‘Fake news’: Bharat Biotech rubbishes viral forward on VP getting COVAXIN

‘Fake news’: Bharat Biotech rubbishes viral forward on VP getting COVAXIN

A post circulating on social media claimed that Bharat Biotech’s Vice President DR VK Srinivas is the first person in India to be administered COVAXIN.

NEWS FAKE NEWS FRIDAY, JULY 03, 2020 - 20:40

TNM Staff Follow @thenewsminute

Bharat Biotech on Friday rubbished social media posts doing the rounds claiming their Vice President DR VK Srinivas is the first person in India to be administered COVAXIN, the vaccine against the novel coronavirus developed by the firm. 

A post doing the rounds on social media on Friday claimed that the Vice President of Bharat Biotech, Dr VK Srinivas is the first person in India to take the COVAXIN vaccine. The post intended to show that the employees of the firm have full faith in the vaccine developed by them. 

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has set a deadline of August 15, 2020 for COVAXIN, India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, to be made available to the public. ICMR had partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to develop the vaccine derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. The clinical trials are expected to begin only by July 7.

However social media posts doing the rounds read, "Dr V. K.Srinivas, Vice President, Bharat biotech, taking a clinical trial of Corona vaccine.He said that he is the first person in India to take vaccine developed by him & his team. Look at the confidence that they have in their product." 

The post also has a photo attached showing a nurse and a man. The picture shows the nurse collecting blood samples from a man but has been wrongfully attributed as the nurse administering the vaccine intravenously. 

In a statement to the media, Bharat Biotech said, “This is not true. This image is routine procedural blood drawn for testing all our production staff. You can see the black band on his arm. A classic case of fake news circulation in WhatsApp.”

Another firm Zydus Cadila has also come out with a vaccine 'ZyCoV-D' which has received permission to initiate phase I and II of human clinical trials in India.

Why did police take TN father-son duo to jail 109 km away?

Why did police take TN father-son duo to jail 109 km away?

Kovilpatti Sub-jail May Hold Some Dark Secrets In Jeyaraj-Beniks Custodial Death Case

A.Subramani @timesgroup.com

Chennai: 04.06.2020

Several questions remain unanswered in the horrific Jeyaraj-Beniks custodial murder narrative, and one particularly dark part is the health condition during their stay in Kovilpatti sub-jail.

The father-son duo spent 15 hours at the Sathankulam police station and two nights inside the sub-jail. Jeyaraj spent an additional night at Kovilpatti government hospital, but did not live to see the next dawn.

Jeyaraj was probably the only eyewitness outside the police and prison circles to his son’s lock-up torture as borne out by medical records. He, too, was bleeding.

Why was no step taken to rush him either to a hospital along with his ‘ill’ son, or to a safer place in view of his status as the sole direct eyewitness to the treatment his son was subjected? That makes Jeyaraj’s death more intriguing than his son’s.

Did Jeyaraj and Beniks get timely and adequate medical treatment inside the Kovilpatti sub-jail for the injuries suffered during their detention at Sathankulam police station? Obviously, no. Beniks died within 75 minutes of being taken to the Kovilpatti government hospital on June 22 and Jeyaraj died within seven hours after being taken to the same hospital. Their delayed admission in Kovilpatti government hospital defies every logic.

The two men, with gluteal injuries ostensibly due to lathi blows, were admitted to the Kovilpatti sub-jail at 2.30 pm on June 20, 2020. It was at 7.45 pm on June 22 – after two nights in the jail – that Beniks was taken to the hospital, only to be declared ‘expired’ at 9 pm.

Even the ‘hospitalisation’ and the subsequent death of Beniks did not spur the sub-jail personnel to rush Jeyaraj for a medical check-up. Jeyaraj was kept in the jail for about 90 minutes after his son died, and till he ‘complained’ of some health problem. Admitted to the hospital at 10.30 pm on June 22, he was declared ‘expired’ at 5.40 am the next day.

Questions are also being raised about why the two were driven all the way to Kovilpatti sub-jail located 109 km from Sathankulam, though there were at least three jails, including Palayamkottai central jail, which were nearer? Remanding magistrate B Saravanan did not specify that the two should be taken to a far-off jail. While Tuticorin is about 60 km away, Tiruchendur is just 33 km away. The Palayamkottai central jail is about 48k m.

Veterans among police and prosecution refuse to believe that an FIR could be registered against someone for delaying closure of their shop during the lockdown. They say third-degree treatment meted out to Jeyaraj and Beniks is disproportionate to their alleged ‘offence’ which is delayed closure of shop or arguing with policemen. The fact that they were driven more than 100 km to be lodged in a sub-jail (Kovilpatti facility is headed by a sub-inspector-grade superintendent, a head constable-grade head warder and four warders of constable-grade) where they die of ‘sudden illness’ after two nights adds another layer to the mystery.

P Jeyaraj (right) and his son Fennix spent 15 hours at the Sathankulam police station and two nights in the sub-jail.

Group ready to hand over med college to govt

Group ready to hand over med college to govt

Ramavarman T TNN

Thrissur: 04.06.2020

The NRK group, led by Dr Azad Moopen, has expressed its willingness to hand over DM WIMS medical college and other institutions at Meppadi in Wayanad to the government. The government has formed a seven-member committee to study the infrastructure and other aspects of the institutions.

The order issued by principal secretary Rajan N Khobragade said the panel will be headed by Dr Viswanathan from Thiruvananthapuram MCH and CJ Anitha will be the chairperson of technical committee. The order added that chartered accountant S Suresh Babu, member of the fee regulatory committee, will study the books, accounts and balance sheet of DM WIMS institutions and prepare a valuation report regarding movable and immovable assets.

Director of medical education Dr Remla Beevi said the committee will submit a report within three weeks. “Committee has been appointed primarily to evaluate whether it will be feasible to take over the institutions and at what cost,” she said.

The panel was constituted after Dr Moopen wrote a letter in this regard on June 5, 2020.DM Foundation has not given a clarification and sources in the group said it will issue one on Saturday.

But, leaders of Kerala Private Medical College Management Association said all 23 private medical colleges in state are battling financial crisis and many will have to be closed down or taken over by the government. Kerala Medical College, Cherpulassery has shut while SR Medical College, Varkala is on the verge of closure and admissions remain suspended at Kannur Anjarakandy medical college.

Association president Dr KM Navas and secretary Anilkumar Vallil blamed the government fee structure for the crisis. They said Rs 6-7 crore was need each month to run a medical college with 150 seats and the annual fee should be Rs 10-Rs 12 lakh/student. Government has fixed fee at Rs 6-7 lakh/student.

State planning board member Dr B Ekbal said financial crisis of DM WIMS medical institutions need not be the reason for the proposal. At present, there is no government medical college in Wayanad and government was exploring the possibility of setting up one there, he said, refuting the complaint of private medical colleges.

Government has formed a panel to study the infrastructure and other aspects of DM WIMS medical college and other institutions in Wayanad

HC notice to govt over med officers’ recruitment

HC notice to govt over med officers’ recruitment

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur: 04.06.2020

The Rajasthan High Court while issuing a notice to the state government stayed the condition of procuring certificate of registration from the medical council of Rajasthan for applying to the post of medical officer.

The court also asked the government to include the petitioners provisionally in the selection process. The single bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Gaur issued the order on a petition by Sachin Mehta.

Nitish Bagri, counsel for the petitioner, said, the state government had issued advertisement for the recruitment of 2,000 medical officers in June this year. The petitioners are currently pursuing their internship training programme. The Rajasthan Medical Council had issued them provisional registration certificates and the permanent registration certificate was to be issued only after completion of the aforesaid one-year internship.

They were aggrieved by a supplementary condition in the recruitment notification on June 2 this year whereby the candidates could only be termed as qualified on the ground that they procure permanent registration certificate issued by the Rajasthan Medical Council, on or before the examination date July 12, which was challenged in the court.

India records over 23,500 cases on Friday; 446 deaths

India records over 23,500 cases on Friday; 446 deaths

Recovery Rate Has However Crossed 60%

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 04.06.2020

The Covid-19 pandemic continued to surge in the country as fresh cases rose to another record high on Friday, with over 23,500 reported during the day. With more than 22,000 new infections on Thursday, India’s coronavirus caseload has jumped by about 45,500 in just two days. The death toll from the virus has risen to 18,662 with 446 fatalities recorded on Friday.

Covid-19 cases in the country stood at 6,49,708, having crossed the 6 lakh mark just two days ago, as per data collated from state governments. Meanwhile, the recovery rate crossed 60%, with more than 3.93 lakh patients having been declared cured.

As many as 23,526 new cases were reported on Friday. The spike was again led by Maharashtra, which recorded a new high of 6,364 infections. At least seven other states reported their biggest single-day jump in cases, led by a massive increase of 1,892 in Telangana and 1,694 in Karnataka. The others were Uttar Pradesh (972 new cases), Gujarat (687), Bengal  (669), Odisha (561) and Kerala  (211).

Tamil Nadu became the second state in the country to cross the 1-lakh mark in total cases, reporting its second highest count of 4,329 on Friday. Delhi’s reported 2,520 cases, taking its caseload to over 94,600.

The southern states together accounted for nearly 9,000 fresh cases (8,987 to be precise), on the back of a major surge of the pandemic in the region since the past few days.

For the second day in a row, Maharashtra added over 6,000 cases to its Covid-19 tally. Friday’s 6,364 cases are the highest so far in a day, beating the previous high of 6,330 cases on Thursday. With this, the total number of cases in the state is now 1,92,990.

Maharashtra added 198 deaths on Friday, of which 150 were from the last 48 hours and 48 from previous days. The case fatality rate of the state as on Friday was 4.34%.

Continuing with its addition of a large number of cases, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (not counting Mumbai) reported 3,041, nearly 50% of the daily addition of cases in the state. Mumbai added 1,338 cases.

Tamil Nadu, 118 days after the first Covid-19 case was reported in the state, crossed the 100,000-mark on Friday, with an addition of 4,329 cases. The total count stands at 1,02,721 cases. Fatalities in the state rose to 1,385 as 64 more deaths were reported. Chennai, which is the worsthit city in the state, recorded 2,082 new cases, taking its tally to 64,689, while 33 deaths took the city’s toll closer to 1000-mark. On Friday, the official toll reached 996.

Karnataka on Friday reported its biggest single-day spike of 1,694 new cases, taking the total number of infections in the state to 19,710, the health department said. The state also recorded 21 fatalities pushing the death toll to 293. As many as 994 of the new cases were from Bengaluru.

BBMP personnel and ASHA workers sanitise the streets and stores near Kammanhalli in Bengaluru on Friday

No clarity on university exams yet, but students asked to pay the fee Colleges Charge Fee Up To ₹2K, Students Fume

No clarity on university exams yet, but students asked to pay the fee

Colleges Charge Fee Up To ₹2K, Students Fume

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: 04.06.2020

Though a decision on conducting university examinations in the state is pending, many colleges and state universities continue to charge examination fee from students.

While hearing a case on the common entrance tests (CETs) on June 30, the Telangana high court sought to know from the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) and state universities whether they want to do away with the undergraduate and postgraduate exams for now. The bench asked TSCHE and the universities to respond to it by July 9.

Students, however, raised concerns over the higher education institutions’ move to collect exam fee without any clarity on whether the exams will be held or not. Many colleges and universities have issued notification seeking payment of exam fee in the range of ₹500 to ₹2,000. In the absence of clear guidelines from the government on resumption of classes, the move has irked students.

“The university is constantly extending the last date for payment of examination fee. On the notification, it clearly states that fee once paid cannot be refunded or adjusted for any future examination,” said Vamshi Reddy, a management student. He raised concerns over refund by the universities and colleges if the examination is postponed/cancelled.

Students have called for boycott of exam fee until there is clarity from the TSCHE or universities on the examination.

“If the universities decide to promote all the students based on their average marks of first seven semesters then what is the point of collecting exam fee? When there are no guidelines on resumption of online classes or on exams, how can the universities charge exam fee?” asked Venkat Balmoor, president, National Students Union of India, Telangana unit.

Officials from state universities refused to comment on the subject as the matter is subjudice and said that their response will be submitted in court.

NIMS to begin human trials of Covid-19 vaccine soon

NIMS to begin human trials of Covid-19 vaccine soon

Sribala.Vadlapatla@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  04.06.2020

The Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad is among 12 other centres across the country to begin human trials for a coronavirus vaccine soon.

The vaccine trial proposal was placed before the ethics committee on Friday at NIMS after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) added the hospital cum-research-facility to the list of centres.

“Any such trial needs permission from the hospital's ethics committee, and as a first step, we did that and expecting the nod in a day or two, before we start the trials,” a top official from the health department told TOI.

The vaccine to be developed by Bharat Biotech will be applied intravenously to volunteers. The vaccine trial will continue for six months and only healthy people in the age group between 22-50 years will be selected for human trials, irrespective of gender.

Institutes with clinical pharmacology wings and experience of handling similar human trials, have been selected for the human trials.

NIMS in the last 12 years has the experience of conducting about a dozen human trials, including that of the successful meningococcal vaccine.

“There are only six or seven very experienced institutes in the entire country having done phase 1 clinical trials,” said a doctor at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences.

Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences is among 12 other centres from across the country to begin human trials for a coronavirus vaccine soon

Govt bungles, doctor gets tsunami of calls

Govt bungles, doctor gets tsunami of calls

Manuja.Veerappa@timesgroup.com

04.06.2020

Bengaluru: At 7.30am on Thursday, Dr Ashwin S answered a call on his cellphone. It was the beginning of a nightmare for the non-invasive cardiologist as his phone kept buzzing, virtually non-stop, through the day.

About 50 calls were from relatives of Covid-19 patients, pleading for a bed in the ‘hospital’ in which he ‘works’. The callers believed he worked at Shekhar Hospital on Bull Temple Road, Bengaluru, but Ashwin was helpless since he isn’t an employee there. The barrage of calls was a courtesy of the state government’s bungling.

The genesis of Ashwin’s woes lay in a public notice issued by the department of health and family welfare, listing 73 private hospitals in the city where 50% of beds were reserved for Covid patients. Besides names and addresses of the hospitals, the notice also listed a contact person and his/her phone number for each hospital, besides nodal officials from Bescom and BBMP. The contact for Shekhar Hospital was listed as one Dr Ashwini S, but the number was Ashwin’s. Neither Ashwin nor Shekhar Hospital knows how the number made it to the list.

“I’ve been getting calls for the past couple of days,” the doctor said. “When asked where they got my number from, all callers have a common answer: A WhatsApp forward. I haven’t had much sleep because people are calling at odd hours. These are distress calls so you have to answer them. But it is taking a toll on me mentally. We are frontline workers in very trying circumstances so it’s not easy to deal with a situation like this.”

It only got worse the health department’s list was published in several dailies on Friday. “I can’t switch off my phone because I have to attend to the needs of my patients. I think it is a prank which is in very bad taste because it is a question of life and death. I have been texting the number of Shekhar Hospital to callers,” said Ashwin. Shekhar Hospital said it was unaware a wrong contact number was published until Ashwin brought it to their notice.

“Dr Ashwin worked with us in the past, but we don’t know how his number has been listed as our hospital contact,” said Dr Kaushik Aithal from Shekhar Hospital. “We were not asked for any contact number. We have written to the district health office (DHO), Bengaluru Urban, demanding the number be changed.”

The hospital, in the letter to DHO, has listed the contact number as: 9482676525.

The contact for Shekhar Hospital was listed as one Dr Ashwini S, but the number was Ashwin’s. Neither Ashwin nor Shekhar Hospital is aware how the number made it to the government list.

ICMR’s Aug 15 deadline to vaccine maker stirs a row

ICMR’s Aug 15 deadline to vaccine maker stirs a row

Council: Only Meant To Speed Up Process

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  04.06.2020

An Indian Council of Medical Research letter which sought fast-tracking of approvals relating to clinical trials and spoke of the launch of a vaccine by August 15 stirred the medical and scientific community on Friday, with questions being asked on how such deadlines could be adhered to given the complexity and time required for trials on humans.

A vaccine candidate by Bharat Biotech received approval to enter initial phases of human clinical trials only earlier this week. In a letter to Bharat Biotech and chosen hospitals for trials, ICMR director general Balram Bhargava advised “to fast-track all approvals related to initiation of the clinical trial and ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7” in view of the public health emergency and “urgency to launch the vaccine”.

Belagavi hospital set for ‘mission Aug’

Jeevan Rekha Hospital in Belagavi is among 12 institutions selected by ICMR to fasttrack clinical trial approvals for indigenous Covid-19 vaccine candidate — Covaxin — reports Shreyas HS.

Hospital director Amith S Bhate said he was informed two days ago. “We are ready to complete the mission by August,” he said, adding that confirmation from the state government is awaited. P 2

‘Vaccine timeline unrealistic’

ICMR has partnered with Bharat Biotech to develop a vaccine called Covaxin.

Official sources said the health ministry had asked ICMR about the letter and was informed that the objective was to speed up the processes relating to vaccine development rather than set any hard deadlines.

"We need the vaccine at the earliest and that was what ICMR wanted to convey," a source said. ICMR officials also told TOI that no deadlines were being set.

However, the tone of the letter, suggesting that noncompliance will be treated seriously, generated concern over whether processes were being rushed. "It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by August 15 after completion of all clinical trials. BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target, however final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project," Bhargava said in the letter dated July 2.

The content of the letter mainly suggested a timeline and the accent was to stick to it, but some experts called it "unrealistic" and even "unethical". Health experts also raised concerns about ICMR’s role as a co-creator of the vaccine and also attributing timelines resulting in a "conflict of interest".

Zydus vaccine gets DCGI nod for trials

Ahmedabad: Pharmaceutical and healthcare major Zydus Cadila has received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to start Phase I and II human clinical trials in India of its vaccine candidate for Covid-19. Called ZyCoV-D, it is a plasmid DNA vaccine candidate for Covid-19. Zydus Cadila is the second company, after Bharat Biotech, to have received regulatory permission to conduct human clinical trials for a potential Covid-19 vaccine. TNN

Nearly 66% of Indians are of working age

Nearly 66% of Indians are of working age

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  04.06.2020

India’s much-discussed “demographic dividend” continues to swell, with the share of working-age population in the country’s total population increasing, data from the recently released Sample Registration System’s 2018 report shows. This is true not just nationally but across all major states.

The SRS report, an annual publication from the office of the census commissioner and registrar general, estimates that in 2018, nearly two-thirds of the population, or 66%, was between the ages of 15 and 59. This proportion has inched up each year, an analysis of reports from 2013 onwards shows.

Those of working age constituted over two-thirds of the population in 12 of the 22 major states in 2018 while five years earlier, this was true in only four of the current states. Two states — Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — had over 70% of their populations in the working age bracket and Bihar remained the lone state in which those aged 15 to 59 were less than 60% of the total.

In general, states widely considered less developed had a lower proportion of their population in the working-age groups. This is because most of these states have also had relatively high fertility rates and hence a relatively larger base of the really young.

Among the states with high development indicators, Kerala stands out as an exception with its working-age population being of a similar proportion as in states like Assam and Odisha. The difference however is that in Kerala’s case, this is due to a relatively larger proportion of the elderly thanks to decades of low fertility and high life expectancy.

Another broad trend that emerges from the data is that states that already have higher proportions of workingage populations have seen that share grow faster than the others. Thus, those that started off with a better "demographic dividend" five years ago now have even more of it.

Experts have pointed out that this dividend, which comes from the number of dependants on each working person being low, will not last for ever with the population steadily aging. It has also been argued that if those of working age are not provided skills and jobs, the dividend could prove to be a curse rather than a blessing.

Zydus’ vaccine gets DCGI nod for human trials

DNA PLATFORM

Zydus’ vaccine gets DCGI nod for human trials

Pharma Major To Ramp Up Production

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  04.06.2020

Pharmaceuticals and healthcare major Zydus Cadila has received regulatory nod to start phase I and II human clinical trials in India of its vaccine candidate for Covid-19. Called ZyCoV-D, it is a plasmid DNA vaccine in trial stage. The approval has been issued by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) - Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO.

Zydus Cadila has become the second company after Bharat Biotech to have received the approval to conduct human clinical trials for the potential Covid-19 vaccine.

“The company’s vaccine has successfully completed preclinical phase and has now received the permission to initiate phase I/II human clinical trials in India,” Zydus Cadila said in a statement on Friday.

The company’s vaccine candidate has been indigenously developed at its Vaccine Technology Centre in Ahmedabad.

Pankaj Patel-promoted Zydus Cadila has already manufactured clinical GMP batches of the vaccine candidate and plans to initiate the clinical trials in July 2020 across multiple sites in India in over 1,000 subjects.

“In animal studies, the vaccine was found to elicit a strong immune response in species like mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. No safety concerns were observed for the vaccine candidate in repeat dose toxicology studies by both intramuscular and intradermal routes of administration,” added the company.

With ZyCoV-D, Zydus has successfully established the DNA vaccine platform, which can also be rapidly used to modify the vaccine in couple of weeks in case the virus mutates to ensure that the vaccine still elicits protection.

Int’l flights suspended till July 31

Int’l flights suspended till July 31

New Delhi:  04.06.2020

Schedule international passenger flights will now remain suspended till the month-end, except for those allowed by the government on a caseto-case basis.

These flights were suspended on March 22 this year and the DGCA had recently said they would remain suspended till July 15. On Friday, the DGCA issued a circular extending the suspension till 11.59 pm on July 31.

“…Scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India (shall remain suspended) till 11.59 pm of July 31. This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes on a case to case basis,” says a DGCA circular issued Friday. TNN

Sonia pushes for OBC quota in med colleges

Sonia pushes for OBC quota in med colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  04.06.2020

Congress party President Sonia Gandhi has asked the Centre to extend reservation for OBCs under All India Quota (AIQ) of medical and dental seats in colleges run by states and UTs, saying its denial does injustice to the Mandal classes.

In aletter to PM Modi, Sonia Gandhi wrote, “Reservation for OBC candidates under AIQ is restricted to central Institutions. As per the data compiled by the All India Federation of Other Backward Classes, since 2017, OBC candidates lost over 11,000 seats, in AIQ, due to non-implementation of OBC reservations in State/UT medical education institutions.”

By seeking the extension of AIQ in NEET to state institutions, Sonia Gandhi has waded into an ongoing controversy which is playing out on different turfs. While a petition is pending in the Supreme Court, the National Commission for Backward Classes too has taken cognisance of the issue.

“In the interest of equity and social justice, I strongly urge the Government to extend reservation for OBC candidates in AIQ of medical and dental seats, even in the State/ UT Medical education institutions,” she urged.

Full report on www.toi.in

Asymptomatic Covid patients can now stay in home isolation

Asymptomatic Covid patients can now stay in home isolation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  04.06.2020

With a large number of asymptomatic cases found testing positive for Covid-19, the health ministry has revised the home isolation guidelines to allow such patients to stay in home isolation along with very mild and pre-symptomatic cases.

However, patients with immune-compromised status (like HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy) are not eligible for home isolation, the revised guidelines said.

Also, patients over 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/kidney disease and cerebro-vascular disease among others shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer, the guidelines said.

As per the new guidelines, patients under home isolation will stand discharged after 10 days of onset of symptoms and no fever for three days. However, after that, the patient will be advised to isolate at home and self-monitor their health for a further seven days.

There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over, the guidelines said.

Eligible cases can opt for home isolation if they have the requisite self-isolation facility at their residence so as to avoid contact with family members.

The guidelines come against India’s Covid-19 tally rising to 6.25 lakh on Friday.

Avg marks of best 3 subjects to decide your CISCE result

Avg marks of best 3 subjects to decide your CISCE result

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  04.06.2020

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Friday finally ended the anxiety of students and parents by releasing the formula for calculating the results of ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) exams.

The formula was arrived at after consulting statisticians of premier institutions in the country and analysing the results of the board examinations from 2015 to 2019, as well as the unfinished 2020 session.

The remaining examinations scheduled from July 1 were cancelled by CISCE after parents moved court. The exams couldn’t be conducted owing to the Covid-induced lockdown.

Emulating the formula followed by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the average marks of the best three subjects for which the students have appeared in the board exams would be taken to compute the final score. While practical project marks would be taken for ISC students, which varies from 20 to 30 marks, for Class X internal assessment marks would be taken.

A three-step algorithm would be used to arrive at the final marks, which would include the sum of the subject’s board results and the practical/project marks. The subject’s result would be the sum of the board marks percentage and their weightage (for example, 0.7 whose theory is 70 marks and 0.8 for 80 marks). The final score would include the average of the best three marks, subject marks and project practical marks.

“The components used to arrive at the formula to award the marks in the subjects that have project and practical work component is limited to the project and practical work and the performance of the candidates in the board examination of the subjects for which they have already appeared measured through average marks obtained in the best three subjects. While the former measures the subject proficiency of the candidates, the latter is a measure of their general academic ability,” said a CISCE circular.

However, for Elective English and Art in Class X, a separate formula has been followed.

While the parents and students were a relieved lot, they said internal assessment marks, at least for Class X, might vary according to the schools. “The internal marks are subjective and not really known on how the school computes it. But considering the situation, anything is better than uncertainty and having to send the children to write the exams,” said a parent.

JEE, NEET postponed to September

JEE, NEET postponed to September

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi  04.06.2020

The JEE (Main and Advanced) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) for admission to engineering and medical courses have been postponed to September in view of the surge in Covid-19 infections across the the country. The decision was taken on Friday on a recommendation of the expert committee set up by the HRD ministry.

Computer-based multi-session JEE (Main) will be conducted from September 1-6 while JEE (Advanced) —for admission to IITs—will be held on September 27. The pen-paper mode NEET-UG will be held on September 13.

“Safety of the students is paramount and keeping that in view and to ensure quality education, we have decided to postpone the exams,” said HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said, soon after the panel, headed by IIT-Delhi director Prof V Ramgopal Rao, gave the report.

After the initial postponement, JEE (Main) was earlier scheduled from July18-23 while NEET-UG was slated for July 26 and JEE (Advanced) for August

23. Around nine lakh aspirants have registered for the JEE (Main) exam, while 16 lakh have registered for NEET-UG exams. Concerned over the pandemic situation, candidates from across the country had been demanding postponement of the exams.

According to a senior HRD ministry official, “The committee in its report recommended postponing the exam after reviewing the prevailing situation. There are a large number of centres which fall under containment zones and large areas in Assam and Bihar are facing floods. Therefore, it would not be possible to conduct the exams in the present scenario.”

The delay in the entrance exams will have a cascading effect on the new academic session. The new session for the first year students, as per the present planning, is expected to commence from November.

Full report on www.toi.in

Owing to lockdown, CISCE announces 25% reduction in syllabus for 2021 board exams

New Delhi:

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Friday announced a reduction of up to 25% in syllabus for Classes X and XII board exams in 2021taking into account the learning disruption due to closure of schools during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

“...Schools across the country have been shut for the past three months due to the lockdown. While a number of CISCE-affiliated schools have tried to adapt to this changed scenario and have tried to keep alive the teaching learning process through online classes, there has been a significant shortening of the academic year and loss of the instructional hours,” CISCE chief executive and secretary Gerry Arathoon said. PTI

SRM hosp chosen for human trials of Covid-19 vaccine

SRM hosp chosen for human trials of Covid-19 vaccine

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 04.06.2020

SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Kattankulathur, around 40km from the city, will be one of the 12 institutions and the only site in Tamil Nadu chosen by ICMR to conduct the human clinical trials of the first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine (BBV152 Covid Vaccine), where volunteers will be immunised with the vaccine.

The Drug Controller General of India recently gave its nod for human clinical trials for the vaccine called Covaxin. According to ICMR, the vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad, are jointly working for the preclinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine.

A release from SRM said Dr Satyajit Mohapatra, associate professor from the department of pharmacology, has been chosen as the principal investigator for the clinical trials at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. SRM research centre was earlier involved in clinical trials for Rotavirus vaccine administered for protection against rotavirus infections, which causes severe diarrhea, and Pentavalent vaccine administered to protect children from five diseases including Hepatitis B and Dipertheria, Pertussis and Tetanus.

A senior doctor involved in clinical trials at the SRM hospital said they are awaiting the detailed protocol to be followed for the trials from the sponsor and ICMR, but the trial will begin only after approval from the ethics committee, approval from the site administrator and the availability of the faculty.

According to ICMR, the vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad, are jointly working for the preclinical and clinical development of this vaccine

Colleges to go online with dedicated Youtube channel

Colleges to go online with dedicated Youtube channel

Gauree.Malkarnekar@timesgroup.com

Panaji   03.07.2020

Covid-19 cases in Goa are on the rise, and the state administration seems to have realised that classroom teaching may not be possible for the new academic year 2020-21. The directorate of higher education (DHE) has already begun work to convert at least 40% of the syllabus to e-content before colleges reopen.

The directorate has already carried out a survey in general stream colleges to determine the availability of internet connectivity among students.

Sources said that the survey found that many students do not have good internet connectivity at home. The government is in the process of setting up hotspots in such areas, but, in the meantime, the DHE is training teachers to prepare e-content and start off the academic year by delivering this content to students through WhatsApp and email.

Already 300 government college teachers have been trained on how to prepare and deliver the e-content to students. Master trainers are being presently trained for aided colleges, who will then train their colleagues in the respective colleges.

DHE is also launching its own YouTube channel where lectures will be uploaded for students to access at their convenience.

‘GU studio will be used to record videos’

The directorate will launch its own Youtube channel, where any number of lectures can be uploaded and students can access what is relevant to them. The responsibility for creation of the lecture videos is being distributed amongst teachers of different colleges to share the burden. The studio at Goa University will be used to record and develop the videos,” a source said.

If the Covid-19 situation does not improve, live teaching is planned via webcast.

Colleges have also been told to pair students with poor internet connectivity with a ‘friend’ living in an area with good network and encourage them to partner on accessing the online learning content, officials said.

Officials said that government college teachers have been provided licensed Microsoft 365 packages, which they will use to create PowerPoint presentations of chapters. If live lectures have to be held eventually, Microsoft Teams will be used by the teachers. Similarly, teachers of aided college are expected to use Google Meet.

“Presently, once teachers complete the training, each one will start creating separate e-content for their own students during their college working hours and begin the academic year by making PPTs, etc, available to students through platforms like WhatsApp, etc,” a source said.

UoH forms task force to plan reopening of classes

UoH forms task force to plan reopening of classes

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:  03.07.2020

The University of Hyderabad has constituted a task force to outline a road map for the resumption of teaching-learning activities that were suspended after March 15 due to Covid-19 outbreak.

The 12-member task force will be chaired by Prof Vinod Pavarala, the former dean of the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication, and consult various stakeholders of the university.

“This includes practical steps for starting classes for ongoing students as well as for those who will be joining the university this academic year. The task force will examine and recommend a range of teaching methods incorporating face-to-face, online and blended modes of delivery of course content,” reads a press release issued by the university.

The group will recommend appropriate measures to upgrade the institution’s ICT infrastructure, so that it is able to address the challenges of online education. It will also examine the scheduling and mode of the university’s annual entrance examination that is held across the country for admission to its various post-graduate and research programmes. The last date for submitting applications for this year’s admissions was June 30. Further, the group has been asked to monitor the implementation of the decisions taken by the university on the abovementioned matters and will remain in operation up to December 31.

The group will recommend appropriate measures to upgrade the institution’s ICT infrastructure, so that it is able to address the challenges of online education. It will also examine the scheduling of the university’s entrance examination

Best past scores to assess all UG & PG students of CU

Best past scores to assess all UG & PG students of CU

Internal Marks To Be Sent To Univ By July 10

Somdatta.Basu@timesgroup.com

Kolkata: 03.07.2020

The best aggregate marks secured by a Calcutta University undergraduate student in Part I and Part II examinations, along with his or her best score in the past three years’ internal assessment, will make up the final scores.

At the meeting of the Calcutta University Syndicate, the institute’s highest administrative decision-making body, members decided that 80% of a students’ final marks will be from the best score of the previous two years (Part I and Part II), while the best internal assessment score would make up the rest 20%. CU-affiliated colleges have been asked to send internal assessment scores of previous three years of each student appearing for Part III to the university by July 10. “The internal assessment marks will be posted on the CU website after the result is published. The answerscripts will have to be preserved by colleges, which might need to send those to the university if required. Regarding ‘back’ papers, the marks will be awarded, based on the best score obtained in the remaining qualified papers of that year,” said CU vicechancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee. The decision to put the internal scores on public domain was taken to ensure transparency.

This is the last year, when BA and BSc students at CU are being assessed on the old 1+1+1 system. Students up to the UG second year in both humanities and science faculties are assessed on choice-based credit system (CBCS). The semester system was introduced to the commerce section ahead of the Arts and science faculties. “For end-semester BCom students, 80% of their marks will be based on the best aggregate percentage of the last five semesters and 20% from their best performance in internal assessments” the VC said.

For fourth- or end-semester PG students, 80% marks will be based on the best aggregate percentage of previous three semesters and the rest 20% on internal assessment to be decided by their departments through individual department councils and faculty councils. The internal assessment scores will have to be sent to heads of departments by July 10.

In professional courses, such as engineering and technology, management and law, 80% of a candidate’s final score will be on internal assessment or mid-semester exams or the best of the aggregates of previous semesters and 20% on assignments. “This is only for the 2019-20 academic session,” said Chakravarti Banerjee.

The CU’s announcements came five days after the government on Saturday stated endsemester UG as well as PG students will be evaluated, based on 80% weightage to their best aggregate percentage in any of the previous semesters’ results (five semesters in UG and three in PG) and 20% on internal assessment of the current semester. For those in the 1+1+1 system, the best aggregate secured in the past two exams will be considered. Unhappy with these assessments, if some students wish to appear for a formal exam as and when it is held, they will have to apply through a process to be notified by the university concerned. Its results will be published within a month of the tests being held. The final scores will be revised, according to the special exam marks.

International honour for KGMU prof

International honour for KGMU prof

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow  03.07.2020

The Indian chapter of American College of Physicians has honoured Prof Abbas Ali Mahdi, professor and head of biochemistry department of King George’s Medical University. (KGMU).

The honour has been bestowed on him for tireless and dedicated efforts towards the expansion of Covid-19 testing facilities in Uttar Pradesh by facilitating establishment of new testing facilities. Dr BA Muruganathan, governor, American College of Physicians (Indian Chapter), felicitated Prof Mahdi on the occasion of Doctor’s Day during a webinar on Wednesday.

Prof Mahdi is also the administrative officer of the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, regional depot for Uttar Pradesh which has been established at KGMU for storage and transportation of Covid kits.

MUHS slots summer exams from August 4

MUHS slots summer exams from August 4

—Ranjan Dasgupta

Nashik:  03.07.2020

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has announced that summer 2020 exams for health science courses will be staggered from August 4. The exams had earlier been scheduled on July 16. Vice-chancellor Deelip Mhaisekar and senior functionaries guided the examination department to frame the new time-table.

“Final year exams for allopathy, dental, homoeopathy, nursing, unani and ayurveda will start from August 4. For other classes and streams, it will be on August 17,” controller of examination Ajit Pathak told TOI.

A detailed time-table was uploaded on www.muhs.ac.in But the university did not give dates for postgraduate allopathy (MD/MS) exam as students are busy treating Covid-19 patients in government and civic hospitals.

Some PG allopathy students had demanded postponement of the exam as they were not getting time to prepare.

Pathak said the university adhered to state government instructions to ensure students get a day’s gap between each paper. In the old schedule, UG final year exams were to start on July16, with no gap between papers.

MUHS conducts summer exams in May-June, but it got delayed due to coronavirus pandemic. Pathak said it would take two months to conduct exams of all streams and theory papers will be followed by practicals.

MUHS to conduct tests from August 4

TIME TABLE OUT

MUHS to conduct tests from August 4

Ranjan.Dasgupta@timesgroup.com

Nashik:  03.07.2020

The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has announced that the summer 2020 exams for all health science courses will start in a staggered manner from August

4. The exams had earlier been scheduled to begin on July 16.

Varsity’s vice-chancellor Deelip Mhaisekar, along with other senior functionaries, guided the examination department to frame the time-table afresh.

“The final-year exams for courses like allopathy, dental, homoeopathy, nursing, unani and ayurveda will start from August 4 while the exams for students of other classes and streams will begin on August 17,” controller of examination Ajit Pathak told TOI on Thursday.

A detailed time-table has been uploaded on the university’s website: www.muhs.ac.in for students’ convinience.

However, the university did not give the dates for the postgraduate allopathy (MD/MS) examination since these students are currently busy treating coronavirus patients in the government and civic hospitals.

State awaits central funds for salaries of staffers

State awaits central funds for salaries of staffers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune: 03.07.2020

State relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday said the state government would not be able to pay salaries to its employees next month if the Centre did not release funds.

Wadettiwar, who was in the city for a review meeting, said the state government had to divert its funds towards the treatment of the Covid-19 patients on a priority and reduce budget of almost all its departments by 50-60%. “The situation is such that the state government will be forced to take loans to pay its employees’ salaries. The state has not received the Centre’s funds for Covid-19 relief,” he told a media conference.

He said though the Opposition has been claiming that central funds have reached the state, it was not the reality. Earlier, Maharashtra finance minister and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had also said central funds were expected and there was a delay in the amounts reaching the state.

Wadettiwar said the government would ensure that there was no cash crunch to tide over the Covid-19 situation. “The salaries of the Covid-19 fighters will not be affected,” he said.

AIQ PG Medical Seats Vacant After Round 2 Reverted To States: MCC

AIQ PG Medical Seats Vacant After Round 2 Reverted To States: MCC 

By Medical Dialogues Bureau Published On 2 July 2020 12:59 PM 

New Delhi: Through a recent notification on its website, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has informed that the Round-2 of All India Counselling got completed on 30th June 2020 and the seats of All India Quota remaining vacant after Round-2 have been reverted to States for further Rounds of Counselling. Earlier, the counselling body had clarified about the resignation process of Round 2 counselling allotted seats as well as the subsequent eligibility for participating in the Mop-up round. 

The clarification comes after the MCC received many emails regarding eligibility for participation in Mop Up Round of Deemed and Central Universities. Notifying about the same, the authority explained, The rule position as per the Counselling Scheme is clarified as under: 

The Candidates who are allotted seats in Round-2 and do not join the allotted seat can 'Exit with Forfeiture' i.e the Refundable Security Deposit of candidates will be forfeited. However, such candidates can participate in Mop-Up Round by registering again for Mop Up Round by paying the requisite Fee. 

The notice further added that the Candidates who join the allotted seats in Round-2, cannot resign from their seats as per directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in W.P(C) No. 267 of 2017 Dar- Us- Slam Educational Trust & Ors. Vs. Medical Council of India & Ors. and will not be eligible to participate in any other counselling. The relevant part of the court order is reproduced as under: 

"After the second round of counselling for All India Quota seats, the students who take admission in All India Quota seats should not be allowed/ permitted to vacate the seats. This would ensure that very few seats are reverted to the State Quota and also All India Quota seats are filed by students from the all India merit list only. The students who take admission and secure admission in Deemed Universities pursuant to the second round of counselling conducted by the DGHS shall not be eligible to participate in any other counselling."

https://medicaldialogues.in/news/education/aiq-pg-medical-seats-vacant-after-round-2-reverted-to-states-mcc-67231

இதனால் சகலமானவருக்கும்.... 1 கிலோ வெட்டுக்கிளிகளை பிடித்து வந்தால் ரூ300 சன்மானம்- நேபாள விசித்திரம்

இதனால் சகலமானவருக்கும்.... 1 கிலோ வெட்டுக்கிளிகளை பிடித்து வந்தால் ரூ300 சன்மானம்- நேபாள விசித்திரம்

காத்மாண்டு: படையெடுத்து வரும் வெட்டுக்கிளிகளை பிடித்து வந்தால் சன்மானம் வழங்கப்படும் என்று நேபாள நாட்டில் நகராட்சிகள் நூதன அறிவிப்பை வெளியிட்டுள்ளன.

உலக நாடுகளை கொரோனா அச்சுறுத்தி பேரழிவுக்குள்ளாக்கி வருகிறது. தெற்காசிய நாடுகளில் கொரோனாவுடன் வெட்டுக் கிளிகள் கைகோர்த்திருக்கின்றன.

பாகிஸ்தான், இந்தியா மற்றும் நேபாளம் நாடுகளில் வெட்டுக் கிளிகள் படையெடுப்பால் வேளாண் தொழிலே நிர்மூலமாகும் அபாயம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த நிலையில் வெட்டுக் கிளிகளை நிரந்தமராக அழிக்க பல்வேறு நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

தற்போது நேபாளத்தில் வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் உக்கிரமாக சேதத்தை ஏற்படுத்தி வருகின்றன. இதனால் நேபாளத்தில் Adhikhola என்ற நகராட்சியானது ஒரு நூதன அறிவிப்பை வெளியிட்டிருக்கிறது.

அதாவது வெட்டுக் கிளிகளை உயிருடனோ அல்லது அழித்தோ பிடித்து வந்தல் 1 கிலோவுக்கு ரூ300 சன்மானம் அளிக்கப்படும் என்பதுதான் அந்த அறிவிப்பு. ஏற்கனவே Kaligandaki என்ற நகராட்சியானது 1 கிலோ வெட்டுக் கிளிகளுக்கு ரூ100 வழங்கப்படும் என அறிவித்திருப்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

source: oneindia.com

Dailyhunt

மருத்துவர்கள், செவிலியர்களுக்கு விமானக் கட்டணத்தில் 25% சலுகை: இண்டிகோ அறிவிப்பு

மருத்துவர்கள், செவிலியர்களுக்கு விமானக் கட்டணத்தில் 25% சலுகை: இண்டிகோ அறிவிப்பு

கரோனா தடுப்புப் பணியாளர்களான மருத்துவர்கள், செவிலியர்களுக்கு விமானக் கட்டணத்தில் 25% சலுகை வழங்குவதாக இண்டிகோ நிறுவனம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.

அதன்படி, 2020ம் ஆண்டு இறுதி வரை மருத்துவர்கள், செவிலியர்கள் இண்டிகோ விமானத்தில் 25% கட்டணச் சலுகையில் பயணிக்கலாம் என்று தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது .

இதற்காக அவர்கள் தங்கள் அடையாள அட்டையை சான்றாக பயன்படுத்திக்கொள்ளலாம். ஜூலை 01, 2020 முதல் டிசம்பர் 31, 2020 வரை இந்த சலுகை இருக்கும்.

தற்போது சமூக இடைவெளியை கடைபிடித்தல், முகக்கவசம் அணிதல் உள்ளிட்ட மத்திய அரசின் விதிமுறைகளைப் பின்பற்றி உள்நாட்டு விமானங்கள் இயக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

வெளிநாட்டு விமான சேவைகள் தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. 'வந்தே பாரத்' திட்டத்தின் மூலமாக மத்திய அரசின் அனுமதி பெற்ற சிறப்பு விமானங்கள் மட்டும் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

Dailyhunt