Serum Institute asks govt to speak with EU for inclusion

Beneficaries wait in a queue to receive Covid-19 vaccine dose, at a district hospital in Noida, on Monday. Pic/PTI

Serum Institute of India (SII) has requested the Centre to take up the matter of inclusion of Covishield vaccine in the EU Covid-19 Vaccination Passport with the European Union and other countries, citing this will affect students and business travellers and cause severe disruptions to the Indian and global economy.

Only four vaccines - Comirnaty of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Vaxzervria by AstraZeneca-Oxford and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen - have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and only those vaccinated by these vaccines will be given vaccination passports and will be allowed to travel within the EU during the pandemic.

Covishield is the Indian manufactured version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. "India has a large population. However, not including Covishield into the EU Covid-19 Vaccination Passport will not allow Covishield vaccinated people to travel to European countries and this will affect students, business travellers back and forth, and cause severe disruptions to our economy and to the global economy," a source quoted a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar by SII CEO Adar Poonawalla.

Poonawalla also tweeted on Monday, "I realise that a lot of Indians who have taken Covishield are facing issues with travel to the EU, I assure everyone, I have taken this up at the highest levels and hope to resolve this matter soon, both with regulators and at a diplomatic level with countries."

HC stays U'khand govt partial nod to Chardham Yatra

The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday stayed the Chardham Yatra reversing a state cabinet's decision to open it partially for residents of three districts from July 1. Rejecting the SOPs issued by the state government for the yatra, the court said they were just a copy of the guidelines issued during the Kumbh Mela. It has all along been asking the state government to suspend the yatra so that it does not become another "Covid-19 super spreader" like the Kumbh. On an objection raised by the state that live telecasting such events is not in tune with the traditions, the HC observed it is more important to save everyone from the Delta Plus variant rather than being considerate towards the feelings of a few.

Govt announces free visas to 5 lakh tourists

The Centre will provide free visas to 5 lakh tourists once the the visa issuance for international travel is, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. The total financial implication of this revival measure would be Rs 100 crore.

Sitharaman said financial support would be provided to over 11,000 registered tourist guides, travel and tourism stakeholders. The scheme would be applicable till March 31, 2022, or till 5 lakh visas are issued, whichever is earlier. The Centre will also provide working capital or personal loans to those in the tourism sector to discharge liabilities or restart businesses impacted due to Covid-19.

She also announced a Rs 1.1-lakh crore loan guarantee scheme for Covid-19-hit sectors. Out of which, the health care sector will get Rs 50,000 crore, and others Rs 60,000 crore. The guarantee coverage for the projects, which are totally new will get upto 75 per cent coverage and projects which are on expansion will get 50 per cent coverage. "This will last for 3 years and the interest rate is capped at 7.95 per cent."

She said the Centre will also provide Credit Guarantee Scheme to facilitate new lending among the smallest borrowers. "We aim to reach out to 25 lakh people who are absolutely small borrowers. Loan to be given to the smallest borrowers by Microfinance Institutions. A maximum Rs 1.25 lakh to be lent. The interest rate is 2 per cent below RBI prescribed rate, with a loan duration of 3 years. The focus will be on new lending and not on repayment of the old loans. Stressed borrowers, except NPAs, to be covered under this scheme."

3,02,79,331
Total no. of Coronavirus cases in india so far

3,96,730
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far

5,72,994
Total no. of active cases in India

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