AGENCIES

During an online event attended by PM Narendra Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that an atmosphere of tension and violence is prevailing in the country adding that the nation must stress the need to work for peace and harmony.

He said India’s traditions have been rich and glorious, propagating the idea of “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam”, which means all world is one family.

The Rajasthan chief minister also countered the claims that the country did not progress for over seven decades after Independence, a narrative used by political parties to target the Congress, which ruled a majority of the period.

Gehlot was speaking at the national launch ceremony of the “Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore”, organised virtually by the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual movement.

The prime minister flagged off yearlong initiatives during the programme. “There is a need to strengthen peace, harmony and brotherhood in the country because it is being seen that there is an atmosphere of tension and violence, and it is the desire of all to get rid of it,” Gehlot said.

He said PM Modi visits other countries and gets respect because the country had progressed in 75 years in science, technology and other areas, which is being valued by other nations.

“We have a glorious history. As we are celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we should remember Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Lokmanya Tilak and others who struggled to get us freedom and because of them we have reached here in the past 75 years after Independence,” said the CM.

“Our country’s identity is not new and from the ancient time, we have believed in Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, which means the world is one family,” said the CM.

“I believe that the country and society can progress only by walking on the path of truth and non-violence. The development will happen where there is peace and this is what we believe in,” he added.

Rajasthan BJP Chief Satish Poonia, however, said: “It seems that in the guise of hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticizes the country. All Congress leaders from Rahul Gandhi to Ashok Gehlot speak in the same language, which is anti-national in nature.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP in Rajasthan shared on Twitter a part of the CM’s speech, in which he is speaking about the violence in the country.

The BJP compared it with the PM’s speech, which the party said reflects “positive thinking”.

“On one hand, there is hateful thinking of the Congress and on the other is the positive thinking of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the BJP tweeted sharing the video clip.

AMN / WEB DESK

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday released revised guidelines for the management of Covid in children under 18 years of age. According to new guidelines, there will be more emphasis on post-Covid care.

According to new guidelines, if steroids are used, they should be tapered over 10-14 days, subject to clinical improvement. The centre has also placed more emphasis on post-Covid care.

Masks are not recommended for children aged five years and below. Those aged 6-11 years may wear it depending on the ability of the child to use a mask safely and appropriately under the direct supervision of their parents. Those aged 12 and above should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults.

In asymptomatic and mild cases, antimicrobials are not recommended for therapy or prophylaxis, the ministry said. In moderate and severe cases, antimicrobials should not be prescribed unless there is clinical suspicion of a superadded infection.

The use of antivirals or monoclonal antibodies, however, is not recommended for children less than 18 years of age, irrespective of the severity of infection.

NEW GUIDELINES
Triple layer mask to be worn by the patient as per guidance.
Asymptomatic and mild cases: antimicrobials are not recommended for therapy or prophylaxis.
Moderate and severe cases: antimicrobials should not be prescribed unless there is clinical suspicion. of a superadded infection.

Steroids are not indicated and are harmful in asymptomatic and mild cases of COVID-19.
Steroids should be used at the right time, in right dose and for the right duration.
Corticosteroids may be used in rapidly progressive moderate and all severe cases.
They can be continued for five to seven days and tapered up to 10-14 days, depending on clinical assessment on daily basis.

Steroids should be avoided in the first three to five days since onset of symptoms as it prolongs viral shedding.
Post-Covid care: Children with asymptomatic infection or mild disease should receive routine childcare, appropriate vaccination (if eligible), nutrition counselling.

Parents or caregivers of children, who suffered moderate to severe Covid, during discharge from hospital should be counselled regarding monitoring for persistence or worsening respiratory difficulty and explained the indications for bringing the child back to the facility.

Staff Reporter

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has said that Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are States of Concern in view of COVID surge. He said, Centre is in continuous contact with these states and reviewing the situation. Mr Bhushan said, central teams have been sent to these states and have provided necessary guidance to these states.

Mr Bhushan said, India has around 19 lakh active Covid-19 cases at present. He said, over the last week, an average of two lakh 71 thousand daily cases and a positivity of 15.91 per cent has been reported. He said, 11 states have more than 50 thousand active cases, 13 states have ten to 50 thousand active cases and 12 states have less than ten thousand active cases. The health secretary said, around 99 per cent Covid patients have common symptoms of fever, cough, irritation in throat and it usually settles down after 5th day.

Mr Bhushan said, in the last four days the number of test being conducted per day have increased day on day. He said, in the last 24 hours around 19 lakh test have been conducted in the country.

Health secretary said, in the last surge of Covid-19, on 30th April last year, there were three lakh 86 thousand new cases and around three thousand deaths. He said, currently on 20th January this year, there are three lakh 17 thousand new cases and 380 deaths reported.

On vaccination status in the country, the health Secretary said that that 94 per cent of total adult population has received the first dose while 72 per cent has received the 2nd dose. He said, so far 52 per cent of the population aged between 16 to 18 years have been vaccianted with first dose.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of ICMR, Dr Balram Bhargava said, Vaccines have remained beneficial in India.

He said, deaths have been considerably reduced due to vaccinations. In this third surge of COVID19, we are currently not witnessing severe illness and deaths due to high vaccination uptake.