#Hospital Lift West Bengal | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

unityghost · 5 years ago

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Morning Glory

Part 25 (yikes, wow, homegirl needs a social life) of the Post-Asmodeus Sabriel Feels series.

Based on one of the most intriguing prompts I've ever received:

Gabe's always torn between wanting to be hurt and wanting to be looked after, so if (somehow) he ended up being caught by a djinn what would he see? and how would he react once someone (read Sam lol) woke him up? like, would he be guilty for dreaming of going on hunts with the Winchesters and feeling like family or freaked out BC he'd just seen Sam attack him with the archangel blade? - Type40Treklock (Fanfiction.net)

It took me too long to get to this. Tumblr followers ... you have been patient with me. Thank you and I'm sorry for the wait!

Morning Glory

Is everything okay?

You’re not hurt, are you?

I’m not the only one who’s worried. If we don’t hear from you, we’ll come and shake you out of whatever hangover is keeping you from texting back.

“Gabriel,” Castiel interrupted, “I doubt that they’ve gone four days without contact just because of a drunken stupor.”

Gabriel looked up from his phone. “Oh yeah? You’d put it past Dean to take a long-ass Epicurean detour?”

“No, I wouldn’t. But we should at least have heard from Sam. Don’t you agree?”

Gabriel sighed. “Yeah. I do.”

“In any case,” Castiel went on, “You’re right that there’s nothing in your recent exchanges with Sam to shed any light on their predicament.”

“Hey, hey, there might not even be a predicament. This radio silence could be chalked up to anything.”

“Yes.” Cas looked somber. “That’s exactly why we’re here. Speaking of which, I don’t mind flying you back home if you feel ambivalent about this.”

“Cas, please. I already told you eight hundred times that I don’t want you looking into this by yourself.”

“You know that I’m perfectly capable of self-preservation.”

“All right, I get it: I’m not. Don’t try to butter me up with subtext, Castiel.” Besides their voices, the only sounds were the twin notes of a chickadee hiding in the brambles that flanked a nearby playground. The air was heavy and warm, and the sky threatened rain. “Now listen: are you really going to spend your energy on how high I’ll flip my lid if I find Sam hurt, and not stop to consider how I’d react to you getting caught off guard just because you didn’t come with backup?”

Cas grew uneasy. “It isn’t that I don’t understand, Gabriel; I just ...” But he didn’t continue.

“I’m going to take the east wing,” Gabriel told him. “You take the west. Let’s scope the place out for those negligent blockheads instead of wasting time.”

A weird case out in some abandoned hospital, Sam had told Gabriel. But pretty routine, it looks like. Doubt it’ll take more than a couple of days.

Cas had had the good sense to trace the brothers’ cell phones. Locating the signal meant two things: one, the phones were turned on and Sam and Dean could have been answering if they wanted to; and two, Cas and Gabriel didn’t have to spend too much time figuring out exactly which drowsy pocket of suburban Idaho hosted the ruins of an orphaned hospital.

Cas and Gabriel strode to the doors together, but Castiel pulled Gabriel back before either could go inside. “Wait.”

“What?” Castiel appeared vaguely uncomfortable. “I … I have my grace.”

“Mazel tov.”

“And you have ... you have ...”

“Not yet clawed my way back to the surface of the pitiful noodle-pond that used to be raw, untethered cosmic power? What, really, are you sure? Because I hadn’t noticed.” He shook Castiel off. “Cut it out. I wouldn’t have followed you if I thought I couldn’t handle my part in the game.”

That was not entirely true, Gabriel acknowledged privately. He wasn’t useful so much as he was expendable: if he could buy them any kind of time, the extent to which he was able to protect himself wouldn’t matter. What was important was that they find Sam and Dean and, if either of the brothers were injured or trapped, ensure their safety.

The doors were not locked, and probably hadn’t been for a long time – partly because the empty building was ideal for anyone who didn’t want to be noticed by police, and partly because crime rates in this town were impressively low.

The lobby offered an unsettling mixture of scents: there was the damp, rotted wood of the front desk; there was rainwater that had leaked through cracks and crevices; they could smell moldy blankets and a warm undernote of something that might have been human decay.

“Let’s split up,” said Gabriel, just as Castiel said, “Let’s stick together.”

“What did I say about east and west?” Gabriel reminded him. “That’s what this is for.” He held up his phone. “I’ll text you to let you know where I am. You do the same. Or, if things get out of hand, call me and use code phrase ‘Bengal cat.’”

“I really think –”

But Gabriel ignored him to follow the metal wall plaque that directed him to the east wing of the hospital.

What he found was disconcerting: several of the beds were stripped, but some displayed carefully folded sheets that had flushed to the color of jaundice. There were rooms full of cots lined up side by side, and others whose beds had been turned over or shoved into corners. A few of the wards, and one stairwell, had old bloodstains on the floor.

A vengeful spirit, we think, Sam had said. Possibly more than one.

Gabriel bent down to peer beneath each bed. He knew that neither Sam nor Dean could lie there undetected, but perhaps he would find clues, something to guide him to their exact whereabouts or to suggest that they were in trouble.

Truthfully, Gabriel hoped he would find nothing. He was not searching for a body, and had no desire to muddy that conviction with anything that would look at home in an evidence bag.

Any luck? Castiel texted.

I found a mouse, Gabriel wrote back.

A mouse?

Neither of them; I checked. It wasn’t wearing plaid.

Half an hour later, Gabriel got in touch again: I can’t find anything. Gonna check the basement.

The message didn’t send. So he tried a second time, and once more it failed to go through.

Gabriel didn’t have much faith in his relationship with modern technology, because there was plenty he had missed during his time in Hell, and he hadn’t taken much time to acquaint himself with the multiplicity of devices that had flooded the world he thought he would never see again. It wasn’t a priority; there was so much else to learn, so much else to figure out.

With reluctance, Gabriel tried communicating with Castiel telepathically. If Cas felt anything, there was nothing to show for it, and Gabriel did not want to exhaust what little grace he might be able to access in case of an emergency. His grace had lately been fluid, unpredictable, and messy; he could rarely anticipate how much he might have at his disposal at any given time.

He could only assume that the message would send sooner or later, that perhaps it was moving slowly because of signal problems.

Not until Gabriel was in the basement did he realize exactly what was in the basement.

He squared his shoulders and reminded himself that of course they had to check the morgue; it made sense. The morgue was like any other section of the hospital, a room that might contain the living as well as the dead – and, perhaps, the not-quite-living and the maybe-dead.

But Gabriel hesitated. There could be no denying the stench of human putrefaction at this point. This was the first time since his arrival that he realized Cas might have been right to worry about him.

So he detached himself and pretended that he was watching another individual press his palms to either of the cold metal doors.

That was when somebody seized him from behind.

“No!” Gabriel screamed, and tried to throw his captor off. Its grip was hard and tight and unforgiving; this grip was confident and hungry, and Gabriel knew what that meant.

For a moment, he wondered how he could have ever confused the cautious warmth of Sam’s hands with the hands of a monster: this kind of touch, this kind of brutality, was fully recognizable as evil.

He tried to kick the thing’s legs and bite its hand. He felt a palm pressed to his mouth and this time not only smelled but tasted the meaty odor of decay.

He screamed into its hand until there was the tang of blood in his throat. He reached inside of himself for his grace, desperate for power that simply wasn’t there.

“Sleep,” the thing whispered into his ear, and Gabriel grew sick with panic. His nightmares were here, alive and real and ugly, and there was no one to help guide him back to a sense of security.

Gabriel could not remember ever wanting Sam as badly as he did in that moment.

The hand on his mouth was so strong he couldn’t breathe. Somewhere in his mind he knew that he didn’t need to breathe in order to survive, but the terror didn’t abate.

He was still screaming, still sobbing, when he opened his eyes and saw that he was lying in bed in an unfamiliar room illuminated by sunshine.

The smell of death was gone, replaced with the cool scent of cleaners and laundry detergents. The carpet was spotlessly white, and in the corner stood a table with a half-empty bottle of wine and four glasses that still had crimson dregs at the bottom.

He choked on his own tears and stole as many quick, ragged breaths as he could.

The door clicked open and he scrambled away, slipping off of the other side of the mattress.

“Gabriel!”

It was a voice he knew, and the arms that lifted him back onto the bed were not the arms of a brute.

Gabriel was shaking and moaning. He knew how helpless and pathetic he sounded, but he also had heard himself make those sounds before.

“You’re all right,” Sam murmured. “Just a bad dream, okay? Just a bad dream. You’re all right.”

“Where am I?” Gabriel rasped. “What happened?”

“Ssh, it’s like I said - I think you just had a nightmare. Sorry, I thought a nap would help you feel better. You wore yourself out setting all this up for us, I think.”

“What are you - ” Gabriel blinked rapidly, shivering and whimpering as he tried not only to form a question but to figure out whether it was even safe to ask. “Set what up? I didn’t - I don’t - ” His eyes flicked over the room, and he knew then what he wanted to say - A non-smoking suite, I see, spic-and-span as Aunt Doris’s pearls - but couldn’t get it out.

Sam seemed at something of a loss. All he could offer was a hand on Gabriel’s arm, trying to steady him.

“Two minutes ago,” Gabriel managed, “I - I was - ” There was the possibility that he had finally broken, had finally lost his mind really and completely; and the thought made him feel dizzy.

But there was a second possibility that slowed his blood to an icy crawl. “Sam?”

“What is it, Gabe?”

“Does Asmodeus have anything to do with this?”

Sam’s voice was gentle. “Hey, no, of course not. He won’t hurt you again, bud."

“He can mess with me; he can screw around with my memory, my perception - ”

“Yes. He used to be able to do that.” Sam gripped Gabriel’s shoulder. “But not anymore. You’re safe, Gabe, I promise.”

“Where am I? Am I still in Idaho?”

“Idaho?” Sam used his sleeve to help wipe Gabriel’s face, and Gabriel didn’t try to resist. “With this many beaches and kangaroos?”

Gabriel shut his eyes. “Jesus O’Malley, we’re in Australia.”

“Yeah. You brought us here, remember? Set up this hotel for us. Everyone else is down at the pool right now. Jack got to hold a koala this morning. You did a lot for us, and I think maybe you’re just exhausted.”

Gabriel shivered. “Sam, did you ever have so much trouble telling them apart? Dreams and - and what’s really happening?”

Sam considered. “I don’t think so.”

“Not even with Lucifer?” Gabriel was desperate for Sam to be right; he longed for confirmation that he really had just tired himself to the point of oblivion. Or perhaps Sam was lying to him and pretending that Gabriel had achieved something of which he had not been capable for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Sam frowned. “With who?”

“You know who. With my skeezewaffle of a brother.”

Sam looked puzzled. “Who, Jack’s dad? I met him twice at most.”

Gabriel simply stared.

“What’s wrong?” Sam asked.

“Um. I just … I feel like an idiot.”

“Don’t feel - ”

“This should have been obvious right away.” Gabriel felt his shoulders relax slightly: he was in no danger from Asmodeus, or from his own insanity.

Before Sam could press him, there was a vigorous rapping at the door.

Gabriel swept the heels of his hands over his eyes in a final attempt to dry them. “Is that Africa by Toto?”

Sam sighed and went to open the door.

“Catch!” cried Dean, throwing a towel across the room to land on Gabriel’s head.

Gabriel tore it off. “This is wet, you maniac! I don’t need your cooties.”

“It ain’t my fault if your reflexes are molasses.” Dean was clad only in neon-orange swim trunks. “I figured a whiff of chlorine might wake you up.”

“You’re gross, Dean,” said Sam.

Castiel and Jack stood behind Dean, dressed more modestly with t-shirts over their swim trunks.

“Jack,” Gabriel croaked. He felt a strangely potent sense of relief at the sight of his nephew.

But Cas spoke first. “Are you feeling refreshed? If you’re up to it, we can go out for dinner.”

Gabriel didn’t reply. Instead, he did what he would have done in any situation: he looked at Sam, hoping he would have answers.

“We’ll order in,” Sam said. “It’ll be fun to try some of the local cuisine, don’t you think, Gabriel?”

“I … I guess.”

“Poor guy’s still recovering from last night,” Dean interrupted. “Doesn’t even have his voice back from the karaoke.” He nudged Gabriel, who tensed at the contact. “Don’t worry, I got the best of your performance on video.”

“Really?” exclaimed Jack. “I want to see.”

Dean glanced at Gabriel. “I don’t know if I’d sanction a G rating on that one.”

“Well,” Castiel chimed in, “We had a good night too.”

Jack’s face brightened. “Yeah, Sam and Cas and I had pizza and ice cream and watched the latest Steve Irwin special.”

“Lucky bastard and all his academy awards,” said Dean. “I hear he’s got his own theme park now.”

Jack peered more closely at Gabriel. “Uncle Gabe - have you been crying?”

“No,” said Gabriel.

But Jack looked disturbed. “I’ve never seen you cry before.”

“Really? I mean, uh - I’m fine. I’m okay. I think I might be allergic to Vegemite.”

Jack took a moment to evaluate, then stepped forward and hugged him.

Gabriel froze.

“I love you,” said Jack. “You’re the best.”

It took Gabriel several seconds to remember that he was supposed to hug back. The embrace lingered until he pulled away, before the smell of chlorine and the dampness of Jack’s hair on his cheek could become any more real.

Dean spoke up. “I don’t know about anyone else, but I could use a shower.” He waltzed into the bathroom and shut the door. Then there came the hiss of running water.

Sam groaned. “You can kick him out and make him use the bathroom you set up for him.”

“I think he likes your custom shampoo,” Jack told Gabriel.

“So I suppose after we’ve all freshened up,” said Cas, “We can decide what to do. Or rather, Gabriel, you can decide whether you have any energy to go out. Trust me, no one will feel neglected if you’d prefer to keep things on the quieter side this evening. Oh, and Sam - ” Cas laid a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “If you aren’t feeling up to anything - ”

“Don’t worry about me, Cas.” Sam smiled. “ I’m fine.”

“I know, but … the last hunt was a lot. You were in pain. So if you’re still feeling the effects, we can lie low tonight. I can make sure that - ”

“Relax. I’m good. It’s like Dean said at breakfast, you’ve done enough for us. All right? No need to keep trying to take care of everyone.”

Gabriel’s gaze flitted back and forth between the two of them. “What hunt are we talking about?”

Sam waved a dismissive hand. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve hardly thought about it since you healed me up. Cas is overreacting. Which I appreciate, but I’m really okay.”

Cas nodded. “All right.” He slid his hand from Sam’s shoulder. “In that case, why don’t Jack and I go back to our room and settle down for a while? I have no reason to suspect that Jack is anything but satisfied with the shampoo in our bathroom.”

Jack smiled at Gabriel, and Gabriel snapped his eyes away.

“So,” Sam began once Jack and Cas had exited the room, “You okay?”

“Yes.” The word came out as a whisper.

“No you’re not,” Sam insisted. “I haven’t seen you like this in a long time.”

“I’m … I’m feeling fine, Sam. It’s like you said: just a really awful dream.”

“Do you want me in here with you? I don’t mind sticking around for however long you need me for.”

“I don’t. Obviously I’ve got your brother to keep me company.”

Sam’s eyes flitted to the bathroom door. “He means well, I guess. I think he needed some time off.”

“Well, that’s what I’m here for. Me, my supercharged celestial batteries, and a non-stop flight to the land down under.”

Sam smiled. “I’ll come back to check on you in a little bit, okay? And if Dean gives you any trouble just throw him to the dingoes.”

“Mm. You know I will.”

Gabriel watched Sam exit the room, studiously ignoring the surge of grief at the back of his throat.

He gave himself no time to dwell on what would happen next.

The first place he checked was the bedside drawer. There, he found a copy of the King James Bible that contained what were more than likely Gabriel’s emendations: “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” said the angel, “For you are in favor with Daddy-o. Congratulations, it’s a boy, and you shall call him either Jesus or Scott - I forget which one.”

He moved to the closet, which turned out to be full of clothing better suited for a wedding or seventies-themed disco party than a relaxing weekend away. Which, Gabriel reflected, made sense if he and Dean had decided to take advantage of traits that, in another life, might have led to something like companionship.

When an examination of the closet yielded no results, Gabriel moved to the table and bent over the duffel bag on the chair. When he unzipped it he found swimwear, perhaps his own. There were trunks, a pair of goggles, some flippers.

Sitting on top of the aquatic regalia sat a rectangular box: slim, unassuming, and discreetly coffin-like.

Feeling triumphant, Gabriel lifted the lid.

Then he heard the bathroom door open behind him.

“Don’t,” said Dean.

Gabriel straightened up but didn’t turn around. “It’s not real.”

“It kind of is, man.” The shower was still running. Gabriel could feel the steam coming from the bathroom, as lifelike as anything else he had encountered thus far. “Look, nobody’s trying to force philosophy into what should just be a nice little family getaway, but - ”

“Don’t use that word,” Gabriel snapped.

“What word?”

“Shut up; you know what word. And I agree that we should keep superfluous proselytizing to a minimum.”

“If you do this,” Dean told him, “You’re making it real.”

Gabriel sighed, then turned to face him. Dean had a towel around his waist.

“You know what, sensei?” Gabriel said. “Get back in the shower and don’t watch if it bothers you so much.”

“Once you see how easy it is, Gabe - ”

“It isn’t easy. It’s practical. Listen, pal, I’ve been around long enough to remember how to pop this lock. Getting out of here will be a breeze no matter what shortcuts I gotta take.”

Dean shook his head. “What reason to you have to leave?”

“You know perfectly well what reasons I have.”

“You’re worried about Sammy, right?” There was an odd melancholy in Dean’s face - an expression halfway between resignation and desperation that Gabriel had never seen on him in real life. “Now’s as good a time as any to worry about your own happiness, Gabriel.” Gabriel tensed, annoyed by the warmth of his full name. “You’re allowed to stick around for you if that’s what you want.”

Gabriel swallowed. “It’s not what I want.”

“Really? Just because you know Sam would miss you?”

Gabriel traced his fingers over the flat of the blade as though toying with a Rubik’s cube. “I miss him, too.”

“He’s right here, Gabe.”

“It’s not the same and you know it.”

“And what’s he going to say when he finds out about this? You have any idea what kind of pain this would cause him? To know what you did to get out? To know how damn easy it was to get your hands on the archangel blade in your deepest fantasies?”

Gabriel closed his eyes. “Who says he has to find out?”

And he raised the knife.

Gabriel remembered very little of what happened after it was done. Somebody lifted him, possibly even tried to carry him - until he fought with such ferocity that the newcomer let go, and Gabriel staggered forward with some assistance.

Somewhere amid the confusion and exhaustion, he registered that there was no odor of death on the arms that guided him. The voice in his ear, saying things like, “Try not to fall over” and “It’s just me,” was soft and familiar.

The next thing of which Gabriel was entirely conscious was waking up in his own bedroom, rolling onto his side, and seeing nobody.

Not real, he thought, but then remembered that it probably was. He had done what needed to be done in order to extract himself from that venomous amusement park with all its perfect temptations.

He pushed off the blankets. Someone had made sure to leave the bedside light on. He was dressed in the same clothes he’d worn on his trip to the hospital. Gabriel felt himself relax slightly: nobody had stripped him down.

When he tried to sit up, he hissed in pain. Peeling back his shirt, Gabriel saw that there were bandages on his abdomen, moistened with blood. Of course - there would not be enough grace for him to heal any injuries sustained during unconsciousness. He hoped it was Sam who had tended to the wound.

That was when Gabriel remembered that Sam could be anywhere, that he might have imagined his presence in the hospital earlier. Panicked, Gabriel forced himself to his feet and ignored the dizziness that came with the sudden movement.

He heard hurried footsteps, and the door slammed open.

“Sit down!” Sam cried, hurrying over to him. “Come on, don’t try to get up - not yet.”

He guided Gabriel back down.

“I’m fine,” said Gabriel. “Just made the fatal mistake of trying to stand up before all my senses had a chance to rehabilitate themselves. Did your spidey senses tingle?”

“No, I - I just heard you moving around.”

Gabriel closed his eyes, willing the vertigo away. “Hey. Potato brains. You told me you were facing down a vengeful spirit.”

“Yeah, we were.” Sam tucked the blankets more securely around Gabriel’s shoulders. “The djinn was the one to kill the guy.”

“Well, didn’t you two just hit the jackpot.”

“You shouldn’t have tried chasing after us, Gabriel.”

“Wasn’t my idea.” Gabriel opened his eyes and focused on Sam’s face. “I didn’t want Cas going solo.”

Sam sighed, looking worried and relieved all at once. He seemed to be waiting for Gabriel to speak.

Finally, Gabriel did. “Look, I’m sorry. I wish I’d been able to defend myself. At the very least to put up a good fight. If my grace levels were anywhere near where they should be, that thing wouldn’t have gotten within two feet of me, let alone into my head.”

“It’s okay. Don’t apologize.”

“How long was I down there, Sam?”

“Not long, I’m pretty sure. We heard you screaming.” Gabriel blinked. “Then you were down there with me? I was on your trail?” Please tell me I did something right.

Sam nodded. “By then, we’d caught on that we might be looking for more than just a pissed-off spirit. Guess you were in the right place at the wrong time, huh?” He forced a smile. “Thanks, but why didn’t you at least wait for backup?”

“Didn’t want to lose time. Cas was half-convinced we were on the prowl for a pair of Winchester-shaped corpses. Sam … in what universe did you think it was okay to ignore us for that long?”

Sam shrugged. “Couple of teenagers stole our phones. And wallets.”

“How hunterly of you to allow adolescent fugitives to make off with your valuables. Why didn’t you at least pray to me or Cas? I mean - I don’t know that I would’ve heard you, my grace being as floppy as it is, but he would have.”

Sam offered another weak smile. “We didn’t think about that, Gabriel. We weren’t in any serious trouble. Why would we ask for help when we didn’t need it?” He peered more closely at Gabriel, whose expression must have betrayed something of which Gabriel was unaware, because Sam added, “Hey, it’s okay; I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d be that freaked out. We got everything back in the end, when we - ” He hesitated for a second before concluding. “When we found the kids in the morgue.”

“In the … ah. I see. The rendezvous spot for illicit recreation.”

“Just enough to mortify their God-fearing parents, probably.”

“I’m sure Dad was plenty concerned with their antics. What about Castiel; is he all right? Did he get out?”

“He’s fine. Cas wasn’t hurt.”

“All right. Good to know I’m the only one who can’t look out for myself.”

Sam caught the bitterness in Gabriel’s voice. “Stop.”

“No, actually - ” Gabriel pushed himself up a little straighter. “Don't you want to know what kind of utopic frenzy that bastard cooked up for me?”

Sam was quiet. Then he replied, “Honestly, I kind of do.”

“Good. Because in the interest of science, I want to get it on the record that I can tell you the whole thing without breaking down. As a reward I’ll let myself take home that this didn’t all happen just because I’m brittler than fried seaweed.”

Sam looked pained. “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. I understand.”

“No, no, let me see - so I have it on the books - how far I can push myself before sacrificing my dignity to an inflamed maw of shitty memories. First, can I get Sigmund Freudchester’s opinion on something?”

“I … yeah, sure. What?”

“What does it say to you that the djinn made things so that I’d still been held prisoner by Asmodeus?”

Horror passed over Sam’s face. “You were with him? In Hell?”

“No, no, yuck, not with him; it had still happened to me, though, and you were the good egg who kept wasting fuel on the little engine that couldn’t. What’s your take on that? What do you think?”

Sam’s face had gone pale. “I don’t know, Gabriel.”

“Really? Well, I think I do.” There was something manic in Gabriel now, something he couldn’t control. He was, perhaps, a little angry, a little frantic, although he could not have said why. “It just confirms for me that if I had the opportunity to unwrite this script, to change what happened to me, to make it so that I had never been his favorite toy - ”

“You wouldn’t.” Sam looked horrified, but did not sound surprised.

“Exactly,” Gabriel told him. “Because I wasn’t meant to be treated any differently. Getting out of Hell was just a maggot turning into a fly. No real upgrade. And if I didn’t have the courage to actually wish that I was back where I was supposed to be, then I at least had the common decency to take some of what I deserved.”

“Gabriel, please don’t - ”

“I only knew for sure it was just tripe when you came out and said you’d never faced Lucifer. No - wait - you called him ‘Jack’s dad.’ As if you’d signed the adoption papers, bada-bing, bada-boom, the kid’s ours. And Jack - he was so damn innocent, nary a shit to give, just some happy little kid who made it clear how hardcore he loved his uncle. Because Uncle Gabe had the power of freaking kangaroos on hand, and - ”

“Stop.” Sam held up a hand. He seemed to have recovered a little. “You know what the djinn does, don’t you? You’re supposed to - to think that its world is better. You’re supposed to not want to get out.” He paused. “Um …”

“Go ahead,” Gabriel pressed. “You know how I got out.”

Sam looked at him. “Well, I’m glad you did.”

Unconsciously, Gabriel touched his stomach. The wound there was from where the monster had stolen blood. “Let’s just get this out of the way. I know you’re probably angry as Hell about it.”

That seemed to take Sam by surprise. “No! Well - I mean - if you still think about that sometimes; if you … if you can’t help …”

“It’s fine, Sam; I get it. Be pissed.”

“I’m not pissed. I … I mean … do you want me to be mad?”

“I don’t want anything from you, Sam; you do you.”

“Listen, I get that some days are better than others, and that sometimes you’re just not going to … you know …” Sam gave a frustrated sigh. “I’m just trying to say that I know you can’t control what goes through your head. It’s not your fault, that’s all. But I wish you could shake off this idea that you deserved what you got. And that you somehow have to - I don’t know - to make something up to us.”

“Sam,” Gabriel pleaded, “Jack got to hold a koala.”

Sam just laid a hand on his arm, waiting, perhaps, for Gabriel to say more.

“You have every right to be angry,” Gabriel said finally. “You know - you can be upset about the archangel blade. Because you do everything in your power to make me care about myself, and all I do is fight back.”

“Gabriel …” Sam kept his hand in place as he thought about how to respond. “I’m not mad. Really. I’m not. You used it to live. You could have been happy there, but you decided to come back. How could I be angry about that?”

Gabriel tensed. “Uh. I was more thinking along the lines of how easy it was to get to it. It was sitting there in a duffel bag, right where I could grab it in an emergency. You know, you never know when you might need to - to slice open a cantaloupe or …” He trailed off, then cleared his throat and tried again. “It’s the freedom of having the choice. You get that, right? Sort of?”

Sam nodded. “And you made a choice. Look at that.”

Gabriel shivered.

“You cold?” Sam asked.

“No,” Gabriel told him, “Just a wreck. Make a note in the spreadsheet for further evaluation later. This is proving to be an interesting experiment, wouldn’t you say?” He took a deep breath. “I can’t give you what you gave me, Sam. A home. Good memories. A feeling of safety. Somewhere to be afraid without getting hurt in the end. I can’t give that to you or Dean or Cas or Jack.”

“We don’t need those things from you.”

“You need them from someone, Sam, and I owe you at least that much.”

“You need to be - oh, hey - ” Sam withdrew his hand and used the blankets to help dry Gabriel’s face.

“Add it to the log,” Gabriel whispered. “I failed the experiment.”

“It’s okay to be upset. You know that. Crying is probably good for you.”

“You know what else is good for you? Bikram yoga. But it sucks and you look like a clown doing it.” Gabriel shuddered again. “You know - his hands, they felt like - they reminded me of - ”

“Whose hands? The djinn’s?”

“Yes.”

“What about them?”

“They felt like his. And I just - right then, when I felt him - ” Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut and felt a tear trickle over his temple and into his ear. “Sorry - when I felt him, I thought of you. Not because it felt like how it feels when you’re with me, or when you touch me. Because it felt so different.”

“I could lie down with you, if you want.”

Gabriel didn’t answer, and kept his eyes closed. He felt Sam, who had learned to read Gabriel’s silence, recline next to him.

“Is there anything else you want to tell me about?” Sam asked.

Gabriel curled in on himself and cried.

He felt Sam pull him close. “You’re tired, Gabriel. You need some rest. Try and sleep, yeah?”

Gabriel didn’t respond.

“Sleep,” Sam repeated.

It sounded so different coming from him.

19 notes · View notes

behealthy99 · 3 years ago

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Coronavirus live updates | WHO chief warns against talk of 'endgame' in pandemic

New Post has been published on https://behealthy99.com/coronavirus-live-updates-who-chief-warns-against-talk-of-endgame-in-pandemic/

Coronavirus live updates | WHO chief warns against talk of 'endgame' in pandemic

On Monday, 397 deaths were recorded, considerably higher than the average levels recorded in the last week.

The number of recorded fatalities has reached 4,89,903.

Tamil Nadu reported the most deaths (46) followed by Punjab (39) and West Bengal (37).

On Sunday, 14.7 lakh tests were conducted (the results of which were made available on Monday). The test positivity rate (the number of cases detected per 100 tests) was 15.9%.

Editorial | Not mild for all: On community transmission of Omicron

Read | Tackling the Omicron wave, getting future-ready

You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.

Here are the updates:

COVID cases reported on Australian aid vessel sailing to virus-free Tonga

About two dozen cases of COVID-19 have been recorded among the crew of an Australian warship on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to virus-free Tonga, authorities said on Tuesday.

Authorities in Tonga, hit by a massive volcanic eruption and a tsunami on Jan. 15, have asked for aid to be delivered without human contact amid concerns a COVID outbreak would be devastating for the tiny Pacific island nation.

The HMAS Adelaide which left from Brisbane carrying large quantities of supplies, helicopters, water purification equipment, additional humanitarian aid, and also an Australian Army engineer contingent, is due to arrive in Tonga in a few days. – Reuters

Assam

Assam government tightens COVID restrictions, non-vaccinated people banned from visiting public places

The Assam government on Monday issued an order tightening restrictions to contain spread of COVID-19 in the state and banning entry of non-vaccinated people to public places, except hospitals.

It also directed authorities to shut schools for up to class 8 students.

The government asked citizens to carry proof of vaccination while going to public places.

These restrictions will come into effect from 6 a.m. of January 25, the order said. – PTI

China

China tests two million in Beijing, lifts COVID lockdown in Xi’an

Less than two weeks before the opening of the Winter Olympics, a few dozen COVID-19 cases in Beijing have prompted authorities to test millions of people in the capital and extend that to anyone buying cold medicine.

The tough new measures came even as the city of Xi’an, a major tourist destination that is the home of the Terracotta Warrior statue army, lifted a lockdown Monday that had isolated its 13 million people for a month.

More than 3,000 people have arrived for the Games since Jan. 4, including over 300 athletes and team officials, plus media and other participants, organizers said Monday. So far, 78 people have tested positive, including one who was an athlete or team official. – AP

United Kingdom

U.K. to lift travel test requirements for the vaccinated

The British government announced Monday that it is scrapping coronavirus travel testing requirements for the vaccinated, news hailed by the travel industry as a big step back to normality.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “to show that this country is open for business, open for travelers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated, if they have been double vaccinated.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the change would take effect Feb. 11, coinciding with a midterm holiday break for many schoolchildren. – AP

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Raj Bhawan cancels Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception as Covid cases spike

The Raj Bhawan on Monday night decided to cancel this year’s Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception in view of the spike in coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir.

Liutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has urged the people of the Union Territory to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and safety protocols issued by the health officials, a Raj Bhawan spokesman said.

Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded 5,394 fresh cases of coronavirus taking the infection count to 4,02,596 while eight deaths due to the virus were reported in the past 24 hours, officials said. – PTI

USA

U.S. CDC warns against travel to Peru, Kuwait, UAE over COVID

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday advised against travel to 15 countries and territories because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The CDC elevated its travel recommendation to “Level Four: Very High” for Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Kuwait, Mongolia, Niger, Peru, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates.

The CDC now recommends against travel to about 115 countries and territories worldwide. – Reuters

Germany

Germany extends COVID curbs as infections threaten infrastructure

Germany on Monday extended its current pandemic measures as the experts panel appointed by the government has warned the fast spreading Omicron coronavirus variant could bring critical infrastructure in Europe’s biggest economy to a breaking point.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he had agreed with the heads of the federal states to extend restrictions such as limiting private gatherings to 10 ten people and requiring proof of booster vaccination or a negative test at restaurants.

“Now it’s time to stay on course,” said Mr. Scholz after a meeting on Monday. – Reuters

USA

U.S. COVID peak may be over but not the pain as deaths rise

Even as COVID-19 cases drop and hospitalizations show signs of plateauing in hard-hit pockets of the United States, the still-rising death toll from the Omicron variant highlights the trail of loss that follows every virus surge.

Coronavirus deaths hit an 11-month high on Sunday, climbing 11% in the past week when compared to the prior week, according to a Reuters analysis.

COVID-19 fatalities are a lagging indicator, meaning their numbers usually rise a few weeks after new cases and hospitalizations. – Reuters

India

India’s total case tally reaches 3.95 crore

The country recorded 2,34,650 new COVID-19 cases on Monday.

The total number of infections has reached 3.95 crore and the active cases have crossed the 22.4-lakh mark.

The figures are based on the State bulletins released until 10 p.m. on Monday.

However, Ladakh, Haryana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Lakshadweep had not yet released data for the day.

Karnataka recorded 46,426 infections followed by Tamil Nadu (30,215) and Maharashtra (28,286).

India

COVID 3.0 drags activity lower by 20% in less than a month

The onset of the third COVID-19 wave in the country has dragged down economic activity by about 20% in less than a month, as per a Nomura index tracking resumption of business operations since the pandemic started.

The Nomura India Business Resumption Index fell to 100.5 for the week ended January 23, from 102.2 in the preceding week, only approximately 0.5% above pre-pandemic levels, the firm said in a note on Monday.

A reading of 100 on the index indicates activity levels before the pandemic hit the economy in early 2020. This is the fourth successive week of moderation in the index, which had peaked at 120.2 in the week ended December 26, and signals a slowdown in the economy in tandem with the rise in COVID-19 cases ahead of the Union Budget for 2022-23 to be presented next week. Nomura recently cut its India GDP growth forecast for 2021-22 to 8.7% from 9.2%. “We expect the upcoming Budget… to prioritise growth, with directional fiscal consolidation to 6.4% of GDP in 2022—23 from 6.8% of GDP expected in 2021-22,” Nomura research analysts Sonal Varma and Aurodeep Nandi noted.

Tamil Nadu

Protest staged against compulsory COVID vaccination in Madurai

People’s Federation against Compulsory Vaccination staged a demonstration here on Monday protesting against the government forcing people to compulsorily get COVID vaccine.

Citing the affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court which said that the government was not forcing anyone to get themselves compulsorily vaccinated, the federation said that the union government should give up its present policy on vaccination which was against the Constitution of India.

World

WHO chief warns against talk of ‘endgame’ in pandemic

The head of the World Health Organisation is warning that conditions remain ideal for more coronavirus variants to emerge and says it’s dangerous to assume omicron is the last one or that “we are in the endgame”, while saying the acute phase of the pandemic could still end this year — if some key targets are met.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, laid out Monday an array of achievements and concerns in global health over issues like reducing tobacco use, fighting resistance to anti-microbial treatments, and risks of climate change on human health. But he said “ending the acute phase of the pandemic must remain our collective priority”.

“There are different scenarios for how the pandemic could play out and how the acute phase could end. But it’s dangerous to assume that omicron will be the last variant or that we are in the endgame,” Tedros told the start of a WHO executive board meeting this week. “On the contrary, globally, the conditions are ideal for more variants to emerge.” But he insisted that “we can end COVID-19 as a global health emergency, and we can do it this year,” by reaching goals like WHO’s target to vaccinate 70% of the population of each country by the middle of this year, with a focus on people who are at the highest risk of COVID-19, and improving testing and sequencing rates to track the virus and its emerging variants more closely. – PTI

Breakthrough COVID-19 infections generate strong antibody response: Study

People vaccinated three times or immunised after an earlier COVID-19 infection have comparable neutralising antibody response to those with a breakthrough infection, according to a study.

A breakthrough infection is a case of illness in which a fully vaccinated individual becomes infected.

The study, published in the journal Cell, looked at the strength, durability and breadth of neutralising antibody response generated by breakthrough infections in individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV2. – PTI

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu reports 30,215 fresh COVID-19 infections

A total of 30,215 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Monday, taking the overall tally to 31,64,205. As on date 2,06,484 patients are under treatment. Except Mayiladuthurai, which reported 88 new infections, all other districts had a high caseload.

In Chennai, the number of new infections continued to fall, with 6,296 people testing positive on Monday. The district also recorded 17 deaths. A total of 6,98,616 people have tested positive till date, and 52,742 are under treatment either at home or in healthcare facilities.

Several districts reported fresh cases in their thousands. In Coimbatore, 3,786 new infections were reported, while in Chengalpattu, 1,742 people tested positive. Erode, Kanniyakumari, Salem, Thanjavur and Tiruppur also reported over 1,000 fresh cases each.

Delhi

For Delhi health volunteers, the fight is twofold: virus and its stigma

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 may be relatively milder than its more devastating predecessors but the efforts to tackle its spread have by no means been easier.

It’s not just the high transmissibility of the virus that bothers the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and the civil defence volunteers (CDVs), who are at the front lines of the city’s fight against the virus. The volunteers say they have to face “rudeness and hostility” of patients as well as their family members in most cases.

The work of the ASHAs and CDVs has become more important given their role in forming home isolation teams that help in creating strict micro-containment zones, which is the most effective weapon in the administration’s arsenal against Omicron. “Micro-containment and strict perimeter control are of utmost importance given the transmissibility of the Omicron variant,” a senior government official said. “While more and more containment zones have been chalked out, deployment of teams on the ground has also been increased to ensure stricter perimeter control,” the official said.

#News

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levitar1 · 3 months ago

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#Hospital Lift Kolkata #Hospital Lift West Bengal #hospital elevator #hospital elevator west bengal #Hospital elevator Kolkata

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mmrrealty · 1 year ago

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flats for sale in urbana kolkata

Description

Experience luxury redefined with Urbana 2, nestled in the prime locale of EM Bypass in Kolkata. Urbana 2 isn’t just a residential complex; it’s a statement of prestige, offering a lifestyle that transcends all expectations. Discover capacious apartments, cutting-edge amenities, and a tranquil setting that elevates your way of life.

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differentnutpeace · 4 years ago

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World's Biggest Vaccine Maker 'Very Stressed' As India Sees Record Spike In COVID-19

MUMBAI — India confirmed another record jump in COVID-19 cases Wednesday, as the world's biggest vaccine maker said it was "very stressed" and needs help from the Indian government to boost production. หวย บอล เกมส์ฺ กีฬา คาสิโนออนไลน์

India is struggling to speed up vaccinations amid its sharpest spike in coronavirus infections since the pandemic began. Authorities are also trying to balance stricter curbs on movement while also ensuring fair voting in five regions holding state elections throughout the month.

Despite bans on large gatherings in other parts of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared in person at several political rallies Tuesday in West Bengal, one of the jurisdictions voting this month. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party hopes to make inroads in West Bengal — one of the last bastions of opposition rule.

India has administered nearly 90 million vaccine doses so far. But that's still less than 6% of the population of nearly 1.4 billion. Modi got his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine on March 1.

In an interview with local TV, the CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla, said late Tuesday that his company's production of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the injection most used in India, is "very stressed, to put it frankly."

Article continues after sponsor message

"We are prioritizing the needs of India, but we are still short of being able to supply to every Indian," Poonawalla said.

He said he planned to take out bank loans if the Indian government does not respond to his request for about $400 million in order to meet its requirements.

After touting its ability to export millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines, India in recent weeks has diverted some of those shipments for use domestically. Other countries have complained that their vaccine orders from India have been delayed.

The Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed 115,736 new infections and 630 deaths — India's highest death toll since November.

About half of the new cases are in the western state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is the state capital. Hospitals there are running out of beds, oxygen and medicines. Apartment complexes where residents test positive are being sealed off and guarded by police.

Mumbai and the national capital Delhi both remain under night curfews. The Delhi High Court said Wednesday that masks are compulsory – even if a person is driving alone in their own car. Gatherings are banned, and officials have closed Mumbai's beaches and other areas where crowds may gather.

But restaurants, shops — even cinemas — remain open in most of India. Officials have held off declaring a strict nationwide lockdown. Last spring, India's economy shrank nearly 24% under nationwide restrictions, and there were cases of starvation among the poor.

The chief ministers of Maharashtra and New Delhi have instead asked Modi's government to lift age requirements and speed vaccinations to adults of all ages. But the central government has so far refused. Only people 45 or older, and some categories of frontline workers, remain eligible.

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ziqitzahealthcare · 4 years ago

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Ziqitza - Budget 2021:Healthcare Industry welcomes the increased budget allocation

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sector which is the biggest talking point this year is healthcare. The pandemic completely exposed India’s underfunded healthcare system. Critical patients all over the country were struggling to get ICU beds. Some lost their lives as the ambulances catering to the public of the state were less, while some died outside the hospitals waiting to get admitted. The pandemic exposed fundamental problems plaguing the Indian healthcare system, be it infrastructure, manpower, etc. Here’s the healthcare industry welcomed the government’s increased allocation for the healthcare sector and said that the move will provide access to medical care for all in the country, Budget presented by FM NirmalaSitharaman rolls out a 2.46 lakh crore healthcare budget for “rebuilding India that's a 137 % spike from last year's allocation under AatmanirbharSwasth Bharat Yojana. The budget adopts a holistic approach towards healthcare much needed hike in healthcare will make our country health and safe budget has seen a phenomenal increase in outlay for the healthcare sector with a focus on addressing the key issues facing India today.

The government encouraging new developments paradigm with a heightened investment towards healthcare infrastructure.The requisite focus for a stronger public health system, along with appropriate support for sustenance as well as the expansion of private healthcare infrastructure.

In addition to the National Health Mission, with whom Ziqitza Healthcare works in association with to provide quality pre-medical care to the people of states. The government has increased the spends on primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.

Amitabh Jaipuria, MD & CEO, Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd says budget 2021 is a Budget of hope towards realizing India’s growth aspirations, strengthening the healthcare system, Ziqitza is happy to know this year’s budget is pragmatic, positive, and committed to the healthcare sector which needed a deliberate boost post unprecedented virus outbreak last year. It is commendable that the government has put healthcare on the forefront, putting the focus on curative and preventive health and wellbeing. The proposals would make quality healthcare accessible and affordable, besides standardizing healthcare infrastructure across the country.

Ziqitza is currently operating Ambulances, Medical Helplines, Mobile Medical Units, and Corporate Wellness Solutions across Mumbai, Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, Odisha, MP, and Jharkhand. Ziqitza Rajasthan has operated 108 ambulances in Rajasthan free for the public to ensure healthcare is accessible to all.

Here are the budget 2021 highlights to make it easier for you.

A. Part A - Policy Statements

1. Health

2. Infra

3. Inclusive development

4. Human capital

5. Innovation and Research

6. Minimum Govt and max governance

Synopsis

In the backdrop of the numerous challenges that the finance minister faced, the Union Budget presented by her on Feb 01 is path-breaking to quite an extent. The FM continued on the Govt.’s prudent path avoiding populism.

The effort is clearly attempting to spur the economic growth on a faster path by upping spending on schemes/areas which have a multiplier effect. The Budget’s task was to push the long-term growth trajectory up. A virtuous spending cycle may be triggered by these provisions that could lift the rate of growth for the economy and businesses. No material changes to direct or indirect tax rates or provisions are welcome from a taxpayer perspective who seeks stability in the tax regime. Raising taxes to fund expenditure would have invalidated the expansionary effect of the spending. The deficit target of 6.8 per cent for 2021-22 (way higher than most forecasts) and the target reduction of fiscal deficit to below 4.5 per cent only in 2025-26 is perhaps as bold as the expansionary fiscal policy can get. The previous target of 3% fiscal deficit (laid out in FRBM Act) now seems to have been abandoned. However, a significant portion of an increase in spending comes from taking on the food subsidy bill on the Budget instead of financing FCI (Food Corporation of India) via the NSSF (National Small Savings Fund) (impact 0.56% of GDP in FY20).

Healthcare / Pharma to the National Health Mission

17000 rural and 11000 urban health and wellness centers will be set up. and create new institutions, to cater to detection and cure of new and emerging diseases. It will help pharma, healthcare & diagnostic companies.

The Budget outlay for Health and Wellbeing is pegged at Rs 2,23,846 crores as against Rs 94,452 crores with a sharp increase of 137% over the previous year. Expenditure on health and family welfare has been increased from Rs 65,012cr to Rs 71,269cr.

A positive development for pharma and healthcare sector. Key beneficiaries from our coverage. HCG, Apollo Hospitals, Alkem Labs, Sun Pharma, Sanofi India Govt. has provided Rs 35000cr for Covid-19 vaccine in the budget and remain committed to providing further funds if required. Positive for Healthcare and logistics Sector

#Ziqitza Ziqitza Healthcare Ziqitza Healthcare ltd Ziqitza Rajasthan Ziqitza Limited Ziqitza ltd Ziqitza Healthcare limited Ziqitza Health ca

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bbcbreakingnews · 4 years ago

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Weekend lockdown in several states amid rapid surge in Covid cases

NEW DELHI/NAGPUR/KOLKATA: More high-risk areas were brought under lockdown on Saturday for varying periods, including weekends, by states in a bid to check the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in India. Over a dozen states have so far opted for such selective lockdown citing the need to revive economic activities and at the same time reduce the risk of spread of infection, though Bihar and Manipur have imposed a state-wide shutdown from July 16 and July 23 respectively. In Madhya Pradesh, where Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to a hospital, a 10-day lockdown has been imposed in state capital Bhopal after a spike in cases. The state has been observing total shutdown on Sundays. A complete lockdown till Monday morning was imposed in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, which too has been enforcing shutdown every Sunday. Tamil Nadu on Saturday breached the grim milestone of two lakh coronavirus cases with the biggest daily spike of 6,988 fresh infections, pushing the tally to 2,06,737, according to state officials. While Uttar Pradesh observed another weekend lockdown, similar curbs were imposed for the second time this month in Uttarakhand’s four districts – Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts – which have reported 1,348 cases since July 18. All shops were shut and transport suspended in West Bengal as part of the twice-a-week lockdown in the state. Jammu went into a 60-hour lockdown from Friday 6pm, while a six-day complete lockdown has been imposed across the Kashmir Valley except Bandipora since Thursday. In its most recent update, the Union health ministry placed the total number of cases at 13,36,861 and the death toll at 31,358. Nearly 11.4 lakh cases have been reported in June-July alone when lockdown restrictions were eased. In worst-affected Maharashtra, where over 3.5 lakh cases have been recorded, civic authorities of Nagpur city announced a voluntary ‘janta curfew‘ on Saturday and Sunday, when only essential services will remain functional. The step has been taken to bring public awareness about behavioural change towards Covid-19 rules, but if these rules are not followed, then a strict curfew could be imposed in the city, Nagpur municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe warned. Chief minster Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that he was not in favour of complete lifting of the coronavirus-induced curbs in the state only to address the economic concerns. Maharashtra too had imposed strict shutdown for varying periods in areas with high incidence of coronavirus infection including Pune. “I will never say that the lockdown will be lifted completely. But I have started reopening a few things gradually. Once reopened, it shouldn’t be shut again. Hence, I prefer taking steps in phases. You can’t just think about economy or health. There needs to be a balance between the two,” he said in an interview to Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’. From June onwards, the government had started lifting the restrictions in phase-wise manner under its ‘Mission Begin Again’ initiative. A complete lockdown was imposed in Nagaland capital Kohima till July 31, while it will come into effect in Dimapur from Sunday till August 2. The Meghalaya government too has announced a complete lockdown in Shillong agglomeration from July 26 to July 29. In Chhattisgarh, a seven-day lockdown has been enforced from Wednesday in municipal limits of Raipur and Birgaon, besides 20 other urban bodies. Normal life came to a grinding halt in West Bengal on Saturday as shops were shut and all modes of transport went off the roads as part of the state government’s plan to clamp restrictions two days a week. A similar lockdown will take place place next Wednesday. More than 3,800 people were arrested for flouting lockdown guidelines on Thursday when it was first imposed. Flight operations at the Kolkata airport were also suspended during the lockdown. Police patrolled all major traffic intersections in the metropolis to keep a check on people coming out on the streets. Barricades were also put up in various parts of the state to stop people from coming out of their homes, officials said. West Bengal has so far registered 53,973 Covid-19 cases and 1,290 deaths till Friday. Odisha had ordered a complete 14-day lockdown in five districts of Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur and Rourkela districts from July 17. According to the Union health ministry data updated on Saturday morning, Delhi has reported 1,28,389 cases, Karnataka 85,870, Andhra Pradesh 80,858, Uttar Pradesh 60,771, West Bengal 53,973, and Gujarat 53,545 cases. Karnataka has been enforcing a Sunday shutdown this month. A week-long lockdown in Bengaluru had ended on July 22. The number of Covid-19 cases has gone up to 52,466 in Telangana, 34,178 in Rajasthan, 33,926 in Bihar, 29,755 in Haryana, 29,921 in Assam and 26,210 in Madhya Pradesh. Odisha has reported 22,693 infections, Jammu and Kashmir 16,782, Kerala 16,995, and Punjab 12,216. India’s first case of coronavirus was reported on January 30, and on March 25 the country was put under a 21-day complete lockdown, which was then extended periodically.

The post Weekend lockdown in several states amid rapid surge in Covid cases appeared first on BBC BREAKING NEWS.

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#ASIA

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vignaniasacademy · 4 years ago

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27-05-2020 Current affairs & Daily News Analysis

CHARDHAM PARIYOJANA Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways inaugurated the breakthrough event of Chamba Tunnel under Chardham Pariyojana. About: Border Roads Organisation (BRO) achieved this major milestone by digging up a 440 m long Tunnel below the busy Chamba town on Rishikesh-Dharasu road Highway (NH 94). Opening of this tunnel will ease out congestion though the Chamba town and reduce the distance by one kilometre. This Project will be completed by October 2020. Under prestigious Chardham Project costing around Rs 12,000 Crore with approximate length of 889 Km, BRO is constructing 250 Km of National Highways leading to holy shrine Gangotri and Badrinath. Source : DD News ( Geography ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy APOE A new study has found a link between the severity of Covid-19 and a gene linked to dementia. Having a faulty gene linked to dementia doubles the risk of developing severe COVID-19. About: The gene is called APOE, and exists in a different forms, one of which is termed e4e4. The team found that people with the APOE e4e4 genotype were at double the risk of developing severe Covid-19, compared to those with the common e3e3 form of the APOE gene. Important Info : APOE (Apolipoprotein E) is a Protein Coding gene.APOE transports lipids, fat-soluble vitamins, and cholesterol into the lymph system and then into the blood.It is implicated in Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease. Source : Indian Express (Health) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy AROGYA SETU The source code of Aarogya Setu App has now been made open source. Opening of the source code upto the developer community signifies Government of India's commitment to Transparency Principle. About: On 2nd April 2020, India launched Aarogya Setu mobile App for helping augment the efforts of limiting the spread of COVID19, with an objective of enabling Bluetooth based contact tracing, mapping of likely hotspots and dissemination of relevant information about COVID19. The App has over 114 million users as on 26th May, which is more than any other Contact Tracing App in the world. The App is available in 12 languages and on Android, iOS and KaiOS platforms. Source : All India Radio ( Health ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy ‘FAITH’ TRIALS With the number of COVID-19 patients rising in India, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. will conduct ‘FAITH’ trials to test combined efficacy of two antiviral drugs — Favipiravir and Umifenovir — as potential COVID-19 treatment strategy. About: The two antiviral drugs have different mechanisms of action, and their combination may demonstrate improved treatment efficacy by effectively tackling high viral loads in patients during early stages of the disease. The new combination clinical trial will be called FAITH – (FA vipiravir plus Um I fenovir (efficacy and safety) Trial in Indian Hospital setting). As many as 158 hospitalised patients of moderate COVID-19 infection will be enrolled in the combination study and randomised in two groups. Source : The Hindu ( Health ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy REC LIMITED REC Foundation, the CSR arm of REC Limited, has partnered with TajSATS (a joint venture of IHCL and SATS Ltd) to distribute specially-made nutritious meal packets for medical staff in Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. About: REC Limited is a central PSU under Ministry of Power and one of India’s largest power financiers. REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) is a Navratna NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing and Development across India. it was established in 1969. It provides financial assistance across the power-sector value chain. Apart from this, REC is also the nodal agency for Govt. of India flagship schemes in the Power sector like Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Saubhagya, etc. Source : DD News ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECTS IN MADHYA PRADESH Power Finance Corporation (PFC) entered into an agreement with Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd. (NBPCL) to fund projects worth Rs.22,000 crore for 225 MW hydro-electric projects & multipurpose projects in the State of Madhya Pradesh. About: The funds will be deployed by NBPCL for setting up hydroelectric projects of 225 MW and power components of 12 major multipurpose projects in Madhya Pradesh. The MoU will help PFC to actively partner with NBPCL and provide finance for hydro-electric plants totaling 225 MW along with power components of multipurpose projects as part of state government’s endeavor to implement twelve major multipurpose projects. Some of the major multipurpose projects that will be financed under the MoU are Basaniya Multipurpose Project Dindori, Chinki Boras Multipurpose Project Narsinghpur Raisen Hoshangabad, Sakkar Pench Link Narsinghpur Chhindwara, Dudhi Project Chhindwara Hoshangabad, etc. Important Info : Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is the central PSU under Ministry of Power and India's leading NBFC.Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd. (NBPCL) is a wholly-owned company of Govt. of Madhya Pradesh. Source : LiveMint ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy RAMKINKAR BAIJ Ministry of Culture’s National Gallery of Modern Art organised a virtual tour titled “Ramkinkar Baij | Journey through silent transformation and expressions” to commemorate the 115th Birth Anniversary of Ramkinkar Baij. About: Ramkinkar Baij (1906-1980), one of the most seminal artists of modern India, was an iconic sculptor, painter and graphic artist. He was born in Bankura, West Bengal. In 1925, he made his way to Kala Bhavana, the art school at Santiniketan and was under the guidance of Nandalal Bose. He along with Nandalal Bose and Benodebehari Mukherjee played a pivotal role in making Santiniketan one of the most important centres for modern art in pre-Independent India. In 1970, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan. In 1976 he was made a Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi. Source : PIB ( Culture ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy NGC 3895 NASA's Hubble telescope released an image of a spiral galaxy, NGC 3895, that, in colour and shape, resembles a coffee made by a barista. About: The galaxy's existence was known earlier as well and it has been captured by the telescope in the past as well. However, the current image is trending online for its aesthetic beauty. The Hubble Space Telescope released the image under the title "One Large Stellar Latte To Go". The galaxy, located at a distance of over 161 million light-years, is a part of Ursa Major. It was discovered by German-born British astronomer William Herschel on March 18, 1790. The galaxy has a diameter of approximately 45,000 light-years. Source : Times of India ( Science & Technology ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy TIANWEN-1 In July, China will launch its first Mars mission, the ‘Tianwen-1’, which is expected to land on the Red Planet’s surface in the first quarter of 2021. About: Tianwen-1, an all-in-one orbiter, lander and rover will search the Martian surface for water, ice, investigate soil characteristics, and study the atmosphere, among completing other objectives. The Tianwen-1 mission will lift off on a Long March 5 rocket. The success of the mission will make China the third country to achieve a Mars landing after the USSR and the United States. The Chinese mission is expected to take off in late July, around the same time when NASA is launching its own Mars mission– the ambitious ‘Perseverance’ which aims to collect Martian samples and bring them back to Earth in a two-part campaign. Important Info : Previous Mars missions? The USSR in 1971 became the first country to carry out a Mars landing– its ‘Mars 3’ lander being able to transmit data for 20 seconds from the Martian surface before failing.The second country to reach Mars’s surface, the US, holds the record for the most number of Mars landings. Since 1976, it has achieved 8 successful Mars landings, the latest being the ‘InSight’ in 2019 (launched in 2018).India and the European Space Agency have been able to place their spacecraft in Mars’s orbit. India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or ‘Mangalyaan’ was able to do so in September 2014, almost a year after its launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. Source : Indian Express ( Science & Technology ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy KHEER BHAWANI MELA In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Annual Kheer Bhawani Mela on 30th May this year in Tulmulla village of Ganderbal district has been cancelled by the Dharmarth Trust of Jammu and Kashmir because of outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic. About: Ragyna Devi Temple in Tulmulla Ganderbal village, near Srinagar (J&K) is popularly known as "Mata Kheer Bhawani temple" Deity: The temple is dedicated to the Goddess kheer Bhawani. The deity is also called as Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragnya Bhagwati. The term kheerrefers to rice pudding that is offered in the spring located in the temple to Please the Goddess. This is the most important temple for Kashmiri Pandits. Mela Kheer Bhawani: It is an Annual Festival during which the devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani fast and gather here on the day of "Zeshta Ashtami," the eighth day of the full moon in the month of May/ June when, according to belief, the Goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters. Source : All India Radio ( Culture ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Read the full article

#BestIASAcademyinBangalore #bestiascoachingcentreinbangalore #bestiascoachinginbangalore #bestupsccoachinginbangalore #BestIASCoachingInBangalore

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liveindiatimes · 4 years ago

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Curbs during lockdown averted up to 78,000 deaths: Govt - india news

http://www.liveindiatimes.com/curbs-during-lockdown-averted-up-to-78000-deaths-govt-india-news/

Lockdown 1 and 2 managed to avert between 1.4 and 2.9 million coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and 54,000 deaths ,according to government data released by Niti Aayog member Vinod Paul on Friday.

Paul was highlighting results of various epidemic modelling exercises done by experts to measure the gains of the lockdown imposed in the country starting on March 25 and extended three times.

“This data is based on the impact of lockdown and other measures taken between lockdown 1 and 2. Even though various agencies have conducted the analysis but the results more or less are indicative of the same conclusion that lockdown has managed to significantly slow down the virus transmission rate in the country,” said Paul.

“The situation would have been much worse, as the data suggests. We have about 95% confidence level on the data generated out of all this analysis, which is proof enough to say that the country is on the right track. Having said that, this kind of analysis is always prone to improvisations, depending on the kind of data that’s fed.”

At least five different agencies were involved in data analysis, providing a range between 1.4 and 2.9 million cases averted, and between 37,000 and 78,000 deaths averted.

The analysis also shows that much of the outbreak is confined to a limited area. As of May 21, around 80% of the Covid-19 cases were limited to five states, and 90% of the cases were spread largely across 10 states. The states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka.

In the cities, about 70% of the cases are confined to just 10 — Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Thane, Pune, Indore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Aurangabad.

The deaths follow the same pattern, with 95% of Covid-19 deaths being reported from 10 states and 70% from 10 cities.

The 10 worst affected states in terms of deaths are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. And the 10 cities from where maximum deaths are being reported are Mumbai, Ahmadabad, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Indore, Thane, Jaipur, Chennai and Surat.

“What data tells us is currently is that it is an urban disease as mostly cities have been affected so far, and our interventions have to be accordingly planned at the level of cities, municipalities and even at the block level. However it is easier to contain the spread in villages because of low population density,” said Paul.

The government has always maintained that lockdown was meant to slow the disease transmission so that it got enough time to upgrade the health infrastructure in terms of hospitals beds, testing capacity and trained human resources, among other things ,to better manage the outbreak.

Even though India is well-prepared to handle the situation, Paul says now is the time to be extra cautious.

“We were under lockdown so far, but now that we are lifting it gradually, there will be challenges in curtailing the transmission because the virus is in circulation and we have no immunity against it. Also, it is not a matter of days, weeks or months but much longer, so we have to be extra careful and strictly follow the preventive measures such as maintaining physical distancing, following hygiene practices, wearing masks etc. The idea is to make it difficult for the virus to spread,” says Paul.

Experts agree that gains have been made, and what shape the outbreak takes now depends on human behaviour.

“Mathematical modelling is usually a way of telling what could have been the case if certain measures were taken to prevent disease from spreading during an outbreak. Lockdown was a measure to ensure our health system wasn’t burdened and it has achieved its purpose. Now the onus lies on people to consolidate the gains made,” said Dr AC Dhariwal, former director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

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levitar1 · 5 months ago

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#Hospital lift #Hospital lift Kolkat #Hospital lift west bengal #hospital elevator west bengal #Hospital elevator Kolkata

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mmrrealty · 1 year ago

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Urbana 2

Introducing Urbana 2, a luxurious residential haven in Kolkata that defines the pinnacle of opulent living. Nestled in the prestigious EM Bypass area, Urbana 2 surpasses all expectations, offering an esteemed address and a lifestyle of unparalleled grandeur. Immerse yourself in spacious apartments, cutting-edge amenities, and a serene ambiance, as Urbana 2 elevates your living experience to new heights.

Overview: Urbana 2 stands as the latest addition to the renowned Urbana township, a collaborative venture between the government of West Bengal and esteemed developers including Shrachi, Emami, Sureka, MKJ, JB, and Nahata Group. With architectural brilliance by Singapore-based architect Stephen Coates, Urbana 2 showcases seven magnificent towers spanning 40-45 storeys across 65 acres of land, with an impressive 78% dedicated to open spaces. Revel in breathtaking views, verdant landscapes, and a tranquil atmosphere, offering respite from the city's hustle and bustle.

Luxurious Apartments and Independent Homes: Indulge in a range of 3 and 4 BHK apartments at Urbana 2, featuring expansive living spaces ranging from 2,199 to 4,473 square feet. Impeccably designed, these exquisite homes maximize space, natural light, and panoramic vistas. Experience the epitome of elegance with premium finishes and meticulous attention to detail.

Unrivaled Amenities: Urbana 2 presents a plethora of world-class amenities to enrich your lifestyle:

Take a refreshing plunge in the swimming pool.

Delight your children with the vibrant play area.

Conveniently park your vehicles in open and closed car parking facilities.

Stay fit and active with the jogging track and skating rink.

Host grand events at the banquet hall.

Savor delectable meals at the cafeteria.

Enjoy round-the-clock security with 24-hour water supply, CCTV surveillance, and vigilant personnel.

Stay connected with power backup and intercom facilities.

Embrace a healthy lifestyle at the well-equipped gymnasium and indoor games area.

Engage in sports activities at the badminton, basketball, and tennis courts.

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Ensure safety with state-of-the-art fire protection systems.

Experience convenience with lifts available in every tower.

Relish the benefits of a gated community and rainwater harvesting.

Contribute to a sustainable environment with a sewage treatment plant.

Location Advantage: Urbana 2 enjoys a strategic location with excellent connectivity to key landmarks in Kolkata. Here are the distances from important locations:

Ruby Crossing: 0.8 km

Kolkata International School: 1.6 km

DPS: 1.7 km

Science City: 4.2 km

Gariahat: 4.8 km

AMRI Hospital: 5.7 km

Park Circus: 7.8 km

IT Hub (Salt Lake Sector V): 10 km

Airport: 18 km

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vsplusonline · 5 years ago

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Silence of the looms: Social enterprises look for ways to revive the handloom sector post lockdown

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/silence-of-the-looms-social-enterprises-look-for-ways-to-revive-the-handloom-sector-post-lockdown/

Silence of the looms: Social enterprises look for ways to revive the handloom sector post lockdown

In 2001, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Kutch, Dastkar, the nationally-recognised society for crafts, created the Artisan Support Fund to help weavers and craftspeople rebuild their homes and livelihood. Nearly two decades later, Dastkar (http://dastkar.org/) has revived its Artisan Support Fund and has appealed for help. As COVID-19 cases surged in India and lockdown was enforced, work came to a standstill for weaving and craft communities.

In many regions, new orders are likely only after the existing stock in stores and e-commerce sites are cleared, which will happen gradually after restrictions are eased. In several clusters, supply of raw materials such as cotton has taken a beating. Along with weavers, the spinners, dyers, printers and embroiderers are all out of work. Most of them are daily or weekly wage earners.

Enterprises working with artisans have been raising funds and mobilising essential supplies. However, these are intermittent measures. The organisations state that long-term solutions are necessary to revive the handloom sector.

Pre-book orders

Sudha Rani of Abhihaara Social Enterprise in Hyderabad has pending stock worth more than ₹15 lakh. She liaises with weavers in Narayanpet, Pochampally and Gadwal and had commissioned saris for an exhibition in Delhi, a spring-summer event in Hyderabad and summer weddings. “How will I pay weavers and craftspeople? It’s going to take time for sales to pick up. Even when the lockdown is lifted, saris and garments are not going to be on priority shopping lists for many consumers,” she says.

On Instagram (@abhihaara) and on WhatsApp, Abhihaara has requested handloom patrons to pre-book saris that can be shipped once restrictions are lifted. “Sixty women have pre-booked so far. Regular customers are willing to pay the full amount, for the others we charge 50%. We are not accepting international orders because we are unsure how things would go,” says Sudha.

The story is similar in other regions of India. Himachal-based social enterprise Color Caravan (@thecolourcaravan on Instagram) is accepting bookings for artisanal knit products made by rural women. Swati Seth, the founder, hopes to get work orders for the women: “In many households, the husbands who are employed in resorts or ply cabs have no work since tourism has paused in the hills,” she says.

Stepping up the effort

Fashion Design Council of India (fdci.org) has announced a COVID-19 support fund to help small firms.

Anita Dongre announced a medical fund of ₹1.5 crore to support the fashion house’s smaller vendors, self-employed artisans, and partners. The label has also begun manufacturing masks in the rural clusters of Charoti and Dhanaveri in Maharashtra. Around 7,000 masks will be made each week for distribution to NGOs, village residents, individuals, and to hospitals on demand.

Obeetee, the hand-woven carpet label that works with 25,000 weavers and designers in Mirzapur, has been raising funds and distributing essentials for its weavers.

Cotton Rack (cottonrack.com), founded by Vinayak and Rameshwari, works with weavers in West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. When the firm announced discounts of 15% and 30% to sell its existing stock, a few regular customers opted not to use the discount code and pay the full price, to help weavers. Vinayak points out that in cities recording high number of COVID-19 cases, like Jaipur where he is based, a longer lockdown is likely: “Weavers in rural areas might be free to work, but how do I send them the yarn? We need to look at ways to maintain the work flow for weavers and to sustain our small business,” he says.

Need for State intervention

In Madhya Pradesh’s Maheshwar, the textile region known for its gossamer silk-cotton weaves, the artisans spend the scorching summer months producing saris, fabrics and accessories that can be sold to tourists who visit the region in the cooler months, beginning October. “Most of the sales depend on tourism and with that unlikely to get back to normal this year, the situation is bleak,” says Sourodip Ghosh, executive director of The Handloom School set up by Women Weave, the social enterprise founded by Sally Holkar.

Women Weave (womenweave.org) has initiated a crowdsourced contingency fund, aiming to raise ₹14 lakh to help its weaver clusters. Sourodip explains that smaller weavers depend on master weavers for workflow and the masters commission work only on demand, “To try and clear the pending stock, we’ve written to district-level authorities and plan to contact State-level authorities, requesting them to buy stocks from weavers for the State-run Mrignayanee handloom stores.”

E-commerce potential

When the markets reopen, innovative marketing strategies will be the need of the hour, says Nivedita Rai, executive director of Gudi Mudi Khadi project in Maheshwar: “E-commerce giants like Amazon and Ajio are beginning to sell handlooms and we plan to approach them,” she says, asserting that concrete measures need to be taken going forward.

Ravi Kiran, proprietor of Bengaluru-based Metaphor Racha who works extensively with khadi weavers in villages of north Karnataka says what we perceive could be just the tip of the iceberg: “A complete understanding of the situation will happen once the lockdown lifts and we travel to rural clusters.” He says it’s imperative to enable more workflow, with the participation of both government and private entities. He is glad that around 30 regular clients have pre-booked orders on metaphorracha.com, ensuring some work for the artisans.

Women in Charoti, a craft cluster supported by Anita Dongre, making masks | Photo Credit: By arrangement

Rekindle love for handlooms

On the brighter side, the lockdown has made people appreciate things that are local. In a bid to rekindle the love for handlooms, GoCoop launched the #Kindnessinkind campaign a few days ago, inviting customers to post photographs of their favourite artisanal products. So far, they have received 50 testimonials and 60 bookings for orders. Siva Devireddy, the founder, is trying to collaborate with individual donors and corporates to help weavers sustain for the next three months, and says the value chain needs to be rebuilt, to prevent weavers from migrating to other professions: “The markets may respond differently in the post-COVID-19 scenario. We need to find ways to help weavers directly sell their products.”

While craft organisations are trying to help, government bodies are yet to address the concerns of the handloom and craft sectors.

Arup Rakshit from Mahatma Gandhi Gramodyog Seva Sanstha (MGGSS), Kolkata, who works with weavers, spinners and dyers in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, says most Government agencies, Khadi society and weavers cooperatives have stopped their orders. “Once the lockdown is lifted, the Government must intervene and help weavers sell the stock they have at home. Other than providing rations to the BPL ration card holders, no other help has been extended,” he points out.

However, Arup is hopeful that there will be a resurgence in demand for handlooms that contribute towards a sustainable lifestyle.

(With inputs from Pankaja Srinivasan)

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