News Analysis India

Tag: coronavirus latest updates

  • Manipur government cannot afford further engagement of contractual COVID-19 health workers: CM Biren Singh

    Agitating workers had in a failed attempt even tried to storm the chief minister #39;s bungalow earlier this week.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray pushes Haffkine to start research on COVID-19 vaccine

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Considering the situation in Maharashtra, Mumbai-based Haffkine Institute needs to conduct research on a COVID-19 vaccine soon, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday.

    Thackeray made the comments during a review meeting he held in connection with the Parel-based institute, one of the oldest biomedical research establishments in the country, an official statement said.

    Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh was also present for the meeting.

    The main task of the Haffkine Institute is to produce vaccines for different diseases and carry out research.

    “Hence, priority needs to be given to conduct research on a big scale here in the time to come and the state government will extend all cooperation required for the same, Thackeray said, according to the statement.

    The chief minister said the 121-year-old institute should lay stress on research besides taking efforts to produce a COVID-19 vaccine.

    For this, efforts should be made for COVID-19 vaccine technology transfer from the ICMR and Bharat Biotech (which developed Covaxin), Thackeray said.

    The chief minister said the state government will help in setting up a modern vaccine research centre in the institute in time to come.

    He said it is praiseworthy that the institute, which has played a big role in making India polio-free, produced over 28 crore vaccines in the past six months.

    But considering the situation in the state, it is required that the institute carries out research on a COVID-19 vaccine soon.

    “It will be a matter of pride for all of us if the institute succeeds in producing (COVID-19) vaccine,” Thackeray said.

    The statement said a committee, formed by the government under the chairmanship of renowned scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar to suggest a roadmap for reforms at the institute, has talked about the need to allocate Rs 1,100 crore to implement five projects over a period of half a decade.

    According to the statement, Thackeray said the government supports completion of the five projects and asked the authorities to prepare a detailed plan in this connection within the next 15 days.

    The state Medical Education Minister and senior bureaucrats are part of the institute’s governing council.

  • Uttar Pradesh Minister Gulab Devi tests positive for COVID-19

    By PTI
    SAMBHAL: Uttar Pradesh Minister Gulab Devi on Friday said she has tested positive for COVID-19 and isolated herself at home.

    In a statement, the minister of state for secondary education said she is doing fine.

    “I want to bring to your notice that I had a cough for two days. I got myself tested in Lucknow and have been found positive for coronavirus. I appeal to all those who came in contact with me to get themselves tested,” the BJP MLA from Chandausi said.

    “I am doing fine and will be available to serve you soon,” Devi said.

    As of Thursday, Uttar Pradesh’s COVID-19 tally stood at 5,97,823 and the death toll at 8,597.

  • 2.3 lakh healthcare workers get the jab on Thursday as total count crosses 10 lakh

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The number of healthcare workers who have received Covid-19 vaccine jabs in the country till the evening of the sixth day of the nationwide immunisation drive crossed one million as per provisional reports, Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.

    The Ministry also said on Thursday, 2,33,530 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through 4,043 vaccination sessions held across 27 states and Union Territories, while adding the final report would be completed by late in the night. 

    The highest number of vaccinations — 26, 558 — were recorded in Odisha followed by Telangana where 26, 441 healthcare workers took the jab on Thursday.

    The countrywide Covid vaccination programme was conducted successfully on the sixth day as well, said Dr Manohar Agnani, the additional secretary in the Union health ministry.

    “The total number of healthcare workers vaccinated against Covid has touched 10,40,014 (till Thursday 6 pm) through 18,161 sessions, as per the provisional report,” he said.

    The ministry said 187 adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) have been reported till 6 pm on the sixth day of the vaccination drive.

    “A person who was vaccinated on January 16 and developed intracranial hemorrhage on January 20 has been admitted to Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur in Rajasthan and it is not related to vaccination. Further, no death has been reported today,” said the health ministry official. 

    PM’s ‘vaccines ki baat’with Varanasi people

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with beneficiaries and vaccinators of the Covid vaccination drive in Varanasi on Saturday. The interaction is aimed at countering the skepticism about the vaccines in a few sections of the society.  

    The participants in the video conference interaction will share their first-hand experience of vaccination. The Prime Minister has regularly been interacting with people from his constituency.

    Nepal, Bangladesh get Indian shots

    Bangladesh and Nepal on Thursday received Indian-manufactured Covid vaccines. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to Twitter to make the announcement.

    “Nepal receives Indian vaccines. Putting neighbours first, putting people first!” he tweeted. In another tweet, the minister said that the supply of vaccines to Bangladesh reaffirms the highest priority India accorded to its ties with Bangladesh. 

    Elderly lawmakers to get jab in next round?

    Elected representatives above 50 years of age are likely to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in the second round of the ongoing inoculation drive after over three crore healthcare and frontline workers are vaccinated in the first round.  

    A government source, however, insisted that there is no specific timeline for the vaccination of top politicians. The PM had earlier said that 30 crore people will be vaccinated in the next few months.

  • Centre modifies CoWIN app to address lower vaccination

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Amid reports of low turnout of beneficiaries for Covid-19 vaccinations and wastage of vaccines, the Centre has modified the CoWIN app, the platform driving the immunisation drive, to allow registered but non-allocated individuals to take the shots.

    This new feature will permit states to accommodate walk-ins, especially at centres where less than 100 people per day, as planned, are taking the jabs. 

    “While the average vaccination sessions allowed per site are 100, in a majority of the states, fewer people were turning up as a result of which a large number of vaccines were getting wasted,” said an official in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

    “Therefore, following requests by the states, we have created a provision in the app to also accommodate registered beneficiaries scheduled to take the jab on other dates.”

    The pace of the vaccination, since the launch on January 16, however, has been slower than expected and till Thursday 10,40,014 beneficiaries had taken either Covishield or Covaxin across India.

    The sources in the government also said that the Centre may allow self-registration by the elderly and those with comorbidities on the CoWINplatform for faster and easier enrolment to receive a shot of the vaccine.

    “An Aadhaar-based enrolment process could also be rolled out for the elderly and those with comorbidities on the CoWIN platform, which may be integrated with the widely used Aarogya Setu app,” said an official.

    As per the plan, the CoWIN  platform will allow the public to access certain features — only those required for enrolment and vaccination and not the complex back-end operations — on the Aarogya Setu app. 

    Aarogya Setu app, the single-window interface for health-related updates related to Covid-19 launched by the Centre in April last year, has been downloaded by over 17 million users. 

    Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, while launching a major communication campaign to address hesitance shown by people towards the vaccines and misinformation, said all eminent doctors of well-known hospitals have taken the vaccine and praised the exercise for its desired end. 

    “It is only a handful of vested political interests who are spreading rumours,” he said. Vardhan added that “the paradox is that countries across globe are asking us for access to the vaccines while a section of our own is fomenting misinformation and doubt for narrow political ends.”

    PLAN TO INOCULATE 30 CRORE PEOPLE IN 6-8 MONTHS

    The country plans to vaccinate around 30 crore people with two doses each in the first six to eight months of the year.

    The recipients include 3 crore doctors, nurses and other frontline workers, to be followed by people who are either over 50 years of age or have illnesses that make them vulnerable to Covid-19.

    The pace of the vaccination, since the launch on January 16, however, has been slower than expected and till Thursday 10,40,014 beneficiaries had taken either Covishield or Covaxin across India

  • COVID-19 active caseload further dips to 1.81 per cent of total cases

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The COVID-19 active caseload in the country has further reduced to 1,92,308 comprising 1.81 per cent of the total infections, with Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal accounting for 73 per cent of the total active cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

    The ministry said that as on date, a total of 8,06,484 beneficiaries have received the vaccination against the virus.

    In a span of 24 hours, 1,31,649 people were vaccinated across 2,398 sessions.

    A total of 14,118 sessions have been conducted so far.

    The rising daily recoveries and declining new cases has ensured a total net reduction of the active caseload.

    ALSO READ: 7.86 lakh healthcare workers vaccinated, Karnataka takes the lead

    A net decline of 4,893 cases has been recorded in the total active cases in a day.

    “Following the national trend of consistent decline in the active cases, 17 states and UTs have cases per million population lower than the national average. India’s cases per million population stand at 7,689,” the ministry said.

    Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal account for 73 per cent of the total active cases in the country.

    A total of 19,965 people have recovered in a span of 24 hours.

    The total recoveries have surged  to 10,265,706.

    The ministry said that  87.06 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states and UTs.

    ALSO READ: COVID-19 positivity rate under seven per cent in Andhra Pradesh; no fatality in last 24 hours

    Kerala has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 7,364 recoveries.

    Maharashtra follows with 4,589 new recoveries.

    Over 83 per cent of the new cases are concentrated in eight states and UTs.

    Kerala reported the maximum daily new cases numbering 6,815 in the last 24 hours.

    Maharashtra has recorded 3,015 new cases while Chhattisgarh registered 594 new cases.

    Eight states and UTs account for 83.44 per cent of the 151 case fatalities reported in a span 24 hours.

    ALSO READ: COVID tests cross one crore-mark in Delhi, Kejriwal says ‘new record’

    Maharashtra reported 59 deaths.

    Kerala and Chhattisgarh follow with 18 and 10 new deaths, respectively.

    “Nineteen states and UTs have deaths per million lower than the national average. India’s deaths per million is 111 whereas the fatality rate is 1.44 per cent “On the other hand, 17 States/UTs have deaths per million higher than the national average,” the ministry stated.

  • India records 15,223 new COVID-19 cases

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India’s COVID-19 caseload crossed 1.06 crore with 15,223 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have surged to 1,02,65,706, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

    The total cases have increased to 1,06,10,883.

    The death toll mounted to 1,52,869 with 151 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,02,65,706 pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.75 per cent.

    ALSO READ: 7.86 lakh healthcare workers vaccinated, Karnataka takes the lead

    The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent.

    The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 2 lakh.

    There are  1,92,308 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 1.81 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    ALSO READ: COVID-19 positivity rate under seven per cent in Andhra Pradesh; no fatality in last 24 hours

    It went past  60 lakh on September 28,  70 lakh on  October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

    According to the ICMR, 18,93,47,782 samples have been tested up to January 20 with 7,80,835 samples being tested on Wednesday.

    The 151 new fatalities include 59 from Maharashtra, 18 from Kerala, 10 each from Delhi and Chhattisgarh.

    ALSO READ: COVID tests cross one crore-mark in Delhi, Kejriwal says ‘new record’

    A total of 152869 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 50,582 from Maharashtra followed by 12,290 from Tamil Nadu, 12,185 from Karnataka, 10,774 from Delhi, 10,080 from West Bengal, 8,591 from Uttar Pradesh and, 7,142 from Andhra Pradesh.

    The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

    “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of  Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

  • 7.86 lakh healthcare workers vaccinated, Karnataka takes the lead

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Even as vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a major hurdle in the way of the Centre’s ambitious Covid-19 immunisation drive, two southern states — Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh — have reported the highest number of healthcare workers across India to have been vaccinated over the last five days. 

    Of nearly 7.86 lakh vaccinations carried out till 6 pm on Wednesday, over 26% (or one fourth) were only from these two states, while the inoculation process is yet to gain ground in other populous states.

    As of Wednesday, 1,19,186 HCWs had taken the vaccine in Karnataka, while 88,145 were inoculated in Andhra Pradesh. 

    ALSO READ: COVID-19 positivity rate under seven per cent in Andhra Pradesh; no fatality in last 24 hours

    It is, however, not clear what percentage of vaccination targets these states have completed as the Centre has not shared information on the number of beneficiaries in every state.

    At a press briefing on Tuesday, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said that Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Punjab so far registered the lowest coverage of vaccination.

    The three states recorded 34.9%, 34.6% and 27.6% coverage respectively, according to the details shared at the briefing.

    “We are in constant touch with all the states which have registered below 50% uptake to address various issues that they may be facing including technology glitches or vaccine hesitancy,” said Bhushan.

    ALSO READ: COVID tests cross one crore-mark in Delhi, Kejriwal says ‘new record’

    “We have seen vaccine hesitancy during polio, measles etc., and this isn’t a new phenomenon. We will address this through dialogues and ensuring that the concerns are cleared.”

    Sharing details of the vaccination programme on Wednesday, additional secretary in the ministry Manohar Agnani said four deaths had been reported after they received the vaccine, but three of those fatalities were found unrelated to the vaccination. In the fourth case, the post-mortem report is still awaited. Besides, there have been reports of nine cases of hospitalisations from six states. 

    Agnani said provisional certificates will be issued to those who have received the first shot and added that a modification is being made in the CoWIN app to allow non-allocated but registered beneficiaries to take the jabs.

  • India’s COVID-19 caseload rises to 1,05,95,660; recovery rate at 96.7 per cent

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With 13,823 infections reported in a day, India’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,05,95,660, while the recoveries surged to 1,02,45,741, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday.

    The death toll due to the disease increased to 1,52,718 in the country as 162 new fatalities were recorded, the ministry data updated at 8 am showed.

    The total number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,02,45,741, pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.70 per cent.

    ALSO READ: Covaxin being used cautiously in first phase?

    The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent, it said.

    The active caseload remained below 3 lakh.

    There are 1,97,201 active coronavirus infections in the country, which comprises 1.86 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

    ALSO READ: People with fever, pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid Covaxin – Bharat Biotech

    It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one crore-mark on December 19.

    According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 18,85,66,947 samples have been tested till January 19, with 7,64,120 samples being tested on Tuesday.

    The 162 new fatalities include 50 from Maharashtra, 26 from Kerala, 11 from West Bengal, nine from Karnataka, and 10 each from Delhi and Chhattisgarh.

    ALSO READ: Centre issues Letter of Comfort to Bharat Biotech for 45 lakh doses of Covaxin

    Out of the total 1,52,718 deaths in the country, 50,523 deaths were reported from Maharashtra followed by 12,281 from Tamil Nadu, 12,181 from Karnataka, 10,764 from Delhi, 10,074 from West Bengal, 8,584 from Uttar Pradesh and, 7,142 deaths from Andhra Pradesh.

    The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

    “Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

  • Government says recipients of Bharat Biotech jabs are being followed up actively

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday said that the key difference between the administration of Covishield and Covaxin is that the first group of recipients are being followed up only “passively” unlike more robust look out for adverse events in the case of the other vaccine. 

    Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is being used in India despite still being under Phase 3 trial, with the drug regulator mandating that the vaccine can only be used in “clinical trial mode”.

    ALSO READ: Covaxin being used cautiously in first phase?

    To a media query, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said while there is a robust mechanism in place to monitor adverse events following immunisation, there is another difference in the way the recipients are followed up in the case of two vaccines.  

    In the case of Covishield, Bhushan said, recipients are advised to stay at vaccination centres for half an hour and report in case of uneasiness.

    For Covaxin, recipients are called everyday to check on their health updates. “They are also asked to sign detailed forms on their health status for a week,” Bhushan said. On being asked about who gets to decide on the use of Covishield and Covaxin, he said it was up to the states.

    ALSO READ: People with fever, pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid Covaxin – Bharat Biotech

    “States decide which vaccine they want. The Centre delivers vaccines to states and then the respective government decides which vaccine centres will get how many vaccines.” India’s active Covid-19 caseload has come down to 2 lakhs with only Kerala and Maharashtra  registering over 50,000 cases, he said.  

    Why worry

    Covaxin is being used in India despite still being under Phase 3 trial, with the drug regulator mandating that the vaccine can only be used in “clinical trial mode”.