Coronavirus News Highlights: Today is the 287th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. India reported 16,375 new COVID-19 cases and 29,091 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) informed on Tuesday. With this, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 1,03,56,845, including 2,31,036 active cases and 99,75,958 recoveries. As many as 201 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll in the country to 1,49,850. The total number of samples tested up to 4th January is 17,65,31,997 including 8,96,236 samples tested on Monday. A total of 727 recoveries and 12 deaths were also recorded in the last 24 hours. The overall cases in the national capital reached 6,27,256 including 4,689 active infections, 6,11,970 recoveries. The death toll climbed mounted to 10,597. The case fatality rate reached 1.69 percent while the cumulative positivity rate is at 7.03 percent. India's regulator has granted restricted emergency use approval for two vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Mumbai records 9 COVID-19 deaths, 539 new cases
After reporting three COVID-19 deaths for two consecutive days, Mumbai reported nine coronavirus fatalities on January 5, taking the city’s total death toll to 11,147.With the addition of 539 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the total coronavirus caseload of Mumbai now stands at 2,95,524, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates |
Premier League records 40 positive coronavirus tests in last week
The Premier League confirmed on January 5 that 40 players and staffers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease in the two rounds of testing that were conducted over the past week. However, the Premier League has insisted that the season continues as planned.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Denmark imposes new restrictions over fears of mutant coronavirus variant
Denmark imposed new lockdown measures on January 5 to curb the rapid spread of a new coronavirus variant that is believed to be more transmissible, the country’s prime minister said.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “The mutation is already so widespread that it cannot be stopped. But we can delay it and drag out the time so we can vaccinate more people.”
Denmark had imposed a hard lockdown in December, including closing bars, restaurants, and other non-essential shops, to curb a worrying spike in new infections, which has pushed the country’s hospitals to the brim of their capacity.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | China steps up COVID-19 vaccination for key groups ahead of holiday season
More Chinese cities have begun mass COVID-19 vaccinations after the New Year holidays, days after China granted conditional approval for its domestically produced vaccine as the country prepares for the Spring Festival holiday next month.
Given the goal of vaccinating 50 million people ahead of the Spring Festival, which also marks the Chinese New Year holidays, a number of cities — including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen in South China’s Guangdong Province, Luliang and Linyi — have already started mass inoculations of the vaccine, covering nine key groups of people, the state-run Global Times reported on January 5.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates
|A 'dry run' will be conducted on January 7, 2021, across the state in all the districts, on six sites, including three urban and three rural sites, from 11 am to 1 pm: Haryana Government (ANI)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | October actress Banita Sandhu tests COVID-19 positive
British actor Banita Sandhu, who was on the same flight that two youths who had tested positive for the mutant coronavirus strain had taken, has tested positive for COVID-19.
The actress who had starred opposite Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan in the movie ‘October’ had travelled to Kolkata for a movie shoot where she was detected with SARS-CoV-2 infections.
The actress reportedly refused to be admitted to a government facility for COVID-19 treatment and had to be admitted to a private hospital in the city.
Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh LIVE Updates
|Andhra Pradesh reports 377 new COVID-19cases, 278 recoveries & 4 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 8,83,587 as per the State Health Department. Recovered Cases: 8,73,427 Active Cases: 3,038 Total Deaths: 7,122
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates
|Rajasthan reported 397 new COVID-19cases, 5 deaths and 751 recoveries/discharges today. Total cases: 3,10,675 Death toll: 2,719 Total recoveries/discharges: 3,00,126 Active cases: 7,830.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Health Minister Rajesh Tope:
Maharashtra govt will take appropriate steps if Centre doesn't make COVID-19 vaccinesavailable free of cost to people living below poverty line.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Two more UK returnees test COVID-19 positive in Kerala
With two more UK returnees testing postive, a total of 41 people from that country who reached here have been found infected, as the state reported 5,615 new COVID-19 cases and 24 more fatalities on Tuesday, taking the tally to 7,84,488 and the death toll to 3,184. State health minister K K Shailaja said 4,922 people recovered from the infection today, taking the total cured in the state to 7,17,311. The state tested 61,269 samples in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 9.6 per cent."Two more persons who reached the state from the UK have also tested positive for COVID-19 and currently, 41 people from that country have been found infected.Their samples have been sent to NIV for further tests," Shailaja said.
"Out of the new positive cases today, 59 people came from outside the state while 5,037 contracted the disease from their contacts.The source of infection for 475 people are yet to be identified," the minister said in a release.
Among those infected are 44 health workers."Currently, there are 63,802 people under treatment in the state, 1,90,990 people under observation of which 11,122 are in isolation wards of various hospitals," the minister said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | PM-CARES Fund allocates over Rs 201 cr to boost medical oxygen availability across country
A sum of Rs 201.58 crore from the PM-CARES Fund is being allocated for installing 162 dedicated PSA medical oxygen generation plants in public health facilities across the country, the PMO said on Tuesday.It stressed that adequate and uninterrupted supply of oxygen is an essential pre-requisite for managing moderate and severe cases of COVID -19, in addition to various other medical conditions where this need arises.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in March announced the creation of the PM's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) where people can contribute to help in the government's fight against the coronavirus and similar "distressing situations". The PM CARES Fund is allocating Rs 201.58 crore for the installation of additional 162 dedicated pressure swing adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants in public health facilities across the country, the Prime Minister's Office said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Himachal Pradesh not to extend night curfew in four districts
The Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to restore the usual six-day week schedule in government offices and not to extend the night curfew imposed in four districts of the state, an official spokesman said.The state cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur decided not to extend the night curfew in Shimla, Kangra, Mandi and Kullu districts, he added. In order to contain the spread of COVID-19, the state government had decided to impose night curfew in the four districts from 23 November to 15 December which was later extended till 5 January. The HP dispensation has decided to restore the usual six-day week schedule in government offices in the state.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Telangana govt has capacity to inoculate 3 crore eligible people in a month, claims official
The Telangana government has put in place arrangements, including storage, for the COVID-19 vaccines and can administer the shot to about three coreeligible population in the state over a period of one month, a health department official said on Tuesday. About 10 lakh people can be vaccinated in the state perday, he said, two days after the country's drug regulator gave approval for restricted emergency use of Oxford's Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech.The state government has created the capacity to store at least three crore vaccine doses —1.5 crore doses at the state vaccination centre and another 1.5 crore at ten other places, he told news agencyPTI. In addition to this, one crore doses can be stored in freezers in about 1,000 hospitals in the state, he said.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates | Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar:
11 UK returnees have tested positive for new coronavirus strain in the state.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates |
5,615 new COVID-19cases, 4,922 recoveries & 24 deaths reported in Kerala today. Active cases: 63,802 Total recoveries: 7,17,311 Total Deaths: 3,184.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | BioNTech warns against delaying second vaccine dose
German firm BioNTech warned on Tuesday that there is no data backing the "safety and efficacy" of delaying the second shot of its COVID-19 vaccine beyond three weeks, as some countries push back the jab to give more people their first dose.
Coronavirus LIVE Update | Balram Bhargava DG ICMR:
Drug Controller has requested manufacturers to provide SOPs and protocol for a clinical trial mode which means everyone will give their consent for the vaccine. There will be no placebo. There will be closer follow up.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Health minister Rajesh Tope:
Maharashtra govt will seek some clarifications from Centre on the two Covid-19 vaccines approved for restricted emergency use.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Health Ministry:
Average Covid-19 recovered cases exceeded average daily new cases for last 5 weeks.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Odisha to conduct health check-ups in schools & colleges for COVID-19
TheOdishagovernment would undertake regular health check-ups in educational institutions across the state for COVID-19 after opening of schools and colleges, an official said on Tuesday.The Health and Family Welfare department would undertake health check-ups in educational institutions after opening of schools on January 8 and colleges/universities on January 11, the official said.Additional Chief Secretary P KMohapatrahas assured the state government on behalf of the H&FW department about health check-ups at a high level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S CMohapatra.The chief secretary had earlier asked the department to conduct frequent health check-ups in educational institutions and hostels as a preventivemeasureagainst any possible large breakout of the pandemic. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Boris Johnson, UK PM and Republic Day chief guest, cancels India visit
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesdaycancelleda planned trip to India later this month, citing the need to oversee the pandemic response at home.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates
|United Kingdom PM Boris Johnson cancels visit to India later this month, reports Reuters
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Belgium to get half the Pfizer vaccine doses it ordered for January
Belgium will receive only half the doses of USdrugmaker Pfizer vaccine it ordered for January because of a logistical difficulty that occurred last month. Health Ministry spokesman Yves Van Laethem said a logistical issue in the second half of December prevented the delivery of the vaccines as planned in the Belgian vaccination strategy, without detailing the problem.
“The company Pfizer, which supplies us, will only be able to supply half of the planned doses for the month of January and so we go from 600,000 doses to a little over 300,000 doses,” Van Laethem told a news conference.After vaccinating about 700 people in four nursing homes during a test week of vaccination, Belgium started on Tuesday to vaccinate residents in nursing homes nationwide along with the health staff there. (Reuters)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Sri Lanka to finalise agreement to secure COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX
Sri Lanka is all set tofinalisean agreement to secure COVID-19 vaccine via the United Nations-backedCOVAXfacility, whichsubsidisesthe shots for 92 low and middle income countries.TheCOVAXor COVID-19 Vaccine Global Accessprogrammeis run byGavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World HealthOrganisation(WHO) in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers.
Sri Lanka joined theCOVAXfacility last year and the Global Alliance for Vaccines andImmunisation(GAVI) has accredited the nation, making it eligible to receive the vaccines through theprogramme.The Lanka Cabinet will sign part two of theCOVAXagreement with the WHO this week, enabling the country to obtain a limited quantity of the COVID-19 vaccine in the first quarter of this year, according to an official statement.The signing of the second part has to be done by January 8, it said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19 vaccination dry run held at Ahmedabad civil hospital
A dry run to assess the readiness of the mechanism laid out for the COVID-19immunisationdrive, which is expected to begin soon, was conducted atAhmedabadcivil hospital in Gujarat on Tuesday, days after similar exercises were conducted in six districts of the state on separate occasions.A total of 25 healthcare workers of the civil hospital underwent dummy vaccination in the old traumacentre, an official release said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Iran finds first case of new virus variant in traveller from UK
Iran has registered its first case of a highly contagious coronavirus variant that emerged in Britain, in an Iranian who arrived from the UK, Health MinisterSaeedNamakisaid on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, we found the first case of the mutated British COVID-19 from a dear compatriot who had returned from England, ... and who was admitted to one of our private hospitals,"Namakitold state TV. "We did not find any trace of this virus in the patient's relatives."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan:
The active cases in the country are less than 2.5 lakhs and continue to decline. The positivity rate stood at 1.97%.44% of active cases are in hospital with moderate or severe symptoms needing regular care. 56% of cases are very mild or asymptomatic & are in home isolation. The overall burden on health delivery structure declined appreciably on account ofCOVIDin India.There are 4 primary vaccine stores called GMSD located in Karnal, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata and there are 37 vaccine stores in the country. They store vaccines in bulk and distributes further.The facility including the number of vaccines stored and temperature trackers is monitored digitally. We have this facility for over a decade in the country.Healthcare workers and frontline workers would not need to register themselves as a beneficiary as their data is bulk database that has been populated on the Co-WIN vaccine delivery management system in a bulk manner.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Moderna says Israel approved its virus vaccine
American biotech companyModernasays Israel has approved its COVID-19 vaccine, but the announcement comes as the country faces a rapidly growing outbreak of the disease.Modernasaid in a statement Tuesday that the Israeli Health Ministry authorized use of thecompany'svaccine and that it would begin delivering this month the 6 million doses secured by Israel.
Israels Health Ministry reported 8,308 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Tuesday — one of the highest daily tallies since the beginning of the pandemic — as the country struggles to contain the pandemic during a third national lockdown. Israel has recorded over 450,000 cases of coronavirus and 3,445 deaths.
At the same time, Israel has already vaccinated over 10 per cent of its population, primarily the elderly and healthcare workers.
Coronavirus in Ladakh LIVE Updates | Department of Information & Public relations Leh Ladakh
: Five new positive cases report in Ladakh; 21 patients cured and discharged. Active cases inLadakhstands at 241; 230 inLehdistrict and 11 inKargildistrict.
Coronavirus vaccination LIVE Updates | Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
:We're prepared for COVID19 vaccination in Bihar. It'll be given to the healthcare workers, frontline workers & people above 50 years on priority. We'll be following the central guideline & will conduct the vaccination effectively. (ANI)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | UK rolls out $6.2 billion of business support for new lockdown
Britain will make 4.6 billion pounds ($6.2 billion) worth of grants and financial support available to companies in sectors such as hospitality, retail and leisure to try to help them survive a new COVID-19 national lockdown.Below are details of the new support:- One-off top up grants will be given worth up to 9,000 pounds per property to help businesses through to the spring. The per-property support is expected to benefit over 600,000 business properties, worth 4 billion pounds in total across all nations of the United Kingdom. A 594 million pound discretionary fund will also support other impacted businesses. The support comes in addition to 1.1 billion pounds of grant funding for Local Authorities, and Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to 3,000 pounds a month and extension of the job furlough scheme. Business support is a devolved matter in the United Kingdom, meaning the governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales can direct the funding. The Scottish government will receive 375 million pounds, the Welsh government will receive 227 million pounds and the Northern Ireland Executive will receive 127 million pounds. Finance minister Rishi Sunak said: "This will help businesses to get through the months ahead and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen." (Reuters)
Coronavirus Live updates
|France promises faster vaccine rollout aftercriticism. France rolled out just over 500 doses as of January 1, with critics calling that figure "a scandal" compared with the 200,000 peopleimmunisedin Germany in a similar time frame. (AFP)
Coronavirus Live updates
|We are fully aware of the importance of vaccines for people and countries alike, we hereby communicate our joint pledge to provide global access for our COVID-19 vaccines: Joint statement of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu Live updates | State Health Secretary
: Total four people in TamilNaduhave tested positive for the new strain of Coronavirus that was first detected in United Kingdom.
Coronavirus Live updates: Indonesia says mass vaccinations to begin January 13, President Joko Widodo to get first shot
Indonesia will begin its nationwide COVID-19 mass vaccination programme on Jan. 13, the country's health minister said on Tuesday, as the world's fourth most populous country battles the worst coronavirus outbreak in Southeast Asia. The programme will launch in Jakarta, with President Joko Widodo set to be given the first shot, Budi Gunadi Sadikin said in a statement, while vaccinations in other regions will start in the following two days.The government has previously said 1.3 million frontline workers are due to be among the first to receive the vaccines made by China's Sinovac Biotech. Indonesia has received 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, named CoronaVac . After health workers had been innoculated, regional governors should come forward to be given the vaccine "to generate confidence in the community," said Budi. The announcement comes before the country's food and drug agency (BPOM) has given emergency use approval to allow inoculations to start. (Reuters)
Coronavirus Live updates: Bharat Biotech achieved a milestone in indigenous vaccinology, says Karnataka Minister
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday asked people to refrain from unwarranted criticism of Covaxin’s Phase-3 trial as it discredited the hard work of the scientists. The minister’s statement comes a day after Bharat Biotech Director Krishna Ella came down on his critics over allegations that the Hyderabad-based vaccine maker lacks data of Covaxin. “I think people should have the patience to read the internet and look at what our articles are,” Ella had said.
COVID-19 vaccination in India: Eligibility to mandatory registration — all you need to know
India on Sunday approved two vaccines against novel coronavirus — Covishield by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted restricted emergency approval to the two COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
The centre is in talks with both companies whose vaccines have been approved. According to the suggestions made by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, the central government will directly procure the vaccine supplies and distribute among states as per their requirement.
The Union health ministry already prepared a blueprint for coronavirus vaccination drive in the country. The Union health ministry already prepared a blueprint for corovirus vaccination drive in the country. A dry run for COVID-19 vaccine roll out has already started across India.
Coronavirus Live updates: New variant of COVID present in Paris, says Official
The new variant of the COVID virus is present in Paris, Martin Hirsch, director general of the Paris hospitals system, told France 2 television on Tuesday. French Health Minister Olivier Veran had earlier told RTL radio that there were around 10 cases in France at present of the new UK variant of COVID.
Coronavirus Live updates: UK bets 2 million vaccine shots a week will end new lockdown
Boris Johnson pinned his hopes for a national recovery on a plan to deliver 2 million coronavirus vaccinations a week, as the U.K. went back into lockdown in an attempt to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed.
Amid dire warnings that the National Health Service could fail to cope with soaring infection rates, the prime minister shut England’s schools and ordered people across the country to stay at home.
Johnson warned of hard weeks ahead but announced a target to give shots to 13.9 million people at the highest risk from the disease by mid-February. Once they have all been vaccinated, the restrictions can begin to be eased, he said.
Coronavirus Live updates: Odisha logs 198 new COVID-19 cases, two more deaths
Odisha's COVID-19 tally on Tuesday mounted to 3,30,690 after 198 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities took the toll to 1,887, a health department official said. Of the 198 new cases, 115 were reported from various quarantine centres, and the rest detected during contact tracing, the official said.
Angul district recorded the maximum number of new cases at 34, followed by Sundargarh at 23 and Keonjhar at 19. Seven districts -- Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada -- did not report any new case since Monday. Two fresh fatalities were reported from Sambalpur and Sundergarh districts.
Odisha currently has 2,243 active cases, while 3,26,507 patients have so far recovered. Apart from the 1,887 succumbing to the infection, 53 COVID-19 patients in the state have died due to comorbidities. The coastal state''s positivity rate now stands at 4.69 per cent, the official said. As many as 70.44 lakh samples have been examined so far, including 15,910 on Monday, he added.
Coronavirus Live updates: Arunachal Pradesh reports nine new COVID-19 cases, tally at 16,741
The COVID-19 tally in Arunachal Pradesh rose to 16,741 as nine more people tested positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, a health department official said on Tuesday. Of the fresh cases, four were reported from East Siang district, three from the Capital Complex region and one each from Tawang and Lepa Rada.
Barring three, all the new patients were asymptomatic, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said. Seven fresh cases were detected through rapid antigen tests, and two through TureNat method, he said. Fifteen more people were cured of the disease on Monday, taking the total number of recoveries in the northeastern state to 16,598.
Coronavirus Live updates: 11 new cases take Mizoram's COVID-19 tally to 4,234
At least 11 people, including two Border Security Force personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, taking the tally in the state to 4,234, a health department official said on Tuesday. Of the fresh cases, eight were reported from Aizawl district, two from Lunglei and one from Kolasib, he said.
Ten new patients have travel history, and it is yet to be ascertained how the remaining one person contracted the disease, the official said. At least 4,147 people have been cured of the disease in the state, and the recovery rate currently stands at 97.95 percent. Mizoram now has 79 active cases, and eight patients have died so far.
Aizawl has the maximum number of active cases at 43, followed by Lunglei at 19 and Lawngtlai at eight. The northeastern state has so far conducted 1,82,272 sample tests for COVID-19, including 921 on Monday, and the positivity rate is at 2.32 percent.
Coronavirus Live updates: New COVID-19 variant may enter Sri Lanka: health expert
Sri Lanka faces the danger of new coronavirus variant entering the country as the government has allowed the foreign tourists to return to the country, a senior epidemilogist warned on Tuesday.
A group of Ukrainian tourists became the first batch of holidayers to visit Sri Lanka last month in more than eight months after the island nation put curbs on international travel due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We have to make sure that all health protocols are strictly followed. Those who come in are actually touring the country during their mandatory quarantine period," said Dr Sudath Samaraweera, the chief epidemiologist.
Since last week, at least 3 groups of tourists form Ukraine have arrived under a pilot project to revive tourism in the island nation. The authorities have ensured they are on a bio bubble.
However, the government's decision to allow over 500 tourists from Ukraine into the country sparked a controversy after drivers of the wild safari the tourist had been on were forced to be under quarantine.
Coronavirus Live updates: No fresh COVID-19 case in Andamans, tally at 4,948
Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not record a single fresh COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours, a health department official said on Tuesday. The coronavirus tally in the Union Territory remained at 4,948, while a total of 62 people have so far died due to the contagion, he said. Two persons were cured of the disease since Monday, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 4,848, the official said.
The Union Territory now has 38 active cases. The Andaman and Nicobar administration has conducted 1,86,140 sample tests for COVID-19 so far, and the positivity rate stands at 2.66 percent, he added.
Coronavirus Live updates: Pondy clocks 47 new cases of COVID-19, no fresh deaths reported
Puducherry recorded 47 fresh cases of coronavirus on Tuesday pushing up the overall tally to 38,300, the health department said. The new cases were identified at the end of screening of 3827 samples in the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Tuesday. No fresh fatality was reported from any of the four regions of Union Territory. Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said 31 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals today.
While Puducherry region accounted for 24 new cases out of the total 47, Karaikal reported seven, Yanam one and Mahe 15. The Director said the fatality and recovery rates were 1.66 percent and 97.37 percent respectively. So far 4.98 lakh samples were tested and 4.55 lakh out of them turned out to be negative. The Director said the active cases were 373 while 37,292 patients recovered and were discharged so far. Fatalities remained 635, he added.
Coronavirus Live updates: Speedy distribution of COVID-19 vaccine a major challenge for global govts, says WHO experts
As India launches the world's most ambitious and biggest vaccination drive against COVID-19, the country will encounter the formidable challenge of rapidly scaling up distribution of the vaccines to secure immunity for its entire population, two prominent Indian scientists at WHO have said.
This daunting challenge is not only for India but also for all the governments across the globe as they start inoculating their populations to tackle the pandemic, noted Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of WHO, and Dr Hamsadvani Kuganantham, Consultant, WHO.
On Sunday, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO),India's drugs regulator, had approved Oxford vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use for the frontline warriors and senior citizens in the country.
