Coronavirus LIVE: Russia's Covid-19 vaccine over 91% effective, says study

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Globally, nearly 104 million people have been infected by the virus and the death toll stands at 2,247,005

3:26 PM

Russia records less than 17,000 Covid-19 cases in past 24 hours

Russia's single-day increase in COVID-19 cases fell below 17,000 for the first time since October 28, as 16,643 new cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours (down from 17,648 the day before), the response centre said on Tuesday.

 

"Over the past day, 16,643 coronavirus cases were confirmed across 85 regions, including 1,597 cases (9.6 per cent) that were detected actively, with people showing no clinical symptoms," the centre said, adding that the cumulative case count has now reached 3,884,730 with the rate of increase at 0.43 per cent.

 

Moscow confirmed 1,701 new coronavirus cases over the given period, down from 2,037 the day before. The Russian capital was followed by St. Petersburg with 1,484 cases, down from 1,842 the day before, and the Moscow Region with 1,053 new cases, down from 1,068 on Monday.

3:00 PM

Covid-19 travel restrictions: Less than 3 million foreign tourists visited India in 2020, says govt

Less than three million foreign tourists visited India in 2020, a dip of around 75 per cent as compared to the previous year, due to travel restrictions imposed to control the coronavirus pandemic, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel said that while in 2019, the number of foreign tourist arrivals was 10.93 million, the number stood at 10.56 million in 2018.

 

It was in 2017 that foreign tourist arrivals crossed the 10 million-mark. There were 10.4 million arrivals in that year, he said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. Last year, foreign tourist arrivals stood at 2.68 million and "no formal study has been instituted for assessment of loss of revenue in 2020", Patel said.

 

"However, several rounds of discussions and brainstorming sessions with industry stakeholders indicate massive loss of revenue, foreign exchange and jobs. In view of the highly unorganised nature of the sector, the impact in numerical terms can only be ascertained in due course," the minister said.

2:15 PM

India's Covid-19 deaths per million higher than South Asian nations due to multiple factors: Govt

Multiple factors may have contributed to India reporting higher Covid-19 related deaths per million population than other South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the government said on Tuesday.

 

According to Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey comparison of deaths per million may not be apt as there are factors such as varied geography, case definitions, surveillance, testing and reporting protocols.

 

To a question on whether it is a fact that Covid-19 related deaths per million population in India is much higher than that in other South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he said in Rajya Sabha, "Yes. Comparison of deaths per million may not be apt as there are multiple factors that may contribute to this observation."

1:42 PM

Aim to inoculate 92.6 lakh healthcare workers through Covid-19 vaccination drive: Govt

The government aims to inoculate over 92.6 lakh healthcare workers employed in Central, state and private facilities through its COVID-19 vaccination drive launched on January 16, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

 

All states and Union Territories have been provided with COVID-19 vaccines, Minister of State for Health Ashwin Kumar Choubey said in a written reply to a question raised in the Upper House.

 

"The 92,61,227 healthcare workers (excluding 200 null) who will be vaccinated against COVID-19 include 4,38,990 from Andhra Pradesh, 2,10,359 from Assam, 4,68,790 from Bihar,2,78,343 from Delhi,5,16,425 from Gujarat, 7,73,362 from Karnataka, 4,07,016 from Kerala, 4,29,981 from Madhya Pradesh, 9,36,857 from Maharashtra, 5,24,218 from Rajasthan, 5,32,605 from Tamil Nadu, 9,06,752 from Uttar Pradesh and 7,00,418 from West Bengal.

12:46 PM

Turkey vaccinates over 2 million people against novel coronavirus

Turkey has vaccinated at least 2,137,000 people in the country against the novel coronavirus after inoculation began last month, according to health authorities.

 

The country started mass inoculation of health workers fon January 14 after the authorities approved the emergency use of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

After the country completes the mass vaccination, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that schools will gradually begin in-person classes as of March 1 in line with the number of COVID-19 cases. Read on...

11:26 AM

India reports 8,635 new coronavirus cases, 94 fatalities in 24 hours

With 8,635 new Covid-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's tally has reached 1,07,66,245, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday.

 

India has reported 13,423 discharges and 94 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total discharges and death toll to 1,04,48,406 and 1,54,486 respectively, as per the Union Health Ministry.

 

The total number of active Covid-19 cases stands at 1,63,353. Read on...

10:33 AM

Summary of MoHFW data (February 2)

Active cases: 163,353 (Net reduction: 4,882)

Deaths: 154,486 (Net increase: 94)

Cured: 10,448,406 (Net increase: 13,423)

Total cases: 10,766,245 (Net increase: 8,635)

Total vaccination: 3,950,156 (Increase over previous day: 191,313)