Sikkim has extended COVID restrictions July 12

Government has set up two more Central Drug Laboratories for COVID  Vaccine Testing. Currently, the nation has a Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) at Kasauli, which is the National Control Laboratory for testing and pre-release certification of Immunobiologicals (vaccines and antisera) meant for human use. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and considering the enhanced production of COVID Vaccines, the Government proactively took the decision of setting up additional laboratories to facilitate expedited testing. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, has set up two Vaccine testing facilities in its Autonomous Research Institutes  National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, and National Institute of Animal Biotechnology,(NIAB) Hyderabad .Both the facilities are used as Central Drug Laboratory (CDL), for batch testing and quality control of vaccines.DBT-NCCS and DBT-NIAB have been the pillars for many aspects of infectious disease related work in the country.

-Women and Child Development Ministry has invited comments and suggestions from all stakeholders on the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2021.The objective of the bill is to prevent and counter trafficking in persons, especially women and children.It will provide care, protection, and rehabilitation to the victims, while respecting their rights, and creating a supportive legal, economic and social environment for them and also to ensure prosecution of offenders.The Bill, once finalized, will be sent to the Cabinet for approval and then for the assent of both the houses of Parliament to become an Act.This Act shall apply to every offence of trafficking in persons with cross-border implications.The Comments and suggestions on the Bill may be sent by 14th of this month on the e-mail ID santanu.brajabasi@gov.in

-The monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is starting from Monday in Mumbai.The RTPCR test has been made mandatory for entry into the legislature building for the convention. All necessary arrangements for corona test of MLAs, officers and employees have been arranged in the premises of the Legislature. On Saturday, a total of 2,200 people were tested during the day. Four of them tested positive, it includes a clerk, a firefighter and two peons. So, the reports of corona tests which are done on Sunday, will be available by Monday morning.All the district collectors have already been directed to provide necessary facilities to the MLAs if they want to do corona test in their respective districts.

-Sikkim has extended ongoing COVID19 restrictions effective with further relaxations till 6 am on 12th July. From Monday, fully vaccinated people including tourists will be able to enter the state through Melli and Rangpo checkposts without RTPCR negative reports. Entry will be permitted with valid vaccination documents while existing restrictions will continue to apply for entry of people who are not vaccinated.Hotels, guest houses and homestays may operate with 50 per cent capacity following COVID19 protocols while malls and showrooms have also been allowed to operate. As per the new guidelines, all state government offices including public sector undertakings will work with 100 per cent attendance with employees who have received both doses of the COVID19 vaccine.Other employees may be allowed to follow the present arrangement of 50 per cent attendance while heads of departments have been directed to ensure vaccinating all employees in consultation with the health department. All factories, production units and commercial establishments may also operate with 100 percent manpower with fully vaccinated employees. Others will continue with 50 percent attendance.Pillion riders have been allowed for all two-wheelers. All other guidelines issued earlier including night curfew from 10:30 pm to 6 am will be effective during 5th to 12th July. Sikkim has been under partial or complete lockdown since the first week of May.

-As vehicle movement is increasing due to the easing of restrictions imposed by the Covid-19, the toll collection through FASTag is reaching the level recorded before the second wave of Covid pandemic. The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has said that the toll collection in last month increased to over 2576 crore rupees, which is around 21 percent higher than the toll collected in May this year.With around 3.48 crore users, FASTag penetration across the country is at around 96 percent and many toll plazas having 99 per cent penetration. It is estimated that FASTag will save around 20 thousand crore rupees per year. Adoption of FASTag has reduced the waiting time at Highway’s toll plazas.