COVID-19 news from across the nation

As the COVID-19 situation continues to be fragile and the threat is still far from over, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has warned against the indiscriminate use of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) for treating COVID. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court refused to interfere with Delhi government’s decision to ban Chhath Puja celebrations at public places like ponds and riverbanks due to the pandemic.

Hyderabad: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has warned against the indiscriminate use of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) for treating COVID.

The top-medical body on Wednesday released reports of an open-label phase II multicentre randomised controlled trial (PLACID trial) conducted in the country across 39 public and private hospitals on the use of CPT in the management of cases with moderate COVID infection.

COVID-19 cases in India

The report concluded that the therapy “did not lead to a reduction in progression to severe COVID or all-cause mortality in the group that received CPT as compared to the group that did not receive CPT.’’

ICMR added that benefits of CPT in improving the clinical outcomes, reducing the severity of the disease, duration of hospitalization and mortality in COVID-19 patients are dependent on the concentration of specific antibodies in convalescent plasma that could neutralize the effects of SARS-CoV-2.

• Delhi

New Delhi: Delhi's fight against the ongoing coronavirus surge got its first shot in the arm on Wednesday as the Centre started delivering on the measures discussed to contain the spread of COVID-19, and tighten protocols to guard against future spikes.

At least 45 doctors and 160 paramedics have reached the national capital, and the remaining 30 doctors and 90 paramedics would reach by this weekend, said sources in the Home Ministry.

The doctors and paramedics from Central Armed Police Force would start working in the DRDO hospital near the Delhi international airport and the mega Covid facility in Chhatarpur, sources in the Home Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with Delhi government’s decision to ban Chhath Puja celebrations at public places like ponds and riverbanks due to the pandemic.

• Maharashtra

Mumbai:The Mumbai civic body has put restrictions on the mass celebration of Chhath Puja at beaches, river banks and other natural water bodies in the city in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and asked devotees to avoid crowding.

No permission will be granted for mass scale celebration at natural water bodies, the BMC said and appealed to citizens to follow COVID-19 protocols like wearing face masks, maintaining social distance and hand sanitisation while taking part in the festival.

• Telangana

Hyderabad: The Telangana government gave a green signal to social, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, and political gatherings in closed spaces.

The state government has now allowed up to 50 per cent of hall capacity with a ceiling of 200 people.

It allowed gatherings beyond the limit of 100 people outside containment zones. In open spaces, more people may be allowed keeping the size of the ground/space in view and with strict coronavirus protocols, the state government said.

• Karnataka

Bengaluru:Health Minister Sudhakar K said that the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bengaluru is the lowest among major Indian cities.

The city's fatalities rate is 1.1 per cent, he said.

"With 3,36,880 recoveries and 17,707 active cases as on Tuesday, city's recovery rate stands at a healthy 93.94 per cent and active rate stands at 4.93 per cent", he tweeted this morning.

• Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: A sero survey conducted in Kashmir has found that two out of every five people in the valley have developed antibodies against the coronavirus.

The survey carried out in October found the highest prevalence of antibodies in Pulwama at 43.1 per cent and the lowest in Kulgam at 28.5 per cent.