Coronavirus LIVE: West Bengal sees record 20,136 new cases; 29,272 in TN

Coronavirus live updates: Karnataka pushed Maharashtra to 2nd spot in daily cases. WHO says globally seeing plateau in Covid-19 cases but still 'unacceptably high'. Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:26 AM

Maharashtra may have over 2,000 cases of Mucormycosis: Tope

The Maharashtra government has decided to use hospitals attached to medical colleges as treatment centres for Mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection now affecting coronavirus patients, said health minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday.
 

Symptoms of Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision.
 

He said, There could be over 2,000 Mucormycosis patients in the state as of now and with more and more Covid- 19 cases coming up, their number would increase for sure." The state government has decided to select hospitals attached to medical colleges for treatment of Mucormycosis patients as it demands a multidisciplinary approach, Tope said.
 

He said black fungus has a 50 per cent mortality rate and is found in Covid-19 patients with suppressed immunity or co-morbidities.
 

"A Mucormycosis patient needs to be seen by various experts such as ENT, ophthalmologists and neurologists among others. We are trying to cover most of the treatment under the Mahatma Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana (the state's flagship health scheme), the minister said.
 

1:25 AM

Bharat Biotech's Covaxin recommended by expert panel for phase 2/3 trials on 2-18 year-olds

Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin was on Tuesday recommended by an expert panel for phase II/III clinical trial on those aged between two to 18 years, official sources said.
 

The trial will take place in 525 subjects at various sites, including AIIMS, Delhi, AIIMS, Patna and Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur.
 

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Covid-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) on Tuesday deliberated upon Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's application seeking permission to conduct phase II/III clinical trials to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of Covaxin jabs in children aged 2 to 18 years.
 

"After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for conduct of proposed phase II/III clinical trial of whole virion inactivated coronavirus vaccine in the 2 to 18 years age group subject to the condition that the firm should submit the interim safety data of phase II clinical trial along with DSMB recommendations to the CDSCO before proceeding to phase III part of the study," a source said.
 

Earlier the proposal was deliberated in the SEC meeting dated February 24 and the firm was asked to submit a revised clinical trial protocol.
 

Covaxin, indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being used in adults in India's ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive.
 

1:24 AM

Belgium relaxes lockdown measures as Covid-19 numbers drop

The Belgian government said Tuesday it will further relax its coronavirus lockdown as of next month and hopes to fully reopen the nation from Sept. 1.
 

After the country's curfew was abolished and bars and restaurants reopened their terraces last weekend, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said they will also be able to serve customers inside from June 9.
 

Announcing a slew of relaxation measures, the government also indicated that from mid-August large music festivals could be staged again, with fans checked if they have been vaccinated or have proof of a negative test.
 

The measures were announced as the key indicators on hospital admissions and intensive care needs continued to decline. De Croo said the relaxation of the measures could be pushed through because the vaccine drive had reached cruising speed and is heading toward a level of 1 million jabs per week.
 

At the moment, 35 people a day still die of Covid-19 and the nation of 11.5 million people has lost 24,600 people to the pandemic to make it one of the worst hit nations in the world per capita.
 

Vaccinations have become a turning point and some 3.5 million have had a first shot for a total of 38 percent of the population. Over a million have already been fully vaccinated.
 

10:11 PM

Punjab, Haryana to step up screening as Covid spreads it tentacles in villages

The coronavirus spread in rural areas of Punjab and Haryana has become a cause for concern, with the authorities deciding to intensify screening and testing in villages.
 

According to a data of the Punjab Health Department, the current case fatality rate in Punjab's rural areas is 2.7 per cent as against less than one per cent in urban areas.
 

A major spike in COVID-19 cases has been witnessed in the Malwa region of Punjab, officials said.
 

In neighbouring Haryana, 8,000 multidisciplinary teams led by trainee doctors, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Anganwadi workers, are being constituted for a door-to-door screening in villages, officials said.
 

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday directed officials to set up isolation centres from May 15 in villages that come under the hotspot category.
 

10:10 PM

PM failed miserably in Covid management in country: Former Pondy CM Narayanasamy

Senior Congress leader and former Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Tuesday alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi had 'failed miserably' in handling the coronavirus pandemic with infections spreading across the country.
 

Shortage of medical equipment in hospitals, medicines for patients and other requirements had been taking a heavy toll of human lives, he said in a video address to the people of the union territory.
 

"The Prime Minister has failed miserably in management of the pandemic situation," he alleged.
 

Narayanasamy said the Centre should come to the help of the states.
 

He alleged that the Prime Minister was preoccupied with toppling non-BJP State governments and said "he has no time therefore to address the woes of coronavirus-hit people in the states."
 

He said as far as Puducherry was concerned, he was pained to see that no field work was being carried out by the authorities.
 

The former Chief Minister said hospitals in Puducherry were lacking adequate number of ventilators, oxygenated beds, medicines and other infrastructural facilities.
 

10:08 PM

Covid-19: AstraZeneca pledges $250,000 as humanitarian aid to India

Drug major AstraZeneca on Tuesday said it has pledged $250,000 (over Rs 1.8 crore) in humanitarian aid to India to support relief activities amid the second wave of Covid-19 sweeping across the country.
 

The aid to India is part of the $1 million which the British-Swedish multinational has earmarked for relief initiatives across communities which have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
 

"Today, AstraZeneca pledges 1 million $ in humanitarian aid to support relief activities in India as well as other communities around the world hardest hit by the pandemic.
 

"This includes directing 250,000 $ direct relief to support their efforts in India, which includes the distribution of oxygen concentrators, medicines, other supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide treatment and care for those with Covid-19," AstraZeneca said in a statement on Twitter.
 

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause devastation around the world, with India currently facing an incredible humanitarian crisis from a surge of cases and related deaths, it noted.

 

8:59 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana sees 4,801 new cases

8:49 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana to invite global tenders to buy vaccines, says CMO

Telangana Cabinet has decided to invite global tenders to procure coronavirus vaccines on a war footing, says Chief Minister's Office

8:38 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Congress sets up 13-member Covid relief task force

8:30 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Bihar reports 10,920 new cases

Bihar reports 10,920 new coronavirus cases, taking the total count of active cases to 102,099, according to the state health department

8:10 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Covaxin directly supplied to 18 states since May 1, says Bharat Biotech

8:05 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tamil Nadu sees 29,272 new cases

29,272 new cases, 298 deaths and 19,182 recoveries reported in Tamil Nadu, according to the state health department

7:48 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: PM Modi to not attend G7 summit in person, says MEA

7:39 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Rajasthan records 16,080 new cases

Rajasthan records 16,080 new coronavirus cases, 169 deaths and 13198 discharges in last 24 hours, according to the state health department

7:24 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka reports 39,510 new cases

Karnataka reports 39,510 new coronavirus cases, 480 deaths and 22,584 discharges in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department