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Happy New Year: Expert panel clears Oxford vaccine for India

India moved closer to the rollout of its vaccination plan against Covid-19 with the subject expert committee of the drug regulator on Friday recommending emergency-use authorisation (EUA) for Serum Institute of India's "Covishield", developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Sources said the SEC's recommendations come with certain conditions like every recipient of the vaccine will be given a factsheet about the vaccine prior to vaccination. The company may also be asked to report adverse events every 15 days. The SEC has recommended EUA for 2 full doses of Covishield to be given with a gap of 4-6 weeks. The final marketing approval by the Drugs Controller General of India is still awaited. "DCGI approval will take another day or two," a source said. The approval is on the cards and the first shots are expected to be given in 7-10 days. This will mark the start of a massive effort to innoculate "priority population" of around 30 crore people by July. PM Modi had on Thursday said that efforts were being made to ensure the vaccines reach those who need them quickly and that 2021 was arriving with a sense of hope that a cure for Covid was at hand. Apart from marketing authorisation, DCGI will approve the label for vaccine vials. Once the label with requisite conditions or details are approved and printed, they will be stuck to the vials before dispatch. "There are some processes before the rollout," an official said. A nation-wide dry run to assess the preparedness on field for the vaccination process is scheduled on January 2. This will be conducted in all state capitals in at least three session sites. Some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support. "Preparations are in full swing. As soon as DCGI approves the EUA, the government will place a formal contract or supply order with the manufacturer along with details of supply schedule and locations," the official said. So far SII has built up a stockpile of 50 million doses intended for use in India. In the initial months, the government will procure the vaccine and oversee the inoculation process. The first order is likely to be for 10 crore doses that will be funded through PM Cares. "SII has offered a price of Rs 225-250 per dose for the first tranche, whereas Bharat Biotech has offered Rs 350. For the next lot, the prices may vary," a source said. Bharat Biotech and Pfizer applications are still being evaluated by the SEC, which comprises independent experts. As earlier reported by TOI, around 96,000 vaccinators have been trained so far for the Covid vaccination programme. The Centre has asked all states to be ready with their list of healthcare workers who will be inoculated with the first tranche of supplies. The 30 crore "priority population" includes healthcare and frontline workers, people above 50 years of age and those below 50 but with serious co-morbidities. Once supplies improve, the government will simultaneously start inoculating other categories. The UK's regulator Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority approved Covishield for emergency use on December 30.

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India-UK flights to resume from January 8

Following the temporary suspension, commercial air passenger operations between India and the UK will commence from January 8, 2021. However, as mentioned earlier by the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, till January 23, the operations will be strictly regulated to only 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to and from the cities of Delhi, Mumbai Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Announcing this, Puri tweeted today, “It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8 Jan 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of the two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only. @DGCAIndia will issue the details shortly.” The temporary suspension of flights between the two countries was announced on December 21, after reports coming in from the UK about a new coronavirus strain that was said to be more contagious. The flight suspension started with effect from 23.59 hours, on December 22, 2020 and was initially said to continue till December 31, 2020. On December 30, 2020, it was decided that the temporary suspension would be extended by another week, till January 7, 2021. Following the one week extension in suspension of flights, Indian student groups in the UK had been urging the government to allow emergency travel options in extremely exceptional cases. According to the Union Health Ministry, so far, a total of 29 people have tested positive for the new UK variant genome of SARS-CoV-2 in India.

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Air India first direct flight between Bengaluru and San Francisco from Jan 11

Air India will commence non-stop flights from Bengaluru to San Francisco starting from January 11, 2021. The flight AI-175 from Bengaluru to San Francisco will operate with a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft on Mondays and Thursdays, according to Air India. The flight will depart Bengaluru at 2.30 pm and arrive in San Francisco at 5 pm local time on the same day. The new non-stop service is expected to meet the demand of corporate customers for travel to San Francisco and adjoining areas in the US. “Passengers from Bengaluru will enjoy huge benefits travelling to San Francisco as this will enable faster and easier connections,” Air India said in a statement. The return flight AI-176 from San Francisco to Bengaluru will operate on Saturdays and Tuesdays, leaving San Francisco at 8.30 pm (local time) to arrive in Bengaluru at 2.30 am+1 hours. Bengaluru and San Francisco are ranked first and second, respectively, among the World’s top 45 digitally advanced cities. At present, Air India operates non-stop flights from Delhi to New York, Newark, Washington, San Francisco and Chicago and from Mumbai to Newark.

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Uttarakhand gearing up to host 5-day Marchula Adventure Meet from January 8

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTTB) and Almora district administration will be hosting the Marchula Adventure Meet next year, in the first week of January. Reportedly, the adventure meet will be held at different locations from January 8 to January 12, 2021. Visitors will get the opportunity to take part in various adventure activities, and also explore the region at the same time during this five-day event. This event has been planned to promote offbeat tourist destinations in Almora. As per the reports, the event will span around five days, and will include a special Marchula Haat that will feature local product shots, and food stalls set up for visitors. Known for its cultural diversity, Almora is a charming hill station situated at an average height of 1638 m above the sea level, and is surrounded by dwindling old oaks and dwindling pine trees. Apart from the divine natural aura, the scenic beauty of the snow-capped Himalayas is enough to allure anyone. An offbeat tourist spot, Almora will be the hosting ground of many activities that have been lined up for the festival. Reportedly, adventure activities that have been planned for this festival include air balloon ride, zorbing, rock climbing, water roller, cliff jumping, kayaking, zip lining, trail run, mountain biking, off-roading, river crossing, and much more. Angling demonstration will also be organised for adventure lovers.

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No night curfew in Goa on December 31 and January 1

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the state government has not declared any night curfew in the state in view of new year celebrations on December 31 and January 1. Thousands of tourists have thronged the beaches of Goa and the coastal belt is witnessing large numbers of tourists that have come to the state to celebrate new year. Sawant said on today is December 31 and people should follow the standard operation procedures (SOPs) laid down by the state government including wearing of masks, use of hand sanitizers and maintaining social distance at parties and in hotels “We have not declared night curfew today and requested tourists, hoteliers and party organizers to follow the norms to avoid the spread of Covid-19,” he said. He also said that on December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021 there will be no night curfew. Sawant said that even mass in Churches and zatras are celebrated with social distancing. When asked about the tweet of health minister Vishwajit Rane over night curfew which is creating confusion in the minds of people, Sawant said he will speak to Rane over the same.

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Tourists gather in Goa ahead of New Year’s eve

A large number of tourists were seen in Goa ahead of the new year celebrations. “Tourists started coming here to celebrate and enjoy. Goa is a gift from God as it is filled with natural beauty and people come here to enjoy it. They are enjoying with following all the Covid-19 precautions,” Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar told ANI on Wednesday. “It is good that the tourists are coming in the state as it will help businesses in Goa,” he added. “We are here for the first time and visited many places. There are still many exciting places left to visit. We are completely enjoying the beaches of Goa,” Ashwani, a tourist said. “We have been locked in our homes due to the lockdown and coronavirus pandemic, but now to release the Covid-19 tension we come here for New Year celebrations,” another tourist, who came for the first time with the family, said. “I visit Goa every year with family and friends, I love to come here especially for New Year’s eve,” said Rajeev, who come from Agartala. Tourists were seen enjoying at many places of Goa including beaches, casinos, clubs, churches, and many tourist spots. People are also seen asking, dancing, clicking photographs.

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