Covid LIVE: Discussed virus challenge with UN Secy General, says Jaishankar

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 195,815 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 26,947,496. Death toll surged to 307,249. Stay tuned for corona-related news

3:23 PM

Covid LIVE: Over 218 mn vaccine doses provided to states/UTs, says Centre

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In addition, the Govt. of India has also been facilitating direct procurement of vaccines by the States/UTs. Vaccination is an integral pillar of the comprehensive strategy of Government of India for containment and management of the pandemic, along with Test, Track, Treat and COVID Appropriate Behaviour.

 

Implementation of the Liberalized and Accelerated Phase-3 Strategy of Covid-19 Vaccination has started from 1st May 2021.

 

Under the Strategy, in every month 50% of the total Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) cleared vaccine doses of any manufacturer would be procured by Govt. of India. It would continue to make these doses available to the State Govts totally free of cost as was being done earlier.

 

Government of India has so far provided, both through the free of cost category and through direct state procurement category, more than 21.89 crore vaccine doses (21,89,69,250) to States/UTs.

3:10 PM

As vaccine shortage soars, daily jabs plunge over 35% to 980 per mn adults: Report

As the vaccine mismanagement and the resultant shortage continue, the daily vaccination has come down to 980 per million people as of May 23, down from 1,455 per million a week earlier and against the world average of 3,564 per million, according to a report.

 

The only saving grace is the continuing decline in the pandemic caseload, which has been trending downward for the second week in a row as daily cases declined 22 per cent sequentially in the week ended May 23, which is faster than the 15 per cent fall the week before, Crisil said in the report.

 

This means that the infections may have crossed the peak on May 6, when the country had reported 4.14 lakh cases. Daily new cases now average 2.5 lakh, down from 3.3 lakh in the week ended May 16.

2:59 PM

Mild Covid-19 induces lasting antibody protection, study finds

Months after recovering from mild cases of COVID-19, people still have immune cells which produce antibodies against the novel coronavirus, according to a study.

 

The researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, US, noted that such cells could persist for a lifetime, churning out antibodies all the while.

 

The study, published on Monday in the journal Nature, suggests that mild cases of COVID-19 leave those infected with lasting antibody protection and that repeated bouts of illness are likely to be uncommon.

2:58 PM

Most of the rich world will immunise as much of its population as possible: Dr Gagandeep Kang

2:39 PM

More than 21.89 crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs: Govt

2:26 PM

Covid containment zones in Gurugram down to 50

As Covid-19 cases decline in Gurugram, the city now has 50 containment zones compared to the earlier 107 as on May 21, according to the district administration order.

 

The health officials said the numbers of containment zones will soon come down further as the number of Covid cases have been decreasing in Gurugram.

 

During the screening in rural areas of Gurugram since May 15, the district health department workers have visited 28,129 houses, nearly 1,49,810 Covid tests were done and nearly 41 people tested positive for Covid-19.

2:16 PM

Black Fungus not related to Covid variant: Member of SC-appointed committee on medical oxygen

2:06 PM

Daily Covid-19 positivity rate down to 9.54%, says Health ministry

The daily COVID-19 positivity rate has reduced and now stands at 9.54 per cent, while the single-day recoveries continue to outnumber the new cases for the 12th consecutive day, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

 

The active COVID-19 caseload has also reduced to 25,86,782 with a net decline of 1,33,934 cases being witnessed in a span of 24 hours. It now accounts for 9.60 per cent of the country's total infections.

 

The active cases have decreased since its last peak on May 10. "India's daily recoveries continue to outnumber the daily new cases for the 12th consecutive day with 3,26,850 patients recuperating in a span of 24 hours taking India's cumulative recoveries to 2,40,54,861. READ ON...

1:50 PM

No home isolation for patients of 18 districts where positivity rate is high: Maharashtra Health Minister

1:06 PM

Flipkart hires 23,000 employees to bolster its supply chain amid pandemic

Flipkart on Tuesday said it has hired 23,000 people across its supply chain, including delivery executives, in the last three months as the e-commerce marketplace strengthens the supply chain to fast deliver products while creating additional employment.

 

The hiring was done keeping the growing demand for e-commerce services across the country, as people continue to remain indoors to fight the pandemic, which has necessitated a ramp-up of supply chain, the company said in a statement.

 

"All new hires will be covered with our healthcare and wellness initiatives to ensure their safety during these testing times," said Hemant Badri, Senior Vice-President, Supply Chain at Flipkart. Read on...

12:09 PM

Black fungus update: 19,420 vials of Amphotericin- B allocated to states/UTs and Central Institutions

Additional 19,420 vials of Amphotericin- B have been allocated to all States/UTs and Central Institutions on 24th May. Besides this, 23680 vials of Amphotericin- B were allocated across the country on 21st May: Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

11:47 AM

Covid antibody cocktail used to treat Donald Trump now launched in India

Covid antibody cocktail used to treat Donald Trump now launched in India

11:24 AM

Facing Covaxin shortfall, K'taka to give second dose only to 45+ age group

The Karnataka government, in order to tide over a shortfall in Covaxin stock in the state, has directed health officials to administer the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine only to people aged above 45 years.

 

In an official order on Monday the state government said: "In order to tide over the current situation of short supply of Covaxin in the State of Karnataka, it is hereby advised that all the private health care institutions should utilize the available stock of Covaxin at their respective health facility, as the second dose for the age group 45 plus who are awaiting for the second dose of Covaxin as per the COVID vaccination schedule of Government of India." Read on...

10:21 AM

A flight from Russia carrying Remdesivir vials along with other medicines arrived in India today

10:13 AM

Covid can't be beaten one country at a time, says UN secretary-general

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for global solidarity in the fight against the pandemic, saying that "Covid-19 cannot be beaten one country at a time".

 

World leaders must urgently step up with a global plan for equitable access to vaccines, tests and treatments, he said in a video message on Monday to the World Health Assembly, which is underway in Geneva.

 

"This starts with funding the ACT-Accelerator and its COVAX Facility, to deploy life-saving tools to the poorest countries on a global scale," Xinhua news agency quoted the UN chief as saying. Read on...