Latest news with #RapidAntigenTests
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Lockdown Overlords Missing In Action From The Podium Of Truth
'Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall's refusal to front up to the COVID inquiry is a big change from invading our living rooms daily. What's changed?' asks ACT Leader David Seymour. 'Hipkins and co loved the limelight at 1pm every day. They wielded extraordinary powers over citizens' lives, dismissing those who questioned them as uncaring. Now they're refusing to even show up, what a contrast. 'The then-Government used emergency powers more dramatically than any other in our country's peacetime history. Those powers included: Separating families at the border and in hospitals even at times of birth, death, and severe illness Letting unused Rapid Antigen Tests expire by the million, while locking down Auckland for over 100 days longer than the rest of the country. Locking down Northland down for 11 days on false information that humiliated three women. Officials apologised, but Hipkins refused to. Being were slow to close the border in early 2020, and even slower to adapt when Omicron made their Delta-era rules obsolete. Sticking to outdated restrictions that hurt people but couldn't stop Omicron, keeping MIQ in place long after the virus was widespread in the community. Putting surgeries, screenings, and medical treatments on hold. Damaging the education of a generation, with school attendance still bounding back from the Government's forced closures. Making strange, inconsistent rules that often hurt small businesses to the benefit of large chains– supermarkets could open, but butchers couldn't. Ignoring Treasury warnings to spend $66 billion, driving inflation over 7%, and sparking a cost-of-living crisis and mortgage crunch households are still paying for. Appointing a Royal Commission of Inquiry that would ignore most of the above costs, by focusing on the effectiveness of the COVID response rather than its costs. 'ACT campaigned to expand the Royal Commission inquiry and opened it to the public. If another pandemic arrives, we literally cannot afford to repeat the mistakes made during COVID, the bond ratings agencies will see to that. Facing another pandemic more successfully requires honest reflection from the decisionmakers of that period. 'Tens of thousands of New Zealanders have already engaged with the inquiry, sharing heart-wrenching experiences of how their lives were upended. They deserve the basic respect of accountability. If Chris Hipkins can't front up for a single day of questioning, he is not fit to act as Opposition leader, let alone return to Government. 'Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall must change course and agree to publicly front the Royal Commission. It is a matter of duty and respect.' Note: A Curia poll suggests 69% of New Zealanders believe Ardern, Hipkins, Bloomfield, and other key decision-makers should testify in person at the Covid Inquiry hearings.
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Nellore reports seven Covid-19 cases, DM&HO intensifies vigilance
The health department on Saturday intensified Covid-19 monitoring and containment measures after seven positive cases were reported in SPSR Nellore district. The District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO) has initiated several measures on the instructions of Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh. The VRDL (Virus Research And Diagnostic Laboratory Network) had conducted 12 RT-PCR tests on the patients at ACSR Government Medical College and General Hospital (GGH) and confirmed six Covid-19 cases in the combined Nellore district on Friday. Later, another case was reportedly found on Saturday. Nellore DM&HO Dr. V. Sujatha said that the department has immediately tested 27 persons who were primary contacts of the patients. Except one, rest of them tested negative. Now, the contacts of the person who tested positive will undergo the tests. All the patients are presently having mild symptoms and are staying at home isolation with good health condition. With the increasing Covid-19 cases across the State and country, the DM&HO has appointed District Surveillance Officer Dr. Bhaskar Singamsetty as a nodal officer to monitor the cases and submit the GGH preparedness assessment data through IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform) portal. Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Bhaskar said, 'After Omicron, the individuals were found to be infected with the new Covid-19 subvariants—NB.1.8.1 and LF.7. These are mild variants with symptoms including cough, cold, throat pain and fever for three days. To stop spreading the disease, we have notified guidelines to the public to avoid mass gathering and wear masks.' About 1,000 kits for RAT (Rapid Antigen Tests) were distributed to 80 PHCs in the district. If anyone tested positive, they were immediately moved to the district hospital for the RT-PCR test as it is available only at GGH and few corporate hospitals like Narayana, Apollo and Medicover in the district, he said. The nodal officer further said, 'We are conducting house to house survey for identifying the primary and secondary contacts of the positive patients. We continuously follow-up the patients in home isolation for one week. The alerts were given to all PHCs and UPHCs regarding the influenza patients.' GGH Superintendent Dr. B. S. Naik said that a special ward has been set up with 30 beds for the Covid-19 patients in the pulmonology department having more than 14 doctors and 12 nurses. Apart from this, the GGH is ready to arrange another 40-bed ward for the Covid-19 patients if the number of cases go up.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
State reports 8 Covid cases
1 2 Ranchi : State has reported eight Covid cases til May 31, with six active and two patients discharged, health officials said on Sunday. Out of the 14 samples tested on Saturday, one reported positive. The testing process has been intensified across the state, particularly for individuals showing symptoms such as fever, breathing difficulties, and fatigue. Testing facilities have been activated at all block health centres, with both Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and RT-PCR tests available. Requesting the public to co-operate, civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said, "Screening has been ramped up to ensure early detection and isolation. Tests have begun at all centres and we are planning to start screening at public points like airports and railway stations. Anyone showing symptoms is encouraged to get tested immediately. Contact tracing efforts have also started. Timely diagnosis remains our best tool to avoid community transmission. " Authorities urged the public to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks in crowded or public spaces, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding gathering. "The state govt continues to monitor the situation closely and is prepared to scale up interventions if necessary," he added.
Deccan Herald
31-05-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
Bengaluru man, who tested positive for Covid-19 dies; death toll in Karnataka rises to four
Over the past 24 hours, a total of 420 Covid tests have been conducted, including 354 RT-PCR tests and 66 Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT).
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Cov tally rises to 6, testing ramped up
Ranchi: One more Covid-19 case was reported on Friday in the city taking the total tally in the state to six. District health department, on the other hand, initiated screening drive across community health centres and primary health centres to detect and contain the spread of the virus. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar confirmed that both Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and RT-PCR testing facilities are available to ensure testing. "Screening has been ramped up to ensure timely detection. We urge citizens experiencing symptoms or those who were recently exposed to confirmed cases to get tested immediately. Early diagnosis is key to preventing large-scale outbreaks. We are closely monitoring the situation, and contact tracing efforts are underway for all recent positive cases," Dr Kumar said. On Friday, a total of 15 Covid-19 tests were conducted, out of which one individual tested positive. So far, the state reported six confirmed cases, five in the city and one in Jamshedpur, with one patient already recovered. Authorities also urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding unnecessary gatherings. The health department assured that it is well-prepared with testing kits, isolation arrangements, and medical supplies to handle any surge in cases. The screening drive will increase in the coming days, and the public is encouraged to cooperate fully with health workers and remain vigilant. Kumar said there is no need to panic, as the current strain of Covid-19 appears to be less severe, and a majority of the population is vaccinated. "However, it's important to stay safe by following safety protocols," he added.
