Coronavirus News Highlights: Today is the 380th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. India on April 8 registered as many as 1,26,789 new Covid-19 cases in a span of 24 hours, the highest number of daily cases ever since the pandemic began. The country's overall tally is now at 1,29,28,574, according to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry. As many as 685 deaths were reported across the country over the past 24 hours, taking the total coronavirus death count in India to 16,68,62. While 59,258 people were discharged, the total active caseload in the country stands at 9,10,319. Around 1,18,51,393 people have recovered so far. The previous high of 1,03,844 new cases in a single day was reported on 5 April. Total Covid-19 vaccination stands at 9,01,98,673. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that a total of 25,26,77,379 samples have been tested for Covid-19, upto 7 April. Of these, 12,37,781 samples were tested on Wednesday. India's regulator has granted restricted emergency use approval for two vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin. All persons above the age of 45 are eligible to get vaccinated. Globally, more than 13.14 crore people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 29.93 lakh have died so far.
Coronavirus Gujarat LIVE Updates |
Gujarat reports 4,021 fresh COVID-19 positive cases, 2,197 recoveries and 35 deaths. Total cases 332,474, Active cases: 20,473, Death toll: 4,655.
The state's largest city, Ahmedabad saw 951 new cases, the highestin the last 24 hours.
Coronavirus Maharashtra
LIVE Updates |Maharashtra reports 56,286 new COVID-19 positive cases, 36,130 recoveries and 376 deaths. Total cases 32,29,547, Active cases: 521,317, Death toll: 57,028.
The health department conducted 236,815 tests during the day, the state's overall test count went up to 2,13,85,551.
Mumbai saw a single-day jump of 8,938 cases and 25deaths on April 8. With this, its infection tally reached4,91,980 and death toll 11,881.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
TheAll India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)has decided to briefly close down routine walk-in OPD patient registrations, including speciality clinics and all centres, with effect from April 8 to minimise the possibility of community spread of coronavirus and optimise diversion of available manpower and resources for the treatment of affected patients.
The premier healthcare institution said OPDs/speciality clinics will continue to provide requisite services only for such patients (new and follow-up) having prior appointments. It said OPDs/speciality clinics will continue to provide requisite services only for such patients (new and follow-up) having prior appointments.
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LIVE Updates |
Madhya Pradesh reports 4,324 fresh COVID-19 positive cases, 2,296 recoveries and 27 deaths. Total cases 322,338, Active cases: 28,060, Death toll: 4,113.
For the second straight day that the number of daily cases in the state remained above the 4,000-mark.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates |
Tamil Nadu reports 4,276 new COVID-19 positive cases, 1,869 recoveries and 19 deaths. Total cases 915,386, Active cases: 30,131, Death toll: 12,840.
Chennai's overall COVID-19 tally is 2,59,320 positive cases, with the active cases/those under treatment remainingat 11,633..
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates |
Delhi High Court defers the Lok Adalat scheduled for April 10, due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi.Delhi High Court to stop physical hearing at the court and all district courts from tomorrow till 23rd April. Now, the courts will hear the cases through virtual mode only.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope today chaired a meet with 7 manufacturers of COVID19 drug Remdesivir and asked them to double the production for the State. The meeting was also attended by FDA minister Rajendra Shingane and officials of the Health and FDA department.
Coronavirus in Uttarakhand LIVE Updates |
Uttarakhand reports 787 new COVID-19positive cases, 265 recoveries and 3 deaths. Total cases 1,05,498, Active cases: 5,042, Death toll: 1,744.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Deepak Kumar, CPRO, Northern Railway:
People are following COVID19 protocols properly. There is no rush or overcrowding at the stations. Media reports of people travelling out of fear of a lockdown were not correct.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates |
Delhi records 7,437 fresh positive cases and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 23,181, case tally 6,98,005
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Iran Covid cases pass two million: Health Ministry
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran passed the two million mark Thursday, the health ministry announced, as the daily caseload reached a new record high.The virus has infected 2,006,934 people in Iran and killed 63,884, ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in televised remarks.She added that 22,586 new cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours, an increase of more than 1,600 over the previous record high registered just Wednesday.The Islamic republic has been battling the Middle East's deadliest coronavirus outbreak.Officials have blamed the recent surge in cases on family visits and leisure trips made during the Iranian new year holidays that started on March 21.In January, the daily numbers of deaths and new infections had remained relatively stable at fewer than 100 and fewer than 7,000 respectively, but since late March those numbers have soared.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates |
Tamil Nadu reports 4,276 new COVID-19cases, 1,869 discharges and 19 deaths. Total cases: 9,15,386, Total discharges: 8,72,415, Active cases: 30,131, Total deaths: 12,840
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates |
Mumbai reports 8,938 new COVID-19cases, 4,503 recoveries and 23 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total cases: 4,91,698, Total recoveries, 3,92,514, Death toll: 11,874, Active cases 86,279.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | France meets its 10 million first shots of COVID vaccine target, PM says
More than 10 million people have now received a first COVID-19 vaccine shot in France, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday, adding that target had been reached one week ahead of schedule.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Latest on Coronavirus
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,890,054 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1000 GMT on Thursday.At least 133,077,500 cases of coronavirus have been registered. The vast majority have recovered, though some have continued to experience symptoms weeks or even months later. These figures are based on daily tolls provided by health authorities in each country and exclude later re-evaluations by statistical organisations, as has happened in Russia, Spain and Britain. On Wednesday, 14,864 new deaths and 644,276 new cases were recorded worldwide.Based on latest reports, the countries with the most new deaths were Brazil with 3,829 new deaths, followed by the United States with 2,580 and Poland with 956.The United States is the worst-affected country with 559,117 deaths from 30,922,760 cases.After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil with 340,776 deaths from 13,193,205 cases, Mexico with 205,598 deaths from 2,261,879 cases, India with 166,862 deaths from 12,928,574 cases, and the United Kingdom with 126,927 deaths from 4,367,291 cases.The country with the highest number of deaths compared to its population is Czech Republic with 256 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Hungary with 232, Bosnia-Herzegovina 217, Montenegro 212 and Belgium 201. Europe overall has 983,812 deaths from 45,422,017 cases, Latin America and the Caribbean 811,360 deaths from 25,670,953 infections, and the United States and Canada 582,285 deaths from 31,948,268 cases. Asia has reported 280,023 deaths from 18,887,656 cases, the Middle East 117,030 deaths from 6,807,125 cases, Africa 114,539 deaths from 4,302,199 cases, and Oceania 1,005 deaths from 39,287 cases.Since the start of the pandemic, the number of tests conducted has greatly increased while testing and reporting techniques have improved, leading to a rise in reported cases.However the number of diagnosed cases is only a part of the real total number of infections as a significant number of less serious or asymptomatic cases always remain undetected. As a result of corrections by national authorities or late publication of data, the figures updated over the past 24 hours may not correspond exactly to the previous day's tallies.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | UK to offer alternatives to AstraZeneca jab for under-30s
Britain on Wednesday said it would adopt new medical advice to offer most people under 30 an alternative to the AstraZeneca coronavirus jab if possible, due to concerns over blood clots.A potential blow to the UK's highly successful Covid-19 vaccine programme, it comes after the country's medicines regulator reassessed the shot's safety following dozens of clotting incidents among people who had received it.The MHRA regulator said its "rigorous scientific review of all available data" had found 79 blood clots and 19 deaths among people who had received one of the 20 million AstraZeneca doses administered in the UK.It insisted such incidents remained "extremely rare".The European Medicines Agency said earlier that clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the vaccine. Both bodies however said that it should still be used, as the dangers from catching coronavirus were greater than those of receiving the jab.AstraZeneca released a statement saying that the two studies "reaffirmed" that the benefits of its vaccine "far outweigh the risks".But Britain'sJoint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government, said that given the lower risk posed by the virus to young people, it would change its guidance for them."Adults who are aged 18 to 29 years old who do not have an underlying health condition... should be offered an alternative Covid-19 vaccine in preference to the AstraZeneca vaccine," Wei Shen Lim of the JCVI told journalists. The alternatives, which in Britain currently are vaccines developed by US firm Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, should be offered "if available", he said.AstraZeneca said in its statement that it was "already working to understand the individual cases, epidemiology and possible mechanisms that could explain these extremely rare events".
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Sachin Tendulkar discharged from hospital after recovering from COVID19. He will be in home quarantine for few days. He had tested positive for COVID19 on March 27.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVAX vaccines reach more than 100 countries, despite supply hits - GAVI/WHO
The COVAX vaccine facility has delivered nearly 38.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 100 countries and economies across six continents as of Thursday, six weeks after it began to roll out supplies, a statement said.Despite being hit by reduced supply availability in March and April, and higher demand in India where much of its main jab AstraZeneca is made, it expects to deliver doses to all economies that have requested them in the first half of 2021, the GAVI vaccine alliance and World Health Organization said."According to its latest supply forecast, COVAX expects to deliver at least 2 billion doses of vaccines in 2021," it said. Its portfolio, currently relying on AstraZeneca and the Pfizer and BioNTech shots, would be diversified.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | PM Modi:
India is honoured to have played role of strong partner of Seychelles in this fight against Covid. During times of need, we were able to supply essential medicines and 50,000 doses of vaccine. India will stand firmly with Seychelles in its effort for post-Covid economic recovery.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | President of Seychelles:
What better example of Indian solidarity than your donation of 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine. If we're nearing our target of achieving 70% of heard immunity by Apr 2021 & have re-opened our country to business, it is due to this precious donation.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
All schools in the district to remain closed from 9th to 15th April, in view of huge rush of devotees to Kumbh Mela: Haridwar District Magistrate C Ravishankar, Uttarakhand
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to chair the 24th meeting of the High-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19& the status of preparedness on April 9.
Coronavirus in Nagpur LIVE Updates |
Nagpur district reported 5,514 new COVID-19cases, 3,277 recoveries and 73 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Civil Surgeon Nagpur. Total cases: 2,59,735, Total recoveries: 2,09,061, Active cases: 45,097, Death toll: 5,577.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE Updates | Official:
Uttar Pradesh reports 39 more COVID-19 fatalities, death toll rises to 9,003; 8,490 fresh cases push infection tally to 6,54,404.
Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh LIVE Updates | Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office:
Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Dept officials have informed the CM that only 3 lakh doses of COVID vaccine are available in the State as on today. They explained that the stocks will last for two days only.CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during the review meeting today ordered the officials to communicate with the Central govt and see that an adequate supply of vaccine doses reach the State in time
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Wockhardt Hospitals low on COVID-19 vaccines, cannot vaccinate people from April 9
Wockhardtwill have to stop vaccinating people from April 9 if stocks are not replenished,ZahabiyaKhorakiwala, Managing Director,Wockhardt, said on April 8, reported CNBC.Khorakiwalasaid: "Wockhardtcannot vaccinate people as of tomorrow if stocks are not replenished."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Bahrain to allow gym, indoor restaurant visits for vaccinated individuals
The Gulf Arab kingdom of Bahrain has announced that starting next month, residents who can prove that they've been vaccinated against the coronavirus will be able to attend gyms, indoor restaurants, mass sporting events, conferences, spas and cinemas.Bahrain's national COVID-19 medical team says those holding digital proof that two weeks have passed since their second vaccine dose or that they've recovered from the coronavirus will enjoy unfettered access to newly reopened indoor venues.Those under 18 are also allowed if accompanied by a vaccinated parent or guardian.The new rules take effect at the start ofEidal-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins this year on May 12.TheCOVIDvaccinated and recovered present their status on a government health app.The non-vaccinated will be banned from indoor spots but may go to outdoor, socially-distanced dining and recreational places.Bahrain has seen a major surge in coronavirus infections in recent weeks despite its successful mass vaccination campaign.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Swiss region rewards COVID-testing schools by lifting mask rule
Switzerland is joining nations offering privileges to those conforming with COVID-19 measures, as one region allows fifth- and sixth-grade students to shed masks if their schools have participated in mass testing.This small move from April 12 by the mountain canton of Grisons on the Italian border is emblematic of a broader global debate over whether people who test negative or are vaccinated should enjoy more freedoms.To fly, people must already produce a negative test, while airlines want vaccinated people to travel without restrictions.In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson kicked off debate by suggesting bars might restrict customers to those who can produce so-called “Pub Passports” as proof of vaccination.Grisons introduced its mask regulation for fifth and sixth graders at schools in February, not long after employees of luxury hotels in St. Moritz tested positive for virus variants.The canton has since been pushing mass testing, including in schools, and said students in the 95 percent of participating institutions that have participated should now be allowed to shed masks.“The decision is based on the positive influence of the cantonal test strategy,” Grisons said in a statement.“With the weekly testing in schools, we’ve had access to an instrument that can quickly identify COVID-19 cases and interrupt the chain of infection.”
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Australia halts AstraZeneca shots for under 50s over clot concerns
Australia on Thursday joined a growing number of countries halting the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for younger people over fears it can cause serious blood clots.In a further setback for Australia's already halting coronavirus vaccine rollout, officials said the AstraZeneca shot should no longer be given to people under the age of 50, unless they had already received a first dose without any ill effects.Prime Minister Scott Morrison held an evening press conference to announce the decision shortly after the government's medical advisory board decided to follow European and other countries in limiting the use of AstraZeneca."It has not been our practiceto jump at shadows, it has not beenour practice to take unnecessaryprecautions," he said in explaining the step."We've been taking thenecessary precautions based on thebest possible medical advice."Australia has been one of the world's most successful countries in containing the spread of Covid-19, with fewer than 30,000 cases and 1,000 deaths for a population of 25 million and virtually no ongoing community transmission.But it has fallen far behind the government's own schedule for vaccinating people against the disease, with just a million doses administered by Thursday when it had pledged to give four million doses by last week.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Indonesia warns over delays for 100 million AstraZeneca jabs
Indonesia warned Thursday it faced delays receiving over 100 million doses ofAstraZeneca'sCovid-19 vaccine, as export restrictions in India and company supply holdups threaten one of the world's biggest jab rollouts.The Southeast Asian nation's health ministerBudiGunadiSadikinslammed the slowdown and said the government was trying to find a solution."We have about 100 million vaccine doses with an uncertain arrival schedule," he told parliament."This is not something we can accept. We immediately communicated withAstraZeneca."The world's fourth-biggest nation is one of the hardest hit in Asia, with more than 1.5 million virus cases and over 42,000 deaths.Jakarta has announced an ambitious plan to jab more than 181 million of its nearly 270 million people within a year, relying heavily on China'sSinovacjab andAstraZeneca'streatment.(AFP)
Coronavirus in Chattisgarh LIVE Updates |
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow all people above 18 years of age toget vaccinated against COVID-19, in wake of alarming rise in coronavirus cases.
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LIVE Updates | MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan:
We've decided to increase the number of beds by 1 Lakh, some of these will be in COVID care centres - at least one in every district. Govt is also taking beds from pvt sector, the strength of pvt hospitals will also be brought into use. There is no crisis of oxygen supply.To continue with this situation (oxygen), I have spoken to Gujarat & Centre. We have started receiving additional oxygen supply fromBhilai(Chhattisgarh), we had discussed this with Union MinisterDharmendraPradhan.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates | Karnataka Health Min K Sudhakar:
We aren't short on vaccines. I've been reiterating everyday that we're receiving vaccines almost twice a week. Even now we have a stock of almost 25-30 Lakh doses. Centre has assured me that in a couple of days they'll send another 25 Lakh doses.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Piaggio Vehicles to bear cost of vaccination of all staff
Italian auto major Piaggio Group''s Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles has said it will bear the cost of vaccinating all its staff, their immediate family members besides all community members working at the manufacturing plant catchment area, against COVID-19.Piaggio also said it has partnered with a private hospital for vaccination at its Pune and the Baramati manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra. “In these exceptionally difficult times we stand with the local government to provide our support and help them increase the pace of vaccination. We aim to provide our staff and their family members with full assistance during the pandemic.
"With this vaccination drive, we continue to make the health and welfare of both our staff, their families and neighbouring community a priority,” said Diego Graffi, Managing Director and CEO, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL). The automaker said it will provide reimbursement for vaccination of all their regional office employees and their immediate family members.
As a responsible corporate social citizen, PVPL will soon be providing ventilators to one of the public hospitals of the Sahyadri group in Pune to help them upgrade the infrastructure in these trying times, the company said. “We have tied up with professional hospitals for administering this vaccine at all our manufacturing facilities in Baramati, corporate office in Pune and 17 regional offices across the country,” Pooja Bansal, head of Human Resources at PVPL said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 60-hour weekend lockdown in all Madhya Pradesh cities, says CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
A lockdown will be enforced in all cities of Madhya Pradesh from 6 pm on Friday to 6 am on Monday to check the spread of the coronavirus infection, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday. Talking to reporters after chairing a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in MP, Chouhan said his government aims to increase the number of beds for COVID-19 patients in the state to one lakh.
"A lockdown will be enforced in all cities of the state from 6 pm on Friday to 6 am on Monday," Chouhan said. In the past three weeks, the state government imposed lockdowns in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior on Sundays and extended the curbs to some other cities last Sunday. Chouhan said various crisis management groups will hold meetings to review the situation in cities where there has been a spurt in COVID-19 cases and will decide the course of action to contain it.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra must turn to other states to procure remdesivir, says Devendra Fadnavis
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said to address the shortage of remdesivir, the Maharashtra government should procure the drug from states that are not witnessing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and take action against black marketing of the injection. Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Fadnavis said the state government should pay attention to the availability of remdesivir, as instances of black marketing had been reported last year.
'The same is happening now as well. Not all states are witnessing a second wave. Hence, the government should procure remdesivir from states that are not in the second wave of the pandemic and companies that are producing the drug,' he said. The BJP leader further said that the state government should stop playing politics over the COVID-19 vaccine.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has clearly stated the number of vaccine doses given to Maharashtra, pending doses and the quantity which will be given, he said. 'Those criticising the Centre should see that Maharashtra has more vaccines than Uttar Pradesh, which has double the population of the state,' Fadnavis said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | French Open postponed to May 30 amid COVID-19 crisis
This year's French Open has been postponed by a week due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will begin on May 30, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) said on Thursday. The claycourt Grand Slam, which was postponed by four months last year and took place in front of limited crowds, will finish on June 13, two weeks before the expected start of Wimbledon.
The postponement is set to have an impact on the ATP and WTA calendars, especially on the grasscourt season with tournaments scheduled to start on June 7 in s'Hertogenbosch (WTA and ATP) Stuttgart (ATP) and Nottingham (WTA). FFT President Gilles Moreton said it had made the decision after consulting with public authorities, the governing bodies of international tennis, and its partners and broadcasters.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Helped 2.5 million MSMEs in India go online, enabled cumulative exports worth $3 billion, says Amazon
Amazon India on Thursday said it has digitised 2.5 million MSMEs, enabled cumulative exports worth USD 3 billion and helped create nearly one million jobs in the country. Last year, Amazon had announced an investment of USD 1 billion to digitally enable 10 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), enable e-commerce exports worth USD 10 billion and create one million additional jobs in India by 2025.
"Since the last Sambhav announcement (in January 2020), more than 2.5 lakh new sellers have come online and joined Amazon, the rate at which sellers have come online has gone by 50 per cent post COVID-19,” Amit Agarwal, Global Senior Vice President and Country Head of Amazon India, told PTI. Nearly a third of these sellers are coming and signing up in local Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Marathi, he stated.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi HC refuses to entertain plea to direct govt to take steps for controlling COVID-19 second wave
The Delhi High Court Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking to direct the AAP government to take immediate measures for controlling and minimising the impact of another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said the government has been doing everything to control the impact of the virus and it was not inclined to entertain the plea.
“Everything is being done by the government, maintaining masking guidelines, social distancing, people are getting vaccinations... The prayers stated herein are all general prayers, what else do you want the government to do?”, the bench said. The bench, however, granted liberty to petitioner- advocate Rakesh Malhotra to move another application with specific suggestions and appropriate prayers. Delhi recorded 5,506 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest single-day rise this year, while 20 more people died due to the coronavirus infection, taking the death toll to 11,133, according to the city Health Department.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Harman International to cover COVID-19 vaccination cost for eligible employees, their dependents in India
Connected car systems, audio and visual products major Harman International on Thursday said it will cover the total cost of vaccination against COVID-19 for its eligible employees and their dependents in India. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, said as many as 8,400 employees in the country and their dependents who are enrolled in the company''s medical benefits programme will benefit from this policy.
"This is in continuation with the necessary protocols taken by Harman since the beginning of the pandemic to safeguard its employees," the company said in a statement. Commenting on the move, Harman Vice President, Human Resources Vikrant Gupta said even in these uncertain times, the employees have shouldered multiple responsibilities by managing their personal and professional commitments while working remotely from home and helping deliver mission critical projects for the company''s customers. "With the vaccination drive in full swing, we want to ensure our employees and their families are safe and healthy," he said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi Metro fines around 700 commuters for violating COVID-19 rules
Amid the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the national capital, 672 Delhi Metro passengers were penalised for not wearing face masks properly and violating social distancing norms. "To ensure our travel guidelines are being followed, Delhi Metro's Flying Squads penalised 672 commuters on 7 April 2021 for not wearing a face mask properly & following social distancing. Let us all follow the protocols & politely counsel others to do the same," DMRC said in a tweet.
The national capital reported 5,506 fresh Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the sharpest daily spike this year that pushed the infection tally to 6,90,568, according to the health department. The Delhi government announced a seven-hour night curfew on Tuesday. The decision was taken after the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the city. The DDMA order for curfew from 10 pm to 5 am will be in force till April 30.
According to the coronavirus safety protocol, it is mandatory for passengers to enter the station premises after thermal screening, hand sanitisation and with a face mask on. Passengers must also adhere to social distancing norms on metro premises throughout the journey, the DMRC had said in a statement.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | One in ten suffer long-term effects 8 months following mild COVID-19,says study
Eight months after mild COVID-19, one in ten people experience at least one moderate to severe symptom that is perceived to have a negative impact on their work, social or personal life, according to a study. The study, published in the journal JAMA, found that the most common long-term symptoms are loss of smell and taste, and fatigue.
Researchers at Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have been conducting the so-called COMMUNITY study since spring last year, with the main purpose of examining immunity after COVID-19. "We investigated the presence of long-term symptoms after mild COVID-19 in a relatively young and healthy group of working individuals, and we found that the predominant long-term symptoms are loss of smell and taste," said Charlotte Thalin, lead researcher for the COMMUNITY study at Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet.
"Fatigue and respiratory problems are also more common among participants who have had COVID-19 but do not occur to the same extent," Thalin said. In the first phase of the study, blood samples were collected from 2,149 employees at Danderyd Hospital, of whom about 19 per cent had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Philippines suspends use of AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 60
Philippine health authorities suspended on Thursday the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for people below 60 years of age to investigate reports of blood clots coming from overseas. The temporary suspension came after the European Medicines Agency recommended to include blood clots as a rare side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Food and Drug Administration chief Rolando Enrique Domingo said in a statement, adding that there were no reports of such adverse side effects in the country.
“This temporary suspension does not mean that the vaccine is unsafe or ineffective - it just means that we are taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of every Filipino,” Domingo said. The Southeast Asian country, which is battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, has been counting on speeding up a sluggish rollout of vaccinations to help alleviate pressure on hospitals and boost its pandemic-battered economy. The Philippines has so far received 525,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, about a fifth of the country’s total inventory, through the COVAX facility. Another 2.6 million doses, purchased by the private sector, will be delivered next month.
