Some Health Care Workers Are Getting The Vaccine. Others Aren’t. Who Decides?
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Coronavirus News highlights: Today is the 269th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 99,56,557 confirmed COVID- 19 cases, including 1,44,451 deaths. A total of 94,89,740 patients have recovered, as per the latest data from the Union Health Ministry. However, there are 3,22,366 active cases in the country, which comprise 3.24 percent of the total caseload. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have reported the highest number of cases so far. However, infections continue to rise rapidly in states like Kerala and West Bengal. India's recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 95.31 percent. The country conducted 11.58 lakh tests during the previous 24-hour cycle. Globally, more than 7.41 crore people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 16.47 lakh have died so far.
Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally rose to 18,84,773 on Thursday with the addition of 3,880 fresh cases, while more than 4,350 patients recovered from the infection, said a state health department official.
The state also reported 65 more deaths, taking the fatality count to 48,499, he said.With this, the number of patients currently under treatment stood at 60,905.
Tamil Nadu posted 1,174 fresh COVID-19 cases aggregating to 8.03 lakh infections in the state, while 11 people succumbed to the virus pushing the toll to 11,942, the health department said on Thursday.
As many as 1,214 people got cured from the contagion totaling to 7,81,745 so far, a bulletin said.
Maharashtra government has decided to reimburse the medical expenses of COVID-19 treatment of govt employees & their family members. The order will be effective from September 2, 2020.
Madhya Pradesh reported 1,161 new COVID-19cases, 1,326 recoveries, and 9 deaths today. Total cases: 2,27,949; Total recoveries: 2,12,351; Death toll: 3,442; Active cases:12,156.
A second wave of coronavirus infections is hitting West and Central Africa, and experts are warning it could be worse than the first as cooler weather descends on a region where most countries cannot afford a vaccine.
Nigeria, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo and Democratic Republic of Congo are all at or near record levels of infection, data compiled by Reuters shows. Infections in Senegal are also rising fast.
Compared to the United States and Europe, the region has so far been spared the worst of the pandemic. West and Central African countries are reporting between dozens and a few hundred new daily cases -- still only a fraction of the more than 600,000 cases reported globally each day -- although testing rates in Africa are among the lowest in the world.
The Rajasthan health authorities on Thursday reported 11 coronavirus fatalities and 1,112 fresh cases as the state's numbers rose to 2,589 deaths and 2,95,953 infections.
The fresh deaths were reported from Jaipur and Jodhpur (two each); Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Churu, Dausa and Jhunjhunu (one each), according to an official report.
A total of 2,79,717 patients have recovered so far and the number of active cases at present is 13,647, the report said.
4,969 new COVID-19positive cases, 4,970 recoveries, 27 deaths reported in Kerala today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished French PresidentEmmanuel Macron a speedy recovery and the "best of health" after the latter said that he has tested positive for COVID-19 earlier today.
Delhi reports 1,363 new COVID-19cases, 2,391 recoveries and 35 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total cases: 6,13,357; Total recoveries: 5,90,977; Death toll: 10,182; Active cases: 12,198.
Pope Francis urged world leaders on Thursday to divert funds used for armaments to confront problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure vaccines reach the poor and most vulnerable nations.
In his message for the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Peace, which is celebrated on Jan. 1, Francis also repeated a call for the establishment of a global fund with money slated for weapons to be used instead to help eradicate poverty.
The annual message, this year titled "A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace," is traditionally sent to heads of state, government, international organisations and other religions.
"How many resources are spent on weaponry, especially nuclear weapons, that could be used for more significant priorities such as ensuring the safety of individuals, the promotion of peace and integral human development, the fight against poverty, and the provision of health care." Francis said.
Saudi Arabia began inoculating people in the kingdom with a COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, becoming the first Arab country to roll out the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.Saudi Arabia received two shipments of the vaccine on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, health authorities asked citizens and residents to register to receive the vaccine, which they said would be given free to all in the country.
The kingdom has reported around 360,000 cases coronavirus case with 6,080 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Although it began lifting restrictions several months ago, the country has so far avoided a new wave of infections.
