LIVE: India achieves highest-ever vaccination with 9 mn doses in a day

Coronavirus LIVE updates: As fear of third-wave looms over India, Kerala records 30,007 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra reported 5,108 cases. Stay tuned for corona updates

11:27 PM

Many schools in Delhi welcome AAP govt's decision to reopen schools from Sep 1

A majority of schools in the national capital are in favour of the Delhi government's decision to reopen the educational institutions from September 1 and are already making arrangements to ensure students are safe and all COVID-19 protocols are followed.

Few schools, however, pointed out that their staff are not fully vaccinated yet or that they have running Covid facilities which might be needed during the possible third wave. Few school principals also pointed out that as per the internal surveys of parents conducted by them, they are still reluctant to send their wards for physical classes.

9:59 PM

DCGI finds first mRNA vaccine safe, gives nods for Phase 2/3 trials

The Drug Controller General of India has approved the Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of India's first Covid-19 mRNA vaccine.

Pune-based pharma major Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd is developing the nation's first mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine. 

9:26 PM

US Covid vaccination site opens for arriving Afghans

The US government has launched a mass COVID-19 vaccination site for arriving Afghans near Dulles International Airport, where thousands fleeing the Taliban are now arriving daily, a senior administration official said Friday.

The site was set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and already has begun administering vaccinations to the Afghan evacuees.

9:16 PM

Tamil Nadu posts 1,542 Covid-19 infections, 21 fatalities

Tamil Nadu on Friday registered 1,542 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the overall case count to 26,08,748, while the toll soared to 34,835 with 21 people succumbing to the deadly virus.

9:09 PM

Mumbai adds 364 new Covid-19 cases, 5 deaths

Mumbai reported 364 new COVID-19 cases and five fresh fatalities on Friday, while 214 patients recovered from the infection, a senior civic official said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said with these additions, the tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 7,42,765, while the death toll jumped to 15,968. On the third consecutive day, Mumbai reported over 300 COVID-19 cases. However, it witnessed a marginal dip in the daily COVID-19 cases and fatalities as compared to Thursday, when the city had recorded 397 cases, this month's highest, and seven deaths. The financial capital of the country had reported 343 cases on Wednesday. The marginal dip in the daily COVID-19 cases could be because of a drop in number of tests.

7:32 PM

9 mn vaccines until now - and still counting: Mandaviya

7:11 PM

No one had died in Kerala due to a lack of oxygen: CM

3:24 PM

Kerala to continue with Sunday lockdown

3:22 PM

Delhi: Classes for std 9th-12th will begin from Sept 1

3:00 PM

Nearly 600 mn vaccine doses provided to states/UTs: Centre

1:12 PM

US plans Covid-19 booster shots at six months instead of eight: Report

US health regulators could approve a third Covid-19 shot for adults beginning at least six months after full vaccination, instead of the previously announced eight-month gap, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
 

Approval of boosters for three Covid-19 shots being administered in the United States include those manufactured by Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are expected in mid-September, the report said, citing a person familiar with the plans.

 

Pfizer and BioNTech have already started the application process for the approval of its booster shot in people 16 and older, saying it spurs a more than three-fold increase in antibodies against the coronavirus. Read on...

12:59 PM

Blood clot risk much higher from Covid-19 than after vaccination: Study

The risk of developing adverse events such as blood clots is considerably higher after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus than after immunisation with Pfizer and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines, according to a large UK study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Friday.

 

The team led by researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK conducted the study on thrombocytopenia -- a condition with low platelet counts -- and thromboembolic events or blood clots following Covid-19 vaccination with Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech preventives.

 

Some of these events have led to restricted use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield in India, in a number of countries.

12:23 PM

Expense on R&D for Covid-19 drugs, vax, devices will count as CSR

Research and development of new vaccines, drugs and medical devices related to Covid-19 by companies in the normal course of business will be regarded as corporate social responsibility (CSR) for three financial years, till FY22-23, the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) said through a document.

 

While activities in the normal course of business do not qualify as CSR, the exception regarding R&D for Covid drugs and vaccines is only for companies that collaborate with organisations mentioned in the item (ix) of Schedule VII in the Companies Act.

 

These organisations include the Indian Institute of Technology, National Laboratories and auto­nomous bodies established under the Department of Atomic Energy, Indian Council of Medical Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, among others. Read on...

11:47 AM

New coronavirus variants reducing vaccine effectiveness, stay cautious: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday appealed to the people to stay alert and follow all coronavirus-related guidelines to reduce the risk of infection.

 

He said the delta variant of the virus has reduced the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccine and in some countries, booster doses are being administered.

 

"Due to the low availability of the Covid vaccine and the decrease in the effectiveness of the Covid vaccine due to new variants of the corona, the possibility of a third wave increases. Therefore it is very important that utmost care is taken. The Government of India should also make preparations by sharing experience with other countries," Gehlot tweeted.

 

He said more than four crore beneficiaries in the state have been vaccinated at least one dose. Of them, more than one crore have received both the doses.

 

"We all have to be alert in view of the possibility of third wave of the coronavirus. The state government has set up a genome sequencing lab in SMS Hospital to test new variants," the chief minister said.

11:37 AM

Talks over TAPI pipeline gather steam with Taliban at the helm

With the Taliban spokespersons in Afghanistan talking favourably on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, expectations of it coming closer to India have grown. The TAPI pipeline is among the three transnational pipelines that have been on the drawing board for long.

 

These can assist in India's quest for a gas-based economy, even though transnational pipelines are difficult to plan and harder to implement.

 

“The TAPI project had regained steam a few years ago, but there has been an eerie silence from India on this front lately. It seems the government wants to see if the Taliban are really serious about this project and what form of governance they adopt. Whether they want and are eligible to do business with India is something that requires a wait-and-watch approach,” a former Indian government official told Business Standard. Read on...