Coronavirus LIVE: No Covid death in Bengal for first time in nearly a year

Coronavirus live updates: Maharashtra (2,155,070), Kerala (1,059,403), Karnataka (951,251), Andhra Pradesh (889,916). Stay tuned for corona-related news

9:36 PM

No Covid-19 death in Bengal for first time in nearly a year

No one died of the coronavirus in West Bengal in the last 24 hours -- a first since March 22 last year, the state Health Department said on Monday, according to PTI. So far, 10,268 people have died of the virus in the state, it said. However, the state reported 198 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 5,75,316. The highest of 62 cases were recorded in Kolkata.

The state's discharge rate improved to 97.64 per cent as 212 more people recovered in the last 24 hours. So far, 5,61,755 people have recovered from the disease. Accordingly, the number of active cases declined to 3,293. The state has so far tested 85,79,292 samples for Covid-19, including 16,014 since Sunday, as per PTI.

9:19 PM

Karnataka reports 349 new Covid-19 cases, 324 discharges

8:25 PM

Covid vaccination Phase-II: Check if you are eligible to get a shot

The second phase of India’s Covid-19 vaccination started on Monday and the Co-WIN portal also started a self-registration process for the 270 million people eligible for these shots. Under this phase, people above 60 years of age – and those over 45 years of age and with co-morbidities – are to be inoculated. The registration portal could be accessed at https://selfregistration.cowin.gov.in/.

 

The government has issued a list of 20 specified co-morbidities to determine the eligibility of people who can be administered a vaccine shot on priority.

 

If someone is more than 45 years old and suffers from conditions like diabetes or has suffered a heart attack in the past year, they will be eligible to get a Covid-19 vaccine shot. Here’s the full list of specified co-morbidities:

 

8:04 PM

Mumbai sees 855 cases, 876 recoveries, four deaths

Mumbai on Monday recorded 855 COVID-19 cases and four deaths, taking the tally to 3,26,770 and the toll to 11,474, while 876 people recovered during the day, an official said. So far, 3,04,736 people, or about 93 per cent of the caseload, have been discharged, leaving the country's financial capital with 9,690 active cases, he added.

 

The daily growth rate of cases increased to 0.28 per cent from 0.17 per cent on February 17, while the case doubling time shortened from 417 days to 244, BMC data revealed.

 

With 16,491 samples being examined in the last 24 hours, the overall number of tests in Mumbai went up to 32,91,721, an official said.

7:56 PM

Third US Covid-19 vaccine by J&J available in a few days: CEO

Americans should be able to receive Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine within the next 24 to 48 hours, its chief executive said on Monday after U.S. regulators approved the vaccine, making it the country's third available one for the novel coronavirus.

 

The drugmaker was still on track to deliver 4 million vaccine doses this week, and 100 million doses by June, J&J CEO Alex Gorsky told NBC News' Today program in an interview.

 

"Within the next 24 to 28 hours, Americans should start receiving shots in arms. They're literally rolling out with the trucks as we speak," he said.

 

7:34 PM

Kerala logs 1,938 new Covid-19 cases, 3,475 recoveries

Kerala reported 1,938 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths on Monday, taking the infection count to 10,61,690 and the death toll to 4,210. State Health Minister K K Shailaja said the state tested 45,995 samples in the last 24 hours and test positivity rate was 4.21 per cent.

 

Meanwhile, 3,475 people recuperated from the disease on Monday, taking the total cured in the state to 10,08,972. There are 2,07,915 people under observation in the state out of which 7,159 are in isolation wards of various hospitals.

 

6:50 PM

Smooth Covid-19 vaccination process at hospitals in Delhi

The second phase of the corona vaccination drive which began on Monday for senior citizens who are 60 years and above at hospitals in the national capital went smoothly despite some problems while downloading the Co-WIN app.

 

Speaking to IANS, Mohinder Arya, a 61-year-old resident of east Delhi's Patparganj, said, "I was facing problems in downloading the Co-WIN app in the morning."

 

The hospital was cooperative as his registration was done by the hospital and he was freed within an hour of receiving the vaccine jab, he added.

6:36 PM

1,938 new coronavirus cases and 13 deaths reported in Kerala today

1,938 new coronavirus cases and 13 deaths reported in Kerala today. There are 47,868 active cases in the state and total recoveries stand at 10,08,972: Kerala government

6:34 PM

Bharat Biotech hails PM for taking Covid-19 vaccine, says it will give a huge boost to immunisation campaign

The personal example set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in taking the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine would give a huge boost to the immunization campaign against the pandemic, city-based vaccine maker Bharat Biotech said on Monday.

 

Modi was administered Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech, at the AIIMS in Delhi on the very first day of expansion of the inoculation drive to cover people aged 60 and above and those between 45-59 having co-morbidities.

 

Hailing the Prime Minister for taking the vaccine on the first day, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech International Limited Krishna Ella also expressed gratitude to him for reposing trust in Covaxin.

Photo: Narendra Modi twitter

6:07 PM

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar receives first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, says, 'felt secure'

6:06 PM

Rajasthan governor takes Covid-19 vaccine

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra took the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Raj Bhawan here on Monday as the second phase of the nationwide vaccination drive kicked off.

 

The governor called upon all those eligible to take both doses of the vaccine and follow all protocols to protect themselves against the contagion, according to an official release.

 

People aged above 60 and those between 45 and 59 who are suffering from comorbidities are eligible for vaccinations under the second phase of the drive.

5:26 PM

Supreme Court judges not allowed to choose between Covaxin or Covishield: Health Ministry

Supreme Court judges are not allowed to choose between Covaxin or Covishield. It will be entirely through Co-Win System. Government Facility (CGHS Dispensary) within the Supreme Court to be used: Health Ministry clarifies

5:25 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Over 1 million users registered on CO-WIN portal so far

Over one million citizens have registered themselves on the Co-WIN portal till 1 pm on Monday, the Union Health Ministry said as India opened up vaccination for those over 60 years and within the age bracket of 45 to 59 years with specified comorbidities. As the registration on the www.cowin.gov.in opened up at 9 am on Monday, people took to social media to flag glitches in the registration system.

 

The ministry in the afternoon also clarified that the Co-WIN app on Play Store is meant for use only by the administrators, and that registration and booking for appointment for COVID-19 vaccination has to be done through the portal cowin.gov.in.

 

4:47 PM

Second phase of Covid-19 vaccination underway at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi

4:41 PM

Covid vaccination Phase-II: Check if you are eligible to get a shot

The second phase of India’s Covid-19 vaccination started on Monday and the Co-WIN portal also started a self-registration process for the 270 million people eligible for these shots. Under this phase, people above 60 years of age – and those over 45 years of age and with co-morbidities – are to be inoculated. The registration portal could be accessed at https://selfregistration.cowin.gov.in/.

 

The government has issued a list of 20 specified co-morbidities to determine the eligibility of people who can be administered a vaccine shot on priority.

 

If someone is more than 45 years old and suffers from conditions like diabetes or has suffered a heart attack in the past year, they will be eligible to get a Covid-19 vaccine shot. Here’s the full list of specified co-morbidities:

 

4:34 PM

More than 1 million citizen users registered on CO-WIN portal for Covid vaccine drive so far: Health Ministry

4:26 PM

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu takes home-grown jab in Chennai

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has also announced that he has received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine at a government hospital in Chennai, kicking off an expansion of the country's immunisation campaign that began in mid-January with healthcare workers.

 

"I took my first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Government Medical College, Chennai today. I will be taking the 2nd dose after 28 days," the Vice President said on Monday in a tweet.

 

The Vice President, 71, appealed to the people to come forward and receive the vaccine to defeat the deadly virus which has infected over 1,11,12,241 people and claimed the lives of 1,57,157 people so far. 

4:12 PM

Supreme Court judges and their family members to be administered with Covid-19 vaccine tomorrow

3:57 PM

CM Nitish Kumar gets Covid-19 vaccine; urges people of Bihar to follow suit

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday received the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine here and urged people of the state to get themselves inoculated, reaffirming his governments decision to provide the jabs free of cost, including at private facilities. Kumar received the shot at IGIMS hospital here in presence of Health minister Mangal Pandey and appealed to the people that they do not let their guard down in the wake of COVID-19 active cases coming down drastically in the state, and continue to practice social distancing and wearing of masks.

 

He also said arrangements have been made at the state-run super specialty hospital for inoculation of all members of the state legislature.

 

"Initially it was proposed that MLAs and MLCs be given the jabs at the Vidhan Sabha premises itself. But, since better logistics are available here, they will be requested to take the shots here", Kumar said.

3:30 PM

Covid-19 LIVE: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu takes first dose of vaccine

3:11 PM

'Sanitiser booths' set up in Kerala schools for safety of children

Amid increasing COVID-19 cases in Kerala, over 300 government and aided schools across the state have got 'sanitiserbooths' to ensure the hygiene and safety of students. The booths, installed at the entrance of each school, are equipped with sensor-integrated automatic machines that will dispense sanitiser to the students and others PTI reported.

 

It is an initiative of the vocational higher secondary education (VHSE) unit of the National Service Scheme (NSS), under the state General Education Department (GED).

 

As the final years exams were about to begin in state schools, the 'sanitiser booths' were part of extra precautionary measures against the spread of the coronavirus infection among children, a senior NSS official said.

2:58 PM

More than 80% Delhi Police personnel have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: Officials

More than 80 per cent of Delhi Police personnel have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: Officials

2:58 PM

People over 60 years of age and those with comorbidities must take vaccine: AIIMS Director

2:53 PM

Third Covid-19 wave feared in Pakistan

Due to the easing of most of the coronavirus restrictions across Pakistan, health experts have sounded alarm over a third wave of the pandemic if there was a resurgence of fresh cases, a media report said on Monday.

 

On Sunday, the country registered 1,176 new Covid-19 cases, which increased the overall tally to 581,365. The death toll currently stood at 12,896.

 

On February 24, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid relaxed most of the restrictions on commercial activities, schools, offices and other workplaces, allowing them to function at full strength.

2:49 PM

Covid LIVE: No death has occurred due to vaccination, says Harsh Vardhan

2:11 PM

CoWIN app for administrators, Covid-19 vaccine registration on portal: Health Ministry

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday clarified that there is no CoWIN application for registration and booking an appointment for the vaccine, and explained that the app on the play store is for administrators. Beneficiaries can register and book an appointment for the vaccine through the CoWIN portal http://cowin.gov.in, the ministry said.

 

"Registration and booking for appointment for #COVID19 Vaccination is to be done through #CoWIN Portal: http://cowin.gov.in. There is NO #CoWIN App for beneficiary registration. The App on Play Store is for administrators only," the Ministry of Health tweeted.

 

The second phase of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive for age-appropriate population groups began on Monday with the Union Health Ministry calling out eligible people to get an appointment at respective hospitals in the country.

2:05 PM

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar took his first dose of Covid-19 today in Patna

1:58 PM

Second phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive begins in Delhi, elderly queue up

The second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive began on Monday in the national capital as elderly people received their first shots of the vaccine, officials said.

 

In the first phase, starting January 16, over 3.6 lakh beneficiaries comprising healthcare workers and frontline workers, have been vaccinated in Delhi.

 

On Monday, the drive began to give jabs to persons aged 60 and above, and those in 45-59 age bracket with comorbidities.

1:37 PM

We, ministers, have decided to avail paid vaccination facility: Union Minister RS Prasad

Modi ji had clearly said that our Covid warriors would be vaccinated first, and then us. To those who were questioning PM Modi, he has replied, "I was waiting for my turn". We ministers have decided to avail paid vaccination facility: Union Minister RS Prasad.

1:25 PM

EU audits Indian vaccine maker as AstraZeneca looks to boost supplies

Europe's drug regulator is auditing the manufacturing site of the Serum Institute of India (SII), a source with knowledge of the matter said, a necessary step before AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine made there can be exported to the bloc.

 

SII, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, is producing the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with Oxford University, for dozens of poor and middle-income countries. Read on...