Coronavirus LIVE: 30 vaccines in different stages of development in India

Coronavirus live update: At 17,84,361, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 874,555, Andhra Pradesh 862,758, Tamil Nadu 771,619 and Kerala 566,492

6:17 PM

Oxford Covid-19 results reason for hope but early days yet, caution scientists

Given its low pricing and higher temperature storage, Oxford University's COVID-19 vaccine candidate holds promise for India and is a more viable option than the Moderna, Pfizer or Sputnik V vaccines under development, say scientists while cautioning that the data presented is still preliminary.

 

There is plenty to be hopeful about and the Oxford AstraZeneca is a good option to begin with, but it is also important to remember the numbers are tentative and a full analysis is difficult, several scientists said on Tuesday.

 

On Monday, pharma major AstraZeneca announced that an interim analysis of clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and Brazil showed it was 70 per cent effective on average.

6:06 PM

About 30 vaccines are in different stages of development in India

6:05 PM

Centre asks states to strengthen monitoring of adverse effects of Covid-19 vaccination

The Centre has asked states to take steps needed for strengthening surveillance of adverse events following immunisation before the COVID-19 vaccine is introduced, noting that preparations are underway for conducting the vaccinations starting with certain priority groups. In its letter dated November 18, the Union health ministry listed initiatives which it said are essential to further strengthen the existing adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) surveillance system of India so that timely and complete AEFI reporting for COVID-19 inoculation is possible.

 

"I request that these initiatives are implemented at the earliest so that required changes take place well before the COVID-19 vaccine is introduced in the state and district," the letter written by Dr Manohar Agnani, additional secretary in the ministry, said.

 

Listing the initiatives, the ministry asked all states and union territories to include medical specialists in addition to paediatricians in state and district AEFI committee saying COVID-19 vaccinations will be given to adults, many of whom may have comorbidities.

5:54 PM

Gurugram administration launches app for Covid-19 information

To fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and provide all the necessary information, the Gurugram district administration has launched a portal -- covidggn.com -- for making relevant information readily available to the people.

 

All the required information will be also available on the GC3 android mobile application. GC3 stands for 'Gurugram Covid Combat Companion', which is available for download on Google Play Store.

 

According to the Gurugram administration officials, at present the portal provides information regarding testing centres, helpline numbers, ambulance helpline number, hospital bed availability, location of hospitals, general statistical reports, testing charges, number of Covid-19 patients etc.

5:46 PM

Coronavirus under control in Chhattisgarh: CM Bhupesh Baghel at PM-CMs meet

The spread of COVID-19 has been brought under control in Chhattisgarh, where 23,000 tests are being conducted per day, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Tuesday. Baghel made the remarks while speaking at Prime Minister Narendra Modis video conference meeting with chief ministers of eight states which account for bulk of the coronavirus cases in the country, an official statement issued here after the meet said.

 

During the meeting, steps being taken to contain the infections were reviewed and an action plan for potential COVID-19 vaccination drive was also discussed, the release issued by the states public relations department said.

 

The coronavirus situation is under control in the state. After October, the state has registered around 50 per cent decline in new cases," Baghel said. Earlier very few cases were being reported from rural areas, but the number of infections has increased there to some extent, he said.

5:32 PM

Russia says Sputnik V vaccine over 95% effective against coronavirus

Russia on Tuesday said that the efficacy of its Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine is over 95 per cent and the cost of one dose of the shot for international markets will be less than $10 (around Rs 740). Preliminary data from volunteers obtained 42 days after the first dose (corresponds with 21 days after the second dose) indicates the efficacy of the vaccine above 95 per cent, the Gamelya National Centre andthe Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a joint statement.

 

"The cost of one dose of the Sputnik V vaccine for international markets will be less than USD 10. It is a double dose vaccine," the statement said.

 

The efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine is 91.4 per cent, based on the second interim analysis of data obtained 28 days after administering the first dose (seven days after the second dose), it added.

5:22 PM

12 doctors on coronavirus duty thrown out of rest house over pending rent

Twelve doctors on Covid-19 duty in Ulhasnagar township in Thane district were turned out in the middle of the night by the management of the rest house they were staying in as the local civic corporation failed to pay six months rent, PTI reported on Tuesday. The doctors were deployed by Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation and their monthly rent was to be paid by it. 

 

When contacted, UMC public relations officer Yuvraj Badane, however, said the civic body had recently paid three months rent to the charitable trust that runs the rest house and the remaining payments were to be made soon. It is unfortunate that the charitable trust chose to take this course of action at a time when these doctors are providing essential service to contain the coronavirus outbreak in Ulhasnagar, Badane added.

 

UMC Mayor Leena Ashan said the trust should have engaged with the civic body to recover its money rather that put the 12 doctors through this kind of inconvenience.

4:55 PM

Guard against laxity in coronavirus fight; Bring fatality rate under 1%: PM Modi to CMs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday cautioned states and union territories against any laxity in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and called for reducing the positivity and fatality rates by focusing on curbing the virus transmission. Interacting with chief ministers, the prime minister also called for more RT-PCR tests, even as he underlined that India's COVID-19 situation is more stable than other countries in terms of recovery and fatality rates.

 

Modi asked them to work towards bringing the positive rate to less than 5 per cent and the fatality rate to under 1 per cent and called for more RT-PCR tests.

 

"We need to speed up our efforts to reduce transmission of the virus. Testing, confirmation, contact tracing and data must be given top priority," he said.

4:43 PM

Frontline workers should get Covid-19 shots on priority: Madhya Pradesh CM

The Madhya Pradesh government has made preparations like cold-chain storage for COVID-19 vaccine and is also imparting training to health personnel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday even as he demanded the shots be administered to frontline workers on priority. The CM made this demand during a meeting of chief ministers of eight states, which have reported higher number of COVID-19 cases, addressed by the PM via video conferencing.

 

The chief minister also informed that services of NCC (National Cadet Corps) cadets, local bodies, and NGOs will be taken for vaccination in urban and rural areas of the state.

"We have made preparations for training vaccinators (a person who administers a vaccine) and for the cold chain storage of the vaccine. I request you to give a priority to frontline workers to receive COVID-19 vaccine," the CM is quoted as saying by a public relations department official.

 

4:36 PM

Supreme Court notice on plea to cap RT-PCR test price at Rs 400

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response from the Centre on a PIL to cap the price of RT-PCR tests for Covid-19, at Rs 400. A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde and comprising Justices A. S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian issued notice to the Union Health Ministry.

 

Advocate Ajay Agarwal, representing the petitioner, submitted before the top court that different rates are being charged across the country, whereas the actual cost of the test is merely Rs 200. He sought a direction from the top court for fixing the maximum rate for the RT-PCR test for Covid-19 uniformly all over India. The bench said this plea will be heard with another pending plea pertaining to capping the cost of Covid-19 treatment and listed the matter for further hearing after two weeks. As Agarwal sought urgent hearing in the matter, the bench took note of his submissions.

 

"There is a big loot by laboratories and they are minting money to the tune of crores and crores of rupees. The margin of profit is so high... it is as high as 1,400 per cent in Andhra Pradesh and 1,200 per cent in Delhi," said the plea.

4:25 PM

Diabetic eye disease associated with five-fold risk of severe Covid-19: Study

People with diabetic eye disease have a five-fold increased risk of requiring intubation when hospitalised with COVID-19, according to a new study which calls for better clinical monitoring of patients with this complication.

 

The study, published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice on Tuesday, identified for the first time the risk associated with diabetic retinopathy and COVID-19.

 

This eye disease is a common complication of diabetes and is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the eye, the researchers, including those from King's College London in the UK, explained. In the study, the scientists investigated 187 people with diabetes hospitalised with COVID-19 between March and April 2020. They found that 67 patients had diabetic retinopathy, a majority with background eye damage.

4:15 PM

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine 91.4% efficacy on day 28 after the first dose

4:06 PM

Bring down Covid-19 positivity rate under 5%, increase RT-PCR tests: PM Modi to CMs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India is in a better situation than other countries when it comes to coronavirus recovery and fatality rates but asserted that the positivity rate needs to be brought down to under five per cent and the number of RT-PCR tests should be increased.

 

"Today I spoke to chief ministers of states where the situation is deteriorating. Discussions over the status and distribution of vaccine took place and the picture is clearer now... As a result of joint efforts, today India is in a better situation than other countries when it comes to recovery and fatality rates," the Prime Minister said at a virtual meeting with chief ministers over the pandemic situation.

 

"The country has sufficient data and has wide experience in COVID-19 management. While making the strategy further... We have to bring down the positivity rate under 5 per cent and fatality rate under 1 per cent," he said.

 

He also said that the states must also start working to build cold storage facilities.

3:55 PM

Work together, increase testing: Modi meets eight Chief Ministers on Covid-19

The central government and states have to "work together" in controlling the coronavirus pandemic and "no one can impose any view", Prime Minister Narendra Modi told chief ministers on Tuesday.

 

Modi held two meetings through video with eight Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors to discuss the coronavirus situation in the states and preparations for vaccine delivery. With a daily increase of 44,059 in total cases, India’s tally of coronavirus cases has risen from 9,095,806 on Sunday to 9,139,865 – an increase of 0.5%. Death toll has reached 133,738, with 511 fatalities in a day.

 

Modi asked the Chief Ministers to share feedback in writing on their Covid-19 strategy, saying "no one can impose any view and all have to work together". READ ON...

3:42 PM

Bengal will work with Centre to implement Covid-19 vaccination prog: Mamata to PM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that her government is fully prepared to work with the Centre and all other stakeholders for the speedy implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the state. The prime minister reviewed the COVID-19 situation in various states through video conferencing with chief ministers.

 

Noting that West Bengal has successfully reduced COVID-19 positivity and death rates, Banerjee said the recovery rate among the patients in the state has improved as compared to other parts of the country.

 

"We are ready to work with the Centre and all other stakeholders for speedy and universal vaccination for everyone as soon as the vaccine is available," Banerjee told Modi during the virtual meeting, a statement issued by the West Bengal government said.

 

She said the entire nation is looking forward to an early vaccination programme, wherein the state government will join the Centre and all other stakeholders for a comprehensive battle against the pandemic.