The Evening Wrap: India may see COVID cases surge in mid-January, say Health Ministry sources

The next 40 days are going to be crucial as India may see a surge in COVID-19 cases in January, official sources said on December 28 citing the pattern of previous outbreaks. “Previously, it has been noticed that a new wave of COVID-19 hits India around 30-35 days after it hits East Asia.... This has been a trend,” an official said. The Health Ministry sources, however, said the severity of the infection is less. Even if there is a wave, deaths and hospitalisation will be very low, they said. The sources said 39 international passengers were found positive for COVID-19 out of the 6,000 tested on arrival in the last two days. The government has made random coronavirus testing mandatory for 2% of passengers arriving in each international flight from Saturday. The sources said filling up of ‘air suvidha’ forms and 72-hour prior RT-PCR testing may be made mandatory from next week for international passengers coming from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries, including China and South Korea, the government has sounded an alert and asked States and Union Territories to prepare for any eventuality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Mandaviya have held meetings to assess the country’s preparedness to deal with a fresh surge in cases. Mock drills were held at health facilities across India on Tuesday to check operational readiness to deal with any spurt in COVID-19 infection, with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya saying the country has to remain alert and prepared as cases are rising in the world. The latest spike in cases is being driven by Omicron sub-variant BF.7. The official sources said the transmissibility of this BF.7 sub-variant is very high. A person infected with the sub-variant can further infect 16 persons. Congress to move Supreme Court against Pragya over ‘hate speech’ Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur’s remarks at a function in Shivamogga in Karnataka are a clear example of hate speech and that he would move the Supreme Court against her. Ramesh said the MP’s remarks clearly seek to divide the society, while claiming that the local police would not act against her since the BJP is in power in the State. Thakur, addressing the Hindu Jagarana Vedike’s southern region annual convention on Sunday, had said Hindus have the right to respond to those who attack them and their dignity while speaking about the killing of Hindu activists. She also called for Hindus to at least keep the knives in their homes sharp, as everyone has the right to protect themselves. The BJP MP from Bhopal also told the gathering to give a befitting reply to anyone who “infiltrates our house”. “Keep weapons in your homes. If nothing else, at least keep the knives used to cut vegetables sharp... Don’t know what situation will arise when... Everyone has the right to self-protection. If someone infiltrates our house and attacks us, giving a befitting reply is our right,” she said. “Love jihad. They have a tradition of jihad. If nothing, they do love jihad. Even if they love, they do jihad in that. We (Hindus) too love, love the god, a sanyasi loves his god,” Thakur added. First electoral outing of newly renamed BRS to be Karnataka, Rao tells MPs, MLAs to help JD(S) Telangana Chief Minister and leader of the newly renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), K. Chandrashekhara Rao is looking at the upcoming Assembly polls in Karnataka as the first outing for his outfit as an electoral force outside Telangana. Senior office bearers in the BRS told The Hindu that Rao has instructed all party MLAs and MPs to help ally H.D. Kumaraswamy and his party Janata Dal (S) in the upcoming polls in Karnataka. This will not just be in terms of providing organisational and logistical help in fighting resource-rich BJP and Congress party in the state, but also campaigning extensively in the seats that fall in the Telugu-speaking regions bordering Telangana, also known as Hyderabad Karnataka. “There are around 41 Assembly seats where there are a significant number of Telugu speakers and BRS MLAs and MPs have been asked to campaign for the Janata Dal (S) in those areas,” said a senior office bearer of the party. At the launch of the newly renamed BRS, there was much talk that the JD(S) may like to fight on a BRS symbol, but that is not a possibility now. Former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and VCK chief and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumalvalan had attended the opening of the BRS office in New Delhi recently. Rao is expected to address a rally or two during the campaign for the Karnataka Assembly polls as well and has, according to those in the know, started familiarising himself with the seats that the party has offered help on. Sources add that Zahirabad MP, B.B. Patil, belongs to the Lingayat community largely found in Karnataka, and will be deployed on behalf of the BRS, as will Narayankhed MLA Rajendra Reddy who has business interests, including several medical colleges in Karnataka. “Whenever H.D. Kumaraswamy arrives for meetings with K. Chandrashekhara Rao, Reddy accompanies the former,” said a source. Polls to the Assembly in Telangana are also on next year, but a few months later than Karnataka. Rao is hoping that a good showing by the JD(S) may be an early boost for the BRS and its ambitions outside Telangana. Former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh released from prison Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh was released on bail from Mumbai’s Arthur Road prison around 5 pm on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court had refused to stay its order granting him bail in a corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Deshmukh (73), a Nationalist Congress Party leader, had been in prison since November 2021 when the Enforcement Directorate arrested him in an alleged money laundering case. “I have full faith in the judiciary....the high court has observed that I was implicated in a false case,” Deshmukh said, as senior NCP leaders including Ajit Pawar welcomed him outside the jail. In Brief: Four heavily-armed unidentified militants, travelling in a truck to Kashmir after infiltrating from Pakistan, were killed in an ongoing operation with security forces in Jammu’s Sidhra area early Wednesday, December 28, 2022, a police officer said, terming it as a “major success” ahead of Republic Day. “Four terrorists have been killed in the encounter in Sidhra area in Jammu. Seven AK-47 rifles, one M4 rifle, three pistols along with other ammunition were recovered,” additional director general of police (ADGP), Jammu, Mukesh Singh said. All the four militants were travelling in a truck and were apparently heading for Kashmir. “Truck owner is yet to be identified. Truck was going from Jammu to Srinagar. Search is still on in the area,” ADGP Singh said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraben Modi (100) has been admitted to the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad following health issues. The U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, where she has been hospitalised, said in a statement that her condition is stable. The press release from the hospital said, “UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad hospital’s spokesperson hereby informs that the Honorable Prime Minister’s mother is admitted at U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad and her condition is stable.” PM Modi reached the U.N. Mehta Hospital to inquire about his ailing mother. [logo] The Evening Wrap 28 DECEMBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Next 40 days crucial as India may see COVID cases surge in mid-January: Health Ministry sources The next 40 days are going to be crucial as [India may see a surge in COVID-19 cases in January]( official sources said on December 28 citing the pattern of previous outbreaks. “Previously, it has been noticed that a new wave of COVID-19 hits India around 30-35 days after it hits East Asia.... This has been a trend,” an official said. The Health Ministry sources, however, said the severity of the infection is less. Even if there is a wave, deaths and hospitalisation will be very low, they said. The sources said 39 international passengers were found positive for COVID-19 out of the 6,000 tested on arrival in the last two days. The government has made random coronavirus testing mandatory for 2% of passengers arriving in each international flight from Saturday. The sources said filling up of ‘air suvidha’ forms and 72-hour prior RT-PCR testing may be made mandatory from next week for international passengers coming from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries, including China and South Korea, the government has sounded an alert and asked States and Union Territories to prepare for any eventuality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Mandaviya have held meetings to assess the country’s preparedness to deal with a fresh surge in cases. Mock drills were held at health facilities across India on Tuesday to check operational readiness to deal with any spurt in COVID-19 infection, with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya saying the country has to remain alert and prepared as cases are rising in the world. [Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visits Safdarjung Hospital to review COVID mock drill, in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. ] The latest spike in cases is being driven by Omicron sub-variant BF.7. The official sources said the transmissibility of this BF.7 sub-variant is very high. A person infected with the sub-variant can further infect 16 persons. Congress to move Supreme Court against Pragya over ‘hate speech’ Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur’s remarks at a function in Shivamogga in Karnataka are a [clear example of hate speech]( and that he would move the Supreme Court against her. [BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur called for Hindus to at least keep the knives in their homes sharp, as everyone has the right to protect themselves.] Ramesh said the MP’s remarks clearly seek to divide the society, while claiming that the local police would not act against her since the BJP is in power in the State. Thakur, addressing the Hindu Jagarana Vedike’s southern region annual convention on Sunday, had said Hindus have the right to respond to those who attack them and their dignity while speaking about the killing of Hindu activists. She also called for Hindus to at least keep the knives in their homes sharp, as everyone has the right to protect themselves. The BJP MP from Bhopal also told the gathering to give a befitting reply to anyone who “infiltrates our house”. “Keep weapons in your homes. If nothing else, at least keep the knives used to cut vegetables sharp... Don’t know what situation will arise when... Everyone has the right to self-protection. If someone infiltrates our house and attacks us, giving a befitting reply is our right,” she said. “Love jihad. They have a tradition of jihad. If nothing, they do love jihad. Even if they love, they do jihad in that. We (Hindus) too love, love the god, a sanyasi loves his god,” Thakur added. First electoral outing of newly renamed BRS to be Karnataka, Rao tells MPs, MLAs to help JD(S) Telangana Chief Minister and leader of the newly renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), [K. Chandrashekhara Rao is looking at the upcoming Assembly polls in Karnataka]( as the first outing for his outfit as an electoral force outside Telangana. Senior office bearers in the BRS told The Hindu that Rao has instructed all party MLAs and MPs to help ally H.D. Kumaraswamy and his party Janata Dal (S) in the upcoming polls in Karnataka. This will not just be in terms of providing organisational and logistical help in fighting resource-rich BJP and Congress party in the state, but also campaigning extensively in the seats that fall in the Telugu-speaking regions bordering Telangana, also known as Hyderabad Karnataka. “There are around 41 Assembly seats where there are a significant number of Telugu speakers and BRS MLAs and MPs have been asked to campaign for the Janata Dal (S) in those areas,” said a senior office bearer of the party. At the launch of the newly renamed BRS, there was much talk that the JD(S) may like to fight on a BRS symbol, but that is not a possibility now. Former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and VCK chief and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumalvalan had attended the opening of the BRS office in New Delhi recently. Rao is expected to address a rally or two during the campaign for the Karnataka Assembly polls as well and has, according to those in the know, started familiarising himself with the seats that the party has offered help on. Sources add that Zahirabad MP, B.B. Patil, belongs to the Lingayat community largely found in Karnataka, and will be deployed on behalf of the BRS, as will Narayankhed MLA Rajendra Reddy who has business interests, including several medical colleges in Karnataka. “Whenever H.D. Kumaraswamy arrives for meetings with K. Chandrashekhara Rao, Reddy accompanies the former,” said a source. Polls to the Assembly in Telangana are also on next year, but a few months later than Karnataka. Rao is hoping that a good showing by the JD(S) may be an early boost for the BRS and its ambitions outside Telangana. Former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh released from prison Former Maharashtra home minister [Anil Deshmukh was released on bail]( from Mumbai’s Arthur Road prison around 5 pm on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court had refused to stay its order granting him bail in a corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation. [Former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh with family members visits Siddhivinayak Temple after being released from Arthur Road jail, in Mumbai on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. ] Deshmukh (73), a Nationalist Congress Party leader, had been in prison since November 2021 when the Enforcement Directorate arrested him in an alleged money laundering case. “I have full faith in the judiciary....the high court has observed that I was implicated in a false case,” Deshmukh said, as senior NCP leaders including Ajit Pawar welcomed him outside the jail. In Brief: [Four heavily-armed unidentified militants]( travelling in a truck to Kashmir after infiltrating from Pakistan, were killed in an ongoing operation with security forces in Jammu’s Sidhra area early Wednesday, December 28, 2022, a police officer said, terming it as a “major success” ahead of Republic Day. “Four terrorists have been killed in the encounter in Sidhra area in Jammu. Seven AK-47 rifles, one M4 rifle, three pistols along with other ammunition were recovered,” additional director general of police (ADGP), Jammu, Mukesh Singh said.  All the four militants were travelling in a truck and were apparently heading for Kashmir. “Truck owner is yet to be identified. Truck was going from Jammu to Srinagar. Search is still on in the area,” ADGP Singh said. Prime Minister [Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraben Modi (100) has been admitted]( to the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad following health issues. The U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, where she has been hospitalised, said in a statement that her condition is stable. The press release from the hospital said, “UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad hospital’s spokesperson hereby informs that the Honorable Prime Minister’s mother is admitted at U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad and her condition is stable.” PM Modi reached the U.N. Mehta Hospital to inquire about his ailing mother. Interested in Science? Our "Science For All" weekly newsletter takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in! 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