New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) India, which recorded all time high 97,570 COVID-19 cases and 1,201 more deaths from the virus on Saturday, voted in UN General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing unilateral economic, financial or trade sanctions and urging more unity among members during this unprecedented times.
The world body passed the resolution by a vote of 169-2 and reposed their faith in World Health Organisation.
However, the US and Israel voted against the resolution and Ukraine and Hungary abstained. The US has held the WHO responsible for the spread of the virus as it alleged that the global health body failed to raise an alarm at right time.
The COVID-19 situation in India continues to remain grim as Saturday was the third consecutive day when more than 90,000 cases were recorded inside the country.
India with highest numbers of cases outside United States, has registered 46,59,984 cases and 77,472 fatalities so far.
As per the Union Health Ministry, the total number of recovered patients has reached 36,24,196 in numbers and 77.77 in percentage. The fatality rate stands at 1.66 per cent.
The active cases are now 9,58,316, which amounts to 20.56 per cent of the total cases registered.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi again cautioned the people against the spread of the virus."Jab tak dawai nahi, tab tak dhilai nahi" (No laxity till medicine comes) was the new clarion call he gave to the people through a video conference.
Till yet no light can be seen at the end of the tunnel, as bit hopeful, Oxford University’s Covishield vaccine's trial have been put on a hold. The Drugs Controller General Of India (DCGI), in its latest advisory, directed the Serum Institute of India, who was producing the vaccine, to not to recruit any volunteer for Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials till further orders. The stalemate in the production is due to an volunteer in UK falling ill after taking the vaccine.
As the government also wants to rescue the steeply fallen economy, most of the activities have been reopened in ongoing Unlock-Phase IV. The Delhi Metro, popularly known as the lifeline of the National Capital, resumed full operations from Saturday onwards. Last six days, it operated in a truncated manner.
In VIPs,Union AYUSH Minister and Goa Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Shripad Naik recovered from the virus and was discharged from a hospital while Uttarakhand Raipur's BJP MLA Umesh Sharma Kau became the latest victim. Veteran Hindi cinema actor Himani Shivpuri was also found infected.
The Gujarat government asked the Health Department to increase the supply of oxygen in hospitals as the cases have again started rising and beds occupying. Oxygen becomes crucial in saving a COVID-19 patient life when its level starts decreasing due to the infection.
But southern state, Tamil Nadu, along with COVID-19, is also fighting another problem. The rate of suicides particularly among students are increasing. On Saturday, another NEET aspirant died on suicide. The crucial examination for medical courses was postponed due to the pandemic earlier this year. But now the Central government as well as the Supreme Court has given a green signal for the conduction keeping students' career in mind.
In terms of infection, Maharashtra remains the worst-infected with 10,15,681 cases and 29,092 deaths. Andhra Pradesh at second spot has registered 5,47,686 cases and 4,779 fatalities, while Tamil Nadu, ranking third, recorded 4,91,571 cases and 8,234 deaths.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi again took a dig at Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government over Covid management. The government's “well planned fight” against coronavirus has allegedly put India in an “abyss” of GDP reduction of 24 pc, 12 crore job losses, 15.5 lakh crore additional stressed loans and globally highest daily COVID-19 cases and deaths, Mr Gandhi said.
Globally, the US continues to remain the most-infected with over 66 lakh cases and more than 1.97 lakh deaths. Brazil at third spot, has so far registered more than 42 lakh cases and over 1.30 lakh deaths.
UNI Team PS JW2042