Coronavirus News Highlights: 207,229 people were vaccinated on Day 1, the highest day one number in the world: Govt

Coronavirus LIVE updates | 207,229 people were vaccinated on Day 1, the highest day one number in the world: Govt

2,07,229 people were vaccinated on day one- the highest day one vaccination number in the world; Higher than the US, UK and France on day one: Health Ministry pic.twitter.com/BGIRvq9aw5

— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2021

Coronavirus LIVE updates | COVID-19 vaccination drive to pick up momentum in next 5-10 days in Assam: Official

Over 3,500 healthcare workers, including prominent doctors, were administered the COVID-19 vaccine on the first day of the immunisation drive in Assam and the exercise was expected to pick up momentum in the next five to ten days, National Health Mission Director of the state Dr S Lakshmanan said on Sunday.

The state had expected 6,500 beneficiaries to be vaccinated on the first day of the inoculation drive on Saturday, but 3,528 of the targeted people turned up, he said. "Many things had to be put in place and the system is evolving but we are sure it will gather momentum in the next five to ten days.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | Seropositivity for COVID-19 found to be lesser in smokers, vegetarians: CSIR's survey

Smokers and vegetarians were found to have lower seropositivity indicating that they may be at a lesser risk of getting infected by coronavirus, according to a pan-India serosurvey conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in its nearly 40 institutes.

The survey also found that those with blood group 'O' may be less susceptible to the infection, while people with 'B' and 'AB' blood groups were at a higher risk.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | No side-effects of COVID-19 vaccine in Maharashtra so far, says health minister Tope

There has been no case of adverse reaction or side-effects of COVID-19 vaccine in Maharashtra so far, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday, a day after the inoculation drive was undertaken across the country.

Talking to PTI, Tope also expressed confidence that "everything will be safe". As many as 18,425 beneficiaries, or 65 per cent of the target for the first day, were given vaccine shot across the state on Saturday, a health department official earlier said.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | No new UK strain of COVID-19 cases, tally remains at 116: Health Ministry

There is no change in the total number of persons found positive with the new UK strain of Covid-19 since yesterday (Saturday), the number of infected persons remains at 116, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on January 17.

Meanwhile, India continues on its steady trajectory of reporting a sustained downfall in the daily new cases of Covid-19 and a consequential decline in the active cases.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | Footfall to Taj Mahal dropped by 76 percent in 2020 due to COVID-19 situation

The footfall of tourists to Taj Mahal fell drastically by 76 per cent in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation. 

The international tourism one of the 'Wonders of the World', Taj Mahal, has dropped down to less than one per cent in the year 2020 due to worldwide Covid situation.

"In comparison to 2019, the tourists' footfall to Taj Mahal fell by 76 percent in 2020. This is applicable in every sector. Around 7,37,000 foreign tourists visited the monument in 2019 while only 1,82,000 visited in 2020. In case of domestic tourists, around 48,35,000 people visited the monument in 2019 while merely 11,34,000 visited in the year 2020," told Vasant Kumar Swarnkar, Superintending Archaeologist. (ANI)

Coronavirus LIVE updates | Some didn't turn up for vaccination at the last moment: Delhi Health Minister

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on January 17 said some people did not turn up for coronavirus vaccination at the last moment, adding that the government cannot ask anyone to compulsorily take the jab.

He also said that the number of vaccination centres in Delhi will be increased from 81 to 175 soon.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | The national capital reported 246 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Delhi Health Department. Delhi’s COVID-19 tally stands at 6.32 lakh, including 10,746 fatalities. About 6.19 lakh patients have recovered.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | Union Health Ministry: Daily fatalities in India are on a consistent decline. India has recorded less than 300 daily deaths for the last 23 days.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | Union Health Ministry: India’s share of active cases within the total positive COVID-10 cases has fallen below 2 percent for the first time. It is currently 1.98 percent.

Coronavirus LIVE updates | A tweet from the Maldivian president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, congratulating the Indian government for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Congratulations to PM @narendramodi and the Indian government for its landmark program to vaccinate India’s population against COVID-19. I’m highly confident that you’ll be successful in this endeavor and that we are finally seeing an end to the COVID-19 scourge.

— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) January 17, 2021

Coronavirus LIVE updates | Brazilian approval of Sputnik V vaccine delayed by missing data

Brazil's health regulator is seeking further data on Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine before considering its approval for emergency use. Documents supporting drugmaker Uniao Quimica's application for emergency use of the vaccine have been returned to the company because they did not meet its minimum criteria, the watchdog said yesterday.

In a statement on the Health Ministry's website, regulator Anvisa said the request failed to provide adequate assurances on Phase III clinical trials and issues related to the manufacture of the vaccine. (Input from Reuters)