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Coronavirus Live News Updates: Study of 31,000 vaccinated healthcare workers at Apollo finds less than 5% got COVID-19

Coronavirus Live News Updates: The study of healthcare workers from 43 units of Apollo, spanning 24 cities in the country was to 'evaluate the incidence of post-vaccination infections (PVIs),' the hospital said in a statement

FP Staff June 16, 2021 19:40:23 IST
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Coronavirus Live News Updates: Study of 31,000 vaccinated healthcare workers at Apollo finds less than 5% got COVID-19

Representational image. AP

Highlights

18:53 (ist)

Coronavirus latest news update: Chennai COVID deaths

Chennai NGO alleges underreporting of deaths at six hospitals

A Chennai NGO has alleged discrepancies in the state government’s figures on Covid-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu between April and May. 

Arappor Iyakkam said it had collated and analysed data from six hospitals – Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital in Trichy, Vellore Medical College Hospital, Karur Medical College Hospital and Tiruppur Government Headquarters Hospital. The overall number of death certificates issued between April and May in these hospitals was 11,699.

“The report finds that the likely underreporting of Covid deaths in these 6 hospitals is at least 8.4 to 9.8 times more than the declared Covid deaths in the media bulletin for the months of April and May 2021,” the NGO claimed in its report.

15:00 (ist)

Coronavirus latest news update

PM to launch 'Customized Crash Course' for frontline workers on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch ‘Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 19 Frontline workers’ on 18 June 2021 at 11 am via video conferencing. The launch will commence the programme in 111 training centres spread over 26 states. The launch will be followed by the Prime Minister’s address. Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will also be present on the occasion.

LIVE NEWS and UPDATES

June 16, 2021 - 19:37 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update: Vaccination news

95% of vaccinated healthcare staff got protection against Covid, finds study

A multi-centre study on a cohort of over 31,000 vaccinated healthcare workers of a leading private facility, spanning across the country, has found that the Covid vaccine provided protection against infection in "95 percent" of the beneficiaries. The study by Apollo Hospitals took place over four and a half months, from 16 January to 30 May, and covered 31,621 healthcare workers who had received either both doses or the first dose of Covishield or Covaxin, a hospital spokesperson said.

The brutal second wave of the coronavirus pandemic was at its peak in April and May. Several doctors died during this period, and many doctors who had received double doses, were also infected in this duration.

The mega vaccination drive against Covid was launched by the government on January 16 and healthcare workers across government and private hospitals were the first ones to get the jab.

June 16, 2021 - 19:29 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update

Congress party to take out nationwide outreach campaign

The Congress party on Wednesday said that it will undertake a nationwide outreach campaign to help those affected by the coronavirus crisis, reports PTI. The party will also collect data about the number of infected patients and those who died due to the disease.

June 16, 2021 - 19:10 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update: Goa COVID cases

Goa records 310 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths

Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 310 and rose to 1,63,358 on Wednesday, while 428 more patients recovered from the infection, a health department official said. The toll increased to 2,960 after 13 patients succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, he said.

The number of recovered cases rose to 1,56,354 as 428 more patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, the official said. Goa now has 4,044 active cases of coronavirus, the official said.

June 16, 2021 - 18:53 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update: Chennai COVID deaths

Chennai NGO alleges underreporting of deaths at six hospitals

A Chennai NGO has alleged discrepancies in the state government’s figures on Covid-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu between April and May. 

Arappor Iyakkam said it had collated and analysed data from six hospitals – Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital in Trichy, Vellore Medical College Hospital, Karur Medical College Hospital and Tiruppur Government Headquarters Hospital. The overall number of death certificates issued between April and May in these hospitals was 11,699.

“The report finds that the likely underreporting of Covid deaths in these 6 hospitals is at least 8.4 to 9.8 times more than the declared Covid deaths in the media bulletin for the months of April and May 2021,” the NGO claimed in its report.

June 16, 2021 - 18:35 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update: Vaccination policy

Covishield, Covaxin cut infection risk in 95% healthcare workers in India: Study

Covid vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — prevented the risk of infection in more than 95 percent of healthcare workers in India, according to a study by Apollo Hospitals released on Wednesday.

The study by Apollo Hospitals took place over four and a half months, from 16 January to 30 May, and covered 31,621 healthcare workers who had received either both doses or the first dose of Covishield or Covaxin, a hospital spokesperson said.

The brutal second wave of the coronavirus pandemic was at its peak in April and May. Several doctors died during this period, and many doctors who had received double doses, were also infected in this duration.

June 16, 2021 - 18:25 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update

 

Andhra Pradesh logs 6,617 new COVID-19 cases, 57 deaths

Andhra Pradesh's coronavirus caseload increased to 18,29,751 as 6,617 fresh cases were added in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Wednesday. Recoveries rose to 17,43,176 after 10,228 patients got cured during the period, the latest bulletin said. With 57 more succumbing in a day, the overall Covid-19 toll climbed to 12,109, the bulletin said. The state now has 71,466 active cases.

June 16, 2021 - 17:58 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update

730 doctors died in COVID-19 second wave, says IMA

As many as 730 doctors died during the second wave of the COVID pandemic, said the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday, adding that the maximum fatalities have been reported in Bihar, reports ANI.

Bihar reported 115 doctor deaths, followed by Delhi which recorded 109 fatalities, and Uttar Pradesh with 79. In southern states, Andhra Pradesh reported 38, Telangana 37, Karnataka 9, Kerala 24, and Odisha 31. Twenty-three doctors died in Maharashtra.

Today, India reported 62,224 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 3.22 percent, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoFHW).

June 16, 2021 - 17:50 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update

Mumbai police launches probe in 'vaccination fraud' in Kandivali Housing Society

Mumbai Police launched an investigation after a housing society in suburban Kandivali suspected "fraud" by some persons who had organised a COVID-19 vaccination camp for its members by claiming to represent a private hospital and also expressed apprehensions that the vaccine that was administered could be spurious. A senior officer said on Wednesday no FIR has been registered so far but the police will probe the case from different angles.

We have not registered an FIR in this case and not arrested anybody. We have also not detained anybody. We are just investigating," Deputy Commissioner of Police, zone 11, Vishal Thakur told PTI.

In a complaint submitted to the police, the Hiranandani Heritage Residents Welfare Association (HHRWA) had said that a vaccination camp was arranged by the residential complex on May 30. But later it found that the Co-WIN portal did not have any record of the people who participated and they received certificates in the name of different hospitals.

June 16, 2021 - 17:24 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update: Vaccination policy

India will revisit dosage interval of Covishield based on emerging data, says Centre

NK Arora, chairperson of the working group of immunisation advisory body NTAGI on Wednesday stated that  India will revisit the dosage interval for the Covishield vaccine and take appropriate action based on emerging data.

Describing the Covid and vaccination situation as "very dynamic", he said in a statement that the emerging evidence and reports regarding efficacy of partial versus full immunisation are also under consideration.

On the decision to increase the gap between two doses of Covishield from four-six weeks to 12-16 weeks, he said the move was based on scientific decision and there was no dissenting voice among the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) members.

June 16, 2021 - 17:05 (IST)

Coronavirus latest news update: Nagaland lockdown news

Nagaland extends COVID-19 lockdown till 30 June

The Nagaland government extends the state-wide lockdown till June 30, reports PTI. The restrictions were scheduled to end on 18 June. “The coronavirus situation in the state is improving but we are still not out of the woods,” says government co-spokesperson and advisor Mmhonlumo Kikon. “The positivity rate is declining but it needs to go down below five percent. Also, we need to inoculate more than 50% of the population.”

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Coronavirus LATEST News Updates: A multi-centre study on a cohort of over 31,000 vaccinated healthcare workers of a leading private facility, spanning across the country, has found that Covid vaccine provided protection against infection in "95 percent" of the beneficiaries

A Chennai NGO has alleged discrepancies in the state government’s figures on COVID-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu between April and May.

As many as 730 doctors died during the second wave of the COVID pandemic, said the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday, adding that the maximum fatalities have been reported in Bihar

In anticipation of likely intermittent surges in the number of COVID-19 cases, the government has released guidelines for operationalising Covid-care services for children

Odisha on Wednesday extended its partial lockdown by two more weeks, till 1 July and divided the state into two categories depending on the COVID-19 positivity rate.

A new, experimental anti-viral treatment used for some worst-affected COVID-19 patients has been found to save lives, according to the results of a UK trial on Wednesday.

Union health ministry responded to social media posts suggesting COVAXIN shots contain newborn calf’s serum and put out a clarification. “Newborn Calf Serum is used only for preparation of vero cells...The vero cells are completely destroyed in process of viral growth,” says the ministry. “The grown virus is also killed and purified. This is then used to make final vaccine and in the final vaccine formulation no calf serum is used.”

Doctors on Tuesday cautioned that Delhi could face a "worse than second wave situation" of COVID-19 if people do not adhere to safety norms or lower their guards

Any adult can walk in to the nearest vaccination centre to get registered on the CoWIN digital platform and be inoculated against COVID-19 , the Union Health Ministry said.

It is not mandatory to pre-register online or book an appointment to get the vaccine, the government said, as it seeks to increase the pace of vaccinations and tackle the 'vaccine hesitancy' it has blamed for the slow rollout of vaccines in parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the first death due to vaccination was reported in India, even as India said the benefits of inoculation far exceed its harms. The government panel studying COVID vaccine's severe adverse effects said the death occurred due to anaphylaxis following inoculation.

The decision regarding enhancing interval between two doses of Covishield was based on scientific evidence and taken in a transparent manner, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization Chair NK Arora said.

The government had on 13 May said it has accepted the COVID-19 Working Group's recommendation and extended the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks. "Based on the available real-life evidence, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in the interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended," the ministry had said in a statement.

As the Covid positivity rate dropped to two percent in Punjab, the state government eased restrictions, allowing restaurants, cinema halls and gyms to operate at 50 percent capacity beginning Wednesday.

Under fresh guidelines, which will be in effect till 25 June, daily night curfew will be in place from 8 pm to 5 am and weekend curfew from 8 pm on Saturday up to 5 am on Monday across the state, according to a government statement.

All restaurants, including those in hotels, cafes, coffee shops, fast food outlets, dhabas, and cinemas and gyms at maximum 50 percent capacity, subject to all their employees having received at least one dose of Covid vaccine.

Air-conditioned buses can also ply with 50 percent occupation. Bars, pubs and ''ahatas'' (taverns) shall, however, continue to remain closed, the statement said. All educational institutions will also continue to be closed.

Updated Date:

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