Coronavirus News Highlights: Today is the 293rd day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. India reported 16,311 new COVID-19 cases and 161 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said on Monday. With the addition of fresh infections, the overall cases in the country reached 1,04,66,595 including 2,22,526 active cases. After 19,299 discharges in the last 24 hours, the cumulative recoveries reached 1,00,92,909. The death toll climbed to 1,51,160. At present, there are 64,179 active cases in Kerala, the highest in the country, followed by Maharashtra with 54,179. Globally, more than 9.02 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 19.33 lakh have died so far. Many countries have granted emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines and have 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.
The Government of India placed a purchase order for 1.1 crore doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine Covishield with the Serum Institute of India on January 11 and committed to buy 4.5 crore more by April 2021. The first batch of 1.1 crore doses will cost the government Rs 231 crore, while the total amount, including the 4.5 crore doses to be procured later, will cost an estimated Rs 1,176 crore at current rates, PTI reported.
Nancy Bush Ellis, the younger sister of former United States President George HW Bush died of COVID-19 related complications at 94 on January 10. The news was shared by the George and Barbara Bush Foundation in a Twitter post that read: “We are sad to share that President Bush’s beloved sister, Nancy Bush Ellis, has passed away. Our condolences and prayers are with the Ellis and Bush families as we remember a remarkable woman who brought joy and light to the world.”
Russia’s coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has informed it has concluded conducting phase two of the human clinical trials in India. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd announced on January 11 that the Independent Data & Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has declared Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine safe after analysing its phase two trials safety data.
Indian pharma firm Bharat Biotech will be providing its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin directly to 12 states by January 14. As per the purchase agreement Bharat Biotech inked with the Government of India on January 11, 38.5 lakh doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be purchased at around Rs 300 during the first phase of the vaccination drive. Another 16.5 lakh vials will be purchased later during the second phase. Each single-dose vial will cost around Rs 295 plus taxes, which means each shot of Covaxin will cost around Rs 310.
:People have some doubts about forthcoming COVID-19vaccination drive and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should get himself inoculated first to allay their concerns.
Scammers have been defrauding people by falsely offering them COVID vaccines in return for payment, with some victims receiving unidentified jabs, the Welsh health minister said on Monday, echoing warnings from police in other parts of Britain. A mass vaccination programme is being run across the United Kingdom by the state-owned National Health Service (NHS), which provides all care including vaccines free of charge. "There are a number of scams involving COVID, including a particularly nasty one in which people have been tricked into paying for a COVID vaccine and then jabbed in the arm," said Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health in Wales, at a briefing. "I want to be clear, our NHS will never ask anyone to pay for a COVID vaccine. These are free. The NHS will never ask for your bank details and vaccines are not being delivered to your front door by people who have not been identified as NHS staff." The minister's warning came after the National Crime Agency (NCA) last week urged the public to be vigilant, reporting that scammers were asking elderly and vulnerable people for payment in return for access to vaccines that were fake or non-existent. "The current level of reported fraud in relation to the vaccine remains very low but is increasing," said Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA. The City of London police reported on Friday that a scammer had obtained 160 pounds from a 92-year-old woman and had jabbed her in the arm with what she described as a "dart-like implement" after he turned up unannounced at her home.
|Manipur reported 33 new COVID-19cases and 46 recoveries today, says State Health Department. Total cases so far: 28,693, Total recoveries: 27,851, Active cases: 477, Total Deaths: 365, Recovery rate is 97.06 %.
|Tamil Nadu reported 682 new COVID-19cases, 869 discharges, and 6 deaths in the last 24 hours: State Health Department. Total cases: 8,26,943, Total discharges: 8,07,744, Death toll: 12,228, Active cases: 6,971.
|Rajasthan reports 429 new COVID-19cases, 568 recoveries and 2 deaths today. Total cases: 3,13,425, Total recoveries: 3,04,104, Death toll: 2,736, Active cases: 6,585.
|Kerala reports 3,110 new COVID-19cases and 3,922 recoveries today. Total recoveries: 7,47,389, Active cases 63,346.
|Andhra Pradesh reports 121 new COVID-19cases, 213 recoveries and 2 death in the last 24 hours. Total cases 8,85,037, Total recoveries: 8,75,456, Death toll: 7,131, Active cases: 2,450.
Besides making all preparations, India built a platform to share vaccine with other countries & emerged as a global leader in providing vaccine. The portal by Govt of India -CoWIN - to deliver vaccine is an example of the capability of India's IT.The scientists of India have proven that the vaccine is absolutely safe. It will build antibodies and immunity. No one should be doubtful whether they should get vaccinated or not.
