Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi records 4,067 new cases, positivity rate at 4.78%

Covid-19 update: At 1,842,587, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 889,113, Andhra Pradesh 870,076, Tamil Nadu 786,163, and Kerala 620,049

2:42 PM

Covid-19 vaccination drive will begin as soon as scientists give nod: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India's vaccination programme against COVID-19 would begin as soon as a go-ahead from scientists is given, and asserted that healthcare workers involved in treating coronavirus patients, frontline workers and old people suffering from serious conditions would be inoculated on priority.

 

In his closing remarks at an all-party meeting with leaders of various political parties to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country, Modi said experts believe the wait for the COVID-19 vaccine will not be long and it may be ready in a few weeks.

 

Nearly eight vaccines are at different stages of trial with their manufacturing assured in India, Modi said. Three vaccines from India are also at different stages of trial, he said. Experts believe that the wait for COVID-19 vaccine will not be long and it is believed that it may be ready in the next few weeks, Modi said. READ ON...

2:11 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Covid-19 positivity rate dips below 5% in Delhi

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the national capital dipped just below the 5 per cent mark on Friday and now stands at 4.96 per cent, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain informed. Speaking to the media, the Minister reiterated that the national capital had the capacity to vaccinate Delhi's population in a few weeks' time through mohalla clinics, polyclinics, dispensaries and hospitals.

 

"The positivity rate in Delhi has come down to 4.96 per cent. We have the capacity to vaccinate Delhi's population in a few weeks' time, through mohalla clinics, polyclinics, dispensaries and hospitals, when the vaccine is provided to us," he said.

 

Delhi's COVID-19 situation has seen a considerable improvement in the last few days with 3,734 new infections reported on Thursday. The total number of active cases in the national capital now stands at 29,120. Out of the 18,000 COVID-19 beds in the city, over 12,000 are vacant and available, along with about 40 per cent of the 5,000 Intensive Care Units beds, the Health Minister added.

2:05 PM

Russia records 27,403 coronavirus cases in past 24 hours

Russia has registered 27,403 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, down from the record 28,145 the day before, bringing the total to 2,402,949, the federal response center said on Friday.

 

"In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 27,403 COVID-19 cases in 85 regions, of which 5,410 (19.7 percent) were detected actively, with people showing no clinical symptoms," the response center said, adding that the case count has reached 2,402,949.

 

Moscow has confirmed 6,868 new coronavirus cases over the given period, down from 7,750 the day before. The Russian capital was followed by St. Petersburg with 3,694 cases, up from 3,692 the day before, and the Moscow region with 1,223 new cases, up from 1,193 the day before. The response center reported 569 coronavirus fatalities, up from 554 the day before, raising the country's death toll to 42,176.

1:41 PM

PM Modi chairing all-party meeting to discuss corona situation, vaccine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chairing an all-party meeting with ministerial colleagues and select opposition leaders on Friday to discuss the ongoing battle against coronavirus pandemic and potential availability of coronavirus vaccine in the near future and its distribution in India. The virtual meeting began at 10.45 am, in which Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, apart from Health Ministry Secretary, were also present.

 

The leaders of opposition parties will be taken into confidence on the measures taken by the central government so far to prevent more coronavirus cases in the country etc.

 

Only leaders of those parties which have four to five MPs have been invited to the meeting. Once the meeting is over, an official statement will be issued on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office to inform the public about its outcomes. Earlier also, Modi had convened all-party meetings on coronavirus and the India-China border tensions in eastern Ladakh.

1:05 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Covid testing increased in India, says PM Modi

1:05 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Only India can provide safe, cheap vaccine, says PM Modi

1:03 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Covid vaccine will be ready in few weeks, says Modi

1:01 PM

Our scientists are very confident of succeeding in their endeavour of making Covid vaccine, says PM Modi

Our scientists are very confident of succeeding in their endeavour of making Covid vaccine. The world is keeping a watch on the cheapest and safe vaccine. That is why the world is watching India: PM Narendra Modi

1:00 PM

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Health workers to get vaccine first, says PM Modi

12:59 PM

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Covid vaccine will be ready in few weeks, says PM Modi at all-party meet on Covid vaccine

12:54 PM

Coronavirus vaccine update: PM Narendra Modi addresses all-party meet on Covid vaccine

12:53 PM

DATA STORY: India's cured Covid cases top 9 million; recovery rate at 94.2%

Another drop was reported in the number of active cases – a net reduction of 6,861 to 416,082, the lowest since July 22. This is 2.23 per cent of all active cases globally (one in 45). Overall, the country added 36,595 cases to take its tally to 9,571,559. Read on...

12:31 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Have capacity to vacinate Delhi's population in a week, says AAP govt

We have the capacity to vaccinate Delhi's population in a few weeks’ time, through mohalla clinics, polyclinics, dispensaries, hospitals, when vaccines are provided to us: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

12:24 PM

591 new Covid-19 cases in Thane, seven die

With the addition of 591 new coronavirus positive cases, the overall infection tally in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 2,30,722, an official said on Friday.

 

These new cases were added on Thursday, he said.

11:50 AM

Coronavirus India update: Five states with most active cases

Maharashtra (86,612)

Kerala (61,342)

Delhi (29,120)

Rajasthan (25,544)

Karnataka (24708)