Coronavirus News Highlights: Today is the 286th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded more than 1,03,40,469 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,49,649 deaths. A total of 99,46,867 patients have recovered or been discharged, as per the latest data from the Union Health Ministry. India's recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 96.19 percent. However, there are 2,43,953 active cases in the country. Globally, more than 8.5 crore people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 18.42 lakh have died so far. Many countries have granted emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines and have started the process of vaccinating healthcare workers and high-risk groups. India's regulator has granted restricted emergency use approval for two vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | After ITC Grand Chola, Leela Palace Hotel in Chennai emerges as COVID-19 hotspot
After ITC Grand Chola, another luxury hotel property in Chennai has emerged as a coronavirus hotspot. Twenty employees of Leela Palace Hotel in Chennai have tested COVID-19 positive between December 31 and January 2. Most of those who tested COVID-19 positive are reportedly asymptomatic patients.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | With 384 new COVID-19 cases, Delhi reports lowest single-day spike since May 11
Delhi reported 384 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking its total COVID-19 case tally to 6,27,256.
This is the lowest daily spike in coronavirus cases Delhi has reported since May 11. The last time Delhi reported less than 400 fresh cases in 24 hours was on May 11, when 310 new COVID-19 cases were recorded.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Mumbai sees 3 COVID-19 deaths for e days in a row
Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai reported only three coronavirus-related deaths for the second day in a row on January 4. The last time Mumbai saw a COVID-19 death toll this low was in March.
With 516 new COVID-19 cases, Mumbai’s total coronavirus caseload rose to 2,94,986. The total COVID-19 death toll in Mumbai is 11,138 as of January 4.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19 vaccine likely to reach Odisha by January 30
Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das said on January 4 that the coronavirus vaccine will likely reach the state by January 30.
Das said: “The Odisha government is in touch with the Union government. I am hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccine will reach the state by January 30.”
As per protocols, COVID-19 warriors will get the first shot of the vaccine in the first phase of the vaccination drive.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Kerala reports 6 cases of UK mutant virus for the first time
Kerala for the first time reported six cases of infection of the mutant coronavirus variant that was first detected in the United Kingdom. Two of these cases were from Kozhikode, two from Alappuzha, and one from Kottayam and Kannur each. Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said on January 4 that all the six COVID-19 patients have been kept in isolation.
Coronavirus in Jharkhand LIVE Updates
|Jharkhand reported 160 new COVID-19 cases & 232 recoveries & 1 death today.The total number of cases now stands at 1,15,689 including 1,13,125 recoveries, 1036 deaths, and 1528 active cases: State Health Department (ANI)
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates
|Karnataka reported 600 new COVID-19 cases, 1283 discharges, and 3 deaths today. The total cases are at 9,22,538
with total discharges 9,00,202, death toll 12,110 and active cases 10,207. (With inputs from ANI)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 2,765 COVID-19 cases, total tally now 19,47,011
The Maharashtra Health Department said on January 4 that the state has recorded 2,765 fresh COVID-19 cases. The total coronavirus tally of Maharashtra now is 19,47,011. With 29 COVID-19 deaths reported on January 4, the total coronavirus death toll of the state now is 49,695.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 8,830 healthcare workers registered for first phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Chandigarh
Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore said on January 4: “A total of 8,830 healthcare workers including private healthcare providers have been registered in Chandigarh for the administration of vaccination in the first phase.”
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | Second dose of SII's Covishield should be given within 4 to 6 weeks: DCGI
The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI), while granting permission to the Serum Institute of India to “manufacture for sale or distribution” of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s ‘Covishield’, said the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should be administered between four to six weeks after the first dose.
It said: “The second dose should be administered between 4 to 6 weeks after the first dose. However, there is data available for administration of the second dose up to 12 weeks after the first dose from the overseas studies.”
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | All team India players test negative for COVID-19 ahead of match with Australia
The Board of Control for Cricket in India said on January 4 that the “playing members of the Indian Cricket Team and support staff underwent an RT-PCR Test for Covid-19 on January 3, 2021. All tests have returned negative results.” The statement comes as five Indian players are under the scrutiny of authorities in Australia for alleged breach of COVID-19 protocols in the country. The third test match between India and Australia is slated to start on January 7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Centre to procure 6.6 crore doses of SII's Covishield at Rs 200 per jab
The Centre has worked out the terms of the coronavirus vaccine purchase agreement with Serum Institute of India, which is manufacturing Oxford University-AstraZeneca’s vaccine Covishield, sources told CNBC-TV18 on January 4.The Centre will be procuring 6.6 crore doses of the coronavirus vaccine from SII for 30 million frontline and healthcare workers at Rs 200 per dose. The government would be signing a Rs 1,300 crore purchase agreement with SII for the same soon.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Germany set to extend lockdown until January 31
The German government and the 16 federal states have agreed to extend the lockdown until Jan. 31 to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Germany was more successful than many European countries in keeping the coronavirus under control in the first wave in the spring but that changed with the second wave. -- Reuters
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to cost around Rs 200-300, says SII
The Coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford will cost $3-4 per shot (Rs 219-292) to the government and will be priced at double that rate in private markets, said Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | DGCI allows Bharat Biotech to conduct Covaxin trails on children aged above 12 years
Bharat Biotech’s coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has got the nod of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct trials on children above 12 years of age. Meanwhile, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Covishield has been approved for those aged 18 and above.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India now has 38 confirmed cases of UK COVID-19 strain infection
A total of 38 samples collected in India have been found to be positive with the new COVID-19 strain that was first detected in the United Kingdom.
With the addition of 11 new cases, there are now 10 patients in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, three in CCMB, Hyderabad, five in NIV, Pune, 11 in IGIB, Delhi, eight in NCDC, New Delhi, and one in NCBG, Kolkata.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | Gujarat fully equipped for COVID-19 vaccination: CM
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today said the state is fully equipped for theCOVID-19 vaccination drive and will begin the process as soon as the central government announces the plan. Preparations related to cold chain infrastructure, survey and training of vaccinators have been completed, Rupani said addressing an event at Ahwa in Dang district. (PTI)
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates |
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that he will take the COVID-19 vaccine shot after priority groups get vaccinated, reported news agency PTI. Addressing commissioners, district collectors andsuperintendents of police in the state through video-conferencing, Chouhan said all districts of Madhya Pradesh areready for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | UK begins Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine rollout with dialysis patient
The UK has begun rolling out the Oxford University vaccine developed by AstraZeneca as protection against COVID-19, with an 82-year-old Oxford-born dialysis patient becoming the first to receive the new jab. Brian Pinker is among the first to be vaccinated by the Oxford University Hospital's (OUH) chief nurse, hailed as a major milestone in the phased vaccination programme being undertaken by the National Health Service (NHS) as the Oxford jab became the second vaccine approved for rollout after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. A retired maintenance manager who has been having dialysis for kidney disease at the hospital for a number of years, Pinker said he was pleased to be getting protection against the virus, giving him peace of mind as he continues to receive treatment. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates
|India has enough stockpile of COVID-19 vaccine for inoculation of priority groups in the first phase: V.K. Paul, member of Niti Aayog (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates
|Mobilisation of COVID-19 vaccine beneficiaries andconducting sessions ensuring appropriate precautions will be the biggest challenge says VK Paul of Niti Aayog. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates
| Schools reopen for class 9 and 10 in Nagpur city after remaining shut for over nine months."We are trying our best to follow all the SOPs given by the administration," says Principal of a school. (ANI)
Coronavirus in Thailand LIVE Updates | Thailand to receive first 200,000 Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines in February
Thailand will receive its first COVID-19 vaccines in February from China's Sinovac Biotech and will have the capacity to produce 200 million doses a year locally of the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to senior officials.Thailand, which is aiming to inoculate at least half of its 70 million population, should take delivery of 2,00,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine by February, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said today.It has ordered two million doses from Sinovac in total. (Reuters)
Coronavirus Vaccine in India LIVE Updates |
With the DCGI granting a restricted emergency use authorisation to two COVID-19 vaccines – Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin – the focus has shifted to the mass vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus infection. The Centre is hoping to vaccinate 25-30 crore people by July, with priority being given to healthcare and frontline workers. This is likely to be followed by senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities. Thus, vaccination of the remaining general population is still some time away. However, when the time comes, citizens will be able to self-register on the purpose-built Co-WIN application.
Here is how Co-WIN app will let you register for COVID-19 vaccination
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | Hyderabad, Dubai Airports join hands for COVID-19 vaccine's seamless movement
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited and GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo have signed a MoUwith Dubai Airports for building an exclusive Vaccine AirFreight Corridor Product called 'HYDXB-VAXCOR (Hyderabad toDubai global Vaccine Corridor), the infra major said today.The MoU was signed in the backdrop of the city becoming a hub for COVID-19 vaccine and other antidotes withseveral vaccine manufacturers having their bases here, a press release from the infra major said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | World's biggest COVID-19 vaccination programme set to begin in India, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the world's biggest inoculation drive against coronavirus is set to begin in the country, a day after the drugs regulator approved two vaccines for restricted emergency use. Lauding the scientists and technicians for the 'Made in India' vaccines, he said the country is proud of them. "World's biggest COVID-19 vaccination programme set to begin in India. For this, the country is proud of the contributions of its scientists and technicians," Modi said.
Addressing scientists at the National Metrology Conclave, Modi said it must be ensured that 'Made in India' products not only have global demand but also global acceptance. (PTI)
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates |
The US government is considering giving some people half the dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in order to speed vaccinations, a federal official has said. Moncef Slaoui, head of Operation Warp Speed, the federal vaccine program, said on CBS’ "Face the Nation" that officials were in talks with Moderna and the Food and Drug Administration about the idea. Moderna’s vaccine requires two injections.
Read more |US may cut some Moderna vaccine doses in half to speed rollout: Federal official
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
The number of people who have recuperated from COVID-19 surged to 99,46,867 pushing the national recovery rate to 96.19 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 percent.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | 379 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, 5 more deaths
Thane has recorded 379 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection tally in the Maharashtra district to 2,44,250, reported news agency PTI citing an official. Apart from these new cases reported yesterday, fivepeople also succumbed to COVID-19, taking the toll in the district to 5,979, he said.The COVID-19 mortality rate in the district stands at 2.45 percent, the official said.Till now, 2,34,398 patients have recovered from the viral infection, taking the recovery rate in the district to95.97 percent, he said. As of now, there are 3,873 active COVID-19 cases in the district, he added.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 1,03,40,469, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. This number includes cases involving foreign nationals, patients who have recovered and the death toll.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
As many as 99,46,867 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the Union Health Ministry has said in its latest update.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
The reported active COVID-19 cases in India stand at 2,43,953, according to the Union Health Ministry.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
The death toll in India due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has risen to 1,49,649, the Union Health Ministry has said.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 17,56,35,761 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to January 3 with 7,35,978 samples being tested on Sunday.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Team India, support staff negative in latest COVID-19 tests: BCCI
The Indian cricket team and its support staff have returned negative in the latest COVID-19 tests conducted here ahead of the third Test against Australia in Sydney, the BCCI said today. The match is due to start on January 7.
"Playing members of the Indian Cricket Team and support staff underwent an RT-PCR Test for COVID-19 on January 3, 2021. All tests have returned negative results," the BCCI said in a short statement. The statement comes a couple of days after five Indian players -- vice-captain Rohit Sharma, opener Shubman Gill, stumper Rishabh Pant, pacer Navdeep Saini and batsman Prithvi Shaw -- were placed in isolation when a video of them at an indoor restaurant was posted by a fan on Twitter. (PTI)
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | South Africa targets COVID-19 vaccines next month but deals not yet signed
South Africa aims to get COVID-19 vaccines by next month but is still in talks with pharmaceutical companies and no deals have been signed yet, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday, amid growing criticism of the government's response. The country is battling a resurgence in coronavirus infections driven partly by a new variant called 501.V2. It has recorded more than 1 million infections, the most on the African continent, and more than 29,000 deaths.
In an opinion piece published in major local news outlets on Saturday, a group of prominent health experts criticised the government for moving too slowly to procure sufficient vaccines. (Reuters)
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | Assam preparing list of people to administer COVID-19 vaccine: Minister
The Assam government is preparing a list of people, including healthcare personnel andfrontline workers, to administer COVID-19 vaccine, said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.The government is expecting to receive the first batch of vaccine in March-April, Sarmasaid. "At first, we will give the vaccine to our healthworkers such as doctors, nurses, ward boys and other medical staff. After that, the frontline workers like policemen,emergency service staffers, public servants and teachers will be included," he told reporters in Guwahati. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Jordan LIVE Updates | Jordan secures 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine: PM
Jordan has struck a deal with Pfizer and partner BioNTech to buy 1 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine and another 2 million doses from the World Health Organization's COVAX programme, with talks underway for more, the prime minister has said. In his address to parliament, Bisher al-Khasawneh did not say when Jordan would receive the vaccines, but health ministry officials have said they expect the first supplies from the US company to arrive in February. The COVAX programme is a WHO scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries around the world against the coronavirus. (Reuters)
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | Delhi records 424 new COVID-19 cases, lowest in over seven months
Delhi recorded 424 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest in over seven months, and 14 fatalities yesterday, even as the positivity rate slipped to 0.62 percent, authorities said. The infection tally in the city stands at over 6.26 lakh and the death toll linked to the pandemic rose to 10,585, they said. The 424 new cases came out of the 68,759 tests conducted the previous day, including 39,217 RT-PCR tests and 29,542 rapid antigen tests, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department. (PTI)
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE Updates | Bengal reports 896 new COVID-19 cases, 26 fresh fatalities
The COVID-19 death toll in West Bengal rose to 9,792 yesterday with 26 more people succumbingto the disease, the health department said in a bulletin. At least 896 fresh coronavirus cases pushed the tally to 5,54,975, it said. According to the bulletin, 1,432 people were cured ofthe disease during the day, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,34,737.The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state now stands at 96.35 percent, while the percentage ofpositive cases, out of samples tested, stood at 7.70 percent, it said. West Bengal now has 10,446 active cases, the bulletin said. (PTI)
Hello and welcome to Moneycontrol’s LIVE coverage of the novel coronavirus pandemic and its socio-economic impact.
The COVID-19 outbreak has spread across 191 countries and territories. Today is the 286th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown.
Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for the latest updates through the day.
