Covid19Coronavirus Cases and Death Rate in India Live, Covid-19 Vaccine Registration India Live: Pfizer has said that it is in talks with the Narendra Modi government over supply of Covid vaccines in India. While the pharama giant’s words are reassuaaring, it doens’t solve our shortage issue. The number of people vaccinated per day has gone down to new low, a Crisil report has pointed out. While the Covid tally – both in terms of new cases as well as deaths have gone down considerably – the issue of black fungus epidemic and mismatch in death records are haunting India. In Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad, a video has gone viral that shows a man removing the shroud from the shallow graves near the Fafamau banks of Ganga. Some say that it is being done to hide the graves.
As the nation scrambles to get a plan ready for the impending third wave and related issues, here are the latest updates from India and around the globe:
Highlights
Night curfew timing has been changed in 36 cities of Gujarat. Now, the curfew will remain in force between 9 pm and 6 am (instead of 8 pm to 6 am): Chief Minister Vijay Rupani (ANI)
Stressing that the only way to decrease variants of COVID-19 is by increasing vaccination, prominent clinical scientist Gagandeep Kang said massive inoculation being a mistake is a topic brought up with "pseudo-scientific messy incorrect immunology". She was reacting to French virologist and Nobel laureate Luc Montagnier's comments on mass vaccination. (PTI)
Fintech major PayPal on Wednesday said it will help CSC (Common Services Centres) Academy in setting up PSA oxygen plants in four states, and support efforts to provide services like antigen testing and registration for vaccination. "PayPal will support the CSC Academy - CSR wing of CSC - in setting up PSA oxygen plants in five hospitals in four states one each in Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chennai (TN) and Jaunpur (UP) and two in Patna (Bihar).
Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday announced financial and insurance assistance for its employees and their family members affected by COVID-19. This optional insurance cover is a communicable disease cover for COVID-19 with an insured sum of Rs 35 lakh per employee for a policy period of 12 months, L&T said in a statement. (PTI)
Researchers in the UK have identified persistent damage to lungs in COVID-19 patients at least three months after they were discharged from hospital, and in some cases the duration is even longer. The study, conducted by Sheffield and Oxford researchers using a cutting-edge method of imaging, said the damage was not detected by routine CT scans and clinical tests, and the patients would consequently normally be told their lungs are normal. Early research by the team has shown that patients who have not been hospitalised with COVID-19 but who are experiencing long-term breathlessness may have similar damage in their lungs, and a larger study is needed to confirm this, a release by the Sheffield University said on Wednesday. (PTI)
The European Union took on vaccine producer AstraZeneca in a Brussels court on Wednesday with the urgent demand that the company needs to make an immediate delivery of COVID-19 shots the bloc insists were already due. AstraZeneca's contract signed with the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, on behalf of member states foresaw an initial 300 million doses for distribution among all 27 countries, with an option for a further 100 million. The doses were expected to be delivered throughout 2021. But only 30 million were sent during the first quarter. (PTI)
Countries reliant on tourism are racing to reopen borders and revive economies decimated by the pandemic. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that the sector lost nearly USD 4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs last year. Airlines alone lost USD 126 billion last year and are on track to lose another USD 48 billion this year, according to their largest trade group. The rollout of vaccines against COVID-19 is giving government officials in many countries new confidence to welcome visitors. But time is critical. (PTI)
Delhi recorded 1,491 fresh coronavirus cases and 130 fatalities on Wednesday, while the positivity rate declined to 1.93 per cent, according to the daily health bulletin. This is the fourth day in a row when the daily cases in the national capital have remained below 2,000. "Positivity down to 1.93% and total positive cases come down to 1491. These are lowest numbers in last 2 months. We still need to take all precautions and follow covid appropriate behaviour," Health Minister Satyendar Jain tweeted. (PTI)
State-owned power giant NHPC Ltd is setting up two oxygen plants and taking other measures to support the battle against the second wave of COVID-19, a senior company official said on Wednesday. NHPC Limited, under the Ministry of Power, is the country's largest hydropower producer. The company has also diversified in the field of solar and wind power. (PTI)
India's daily COVID-19 positivity rate has reduced and now stands at 9.42 per cent, while the count of single-day recoveries outnumbered that of new cases for the 13th consecutive day, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. A total of 22,17,320 tests, the highest in a day, were conducted on Tuesday taking the cumulative number so far in the country to 33,48,11,496, while the daily positivity declined to 9.42 per cent, it said. (PTI)
Facing flak from the Delhi High court over distribution of COVID-19 drugs, BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday said he will continue to save the lives of people even if thousands of PILs are filed against him. The court had on Monday directed the drug controller to inquire into the issue of politicians buying COVID-19 drugs in bulk amid shortages and observed that while Gambhir must have been distributing the medicines to the best of his intention, the gesture unintentionally did a disservice. (PTI)
Freedom fighter and activist HS Doreswamy passed away at his residence today due to a massive cardiac arrest. He was 104 and had recovered from COVID-19 a few weeks back.
A study conducted by a private healthcare facility in Delhi has found that vaccines were found to be effective in combating the mutated variants of coronavirus and guarding against severe infection, hospitalisation and even death. There have been reported cases of infections after partial or complete vaccination occurring in some people. There have also been instances where people have succumbed to the virus after being vaccinated fully. (PTI)
Odisha's COVID-19 tally surged to 7,26,003 on Wednesday as 11,623 more people tested positive for the infection, while record 35 fresh fatalities pushed the coastal state's coronavirus death toll to 2,584, a health official said. As many as 6,509 new cases were reported in quarantine centres, while 5,114 fresh infections were detected during contact tracing. (PTI)
The UK's health service on Wednesday extended its COVID-19 age-based vaccination programme to the next cohort to cover everyone aged 30 and over. The National Health Service (NHS) said 1 million more people aged 30 and 31 will be invited by text over the coming days, leaving only adults between 18 and 29 yet to get the nod to come forward for their first doses. (PTI)
As Delhi grapples with a shortage of coronavirus vaccines, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the makers of Sputnik V will supply anti-Covid jabs to the city but the quantity is yet to be decided. He also said there were around 620 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis in Delhi, but Amphotericin-B injections used in its treatment are in short supply. "Talks with the makers of Sputnik V are on. They will give us vaccines, but the quantity is yet to be decided. Our officials and the representatives of the manufacturers met on Tuesday, too," the CM told reporters at the launch of Delhi's first drive-through vaccination centre at Vegas Mall in Dwarka. (PTI)
Pakistan is offering jabs to its entire adult population in hopes of boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates, with only 5 per cent of the population inoculated so far. Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar announced on Twitter that the registration of those ages 19 and above will begin from Thursday. So far, the vaccination was open to those 30 years and above. (AP)
A special inspection drive has been launched in Kerala to ensure price control of COVID-19 medical equipment, amid widespread complaints of exorbitant rates charged for the devices in the state. A wing of the Special Branch police has been entrusted with the task of carrying out searches in all districts to find out whether any medical store is overcharging for the equipment, state DGP Loknath Behera said here on Wednesday. "Special branch officials will carry out searches in all related institutions including medical stores. The aim is to ensure that such products are sold at the price set by the government," he said. (PTI)
Scientists have developed two new drugs to both prevent the COVID-19 infection, and also treat people who have been exposed to the novel coronavirus so that they do not develop severe disease. The peptide-based drugs developed by researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia are being tested in hamsters at France's pre-clinical and clinical research facility, IDMIT. - PTI
In a scathing attack against the Centre over the shortage of Covid vaccines, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday alleged that vaccines in India were a means for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "personal publicity" rather than a tool to save people's lives. This was so from the beginning of the pandemic, the Congress general secretary said in posts on Twitter and Facebook. She also alleged that the Modi government has pushed the country into a "swamp of vaccine shortage" and left India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, dependent on vaccine donations from other countries. - PTI
In the medieval Turkish city of Mardin, Medine Ereli calls out to a team of medical workers walking along the town's cobblestoned main street. Her 59-year old husband refuses to get vaccinated, she tells the doctor and nurse, before leading them to Enver Ereli, who's on the job as a municipal sanitation worker. The masked health care duo is part of Turkey's ‘vaccination persuasion’ teams, a recent initiative that aims to promote inoculation against the coronavirus among the country's most vulnerable population. Their job is to persuade people who fall in the age groups eligible for the vaccine, but who have so far been reluctant to get their shots. At the start of the inoculation program, some elderly people mistrusted the vaccine amid rumours that it was part of a plot to kill off the older population, said Dr. Aysegul Duyan, who is out on the road with nurse Meltem Gulcan. - AP
Maharashtra's Raigad district has recorded 956 new cases of coronavirus that raised the tally of infections in the region to 1,26,606, an official said on Wednesday. Apart from the new infections recorded on Tuesday, 27 patients died and 612 were discharged from various treatment facilities, mounting the toll to 2,968 and the count of recoveries to 1,16,552, the official said. The district is now left with 7,124 active cases, of which Panvel has 2,421 patients, the highest in the district, followed by Alibaug with 1,137, while at 33, Tala has the least number of infections, he said. - PTI
South Korean officials say they plan to allow people to drop their masks from July if they have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, as they mull incentives to promote inoculation. Health Minister Kwon Deok-choel said Wednesday the plan is contingent on the government succeeding in its goal of administering first doses to 13 million people by the end of June. Officials say people will continue to be required to wear mask indoors or at outdoor gatherings where it's difficult to maintain distance.- AP
Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries' India unit has donated more than 400 medical oxygen concentrators to support the nation's fight with the world's worst outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. - PTI
Their data is incorrect. We have written to them already and we are working with them to resolve the data issues: Principal Secretary, Health Department, Chhattisgarh - ANI
States have been urged repeatedly to keep vaccine wastage below 1%, many States like Jharkhand (37.3%), Chhattisgarh (30.2%), Tamil Nadu (15.5%), Jammu & Kashmir (10.8%), Madhya Pradesh (10.7%) are reporting much higher wastage than the national average (6.3%): Ministry of Health - ANI
Within 10-15 days, there'll be one PSA oxygen plant in each hill district. I've also given oxygen concentrators to hill districts. In Senapati, I also provided 1 ambulance: Manipur CM N Biren Singh - ANI
In Ukhrul, the mortality rate is low, only 8 people have died till today & in Senapati, only 7 people died. The spread of COVID cases is a little high so home isolation has been conducted, medication & distribution of oximeters is going on: Manipur CM N Biren Singh - ANI
Talks with Sputnik V-makers going on, they will give us anti-Covid vaccine, but quantity yet to be decided. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also says around 620 black fungus cases in national capital, flags shortage of injections to treat it. - PTI
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has served a defamation notice on Ramdev for alleged disparaging remarks against allopathy and allopathic doctors, demanding an apology from him within 15 days, failing which it said it will demand a compensation of Rs 1,000 crore from the yoga guru. - PTI
A PIL has urged the Delhi High Court to direct the Centre, Delhi government and municipal corporations to ensure that electric or CNG crematoriums are installed in different parts of the national capital in view of the large number of people succumbing to COVID-19 daily. - PTI
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 6,878 on Wednesday as 25 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Two fresh fatalities pushed the Union territory's coronavirus death toll to 106, he said. Forty-nine more people have been cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries to 6,544, the official said. - PTI
More than 1.77 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and union territories, and they will receive one lakh more within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The Centre has so far provided, both under the free of cost category and through the direct state procurement category, more than 22 crore vaccine doses (22,00,59,880) to states and UTs, it said. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 20,13,74,636 doses, the ministry said, citing data available at 8 am Wednesday. - PTI
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 6,878 on Wednesday as 25 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Two fresh fatalities pushed the Union territory's coronavirus death toll to 106, he said. Forty-nine more people have been cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries to 6,544, the official said. - PTI
On 23rd May over 200 cases were reported in one day. Around 600 cases reported in Delhi so far, including people from Delhi as well as outside. Less than 100 cases on 24th & 25th: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on cases of Mucormycosis (black fungus) in the national capital - ANI
The top US diplomat in Taiwan on Wednesday signalled Washington was in no hurry to send COVID-19 vaccines to the island, noting its infection numbers remained comparatively low, although he said talks were continuing on the issue. After months of relative safety, Taiwan is battling a surge in domestic COVID-19 cases, but has only vaccinated around 1% of its more than 23 million people. Taiwan's government says millions more vaccines are on the way, and last week the health minister spoke to his US counterpart to ask for help after President Joe Biden said he would send at least 20 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses abroad by the end of June. - Reuters
The United Arab Emirates said vaccinations against COVID-19 will be mandatory for people attending all "live events" from June 6, as the country pushes a vaccination campaign which has consistently been one of the fastest in the world.The policy applies to all sports, cultural, social, arts exhibition, activities and events, a spokeswoman for the ministry of health said late on Tuesday. Attendees must also present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at least 48 hours before the event.Trade and tourism hub Dubai, one of the UAE's seven emirates, last week said COVID-19 vaccinations were required to participate in and attend concerts, sports events, bars, entertainment activities, and for weddings up to 100 people. - Reuters
Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper on Wednesday called for the Tokyo Olympics to be canceled with the games set to open in less than two months. It is the first of Japan's major newspapers to make the move and joins some regional newspapers that have recently added to the growing opposition to holding the Olympics. Coming out against the Olympics could be significant since the newspaper, like many in Japan, is a sponsor of the postponed Olympics that are to open on July 23. Asahi is typically liberal-leaning and often opposes the ruling party led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. - AP
Sri Lanka has received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine donated by China as the Indian Ocean island nation faces severe shortage of vaccines amid a recent rise in infections. The vaccine stock that arrived early Wednesday is the second donation from China, following a shipment of 600,000 doses in March. Sri Lanka is facing a shortage of vaccine after the producer in neighboring India failed to provide the promised Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine stocks. The government on Tuesday agreed to buy 14 million doses of Sinopharm from China. - PTI