Headlines: India ‘s Positivity Rate Remains Below 3% For 31 Consecutive Days

Covid-Bulletin: India’s Positivity Rate Remains Below 3% For 31 Consecutive Days 

According to the latest data released by the Union Health Ministry, India has reported 41,383 new covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with the country’s active caseload currently at 4,09,394. While the recovery rate of India has remained below 3% (2.41%) for the last 31 consecutive days, the weekly positivity rate currently stands at 2.12%. Meanwhile, 38,562 more patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total recoveries to 3,04,29,339. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a total of 45.09 crore samples have been tested for covid-19 so far. On the vaccination front, the country has administered 41,78,51,151 covid-19 vaccine doses under the nationwide inoculation drive. 

#Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccineDrive

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— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) July 22, 2021

Experts Condemn Centre’s No Deaths Due To Lack Of Oxygen Remark

Public health expert and epidemiologist Chandrakant Lahariya has said that the centre’s oxygen remark was hallow and callous. Dr Lahariya said: “They will be recorded as COVID deaths, and a lack of oxygen will never be noted as an immediate cause. However, oxygen is necessary for treatment and the failure of the system to provide it has to be acknowledged. The centre’s bureaucratic response is contrary to the public experience, and a more empathetic view was required. Not doing so means we run the risk of repeating mistakes,” Malini Aisola, Convener, All India Drug Action Network said that the centre is not ready to acknowledge the toll of the second wave of the covid-19 pandemic because of its failure to prepare and respond properly, She quoted: “There is a reality that cannot be erased from public memory — of hospitals owners making daily appeals for oxygen supplies, to media and courts, and sharing death tolls due to oxygen running out.” Anant Bhan, Researcher, Global Health, Bioethics and Health Policy, said that the statement made in Parliament that there were no deaths reported due to lack of oxygen shortage is appalling and surprising. He said: “We owe it to those who lost their lives to be transparent about what were proximate causes of these deaths, fix accountability, and work on ensuring that such a scenario never recurs in our health system,” After the centre’s remark, many doctors who have faced the situation of oxygen shortage said that many covid-19 patients waited endlessly outside hospitals due to lack of oxygen-supported beds. 

Rajasthan’s Bikaner Hit By 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake

The National Center for Seismology said: “An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 on the Richter scale occurred hit Bikaner, Rajasthan at 7:42 am today,” This is the second earthquake to hit the Bikaner region of Rajasthan, earlier, on Wednesday, the National Centre for Seismology informed about a 5.3 magnitude earthquake, it tweeted: “Earthquake of Magnitude: 5.3, Occurred on 21-07-2021, 05:24:29 IST, Lat: 29.19 & Long: 70.05, Depth: 110 km, Location: 343 km WNW of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India,” Not only Rajasthan but Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills was also hit by an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 in the wee hours of Wednesday. 

An #earthquake measuring 5.3 on Richter scale hit #Rajasthan's Bikaner district on Wednesday.

The National Centre for Seismology said that the tremors were felt at 5.24 a.m. about 343 kilometres West North West of Bikaner at a depth of 110 km. pic.twitter.com/mSNoEewxxS

— IANS Tweets (@ians_india) July 21, 2021

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw To Speak In Parliament Over Pegasus Row

Amid the controversy around the Pegasus spyware, Electronics and Information Technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will speak about the issue in Parliament today. Earlier, he said that it could not be a mere coincidence that the reports appear a day before the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament. Talking about the Pegasus project, Vaishnaw said: “Press reports of July 18 also appear to be an attempt to malign Indian democracy and its well-established institutions,” Following the reports that were reported by The Wire, several Indian politicians, lawyers, journalists and activists were targeted by the Pegasus spyware.  

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Farmers To Hold Protest In Jantar Mantar Today; Plans To Follow Parliamentary Norms

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The farmers’ protest against the centre’s three farm laws will proceed towards the Jantar Mantar today. The agitation will be done in groups of 200 people every day while the Parliament is in session. Yesterday, the Delhi government and the police allowed the Kisan Sansad to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar starting today till 5th August between 11 am and 5 pm. The farmers have been told to strictly adhere to covid appropriate behavior. Each day, 200 farmers will arrive from the Singhu border point and will be escorted by the police to Jantar Mantar. Meanwhile, the protestors are planning to follow Parliamentary norms and procedures with a speaker, deputy speaker and a tea break. “We will show how to hold Parliament,” said political activist Yogendra Yadav. The police have said that the traffic movement on Delhi roads will be affected due to the agitation. The farmers have said that they will submit to arrest if stopped from protesting and have even told the members to be ready to face at least six months in jail. Amid the beginning of the farmers’ agitation, the police have increased vigilance and made arrangements so as to avoid a repeat of the 26th January violence. 

Mission Uttar Pradesh: Farmers To Start Campaigning Against BJP In UP Assembly Polls

Farmers’ who are protesting against the centre’s three farm laws have announced a campaign, ‘Mission Uttar Pradesh’, which will be started from 5th September ahead of the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Farmer leader Prem Singh Bhangu said: “Our next stop will be Uttar Pradesh, BJP’s heartland. Our Uttar Pradesh mission will begin on September 5. We will totally isolate BJP. There is no alternative other than to repeal three farms. We are ready for talks,” The Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls are scheduled to be conducted next year. So far, several rounds of talks have been held between the central government and farmer leaders, but none has been able to break the deadlock between the two parties. 

Raj Kundra Pornographic Case: Kundra Bribed Officials To Avoid Arrest

According to the latest development in the Raj Kundra pornographic case, the businessman was reportedly trying to avoid arrest by bribing Crime Branch officers by offering them a sum of INR 25 lakhs. The police are going all out with the investigation, and as per reports, the Crime Branch has recovered at least 70 videos that were shot by Raj Kundra’s former PA, Umesh Kamat, with the help of different production houses. However, Raj Kundra’s lawyer has argued in court that it is incorrect to label the videos as porn since there was actual intercourse shown in the videos. He said that the videos could be classified as vulgar content but not pornographic. Raj Kundra is currently under judicial custody along with another co-accused Ryan Tharpe associated with the app Hotshots. Many reports have suggested that Kundra joined hands with a UK production house to distribute adult films that were shot in India through the app Hotshots. However, the police have still not found any involvement of Raj’s wife and actor Shilpa Shetty in the case. 

Reports: Vicky Kaushal Starrer The Immortal Ashwatthama’s Shoot Pushed Again

After the mega sci-fi project, The Immortal Ashwatthama’s shoot was postponed in April due to the deadly outbreak of the second wave of the covid-19 pandemic. Director Aditya Dhar was hoping for a July start, but as per reports, the film’s shoot has been pushed again due to visa clearance for a Europe shoot. The film starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead will be shot in a start-to-finish schedule as per the reports. A source close to the development said: “The team is awaiting visa clearance, which takes longer in the post-pandemic times. First, Aditya will travel with a lean team for the recce. He has not finalized the countries, and the venues may change, depending on the situation in Eastern Europe,” 

Salman Khan Treats Fans With The First Promo Of Bigg Boss OTT 

Actor Salman Khan knows how to make Eid special for his fans as he can be seen laughing his heart out in the first promo of Bigg Boss OTT. Sharing the promo, Voot wrote: “Arey bhai bhai bhai, ye kya ho raha hai? Nahi samjhe? Machane loot, aa raha hai BB OTT on Voot. Hoga itna over the top, entertainment chalega non – stop. On a scale of 1 – 10, kitne excited ho aap? BB OTT, Streaming starts August 8 on Voot,” The Indian reality show, Bigg Boss season 15 will have a digital release first, six weeks ahead of its television run. It is being anticipated that the digital release will have a different host, and Sidharth Shukla and Shehnaaz Gill’s names have been doing the rounds. Speaking about the OTT release of Bigg Boss 15, Salman said: “It’s great that this season of Bigg Boss will have a digital-first with ‘Bigg Boss OTT’, six weeks ahead of television. The platform will see unparalleled interactivity where the audience will not only get entertained but also participate, engage, give tasks and more – It is truly for the people and by the people,” The digital version of Bigg Boss will air on Voot from 8th August. 

Rishabh Pant Joins Team India’s Bio Bubble

It’s official: Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has joined team India’s bio bubble after recovering from covid-19 ahead of the test series against England. Pant has completed 10 days isolation period followed by a negative RT-PCR report and proper cardio-checkup before joining the team. The BCCI, while welcoming Pant, tweeted: “Hello @RishabhPant17, great to have you back,” According to reports, Pant had picked up the Delta 3 variant of covid-19 while visiting a dentist for a toothache problem. After Pant tested positive, BCCI secretory Jay Shah sent a cautionary letter to the Indian team asking them to avoid public gatherings like Euro matches and Wimbledon. The five-match series between India and England will begin on 4th August at Nottingham. 

Hello @RishabhPant17, great to have you back ?#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/aHYcRfhsLy

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 21, 2021