Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala reports 5,397 new Covid-19 positive cases

Coronavirus live updates: Globally, over 108.2 million people have been infected by the virus and the death toll stands at 2,369,253

4:40 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 7.4 million vaccinated so far in India, says govt

The number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 has reached 74.30 lakh on day 27 of the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination program.

 

"All states/Union Territories (UTs) except Mizoram and Daman and Diu reported vaccination activity today," stated the press release by the Ministry of Health.

 

The cumulative number of healthcare workers and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 is 74,30,866 (as at 7:00 pm today), as per the provisional report. 1,53,799 sessions have been held so far. 10,743 sessions were held till 7:00 pm today. Of the cumulative coverage, 5,790,832 are healthcare workers and 1,640,034 are frontline workers.

3:59 PM

Highly contagious UK Covid-19 variant found in Sri Lanka for first time

For the first time, Sri Lanka has reported the highly contagious new variant of the coronavirus found in the UK, health authorities said on Friday. Dr Chandima Jeewandara, Director of immunology and molecular medicine of the Sri Jayewardenepra University here, said that the latest variant, of B.1.1.7 lineage, is highly contagious.

 

It was the third variant of coronavirus to be detected in the country, he said, mentioning four different locations from where samples have been tested positive for the new UK variant. According to the health authorities, the country is recording over 800 COVID-19 cases on a daily basis.

3:38 PM

India records a sharp decline in the Active Caseload; stands at 1.35 lakh today

3:20 PM

Covid-19 antibodies to last for eight months after vaccination: AIIMS Director

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Randeep Guleria on Friday said that antibodies against the novel Coronavirus disease may last for up to eight months or longer pursuant to the vaccination, adding that scientists are aggressively studying the long-term protection provided by the vaccines.

 

Guleria, who is also a member of the National Task Force on Covid-19, answered a batch of questions related to the vaccines on Twitter earlier in the day. People tweeted to him using #VaccineVarta, following which he reverted to them.

 

"Antibodies will develop about 14 days after the second shot. It is not clear how long protection will last but it is believed that it will last for at least 8 months, or may be longer. "Currently, scientists are aggressively studying long-term protection provided by vaccines," the AIIMS Director said, on being asked how long the body will sustain the vaccines.

2:45 PM

India became fastest country to vaccinate over 70 lakh people for coronavirus: Health Ministry

In just 26 days, India has become the fastest country to vaccinate over 70 lakh people for coronavirus: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare

2:03 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 7.4 million vaccinated so far in India, says govt

1:45 PM

Brazilian tourism lost $48 billion in 2020 due to Covid-19

The Brazilian tourism sector lost 261.3 billion reals ($48 billion) last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, authorities announced In a report issued on Thursday, the National Confederation of Commerce, Goods, Service and Tourism (CNC) said that the figure represented the period between March and December 2020, reports Xinhua news agency.

Taking into account the entire 2020, the losses totalled to about $51 billion.

"It is a huge toll, and recovery will probably take until 2022 or 2023. We have already seen some recovery in trade and agribusiness, but not in the service sector," CNC economist Fabio Bentes was quoted as saying in the report.

1:09 PM

India is Asia's best post-Covid recovery story: Chris Wood

A steady fall in Covid cases coupled with a sharp economic recovery in India has made Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies reiterate his bullish view on Indian equities. In December 2020, Wood raised exposure to Indian equities twice in his Asia ex-Japan long only portfolio.

 

“With Covid cases in India now 88 per cent off their peak amid growing hopes of herd immunity, India looks right now Asia’s best post-Covid recovery story,” Wood wrote in his weekly note to investors, GREED & fear. Read on...

12:45 PM

Africa Covid deaths surge amid new variants: WHO

The number of Covid-19 fatalities in Africa has spiked as the continent grapples with local transmissions of the new and highly contagious strains of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

 

Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the continent's death toll from the pandemic increased by 40 per cent in January, fuelled by a second wave of infections and new variants that have overwhelmed local public health systems, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

"The increasing deaths from Covid-19 we are seeing are tragic, but are also disturbing warning signs that health workers and health systems in Africa are dangerously overstretched," Moeti said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

12:00 PM

Telangana reported 143 new Covid-19 cases

Telangana reported 143 new Covid-19 cases, 152 recoveries, and 1 death on 11th February.

 

Total cases reported as per the latest update 2,96,277

Total recoveries 2,92,848

Death toll 1,614

 

Active cases in the state 1,815

10:35 AM

Covid-19 impact: Lufthansa lays off 103 of its 135 cabin crew in India

Lufthansa has sacked 103 of its 135 cabin crew in India as Covid-19 has disrupted air travel and reduced fleet requirement.

 

The German carrier, which operated 42 flights per week to India prior to lockdown, now operates 10 services per week under an air travel bubble. The flight attendants in India were put on two years leave without pay, but the airline finally decided to lay them off as it was unable to negotiate a settlement with them. The airline has retained 32 permanent crew members in India, it is learnt. Read on...

10:28 AM

Oil steadies after strong rally as coronavirus weighs on demand

Oil prices steadied on Thursday from a record streak of gains after both OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) said renewed lockdowns and the emergence of new coronavirus variants reduced the prospect of a swift demand recovery.

 

Brent futures fell 7 cents, or 0.1%, to $61.40 a barrel by 11:21 a.m. EST (1621 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 17 cents, or 0.3%, to $58.51.

 

Previously, Brent rose for nine days in a row on Wednesday, tying the benchmark's winning streak record last hit in January 2019. It was also hit in April and September of 2007.

10:11 AM

Coronavirus in India: Latest update by MoHFW

Active cases: 135926 (Net reduction: 6,636)

Deaths: 155447 (Net increase: 87)

Cured: 10589230 (Net increase: 15,858)

Total cases: 10880603 (Net increase: 9,309)

Total vaccination: 7,505,010  (Increase over previous day: 487,896)

9:00 AM

US: Fed policymakers see rebound ahead, even if no Covid herd immunity

A slower-than-expected vaccine rollout and the rise of coronavirus variants may make attaining herd immunity against COVID-19 difficult, but that should not stop the economy from rebounding, according to a U.S. central banker Thursday.

 

"I don't think the economy requires herd immunity," Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Barkin told Reuters Thursday. "Consumers who get vaccines, who have money in their pockets...are going to be free to spend," he said. Read on...

7:52 AM

Italy maintains downward trend in active Covid cases, death toll at 92,729

About one month after easing most restrictions on people's movements, Italy maintained a downward trend in active coronavirus infections, the latest official data showed.

 

Yet, one of the most relevant anti-Covid-19 rules still in place -- a ban on travelling between the country's regions, except for essential work, health, or emergency reasons -- was expected to be extended beyond the current mid-February deadline, according to authorities, the Xinhua news agency reported.