Coronavirus pandemic

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 hit 1 million on Monday, a once-unimaginable figure that only hints at the multitudes of loved ones and friends staggered by grief and frustration. The confirmed number of dead is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 336 days. It is roughly equal to how many Americans died in the Civil War and World War II combined. It’s as if Boston and Pittsburgh were wiped out. It is hard to imagine a million people plucked from this earth, said Jennifer Nuzzo, who leads a new pandemic center at the Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, Rhode Island. Its still happening and we are letting it happen. Some of those left behind say they cannot return to normal. They replay their loved ones' voicemail messages. Or watch old videos to see them dance. When other people say they are done with the virus, they bristle with anger or ache in silence. 'Normal.' I hate that word, said Julie Wallace, 55, of Elyria, Ohio, who lost her husband to … [Read more...] about United States Crosses Grim Milestone of 1 Million Covid-19 Deaths

India has a dismal ratio of doctors and hospital beds, and the fragility of our healthcare infrastructure was amplified in 2020, when a global pandemic threatened to overwhelm our hospitals and medical centres. Covid-19, the gravest health threat in recent memory, has now pushed the country’s apex business chambers to also emphasise the need for hiking government health spend in the upcoming Union Budget for 2021-22. Typically, business chambers and India Inc send a wish list to the government for Budget each year, which includes some sectoral demands, suggestions on lowering the incidence of taxation on companies and individuals and for boosting infrastructure spending. Healthcare rarely finds a mention in such a wish list. But this year, things are different. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) have both sought a significant increase in the Centre’s budgetary allocation for healthcare, among other … [Read more...] about India Inc’s Budget Wish List Takes a Lesson From Covid-19 With Rare Health Spending Demand

Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma said the state government has received a total of 1,670 oxygen concentrators of 5 litres and 10 litres per minute capacity till Tuesday amid an urgent need of the life-saving gas for severely ill Covid-19 patients. Sharma said that out of the total oxygen concentrators that they had received, 740 were received through global expressions of interest (EOIs), 285 through tenders and 645 from various donors. He said 46 oxygen concentrators and 5,000 N-95 masks have also been received apart from these donated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Out of the total received, 1,230 oxygen concentrators have been supplied to various districts as per requirement. Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) Managing Director Alok Ranjan said the state has started supplying Tocilizumab injections that are used in the treatment of critical coronavirus patients. He said orders have been issued to supply 900 Tocilizumab injections to the … [Read more...] about Over 1,600 Oxygen Concentrators Received Till Date in Rajasthan: Health Minister

Click here to read the full article. The “ Daria ” spinoff “ Jodie ” is taking shape, but will now be an animated film rather than a series as originally announced. In addition, Variety has learned exclusively that the spinoff has set its main cast. It was previously announced that Tracee Ellis Ross will voice the title role of Jodie, Daria’s friend from high school. The film sees her graduating from college and going to work as an intern for the prestigious tech firm, Firstfinity. More from Variety As Coronavirus Pandemic Continues, Television Development Struggles to Pick Up the Pace Tracee Ellis Ross to Star in, Executive Produce 'Daria' Spinoff Series at MTV MTV Launches Studio, Sets 'Daria,' 'Real World,' 'Aeon Flux' Revivals The cast now includes: Pamela Adlon (“Better Things,” “King of the Hill”), Cole Escola (“Ziwe,” “Tuca & Bertie”), Jojo T. Gibbs (“Twenties,” “Good Trouble”), William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place,” “Love Life”), … [Read more...] about ‘Daria’ Spinoff ‘Jodie’ Now an Animated Film, Sets Main Cast Including Pamela Adlon, William Jackson Harper, Kal Penn (EXCLUSIVE)

Private investment, which has been muted for a long time, will start trickling in once the overall capacity utilisation in the system goes beyond 75 per cent that, in turn, will help unleash ‘animal spirits’, CII President Uday Kotak said on Wednesday. The COVID-19 pandemic gave a shock to capacity utilisation and as companies go to capacity utilisation above 75 per cent, they will start looking at expansion and making investments, Kotak told PTI in an interview. “The second and the third points for getting private investment…a stable interest rate, and a stable tax regime. Additionally, if capacity utilisation goes up and we keep up stability on interest rates and taxation, and also policies of entry and exit from different sectors, we can actually create a positive environment for getting people”s animal spirits back,” he said. The term ”animal spirits” was coined by celebrated economist John Maynard Keynes to refer to investors” confidence in taking action in terms of … [Read more...] about Pvt Investment to Trickle in Once Capacity Utilisation Goes Beyond 75%: Uday Kotak

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday held a virtual conference with India’s leading entrepreneurs amid the prevailing second wave of Covid-19 and praised the industry for stepping up in the fight against the pandemic. Addressing more than 150 senior industry captains in a virtual interaction organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Delhi, the finance minister emphasised the need for adopting a micro-containment zone strategy in order to effectively with the second surge of the pandemic. On meeting the phenomenal increase in the demand for medical oxygen, a critical treatment tool to fight Covid-19, Sitharaman assured that the Centre is working to ensure a seamless supply to states. Measures that the government is taking include importing medical oxygen, round the clock working of the oxygen filling stations and allowing containers used for nitrogen and argon to be used for oxygen, the Finance Minister added. The … [Read more...] about FM Sitharaman Assures Seamless Supply of Oxygen, Remdesivir, Stresses on Micro-containment