Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala reports 5,397 new Covid-19 positive cases

Coronavirus live updates: Globally, over 108.2 million people have been infected by the virus and the death toll stands at 2,369,253

11:44 PM

Canada records 651 cases of coronavirus vaccine adverse reactions

Canadian health officials have observed 651 cases of adverse reactions in patients who have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, the country's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said on Friday, according to PTI. "As of February 6, there have been 651 reports of adverse events following immunization to date," Tam told reporters, adding that 99 of the cases are considered serious.

As per PTI, Tam stressed the agency monitors all adverse medical events following immunization, and that not all of the side effects are caused by the inoculation. Canada has administered 1,211,617 vaccine doses as of Friday, according to the COVID19Tracker.ca project.

 

11:36 PM

229 new coronavirus cases in Chhattisgarh, seven deaths

With 229 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths reported on Friday, Chhattisgarh's caseload rose to 3,08,701 and death toll reached 3,766, a health official said, according to PTI. The number of people who have recovered rose to 3,01,648 after 22 people were discharged from hospitals, while 245 patients completed their home isolation during the day. The state has 3,287 active cases now, he said.

Raipur district reported 82 new cases, taking its total count to 54,496, including 792 deaths. Durg recorded 50 new cases and Bilaspur 12, among other districts. Of the seven fatalities recorded during the day, two took place on Friday, four on Thursday and one had taken place earlier, the official said, as per PTI.

10:48 PM

Over 14,800 people get Covid vaccine shots on Fri in Delhi; 2nd dose from Sat

Over 14,800 people received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on Friday in the fourth week of the inoculation drive, while authorities geared up for the roll-out of the second dose of vaccination for the beneficiaries who were given jabs in the beginning of the exercise, according to PTI. As per doctors, the second dose is to be given to a beneficiary after a gap of 28 days.

As per PTI, a senior doctor at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital said, "We are all heard up for the second dose delivery tomorrow." Under the nationwide mega vaccination drive launched on January 16, a total of 4,319 (53 per cent) health workers against a target of 8,117 were administered the shots at 81 centres across the city on day one.

On the second scheduled day, the figures had stood at 3,598 (44 per cent of the target). The sharp fall had come after one severe and 50 minor adverse effect cases were reported, on the opening day of the vaccination drive. The count on the third schedule day was much higher at 4,936 (48 per cent).

9:23 PM

Covid-19 vaccine drive: 40,000 persons take shots in Maharashtra

As many as 40,000 persons, including 16,988 healthcare workers, were administered the Covid-19 vaccine in Maharashtra on Friday, an official from the state health department said, according to PTI. A total of 23,012 frontline workers received the first dose of the vaccine during the day, the official said.

At least, 6,48,573 persons have been inoculated so far in the COVID-19 vaccination drive, which started on January 16, he said. Of these, 5,35,621 are healthcare workers, while 1,12,952 are frontline staff, who have received the first dose of the vaccine, he said. After the first dose, the second jab will be given after a gap of four weeks.

8:53 PM

Govt looking into Covid-testing data fudging, guilty will be punished: Bihar CM

After RJD MP Manoj Jha asked for a high-level inquiry into fudging of COVID-19 testing data in Bihar, state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that the state administration is looking into the matter and action will be taken against people found guilty.

 

"I just came to know about the matter after somebody raised it in Rajya Sabha. I had a word with the Principal Secretary of the state about it, and he said the matter has been investigated. A total of 22 districts have already been looked into. This was seen at one location and action is being taken," Kumar said.

 

He said the state administration also spoke to the journalist who reported the matter in a newspaper.

8:31 PM

Kerala continues to see low Covid-19 positivity rate

Kerala on Friday saw its Covid positivity rate continue to be around 7 per cent as 5,397 new Covid cases were recorded from 74,408 tested in the past 24 hours.

 

A statement issued here by state Health Minister K.K.Shailaja also said that the day saw 5,332 people recover, taking the total cured to 9,25,871, while there were 63,961 active cases.

 

There were also 18 more deaths, taking the death toll to 3,954. Across the state, 2,41,362 people are under observation at various places which includes 10,420 in hospitals. There were 452 hotspots in the state on Friday.

8:01 PM

India supplied 229.7 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses to global community: MEA

India has supplied a total of 229.7 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to the global community so far, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

 

"As of date, we have supplied a total of 229.7 lakh doses to the global community. Of these, 64.7 lakh doses have been supplied as a grant while 165 lakh doses have been supplied on a commercial basis," said MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

 

When asked which countries are expected to get the vaccine doses in the coming days. Srivastava said that New Delhi expects to supply vaccine to more countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific island states. He added that the decision on these supplies will always be calibrated as per domestic production and the requirements of the national vaccination programme.

7:49 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 68 fresh coronavirus cases; tally 880,784

Andhra Pradesh reported 68 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to over 8.88 lakh, the government said on Friday. One death took the toll to 7,162. The state also reported 106 more recoveries in 24 hours ending 9 am on Friday, a health department bulletin said.

 

With 30,620 tests, the total number conducted so far in the state stood at over 1.34 crore. The total confirmed positive COVID-19 cases were 8,88,760 while the recoveries stood at 880,784.

7:34 PM

Hospitalisation recorded to date as a part of Covid-19 vaccination is 33: Health Ministry

Hospitalisation recorded to date as a part of Covid-19 vaccination is 33. Of which, 21 discharged from hospital, 2 under treatment & 10 deaths recorded. Percentage of hospitalisation as against total vaccinations constitutes 0.0004 per cent: Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry

7:24 PM

7.7 million beneficiaries vaccinated against coronavirus till Feb 12: Health Ministry

6:55 PM

India exports Covid-19 vaccines worth about Rs 338 crore so far: Govt

India's exports of the COVID-19 vaccine stood at around Rs 338 crore till February 8, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

 

The exports include grant of the vaccine doses to friendly countries and commercial shipments. Replying to supplementary questions in the House, Goyal said exports of the vaccine started in January. India is taking care of the domestic vaccine requirement first and based on that "giving vaccines to friendly countries," he said.

 

"Total export is about Rs 338 crore worth of COVID vaccine," the minister said. READ ON...

6:29 PM

Five new coronavirus cases in Noida, tally 25,424

Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded five new COVID-19 cases on Thursday that pushed the district's infection tally to 25,424, official data showed. The active cases in the district rose to 49 from 47 the previous day, according to data released by the Uttar Pradesh Health Department for a 24-hour period. Another three patients got discharged during the period with the overall recoveries reaching 25,284, the fifth highest in the state.

 

Gautam Buddh Nagar has a death toll of 91 with a mortality rate of 0.35 per cent. The recovery rate of patients reached 99.44 per cent, the statistics showed.

 

Gautam Buddh Nagar stands 22nd among 75 districts in the state in terms of active cases and 29th in mortalities linked to the pandemic, according to data. Meanwhile, the number of active COVID-19 cases in the state came down to 3,232 from 3,320 on Thursday while the overall recoveries reached 5,90,071 and the death toll stood at 8,698 on Friday, data showed.

6:21 PM

79.87% of the new cases are from six States: Health Ministry

6:03 PM

141 fresh cases in Delhi in past 24 hours; positivity rate 0.22%

Delhi recorded 141 fresh COVID-19 cases and three deaths on Friday, while the positivity rate stood at 0.22 per cent, authorities said. On February 9, no fatality was registered in the national capital. The positivity rate on Friday stood at 0.22 per cent, authorities said.

 

Delhi had recorded 96 coronavirus cases on January 27, the lowest in over nine months, and the first time the daily incidences count had stood below the 100-mark in that month. Also, on February 5 and 7, the fatality counts were two on both the days, same as on February 2.

5:07 PM

India's active Covid cases tally falls to 1.36 lakh, only 1 state reports over 1,000 cases: Govt

India's tally of active COVID-19 cases has fallen to 1.35 lakh comprising only 1.25 per cent of the total infections, while the distribution of new cases in a span of 24 hours shows only one state reporting over 1,000 cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

 

The distribution of daily deaths among states and union territories also reflects a significant declinewith18 states and UTs not reporting any new deaths in a span of 24 hours. Thirteen states and UTs have reported between 1-5 new deaths, it highlighted. The country's total active number of cases has seen a sharp decline, falling to1.35 lakh (1,35,926) and comprises only1.25 per cent of the total cases.

 

"The day-to-day change of active cases in the last few weeks shows a consistent decline.

4:40 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 7.4 million vaccinated so far in India, says govt

The number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 has reached 74.30 lakh on day 27 of the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination program.

 

"All states/Union Territories (UTs) except Mizoram and Daman and Diu reported vaccination activity today," stated the press release by the Ministry of Health.

 

The cumulative number of healthcare workers and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 is 74,30,866 (as at 7:00 pm today), as per the provisional report. 1,53,799 sessions have been held so far. 10,743 sessions were held till 7:00 pm today. Of the cumulative coverage, 5,790,832 are healthcare workers and 1,640,034 are frontline workers.

3:59 PM

Highly contagious UK Covid-19 variant found in Sri Lanka for first time

For the first time, Sri Lanka has reported the highly contagious new variant of the coronavirus found in the UK, health authorities said on Friday. Dr Chandima Jeewandara, Director of immunology and molecular medicine of the Sri Jayewardenepra University here, said that the latest variant, of B.1.1.7 lineage, is highly contagious.

 

It was the third variant of coronavirus to be detected in the country, he said, mentioning four different locations from where samples have been tested positive for the new UK variant. According to the health authorities, the country is recording over 800 COVID-19 cases on a daily basis.

3:38 PM

India records a sharp decline in the Active Caseload; stands at 1.35 lakh today

3:20 PM

Covid-19 antibodies to last for eight months after vaccination: AIIMS Director

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Randeep Guleria on Friday said that antibodies against the novel Coronavirus disease may last for up to eight months or longer pursuant to the vaccination, adding that scientists are aggressively studying the long-term protection provided by the vaccines.

 

Guleria, who is also a member of the National Task Force on Covid-19, answered a batch of questions related to the vaccines on Twitter earlier in the day. People tweeted to him using #VaccineVarta, following which he reverted to them.

 

"Antibodies will develop about 14 days after the second shot. It is not clear how long protection will last but it is believed that it will last for at least 8 months, or may be longer. "Currently, scientists are aggressively studying long-term protection provided by vaccines," the AIIMS Director said, on being asked how long the body will sustain the vaccines.

2:45 PM

India became fastest country to vaccinate over 70 lakh people for coronavirus: Health Ministry

In just 26 days, India has become the fastest country to vaccinate over 70 lakh people for coronavirus: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare

2:03 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 7.4 million vaccinated so far in India, says govt

1:45 PM

Brazilian tourism lost $48 billion in 2020 due to Covid-19

The Brazilian tourism sector lost 261.3 billion reals ($48 billion) last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, authorities announced In a report issued on Thursday, the National Confederation of Commerce, Goods, Service and Tourism (CNC) said that the figure represented the period between March and December 2020, reports Xinhua news agency.

Taking into account the entire 2020, the losses totalled to about $51 billion.

"It is a huge toll, and recovery will probably take until 2022 or 2023. We have already seen some recovery in trade and agribusiness, but not in the service sector," CNC economist Fabio Bentes was quoted as saying in the report.

1:09 PM

India is Asia's best post-Covid recovery story: Chris Wood

A steady fall in Covid cases coupled with a sharp economic recovery in India has made Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies reiterate his bullish view on Indian equities. In December 2020, Wood raised exposure to Indian equities twice in his Asia ex-Japan long only portfolio.

 

“With Covid cases in India now 88 per cent off their peak amid growing hopes of herd immunity, India looks right now Asia’s best post-Covid recovery story,” Wood wrote in his weekly note to investors, GREED & fear. Read on...

12:45 PM

Africa Covid deaths surge amid new variants: WHO

The number of Covid-19 fatalities in Africa has spiked as the continent grapples with local transmissions of the new and highly contagious strains of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

 

Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the continent's death toll from the pandemic increased by 40 per cent in January, fuelled by a second wave of infections and new variants that have overwhelmed local public health systems, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

"The increasing deaths from Covid-19 we are seeing are tragic, but are also disturbing warning signs that health workers and health systems in Africa are dangerously overstretched," Moeti said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

12:00 PM

Telangana reported 143 new Covid-19 cases

Telangana reported 143 new Covid-19 cases, 152 recoveries, and 1 death on 11th February.

 

Total cases reported as per the latest update 2,96,277

Total recoveries 2,92,848

Death toll 1,614

 

Active cases in the state 1,815

10:35 AM

Covid-19 impact: Lufthansa lays off 103 of its 135 cabin crew in India

Lufthansa has sacked 103 of its 135 cabin crew in India as Covid-19 has disrupted air travel and reduced fleet requirement.

 

The German carrier, which operated 42 flights per week to India prior to lockdown, now operates 10 services per week under an air travel bubble. The flight attendants in India were put on two years leave without pay, but the airline finally decided to lay them off as it was unable to negotiate a settlement with them. The airline has retained 32 permanent crew members in India, it is learnt. Read on...

10:28 AM

Oil steadies after strong rally as coronavirus weighs on demand

Oil prices steadied on Thursday from a record streak of gains after both OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) said renewed lockdowns and the emergence of new coronavirus variants reduced the prospect of a swift demand recovery.

 

Brent futures fell 7 cents, or 0.1%, to $61.40 a barrel by 11:21 a.m. EST (1621 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 17 cents, or 0.3%, to $58.51.

 

Previously, Brent rose for nine days in a row on Wednesday, tying the benchmark's winning streak record last hit in January 2019. It was also hit in April and September of 2007.

10:11 AM

Coronavirus in India: Latest update by MoHFW

Active cases: 135926 (Net reduction: 6,636)

Deaths: 155447 (Net increase: 87)

Cured: 10589230 (Net increase: 15,858)

Total cases: 10880603 (Net increase: 9,309)

Total vaccination: 7,505,010  (Increase over previous day: 487,896)

9:00 AM

US: Fed policymakers see rebound ahead, even if no Covid herd immunity

A slower-than-expected vaccine rollout and the rise of coronavirus variants may make attaining herd immunity against COVID-19 difficult, but that should not stop the economy from rebounding, according to a U.S. central banker Thursday.

 

"I don't think the economy requires herd immunity," Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Barkin told Reuters Thursday. "Consumers who get vaccines, who have money in their pockets...are going to be free to spend," he said. Read on...

7:52 AM

Italy maintains downward trend in active Covid cases, death toll at 92,729

About one month after easing most restrictions on people's movements, Italy maintained a downward trend in active coronavirus infections, the latest official data showed.

 

Yet, one of the most relevant anti-Covid-19 rules still in place -- a ban on travelling between the country's regions, except for essential work, health, or emergency reasons -- was expected to be extended beyond the current mid-February deadline, according to authorities, the Xinhua news agency reported.