AIIMS, Sir Gangaram Hospital issue mask advisory, new testing protocol as Delhi reports first Covid JN.1 case Coronavirus Latest News Today: A Day after Delhi reported first case of new variant of coronavirus JN.1, a prominent hospital has issued a mask advisory for the OPDs. According to news agency ANI, Sir Gangaram Hospital has said that mask should be worn in the OPDs all the time. Sir Gangaram’s secretary Dr AK Bhalla said that the decision has been taken due to recent surge in influenza and Covid-19 infections. Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has said that all health institutions have been asked to ramp up testing and make sure to increase the genome sequencing of all confirmed Covid cases.AIIMS Delhi sets up special zone for serious Covid patients Not just Sir Gangaram, AIIMS Delhi has also issued special guidelines in view of latest surge in Covid cases. According to the latest reports, AIIMS will earmark 12 beds for those who are seriously ill due to Covid infections. According to the latest norms, anyone showing symptoms of severe respiratory infection, fever that continues for 10 days or more along with cough will be tested for Covid-19 infection. As of now, The World Health Organization has designated JN.1 sub-strain as ‘variant of interest.’
If the current trend continues for a longer period of time, not only oil mills but oilseeds growers will also not be able to get good rates of their produce, says Samir Shah, president of Gujarat State Edible Oils and Oil Seeds Association (GEOA). Shah who is also past president of SOMA says that due to various international factors rates of edible oils had gone up considerably, especially imported oils earlier this year.
“With a view to curb rising prices of edible oil, the Government of India reduced import duty on edible oils. Considering the fact that India is producing hardly 30 percent of its edible oil requirement, the decision was right at that point of time. Now when international prices of edible oils have gone down by 15 percent to 25 percent and high production period has started in edible oil exporting countries, the government should gradually increase import duty to protect local oil mills and oilseeds growers,” said Shah. GEOA has also made representation before Union Minister for Commerce & Consumer Affairs, Piyush Goyal to increase import duty.
In June import duty on edible oils was ranging from 35 to 55 percent, since then the government gradually reduced import duty and at present it is ranging from zero percent to 15 percent on different edible oils, he said.
Just a month back prices of edible oils were through the roof and the government took appropriate measures by reducing import duty in order to protect consumers, says Atul Chaturvedi, president of Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA). “Prices of edible oils are coming down globally. Kharif sowing has already started across the country. In the interest of local farmers, it is high time to enhance import duty in a phased manner to encourage local edible oil value chain,” opined Chaturvedi.
On Thursday imported Palm oil prices were at around Rs 2100 per 15 kg as against local Rs 2700 and Rs 2550 of groundnut and cottonseed oils. Prices of other local oils including ricebran, coconut, soyabean and mustard remained as high as Rs 2350, Rs 2520, Rs 2500 and Rs 2580 respectively.
India imports around 13-13.5 million tonnes of edible oils, of which around 8-8.5 million tonnes (around 63 per cent) are palm oil. Though the price of other imported Sunflower oil remained at around Rs 2700 per 15 kg, but import quantity of the oil is much lower than that of palm oil.