Coronavirus News Highlights: Over 57.16 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India

West Bengal's COVID-19 tally increased to 15,40,989 on Thursday as 731 more people tested positive for the infection, while 12 fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 18,337, a health bulletin said. The highest number of 89 new cases were reported from the metropolis. The highest number of 89 new cases were reported from the metropolis.

As many as 781 people were cured of the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the recovery rate to 98.18 percent. The state now has 9,653 active cases, while 15,12,999 people have recovered thus far, it said.

The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 57.16 crore, including over 48 lakh doses given on Thursday, according to the Union health ministry. While 26,66,831 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received the first dose, 6,01,437 were administered the second dose of the vaccine on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement.

“Cumulatively, 21,13,11,218 persons in the age group of 18-44 years across 37 states and Union territories have received their first dose and a total of 1,79,43,325 have received their second dose since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive," it said.

The cumulative vaccination coverage of 57,16,71,264 doses is segregated on the basis of population priority groups, the ministry said.

Section 144 CrPC imposed in Dholpur district, Rajasthan in wake of COVID-19 situation. Organising of public, social, political, entertainment, educational, cultural & religious gatherings/processions/festivals will not be allowed. This will come into effect from 20th August.

Mumbai: Seven separate FIRs registered at Vile Parle, Kherwadi, Mahim, Shivaji Park, Dadar, Chembur, Govandi police stations against BJP's Jan Ashirwad Yatra for violation of COVID-19 protocols.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 110 fresh cases of coronavirus on Thursday, taking the number of infections to 3,23,792 while the death toll stood at 4,400 as no new death was reported in the last 24 hours, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 33 were from the Jammu division and 77 from the Kashmir division of the union territory, they said.

Kulgam district recorded the highest number of cases at 20, followed by 17 in Srinagar district, they added. The number of active cases was 1,109 in the union territory, while 3,18,283 patients have recovered so far.

Tamil Nadu continued to record a decline in fresh infections with 1,702 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Thursday, pushing the caseload to 25,95,935, the health department said. The death toll rose to 34,639, with 29 people succumbing to the virus. Recoveries outnumbered new infections with 1,892 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 25,41,432, leaving 19,864 active infections, a bulletin said. Active infections dropped below the 30,000-mark in Tamil Nadu on July 15.

Nagaland's COVID-19 tally rose to 29,390 on Thursday, as 59 more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. As many as 89 patients were cured of the disease during the day, improving the recovery rate to 91.57 percent from 91.33 percent on Wednesday.

With no COVID-19 fatalities registered on August 19, the death toll remained at 608. Mokukchung district recorded the highest number of new cases at 19, followed by Kohima at 18, and Dimapur at 13, it said. The state now has 1,024 active cases, while 26,915 people have recovered from the disease, and 843 patients have migrated to other states so far, the bulletin said.

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.

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 %

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

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.

Rich countries’ decisions to roll out COVID-19booster shotswhile 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.