Coronavirus News Live Updates: Today is the 340th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 1,10,96,731 on Sunday with 16,752 new infections, the highest in the last 30 days, according to Union health ministry data. The death toll mounted to 1,57,051 with 113fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The country had recorded 18,855 new infections on January 29. The active caseload further increased to 1,64,511. It constitutes 1.48 percent of the total infections, the data stated. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,07,75,169, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.10 percent. The case fatality rate stands at 1.42 percent. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 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. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 21,62,31,106 samples had been tested until February 27 with 7,95,723 being tested on Saturday. Globally, more than 11.2 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 24.83 lakh have died so far. India, along with many countries, has granted emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines and has 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. More than 1.19 crore people have been given the COVID-19 vaccine in India so far.
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Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Next phase of COVID-19 vaccination to begin at 192 health facilities in Delhi on March 1
The COVID-19 vaccination drive for people above 60 years and those aged 45 and above with comorbidities will begin on Monday at 192 health facilities, including 136 private hospitals in the national capital, Delhi government officials said. The vaccines will be administered free of cost at government hospitals and health centres while Rs 250 will be charged for it at private health facilities, they said.
"The vaccination drive will begin from 12 noon on Monday. People aged 60 years or more as on January 1, 2022 and those with comorbidities who are in the age group of 45-59 years as on January 1, 2022 are eligible for vaccination," a senior government officer said. Delhi government's Family Welfare directorate also tweeted,"Tomorrow Delhi will be entering the much-awaited phase of COVID vaccination for 60 plus population and those having comorbidities in the age group of 45-59 years at 192 Delhi Health Facilities out of which 136 are paid Private facilities and 56 are Free Govt facilities."
PTI
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Brazil's capital returns to COVID-19 lockdown
Brazil's capital has entered a two-week lockdown, joining several states in adopting measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as intensive care beds begin to fill in some important cities. At least eight Brazilian states adopted curfews over the past week due to the rise in cases and deaths from COVID-19. Thursday was Brazil's deadliest day since the beginning of the pandemic, with 1,541 deaths confirmed from the virus. So far 254,000 people have died overall.
Brasilia Gov. Ibaneis Rocha decreed the total closure of bars, restaurants, shopping malls and schools until March 15 and prohibited gatherings of people. Sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited after 8 p.m. In the federal district, 85 per cent of hospital beds were occupied on Sunday, according to the local health ministry. (AP)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till March 31, shops and offices to stagger timings
Thelockdownin Tamil Nadu has been extended till March 31, the state government said in an order issued on February 28.
No major curbs were added, but the incumbent set of restrictions would continue till the end of next month.
The timings of offices, commercial establishments, industries, shops and marketplaces would remain staggered to prevent overcrowding. READ MORE
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Bihar govt to bear cost of vaccination in private hospitals
The government of Bihar will bear the cost of vaccination at private hospitals, Times of India reported. The private hospitals can charge up to Rs 250 per dose of vaccine. Citizens aged above 60 and 45-plus with comorbidities are eligible to receive the vaccine shots from March 1 onwards.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Mumbai's single-day count crosses 1,000
A total of 1,051 new cases and five deaths were recorded in Mumbai in the last 24 hours, stated the update issued by the civic body. The case-count has been alarmingly rising in India's financial capital. Across Maharashtra, over 8,000 cases were reported for a fifth consecutive day.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 8,293 new cases, 62 death in last 24 hours
Maharashtra reported 8,293 new COVID-19 cases, 3,753 recoveries, and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the state health department.
- Total cases in the state: 21,55,070
- Total recoveries: 20,24,704
- Death toll: 52,154
- Active cases: 77,008
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Prince William backs anti-COVID-19 vaccines in video call with Indian-origin family
Britain’s Prince William has become the latest member of the royal family to encourage people to take up vaccines to protect themselves against COVID-19, saying it was a “really, really important” way to combat the pandemic.William, the 38-year-old Duke of Cambridge, addressed the issue during a video call with London-based Indian-originModhafamily who spoke about getting over any anxiety around the jabs.
The second in line to the British throne echoed his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s views on the importance of being vaccinated and also warned against believing misinformation around the jabs circulating on social media. "Catherine and I are not medical experts by any means but if it's any consolation, we can wholeheartedly support having vaccinations. It's really, really important,” said William, who was joined on the video call by wife Catherine/Kate Middleton.
PTI
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19 crisis far from over; 3rd wave to be more dangerous: CSIR official
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director General Shekhar C Mande on Sunday warned that the COVID-19 crisis was far from being over and allowing a 'third wave' by lowering our guard is fraught with grave consequences.
Also, continued collaboration across institutions was necessary to come out of the current situation as well as ward off catastrophic situations arising out of climate change and over dependence on fossil fuels which had the potential to wipe out the entire humanity, he said.
The expert clarified that India is nowhere near achieving herd immunity and as such people should continue to wear masks and maintain social distancing and hand hygiene to stay away from getting infected by the virus.
Cautioning the people and the scientific community against allowing 'complacency to set in,' he warned that a third wave would precipitate a far more dangerous situation than the challenge the country had faced so far.
PTI
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Registration for next phase of vaccination on Co-WIN2.0 to begin at 9 am on March 1
Registration for next phase of COVID19 Vaccination on Co-WIN2.0 portal will open at 9:00 am on 1st March 2021 atwww.cowin.gov.in. More than 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals under CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under State Schemes can function as COVID Vaccination Centres.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Germany limits travel from French region over virus variant
Germany announced Sunday that travelers from Frances northeastern Moselle region will face additional restrictions due to the high rate of variant coronavirus cases there.
Germany's disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute, said it would add Moselle to the list of variant of concern areas that already includes countries such as the Czech Republic, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Travelers from those areas must produce a recent negative coronavirus test before entering Germany. The Moselle region in northeastern France includes the city of Metz and borders the German states of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. (AP)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 197 new cases, one death today
Delhi reports 197 new COVID-19 cases, 168 recoveries and one death today,as per the data shared by the Delhi government.
- Total cases in Delhi: 6,39,289
- Total recoveries: 6,27,044
- Death toll: 10,910
- Active cases: 1,335
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | China rolls out first one-jab COVID-19 vaccine: Report
China has given conditional approval for a single dose COVID-19 vaccine, touted to be a rival to Johnson & Johnson's one-jab shot cleared by the US drug regulator on Sunday. China's first Ad5-nCoV COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out on Friday, the state-run Global Times reported on Sunday. Phase-I clinical trials of the vaccine started on March 16, last year, making it the world's first COVID-19 candidate vaccine that entered clinical trials, it said.
It is the only single-dose COVID-19 vaccine that has been given conditional approval to be rolled out in China, the report quoted last Friday's story by the state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV). People can get desirable protective effect after 14 days of inoculation. READ FULL REPORT
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Curfew in Maharashtra's Hingoli from March 1 to 7
In the wake of a rise in daily COVID-19 cases in Hingoli, the local administration has decide to impose curfew in the district from March 1 to 7. A total of 46 new COVID-19 cases were found on Saturday in Hingoli, located in the state's Marathwada region, raising its tally to 4,083, as per official figures. Hingoli Collector Ruchesh Jayvanshi in an order issued on Saturday evening said the curfew will come into force from 7 am on Monday and continue till March 7 midnight.
Schools, colleges, religious places and function halls shall remain closed during the period, while banks will operate only for administrative work, said the order. Bank officials are instructed to carry their identity cards while travelling to their workplace, it said. Milk shops will be allowed to operate from 9 am to 5 pm. Medical stores are also permitted to remain open during the curfew period, said the order. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Philippines to receive COVID-19 vaccine after delays
The Philippines is due to receive its first batch of COVID-19 vaccine Sunday, among the last in Southeast Asia to secure the critical doses despite having the second-highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the hard-hit region. President Rodrigo Duterte and top Cabinet officials will welcome the arrival of 600,000 doses of China-donated vaccine in a ceremony at an air base in the capital that will underscore their relief after weeks of delays, officials said. Vaccinations initially for health workers are scheduled to start Monday. (AP)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Australia receives first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines
The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines developed by UK drugmaker AstraZeneca arrived in Australia on Sunday, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said. "Let me begin by saying I am delighted to announce that the first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines has arrived in Australia. 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines touched down this morning," Hunt said during a briefing.
The minister added that Australia will receive over 53 million AstraZeneca vaccines in total, and "Australian-made" doses are "expected to arrive" in late March. Canberra plans to start using AstraZeneca shots in its inoculation campaign shortly. In addition to AstraZeneca's jabs, Australia also has greenlighted the use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, and expects the arrival of 20 million doses this year. Vaccinations using Pfizer's shots started in the country a week ago.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Penal action to be taken against violators of COVID-19 SOPs in Kumbh Mela
Ahead of the Kumbh mela in Haridwar, the Uttarakhand government has issued standard operating procedures making it mandatory for devotees to produce a negative report of RT-PCR test conducted not earlier than 72 hours of arrival and warning of penal action against COVID-19 SOP violators. Based on the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the SOP also makes it compulsory for devotees to bring a medical fitness certificate and an e-pass or e-permit issued to them after registering on the Kumbh Mela web portal, Chief Secretary Om Prakash said. The Kumbh Mela is likely to begin on April 1 and will go on only for 28 days. The duration of Kumbh is being shortened to prevent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Nearly Rs 6 lakh collected by Western Railways, BMC in fine during February
The Western Railways in a joint effort with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected a total fine of Rs 5.97 lakh during February from people who were caught without a face mask. As per a statement, 3,819 people were fined for flouting the Covid-19 precautionary rule. With 430 fines, the highest number of cases were reported on February 26, resulting in a collection of Rs 75,200 in fines.
Since March last year, the Mumbai civic body has collected Rs 32,41,14,800 in fine from 16,02,536 persons who were caught not wearing a mask, the BMC had said earlier this month. The fine for not wearing a face mask is Rs 200. Earlier this week, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had held a meeting with the BMC commissioner and officials to review the coronavirus situation.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Para athlete Nishad Kumar tests positive for COVID-19
Indian para athlete Nishad Kumar has tested positive for COVID-19 and shifted to a hospital as a precautionary measure, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said on Sunday. Nishad Kumar had won a gold medal in the men''s high jump T46/47 event at the Fazza World Para Athletics Grand Prix that was recently held in Dubai.
"Nishad had arrived at the SAI Bengaluru campus on 23rd/24th February along with three fellow national campers (2 athletes and 1 support staff) and went for mandatory 7 day quarantine upon arrival. As per SAI SOP, an RT PCR test was done on the 6th day of quarantine, where he came COVID positive," SAI said in a statement.
The governing body said Nishad "has been moved to SS Sparsh Multi-speciality hospital as a precautionary measure" and "quarantine of all other national campers in SAI, Bengaluru has been extended for 7 more days." Para-Athletics coach Satyanarayana, who had tested positive last week and was in the same hospital, has now been discharged. He is now under seven days quarantine. Last December, Gajender, coach and husband of para-athlete Simran, and para athletics coach Nawal Singh had tested positive for COVID-19.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | MCD bypolls amid COVID: 20.38% voters turnout in first few hours
A turnout of about 20 percent was registered in the first four hours of voting for the bypolls to five municipal wards in Delhi on Sunday, the first electoral exercise being conducted in the national capital amid the coronavirus pandemic. The results of these bye-elections are likely to have an impact on the 2022 Delhi civic polls. Polling began at 7:30 am amid tight security arrangements.
By 11:30 AM, the overall turnout across the five wards was 20.38 per cent, with Kalyanpur ward recording the maximum 25.69 per cent, a senior official of the State Election Commission in Delhi said. According to the State Election Commission, around 2.42 lakh people are eligible to cast their votes in two wards under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and three wards under the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).
The main contenders are the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the BJP and the Congress. All of them have expressed confidence that they will emerge victorious in the bypolls, being held under strict COVID protocols. The municipal wards where polling is underway are Rohini-C, Shalimar Bagh (North), Trilokpuri, Kalyanpuri and Chauhan Banger. While Shalimar Bagh (North) is reserved for women, Trilokpuri and Kalyanpuri are reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, according to the poll body. The turnout at other wards are Trilokpuri (22.68 per cent); Rohini-C (19.11 per cent); Shalimar-North (15.13 per cent) and Chauhan Banger (20.14 per cent), the official said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Joe Biden sees ‘no time to waste,’ urges Senate to pass $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package
President Biden urged the Senate to take quick action after the House passed his $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package, as Democrats faced intraparty rifts over the future of a worker-pay increase. The measure passed early Saturday largely along party lines, 219-212, with two Democrats joining all Republicans in opposition.
At the White House on Saturday, Mr. Biden said there was “no time to waste" in passing the bill and getting it to his desk, noting that Americans were now closer to receiving more vaccinations, $1,400 relief checks and additional aid contained in the bill. “If we act quickly, decisively and boldly, we can finally get ahead of this virus, we can finally get our economy moving again," Mr. Biden said. “The people of this country have suffered far too much for too long. We need to relieve that suffering."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Night curfew extended in Pune as COVID-19 cases rise
With Pune recording over 1,000 cases for five days in a row, the district administration has extended the restrictions imposed earlier. District Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said on Sunday that all schools, colleges and private coaching classes will remain shut in the district until 14 March. In addition to this, no public movement will also be allowed between 11 pm to 6 am. "Schools, colleges, private coaching classes here to remain closed till 14 March, due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. No public movement except essential services allowed between 11 pm and 6 am. Restrictions imposed in Pune city earlier extended till 14 March," Mohol said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Janta jabs from March 1 as COVID-19 vaccination drive 2.0 kicks off
India is all set to start the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination from tomorrow for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. To ramp-up, the Covid-19 vaccination capacity, around 10,000 private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and over 600 private hospitals under the central government health scheme will be utilised. The covid vaccine will be given free of cost at government hospitals, while people will need to pay for it at private facilities.
Private hospitals can charge up to ₹250 per dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the Union Health Ministry has said. The ministry also specified 20 comorbidities among people aged between 45 and 59 years who will get the vaccine -- heart failure with hospital admission in the past year, moderate or severe valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, CT/ MRI-documented stroke, diabetes of over 10 years or with complications, hypertension, end-stage kidney disease on haemodialysis, diagnosis of any solid cancer on or after 2000 or currently on any cancer therapy.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Pakistan confirms presence of new UK strain as people get vaccinated
Pakistan government has warned people to follow COVID-19 precautionary guidelines and get vaccinated as the country has confirmed the presence of the UK strain of novel coronavirus. The new coronavirus strain was detected in the UK in December. It is hugely more transmissible than the virus''s previous version, BBC reported. The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) in an overnight statement said that Pakistan is among 92 countries in the world where the strain has been detected.
“The new strain is being seen across the world and continues to be detected in samples in Pakistan. While this strain does not cause more severe disease, there is evidence that its transmission is faster,” the statement stated. The ministry asked the people that they should more vigorously follow the guidelines to avoid infection and seek vaccination as the ultimate solution.
“This highlights the need to continue following prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued by the government and to get vaccinated when your turn comes,” according to the statement. Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases reached 579,973 with the addition of 1,176 new patients in the last 24 hours, according to the ministry of NHS. It added that 23 more patients died, taking the number of deaths to 12,860. Another 545,277 have recovered so far.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Kerala dismisses reports on excluding private hospitals from 2nd phase vaccination
As the country gears up for the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive from Monday, the Kerala government has dismissed reports that private hospitals were excluded from the programme and said steps have been taken to ensure their cooperation which is "essential" for the initiative. State Health Department officials here said preparations have been completed in around 300 private hospitals for the drive and the ongoing propaganda that private hospitals were not part of the second phase of the vaccination was "baseless". The details of those private hospitals, taking part in the government programme, can be available in the website http:ha.kerala.gov.in/list-of-empanelled-hospitals, they said.
"The participation of the private hospitals is essential for the time-bound and safe vaccination. Seeking to coordinate the activities related to the immunisation programme at the private hospitals, several meetings have been conducted under the aegis of senior health department officials at the district level," an official statement said. Several private medical facilities have come forward to cooperate with the vaccination drive and its follow-up measures would be taken as per the guidelines of the Centre, it added.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Companies 'feel betrayed' due to capping of COVID-19 vaccine price, says Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on Sunday hit out at the government capping COVID-19 vaccine price at Rs 250 at private hospitals, saying vaccine companies "feel betrayed" as it is too low to sustain. Reacting to a report that the health ministry has fixed Rs 250 per shot at private hospitals and health centres, she tweeted, "We r (sic) crushing instead of incentivising vaccine industry." She further said, "Covid Vaccine Jab Capped At Rs 250 At Private Hospitals: Government - understand vaccine cos (sic) feel betrayed as price is too low to sustain."
Mazumdar-Shaw asked, "If WHO has agreed to USD 3 per dose, why beat them down to USD 2?" The government's capping of the vaccine price at private hospitals comes at a time when India is preparing to vaccinate people aged above 60 years and those over 45 with co-morbidities from March 1.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Telangana adds 176 new COVID-19 cases; 1 death pushes toll to 1,634
Telangana reported 176 new COVID-19 cases and one related death taking the total tally of cases to 2,98,807 and the toll to 1,634 respectively, the state government said on Sunday. A total of 1,951 patients were under treatment, it said in a bulletin, providing data as of 8 PM on February 27. Out of the fresh cases, 27 were reported from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), followed by 14 each from Ranga Reddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts.
According to the bulletin, as many as 40,985 samples were tested on Saturday and cumulatively 87,00,651 samples have been tested. The bulletin said a total of 2,95,222 people had recovered and the recovery rate was 98.80 per cent in the state, while it was 97.1 per cent in the country. The case fatality rate in the state was 0.54 per cent, while it was 1.4 per cent at the national level.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India's total active COVID cases reach 1,64,511; six states show surge in cases
India's total number of active COVID-19 cases has reached 1,64,511, which comprises 1.48 per cent of the country's total infections, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday highlighting six states that have shown a surge in new cases in a span of 24 hours. It said 86.37 percent of the new cases are from Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
A total of 16,752 new COVID-19 cases were registered in a span of 24 hours. Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 8,623, followed by Kerala with 3,792 cases while Punjab reported 593 fresh COVID-19 cases. Eight states are displaying an upward trajectory in the daily new cases, the ministry said. "The Centre has been engaging with states and union territories exhibiting higher active number of cases and those reporting a spike in the daily new COVID-19 cases," the ministry stated.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 625 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, 5 more deaths
Thane has added 625 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 2,64,250, an official said on Sunday. Besides these new cases reported on Saturday, five more deaths due to the viral infection was also reported, taking the toll in the district to 6,268, he said. The COVID-19 mortality rate in the district is 2.37 percent, he said.
So far, 2,52,029 patients have recovered from the infection in the district, reflecting a recovery rate of 95.38 percent, the official said. As of now, there are 5,953 active COVID-19 cases in the district, he added. In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 45,906,while the death toll has reached 1,205, another official said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 86% of total caseload from six states
As the country continues to see an uptick in the number of active Covid-19 cases, the central government said on Sunday that six states are contributing 86.37% of the total number of infections. "Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have shown a surge in new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. 86.37% of the new cases are from these six states," the government said. "The Centre has told the states to follow effective surveillance strategies in respect of potential super spreading events. Need for effective testing, comprehensive tracking, prompt isolation of positive cases and quick quarantine of close contacts were also strongly emphasize," they added.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 65% low, lower-middle income countries slashed education budgets after COVID-19 outbreak, says World Bank report
Education budgets were cut by 65 per cent of low and lower-middle income countries after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic while only 33 per cent of high and upper-middle income countries did so, according to a report by the World Bank. The report, compiled in collaboration with UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, said the current levels of government spending in low and lower-middle income countries fall short of those required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"In order to understand the short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education budgets, information was collected for a sample of 29 countries across all regions. The sample represents about 54 per cent of the world's school and university aged population. The information collected was then verified with World Bank country teams," the report said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Active case count hits zero, Arunachal Pradesh turns coronavirus-free
Arunachal Pradesh became a coronavirus-free state on Sunday with the three active cases recovering from the disease, a senior health official said. The total caseload in the northeastern state remained at 16,836, while the number of recoveries stood at 16,780, State Surveillance Officer Lobsang Jampa said. No fresh COVID-19 case was reported in the past 24 hours, he said, A total of 56 people have so far died due to the contagion in the state.
Arunachal Pradesh's recovery rate and positivity rate are at 99.66 per cent and zero per cent, respectively, the official said. Altogether, 4,05,647 samples have been tested, including 312 on Saturday, Jampa said. Meanwhile, State Immunisation Officer (SIO) Dimong Padung said 32,325 health and frontline workers have received vaccine shots in the state thus far. The health department has been carrying out the inoculation drive four days a week - Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Survey finds insurance as most preferred financial product to protect family post-COVID
Insurance has become the most-preferred financial product to protect the family against health emergencies post the COVID-19 pandemic with more people inclined to invest in insurance products in the next six months, according to a survey from Tata AIA Life Insurance. According to a consumer confidence survey on the impact of COVID-19 commissioned by research agency Nielsen, life insurance turned out to be the most preferred financial tool driven by the need to secure family''s future financially and the concern around medical emergencies.
The survey also found that most consumers would like to buy life insurance in the next six months as part of their investment plans. The survey conducted on 1,369 respondents across nine centres revealed that during the pandemic, 51 per cent of the respondents invested in life insurance, while 48 per cent invested in health-related insurance solutions, which is higher than other financial asset classes.
More than half of the respondents said their views towards life insurance have changed positively due to the pandemic and 49 per cent want to invest in buying a life cover in the next six months and 40 per cent intends to invest in health insurance. The survey said 30 per cent of the people invested in life insurance for the first time during the pandemic, while 26 per cent invested in health-related insurance solutions for the first time.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Indian shotgun coach tests positive for COVID-19 in Cairo
A shotgun coach with the Indian shooting team has tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival in Cairo for the ISSF World Cup in Cairo. The coach had been immediately isolated after returning positive for the virus, an official of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) told PTI on Sunday. All the members of the Indian contingent were tested upon their arrival in the Egyptian capital.
The coach tested positive but the other members of the Indian contingent returned negative. The coach is asymptomatic and is in quarantine at the moment. Monitored by the medical team. he is likely to undergo another test in a day or two. As per the protocol issued by the organisers, all teams have to take COVID tests every 72 hours. India have so far won the team bronze medal in both men''s and women''s skeet events but could not finish on the podium in individual events.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Gurugram apartment declared containment zone after 20 residents test positive for COVID-19
An apartment complex in Gurugram's Sector 67 was declared a Covid-19 containment zone on Saturday after 20 people residing in its premises tested positive, news agency ANI reported quoting a district health department official. The residents were tested after three people were found infected with the coronavirus. "First, three cases were reported, after which testing camp was set up. Around 20 persons tested positive. So, we declared it as a containment zone. More tests are being conducted," said J Prakash, an official from the health department.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | UK COVID-19 vaccine rollout expands to over-60s in latest phase
The UK's vaccination programme against COVID-19 enters a new phase on Sunday as the National Health Service (NHS) will begin contacting all over-60s to book their jabs at the nearest vaccination centre or with a general practitioner (GP) or pharmacy. Almost 2 million people aged 60 to 63 will be invited after over 64s had been covered in the previous phase and letters will start arriving from Monday explaining how they can make an appointment for the jab.
They follow more than three in four people aged 65 to 70 taking up the offer of a vaccination and nearly 17 million people across England, over a third of the adult population, having received the life-saving jab. Our incredible vaccination programme is accelerating and well over one in three people across the UK have now received their first jab, said Nadhim Zahawi, UK Vaccine Deployment Minister.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | One new COVID-19 case in Andamans
One more person has tested positive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, pushing the coronavirus tally in the union territory to 5,018, a health department official said on Sunday. The new case was detected during contact tracing, he said. The union territory now has four active COVID-19 cases. The overall COVID situation is under control in the archipelago as the local administration has been strict to ensure that health safety protocols are followed to contain the spread of the disease, he said.
The administration has made it mandatory for passengers arriving by flight to produce a negative RT-PCR test report before they are allowed entry into the islands. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 62 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours. No one was cured of the disease on Saturday and the total number of recoveries in the archipelago stood at 4,952, the official said. Altogether, 6,451 health professionals and frontline workers have been vaccinated so far of which 2,565 health care workers have received the second dose of the vaccine, the official said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Odisha makes Covid-19 test mandatory for people arriving from these 5 states
Odisha government has made the coronavirus test mandatory for passengers arriving from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh. "Passengers arriving from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh will undergo screening tests at the airport in Odisha," said Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das.
"If found symptomatic, they will undergo an antigen test. Those testing COVID positive will be kept under isolation," he informed. Meanwhile, Odisha reported 86 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday from 21 districts.Sundergarh district recorded the highest of 10 new cases followed by Khurda and Sambalpur (9 each). The state during the day also registered recovery of 56 patients taking the total number of cured people to 3,34,519. The state's coronavirus death toll remained at 1,915 as no fresh fatality has been reported since Thursday, he said, adding that 53 more COVID-19 positive patients have also died in the state due to comorbidities.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | More tests for COVID-19 needed, says WHO Chief Scientist
Chief scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Soumya Swaminathan said there should be more COVID-19 tests as there was heterogeneity (on testing methods) among the states.
"Testing is really an important issue. At the beginning, WHO found that many countries did not have diagnostics and those which had it was not enough. In fact we found out that diagnostics was lower than it should be," she said while addressing a session at ''Shaastra'' organised here at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. Stating that WHO has set a benchmark for how much diagnostics in testing was enough, she said if the positivity rate (of a disease) was five per cent or more, it means you should be testing more.
"There is a lot of heterogeneity in response to testing between state to state and some states have done higher than the others," she said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi govt identifies private hospitals for COVID-19 vaccination of people above 60 years
The Delhi government has started preparations for the vaccination of people aged above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities from March 1 and has identified private hospitals that will be roped in for the immunisation drive, sources said. Private hospitals can charge up to Rs 250 per dose of COVID-19 vaccine, official sources said.
'So far 59 private hospitals have been identified and the number will be increased as per requirement,' said a source associated with the Delhi government's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Currently, priority group people including health workers and frontline workers are being administered the vaccine at 212 government and private health centres in Delhi.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | China reports 6 new COVID-19 cases vs 10 a day earlier
Mainland China reported 10 new COVID-19 cases on Feb. 26, up from six cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Saturday. The National Health Commission said in a statement all of the new cases were imported infections originating from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, rose to eight from six cases a day earlier. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mainland China now stands at 89,887, while the death toll remains unchanged at 4,635.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 1.42 crore Indians vaccinated so far
At least 1,42,42,547 beneficiaries have been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 2,92,312 sessions in India, a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry has said, as the country gears up to inoculate people above 60 years of age and those over 45 with comorbidities against COVID-19 from March 1 in the second phase of the vaccination drive.
The beneficiaries who have completed 28 days after the first jab are now being given the second dose as well. The DCGI accorded a window of four weeks to six weeks for the second dose. The total COVID-19 vaccine beneficiaries include 66,68,974 healthcare workers (first dose), 24,53,878 healthcare workers (second dose) and 51,19,695 frontline workers (first dose).
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Johnson & Johnson's 1-dose shot cleared, giving US 3rd COVID-19 vaccine
The US is getting a third vaccine to prevent COVID-19, as the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday cleared a Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose instead of two. Health experts are anxiously awaiting a one-and-done option to help speed vaccinations, as they race against a virus that already has killed more than 510,000 people in the US and is mutating in increasingly worrisome ways.
Health experts are anxiously awaiting a one-and-done option to help speed vaccinations, as they race against a virus that already has killed more than 510,000 people in the US and is mutating in increasingly worrisome ways. The FDA said J&J’s vaccine offers strong protection against what matters most: serious illness, hospitalizations and death. One dose was 85% protective against the most severe COVID-19 illness, in a massive study that spanned three continents protection that remained strong even in countries such as South Africa, where the variants of most concern are spreading.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India records 16,752 new cases, active tally goes up again
As many as 16,752 new COVID-19 cases and 113 deaths were reported in India during the last 24 hours, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Sunday. With this, the total coronavirus caseload in the country has gone up to 1,10,96,731, including 1,64,511 active cases and 1,07,75,169 discharges.
The COVID-19 death toll reached 1,57,051 on Saturday with additional 113 deaths. As per the Health Ministry, a total of 1,43,01,266 people in the country have been vaccinated against the virus. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021. The vaccination of the frontline workers started on February 2. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed today that the total number of samples has reached 21,62,31,106 as of Sunday, including 7,95,723 samples tested yesterday.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 10,000 private, 600 CGHS hospitals to act as vaccination sites
Ahead of the second phase of India's COVID-19 vaccination drive for people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with co-morbidities, which is slated to start from 1 March, the government announced the hospitals that will be eligible to treated as vaccination centres.
The nationwide vaccination program is to be exponentially expanded to the different people of certain age-groups from 1 March. According to the latest release by Minister of Health and Family Welfare, all citizens above 60 years of age, and those within the age bracket of 45 to 59 years with specified co-morbidities will be eligible for the vaccination.
The ministry has announced that in order to ramp up covid vaccination capacity, a number of private facilities are being included in the process. Around 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals empanelled under CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under State Govts. Health Insurance Schemes can participate as COVID Vaccination Centers (CVCs).
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi govt identifies pvt hospitals for Covid-19 vaccination of people above 60
The Delhi government has started preparations for the vaccination of people aged above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities from March 1 and has identified private hospitals that will be roped in for the immunisation drive, sources said. Private hospitals can charge up to Rs 250 per dose of COVID-19 vaccine, official sources said.
"So far 59 private hospitals have been identified and the number will be increased as per requirement," said a source associated with the Delhi government's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Currently, priority group people including health workers and frontline workers are being administered the vaccine at 212 government and private health centres in Delhi. The COVID-19 vaccine will be given free of cost at government hospitals, while people will need to pay for it at private facilities.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | More tests for COVID-19 needed, says WHO Chief Scientist
Chief scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Soumya Swaminathan on Saturday said there should be more COVID-19 tests as there was heterogeneity (on testing methods) among the states.
"Testing is really an important issue. At the beginning, WHO found that many countries did not have diagnostics and those which had it was not enough. In fact we found out that diagnostics was lower than it should be," she said while addressing a session at 'Shaastra' organised here at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras.
Stating that WHO has set a benchmark for how much diagnostics in testing was enough, she said if the positivity rate (of a disease) was five per cent or more, it means you should be testing more.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Centre releases list of hospitals states can choose as COVID-19 vaccination centres
The central government of February 27 released the list of hospitals that states can choose to expand the vaccination drive under the second phase of COVID-19 immunisation programme. The hospitals, which are either empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY scheme or the central government health scheme (CGHS), can be used by states as private COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs).
Around 10,000 private hospitals are listed under the Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY scheme, whereas more than 600 hospitals are empanelled under the CGHS. The Union government has capped the cost of vaccination at the private hospitals at Rs 250 per dose. At the government-run CVCs, the doses would be administered free of cost.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | FIR against 3 marriage halls in Mumbai for violating rules
Mumbai Police has registered a case against three marriage halls for allowing more number of guests than the prescribed limit of 50 on the complaint of the city civic body, an official said on Saturday. At each of these three marriage halls, located on CST Road in Kalina, at least 200 guests had assembled on Friday, the civic official said.
He said many guests gathered at these halls were not wearing a face mask and social distancing norms were also not adhered to. "Officials of the BMC's (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation''s) health department who were on supervision duty on Friday night spotted the violations at the three halls," the official said. Accordingly, action was taken against these halls and an FIR was lodged at Vakola police station against officials concerned of each marriage hall for violating the COVID-19 rules, he added.
Mumbai city is witnessing a surge in fresh coronavirus positive cases in the last few days. The city's case tally stood at 3,23,879 as on February 26, as per the state health department.
