Coronavirus LIVE: PM Modi to meet CMs over vaccine rollout on Monday

Coronavirus live updates: At 1,958,282, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 924,898, Andhra Pradesh 884,171, Tamil Nadu 823,986, and Kerala 795,933

12:40 PM

Cutting COVID-19 infectious period even by one day could prevent millions of cases, study says

A vaccine or medication that could shorten the infectious period of COVID-19 in patients, even by one day, may potentially prevent millions of cases and save billions of dollars, according to a new modelling study.

 

The research, published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology, noted that some vaccines and drugs may have subtler effects by which even if they cannot prevent or cure COVID-19, they may still reduce how long an infected person is contagious.

 

In the study, scientists including those from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health in the US, assessed the potential value of shortening the infectious period in COVID-19 patients.

 

The researchers created a computational model that simulates the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 and used it to explore how a vaccine or medication that can reduce the contagious period might alleviate the clinical and economic impact of the disease.

12:40 PM

Karnataka to get 1,390,000 vaccine vials in few days: Health Minister

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday said the state is expected to receive 13,90,000 vials of vaccine against COVID-19 in a day or two.

 

"The big good news for Karnataka is that I have received information from the Union Health Ministry that tomorrow or the day after probably we will be receiving 13,90,000 vials of vaccine for the state. It's a big happy news for all of us," Sudhakar said.

 

Speaking to reporters after visiting a private hospital here, where vaccination dry run is being conducted, he said, the vaccination will be first administered to health care workers. Read on...

12:19 PM

Another dry run for Covid vaccination roll-out in Delhi; AIIMS among sites

The authorities will on Friday conduct the second dry run for the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in Delhi that will span across several districts of the national capital, officials said.

 

The districts include South Delhi, South East Delhi and North West Delhi and New Delhi, they said.

 

The first dry run for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out was held in Delhi on January 2 for which three sites were chosen across the national capital. Read on...

12:15 PM

Initial severity of Covid-19 not associated with later respiratory complications: Study

A new study examines the recovery of lung function and overall wellness in individuals who had varying degrees of Covid-19 severity. Little is known about lung health following infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and whether later respiratory problems, fatigue and ill health are associated with the disease's initial severity.

 

The study was published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society

 

In "Persistent Poor Health Post-Covid-19 Is Not Associated With Respiratory Complications or Initial Disease Severity," Liam Townsend, MD, and co-authors looked at a number of measures of recovery for 153 patients who were followed in an outpatient clinic a median of 75 days after their Covid-19 diagnoses.

11:49 AM

We should be able to give Covid-19 vaccines to our countrymen soon: Vardhan

In the next few days, we should be able to give Covid-19 vaccines to our countrymen, said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan after his visit to the session site in Government General Hospital in Chennai to review the second dry run for coronavirus vaccination on Friday.

 

"In a short time, India has done well by developing vaccines... In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers," the Minister said. Read on...

11:47 AM

Raging Covid cases expected to have restrained US labour market in December

The US economy likely created the fewest jobs in seven months in December or even shed workers as the country buckled under an onslaught of Covid-19 infections, marking the start of what is expected to be a bleak winter.

 

Despite the anticipated weakness in the Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday, the economy is unlikely to fall back into recession, with additional pandemic relief approved by the government in late December providing a backstop. More fiscal stimulus is expected. Read on...

11:35 AM

PM Modi should take first shot of Covid-19 vaccine, then, we will also take it: RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav

PM Modi should take first shot of Covid-19 vaccine, then, we will also take it: RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav

11:33 AM

Raging Covid cases expected to have restrained US labour market in December

The US economy likely created the fewest jobs in seven months in December or even shed workers as the country buckled under an onslaught of Covid-19 infections, marking the start of what is expected to be a bleak winter.

 

Despite the anticipated weakness in the Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday, the economy is unlikely to fall back into recession, with additional pandemic relief approved by the government in late December providing a backstop. More fiscal stimulus is expected. Read on...

11:32 AM

Pfizer study suggests vaccine works against virus variant

New research suggests that Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa.

 

Those variants are causing global concern. They both share a common mutation called N501Y, a slight alteration on one spot of the spike protein that coats the virus. That change is believed to be the reason they can spread so easily.

 

Most of the vaccines being rolled out around the world train the body to recognize that spike protein and fight it. Pfizer teamed with researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for laboratory tests to see if the mutation affected its vaccine's ability to do so.

11:31 AM

Australia's third-largest city enters 3-day lockdown after new strain case

Australia's third-largest city of Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown from Friday afternoon after a local resident was found to be infected with the mutant strain of COVID-19.

 

According to the Health Department of the state of Queensland where Brisbane locates, the Greater Brisbane area will enter lockdown from 6:00 pm Friday to 6:00 pm (local time) next Monday. Local residents can only leave home for essential purposes including buying essentials like groceries or medication, working or studying if not able to do so from home, exercising and healthcare, or providing care. Read on...

10:12 AM

DATA STORY: India now 13th among most affected countries by active Covid cases

India on Friday reported a net reduction of 26,34 to take its count of active coronavirus cases to 225449, and 77.84 per cent lower than the September 18 peak of 1,017,754. India’s share of global active coronavirus cases has declined to 0.98 per cent (one in 102).  Read on...

9:37 AM

Coronavirus in India: Latest update by MoHFW

Active cases: 225,449 (Net reduction: 2,634)

Deaths: 150,570 (Net increase: 234)

Cured: 10,037,398 (Net increase: 20,539)

Total cases: 10,413,417 (Net increase: 18,139)

9:18 AM

Global Covid-19 caseload nearly 88 million: Johns Hopkins University

The overall global coronavirus caseload has increased to nearly 88 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.89 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

 

In its latest update on Friday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 87,952,778 and 1,895,925, respectively.

 

The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 21,543,310 and 364,735, respectively, according to the CSSE. Read on...

9:05 AM

Lockdown imposed in city near Beijing as Covid-19 cases more than double

Lockdown measures were being imposed in a northern Chinese province where coronavirus cases more than doubled in the region near Beijing that's due to host some events in next year's Winter Olympics.

 

Rail, air and highway connections to the Hebei capital of Shijiazhuang, a city of at least 10 million people, have been suspended and prevention and control measured tightened over urban communities and villages in the area. Classes have been suspended and school dormitories isolated. Read on...

8:13 AM

France ready to tighten coronavirus curbs, says Prime Minister Castex

The French government may have to tighten coronavirus restrictions amid increasing pressure on its hospital system, Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday.

 

"We will not only keep the measures already in place ... but will be ready to toughen them the moment we see that it is necessary," Castex told a news conference. Read on...