Covid LIVE: India third nation after US, Brazil to record 300,000 deaths

Coronavirus LIVE updates: India has set a record of conducting the highest Covid-19 testing in a single day with more than 2.12 mn fresh tests. Stay tuned for corona-related news

10:05 AM

22 suspected Covid-19 deaths in Jharkhand's Palamu, probe ordered

After at least 22 people died of suspected Covid-19 over the last 20 days in a tribal-dominated Sua Kaudia village in Jharkhand's Palamu district, the district administration has ordered an investigation and constituted teams to screen those infected with the virus.

 

According to Shashi Ranjan, Deputy Commissioner, Palamu, a team has been constituted to test people suspected to be COVID-19 infected and shift those found positive into isolation wards to be treated.

 

"District administration and ground-level medical teams conducted detailed investigation here. The situation being observed. Self-help Group workers are conducting surveys in Palamu to record COVID data. Workers will be given Oximeters for COVID patients. COVID testing committee has been formed to test the suspects, they are isolating the infected and giving them medicines," he said.

9:56 AM

Daily average of new Covid cases in US falls below 30,000

For the first time in 11 months, the daily average of new coronavirus infections in the US fell below 30,000 amid continuing signs that most communities are emerging from the worst of the pandemic, but the progress has not been even across the nation, according to media reports.

 

The seven-day average dipped to 27,815 on Friday, the lowest since June 22 and less than a tenth of the infection rate during the winter surge, Xinhua news agency quoted state health department data compiled by The Washington Post.

 

"The pandemic map remains speckled with hot spots, including parts of the Deep South, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. At the local level, progress against the contagion has not been uniform as some communities struggle with inequities in vaccine distribution and in the health impacts of the virus," The Washington Post said in a report on Saturday.

9:44 AM

India reports 240,842 new Covid cases, 3,741 more deaths in last 24 hours: Health Ministry

9:35 AM

More than 3.5 lakh Covid recoveries in India the last 24 hours: Govt

9:17 AM

Pakistan starts Covid vaccination for 30-39 age group

Pakistan has started the vaccination against Covid-19 for people from 30 to 39 years of age, an official said.

 

Asad Umar, chief of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), told the media that the vaccination for the 30-39 age group started on Saturday and would continue for an indefinite period, while urging the Pakistani people to receive the jab, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

Pakistan has already been vaccinating people aged 40 and above across the country.

9:10 AM

Defer vaccination by three months after recovery from Covid-19: Health Ministry

9:05 AM

Study finds 96% of Covid-19 patients have antibodies year after recovery

A study by Japan's Yokohama City University showed that 96 per cent of people previously infected with COVID-19 still had antibodies a year after recovery, Kyodo News Agency reported.

 

The study looked at results from 250 people aged 21-78 who tested positive for the virus between February and April last year and found that those Covid-19 patients who showed more severe symptoms all had antibodies in the following year, while 97 per cent of those with mild or no symptoms had antibodies in the first six months after being ill. READ MORE...

8:56 AM

Global Covid-19 caseload tops 166.4 mn with more than 3.44 mn deaths

The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 166.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.44 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

 

In its latest update on Sunday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 166,438,026 and 3,449,399, respectively.

 

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 33,103,118 and 589,670, respectively, according to the CSSE. READ ON...

8:54 AM

1,001 new coronavirus cases in Thane, 52 more deaths

With the addition of 1,001 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra has gone up to 5,08,647, an official said on Sunday. These new cases were reported on Saturday, he said. The virus also claimed the lives of 52 more people, raising the death toll in the district to 8,820, he said.

 

The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane is 1.73 per cent, he added. Details of recovered and under-treatment patients were not provided by the district administration. In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 1,06,450, while the overall death toll is 1,982, another official said.

8:41 AM

194.9 mn Covid-19 vaccine doses administered till now: says Centre

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19.49 crore on Saturday, the Health Ministry said.

 

In a statement, it said 6,82,398 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose on Saturday, and cumulatively 99,79,676 across 37 states/UTs since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive.

 

Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have administered more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years for their first dose of COVID vaccine. READ MORE...

8:20 AM

Kolkata gurudwara runs free oxygen langar for Covid-19 patients

Setting an example during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Behala gurudwara in Kolkata and the IHA Foundation are conducting an Oxygen Langar where any patient can come with their Aadhaar card, get their oxygen level tested and receive an oxygen cylinder.

 

This facility is available on the premises of Behala Gurdwara where at a time 25 people can avail of the service. Anyone can avail of the services no matter which religion they belong to. If patients feel they are having low Oxygen level, they can come to the premises with their Adhaar card and doctors present will check their measuring oxygen level and if required, give an Oxygen cylinder for free.

8:17 AM

21 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus reported at Delhi govt-run LNJP Hospital till date: Official

21 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus reported at Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital till date: Official

8:09 AM

Districts with more college-educated females show lower infection rate

Last week, a Business Standard analysis pointed out that education had a direct link with vaccination. Districts with higher education levels were more vaccinated than districts where the proportion of people who did not attend school or quit school was higher. 
 

While it is difficult to ascertain the reason behind this phenomenon, whether availability or general awareness, further analysis shows that awareness indeed may have had a role to play in districts where infection was kept at bay. READ MORE...

8:07 AM

'India prepares for second cyclone in weeks as it battles Covid-19'

7:56 AM

Second Covid wave affecting younger people more than older ones

The second Covid-19 wave in the country has been much more devastating than the first with fast-spreading variants that seem to be infecting younger people, ANI reported on Sunday.

 

According to data provided by the Uttarakhand State Control Room COVID 19, the percentage contribution of various age groups to the total number of cases largely remains the same during the first and the second wave.

 

However, there is a stark difference in the deaths due to COVID-19. We can see a sharp rise in the deaths in the age group of 30-39 and 40-49 and a decline in the deaths in the age group of people above 60. This data supports the theory that the second wave is affecting younger people more than older ones.