Coronavirus LIVE: Govt extends ban on international flights till Feb-end

Coronavirus live updates: Globally, more than 101.4 million people have been infected by the virus and the death toll stands at 2,182,155

4:02 AM

Novavax vaccine seems effective against Covid-19 in UK study

Novavax Inc. said Thursday that its Covid-19 vaccine appears 89 per cent effective based on early findings from a British study and that it also seems to work — though not quite as well — against new mutated strains of the virus circulating in that country and South Africa.
 

The announcement comes amid worry about whether a variety of vaccines being rolled out around the world will be strong enough to protect against worrisome new variants – and also the world needs new types of shoots to boost scarce supplies.
 

The study of 15,000 people in Britain is still underway. But an interim analysis found 62 participants so far have been diagnosed with Covid-19 – only six of them in the group that got vaccine and the rest who received dummy shots.
 

The infections occurred at a time when Britain was experiencing a jump in Covid-19 caused by a more contagious variant. A preliminary analysis found over half of the trial participants who became infected had the mutated version. The numbers are very small but Novavax said they suggest the vaccine is nearly 96 per cent effective against the older coronavirus and nearly 86 per cent effective against the new variant.
 

Scientists have been even more worried about a strain first discovered in South Africa that carries different mutations – and results from a smaller Novavax study suggests the vaccine does work but not nearly as well as it does against the variant from Britain.
 

4:01 AM

First known US cases of potent South African Covid-19 variant found in South Carolina

A potent coronavirus variant originating in South Africa and possibly resistant to current vaccines and antibody treatments has been detected for the first time in the United States in two South Carolina patients, health officials said on Thursday.
 

Medical experts said arrival of the so-called South African variant presents an alarming new challenge in efforts to contain a raging pandemic that has claimed at least 430,000 American lives in 11 months, as authorities struggle launch the largest mass-vaccination campaign in US history.
 

All viruses mutate frequently, and scientists have identified several variants of the novel coronavirus found to be more transmissible than the original strain.

But the presence of the South African variant, which has shown no evidence of causing more severe disease, is nonetheless especially concerning because several laboratory studies have found that it reduces vaccine and antibody therapy efficacy.
 

Another concern, according to Vivek Murthy, nominated to be the next US surgeon general, is that the South African variant may require larger doses of antibody therapeutics for effective treatment.
 

Confirmation of two patients with that variant in South Carolina comes days after the Minnesota Department of Health identified the first known US case of another highly contagious variant that originated in Brazil.
 

11:13 PM

Mumbai reports 394 new Covid cases, 7 deaths

10:52 PM

How many variants of the coronavirus are there?

There are many variants of the coronavirus circulating around the world, but health experts are primarily concerned with the emergence of three. One of the three main variants experts are watching was discovered in the United Kingdom late last year and has been detected in dozens of countries since,according to a PTI copy.

The PTI copy further said that health officials initially said it didn't seem to cause worse disease, but some newer information suggests it might that remains unknown at the moment. It does appear to spread more easily, which could lead to more hospitalisations and deaths. The variant might become dominant in the US by March, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Other variants first detected in South Africa and in Brazil also appear more contagious, experts say. Data so far suggests current vaccines should still protect against these variants, though there's some concern their effectiveness may be slightly diminished. There is some evidence that some antibody treatments may be less effective against certain variants. There are ways to adjust vaccines and treatments to maintain their effectiveness, said Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert.

10:51 PM

Karnataka logs 550 new coronavirus cases, 2 deaths

Karnataka has reported 550 new cases of Covid-19 and 2 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 9,37,933 and the death toll to 12,209, the Health department said on Thursday. The day also saw 644 patients getting discharged after recovery. Out of the 550 fresh cases reported on Thursday, 311 cases were from Bengaluru Urban alone.

As of January 28 evening, cumulatively 9,37,933 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 12,209 deaths and 9,19,503 discharges, the Health department said in its bulletin. It said, out of 6,202 active cases, 6,052 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 150 are in ICU. Out of the 2 deaths reported on Thursday, both were from Bengaluru Urban.

9:33 PM

Over 4,700 healthcare workers administered Covid-19 vaccine in Himachal

As many as 4,794 healthcare workers were vaccinated for COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday,an official said. Earlier, a total of 14,072 people were administered the vaccine till January 23, Special Secretary (Health) Nipun Jindal said.

The vaccination drive had begun on January 16 when 1,536 members of the medical fraternity were administered the vaccine while 3,299 people received the jabs on January 18, 232 on January 19, 45 on January 20, 686 on January 21, 3,819 on January 22, 3,935 on January 23 and 510 on January 27. With this, the total number of vaccinated healthcare workers in the hill state has risen to 18,866, he added.

Jindal said the target for Thursday was 6,420 and the percentage coverage is 74.7 per cent. Fourteen adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) were reported in the state on Thursday, he added. The number of AEFI in the state has now risen to 56 as earlier 42 AEFI cases had been reported.

9:30 PM

Maharashtra records 2,889 Covid-19 cases, 3,181 recoveries; 50 die

Maharashtra recorded 2,889 new Covid-19 cases, taking its tally to 20,18,413 on Thursday, while 50 fresh deaths pushed the toll to 50,944, the state health department said. A statement from the health department said 3,181 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, raising the number of recovered cases to 19,23,187.

There are 43,048 active cases in the state, where 1,44,30,223 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far, the statement added.

8:23 PM

5,771 new coronavirus cases in Kerala, 5,549 more recoveries

As many as 5,771 more coronavirus infections were detected in Kerala on Thursday while 5,549 more patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals, Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. 72,392 patients are under treatment in the state, as of Thursday. With testing of 58,472 more samples, the positivity rate of Kerala is 9.87 per cent. The state's commercial capital Ernakulam recorded maximum 784 cases while Kasargod had the least 84 cases.

 

Nineteen more fatalities on Thursday took the COVID deaths in Kerala to 3,682, Vijayan said.

 

In all, 88 of the positive cases have come from outside the state while 5,528 patients contracted the disease through contacts. The source of contact of 410 persons was not clear. In all, 45 more health workers tested positive -- Kannur 11, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Wayanad 5 each, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur 4 each, Thiruvananthapuram 3, Kottayam, Kasargod and Kozhikode 2 each, Kollam and Idukki one each.

8:13 PM

India to supply 10 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to Africa, 1 million to UN health workers: MEA

India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to neighbouring countries so far, External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday, according to ANI. Addressing a weekly briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said India plans to gift vaccines doses to Oman, CARICOM countries, Nicaragua, Pacific Island states.

 

Srivastava said New Delhi plans to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI's (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) COVAX facility.

7:53 PM

Suspension of scheduled international passenger flights extended till Feb 28

The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till February 28, aviation regulator DGCA said on Thursday.

 

"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation added.

 

Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with selected countries since July.

 

India has formed air bubble pacts with around 24 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

 

7:37 PM

India fulfilling its global responsibility in Covid-19 crisis: PM Modi at Davos Dialogue

India has been fulfilling its global responsibility from the beginning in the tough conditions created by COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday and noted that the country is saving the lives of people in many other countries by sending vaccines against coronavirus.

 

Addressing the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Davos Dialogue on via video conferencing, the Prime Minister said India started the Vande Bharat mission to send people back to their homes during COVID-19 pandemic when the airspace was closed in many countries

 

"In these tough times, India has been undertaking its global responsibility from the beginning. When airspace was closed in many countries, India took more than one lakh citizens to other countries and delivered essential medicines to more than 150 countries," the Prime Minister said.

7:05 PM

India will vaccinate 300 million people against Covid-19: PM Narendra Modi

India will vaccinate 300 million people including the elderly and those with co-morbidities against COVID-19 in the next few months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

 

Addressing the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Davos Dialogue on via video conferencing, the Prime Minister said there are two 'Made in India' vaccines against coronavirus and many more vaccines will come from India in the time to come.

 

"In just 12 days, India has vaccinated more than 2.3 million healthcare workers. In the next some months, we will achieve our target of vaccinating 300 million elderly people and people with comorbidities," the Prime Minister said.

6:47 PM

Guidelines issued to states, UTs to ensure no wastage of Covid-19 vaccines

The Union health ministry has issued detailed guidelines to the states and Union territories to ensure that there is no wastage of COVID-19 vaccines and for that purpose, the vaccinators at the session sites have been allowed to add additional beneficiaries, apart from the 100 scheduled for the day, in case they do not turn up.

 

Responding to a question at a press conference here on how the ministry is dealing with vaccine wastage across the country, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday said when the vaccination programme was rolled out, a 10-per cent wastage was factored in.

 

"We have issued detailed guidelines to the states and Union territories on how to avoid wastage of vaccines. We have made our digital platform more flexible and have permitted that apart from the scheduled 100 beneficiaries, the person handling the vaccination session at a particular site can add additional people as long as they are part of the database. This is being done to ensure that there is a lesser wastage of the vaccines.

6:32 PM

India successfully contained pandemic, flattened its Covid-19 graph: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

India has successfully contained the pandemic, flattened its Covid-19 graph; 146 districts have no new cases for seven days: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

6:18 PM

India will come up with more Covid-19 vaccines: Modi tells Davos Summit

India provides a "predictable environment" for doing business and its commitment to economic self-reliance will strengthen globalization, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday as he addressed World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda Summit.

"Many around the world thought India would be worst-affected country by Covid-19 and face tsunami of corona infections," he said, indicating the country has lined up more vaccines for the disease after using two for its nationwide inoculation.

 

"Right now there are two made in India vaccines. World Economic Forum will be relieved to know that in the time to come many more vaccines will come from India,” he said. READ MORE...