Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: India saw a single day rise of 44,643 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,18,56,757, while the active cases registered an increase for the third consecutive day, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 4,26,754 with 464 fresh fatalities. The active cases comprise 1.30 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.36 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed. An increase of 3,083 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. As many as 16,40,287 tests were conducted on Thursday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 47,65,33,650. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.72 per cent. It has been less than three per cent for the last 11 days.The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.41 per cent, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,10,15,844 and the case fatality rate stands at 1.34 per cent, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Manipur reports 742 new COVID cases, 1,047 recoveries & 14 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 8,367
Total recoveries: 92,894
Death toll: 1,628
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Nashik sees 116 COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths, 99 recoveries
The COVID-19 tally in Nashik reached 4,03,117 on Friday after 116 cases were detected, while the day also saw three deaths and 99 recoveries, an official said.The toll in the district stands at 8,528 and the recovery count is 3,93,516, he said.With 9,582 samples being examined on Friday, the number of tests in Nashik went up to 23,14,995, the official added.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi govt likely to undertake advanced sero survey
The Delhi government is likely to undertake an advanced sero survey to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 variants and identify susceptible pool among the residents of the city, according to discussions held during a DDMA meeting on Friday, officials said.The meeting to review the Covid situation in the city was attended by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others.It was suggested that in view of the "comfortable situation" due to a drop in new Covid cases, an advanced sero survey should be undertaken, officials present in the meeting said."The survey will take into account extended epidemiological dimensions so as to identify susceptible pool and augment the genome sequencing efforts with an aim of prioritising vaccination," they saidThe health department has been instructed in this regard, said an official.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Karnataka reports 1,805 fresh COVID cases, 1,854 discharges, and 36 deaths in the past 24 hours
Active cases: 24,328
Total discharges: 28,54,222
Death toll: 36,741
Coronavirus LIVE Updates
|Munnar the major tourist destination in Kerala open for tourists as the State govt announced relaxations in COVID restrictions People will be allowed to visit tourist destinations while following COVID-19 protocols, says Munnar wildlife warden R Lakshmi.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Lockdown in Tamil Nadu extended till August 23
The offering of prayers by common public in all places of worship is banned on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.Tamil Nadu government extends lockdown by two more weeks with existing restrictions. School classes from 9 to 12th will re-open from September 1st with 50 percent occupancy following SOPs.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Andhra Pradesh logs 2,209 new COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths
The active coronavirus cases went up further by 291 to 20,593 as Andhra Pradesh reported 2,209 new infections, while 1,896 patients got cured in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Friday.The state also had 22 fresh Covid-19 fatalities in a day, according to the latest bulletin.The total Covid-19 positives now increased to 19,78,350, recoveries to 19,44,267 and deaths 13,490.On Friday, the state completed 2.50 crore coronavirus tests that turned out an overall positivity rate of 7.7 per cent.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Hopeful of launching Covovax for adults in October this year, for children in Q1-2022: SII CEO Adar Poonawalla
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Friday said he is hopeful that Covovax, another COVID-19 vaccine being manufactured by his company in India, will be launched in October for adults and for children by the first quarter of 2022.He also thanked the government for all the support provided to Serum Institute and said the company is always trying to expand its Covishield production capacity to meet the demand.Poonawalla met Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament and the meeting between the two lasted for 30 minutes.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Scientists from 4 BRICS nations to carry out genomic sequencing, mathematical modelling
Scientists from India, China, Russia and Brazil will carry out genomic sequencing of the novel coronavirus, and also studies on epidemiology and mathematical modelling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement said Friday.A whole-genome sequencing is required for the identification of genetic mutations and recombinations of the virus, while epidemiological studies can help assess its distribution. Mathematical modelling is required to project its future spread.“Keeping this in mind, a research plan has been made by including expertise of scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds,” the statement said.The study will provide a common platform to share and analyse the data of four different countries and understand the spread routes and transmission dynamics of virus, it added.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Early signs COVID-19 vaccines may not stop Delta transmission, England says
There are early signs that people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 may be able to transmit the Delta variant of the virus as easily as those who have not, scientists at Public Health England (PHE) said on Friday.The findings chime with those from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which last week raised concerns that vaccinated people infected with Delta could, unlike with other variants, readily transmit it.The highly infectious Delta variant has become the dominant coronavirus type globally, sustaining a pandemic that has already killed more than 4.4 million people, including over 130,000 in Britain.Vaccines have been shown to provide good protection against severe disease and death from Delta, especially with two doses, but there is less data on whether vaccinated people can still transmit it to others.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | UK launches $1 billion COVID insurance scheme for live events
TheUKhas launched aninsuranceschemeto cover music festivals and otherliveeventsas the beleaguered sector seeks protection after months of mass cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic.Thescheme, worth £750 million ($1billion, 880 million euros) and announced by the country's finance ministry late Thursday, follows pressure from organisers and venues for the government to provide a cushion fromCOVIDuncertainty.TheLiveEventsReinsuranceScheme, created in partnership withUK-based Lloyd'sinsurancecompany, will run from September 2021 until the end of September 2022 to avoid a third summer of cancellations ateventssuch as music festivals.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 3.56 crore COVID-19 vaccines procured by private hospitals till August 2: MoS Health
A total of 3.56 crore COVID-19 vaccines have been procured by private hospitals till August 2 and the doses once procured by them are not re-allocated to government vaccination centres, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar, in a written reply, said the demand for Covid vaccines from private hospitals is aggregated on Co-WIN portal, and the Centre, through which, facilitates the sourcing of these vaccines by private hospitals in coordination with state governments and vaccine manufacturers."The private hospitals, accordingly, prepare and publish the schedule of vaccination on Co-WIN portal as per the availability of vaccines with them.“As on August 2, 2021, a total of 3.56 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been procured by private hospitals. The COVID-19 vaccines once procured by private hospitals are not re-allocated to government vaccination centres," she said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | UP CM Yogi Adityanath:
This time could be used to discuss crucial issues like the covid crisis and preparation of the third wave. However, unnecessary issues (Pegasus) were brought into light due to which there was disruption in the session.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | China sees highest daily figure of COVID-19 patients in current outbreak
China reported on Friday its highest daily count of new COVID-19 patients in an outbreak that began in late July, fuelled by a surge in locally transmitted infections.Officials blamed the latest clusters mainly on the highly transmissible Delta variant, though it has not led to widespread infection in some cities, while cases in some areas show initial signs they could ease.China reported 124 new confirmed cases for Thursday, the National Health Commission (NHC) said, up from 85 a day earlier. Of the new confirmed infections, 80 were locally transmitted, up from 62 a day earlier, it added.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Schools to reopen for classes 9 to 12 from Aug 23, weekend curfew in border districts: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai
The Karnataka government has decided to reopen schools for students from class 9 to 12 (II PUC) from August 23, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Friday.After taking stock of the COVID-19 situation in the state, he said that the government has decided to impose weekend curfew in districts bordering Kerala and Maharashtra, and that the existing night curfew across the state will begin from 9 PM instead of 10 PM.The Chief Minister on Friday chaired a meeting with health and education experts, Ministers and senior officials of the state government to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the state.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Monthly production capacity of Covishield, Covaxin planned to be increased: Govt
The monthly vaccine production capacity of Covishield is planned to be increased from 11 crore doses to more than 12 crore doses per month and of Covaxin from 2.5 crore doses to around 5.8 crore, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. From January 16 to August 5, 44.42 crore doses of Covishield were supplied by Serum Institute of India and 6.82 crore doses of Covaxin by Bharat Biotech for the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply. "As communicated by the manufacturers, the monthly vaccine production capacity of Covishield is planned to be increased from 11 crore doses per month to more than 12 crore doses per month and the production capacity of Covaxin is planned to be increased from 2.5 crore doses per month to around 5.8 crore doses per month," she said in response to a question on the total capacity of vaccine manufacturing or production in the country. Elaborating on the steps taken to increase the production of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, Pawar said Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has taken various steps for fast track approval of vaccines.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Dr Subrojyoti Bhowmick,Clinical Director Peerless Hospital in Kolkata:
Even with 2 doses, virus outbreak is possible. One must maintain covid norms. Unless it is essentially required one shouldn't go to crowded areas. If suffering from symptoms then isolate yourself.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Mansukh Mandaviya holds meeting with Biological-E MD on progress of Covid vax
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said he held a meeting with Biological-E Managing Director Mahima Dalta on the progress of the company's upcoming COVID-19 vaccine, Corbevax. The minister on Thursday had also held a meeting with Dr Reddy's Laboratories Chairman Satish Reddy regarding the production and supply of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V. "Met Ms Mahima Datla, MD of @Biological_E , who briefed me on the progress of their upcoming #COVID19 vaccine, Corbevax. I assured all the Government support for the vaccine," Mandaviya said in a tweet. Earlier in June, the Union Health Ministry had finalised arrangements with Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Biological-E to reserve 30 crore of COVID-19 vaccine doses. "These vaccine doses will be manufactured and stockpiled by M/s Biological-E from August-December 2021. For this purpose, the Union Ministry of Health would be making an advance payment of Rs 1,500 crore to M/s Biological-E," the Health Ministry had said in a statement.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Japan COVID-19 cases hit 1 million as infections spread beyond Tokyo
Japan reached the milestone of one million coronavirus cases on Friday, domestic media reported, as infections soared in Olympic host Tokyo and other urban areas as the country struggled to contain the Delta variant.New cases in Tokyo hit 4,515, the second highest after Thursday’s record 5,042, while the neighbouring, populous prefecture of Kanagawa saw its cases soaring to more than 2,000, quadrupling in less than two weeks.Infections in Osaka, the biggest city in the country’s west, also rose to a record-breaking 1,310, in a sign the pathogen is quickly spreading outside Tokyo.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 44 COVID-19 cases, five deaths; positivity rate 0.06%
The national capital recorded 44 fresh COVID-19 cases and five deaths due to the disease on Friday, while the positivity rate dipped to 0.06 percent, according to data shared by the health department here. The coronavirus death toll in the city now stands at 25,065, it showed. On Thursday, Delhi recorded 61 cases with a positivity rate of 0.08 percent and two fatalities, as per the bulletin.
On Friday, 44 cases and five deaths were reported, while the positivity rate slipped to 0.06 percent, it stated. No death due to COVID-19 was recorded in Delhi on Wednesday, while 67 cases of the infection were detected with a positivity rate of 0.09 percent. This was the fifth time since the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic in the national capital when zero deaths had been logged in a day. Before this, the daily COVID-19 fatality count was zero on July 18, July 24, July 29 and August 2, as per official data. The second wave swept through the city during April-May.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Every batch of Covaxin subjected to over 200 quality control tests: Bharat Biotech
Bharat Biotech which manufactures Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin has issued a statement in which it said that every batch of Covaxin is subjected to more than 200 quality control tests, followed by submission samples to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL). The Hyderabad-based manufacturer issued the statement amid the reports of delayed production of its COVID-19 vaccine due to unsatisfactory test batch and quality issues.
"Every batch of Covaxin is subjected to more than 200 quality control tests at our facilities, followed by submission samples to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) Government of India, only based on approval/release by CDL, are batches released commercially," read Bharat Biotech's statement. Suchitra Ella, co-founder of Bharat Biotech took to Twitter to clarify on the same and tweeted," Covaxin@BharatBiotech undergoes #200 odd #QC tests before getting approvals from @CDLKasauli for each batch release! our vaccines are simply world-class, made in India with pride". The statement came after reports that test batches of Covaxin from the Bengaluru plant were not satisfactory and got rejected leading to delayed production.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Conduct of other tests by pvt labs can't justify cap on RT-PCR price: Kerala HC to state govt
The Kerala High Court on Friday said the state government and its Medical Services Corporation, KMSC, cannot justify capping of RT-PCR price at Rs 500 on the ground that private labs are carrying out other tests and can make profits out of those. 'You cannot say they (labs) cannot do other business. Doing other businesscannot be a reason for fixing a price which is lesser than the cost the labs incur in conduct of thetest,' Justice T R Ravi said during hearing of pleasby several private labs challenging an April 30 order of thestate government, slashing the rates for RT-PCR tests from Rs 1,700 to Rs 500.
The private labs said that even if 45 out of the 115 items they need are supplied by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSC), the cost incurred by them on each test would be over Rs 600 and it indicated that the price cap fixed by the agency was withoutany application of mind. KMSC had on the last date of hearing told the court that it can supply only 45 out of 115 items requestedby the labs for carrying out the test.
The labs also said that PPE kits, used during sample collection, cost around Rs 300 each presently as per the price fixed by the government and that too is a part of the RT-PCR test rates. They told the court that the price of the PPE kits has been hiked periodically by the government. KMSC on the other hand disputed the claims of the labs.
Both the state government and KSMC said they have made the best possible offer to the labs. After hearing both sides, the court reserved its order in the matter. KMSC had earlier told the court that some of the labs have installed different proprietary machines and each of them require different reagents for which manufacturers are also varying and therefore, it would be difficult to procure themin the small quantities required by the individual labs.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Private Hospitals Procured Just 10% of Vaccines Over Last 3 Months against a Quota of 25%
Private Hospitals procured just 3.5 crore vaccine doses over the last three months against nearly 30 crore doses procured by the central and state governments between May and July, prompting the Centre to now do away with the stipulated 25% quota for the private sector in vaccines. The latest figures presented before the Parliament on Friday showed that the procurement by private hospitals was only about 10% of the total vaccine stocks against the 25% quota allowed to them.
While the Central government and states procured 29.6 crore doses over the last three months, including stocks directly procured by states during the period when the same was allowed, private hospitals procured only 3.56 crore doses in this period. Private hospitals in Bihar procured not even a single dose in the last three months while only 11 lakh doses were procured by private hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, as per the data furnished in Parliament. Private hospitals in Maharashtra did procure 1.04 crore vaccines since May.
This has prompted the latest change whereby Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Parliament earlier this week that vaccine manufacturers had been told to not reserve 25% of the vaccine quota for private hospitals and only supply them as much as they buy. The rest of the stock, the government has said, can be supplied to the government at the cost at which the government is buying 75% of the vaccine stock. “The COVID-19 vaccines once procured by private hospitals is not re-allocated to Government vaccination centres,” the government has clarified to the Parliament.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Indian scientists to partner with three BRICS countries to carry out genomic sequencing
Scientists from Brazil, Russia, India, and China, who are part of the BRICS group of countries, will partner to carry out genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and to conduct mathematical modelling of the pandemic. The mathematical modelling will be used to make projections about the spread of the coronavirus. In India, the Department of Science and Technology will support the research, the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a statement.
"A consortium consisting of Dr. Ch Sasikala, Professor, Centre for Environment, Institute of Science and Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad, Yuhua Xin, Professorate Senior Engineer Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, Ivan Sobolev, Senior Researcher, Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Timakova, Russia, Dr. Marilda Mendonça Siqueira, Respiratory Viruses and Measles Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will carry out different arms of this BRICS-Multilateral Research and Development Project," The ministry said in a statement.
India and Brazil sides will assess the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples through metagenome analysis for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) surveillance, the statement said. "Chinese and Russian scientists will carry out the Real-Time PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 in biological material (nasopharyngeal swabs) from patients with symptoms of respiratory diseases and investigate the genomic variability, comparative genomics, and phylogenetic analysis," the statement said. The genomic, metagenomic, and epidemiological data from India, China, Russia, and Brazil will be integrated to prepare mathematical models for mutations analysis, population genetics, phylogenetic relationship, recombination analysis, and risk evaluation.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | CNN fires three employees for coming to work unvaccinated: Report
Three employees at CNN have been fired for violating the network's coronavirus policy by coming into the office unvaccinated, according to US media reports. In an internal memo emailed to staff on Thursday and obtained by several US media outlets, CNN President Jeff Zucker said that in the past week the company had become aware of three employees who came to work unvaccinated. All three were "terminated".
"Let me be clear -- we have a zero-tolerance policy on this," he said in snippets of the memo tweeted by CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy. His memo did not specify the fired employees' names, positions or office locations. CNN did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The network had been relying on an honor system that required workers to be jabbed but did not demand they show proof. But Zucker said that may change going forward.
Inoculations are mandatory for anyone reporting in the field, working with any other employees or entering the offices, he reportedly said in the memo. In May, the United States federal government said it was legal for employers to require staff physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Tech giants including Facebook, Google and Microsoft have all said they will require employees to get jabbed before returning to their US offices.
They are among several major US employers that have recently revised their virus policies, vaccine mandates or return-to-office dates as the fast-spreading Delta variant fuels another surge of Covid-19 cases. In his note to staff, Zucker said CNN will postpone its company-wide September 7 return-to-office date likely until some time in October.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Centre releases 19 lakh additional doses to Tamil Nadu for performing well in vaccination: Minister
The Centre has released 19 lakh additional vaccines to Tamil Nadu for performing well in vaccination, Minister for medical and family welfare, Ma Subramanian said. Addressing reporters here, he said the increase in allotment to Tamil Nadu was on account of the efforts taken by the government. "Last month, the Centre had said it will allot 72 lakh doses. But, it released 19lakh additional doses.
Since Tamil Nadu has been performing well in vaccination theytold us that they will allot 79 lakh vaccines for this month (August)", he said. "Till date, the Centre had released 2.39 crore doses. We have over 10 lakhvaccines in-stock. Therefore, vaccination camps are being held across the statewithout any shortages", he said. The nation-wide COVID-19 vaccination drive was formally launched by Modi in January this year.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Drug used to reduce blood fats may cut SARS-CoV-2 infection by 70%: Study
An oral drug used to treat abnormal levels of fatty substances in the blood could reduce infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus by up to 70 per cent, according to a lab study published on Friday. The team led by researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK found that fenofibrate and its active form fenofibric acid can significantly reduce SARS-COV-2 infection, that causes COVID-19, in human cells in the laboratory.
The reduction of infection was obtained using concentrations of the drug which are safe and achievable using the standard clinical dose of fenofibrate, the researchers said. "Our data indicates that fenofibrate may have the potential to reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and also virus spread,” said study co-author Elisa Vicenzi, of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Italy. "Given that fenofibrate is an oral drug which is very cheap and available worldwide, together with its extensive history of clinical use and its good safety profile, our data has global implications -- especially in low-middle income countries," Vicenzi said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Are COVID vaccine passes moving the needle on getting people inoculated?
People in France have been rushing for COVID-19 vaccines since the government introduced a mandatory health pass to access bars and restaurants, stirring the debate about how to get more shots in arms to combat the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus. Governments around the world are resorting to creative ways to encourage citizens to get inoculated - several countries are offering lottery tickets, the Netherlands gave away pickled herring and the US plans to offer USD 100 cash rewards to entice vaccine stragglers.
France has taken an altogether tougher approach, requiring health workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, while the country's highest court on Thursday backed the introduction of the health passes from August 9. Trade unions and some scientists have said the move, which has sparked protests in major towns and cities, is too blunt an instrument and may deepen opposition to vaccines among people who are already reluctant.
French President Emmanuel Macron also runs a risk that the health pass could revive the kind of Yellow Vest street protests that roiled the country in the early part of his term and knocked his agenda off course for months. But the country's vaccination rate has jumped since the policy was announced on July 12 and so far polling has shown public support for the stringent measures.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Johnson & Johnson applies for EUA of its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India
Global healthcare major Johnson & Johnson on Friday said it has applied for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India. Earlier on Monday, the company had said that it remained committed to bringing its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to India and looks forward to ongoing discussions with the Indian government.
"On August 5, 2021 Johnson & Johnson Pvt Ltd applied for EUA of its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to the government of India," a Johnson & Johnson India spokesperson said in a statement. This is an important milestone that paves the way for bringing the company's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to the people of India, and the rest of the world, through a collaboration with Biological E Limited, the statement added.
"Biological E will be an important part of our global supply chain network, helping to supply our Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through the extensive collaborations and partnerships we have with governments, health authorities and organisations such as Gavi and the COVAX Facility," the statement said. The EUA submission is based on topline efficacy and safety data from the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE clinical trial, which demonstrated that company's single-shot vaccine was 85 per cent effective in preventing severe disease across all regions studied, and showed protection against COVID-19 related hospitalisation and death, beginning 28 days after vaccination, it added.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Microsoft requires vaccinations for workers, as office returns slow
Microsoft on Thursday joined the ranks of tech companies requiring returning workers to be vaccinated, as Amazon delayed its plan to reopen offices until next year. The earliest date for fully reopening Microsoft's US facilities will be October 4, according to the computing giant based near Amazon in the state of Washington.
"Starting in September, we'll also require proof of vaccination for all employees, vendors and any guests entering Microsoft buildings in the United States," Microsoft said in response to an AFP inquiry. Microsoft and other tech firms said they are closely tracking the pandemic and adapting plans as the situation evolves, keeping employee health as a top priority. E-commerce colossus Amazon confirmed that it is delaying return of employees to its corporate offices until January of next year instead of having them come back in September as originally hoped.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Every batch of Covaxin subjected to over 200 quality control tests: Bharat Biotech
Bharat Biotech which manufactures Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin has issued a statement in which it said that every batch of Covaxin is subjected to more than 200 quality control tests, followed by submission samples to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL). The Hyderabad-based manufacturer issued the statement amid the reports of delayed production of its COVID-19 vaccine due to unsatisfactory test batch and quality issues.
"Every batch of Covaxin is subjected to more than 200 quality control tests at our facilities, followed by submission samples to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) Government of India, only based on approval/release by CDL, are batches released commercially," read Bharat Biotech's statement. Suchitra Ella, co-founder of Bharat Biotech took to Twitter to clarify on the same and tweeted," Covaxin@BharatBiotech undergoes #200 odd #QC tests before getting approvals from @CDLKasauli for each batch release! our vaccines are simply world-class, made in India with pride". The statement came after reports that test batches of Covaxin from the Bengaluru plant were not satisfactory and got rejected leading to delayed production.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Novavax seeks India's approval to allow emergency use of its Covid vaccine
Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing company Novavax has said that it is looking for final approval from the Indian regulators to allow its vaccine for emergency use.US-based Novavax Inc has a vaccine manufacturing agreement with Serum Institute of India, which also manufactures the Covishield vaccine currently administered in the country.
Apart from India, the vaccine manufacturer has asked Indonesia and the Philippines to allow emergency use of its Covid-19 vaccine, called Covovax.The Novavax two-dose shot is made with lab-grown copies of the spike protein that coats the coronavirus. That’s very different than other widely used vaccines that deliver genetic instructions for the body to make its spike protein.
In June, Novavax announced the vaccine had proved about 90% effective against symptomatic Covid-19 in a study of nearly 30,000 people in the US and Mexico. It also worked against variants circulating in those countries at the time. Side effects were mostly mild.As for the highly contagious Delta variant, Novavax claimed that giving a booster six months after a second shot revved up virus-fighting antibodies that could tackle that mutant.
Additional studies in Britain and elsewhere are testing if the Novavax shot could be used as a booster after other types of Covid-19 vaccines. The company said Indonesia already had expressed interest in using the Novavax vaccine as a booster following some Chinese-made shots.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Microsoft requires Covid vaccinations for workers as office returns slow
Microsoft on Thursday joined the ranks of tech companies requiring returning workers to be vaccinated, as Amazon delayed its plan to reopen offices until next year. The earliest date for fully reopening Microsoft's US facilities will be October 4, according to the computing giant based near Amazon in the state of Washington.
"Starting in September, we'll also require proof of vaccination for all employees, vendors and any guests entering Microsoft buildings in the United States," Microsoft said in response to an AFP inquiry. Microsoft and other tech firms said they are closely tracking the pandemic and adapting plans as the situation evolves, keeping employee health as a top priority.
E-commerce colossus Amazon confirmed that it is delaying return of employees to its corporate offices until January of next year instead of having them come back in September as originally hoped. "We require employees to wear masks in our offices, with the exception of those who have verified full vaccination," Amazon told AFP.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delta variant increases demand and wait times for Covid-19 tests
More Americans are being tested for Covid-19—and waiting longer for results—as virus cases surge and places from offices to concert venues require people to show proof they aren’t infected.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Kerala launches new online system for Covid-19 death info to ensure transparency
The Kerala government has launched the Covid-19 death portal in order to maintain a proper record of the number of deaths due to coronavirus. The state government has launched the portal called 'Death Information Portal' which would include details like names, age, and gender of the people who succumbed to Covid-19. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said both government institutions and the public will have access to the portal.
"The public has the option, via this portal, to search the details of the death of their relatives. All deaths that the government has officially reported as COVID deaths can be found in this portal. The information can be procured by entering the details such as name, district, and date of death in the portal," George added. The launch of the death portal has come at a time when the state has been mired in controversies like inconsistencies in reporting, gaps in data, and the unusual disparities in death rate between districts, which have led to allegations of data manipulation by Kerala.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Centre releases 19 lakh additional doses to Tamil Nadu for performing well in vaccination: Minister
The Centre has released 19 lakh additional vaccines to Tamil Nadu for performing well in vaccination, Minister for medical and family welfare, Ma Subramanian said. Addressing reporters here, he said the increase in allotment to Tamil Nadu was on account of the efforts taken by the government. "Last month, the Centre had said it will allot 72 lakh doses. But, it released 19lakh additional doses.
Since Tamil Nadu has been performing well in vaccination theytold us that they will allot 79 lakh vaccines for this month (August)", he said. "Till date, the Centre had released 2.39 crore doses. We have over 10 lakhvaccines in-stock. Therefore, vaccination camps are being held across the statewithout any shortages", he said. The nation-wide COVID-19 vaccination drive was formally launched by Modi in January this year.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 86,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in a day in Delhi
Over 86,000 Covid vaccine doses were administered in Delhi the previous day, according to the city government's vaccination bulletin issued. A total of 86,163 doses were administered on Wednesday, of which 45,948 were the first doses. Delhi had five days of vaccine stock left as of Thursday morning, the bulletin said. The cumulative number of doses administered in the city so far has reached 1,03,81,616 -- 75,79.305 were the first doses and 28,02,311 the second doses.
The national capital had a balance stock of 8,22,540 coronavirus vaccines, of which 4,61,250 doses were of Covishield and 3,61,290 of Covaxin. A total of 1,67,840 Covisihield doses were added to the stock on Wednesday. The national capital's current vaccination capacity stands at 1,75,539 doses daily, the bulletin stated.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Arunachal Pradesh reports 238 new COVID-19 cases
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Nearly 58 lakh doses administered in India on August 5
Nearly 58 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered across India on August 5, according to the latest Health Ministry update. With that, the total number of doses administered in India inched closer to the 49 crore mark. Cumulatively, 57,97,808 vaccine doses were administered on the 202nd day of vaccination pushing the total coverage to 49,53,27,595, the Health Ministry said.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India logs 44,643 new COVID-19 cases, 464 deaths
India saw a single day rise of 44,643 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,18,56,757, while the active cases registered an increase for the third consecutive day, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 4,26,754 with 464 fresh fatalities. The active cases comprise 1.30 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.36 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.
An increase of 3,083 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. As many as 16,40,287 tests were conducted on Thursday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 47,65,33,650. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.72 per cent. It has been less than three per cent for the last 11 days.The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.41 per cent, according to the ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,10,15,844 and the case fatality rate stands at 1.34 per cent, the data stated.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | China seeks to control COVID-19 flare-up
China recorded another 80 locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 on Friday, as the country seeks to control the biggest flare-up since the original 2019 outbreak with a combination of lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions. Of the new cases, 58 were found in the eastern city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu province, where the highly contagious delta variant spread among airport workers in the provincial capital of Nanjing. Other cases were found in six provinces from tropical Hainan in the south to Inner Mongolia bordering on Russia.
That has taken the number of cases linked to the Nanjing outbreak to at least 1,222 since the middle of last month, prompting renewed travel restrictions, community lockdowns and the sealing off of a city of 1.5 million. Such measures have been implemented with much success following local outbreaks under China''s “zero tolerance” approach to the pandemic, although they are being seen as taking a major toll on society and the economy, stirring speculation that a new approach may be needed that allows for the virus to circulate to some manageable degree.
China says it has administered more than 1.6 billion doses of vaccine, although questions have been raised about the efficacy of the domestic jabs. Another 44 imported cases were reported on Friday and 1,370 people are currently being treated for COVID-19, 34 of them in serious condition, according to the National Health Commission. China has reported 4,636 deaths out of 93,498 confirmed cases.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra's Thane district adds 283 COVID-19 cases, death toll up by 13
The COVID-19 tally of Thane district in Maharashtra rose by 283 to reach 5,46,108, an official said on Friday. These cases were reported on Thursday, he said. The virus claimed the lives of 13 more persons in the district, which pushed its death toll to 11,079. The COVID-19 mortality rate of the district is 2.02 per cent at present, he added. In neighbouring Palghar district, the case count has gone up to 1,33,591, while the death toll is 3,208 another official said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Majority of global public thinks economic recovery to take time; Indians 3rd most optimistic: WEF study
An average of three in four adults believe it will take at least two more years for their country's economy to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and that businesses and governments are expected to share this responsibility, even as Indians are the third most optimistic lot after their counterparts from China and Saudi Arabia, a study showed on Thursday.
The findings from the latest World Economic Forum/Ipsos market survey of almost 22,000 people across 29 countries also revealed that only 7 per cent globally believe that their country's economy has already recovered, with this view being the most widely held in China (56 per cent). The comparable figure for Saudi Arabia was 25 per cent and 11 per cent for India.
Quoting the study, the WEF said in a statement that the responsibility to lead this economic recovery falls to both governments and businesses, but civil society plays a crucial role and must not be left behind.While China topped the optimism chart with as many as 83 per cent of respondents there saying their economy has either already recovered or will recover within one year, it was followed by 63 per cent in Saudi Arabia and 38 per cent in India and the US each.
Among Indian respondents, 38 per cent said the recovery will take 2-3 years, while 24 per cent expect it to take even longer, according to the survey.Globally, 39 per cent believe it will take their economy more than three years to recover from the pandemic, with those in Russia (66 per cent) and South Africa (62 per cent) most likely to hold this view.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | COVID-19 3rd wave may pull GDP growth down to 7%: Economist Abhijit Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday alleging that the Centre is supplying more vaccines to BJP-ruled states and is depriving Bengal and said that she will not remain a "mute spectator". The TMC supremo also alleged that the state is getting a "much lower number of doses" of vaccines despite its very high population density and that several letters sent to the prime minister on the same issue earlier “have not received due attention”.
She urged the prime minister to ramp up the supply of vaccines or the coronavirus situation in West Bengal might turn grim. The state requires around 14 crore doses of COVID vaccines to cover all the eligible people, she said. "Presently we are administering four lakh doses per day and are capable of administering 11 lakh doses per day. Yet we are getting much lower number of doses despite having a very high population density and a higher rate of urbanisation," Banerjee said in the letter.
"I am sorry to say the Central government is providing a larger number of vaccine doses to states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, which are BJP-ruled. I have no problem if they or any other state for that matter receives higher number of vaccine doses, but I cannot remain a mute spectator to see Bengal deprived." she said. "Even after the devastation caused by the second wave the Centre has not been augmenting supply of vaccines to the states on war footing to combat future waves (of COVID). As a result, thousands of innocent people are still being affected everyday," she wrote.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India reports 44,643 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Centre releases 19 lakh additional doses to Tamil Nadu for performing well in vaccination: Minister
The Centre has released 19 lakh additional vaccines to Tamil Nadu for performing well in vaccination, Minister for medical and family welfare, Ma Subramanian said. Addressing reporters here, he said the increase in allotment to Tamil Nadu was on account of the efforts taken by the government. "Last month, the Centre had said it will allot 72 lakh doses. But, it released 19lakh additional doses.
Since Tamil Nadu has been performing well in vaccination theytold us that they will allot 79 lakh vaccines for this month (August)", he said. "Till date, the Centre had released 2.39 crore doses. We have over 10 lakhvaccines in-stock. Therefore, vaccination camps are being held across the statewithout any shortages", he said. The nation-wide COVID-19 vaccination drive was formally launched by Modi in January this year.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 86,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in a day in Delhi
Over 86,000 Covid vaccine doses were administered in Delhi the previous day, according to the city government's vaccination bulletin issued. A total of 86,163 doses were administered on Wednesday, of which 45,948 were the first doses. Delhi had five days of vaccine stock left as of Thursday morning, the bulletin said. The cumulative number of doses administered in the city so far has reached 1,03,81,616 -- 75,79.305 were the first doses and 28,02,311 the second doses.
The national capital had a balance stock of 8,22,540 coronavirus vaccines, of which 4,61,250 doses were of Covishield and 3,61,290 of Covaxin. A total of 1,67,840 Covisihield doses were added to the stock on Wednesday. The national capital's current vaccination capacity stands at 1,75,539 doses daily, the bulletin stated.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 49 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has gone past 49 crore, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. More than 50.29 lakh (50,29,573) vaccine doses were administered on Thursday, according to a provisional report compiled at 7 pm. The ministry said 27,26,494 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received the first dose, while 4,81,823 were administered the second dose of the vaccine on Thursday.
Cumulatively, 16,92,68,754 people in the 18-44 age group have received the first dose and 1,07,72,537 have been administered the second dose of the vaccine since the start of the third phase of the nationwide inoculation drive, the ministry said. Five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh -- have administered more than one crore vaccine doses each to beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group. Also, the first dose of the vaccine has been administered to more than 10 lakh beneficiaries in the said age group each in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Maharashtra govt clears financial package for folk artists hit by COVID-19 lockdown
The Maharashtra government on Thursday approved a Rs 34 crore relief package for folk music artists, producers of folk art, touring talkies and organisations associated with them to help them overcome the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant lockdown. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray cleared a proposal of financial assistance for people and groups associated with folk music and other streams after a meeting with Culture Minister Amit Deshmukh here. A statement from the Chief Minister''s Office said, 56,000 folk artists will get Rs 5,000 each as financial assistance.
This will add a financial burden of Rs 28 crore on the state exchequer. Similarly, there are 847organisations which are active in various folk arts like ''tamasha'', ''shahiri'' and touring talkies (showing movies in tents), and the government will spend Rs 6 crore to provide relief to them, the statement said. The ban on cultural events in the state in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020 and the subsequent lockdown severely affected artists and their organisations.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Kerala gets 3.61 lakh additional COVID-19 vaccine doses
Kerala has received 3.61 lakh more doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the state government said here on Thursday. The state on Wednesday received two lakh doses of Covishield vaccine and 1,61,440 Covaxin jabs at the regional vaccine stores in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode, Health Minister Veena George said in a release. Kerala has now administered 2,13,01,782 Covid vaccine cumulatively in first and second doses (1,50,32,333 first doses and 62,69,449 second doses) even as the state inoculated a total of 1,87,504 people on Thursday, the government said.
