Category: Health
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Melbourne food delivery driver spreads COVID to more than 150 sites
A Melbourne food delivery driver (Belonging to one of the Indian food companies) is thought to be the biggest concern in front of authorities for spreading coronavirus. The delivery driver worked whilst infectious but had no symptoms of COVID19. DHHS Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar stressed the driver showed no signs of COVID-19 when he sparked…
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Besides COVID-19, India is also fighting with vulture journalists, who are spreading more panic and despair than pandemic
No one, I repeat, no one should die due to lack of medical care. Every death is painful and heart-wrenching, even if the country’s medical system is overburdened and doctors are toiling hard to save the Covid-19 patients amid an unprecedented surge of cases in the second wave. Then, there are journalists and reporters, toxic…
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Did you give lift to two teenage girls from Victoria to South Australia?
Victor Harbor Police (South Australia) is currently with two teenage girls missing from Victoria who crossed into South Australia overnight. Today, Friday 28 May about 7.14 am, South Australia Police was contacted by Victoria Police, who advised them that the two girls had hitchhiked to South Australia, using several different vehicles to travel in to…
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Victoria Lockdown: New rules and restrictions announced today
New changes have been introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people leaving their homes and moving around Victoria. This means that you cannot leave your home unless you are doing it for one of the five following reasons: shopping for necessary goods and services care and caregiving exercise authorised work…
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Victoria goes to 7 days lockdown starting tonight, Check what you can or can’t do
The Acting Premier of Victoria James Merlino announced that on the advice of the public health team, Victoria will move to circuit breaker restrictions from 11:59 pm tonight. These settings will remain in place until 11:59 pm on 3 June.Mr Merlino also said that “if we can end that sooner, we will.” Acting premier says…
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Did you visit any of COVID-19 exposure sites in Victoria?
Here are the current coronavirus hotspots and Covid-19 exposure sites in Victoria and Melbourne. Suburb Site Street address Exposure period Notes Abbotsford Dukes Gym Abbotsford 571-573 Victoria Street Abbotsford VIC 3067 24/05/2021 6:15pm – 8:15pm Case attended venue Anyone who has visited this location during these times must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.…
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“It’s not ‘India Variant’, stupid”
Thomas Isaac (Name Changed to protect his identity) is a healthcare worker of Indian origin.He works in a busy public health setting in Melbourne. Mr Isaac told The Australia Today, “One of my clients asked me, Are you carrying the India Variant, Did you come from India recently.” “What do you expect me to say,…
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Indian Australian offers $2 million scholarship for Nurses
Australia-based Institute of Health & Management (IHM) founded by a Malayali is planning to offer Rs 10 crore worth (A$2million) scholarships to nurses in India. This is to show recognition for the nurses’ commitment and dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a media statement, IHM founder and Managing Director Mr Bijo Kunnumpurath said that the dedication shown by the nurses and…
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Pharmaceutical tycoon compares COVID vaccination confusion to Indian arranged marriage
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has compared the COVID-19 vaccination situation in the India to an arranged marriage. Australia-educated Mazumdar-Shaw is presently the Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited – Asia’s leading Biopharmaceuticals enterprise. She compared the two while highlighting the confusion that has surrounded the entire vaccination process in India. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw tweeted: “The vaccine situation in India is like arranged marriage.…
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Here are details of COVID19 restrictions for Melbourne starting at 6 pm
Victoria’s acting Premier James Merlino has announced new restrictions which will come into effect from 6 pm today and will last till June 4. Following restrictions will return to Melbourne after a fifth new locally acquired case of coronavirus confirmed last night by the Victorian medical officer. Masks will be mandatory for those over the…
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Mid-air Indian wedding: Bride and Groom will be charged for flouting COVID-19 norms
After the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took cognisance of the COVID-19 rules violation during a mid-air marriage on a SpiceJet chartered flight, the airline on Monday informed that it has initiated appropriate action against the passengers. “A SpiceJet Boeing 737 was chartered by a travel agent in Madurai on May 23, 2021, for…
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Australian Haryanvis send medical supplies under ‘Operation Sanjeevani’ to India
While the Australian government is doing all it can to support India, the Haryanvi Diaspora living in Australia too have recently come forward to extend help amid the surge in Covid19 cases in India. Association of Haryanvis in Australia (AHA) has donated essential medical supplies including 110 oxygen concentrators, 3,000 pulse oximeters and 2,500 thermal…
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Alarmist media reporting on COVID-19 will raise anxiety and vaccine hesitancy
Denis Muller, The University of Melbourne From an ethics perspective, it has been a bad couple of weeks for media coverage of COVID-19. First, there was a highly questionable story in The Australian about China allegedly weaponising coronavirus, with the headline “‘Virus warfare’ in China files” splashed across the front page. The author of the…
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Embarrassment for Delhi CM Kejriwal, Singapore invokes anti-fake-news law
On Thursday, the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) invoked its anti-misinformation law, Protection from Online Falsehoods & Manipulation Act (POFMA) against Indian national capital territory Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Mr Kejriwal allegedly spread “fake news’ by tweeting about the coronavirus variant from Singapore. The Singapore MOH instructed the POFMA Office to issue General Correction…
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One more Indian-Australian dies from COVID-19 in India
A 51-year-old Indian-Australian man has died in India from COVID-19. Sydney-based Mr Sunil Khanna travelled to visit his elderly parents before becoming sick with the virus. Mr Khanna was planning on bringing his aged parents to Australia but unfortunately his whole family contracted the COVID virus. Mr Khanna’s brother Mr Sanjay Khanna, who lives in…
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Indian-Australian solar businessman dies in India after contracting COVID-19
A Sydney-based Indian-Australian father-of-two has died in India. Govind Kant, 47 yo, travelled to India in April for personal reasons. Mr Kant was Assistant Director at the energy company Trina Solar Australia Pty Ltd. According to his employer, Mr Kant passed away at a hospital in Delhi after contracting COVID-19. Mr Kant’s employer, Trina Solar, confirmed…
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More than 70 Australians barred from the first repatriation flight from India
More than 70 Australians have been barred from returning home from India on a repatriation flight. According to 9 News, this step was taken after 40 people tested positive to coronavirus. These include 12 close contacts of the COVID positive cases who have have been barred from the first repatriation flight. The Qantas flight that…
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Should Australia donate soon to expire 2 million COVID test kits to India
Almost two million COVID test kits bought by the Australian government from billionaire Andrew Forrest are set to expire by the end of this month. The federal government placed an order for 4.89 million COVID test kits and distributed 3 million to states. Labor’s Shadow Minister for Government Accountability Pat Conroy told 9News: “It’s an…
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Give permanent residency to long-term migrants and over-stayers: 15,000 New Zealanders sign the petition
Two unions in New Zealand have given a representation with more than 15,000 signatures, collected both online and at community events, to two MPs – Labour’s MP Marja Lubeck and Green’s MP Ricardo Menéndez. According to RNZ, Unite Union and the Migrant Workers Association are calling for the New Zealand government to give permanent residency…
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Federal Minister Jason Wood prays for India with hundreds of people Australia wide
Amid the devastating COVID19 situation in India, Australian people, business and governments are extending their support and prayers to the people of India. Melbourne based advocacy organisation Federation of Indian Australians made a call to Australian communities to pray for India in this difficult time of the COVID19 crisis. “India is facing one of the…
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Part of the legal challenge to the Australia-India travel ban has been comprehensively defeated — here’s why
Anne Twomey, University of Sydney One part of a legal challenge to the Commonwealth’s India travel ban was comprehensively defeated in the Federal Court on Monday evening. Justice Thawley rejected all the arguments made by the applicant, Gary Newman, a 73-year-old Australian citizen who has been in India since March 2020. Newman’s challenge was divided…
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Ian Chappell questions India’s ability to host T20 World Cup
Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has opined that the COVID-19 pandemic could cost India the upcoming T20 World Cup. He believes that either the world event will be postponed or moved to another country. Writing in his column at the ESPNcricinfo, Chappell said that the suspension of IPL 2021 due to the Coronavirus is a…
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India has given me so much, hope COVID-19 situation improves soon, says Trent Boult
New Zealand pacer Trent Boult on Sunday said that India has given him so much both as a cricketer and a person, and it is sad to see India suffering so much due to the second Covid-19 wave. On Tuesday, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season was suspended indefinitely due to a rising number…
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COVID-19 positive traveller who returned from India taken to a hospital in Perth
The Perth Now has just reported that a traveller from India who tested positive for COVID-19 has been rushed to a hospital in Perth, Western Australia. The man in his 30s has been isolating in hotel quarantine. He was taken to the intensive care unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital today after his condition deteriorated. The…
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‘Abandoned’ Australian permanent resident dies in India, daughter writes scathing open letter to PM
An Indian-origin Australian citizen, Sonali Ralhan, has written an open letter accusing the Australian government of “abandoning” a permanent resident to die of coronavirus in India. Sonali’s father, 59, a permanent resident for more than 10 years, often travelled back to India where he managed a hotel in New Delhi. Sonali wrote in her open…
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“Let us bring back Aussies from India” appeals travel industry to PM Morrison as travel ban ends on 15 May
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that the India travel ban will not be extended and the repatriation flights to bring back Australian citizens and permanent residents will start immediately as the ban ends on 15 May. This announcement came after the national security meeting on Thursday and the national cabinet meeting on Friday morning.…
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Are you looking for student accommodation? 2,000 newly built international student rooms lying empty in Melbourne
A recent media report has revealed that more than 2,000 brand new student rooms are lying empty in Melbourne’s CBD. Given the COVID19 travel ban from India and other countries, experts feel that there is no indication if these newly built rooms will be used. These rooms were built on a concept that has been…
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IPL 2021: Aussie cricket contingent reaches Maldives, Hussey in medical care in Chennai
Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association on Thursday confirmed that the Australian players, coaches, match officials and commentators have been safely transported from India to the Maldives. The Australian players and support staff will remain in the Maldives until the conclusion of the travel pause pertaining to flights from India to Australia. As previously…
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India reports the highest-ever single-day spike with 4,12,262 new COVID-19 cases, 3,980 deaths
India on Thursday reported 4,12,262 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. With this, the cumulative count of COVID-19 cases in the country has gone up to 2,10,77,410, informed the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. As many as 3,980 patients succumbed to the…
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Australian cricketer lashes out at PM Scott Morrison over India travel ban
Australian cricketer turned commentator Michael Slater has yet again lashed out at Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his decision on a travel ban from India due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had recently announced a ban on passenger flights from India till May 15. Further, according to the Australian government no…
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Hindu community petition against Australian newspaper’s ‘blatant insult of Hindu God Ganesha’
Hindu community in Australia has started a petition against the recent representation of Hindu God Ganesha in a cartoon that appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 4th May 2021. According to the petition by Gaurav Chauhan, “Australia is a multi-cultural society, and no one has the right to disrespect any faith or religion.” It further…
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Delhi civic bodies approve cow dung for cremation amid increase in Covid deaths
With an increase in the number of Covid-19 deaths, Delhi is seeing a shortage of wood that is used in cremation. To tackle this problem, the Times of India reports, two civic bodies have given its approval to the use of cow dung and stubble mixture for cremation of bodies. North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) mayor, Jai…
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Australia sends 1000 ventilators and Oxygen concentrators as first package of support to India
Australian Prime Minister took it to social media to inform about countries efforts to help India amid the COVID crisis.Mr Morrison said Australia is stepping up to support our good friends in India as they manage a difficult COVID-19 outbreak and growing humanitarian crisis. On Wednesday morning a Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Sydney…
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IPL 2021: Former Australian cricketer Mike Hussey tests COVID-19 positive in India
While the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been postponed, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey has now tested positive for COVID-19. This after bowling coach L Balaji tested positive on Monday. Speaking with the media, a senior CSK official said that the sample has gone for a re-test. “His…
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Two Brisbane train cleaners fired after CCTV catches them doing nothing
Two Brisbane train cleaners have been stood down after being caught on CCTV not doing their duties. This was revealed by Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Two workers employed by a subcontractor to rail company Alstom could be seen slacking off. Alstom is the contractor who manages the TransLink rail network. Mr Bailey told media: “The…
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IPL 2021 suspended for this season by BCCI after many players test positive
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla has told Indian media that the Indian Premier League’s this years season is suspended with immediate effect.With Chennai Super Kings bowling coach L Balaji once again testing positive for COVID-19, the team is set to isolate and Wednesday’s game between CSK and Rajasthan Royals is set to be postponed in…
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Covid-19: Cricket Australia donates $50,000 to help India fight pandemic
Australian Cricket will be throwing its support behind the India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal, with Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricketers’ Association and UNICEF Australia partnering to raise much-needed funds. Australian Cricket has been deeply saddened by the devastation caused by this second coronavirus wave to hit India, a country with which Australians share a strong friendship…
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India travel ban is ‘not racist’: FM Marise Payne, but do you agree?
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has categorically denied that the decision on a travel ban from Inda was racist, but many human rights activists and legal experts are still raising their concerns over fine and jail terms for returning Australians. Talking to the media on Sunday Ms Payne said, “The decision which has been made…
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Angry and dismayed Australians urge PM Morrison to remove criminalisation clause from India travel ban
As soon as the details of India travel ban and order saying “anyone who tries to enter Australia from India will be fined and/or jailed for up to 5 years” reached Australian community social media is abuz with angry posts. Not only social commentators, politicians, and community leaders but also the Indian Australian community, in…
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Morrison government will ‘jail’ people who enter the country from India
The Morrison government has issued an order saying anyone who tries to enter Australia from India will be fined and/or jailed for up to 5 years. This is happening first time in the history of Australia that it has made it a criminal offense to come back home for Australian citizens. The government claims this…
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Indian-Australians start petition urging Australian Government to stand by its “friend India”
Indian-Australians have started a petition urging the Australian Government and Hon Prime Minister Scott Morrison “to stand by its strategic partner and friend India in this hour of desperate need and provide urgent relief.” The petitioners argue that “India is in crisis, the situation on the ground is dire and her health system has collapsed…
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India tells its diplomats – counter ‘one-sided’ world media narrative
In a virtual meeting with Indian ambassadors and high commissioners posted across the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed the message that the “one-sided” narrative in international media must be countered. Officials present told the Indian Express that two themes were discussed. One was about efforts being made to procure all the material that…
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Is Australia’s India flight ban based on ‘fear factor’?
With the suspension of direct flights from India – until at least 15 May – all Australian citizens have essentially been banned from entering their own country for the first time. A Guardian analysis has revealed that India has fewer coronavirus cases per capita than either the United States or the United Kingdom during their…
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Indian community demands apology from Australian newspaper for calling India “hell”
Indian community in Australia has demanded apology from the West Australian for calling India a “hell” in their latest piece titled “Ban on trips from Indian hell.” The letter written by President of the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA), a peak body that represents more than 80 Indian origin associations with 30,000 members says…
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COVID19: Morrison Government providing 3,000 ventilators and more to help India
Australian Government has agreed on a number of new measures to protect Australians from the increased risk of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, while also providing significant new support to assist the Indian Government in its humanitarian response. In a statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison recognised the challenging COVID-19 crisis that India is currently battling…
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Australian cricketer Brett Lee donates Rs 41 Lakhs to India’s COVID fight
Following the footsteps of Australian pacer Pat Cummins, former fast bowler-turned commentator Brett Lee has come forward to help India in its battle against COVID-19. The 44-year-old represented Australia in 76 Tests, 221 ODIs and 25 T20Is during his successful international career. Brett Lee is in India right now as a part of Star Sports’ commentary…
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COVID19: Australia will send medical supplies to India, and ban all flights till 15 May
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would send a range of goods to India to help as it struggles with a critical shortage of medical supplies. Australia will send 500 ventilators, as well as 1 million surgical masks, 500,000 P2 and N95 masks, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves, and 20,000 face shields. “I stress this is…
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India seeks divine intervention to fight COVID19
Lord Hanuman, the God of Strength, is known to be one of the biggest devotees of Lord Ram. His birthday, known as Hanuman Jayanti, is usually celebrated on full moon day during Hindu Chaitra month. On this Hanuman Jayanti, Indian politicians and netizens are praying to seek some protection and relief from COVID19. Prime Minister…
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In a phone call with PM Modi, President Biden pledges US ‘steadfast support’ for India amid COVID-19 surge
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden had a telephonic conversation on Monday night wherein the latter pledged America’s “steadfast support” for the people of India who have been impacted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.The phone call comes a day after the United States announced that it will send the…
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High Commission of India refutes ‘baseless’ article published by Australian newspaper
High Commission of India in Canberra has issued a rebuttal to an article published in newspaper The Australian. The letter undersigned by P. S. Karthigeyan, Deputy High Commissioner of India, stated, “It appears that the article has been written only with the objective of undermining the universally acclaimed approach taken by the Government of India to fight…
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Indian diaspora start funding page in UK to help with oxygen supply
A GoFundMe appeal set up by Amit Kachroo with Satyam Singh, Gaurav Mahna to supply India with oxygen concentrators has now reached £205,076 with 3.8k donors. The appeal from UK read: “Since lack of oxygen supply has been a limiting factor, we would like to contribute as many Oxygen concentrators as we can procure from various…
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Delhi government had major role in current Oxygen crisis, reveals sources
According to a report by NDTV, the Arvind Kejriwal government is responsible for Delhi’s current oxygen crisis. Their sources have revealed that the Delhi government had not done its homework on the proposed oxygen plants in 4 hospitals. These plants were to be supported by the PM-Cares fund. Other sources in the Railway Ministry said…
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India’s Covid crisis: Australia, US, UK, EU, France, and Germany lend support
As India fights against the unprecedented health crisis of COVID-19, global support in the form of oxygen supplies, ventilators, raw material for vaccines, PPT kits and oxygen concentrators have started pouring in. On Sunday, the United States agreed to send essential raw material to India required for manufacturing vaccines. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan…
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Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Trust to set up two oxygen plants in Ayodhya
Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra tweeted, “Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has decided to provide funds for the installation of 2 oxygen plants in Dashrath Medical College, Ayodhya in order to fulfil the requirement of Oxygen gas in the hospital”. Sriram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJBTK) works for the construction of the grand temple of…
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“Good Thief” regrets and returns stolen COVID19 vaccine in India
According to a report in the Republic World, a thief who had stolen almost 1,710 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from a PPC Centre in Haryana returned the doses. He left them outside the Jind Civil Lines Police Station. As per ANI, the matter came to light when a sanitation worker found the locks of the store and…
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Pregnant Indian police officer stands in heat for hours to ensure public follows COVID-19 protocol
The photographs of a dedicated female Indian police officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), has gone viral on social media platforms. A 5-months pregnant DSP Shilpa Sahu was spotted on duty ensuring the COVID-19 mask and lockdown adherence on the streets. “Shilpa Sahu, DSP of Dantewada, who is also 5 months pregnant, in the…
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Muslim boy starts funding page to study Sanskrit
Farhan Naeem, a fourth-year college student majoring in Mandarin Chinese and pursuing further studies in Computational Linguistics in the US, has started a GoFundMe page to enroll in Sanskrit programme at a US university. He, who grew up in a Muslim household, says he was reading the Quran from the age of eight. Farhan adds…
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Skilled Indian migrants stuck in jobs below their qualification in Australia
Recently, the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has revealed that nearly one-in-four skilled migrants in Australia are over-qualified for their current job. The report analyses data from the Department of Home Affairs to analyse how skilled workers are losing wages by taking jobs they are over-qualified for. CEDA’s report estimates about 23 per…
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Indian Pharma companies reduce prices of Remdesivir amid rising COVID-19 cases
Amid the shortage of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 infections in the country, seven major pharmaceutical companies have reduced the maximum retail price (MRP) of the drug on the intervention of the Union government. The announcement comes days after the Central government held a meeting with all-existing manufacturers…
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COVID-19: India reports highest-ever one day spike with 2,17,353 new cases, 1,185 deaths
India reported its highest-ever single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with over 2.17 lakh new cases and more than 1,100 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry on Friday. In the last 24 hours, 1,185 COVID-related deaths were reported in the country taking the death toll to 1,74,308. As many as…
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Is Lentils As Anything, a pay-what-you-feel restaurant chain, in trouble?
Lentil As Anything has fed the disadvantaged and let customers pay whatever they feel a meal is worth for almost two decades. It was was created by Shanaka Fernando for his local community in St. Kilda around. Shanaka set up the first Lentil As Anything as “Australia’s first modern social enterprises.” In 2007, Shanaka was…
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Leaders slam New Zealand Prime Minister’s ban on travellers from India
Leaders have started questioning the decision of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s government to temporarily halt the travel from India. Jacinda Ardern on April 8 announced that New Zealand would temporarily suspend entry for all travellers from India. This includes its New Zealand’s citizens for two weeks from April 11 after India appeared to be…
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Thousands of Hindu devotees and seers celebrate the Kumbh Mela
Thousands of Hindu devotees gathered by the river Ganges in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar on Sunday to offer prayers during the Kumbh Mela. The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gathering of Hindus in the world. The Health Ministry has and the state government has made a negative RT-PCR result mandatory for those visiting Haridwar.…
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Indian cricketers more tolerant than Australians, says Ganguly
With the coronavirus pandemic looming over the whole world, the game of cricket too has to adapt to the changing scenario. Cricket boards and countries have created strict bio-bubbles for the safety of cricketers during overseas tours and tournaments. Under this, cricketers are only allowed to move in a restricted area (hotels and stadium) and…
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New Zealand suspends entry for travelers from India amid COVID-19 spike
New Zealand on Thursday temporarily suspended entry for all travelers from India following a surge in COVID-19 cases arriving from there, local media reported. The ban comes after it was reported that 17 of the 23 new COVID-19 cases in managed isolation announced on Thursday had arrived from India. The ban will commence on Sunday…
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Hindu groups did remarkable work during COVID19 with Federal partnership
Five Hindu organisations have received COVID-19 relief funding amounting to US$833,000. This was revealed according to data released by the United States’ Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA gave the funds as part of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance (EIDLA), Disaster Assistance Loan (DAL) and Paycheck Protection…
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Brisbane’s lockdown to lift at midday, just one new community COVID19 case
Queensland COVID Lockdown will be lifted from midday today, after just 1 new case of community transmission however, that’s linked to an existing cluster of COVID-19. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said testing rates, low case numbers, and the fact that community transmission had been linked to existing cases, allowed authorities to give the green light. “Easter is good…
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Indian doctor and MP asks Modi not to waste Rs 35,000 Cr on COVID vaccines
Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSR Congress Party) Lok Sabha MP Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singari (M.B.B.S., M.S., M.Ch) said that the government should not waste Rs 35,000 crore on the inoculation drive. He presented these views in the Parliament during a discussion on demands of grants of the Health Ministry amid the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. …
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Does & Don’ts: Greater Brisbane is entering a three-day lockdown from 29 March to 1st April
Greater Brisbane is entering a three-day lockdown. This is to stop the spread of #COVID19 after 7 locally acquired cases identified in the community.
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COVID19 second wave: India records 53,476 new COVID-19 cases, 251 deaths
India recorded 53,476 new COVID-19 cases, 26,490 recoveries, and 251 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. With this, the total cases in the country mounted to 1,17,87,534 including 3,95,192 active cases and 1,12,31,650 recoveries. The death toll has gone up to 1,60,692. According to the Indian Council…
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As one student gets out of bed, another gets in: thousands are ‘hot-bedding’ in Australia
Alan Morris, University of Technology Sydney; Catherine Hastings, University of Technology Sydney, and Gaby Ramia, University of Sydney International students commonly share bedrooms so they can afford the rent. What is perhaps much more surprising is that our research suggests thousands are “hot-bedding” – their beds are available to them for only some hours of…
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6 COVID vaccines will come up in India
Recently, the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announced that more than 6 COVID-19 vaccines will come up in India. He also informed the media that 1.84 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to people so far. In addition, India has conducted 23 crore tests. Dr Harsh Vardhan was speaking on the occasion of inaugurating…
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More than 3000 nurses died of COVID in 60 countries since March 2020
More than 3000 nurses have died after contracting COVID since March 2020 in 60 countries. A new report by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) reveal that more than 10 percent of total case fatality globally comprises healthcare workers. The report observes that since March 11, 2020 when World health organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus…
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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella ‘appalled’ at acts of hate and racial discrimination
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said that he is appalled by the ongoing acts of hate against Asian Americans. He and many other US lawmakers condemned hate, racial discrimination and violence in all forms. According to Asian American advocacy groups, more than 3,000 incidents of abuse against Asian Americans were reported between March and December…
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Quad summit: Leaders pledge commitment to free, inclusive, rule-based Indo-Pacific region
During the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the four leaders – the US, Australia, India and Japan – stressed for a free, open and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is “anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion”. In a joint statement, the Quad leaders said: “We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared…
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COVID-19: India has vaccinated more people than the Australian population just in two months
India’s nationwide COVID-19 vaccination has crossed 2.56 crores coverage, the union health ministry informed on Thursday evening.“A total of 2,56,90,545 vaccine doses were administered in the country, as per the provisional report till 1 pm on Thursday.” Health Secretary of India, Rajesh Bhushan informed during the weekly press conference of the ministry. “Acceleration in vaccination…
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Billboards thanking PM Modi for providing COVID-19 vaccines come up in Canada
Billboards have come up in the Greater Toronto area thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing COVID-19 vaccines to Canada.The billboard read, “Thank You India and PM Narendra Modi for providing COVID vaccines to Canada. Long Live Canada-India Friendship.” The billboard also mentions the Hindu Forum, Canada. Canada received the first consignment of 500,000 AstraZeneca’s…
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Pakistan to receive 45 million doses of Indian COVID-19 vaccines
Pakistan is likely to receive 45 million Indian manufactured doses of COVID-19 vaccine in March. This was reported by National Health Service (NHS) Secretary Amir Ashraf Khawaja while briefing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). He said that the doses would be received under an agreement with Vaccine alliance Gavi. Gavi is a public-private global health partnership…
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“Vaccination against corruption next month, get ready”
Well-known actor-politician Kamal Haasan took the first vaccine dose against the coronavirus. While doing so, Hassan launched a sharp attack at the AIADMK. “Immunisation of the body immediately (and) vaccination against corruption next month. Get ready.” Hassan was referring to the April 6 Tamil Nadu assembly polls where his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM),…
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Sydney Mardi Gras Parade goes ahead amid COVID pandemic
Sydney’s annual iconic Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras went ahead on Saturday amid COVID pandemic. NSW Health officials agreed to make an exception to the 500-person limit on public gatherings after organizers agreed to enhanced contact-tracing processes. This year’s theme was ‘Rise’ and centered on the message that love, compassion, respect and understanding can help make…
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India sends COVID vaccines to 47 countries
Till now, India has supplied 464.29 lakh Made-in-India COVID vaccines to 47 countries. Out of these vaccine doses, 71.25 lakh has been supplied as a gift, and 393.04 lakh commercially. India-made vaccines (5,00,000 doses) have reached Canada. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India will be sending 1.5 million more doses of Covishield vaccine. In a…
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Indian-origin scientist tests sewage in Australia to map the spread of COVID
Sudhi Payyappat leads a team of experts in examining sewage samples collected from wastewater treatment plants across New South Wales. The results from his lab can save Australians from COVID. Last year, Payyappat told the Guardian: “If just one person has it, we’ll find out. Even in a large catchment of more than a million,…
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International passenger flights to Melbourne could resume next week
International passenger flights have not arrived in Melbourne since February 14. On Friday, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that he expected the Victorian Government to announce a date. Through this announcement approximately 10,000 stranded Victorians could start to return home. The Prime Minister told media: “The second-highest number of Australians on are from Victoria…
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Bhangra dancer celebrates COVID-19 vaccine on a frozen lake in Canada
Gurdeep Pandher, a resident of Whitehorse in Canada, performed Bhangra on a frozen lake to celebrate his vaccination against Covid-19. In a tweet accompanying the video, he said: “Yesterday evening I received my Covid-19 vaccine. Then I went to a frozen lake to dance Bhangra on it for joy, hope and positivity, which I’m forwarding…
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COVID 19: Punjab, Maharashtra, and Kerala top in new cases and number of deaths in the last 24 hours
Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka continue to report a high number of new COVID-19 cases. The the Union Health ministry reported that these 6 states account for 85.51 per cent of fresh cases. A total of 17,407 new infections have been registered in a day making India’s total COVID-19 active caseload to…
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Canada thanks India for sending 500K doses of COVID-19 vaccines
Canada thanked India for sending coronavirus vaccines, of which 500,000 doses reached on March 4, a week after the AstraZeneca vaccine was approved.Anita Anand, MP for Oakville and Minister of Public Services and Procurement, said in a tweet, “The AZ/CoviShield vaccine is now in Canada. The first tranche of 500,000 doses arrived this morning from…
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Australia supports made in India COVAX through an $80 million contribution
Recently, the Hon’ble Barry O’Farrell, Australian High Commissioner to India, posted on Facebook that Australia was pleased to support COVAX Advance Market Commitment through an $80 million contribution. Barry O’Farrell said: “We are helping to ensure safe, effective and affordable COVID19 vaccines reach all countries around the world.” GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance made news with…
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Wages in Australia to fall despite recovery, says survey
The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age has conducted a Scope Survey on a range of critical indicators over 2021 and 2022. The findings of this survey are based on an assessment by Australia’s top twenty-two economists. The economists expect wage growth will drop to 1.2 per cent in 2021 and then lift to 1.6 per cent…
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Australia extends international travel ban till June 17, 2021
The Australian federal government has extended all travel ban for three more months. The extension of the emergency directive will now expire on 17th June 2021. Health Minister Greg Hunt says this decision has been taken amid understanding that the rest of the world “continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk” to our borders.…
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Australian COVID-19 trial opens at two hospitals in India
The AustralaSian COVID-19 Trial (ASCOT) has been expanded into India. According to the University of Melbourne media release, the first patients were recruited last week. These patients are located at the two sites, Christian Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana (Punjab) and Sterling Multispecialty Hospital in Pune (Maharashtra). ASCOT aims to discover which existing treatments…
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Thousands benefit from Australian generosity to give a second chance to strangers by organ donation
A 2020 report on organ and tissue donation and transplantation shows that despite the significant impact of COVID-19, around 4,000 Australians benefitted from the gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation from a deceased donor. The Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority, Mark Coulton, said the 2020 Australian Donation and Transplantation Activity Report…
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Pyjama suits – would you wear this latest formal wear for online meetings?
Work dress codes – office wear – has changed during the COVID pandemic. People have started experimenting and created Zoom shirt. According to Urban Dictionary this is a: “shirt or blouse that’s kept on the back of your desk chair to quickly be presentable for video conferences”. Now, thanks to two Japanese companies, here comes the latest…
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Indian PM Modi takes the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi on Monday. “Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19,” tweeted PM Modi. Appealing to…
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300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine lands in Australia
The first vials of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has landed in Australia. This will double Australia’s number of vaccine doses. An Emirates plane carried 300,000 doses of the vaccine landed at the Sydney Airport at about 9.30am on Sunday. According to the ABC, the vaccine doses have been transported to a storage facility in…
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Statistics reveal 2,890 new migrants and 10,640 visitors arrived in Australia
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show 10,640 incoming passengers to Australia marked “visitor” on their entry card in December 2020. This included 2,480 Australian citizens returning Australians that month. So, nearly a third of the 35,000 international travellers were visitors rather than returning residents. The three leading source countries where visitors came from…
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You may be able to book an international flight with Qantas from 31 October 2021
Qantas Airline has previously announced to put up international tickets for sale from July 1 but now new plans have deferred these dates to Oct. 31, with the exception of flights to neighbouring New Zealand. Highlights: 1- Flights to most international destinations to now resume late October 2021 2- Trans-Tasman flying to ramp up from…
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Find out if your small business is eligible for a $2000 Circuit breaker business support package
The program offers grants of $2000 to small businesses, including sole traders, regardless of whether they employ people or not. The grants will support businesses in eligible sectors who have incurred direct costs because of the circuit breaker action, such as the loss of perishable goods, flowers and booking cancellations, and cancellation fees and charges. This new…
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New COVID19 guidelines issued for international travellers flying to India
Indian government had issued a set of revised guidelines for international arrivals. This has been done keeping in mind the spread of mutant variants of coronavirus. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a tweet. The new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will come into effect from 23.59 hours on February 22 till further orders. There…
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WHO says Patanjali’s COVID medicine “Not Reviewed”
Coronil, developed by yoga guru Ramdev-promoted Patanjali Ayurved has run into a controversy over claims of certification. It is a medicine that claims to boost immunity against COVID-19. At its launch, this product was billed by the company as the “first evidence-based medicine for COVID-19”. On the big poster behind the delegates was written the…
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Beat the myth: PM Scott Morrison among one of the first Australians to receive the COVID19 vaccine
Breaking News: Prime Minister Scott Morrison is among the first Australians to receive the Pfizer vaccine today on Sunday. Mr Morrison wrote on social media, “Meet Jane, the first person in Australia to receive a #COVID19 vaccine. Today is a landmark day in Australia’s comeback from this pandemic. Vaccinations are free and voluntary for everyone…