Covid LIVE: Kerala sees 22,182 new cases, 178 deaths in last 24 hrs

Coronavirus updates: WHO says progress is being in securing vaccines for Africa; India approves Russian vaccine for trial.

11:17 AM

US experts to debate booster dose of Pfizer's vaccine

US government advisers will debate Friday if there's enough proof that a booster dose of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective. It's the first public step toward deciding which Americans may get an extra dose and when. The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday posted much of the evidence that it will ask outside experts to consider at Friday's meeting, the AP reported.

10:39 AM

More than 761 million vaccine doses given to states: India

India has provided more than 761 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to its states and union territories, said the health ministry on Thursday. More than 16.5 million doses are in the pipeline, PTI reported.

10:15 AM

More than 226.41 million infected worldwide: Reuters tally

More than 226.41 million people have been reported to be infected by the coronavirus globally and 4,834,177 have died of the disease, according to a Reuters tally. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

 

10:00 AM

Covid will become endemic in India in the next six months: Expert

Covid will become endemic in India in the next six months, the head of a state-run research group has said, referring to stage of a disease when a large section of the population becomes immune. Sujeet Singh, Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), told NDTV Covid could become more manageable in its endemic stage. "This pandemic has defied most of our predictions but in the next six months, we will approach endemic status," Singh said.

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9:43 AM

More scientific data required on mixing of vaccines: Secretary, Department of Biotechnology

Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India Dr Renu Swarup said that Drugs Controller General of India has given permission to Christian Medical College, Vellore to start a trial on the mixing of COVID-19 vaccines while adding that there is a need of more scientific data to get more clarity.

 

The next vaccines that are in pipeline are Zydus Cadila's ZyCoV-D and Biological E Corbevax, said Dr Renu in an interview with ANI.

 

"DCGI has given permission to CMC Vellore to start a trial on the mixing of vaccines. A couple of such studies have been initiated. We need more scientific data to get more clarity," said Dr Renu.

9:43 AM

NYC to require all persons entering UNGA hall to show proof of vaccination

As world leaders begin to arrive here next week for the high-level UN General Assembly session, New York City said all persons entering the UNGA hall in the world body's headquarters will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

 

The condition was also supported by Assembly President Abdulla Shahid. More than 100 Heads of State and Government, as well as Foreign Ministers and diplomats, will participate in-person in the annual General Debate, starting September 21 through September 27.

 

As the high-level UNGA week returns to a hybrid format after going virtual last year due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic, New York, the host city of the UN Headquarters, said proof of vaccination against the coronavirus will be required for all persons to gain entry into the 193-member General Assembly Hall.

9:33 AM

India records 30,570 new cases

India recorded 30,570 new cases of Covid-19 and 431 deaths from the disease in 24 hours, said the health ministry on Thursday, marking a 12.4 per cent rise in daily cases since Wednesday.

9:20 AM

Andaman and Nicobar Islands active case decrease to 13

Andaman and Nicobar Islands' active cases—Covid-19 patients under treatment—decreased on Thursday to 13 as no fresh infection was detected and two people recovered from the disease, a health bulletin said. The archipelago’s caseload stood unchanged at 7,592, of which 7,450 were recoveries, PTI reported.

8:43 AM

US considers requiring vaccinations for travel to country

The US is considering requiring vaccinations against Covid-19 and contact tracing of international visitors after it revamps current broad restrictions that bar many foreigners from travelling to the country, a top White House adviser has said. More here

 

8:22 AM

Hong Kong advisers rule against booster shots

Hong Kong government health advisers said there’s no urgency to give residents Covid-19 booster shots since there have been no outbreaks in three months, a decision that runs counter to the steps many other developed economies are taking, Bloomberg reported.

7:56 AM

Outbreak in China’s Fujian province grows

An outbreak in the eastern Chinese province of Fujian continued to grow, with 48 new cases. A prefecture bordering Myanmar also reported one local infection, though it’s unknown whether that case bears any link to those in Fujian, Bloomberg reported. 

7:53 AM

Delhi says it has vaccine stocks for 9 days

Delhi has vaccine stocks for nine days after inoculating 15.3 million of its population, PTI reported quoting unnamed government authorities. The city on Wednesday morning had 106,225 Covaxin and 13,97,030 Covieshield vaccine doses.

7:44 AM

Punjab reports 44 new cases Wednesday

Punjab reported on Wednesday 44 news cases of coronavirus to take the total to 6,01,150, PTI reported quoting a government medical bulletin. With no fatality reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll remained 16,464.

6:28 AM

India offers medical collaboration with east Asia nations

India has offered to collaborate with east Asian countries for producing off-patent medicines, vaccines and other medical technologies to combat Covid-19, the Times of India website reported.

5:57 AM

Slovenia protests turn violent

 

Demonstrations against pandemic curbs turned violent in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana on Wednesday, as stricter restrictions came into force. Protesters threw bottles, cobblestones and flares toward the parliament building and police, Bloomberg reported.