2:34 AMOver 50 pc population in Kerala received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Over 50 per cent population in Kerala has received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, informed state Health Minister Veena George on Monday. While speaking to the media, the minister said, "According to the projected population of 3.54 crore by 2021, 50.25 per cent (1,77,88,931) have been vaccinated with the first dose. The target was achieved within 213 days of the start of vaccination in the state on January 16."
George lauded health workers, officials, people's representatives and other volunteers who have been working for the state's vaccination drive.
"So far, a total of 2,45,13,225 people in the state have received the vaccine. Of these, 1,77,88,931 were given the first dose and 67,24,294 were given the second dose. 50.25 per cent were given the first dose and 19 per cent received the second dose.
1:13 AMKarnataka sees 1,065 new Covid cases, 28 deaths
Karnataka logged 1,065 new Covid cases and 28 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the state Health Department bulletin on Monday.
With another 1,486 discharged after recovery, total active cases in the state stood at 22,048 and the positivity rate for the day was 0.93 per cent. Case fatality rate stood at 2.62 per cent.
The number of cases in Dakshina Kannada bordering Kerala saw a dip, at 284, and it was followed by Bengaluru Urban with 270 cases. Udupi recorded 107 cases in north Karnataka, while Gadag, Koppal, and Raichur districts recorded zero cases in the last 24 hours. Four people died in Bengaluru and five in Dakshina Kannada in the last 24 hours.
11:12 PMAndhra Pradesh logs 909 more Covid cases, 13 deaths
Andhra Pradesh on Monday logged 909 new Covid cases, taking its overall tally beyond 19.9 lakh, even as its active cases dropped to 17,218. As many as 1,543 more persons recovered from the disease in the past 24 hours, increasing the state's total number of recoveries over 19.6 lakh.
East Godavari district reported the highest number of cases at 241, followed by Nellore with 174, Chittoor 107, Prakasam 86, Guntur 82, Visakhapatnam 61, Krishna 47, Kadapa 40, Srikakulam 28, West Godavari 21, Vizianagaram nine, Kurnool eight, and Anantapur give.
East Godavari tops the chart with more than 2.8 lakh cases, followed by Chittoor with 2.3 lakh cases. Meanwhile, 13 more persons succumbed to the virus in the past 24 hours, taking the state's overall Covid death toll to 13,660.
10:46 PMAssam logs 758 new COVID-19 cases, 10 fresh fatalities
Assam's COVID-19 tally soared to 5,80,657 on Monday as 758 more people tested positive for the infection, while 10 fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 5,502, a health bulletin said.
Kamrup Metropolitan district, under which Guwahati falls, recorded the highest number of new cases at 163, followed by Barpeta and Lakhimpur (49 each) and Nalbari (45).
Two fresh fatalities each were registered in Darrang and Jorhat, and one each in Cachar, Golaghat, Hojai, Kamrup Metropolitan, Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts.
9:38 PMGovt puts curbs on export of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits
The government on Monday imposed restrictions on export of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits amid several experts warning of a possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
"The export of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits... has been put under restricted category, with immediate effect," the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
Exporters have to seek licence or permission from the DGFT to ship items under the restricted category. Such restrictions are aimed at increasing the domestic availability of the kits. Several experts have been warning of a possible third wave of the pandemic hitting the country in the near future. The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 3,22,25,513 on Monday and the death toll climbed to 4,31,642, according to the Union health ministry data.
9:09 PMCumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses in country cross 55 crore: Govt
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has surpassed 55 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. "In record-breaking progress, India administers 55 crore #COVID19 vaccines. Let's strengthen India's fight against Coronavirus Let's get vaccinated," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet on Monday afternoon.
Over 55 lakh doses of the vaccine were administered on Monday, as per the 7 pm provisional report. The ministry said 31,44,650 first doses and 5,22,629 second doses were administered in the 18-44 age group on Monday.
Cumulatively, 20,00,68,334 people in the age group of 18-44 years across all states and union territories have received their first dose, and 1,59,35,853 have received their second dose since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive.