Latest News Today: 10 Babies Killed In Maharashtra Fire, Uddhav Thackeray Orders Probe
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the deaths of ten newborn babies after a fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit of a hospital in Maharashtra in the early hours on Saturday, doctors said. All the infants were between a month and three months old, a doctor said.
State Health Minister Rajesh Tope also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the families of children who died in the fire.
As per a statement issued by the Chief Minister's office, Thackeray expressed deep sorrow over the death of infants who died in the fire at the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the hospital.
Fire broke out in the Bhandara district hospital at around 2 am, he said. There were 17 babies in the unit and seven were rescued, he added.
Meanwhile, India has recorded more than 1.04 crore coronavirus cases till now, according to official figures. On Saturday, 18,222 new cases were reported, marginally higher than yesterday.1.5 lakh deaths have been reported in the country so far.
Here are today's LIVE Updates:
2 deaths, 298 new COVID-19 cases in Telangana
Telangana registered 298 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the total caseload to 2.89 lakh, while the count surged to 1,563 with two more fatalities.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 61, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 28 and 25 respectively, a state government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 PM on January 8.
The cumulative recovered cases stood at 2,83,048, while 4,822 were under treatment.
Telangana registered 298 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the total caseload to 2.89 lakh, while the count surged to 1,563 with two more fatalities.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 61, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 28 and 25 respectively, a state government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 PM on January 8.
The cumulative recovered cases stood at 2,83,048, while 4,822 were under treatment.
Deeply saddened by death of infants in Maharashtra hospital fire, says President
Ten babies, aged between one month and three months, died after a fire broke out in the special newborn care unit of the hospital in Maharashtra''s Bhandra district in the early hours on Saturday, doctors said.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said he was deeply saddened by the death of infants in a fire incident at a government hospital in Maharashtra and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the affected families.
India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines: PM Modi
"Today India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines. World not only waiting for Indian vaccines for COVID-19 but also looking at how it rolls out largest vaccination programme in world, said PM Narendra Modi at 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention
"Today India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines. World not only waiting for Indian vaccines for COVID-19 but also looking at how it rolls out largest vaccination programme in world, said PM Narendra Modi at 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention
China says WHO visit preparations ongoing
China confirmed Saturday that preparations were still ongoing for a World Health Organization mission to Wuhan to investigate the origins of Covid-19, following a rare rebuke from the UN body over a delay to the long-planned trip.
The comments came after the WHO chief said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that Beijing had yet to finalise permission even as the team of experts had begun travelling to China to explore the beginnings of the virus, which first emerged late last year in the central city.
On Saturday, National Health Commission vice minister Zeng Yixin told reporters: "The specific time is being determined, and we are ready here."
"As long as these experts complete the procedures and confirm their schedule, we will go to Wuhan together to carry out investigations," he said.
China confirmed Saturday that preparations were still ongoing for a World Health Organization mission to Wuhan to investigate the origins of Covid-19, following a rare rebuke from the UN body over a delay to the long-planned trip.
The comments came after the WHO chief said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that Beijing had yet to finalise permission even as the team of experts had begun travelling to China to explore the beginnings of the virus, which first emerged late last year in the central city.
On Saturday, National Health Commission vice minister Zeng Yixin told reporters: "The specific time is being determined, and we are ready here."
"As long as these experts complete the procedures and confirm their schedule, we will go to Wuhan together to carry out investigations," he said.
Just In | 18,222 new cases in India, marginally higher than yesterday; 1.04 crore cases so far, 1.5 lakh deaths
PM Modi expresses grief over death of newborn babies in Maharashtra hospital fire
Ten newborn babies died after fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit of a hospital in Maharashtra in the early hours on Saturday, doctors said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief at a tragic fire incident in a Maharashtra hospital in which 10 newborn babies died.
"Heart-wrenching tragedy in Bhandara, Maharashtra, where we have lost precious young lives. My thoughts are with all the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover as early as possible," PM Modi tweeted.
Jharkhand reports 207 new COVID-19 cases, two more deaths
Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,16,436 as 207 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said on Saturday.
The death count increased to 1,043 after two persons from Ranchi and Dhanbad succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, he said.
Ranchi district registered the maximum number of fresh cases at 102, followed by Dhanbad at 29 and East Singhbhum at 17.
Jharkhand now has 1,465 active cases, while 1,13,928 people have been cured of the disease so far, the official said.
China to provide COVID-19 vaccines free of charge: Official
China will provide COVID-19 vaccines free of charge once they become available to general public, government authorities said on Saturday.At a press event in Beijing, Zheng Zhongwei, an official with China's National Health Commission, told reporters that while manufacturing and transport of vaccines does have costs, the government will still be able to provide vaccines for free to individuals.
"Our people don't have to pay a single cent for the vaccine," said Zheng.China has administered more than 9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, National Health Commission official Zeng Yixin added during the briefing.
Brazil asks India to expedite vaccine shipment as delays loom
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite a shipment of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine amid broader delays to the vaccine's arrival in Brazil, according to a letter on Friday.
Bolsonaro's letter, released by his press office, comes amid growing pressure to speed up Brazil's vaccine rollout and end the world's second-deadliest coronavirus outbreak. Critics say the immunization campaign is running behind regional peers, and they question why the government has not moved more quickly.
"To enable the immediate implementation of our National Immunization Program, I would appreciate ... the supply to Brazil, with the possible urgency and without jeopardizing the Indian vaccination program, of 2 million doses," Bolsonaro wrote in the letter, shared by his press office.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite a shipment of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine amid broader delays to the vaccine's arrival in Brazil, according to a letter on Friday.
Bolsonaro's letter, released by his press office, comes amid growing pressure to speed up Brazil's vaccine rollout and end the world's second-deadliest coronavirus outbreak. Critics say the immunization campaign is running behind regional peers, and they question why the government has not moved more quickly.
"To enable the immediate implementation of our National Immunization Program, I would appreciate ... the supply to Brazil, with the possible urgency and without jeopardizing the Indian vaccination program, of 2 million doses," Bolsonaro wrote in the letter, shared by his press office.
Over 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China's CNBG administered in emergency use
More than 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China National Biotec Group (CNBG) have been administered as of January 4 via China's emergency use program, the company's parent firm said.
Two vaccines respectively from two institutes owned by CNBG, a unit of state-backed China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), are included in China's emergency vaccination scheme, which was officially started in July targeting specific groups of people facing a high infection risk.
Most COVID-19 Patients Have At Least One Symptom After 6 Months: StudyMore than three quarters of people hospitalised with Covid-19 still suffered from at least one symptom after six months, according to a study published Saturday that scientists said shows the need for further investigation into lingering coronavirus effects.
Joe Biden blasts coronavirus vaccine rollout in US as "travesty"
US President-elect Joe Biden slammed the Trump administration's distribution of Covid-19 vaccine as a "travesty." "Vaccines give us hope, but the roll-out has been a travesty," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware.
He said distribution of the vaccine would be "the greatest operational challenge we will ever face as a nation."
Two Chinese cities sealed off to squash virus outbreak
China has sealed off two cities south of Beijing, cutting transport links and banning millions of residents from leaving, as authorities move to stem the country's largest Covid-19 outbreak in six months.
The pandemic has so far broadly been brought to heel by Chinese authorities since its emergence in Wuhan in late 2019, with small outbreaks swiftly snuffed out using mass testing, local lockdowns and travel restrictions.
But Hebei province in northern China has seen 127 new Covid-19 cases, plus an additional 183 asymptomatic infections, in the past week. The vast majority were found in Shijiazhuang, a city of several million in Hebei province whose surrounding areas take the total population to 11 million. Nine confirmed cases were in the neighbouring city of Xingtai, whose area covers 7 million people.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Gets Coronavirus Vaccine DoseSaudi Arabia's King Salman on Thursday received a Covid-19 vaccine jab, more than three weeks after the kingdom kicked off a three-phase inoculation programme, official media said.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Second dry run for Covid vaccine conducted
A second dry run to check the best way to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and plug loopholes in logistics and training took place across 737 districts in the country on Friday. The first massive dry run was held on January 2. The day-long exercise tested the operational feasibility of the CoWIN application in a field environment.
A second dry run to check the best way to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and plug loopholes in logistics and training took place across 737 districts in the country on Friday. The first massive dry run was held on January 2. The day-long exercise tested the operational feasibility of the CoWIN application in a field environment.
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