the pandemic.