Coronavirus LIVE: 786,842 beneficiaries vaccinated in India since Saturday

Coronavirus live updates: Till now 786,842 beneficiaries have been vaccinated in India. Globally, 96.6 million people have been infected, of which, 10,596,442 are in India

9:26 AM

Covid-19 pandemic could be source of global crises for years: WEF

The coronavirus has exposed the “catastrophic effects” of ignoring long-term risks such as pandemics, and the economic and political consequences could cause more crises for years to come, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

 

The WEF’s annual survey of global risks lists infectious disease and livelihood crises as the top “clear and present dangers” over the next two years. Knock-on effects such as asset bubbles and price instability lead concerns over 3-5 years. Read on...

9:10 AM

UK coronavirus-related deaths top 90,000

The number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test has surpassed the grim milestone of 90,000 in Britain after another 1,610 were confirmed, the media reported on Tuesday.

 

The latest daily death toll was the highest since the pandemic began in the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

Meanwhile, another 33,355 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, the lowest daily increase since the start of the year, according to the BBC.

 

9:05 AM

Covaxin recipients to be followed-up for 3 months after 2nd dose: ICMR

Following the administration of Covid-19 vaccine 'Covaxin', the recipients will remain at the vaccination site for at least 30 minutes of the observation to record any adverse event, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in its guidelines for the vaccination drive.

 

The recipients will be followed-up for a period of three months after the second dose of vaccination, it said.

 

The ICMR has issued the key Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for the restricted use authorisation of Covaxin under clinical trial mode stating, in case of severe/serious adverse event at any given point of time after vaccination, he/she will report to the nearest health facility for treatment and will also inform the designated vaccinator.

9:04 AM

US Covid deaths top 400,000, cases cross 24.16 mn: Johns Hopkins University

The US reached the grim milestone of 400,000 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

 

With the national case count topping 24.16 million, the death toll across the US rose to 400,022, according to the CSSE data, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

New York State reported 41,350 fatalities, at the top of the US state-level death toll list. California recorded the second most deaths of 33,763, followed by Texas with 32,729 deaths and Florida with 24,274 deaths, the CSSE tally showed. Read on...

8:56 AM

Germany to extend Covid-19-related restrictions until Feb 14: Angela Merkel

Germany will extend and strengthen the coronavirus-related restrictive measures until February 14, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

 

"Today we held talks again and agreed to introduce new measures... We are doing this as a precautionary measure for the sake of citizens' health, as well as for the sake of the economy and labor market," Merkel said.

 

"We agreed that all measures that were scheduled until January 31 should be extended until February 14," she said. Read on...

8:33 AM

We begin healing together: Biden, Harris pay tribute to victims of Covid-19

US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Tuesday (local time) paid tribute to the thousands of lives lost to the Covid-19 pandemic at a memorial held by the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial at the National Mall in Washington.

 

"To heal, we must remember," the President-elect said. "It is hard sometimes to remember, but that is how we heal. It is important to do that as a nation. That is why we are here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along this sacred pool of reflection and remember all that we have lost." Read on...

8:27 AM

Covid-19: India dispatches 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccine to Bhutan

As a gift from India, the first consignment of 1.5 lakh dosages of Covid-19 vaccine 'Covishield' was dispatched to Thimphu, Bhutan from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai in the wee hours of Wednesday.

 

According to the sources, a consignment containing 150,000 doses of Covishield will reach Thimphu today. Bhutan is the first country to receive the Government of India's gift of the Covid vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

 

In line with India-Bhutan unique and special relations, India ensured a continuous supply of trade and essential items to Bhutan, despite Covid-19 restrictions. Read on...