Covid crisis in India very serious , cases yet to peak: US Official
PTI/Washington
Photo: Reuters
The official explained that in a surge, there s a lag time between when people are infected, when they become sick and when they may need care.
The Covid-19 crisis in India is indeed very serious, the Biden Administration said on Friday, noting that the cases have not peaked yet. I m afraid that the crisis in India with the surge in the virus is indeed very, very serious. India s reporting an increasing number of cases almost every day. The crisis has not peaked yet, Gayle E Smith, the State Department Coordinator for Global Covid Response and Health Security told reporters at a news conference in Washington.
India Covid crisis: Scientists say govt ignored warnings amid surge
Reuters/New Delhi
Photo: Reuters
Researchers first detected B.1.617, which is now known as the Indian variant of the virus, as early as February.
A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters.
Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of largely unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies that were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition politicians.
Powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Japan
AFP/Tokyo
The quake hit at a depth of 47 kilometres in the Pacific. A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast on Saturday, authorities said, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the mid-morning quake hit at a depth of 47 kilometres (29 miles) in the Pacific, off Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture near the epicentre of a huge 2011 quake which triggered a towering tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people.
Japan’s meteorological agency said there was no tsunami risk following Saturday’s jolt, which produced strong shaking along parts of the eastern coast and was also felt in Tokyo.
US-India travel ban amid Covid: Who are exempted
PTI/Washington
US has exempted certain categories of students, journalists and individuals from the India travel ban
Certain categories of students, academics, journalists and individuals have been exempted from the India travel ban announced by President Joe Biden, the US State Department said.
The exemptions were issued by Secretary of State Tony Blinken, hours after Joe Biden issued a proclamation restricting travel from India beginning May 4 because of the extraordinarily high Covid-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in the country .
According to the US State Department, the travel ban exemption is in line with a similar exemption that the US has granted to some categories of travellers from Brazil, China, Iran and or South Africa.