Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav, on Saturday, said that he will not take the Covid-19 vaccine as it will be rolling out as the “vaccine of the BJP”.
“I have no trust in the Covid-19 vaccine as of now. How I can trust the vaccine which given by the BJP,” Yadav asked when during an interaction with reporters in Lucknow. He added that when his government forms, he will give free vaccines to all. “We cannot take BJP’s vaccine,” he said.
Attacking the government further, Yadav said, “What is the need for vaccine dry runs in the country? This government was clapping hand and beating utensils to eliminate the virus.”
Yadav’s comments have not gone down well with the BJP, accusing him of “insulting” doctors and scientist of the country. “Akhilesh Yadav has no trust in the vaccine and people of Uttar Pradesh do no trust him. Him raising questions against the vaccine is an insult to the doctors and scientists of this country,” said Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, adding that Yadav must issue an apology.
FIVE STATES CONTRIBUTE TO NEARLY 62% OF INDIA’S ACTIVE COVID-19 CASES: MHOFW
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHOFW) has said that five states are contributing to nearly 62% of India’s active Covid-19 cases. Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh are the five states.
Among the five states, Kerala continues to record the highest single-day cases. The state recorded 5,328 cases on Saturday and has a Test Positivity Rate (TPR) of 9.85%. Kerala also recorded 4,985 recoveries and 21 deaths. Kerala has been unable to bring down the TPR. Recently 32 returnees from the UK tested positive. Keeping in mind of the new strain, their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. However, good news so far is that NIV Pune has not found new Covid-19 strain in the first six samples of UK returnees currently in quarantine in Kerala.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra still has the most number of Covid-19 cases in the country. The stat has nearly 19 lakh cases, nearly 50,000 deaths and 18 lakh recoveries. However, the numbers are coming down slowly. Initially, there was apprehension whether the country would start seeing another spike in cases due to the new strain. However, India continues to record lesser number of daily cases and 96% recoveries.
The country entered 2021 to some good news. A government constituted panel of experts has approved to emergency use of Covishield vaccine. Now, the Drugs Controller General of India has to give the final approval before the vaccine distribution can begin.
FLIGHTS BETWEEN INDIA AND THE UK TO RESUME FROM JANUARY 6: AVIATION MINISTRY
The Union Aviation Ministry will be resuming flight between India and the United Kingdom from January 6. Union Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced via Twitter that 30 flights will be operating from January 6.
“Resumption of flights between India & UK: India to the UK from 6 Jan 2021. The UK to India from 8 Jan 2021. 30 flights will operate every week. 15 each by Indian & UK carriers. This schedule is valid till 23 Jan 2021. Further frequency will be determined after review,” Singh in the Tweet.
The MOHFW has released Standard of Procedures (SOPs) for passengers regarding the Covid-19 testing after discovery of the new Covid-19 strain. According to the SOP, all passengers arriving from the UK between January 8 and January 30 will be subjected to mandatory self-paid Covid-19 tests on arrival. The SOP also states that each passenger returning from the UK will have to bring a Covid-19 negative certificate from a test conducted 72 hours before the journey. The airlines must ensure passengers have the Covid negative certificate ahead of taking off from the UK.
