Covid LIVE: Delhi records zero fatality, 2nd time since onset of 2nd wave

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 30,503,166, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.34 per cent

2:42 PM

Odisha sanctions Rs 2.55 crore ex-gratia to family members of 17 journalists who died of Covid-19

The Odisha government has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs 2.55 crore to the family members of 17 working journalists of the state who died due to COVID-19, an official release said.

 

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved a proposal in this regard put-forth by the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Department on Friday. An assistance of Rs15 lakh each has been sanctioned for the families of 17 working journalists of the state, who died due to the infection.

 

2:25 PM

CoronaVac vaccine: Results patchy, but the world can't ignore its usefulness

China's vaccine-development system has been busy during the pandemic. Two Chinese vaccines are now being used around the world: the Sinopharm vaccine and the CoronaVac vaccine.

 

The latter, developed by the Sinovac Biotech company, is the latest Covid-19 vaccine to be authorised for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). Because of this, the CoronaVac vaccine could have a big role to play in turning the tide of the pandemic.

2:13 PM

Arunachal reports 480 new Covid-19 cases, 4 more fatalities

At least 480 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the tally in the state to 45,188, a health department official said on Saturday.

 

The death toll rose to 212 after four more persons from Tawang, Lohit, Changlang and Upper Subansiri districts succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

 

All the four patients died while undergoing treatment at various health facilities of the state, and they had comorbidities, he said.

2:01 PM

China administered total 1.5249 bln doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of July 23

China administered a total of 1.5249 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of July 23, data from National Health Commission showed on Saturday.

1:45 PM

San Francisco Covid cases rose faster than California, Bay Area

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases increased faster in San Francisco alone in the past week, as compared to the Bay Area and entire state of California, according to new data.

 

This was a rare occurrence for the city, which has had among the lowest virus rates in major US metropolitan areas throughout the pandemic, Xinhua news agency quoted the San Francisco Chronicle as saying in a report on Friday.

 

According to the California Data Coalition, the total number of new cases recorded over the past seven days in San Francisco was up 81.6 per cent from the previous seven-day period.

1:32 PM

Over 29.8 mn unutilised vaccine doses still available with states, pvt hospitals: Govt

More than 29.8 million balance and unutilized Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states, Union Territories and private hospitals, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.

 

Over 445.3 million vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far through all sources and a further 8,558,360 doses are in the pipeline, it said.

 

Of this, the total consumption including wastage is 415,550,543 doses.

12:55 PM

Karnataka govt allows reopening of places of worship, amusement parks from July 25

Karnataka government on Saturday permitted reopening of places of worship and amusement parks from July 25 with Covid-19 guidelines.

 

"Temples, Mosque, Churches, Gurudwaras and other religious places are allowed to open and its related activities pertaining to these places from July 25, 2021, with strictly adhering to the COVID-19 behaviour and SOP issued by the concerned department, However, jathres, temple festivals, processions, congregations not allowed," read a state government order.

 

The state also permits amusements parks and similar places to re-open with Covid-19 restrictions.

 

12:34 PM

No fresh COVID-19 case in Andaman Nicobar Islands

The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not record any new COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours, a health department official said on Saturday.

 

The COVID-19 tally in the archipelago remained at 7,525.

 

The union territory now has 17 active COVID-19 cases of which 15 are in the South Andaman district and two in the North and Middle Andaman district. The Nicobar district is now COVID-19 free as it has no active case, he said.

 

Two more persons recuperated from COVID-19 during the period, taking the total number of recoveries to 7,379, he said.

12:15 PM

Vietnam locks down capital Hanoi for 15 days as cases rise

Vietnam announced a 15-day lockdown in the capital Hanoi starting Saturday as a coronavirus surge spread from the southern Mekong Delta region.

 

The lockdown order, issued late Friday night, bans the gathering of more than two people in public. Only government offices, hospitals and essential businesses are allowed to stay open.

 

Earlier in the week, the city had suspended all outdoor activities and ordered non-essential businesses to close following an increase in cases. On Friday, Hanoi reported 70 confirmed infections, the city's highest, part of a record 7,295 cases in the country in the last 24 hours.

 

12:00 PM

China's Sinovac evaluates vaccine plant in Chile

Chilean authorities said on Friday that China's Sinovac had begun evaluating potential sites for the construction of a vaccine plant in Chile that could begin producing doses of the Chinese shot as early as the first half of 2022.

 

Chile, a global leader in vaccinating its citizens against the coronavirus, has leaned heavily on the Sinovac vaccine in its fast-paced mass vaccination program. The Andean nation also helped spearhead clinical trials of the shot late last year.

 

A delegation of executives from Sinovac this week visited potential sites for the factory near the capital Santiago and in Chile's northern desert.

11:41 AM

RTPCR raw material can be supplied to pvt labs by KMSC: Kerala govt to HC

The Kerala government has informed the High Court here that raw materials for RT-PCR tests can be supplied to private labs here at a reasonable price so that they can conduct the test for Rs 500.

 

The state government also told the court that it has in principle agreed to the proposition that Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSC) can supply the materials as requested by private labs, as a temporary measure, particularly in light of the situation created by the pandemic.

11:20 AM

Reeling under Covid-19, world needs healing touch of compassion, kindness: President

President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said the world is reeling under the impact of COVID-19 and needs the healing touch of compassion, kindness and selflessness more than ever before.

 

These universal values propagated by Buddhism need to be adopted by all in their thoughts and actions, he said at an event.

 

"Application of Buddhist values and principles in addressing issues of global concern will help in healing the world and making it a better place," Kovind said.

11:04 AM

India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 427.8 mn

India has administered over 427.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine in its ongoing inoculation drive so far, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.

 

As the new phase of universalisation of Covid-19 vaccination commenced from 21 June, 427,882,261 vaccine doses have been administered through 5,234,188 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today out of which 4,267,799 vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours.

 

These include, 10,283,491 health care workers received their first dose of vaccine and 7,674,804 second doses while 17,844,127 front line workers were administered the first dose and 10,732,410 vaccine doses given as the second dose to front line workers.

 

10:40 AM

Long queues outside vaccination centres in WB's Siliguri, women wait for hours to get jabbed

Following an alleged vaccine crisis in West Bengal, women, especially the mothers of children between the age group of 0-12 years, waited in long queues outside a Covid vaccination centre in Niranjan Nagar of West Bengal's Siliguri district on Friday for several hours to get their first shot of vaccine.

 

Sapna Paul, who had been waiting for hours in the queue said, "We are mostly mothers of kids between 0-12 years. We've been here since morning but to no avail. They've asked us to come tomorrow. We're not sure if we'll be vaccinated tomorrow either."

 

"There is no safety, social distancing here. It's like waiting here for the vaccine will give us corona. We want the government to slot our names beforehand for vaccination," she added.

10:15 AM

Brazil suspends Bharat Biotech's Covaxin clinical trials

Brazilhas suspended the clinical studies of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin following termination of the company's agreement with its partner there, the South American Country's health regulator said.

 

Bharat Biotech on Friday announced cancellation of the MoU it signed with Precisa Medicamentos and Envixia Pharmaceuticals LL.C for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for the Brazilian market.

The termination of the pact comes after the deal with the Brazilian government for supply of 20 million doses of the vaccine landed in controversy and attracted investigation by authorities in that country.