Geneva: The head of the World Health Organization said Monday that a vaccine would not by itself stop the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic is raging months after it broke out, with infections soaring past 54 million and claiming more than 1.3 million lives.
“A vaccine will complement the other tools we have, not replace them,” director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “A vaccine on its own will not end the pandemic.”
The WHO’s figures for Saturday showed that 660,905 coronavirus cases were reported to the UN health agency, setting a new high water mark.
That number, and the 645,410 registered on Friday, surpassed the previous daily record high of 614,013 recorded on November 7.
Tedros said that supplies of the vaccine would initially be restricted, with “health workers, older people and other at-risk populations (to) be prioritised. That will hopefully reduce the number of deaths and enable the health systems to cope.”
But he warned: “That will still leave the virus with a lot of room to move. Surveillance will need to continue, people will still need to be tested, isolated and cared for, contacts will still need to be traced… and individuals will still need to be cared for.” (AFP)
[16/11, 10:22 pm] M A Bala M D: Upcoming polls: DGP Says There’s Need To Be Vigilant, Calls For Using Drones
Srinagar, Nov 16 (GNS): Director General of Police, J&K Dilbag Singh on Monday asked police and security forces to remain more vigilant, saying that continuous attempts are being made by elements across the border to create trouble in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a meeting of officers meeting held at Police Control Room Kashmir which was co-chaired by R. R Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt. Governor J&K and him to review the security Plans and preparedness in Central Kashmir for upcoming District Development Council (DDC) election and by-elections for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULB), the DGP directed the officers to devise the security plans and depute the security personnel as per the requirement. He emphasized for making the effective use of drones to monitor the the situation in and around the polls stations.
The DGP while complimenting the J&K Police personnel, security forces, intelligence agencies for achieving the highest degree of synergy and coordination in handling the internal security situation said that forces need to continue coordinated efforts to accomplish this important task efficiently and peacefully.
“The DGP also stressed for efficient arrangements for the mobility and accommodation of forces deployed for elections. He stressed upon the officers to keep a vigil on the ground situation and ensure that people would exercise their franchise freely. He said the personnel on the ground should be briefed regularly for better results,” a police spokesman quoted him as saying in a statement issued to GNS.
He said that joint efforts by the stakeholders should be put in for timely action to deal with any situation.
The meeting was attended by IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, IG CRPF, Ms. Charu Sinha, DIG CKR, Shri Amit Kumar, DIG CRPF South Srinagar, Shri D.S Maan, DIG CRPF, North Srinagar Dr. D.J Singh, DIG Sector Hqr, CRPF Shri Ashok Samyal, SSP Srinagar, Dr. M. Haseeb Mughal, SSP Budgam Shri Nagpure Amod Ashok, SSP Ganderbal Shri Khalil Ahmad Poswal and Nodal commandants of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal.
Advisor Bhatnagar appreciated Police and other forces in maintaining peace, stability, and law & order in Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated the importance of maintaining a close watch on the inimical elements. He stressed the need to maintain real-time coordination between the different Security Force agencies for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
The officers briefed the advisor (B) and DGP regarding the preparedness in their respective jurisdictions. SSP Srinagar, SSP Budgam and SSP Ganderbal gave powerpoint presentations regarding security arrangements and other preparatory measures for the upcoming elections in their respective districts.
Before the Advisor and the DGP joined the meeting, detailed discussions were held by IGP Kashmir Sh Vijay KUMAR along with IG CRP Ms Charu Sinha with the District SSP and CAPF commanders regarding ground situation and specific deployment requirements for conduct of the upcoming event.
