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Third Covid wave expected to impact India in 6 to 8 weeks, says AIIMS chief

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In view of unlocking in various states after strict restrictions, AIIMS Chief Dr. Randeep Guleria on Saturday warned that India is certain to face the inevitable third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the next six to eight weeks.

In an interview with NDTV, Dr Guleria said, as we have started unlocking, there is again a lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour. We don’t seem to have learnt from what happened between the first and the second wave. Again crowds are building up, people are gathering. 

It will take some time for the number of cases to start rising at the national level. Third-wave is inevitable and it could hit the country within the next six to eight weeks, maybe a little longer. It all depends on how we go ahead in terms of Covid-appropriate behaviour and preventing crowds, he added.

Highlighting the importance of vaccination, Dr. Guleria said the country’s main challenge is vaccinating a huge population and the increase in dose gaps for Covishield may not be a bad approach to provide protection to cover more people. A new wave can usually take up to three months but it can also take much less time, depending on various factors. Apart from Covid-appropriate behaviour, we need to ensure strict surveillance. Last time, we saw a new variant – which came from outside and developed here which led to a huge surge in the number of cases. We know the virus will continue to mutate. Aggressive surveillance in hotspots is required, he said.

Several states have begun reopening after lengthy lockdowns over the second wave. Dr. Guleria suggested that local-level lockdowns in any part of the country, which sees a rise in positivity rate beyond 5%, should be imposed. He underlined that people are vulnerable unless they are vaccinated. He also stressed that testing, tracking, and treating should be the focus in hotspots. We have to factor in human behaviour while unlocking, which needs to be done in a graded manner,  he said.

While talking about the new Delta-plus variant, which has evolved from the Delta variant of Covid-19, he suggested that a new frontier will have to be developed in India’s fight against Covid to further study the mutation of the virus. During the first wave (in India), the virus was not spreading that rapidly,  all that changed during the second wave, and the virus became much more infectious. Now the Delta variant that’s spreading is much more infectious. Faster spread is likely, he added.

The AIIMS chief further suggested that the strategy should be multi-pronged and we have to make sure fresh cases don’t rise while asserting that when there is a huge increase in the number of cases, shortage of hospital beds follows. Any healthcare system globally will tend to collapse with the unprecedented rise in infections.

Dr. Guleria wondered if India needed to reconsider its 12-16 week gap decision between two doses of Covishied, a vaccine the country is largely dependent on. Nothing is written in stone. We will have to look at new strategies. But we need to have strong data to make that decision, said the AIIMS chief, suggesting that the decision should be driven by science and not the shortage of doses.

Pointing out the UK’s one-shot strategy for AstraZeneca and Pfizer, Dr. Guleria said the one-shot strategy may not be a bad strategy as it can give protection to a larger number of people.

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AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj says a conspiracy is underway for slow death of Arvind Kejriwal

Saurabh Bharadwaj also slammed the Tihar administration, BJP, Centre and Delhi LG and held them responsible for denying insulin to Kejriwal and said the Delhi Chief Minister has been suffering from Type-2 diabetes for the last 20-22 years.

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The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is being pushed towards a slow death inside Tihar jail as he is being denied insulin and consultations with his doctor.  AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told the media that Arvind Kejriwal, who is suffering from Type-2 diabetes, has been asking for insulin and a video conferencing with his family doctor as the jail administration is not allowing him to do so.

Bharadwaj said he wants to say with full responsibility that a conspiracy is underway for the slow death of Kejriwal. He said his claims were on the basis of blood sugar readings of the Delhi Chief Minister in jail. He also slammed the Tihar administration, BJP, Centre and Delhi LG and held them responsible for denying insulin to Kejriwal and said the Delhi Chief Minister has been suffering from Type-2 diabetes for the last 20-22 years.

On Friday, the Delhi chief minister’s council Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Kejriwal has not been administered insulin to control his sugar levels since his arrest, and termed it alarming and shocking. The Enforcement Directorate had on Thursday claimed before the court that Kejriwal has been taking high sugar intake by consuming foods like mangoes and sweets every day, inspite of the fact that he was suffering from Type-2 diabetes, to create grounds for medical bail.

Kejriwal refuted the claims of the Enforcement Directorate by asserting before a court that the food he consumed was in accordance with the diet chart prepared by his doctor. Arvind Kejriwal confirmed that he only uses sugar free in his tea.

Bharadwaj further added that overall, it was a conspiracy to give a slow death to Arvind  Kejriwal so that his multiple organs get damaged and when he comes out of jail after 2-4 months he goes for the treatment of heart, kidney and other organs.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Rahul Gandhi says BJP will not get more than 150 seats in Lok Sabha elections

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said these BJP people are saying that they will secure this many or that many seats and but he wanted to make it clear that BJP will not get more than 150 seats.

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With completion of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections yesterday, the stage is set for the 2nd phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which has lead the political parties to intensify and accelerate campaigning. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too, with his eyes set on the 2nd phase was addressing a public rally at Bihar’s Bhagalpur on Saturday.

Addressing the rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said these BJP people are saying that they will secure this many or that many seats and but he wanted to make it clear that BJP will not get more than 150 seats.

Rahul Gandhi expressed his confidence that the I.N.D.I.A. Bloc will emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha elections. He also stressed on the party’s vision for INDIA once elected to power. Rahul Gandhi said, As soon as the INDIA alliance government comes, they will end the Agniveer scheme. He said India does not need two types of martyrs and added that everyone should get pension.

Gandhi further added that they will change GST and there will be one tax, minimum tax. He also talked about doubling the salary of Asha and Anganwadi workers. Gandhi said they are giving 2 guarantees to the farmers. The Congress party is going to waive off the farmers’ debts, and secondly, they are going to provide a guaranteed minimum support price to the farmers of India.

Congress leader even promised that his government would provide all diploma holders and graduates in India with the right to an apprenticeship. During the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections which are scheduled to be held on April 26, 4 constituencies in Bihar, including, Kishanganj, Bhagalpur, and Purnia ,Katihar will go for elections.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says BJP’s 400 paar film has become a super flop on the first day itself

Tejashwi Yadav said the INDIA Bloc had held block wise meetings and the feedback that has come is very good that the BJP’s 400 paar film has flopped on day 1 of the Lok Sabha elections. He said the people of Bihar are aware and will teach BJP a lesson.

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After the first phase of the Lok Sabha election got completed, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that the BJP’s 400 paar film has become a super flop on the first day itself. The RJD leader told that the media that there is no competition in the first phase of the elections as Bihar will give shocking results this time.

Yadav added that the Mahagathbandhan is winning all 4 seats in the first phase. He said the INDIA Bloc had held block wise meetings and the feedback that has come is very good that the BJP’s 400 paar film has flopped on day 1 of the Lok Sabha elections. He said the people of Bihar are aware and will teach BJP a lesson.

Tejashwi Yadav said there is no competition in the first phase. He said the people of Bihar will give shocking results this time. He added the BJP government has not done anything for the people of Bihar. He said the promises made by Modi ji in 2014 and 2019 were not fulfilled. Yadav added the public is tired of BJP’s statements and false promises. He said the opposition has promised that they will give a special package to Bihar along with special status.

Tejashwi Yadav said today the rally is with Rahul Gandhi ji in Bhagalpur. The entire INDIA Bloc and the Mahagathbandhan are working together. The RJD leader pointed out that unemployment is the biggest issue in Bihar. He said other important issues being faced by the people of Bihar are poverty, inflation, investment in the state. He said Migration and floods are also issues which need to be looked at.  He added the people of BJP are very worried. He said the people of BJP say that they will abolish the Constitution. He said those who destroy the Constitution will themselves be destroyed.

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