Coronavirus News Highlights: India logged 36,571 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,23,58,829, while the national recovery rate improved to 97.54 percent, the highest since March 2020, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The active cases have declined to 3,63,605, the lowest in 150 days, and comprise 1.12 percent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, the ministry said. A reduction of 524 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. As many as 18,86,271 tests were conducted on Thursday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 50,26,99,702. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.94 percent. It has been less than three percent for the last 25 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.93 percent. It has been below three percent for the last 56 days, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,15,61,635, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.34 percent, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.
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Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19: Punjab reports 59 new cases
Punjab on Friday reported three more Covid-related deaths, taking the toll to 16,351, while 59 new cases pushed the infection tally to 6,00,180, according to a medical bulletin.
The fatalities were reported from Fazilka, Gurdaspur and Mohali. The toll includes one death which was not reported earlier.
The number of active cases dropped to 538 from 571 on Thursday.
Amritsar reported 15 new cases, followed by Mohali (7), and Faridkot (6) among other places.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Chhattisgarh sees 48 COVID-19 cases, 1 death, 75 recoveries
Chhattisgarh''s COVID-19 tally reached 10,04,043 on Friday after 48 people were detected with the infection, while one death took the toll to 13,552, a health official said.
The recovery count reached 9,89,560 after 13 people were discharged from hospitals and 62 completed home isolation, leaving the state with 931 active cases, he informed.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 4,365 COVID-19 cases, 105 deaths
Maharashtra reported 4,365 new coronavirus cases and 105 deaths on Friday, while 6,384 patients recovered from the viral infection, a health department official said.
The state''s infection tally thus rose to 64,15,935, while the death toll reached 1,35,672.
Nandurbar district in north Maharashtra did not record a single active COVID-19 case for the fifth day in a row.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Mumbai records 322 new COVID-19 cases, six deaths
Mumbai on Friday reported 322 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally of infections in the city to 7,40,612, while six new fatalities pushed the death toll to 15,941, a civic official said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Recovered Covid patients can donate kidneys: Study
People who have recovered from coronavirus can safely donate their kidneys, according to the findings of a multi-centre study based on 31 transplant cases.The transplant surgeries were conducted after the first wave of the pandemic between July and September last year. All donors were those who had mild infection.The study was prompted by the unavailability of literature on kidney transplants in case the donor is a person who has recovered from COVID-19, said Dr Sanjiv Gulati, director, Nephrology, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj.Gulati, who is one of the authors of the study, said there is a huge shortage of kidney donors.He said, "This is because there are smaller families these days and in many cases, diabetes runs in the family. Then there is the added fear of coronavirus. What can we do if people who have recovered from coronavirus are donors?"Gulati said there was an apprehension that in case the person donating the kidney was someone who recovered from COVID-19, a low degree of coronavirus could be transferred to the recipient during the transplant process.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 1.44 lakh Covid vaccines administered in Delhi on Thursday
Over 1.44 lakh people were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the national capital on Thursday, according to the Delhi government's vaccination bulletin.The bulletin issued on Friday showed that 1,06,728 people received their first dose while 38,192 were administered the second dose of Covid vaccine.The city has administered 1,21,16,533 Covid vaccines so far, of which 86,86,698 were first doses and 34,29,835 second doses, it showed.As of Friday morning, the national capital had only two days of vaccine stocks left, the bulletin claimed.Delhi had a balance stock of 4,07,270 coronavirus vaccines, of which 2,02,280 doses were of Covishield and 2,04,990 of Covaxin.The national capital has 915 Covid vaccination centres with a capacity of inoculating 1,77,496 beneficiaries per day.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Apple delays return to office until January 2022 amid Covid surge
Apple has delayed return to office until at least January 2022, as the US witnesses a surge in cases of the delta variant of COVID-19.The iPhone maker said the employees would get a month's notice before they rejoin work in-person, reports The Verge, citing an internal email.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Scientists argue against US decision to roll out Covid booster shots
Scientists have criticised the US decision to roll out Covid booster shots for all Americans stating that the data isn't compelling, the media reports said.Top US health officials including CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky, acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr Janet Woodcock, and White House chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, had this week, announced plans for a third dose of Covid vaccine eight months after a second shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.Experts argue this move is a misuse of resources and not based on data, Daily Mail reported.The approval was not based on scientific evidence but rather on panic and fear, Dr Anna Durbin, an international Health professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland was quoted as saying.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Kerala reports 20,224 new COVID-19 cases, 17,142 recoveries and 99 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 1,82,285
Death toll: 19,345
1,19,385 samples tested for COVID in the last 24 hours.
Test positivity rate is 16.94%
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 1.44 lakh Covid vaccines administered in Delhi on Thursday
Over 1.44 lakh people were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the national capital on Thursday, according to the Delhi government's vaccination bulletin.The bulletin issued on Friday showed that 1,06,728 people received their first dose while 38,192 were administered the second dose of Covid vaccine.The city has administered 1,21,16,533 Covid vaccines so far, of which 86,86,698 were first doses and 34,29,835 second doses, it showed.As of Friday morning, the national capital had only two days of vaccine stocks left, the bulletin claimed.Delhi had a balance stock of 4,07,270 coronavirus vaccines, of which 2,02,280 doses were of Covishield and 2,04,990 of Covaxin.The national capital has 915 Covid vaccination centres with a capacity of inoculating 1,77,496 beneficiaries per day.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Philippines reports record virus infections as lockdown eased
The Philippines reported Friday its highest daily number of coronavirus infections, as authorities eased a lockdown in the capital to allow more businesses to operate and reduce the financial pain of poor families.More than 13 million people in the national capital region went into lockdown on August 6 as the hyper-contagious Delta variant helped drive a resurgence in infections that has strained hospitals.A Covid-19 task force agreed Thursday to allow more businesses to open their doors from Saturday. But a stay-at-home order for non-essential workers would remain in place and restaurant dining banned. (AFP)
Cornavirus LIVE Updates | Haryana providing relief to poor families hit by Covid-19
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said the state has been giving a benefit of Rs 2 lakh to poor families under an insurance scheme, who have lost members during the Covid-19 pandemic.The Chief Minister informed the state assembly about this during the Question Hour on the first day of the monsoon session that commenced here.Adequate arrangements have been made for ensuring uninterrupted oxygen supply during the pandemic, he said."Initially, Haryana got a quota of 150 metric tonnes (MT) oxygen from the Centre, which was later increased to 285 MT, although the state had demanded 350 MT," he said.The Chief Minister said to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply, adequate arrangements were made. No discrimination of any kind was done in the supply of oxygen. During the second wave, the daily oxygen supply and requirement were calculated thoroughly, he said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Public transport, cinema halls to resume services in Meghalaya from Monday
The Meghalaya government has decided to lift restrictions on public transport services and sporting activities from next week, after a gap of almost three-and-a-half months, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Friday.The state has also granted permission for reopening of cinema halls and public parks across the state, Tynsong said.The decision was taken on Thursday during a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation, he stated.The deputy CM, however, clarified that some of these facilities might only be available to those who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine."All sporting activities can resume from Monday. Cinema halls can restart operations with one-third occupancy.
Jackpot parlours and public parks have also been allowed to reopen.“These activities, nonetheless, will be strictly subjected to the standard operating procedure (SOP), to be issued by the government,” Tynsong told PTI.Private vehicles, too, have been granted permission to ply with one-third occupancy, he said.A notification in this regard will soon be issued by respective deputy commissioners.As of Thursday, Meghalaya, which has an estimated population of 35 lakh, has inoculated over 12 lakh people, with over 2.7 lakh having taken both the doses.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Gujarat govt suspends COVID-19 vaccination on August 22 for Raksha Bandhan
The Gujarat government on Friday announced that the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive will be suspended on August 22, on account of Raksha Bandhan festival.In a statement, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who handles health portfolio, said the decision to take a day's break on Sunday (August 22) was taken so that women health workers involved in the inoculation drive can celebrate Raksha Bandhan with their families.Till Thursday, over 4.19 crore persons in Gujarat have been given COVID-19 vaccines by the government.Gujarat on Thursday recorded 19 fresh cases of coronavirus, which took its tally of infections to 8,25,255, of which 10,078 people have died of the infection so far.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Sri Lanka announces lockdown as coronavirus cases surge; president to address nation
Sri Lanka announced a 10-day lockdown starting on Friday night in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as surging infections and deaths overwhelm the island's health system. The Indian Ocean nation recorded its highest single-day death toll of 187 and 3,793 cases on Wednesday. "Nationwide Lockdown in effect from 10pm today (20/08) to Monday (30/08). All essential services will function as normal," Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said on Twitter. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met with members of the presidential task force on coronavirus and was expected to address the nation on Friday evening. Medical professionals, religious leaders, politicians and businessmen have called for an immediate nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of infections. Daily infections have more than doubled in a month to an average of 3,897, according to the Reuters Global COVID tracker. Hospitals in the country of 32 million people are overflowing with COVID-19 patients as the highly transmissible Delta variant surges through the population. "If they listen to us it will be good for our leaders and for the country," said lawmaker Tissa Witarana, a supporter of a strict national lockdown, before the health minister's announcement. Many restrictions are already in place, with schools, gyms, and swimming pools closed and weddings and musical shows banned. Authorities also imposed a night curfew from Monday, restricting movement from 10 pm until 4 am every day.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Odisha logs 986 new COVID-19 cases, 69 fresh fatalities
Odisha on Friday registered 986 new COVID-19 cases, including 128 children and adolescents, pushing the caseload to 9,99,173, a health department official said.With 69 fresh fatalities, the toll rose to 7,223, the official said.Of the 986 new cases, 574 were reported from quarantine centres, and the rest detected during contact tracing.Khurda district, of which the state capital Bhubaneswar is a part, reported the maximum number of new cases at 373, followed by Cuttack at 139.Khurda and Cuttack together make for 52 per cent of the newly detected cases.Three districts, Boudh, Jharsuguda and Nuapada, did not report any new case.According to the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) department, the fresh fatalities were reported from 12 districts of the state.Jagatsinghpur recorded 12 deaths, followed by Cuttack at 11.Besides, 53 other COVID-19 patients in the state have died due to comorbidities in the past.Odisha currently has 9,578 active cases, while 9,82,319 patients, including 1,003 on Thursday, have recovered from the highly infectious disease.The positivity rate in the state stands at 5.76 per cent.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Israel's PM Naftali Bennett receives Covid booster shot as infections surge
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett received a coronavirus vaccine booster shot on Friday, as the country began administering them to people aged 40 and over amid a spike in infections.At a public hospital in Kfar Saba, a central city near Bennett's home, the 49-year-old Israeli premier kept his eyes on the nurse administering the shot to his left shoulder, with his office saying he was the first head of government in the world to receive a booster."We're at the height of the battle now, together we can win; it's within arm's reach, but we're not there yet," Bennett said shortly before receiving the shot."I'm asking of you -- use this unique privilege you have as Israelis, and go get vaccinated."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 57 new cases, 46 recoveries and zero deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases 459
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | AstraZeneca's antibody therapy prevents COVID-19 in study
AstraZeneca said on Friday its antibody therapy met the main goal of preventing COVID-19 disease in a late-stage study, putting the British drugmaker on track to potentially offer an alternative to vaccines for people with weakened immune systems.The company said the cocktail of two types of antibodies, initially discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, reduced by 77percent the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19, the potentially deadly disease caused by the coronavirus.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | NCP slams BJP for holding 'Jan Ashirwad' yatras amid threat of COVID-19 third wave
The NCP, which is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, on Friday hit out at the BJP, saying that the leaders of that party were taking out 'Jan Ashirwad' yatras across the country with elections in mind, although there was a threat of the third wave of coronavirus pandemic.Talking to reporters, NCP's chief spokesperson and state minister Nawab Malik said the BJP leaders should realise that people's lives were more important than elections.Newly-inducted Union ministers Narayan Rane, Bharti Pawar, Kapil Patil and Bhagwat Karad have embarked on 'Jan Ashirwad' yatras in different parts of Maharashtra to reach out to people and thank them for the BJP's win in elections in the recent past.Talking about it, Malik said although the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the World Health Organization (WHO) and several experts have appealed that crowding should be avoided to prevent the possible third wave, the BJP was doing exactly the opposite."Due to the BJP's programme of the yatras, there is a threat of the third wave. If COVID-19 rules are violated, cases will be files against the organisers," he said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Uttar Pradesh lifts Sunday curfew as COVID-19 cases drop, markets to remain open normally
The Uttar Pradesh government has lifted the curfew imposed on Sundays in view of the dwindling COVID-19 cases in the state, reports said on August 20.The decision comes a week after the weekend curfew was relaxed to lift the restrictions imposed on Saturdays.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Expert panel recommends Zydus Cadila's COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D for EUA: Report
The subject expert committee of the Central Drugs Standard Organisation (CDSCO) has recommended that Zydus Cadila's COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D be granted emergency use authorisation (EUA), sources told CNBC-TV18 on August 20.The three-dose vaccine has shown a 66.6 percent efficacy against positive cases in an interim analysis, the Ahemadabad-based pharma firm had submitted in its application for EUA.
Coronovirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde:
At a time when there is a threat of a possible third wave of COVID, everyone must follow protocols to prevent the spread of the disease. If Shiv Sena workers or MVA workers hold gatherings, then action is taken against them also.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Puducherry logs 97 new COVID-19 cases, overall tally rises to 1,22,773
The union territory of Puducherry added 97 fresh coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 1,22,773, a senior Health department official said on Friday.The new cases were identified at the end of the examination of 5,024 samples and the cases were spread over Puducherry (59), Karaikal (17), Mahe (17) and Yanam (four).Director of Health and Family Welfare Services G Sriramulu said no fresh fatality was reported from any of the four regions - Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam - during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM on Friday and the death toll remained at 1,806.The number of active cases stood at 963 with 179 patients in hospitals and remaining 784 in home isolation.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Record delta wave hits kids, raises fear as US schools open
The day before he was supposed to start fourth grade, Francisco Rosales was admitted to a Dallas hospital with COVID-19, struggling to breathe, with dangerously low oxygen levels and an uncertain outcome.It wasn’t supposed to be like this, thought his frightened mother, Yessica Gonzalez. Francisco was normally healthy and rambunctious. At 9, he was too young to get vaccinated, but most of the family had their shots. She had heard kids rarely got sick from the coronavirus.But with the highly contagious delta variant spreading across the U.S., children are filling hospital intensive care beds instead of classrooms in record numbers, more even than at the height of the pandemic. Many are too young to get the vaccine, which is available only to those 12 and over.The surging virus is spreading anxiety and causing turmoil and infighting among parents, administrators and politicians around the U.S., especially in states like Florida and Texas, where Republican governors have barred schools from making youngsters wear masks.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Johnson & Johnson applies for study of jab on adolescents in India
Weeks, after it got Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine in India, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), has now submitted an application to study its vaccine on adolescents in the country.The US pharmaceutical company hassubmitted an applicationto the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct a study of its COVID-19 vaccine in India in adolescents aged 12-17 years, ANI reported on August 20.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 522 people, including 106 children test positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram
At least 522 people, including 106 children, have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Mizoram, pushing the northeastern state's tally to 50,959, a health department official said on Friday.The state also reported two more fatalities in the last 24 hours, which took the death toll to 190, he said.Twenty-nine new cases were detected through RT-PCR test, 471 were detected through Rapid Antigen Test, 21 through TrueNat test and 1 case was detected through Fluorescent Immunoassay (FIA), he said.Of the 522 fresh cases, Aizawl district reported the highest at 281, followed by Kolasib at 93 and Lawngtlai at 46, he said.The single-day positivity rate was 6.79 per cent as the fresh cases were detected from 7,677 samples, the official said.Four patients have travel history while the rest 518 were found to have locally contracted the virus, he said, adding that 313 patients have developedsymptoms of COVID-19.Mizoram currently has 7,624 active COVID-19 cases, while 43,145 people have recovered from the infection, including 1,126 people on Thursday.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 54 lakh jabs administered on August 20; total coverage crosses 57 crore
More than 54 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in India on August 19, the Union Health Ministry's latest report suggested. With that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 57 crore.On the 216th day of the vaccination drive on August 19, 54,71,282 beneficiaries received the jab, pushing India's total coverage to 57,22,81,488.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Arunachal Pradesh reports 120 new COVID-19 cases, 1 fresh fatality
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 51,919 as 120 more people tested positive for the virus, while one fresh fatality pushed the death toll to 255, a senior health department official said here on Friday. The Capital Complex Region recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 28, followed by Lower Subansiri (15), Upper Siang (13) East Siang (12), Leparada (9), Papumpare (7), five each from Lohit and West Siang, four from Tawang, three each from East Kameng, Lower Dibang Valley, Upper Subansiri and West Kameng, two each from Kamle and Dibang Valley and one each from Changlang, Kra Daadi, Lower Siang, Pakke Kessang, Namsai and Siang district respectively.Of the fresh cases, 108 were detected through rapid antigen test, 7 through RT-PCR and 5 through TrueNAT method, the official said, adding that 69 people have developed symptoms of COVID-19.Arunachal Pradesh currently has 1,564 active COVID-19 cases, as 50,100 people have recovered from the disease, including 240 patients on Thursday, Jampa said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Sydney lockdown extended, masks required outside
A lockdown in Australia’s largest city was extended through September and tougher measures to curb the coronavirus’s delta variant were imposed Friday, including a curfew and a mask mandate outdoors.New South Wales state, which includes Sydney, reported 642 locally acquired infections in the latest 24-hour period, the fourth consecutive day of tallies exceeding 600.Sydney has been locked down since late June after the more contagious delta variant was detected in a limousine driver who became infected while transporting a U.S. cargo aircrew from Sydney Airport.Since then, 65 people have died from COVID-19 in New South Wales, included four overnight.The Sydney lockdown was to end on August28, but the state government announced it will continue until September30.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Mansukh Mandaviya lauds Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah for encouraging people to get vaccinated
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on August 20 lauded SAB Comedy sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah for encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and called for making the vaccination campaign a huge success.He also retweeted a video clip posted by the show.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | New Zealand extends Delta outbreak lockdown
New Zealand extended a national Covid-19 lockdown Friday as case numbers continued to rise and a Delta variant outbreak spread from Auckland to the capital Wellington.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the initial three-day lockdown, which would have expired overnight Friday, would be extended by another four days.She said New Zealand was still trying to assess the scale of the outbreak, which emerged in Auckland this week, ending the country's run of six months without community transmission."We just don't quite know the full scale of this Delta outbreak. All in all, this tells us we need to continue to be cautious," she said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 3 new COVID-19 cases push Andamans tally to 7,553
Three new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally in the union territory to 7,553, a health official said on Friday. The three new cases were detected during testing at the airport. All passengers arriving by flight have to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test before they are allowed entry into the islands.
The archipelago now has five active COVID-19 cases and all five patients are in the South Andaman district. The other two districts - North and Middle Andaman and Nicobar - are COVID-19 free, the official said. A total of 7,419 people have recovered from COVID-19 so far, he said. The COVID-19 death toll in the union territory remained at 129 as no fresh fatality due to the disease was reported in the last 24 hours.
So far 4,67,535 samples have been tested for COVID-19 and the cumulative test positivity rate is 1.62 per cent. A total of 3,30,925 beneficiaries have been inoculated in the union territory so far, of which 2,31,047 people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 99,878 have received both doses of the vaccine, he said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 3.86 crore people didn't get 2nd dose of COVID vaccines within stipulated time: Govt
Over 3.86 crore people did not get their second dose of anti-Covid vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin -- within the stipulated period of time, the government has said in response to an RTI query. According to information on the CoWIN portal, as of Thursday afternoon 44,22,85,854 people have received their first dose, while 12,59,07,443 have also taken their second.
Activist Raman Sharma had filed a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, seeking to know from the government the number of people who had received the first dose of vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin – but did not take the second within the stipulated time period. In response to the query, the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Cell of the Union Health Ministry said it is recommended the second dose of Covishield be taken within 84-112 days after the first, while in case of Covaxin the gap should between 28-42 days.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Israel, once the model for beating COVID-19, faces new surge of infections
Last spring, Israel’s remarkably swift vaccination campaign was seen as a global model. Coronavirus infections plummeted, an electronic pass allowed the vaccinated to attend indoor concerts and sporting events, and distancing rules and mask mandates were eventually scrapped. Israel offered the world a hopeful glimpse of the way out of the pandemic. No longer.
A fourth wave of infections is rapidly approaching the levels of Israel’s worst days of the pandemic last winter. The daily rate of confirmed new virus cases has more than doubled in the past two weeks, making Israel a rising hot spot on the international charts. Restrictions on gatherings and commercial and entertainment venues were reinstated this week, and the government is considering a new lockdown.
Some experts fear that Israel’s high rate of infections among early vaccine recipients may indicate a waning of the vaccine’s protections over time, a finding that contributed to a U.S. decision Wednesday to begin offering booster shots to Americans widely starting next month. The vaccine may be less effective at preventing infection with the highly contagious delta variant, now the primary version of the virus in Israel. And the first cohort to be vaccinated was an older group whose immune systems may have been weaker to begin with.
The vast majority of Israel’s older population had received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by the end of February, and by now about 78% of the population age 12 and older are fully vaccinated. Seeing infection levels dropping in the spring and determined to reboot the economy, Israel retired its electronic pass system, eased travel bans and lifted all other restrictions. The last to go was the indoor mask mandate June 15.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Taj Mahal to reopen for night viewing from August 22
After remaining closed for over a year for night viewing, the Taj Mahal will open from August 21 for visitors who want to explore the marble monument under moonlight, officials said on Friday. Night viewing of the monument had closed on March 17, 2020 during the first lockdown due to COVID-19. ASI Superintending Archaeologist (Agra Circle) Vasant Kumar Swarnkar told PTI that night viewing will be allowed on August 21, 23 and 24 as the monument is closed every week on Friday and the lockdown is in effect on Sunday.
He said there are three time slots for visitors. From 8:30-9 pm, 9-9:30 pm and from 9:30-10 pm. "In every slot, 50 tourists would be allowed as per guidelines of the Supreme Court," he added. "The tickets can be booked a day in advance from ASI office's counter on 22 Mall Road in Agra," Kumar said. Rajeev Saxena, vice-president of the Tourism Guild of Agra, said it was a good step, but it would not attract weekend travellers until the restriction of lockdown on Sunday and curfew after 10 pm was not lifted.
"Tourists want to enjoy nightlife of the city, they don't want to be packed in their hotels after 10 pm," he said. A government approved tour guide, Monika Sharma, appreciated the move and said it was a ray of hope for the revival of Agra's tourism sector.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19 vaccines for children will be launched 'very soon': Mansukh Mandaviya
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said results of an ongoing research for development of COVID-19 vaccines for children may arrive next month and the antidote may be launched "very soon". He said the Centre is committed to vaccinate every citizen against coronavirus. "Our aim is to vaccinate every citizen. The Indian government has already given permission to Zydus Cadila and Bharat Biotech to conduct research for developing a COVID-19 vaccine for children.
"We are expecting that results of their research will arrive next month. I am confident that vaccines for children would become a reality very soon," Mandaviya told reporters in Rajkot. Recently, AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria had said that data of phase two and three trials of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on 2 to 18 years age group is expected by September.
The Centre had recently informed the Supreme Court that the vaccine developed by Zydus Cadila will be available soon for children who are 12 and above, subject to statutory permissions. It is claimed Zydus Cadila's coronavirus vaccine ZyCoV-D can be given to both adults and children.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID 19: Telangana govt to make Hyderabad 100% vaccinated city in 15 days
The Telangana government is working towards making Hyderabad a "100 per cent COVID-19 vaccinated city" in the next 15 days. State Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, who addressed a workshop on Thursday, said the officials of health department and Greater Hyderabad Muncipal Corporation (GHMC), besides field staff should work in close coordination to make all the residential colonies in the city 100 per cent vaccinated, an official release said.
He instructed the health and municipal staff to survey every household and "mop up" eligible people over the age of 18 to be vaccinated for complete coverage. The exercise should be carried out in a mission mode, he said. Noting that the mobile vaccination programme in the GHMC has evoked good response, he said teams should be formed in residential colonies with manpower and material to inoculate those who have not yet received the jab. State health officials have earlier said almost 100 per cent vaccination coverage with single dose has been achieved in Hyderabad.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Japan imposes 'emergency' measures against virus
Much of Japan kicked in its government “state of emergency” to curb COVID-19 infections Friday, as well as a less stringent “quasi-emergency,” although worries remained about their effectiveness. Those requiring hospitalization grew to more than 168,000 people, and complaints have surfaced about hospitals turning patients away.
The emergency, which lasts through Sept. 12, requests restaurants and bars to close at 8 p.m. and not serve alcohol, and shopping malls to limit crowd size. New daily COVID-19 cases totaled 25,146 people nationwide, averaging 20,307 a day this week, up from 14,729 last week, the Health Ministry said. The government decided earlier this week to expand the emergency to 13 areas, up from six, including Tokyo and Okinawa. The quasi-emergency now covers 16 prefectures or areas, so about two-thirds of Japan is under some restrictive measure. About 40% of adults are now fully vaccinated. About 15,500 people have died from COVID-19.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India records 36,571 new COVID-19 cases, 540 deaths
India logged 36,571 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,23,58,829, while the national recovery rate improved to 97.54 percent, the highest since March 2020, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 4,33,589 with 540 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The active cases have declined to 3,63,605, the lowest in 150 days, and comprise 1.12 percent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, the ministry said. A reduction of 524 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. As many as 18,86,271 tests were conducted on Thursday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 50,26,99,702.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.94 percent. It has been less than three percent for the last 25 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.93 percent. It has been below three percent for the last 56 days, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,15,61,635, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.34 percent, the data stated.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | New COVID-19 infections on the march in South Korea
The 2,052 new cases reported on Friday marked the 45th consecutive day of over 1,000 and brought the country's caseload to 232,859, including 2,197 deaths. The viral spread, driven by increased travel and the highly contagious delta variant, is a worrisome development in a country where a slow vaccine rollout has left more than half of the population still waiting for a first shot.
More than 1,300 of the new cases came from capital Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan region, where officials on Friday decided to enforce the strongest Level 4 social distancing rules for at least another two weeks. The rules prohibit private social gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m. and force nightclubs and churches to close.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Thane district adds 224 COVID-19 cases; death toll rises by six
With the addition of 224 coronavirus positive cases in a single day, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 5,48,993, an official said on Friday. These cases were reported on Thursday, he said. As the virus claimed the lives of six persons, the death toll in the district rose to 11,219. Thane's COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.04 per cent at present, he added. In neighboring Palghar district, the caseload has grown to 1,34,132, while the death toll stood at 3,274, another official said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19 still hanging over people's heads like sword: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday warned that coronavirus is still hanging over people's heads like a sword of Damocles and the threat is far from over. The chief minister was speaking at the virtual function to inaugurate the district headquarters building complex in Palghar, and civic and government-run health facilities in Virar and Vasai.
"Coronavirus is still hanging over our heads like a sword of Damocles and the threat is far from over. It is good that oxygen plants are being installed while setting up COVID-19 hospitals to prevent casualties," Thackeray said. Talking about the facilities made available in Palghar, the chief minister said the region was different from other districts of the state, as it had both forest land and a sea coast, with a rich tribal culture and historic locations.
As it is adjacent to Mumbai, Palghar has been neglected for long and it will not be in the future, he said. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, ministers Eknath Shinde, Dada Buse, MPs, MLAs and senior officials were present for the virtual inauguration of the administrative complex, developed by CIDCO, comprising the collector 's office, Zilla Parishad office and DSP office.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19 booster shots make ‘mockery’ of equity: WHO
Rich countries’ decisions to roll out COVID-19 booster shots while so many people across Africa remain unvaccinated “threaten the promise of a brighter tomorrow” for the continent, the Africa director for the World Health Organization said Thursday, warning that “as some richer countries hoard vaccines, they make a mockery of vaccine equity.”
Matshidiso Moeti and other African health officials, including the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had warned against booster shots in recent weeks as less than 2% of the population on the continent of 1.3 billion people is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Moeti noted that the latest resurgence in cases across Africa is leveling off and more vaccine doses are finally arriving on the continent, but “Africa is encountering headwinds” as rich countries like the United States decide to roll out booster shots.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | US President Joe Biden and wife Jill to get COVID-19 booster shot
President Joe Biden said he and his wife Jill will both be getting a Covid vaccine booster shot, with the extra dose becoming available to all US adults from next month. "We're gonna get the booster shots," he told ABC News in an interview that aired Thursday. Noting that he and the first lady had received their original vaccine back around the start of this year, Biden said "it's past time." With fears that the coronavirus vaccines may be wearing off and even more infectious strains like the Delta virus emerging, Biden on Wednesday announced that all American adults will be able to get a booster shot eight months after their last vaccination. The boosters will become available in the week of September 20.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Japan reports daily record for new virus cases
Japan has reported a record for daily coronavirus cases at more than 25,000, which is likely an undercount in a nation where coronavirus testing hasn’t been widespread. The Health Ministry on Thursday gave the total as 25,141, of which 1,223 cases were still being confirmed. Japanese media gave different tallies, but all surpassing 25,000. Much of Japan, including Tokyo, is under a “state of emergency” that asks restaurants to close at night and people to stay home. Worries are growing about overcrowded hospitals. Japan has had more than 15,500 COVID-19-related deaths in the pandemic.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 25 new COVID1-9 cases, 2 deaths
Delhi reported 25 new COVID-19 cases, 2 recoveries, and 2 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total cases 14,37,217
Total recoveries 14,11,690
Death toll 25,079
Active cases 448
Positivity Rate 0.04 %
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Sikkim reports 94 new COVID cases, one more fatality
At least 94 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Sikkim in the last 24 hours, taking the tally in the state to 29,075, a health department bulletin said on Thursday. The death toll rose to 364 as one more fatality due to the infection was reported during the period, it said. Of the fresh cases, 37 were reported from East Sikkim, 31 from West Sikkim, 21 from South Sikkim, and five from North Sikkim. The Himalayan state now has 1,806 active cases, while 26,626 people have recovered from the disease.
