Coronavirus LIVE: 580 adverse events reported across India post-vaccination

Coronavirus live updates: A total of 381,305 beneficiaries in India have so far been vaccinated. Globally, more than 95.5 million people have been infected, of which, 10,572,672 are in India

11:24 PM

EU insists virus shots will remain voluntary

The European Union sought Monday to ease concerns that citizens might be obliged to get shots against the coronavirus before they're allowed to travel, as debate swirls over the use of vaccination certificates to help reopen tourism across the 27-nation bloc. The European Commission has been weighing a Greek proposal to issue vaccination certificates to help get travelers to their vacation destinations more quickly and avoid another disastrous summer for Europe's tourism sector.

Greece plans to issue digital vaccination certificates to each person inoculated against Covid-19. EU heads of state and government are due to discuss the proposal at a video-summit on Thursday. European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic insisted that vaccination is voluntary. He noted that some people cannot be inoculated for health reasons while others might simply object.

We are taking all the precautions that we would not create any ground for different treatment of these people, or any kind of limitations of their rights, he told reporters after taking part in videoconference talks between European affairs ministers.

11:05 PM

SC Bar Association writes to Ravi Shankar Prasad, urges vaccination extension to judicial members

Supreme Court Bar Association writes to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, seeking direction to extend COVID-19 vaccination programme to include judges, judicial members & persons belonging to the legal fraternity.

10:26 PM

Kerala logs 3,346 fresh Covid-19 cases and 3,921 recoveries

10:25 PM

Karnataka reports 435 new Covid-19 cases, 973 discharges

10:24 PM

Punjab reports 140 new Covid-19 cases, 278 recoveries

10:24 PM

56,978 persons have tested positive for Covid in Himachal Pradesh so far

10:18 PM

Rajasthan reports 213 new Covid-19 cases, 626 recoveries, and 3 deaths

Total cases: 3,15,394

Total recoveries: 3,08,010 

Death toll: 2,750

Active cases: 4,634

9:52 PM

Haryana reported 119 new Covid-19 cases today.

8:37 PM

381,305 beneficiaries received Covid-19 vaccine, 580 adverse events reported: Health Ministry

A total of 3,81,305 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for coronavirus, even as 580 adverse events following immunization were reported in the country, the Union health ministry said on Monday. Addressing a press briefing, Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary in the ministry, said 1,48,266 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 25 states and Union territories till 5 pm on Monday.

 

"A total of 3,81,305 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated (till 5 pm on Monday) as per provisional reports," he said.

 

Of the 1,48,266 beneficiaries who were administered the vaccine on Monday, 8,656 were from Bihar, 1,822 from Assam, 36,888 from Karnataka, 7,070 from Kerala, 6,665 from Madhya Pradesh, 7,628 from Tamil Nadu, 10,352 from Telangana, 11,588 from West Bengal and 311 were from Delhi.

8:15 PM

Maharashtra records 1,924 coronavirus cases, 3,854 recoveries; 35 die

Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally on Monday rose to 19,92,683 after it recorded 1,924 fresh cases, said a state health department official. The state reported 35 more deaths due to the infection, taking the fatality count to 50,473, he said.

 

Also, 3,854 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, pushing the tally of recovered people to 18,90,323, the official said.

 

The state now has 50,680 active cases of coronavirus, he said. Mumbai city reported 395 new cases, which pushed its overall count to 3,03,152, while its death toll rose to 11,251 after seven more patients succumbed to the infection.

7:50 PM

Kerala reports over 3,000 new Covid-19 cases, 3,921 recoveries

Kerala recorded 3,346 COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the caseload to the 8.50 lakh mark as the toll mounted to 3480 with 17 more fatalities. As many as 3921 people have been cured, pushingthe total recoveries to 7,79,097. Presently, 68,399 people are undergoing treatment for the infection, Health minister K K Shailaja said in a press release.

 

The total number of cases now is 8,50,597.

 

In the last 24 hours, 33,093 samples were tested and the test positivity rate has touched 10.11 per cent. So far, 89,54,140 samples have been sent for testing. Ernakulam accounted for the maximum of 574 cases, Kozhikode 385, Malappuram 357, Kollam 322 and Kottayam 308. None of the returnees from the UK tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the minister said.

7:43 PM

Covid-19 vaccination drive begins on NDA premises

The National Defence Academy (NDA) and Military Hospital, Khadakwasla, here in Maharashtra on Monday commenced a COVID-19 vaccination drive for about 205 healthcare and frontline workers, a defence release said.

 

The event was flagged off by Lt. General Asit Mistry, Commandant, NDA, in a solemn manner, remembering sacrifices made by healthcare and frontline workers, while combating the scourge of this pandemic, it said.

 

"Armed Forces have always been at the forefront of combating the enemy, be it rogue forces or microbes. In keeping with this tradition, the NDA and its affiliated health care institution Military Hospital, Khadakwasla, commenced the vaccination drive on Monday for close to 205 priority-I subjects i.e healthcare and frontline Workers," the release said.

6:54 PM

Health worker dies in UP's Moradabad day after receiving Covid-19 shot; Govt says not related to vaccine

A 46-year-old health worker died in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district a day after receiving the coronavirus vaccination, with the autopsy report attributing the death to "cardio-pulmonary disease", officials said on Monday.

 

The family of Mahipal, who was working as ward boy in state-run Deen Dayal Upadhaya Hospital, said he was not suffering from any ailment other than fever and cough, and blamed his death on vaccination.

 

But the Uttar Pradesh government said the man died due to septicemic shock and cardiac arrest and the death was not related to the COVID-19 vaccination.

 

"An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) committee probed the death of the man in Moradabad. The cause of death was septicemic shock and cardiac arrest and it has nothing to do with the vaccination," the state's Additional Chief Secretary (Health)Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters in Lucknow.

6:23 PM

161 new coronavirus cases in Delhi, eight deaths; positivity rate dips to 0.32%

Delhi recorded 161 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest in over eight months, and eight deaths on Monday, as the positivity rate dipped to 0.32 per cent. The infection tally in the city rose to 6,32,590 and the death toll mounted to 10,754, they said.

 

This is the 15th time that the daily count stood below the 500-mark in January, and the fourth consecutive day since January 15 when the figures have stood below the 300-mark.

 

The city recorded 246 new cases on January 17; 299 cases onJanuary16 and 295 cases on January15. On January 14, Delhi had recorded 340 cases and four deaths as the daily fatality count had dropped to a single digit after several months. The active cases tally on Monday dropped to 2,332 from 2,544 the previous day, while the positivity rate dropped to 0.32 per cent.

5:39 PM

No canteen, food sharing allowed in Delhi schools to prevent Covid-19 spread

Schools in the national capital strictly followed health and safety protocols on Monday as they reopened their gates to welcome students of class 10, 12 after ten months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Precautions like no canteen, food sharing, assembly or extracurricular activity along with entry and exit through multiple gates, frequent sanitation, and shorter class hours were followed to prevent the spread of the virus.

 

The decision to reopen the classes for senior students came after the national capital saw a decline in coronavirus cases in the last few days.

 

Reenu Nair, Vice Principal of Delhi Public School (DPS) RK Puram said, "We are taking all precautionary measures. Today 10 months after school reopened, students were very excited, we were also very happy to see them. A total of 50 students were present in the school today and we took consent from parents whether they want students to come to school."

 

4:49 PM

Delhi reopens class 10, 12 after 10 months with Covid safety protocols

Students of Class 10 and 12 in government and private schools in Delhi on Monday were given a rousing welcome, with all Covid safety protocols put in place, some ten months after educational institutions were forced to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The move comes ahead of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board examination scheduled to begin in May.

 

Deputy chief minister and education minister Manish Sisodia took to Twitter to wish students:

 

"Best wishes to the students of class 10 & 12th who are going to visit their school today after 10 months... (though it's only for limited purpose and with covid protocols..) But still... I am glad that schools are opening in Delhi today," Sisodia tweeted. READ ON...

 

4:27 PM

Jindal Steel in talks to get Covid-19 vaccines for employees

Steel producer Jindal Steel and Power Ltd said on Monday it was reaching out to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers for a bulk supply of doses for its employees after the Indian government kicked off one of the world's largest vaccination campaigns over the weekend.

 

"Will try to get these doses after completion of all frontline COVID warriors' vaccination," Pankaj Lochan, chief human resource officer, JSPL, said in a statement, making it among the first big companies to make a public statement on vaccination plans.

 

Another steel producer, Tata Steel Ltd said the company would vaccinate its employees as per the government guidelines when vaccines were made available.

 

3:52 PM

Total Covid-19 recoveries nearly 50 times active cases in country: Health Ministry

India's total COVID-19 recoveries have surpassed the active caseload by more than one crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday, terming it as a landmark achievement. The total number of recoveries has touched1,02,11,342, while the active cases in the country stand at 2,08,012 today.

 

"The gap between the two has progressively grown to touch 1,00,03,330. The total recovered cases are nearly 50 times the active cases in the country," the ministry underlined.

 

With this, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has touched96.59 per cent. A total of 14,457recoveries have been registered in a span of 24 hours in the country while the number of new confirmed cases during the same period is 13,788.

 

"As India's daily positive cases see a continuous slide, the daily fatalities due to COVID-19 in the country have also seen a steady decline. The country has recorded less than 150 fatalities (145) in the last 24 hours after approximately 8 months (7months 23 days)," the ministry underlined.

3:30 PM

76.17% of the new cases are from six States and UTs: Health Ministry

2:59 PM

New coronavirus variant detected in Nepal

Nepal's Health Ministry has confirmed the detection of cases of the new coronavirus variant, which was first discovered in the UK late last year. Three people whose samples were sent to Hong Kong for testing via gene sequencing have been confirmed to have contracted the mutated varian.

 

A 28-year-old woman and two men aged 32 and 67, were found to have been infected.

 

The woman and the 32-year-old man have already tested negative, while the 67-year-old, although still infected, is asymptomatic, the Ministry said. Six people who had recently returned from the UK had tested positive for Covid-19 and it was suspected that the three whose samples s-gene target had come out negative were carrying the new variant.

2:04 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Gap between recoveries and active cases now over 10 mn

India achieved a significant feat as the total COVID-19 recovered cases leapt over the active caseload by more than one crore on Monday, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. The total number of recoveries has touched 1,02,11,342 while the active cases in the country stand at 2,08,012 today.

 

"The gap between the two has progressively grown to touch 1,00,03,330. The total recovered cases are nearly 50 times the active cases in the country," the ministry said.

 

India's recovery rate has touched 96.59 per cent. 14,457 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours in the country while the number of new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours is 13,788. India reported 145 casualties due to COVID-19, the lowest in approximately eight months.

1:47 PM

Four Kerala MLAs test positive for Covid-19 after attending current session of Assembly

Four MLAs in Kerala have tested positive for COVID-19 after participating in the ongoing session of the Assembly.

The members representing Neyyattinkara, Kollam, Koyilandy and Peermedu--K Ansalan (CPI-M), K Dasan (CPI-M), Mukesh (CPI-M) and E S Bijimol (CPI)- respectively are the lawmakers who have tested positive, Assembly sources said.

While Dasan and Alansar have been admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital, Mukesh and Bijimol are under observation at their homes.

1:05 PM

Philippine cases hit 500,000 amid vaccine struggles

Coronavirus infections in the Philippines have surged past 500,000 in a new bleak milestone with the government facing criticism for failing to immediately launch a vaccination program amid a global scramble for COVID-19 vaccines.

 

The Department of Health reported 1,895 new infections Sunday, bringing confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 500,577, the second highest in Southeast Asia. There have been at least 9,895 deaths.

 

The Philippines has been negotiating with seven Western and Chinese companies to secure 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine but the effort has been fraught with uncertainties and confusion.

12:52 PM

Delhi reopens class 10, 12 after 10 months with Covid safety protocols

Students of Class 10 and 12 in government and private schools in Delhi on Monday were given a rousing welcome, with all Covid safety protocols put in place, some ten months after educational institutions were forced to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The move comes ahead of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board examination scheduled to begin in May.

 

Deputy chief minister and education minister Manish Sisodia took to Twitter to wish students:

 

"Best wishes to the students of class 10 & 12th who are going to visit their school today after 10 months... (though it's only for limited purpose and with covid protocols..) But still... I am glad that schools are opening in Delhi today," Sisodia tweeted. Read on...

12:32 PM

Israel trades Pfizer doses for medical data in Covid-19 vaccine blitz

After sprinting ahead in the race to inoculate its population against the coronavirus, Israel has struck a deal with Pfizer, promising to share vast troves of medical data with the international drug giant in exchange for the continued flow of its hard-to-get vaccine.

 

Proponents say the deal could allow Israel to become the first country to vaccinate most of its population, while providing valuable research that could help the rest of the world. But critics say the deal raises major ethical concerns, including possible privacy violations and a deepening of the global divide that enables wealthy countries to stockpile vaccines as poorer populations, including Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, have to wait longer to be inoculated. Read on...

12:25 PM

Covid-19 vaccination continues in Bengal, CoWIN glitches reported

The Covid-19 vaccination drive resumed on Monday at 207 sites across West Bengal with beneficiaries, mostly frontline workers, reaching there as scheduled to receive the doses, a senior official of the Health Department said.

 

Glitches in the CoWIN portal were reported from several sites, following which health officials chose to manually complete the process of documentation and allocation, he added.

 

"The vaccination drive began around 9 am. We hope that those who did not come on the first day will turn up today. Most of the people who have received SMSes have already reached the centres. Around 100 beneficiaries will be receiving the Covishield vaccine from each centre today," the official said. Read on...

12:19 PM

Steel companies engage with vaccine makers for bulk supply of doses for employees

Leading steel-producing companies in the country are drawing up plans to vaccinate their employees across offices and plant sites with the start of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive.

 

Domestic steel makers like -- Tata Steel, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS India) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) said they will continue to support the government in the nationwide drive and will wait till vaccines are available for corporates.

 

Meanwhile, players like JSW Steel and Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) are already in talks with Indian vaccine makers to place orders according to their requirements.

10:44 AM

Firms rush for vaccine liability cover as India kicks off vaccination drive

Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers in India have got themselves covered with product liability policies as the immunisation drive has started.

 

They had also taken clinical trial liability insurance during the trial phase to protect themselves.

Insurance companies, on the other hand, have sought reinsurance support for such coverage from India’s largest reinsurer General Insurance Corporation (GIC Re). Read on...

10:33 AM

Telangana adds 206 new coronavirus cases, 2 deaths take toll

Telangana recorded 206 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total positives to nearly 292,000 while two fatalities pushed the toll to 1,579, the state government said on Monday.

 

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 45, followed by

 

Karimnagar and Rangareddy with 17 and 16 respectively, it said in a bulletin, providing details as of 8 PM on January 17.

9:48 AM

Maharashtra: 325 new Covid-19 cases in Thane; tally reaches 2,49,507

The COVID-19 tally in Thane district of Maharashtra has gone up to 2,49,507 with the detection of 325 new cases of the infection, an official said on Monday.

 

Apart from these new cases recorded on Sunday, one more person also succumbed to the viral infection, taking the death toll in the district to 6,053, he said.

 

Currently, the COVID-19 fatality rate in the district is 2.43 per cent, the official said. Read on...