New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be vaccinated in the second phase of the Covid inoculation drive launched last week, sources said today. All Chief Ministers, MPs and MLAs above 50 will also receive vaccines.
The vaccine drive was launched on January 16 with healthcare workers and others at the frontline of the coronavirus fight receiving jabs of two vaccines - Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
Many states are struggling to meet targets and hesitancy to take vaccines and the fear of side effects are seen to be part of the reason.
In the second phase, it is the turn of those above 50 and people with comorbidities to take shots.
Here are the Highlights :
EU leaders 'discourage' travel, eye tougher border rules
EU leaders on Thursday "strongly discouraged" Europeans from non-essential travel and warned tougher restrictions on trips could come within days if efforts to curb the coronavirus fell short.
EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel issued the warning after a four-hour summit by video link with the heads of government of the 27-nation bloc focused on responding to the second wave of the pandemic.
The tone of urgency was fuelled by fears over the spread of highly contagious coronavirus variants that could send already high infection rates skyrocketing and strain hospitals, as is happening in former EU member Britain.
France tells its citizens: Fabric masks not enough to protect from COVID
The French government is now recommending that people wear surgical masks in public because they offer better protection from COVID-19 transmission than fabric face coverings, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday.
France already requires masks to be worn in public places, but until now has not made recommendations about the type of masks.
UK PM Johnson says too early to say when national lockdown will end
It is too early to say when the national COVID lockdown in England will end, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday, adding that persistently high infection levels demonstrated how infectious a new variant was
"I think it's too early to say when we'll be able to lift some of some of the restrictions," PM Johnson told broadcasters.
5,942 healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19 in Delhi on Friday
The daily number of COVID-19 vaccines administered to healthcare workers in the national capital neared the 6,000-mark for the first time on Thursday with 5,942 newly administered vaccines.
As per the health department, 24 adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) were reported across the city.
However, the total number of vaccines administered today still did not reach the target of 8,100 shots at 81 centres in Delhi.
In order to address these apprehensions related to vaccinations in the minds of healthcare workers, the Delhi government undertook a counseling program on Wednesday.
3,091 more beneficiaries get COVID vaccine jabs in Assam
Altogether 3,091 beneficiaries received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Assam on Thursday, taking the total number of inoculated people in the state to 10,676, the National Health Mission said.
Two minor cases of Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) were reported during the day in Lakhimpur and Barpeta districts.
Assam also reported 21 new COVID-19 positive cases on Thursday, taking the tally to 2,16,940, the NHM said in a bulletin.
Repeal laws, legally authorise MSP: Farmer leader after farmers reject centre's proposal
Farmers have only one demand, repeal the farm laws and legally authorise minimum support price (MSP), said farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan on Thursday after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha rejected the government's proposal to put new farm laws on hold for about 18 months.
"It''s been decided that no proposal of the government will be accepted until and unless they repeal the laws. In tomorrow''s meet with the government, we''ll say that we''ve only one demand, repeal the laws and legally authorise MSP. All these have been unanimously decided," Ugrahan told media after Samyukta Kisan Morcha''s meeting.
Gujarat reports just 1 COVID-19 death, 471 new cases
In a sign of improvement in the coronavirus situation, Gujarat recorded just one death due to the viral infection on Thursday, the lowest in over nine months, while 471 more people tested positive, the state health department said.
The first death due COVID-19 was reported in Gujarat on March 22. Records show that from April 10 onwards, more than one fatality was emerging everyday in the state. During the last 24 hours ended at 5 pm, just one patient, from Ahmedabad, died due to the infection, said a release by the health department.
Culling of poultry birds starts tomorrow in Punjab's Dera Bassi
Culling of poultry birds will commence from January 22 in the Dera Bassi area of Punjab''s SAS Nagar as the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal confirmed bird flu strain in the tissue samples forwarded for ascertaining the cause of the death of the birds.
Deputy Commissioner of SAS Nagar, Girish Dayalan informed that 25 teams comprising of five members each would conduct the culling operation in the Alfa and Royal Poultry Farms in Dera Bassi.
Culling of over 50,000 birds is expected to be undertaken at the affected epicentre.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy 39 per cent in Delhi-NCR, shows surveyCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is as high as 39 per cent in the Delhi-NCR with about one-fifth of the respondents saying that they will not take the jab, according to a telephonic survey conducted by the NCAER.
The government launched the world's biggest vaccination drive on January 16 to protect people from COVID-19.
The findings of the fourth round of the Delhi-NCR Coronavirus Telephone Survey (DCVTS-4) conducted by the economic think-tank NCAER showed that about 20 per cent respondents were certain about not taking the vaccine. Of this, 22.4 per cent were from rural areas and 17.5 per cent from urban locations.
Coronavirus: Ireland to vaccinate all citizens by September: ministerIreland plans to vaccinate every citizen in the nation against the coronavirus by September, health minister Stephen Donnelly said Thursday.
"We're planning our programme based on a supply of vaccines that would mean that every citizen can be vaccinated by September," Donnelly said in the Dail lower chamber of parliament.
He said the plan is "indicative" and "based on assumptions" about the future delivery of vaccines, some of which have yet to be approved by EU regulators.
"These are tentative timelines," he told lawmakers -- adding that he expected mass vaccination centres to open across the republic in early February.
COVID-19 vaccination: 5,942 people receive shots on day 4 in Delhi; 24 cases of AEFIOver 5,900 healthcare workers received the COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on Thursday, the fourth scheduled day of the immunisation exercise in the national capital, according to data shared by officials.
The number of people vaccinated on Thursday accounted for 73 per cent of the targeted figure of 8,100, according to the data, a marked rise in the figures compared to those on the previous three days.
"On day three of the vaccination drive in Delhi, 5,942 people were administered the coronavirus vaccine. AEFI was reported in 24 persons," a senior official of the Delhi health department said.
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 vaccines at 81 centres across the city.
"Distressing": Rahul Gandhi on fire at Serum Institute of India
"While it's distressing to learn of the tragic loss of lives in the fire incident at Serum Institute, the news of another fire is extremely worrying. My condolences to the family of the deceased. I request the state government to provide necessary help to the victims and their families," said tweeted Rahul Gandhi.
Coronavirus: 4,200 health workers in Noida expected to get COVID-19 vaccine on Jan 22
Over 4,000 health workers are expected to be vaccinated against the coronavirus on Friday in the second round of the first phase of the COVID-19 inoculation drive in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district, officials said.
The vaccination drive will be held at 14 centres, including some private hospitals, in the district from 9 am to 5 pm, Additional Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) Dr Neeraj Tyagi said.
There are 42 vaccination sites across the 14 centres, he said.
"This time 4,200 health workers have been selected for vaccination. A target of 100 workers at each of the 42 sites selected for the inoculation," Mr Tyagi told PTI.
COVID-19: 117 new cases, one more fatality recorded in J&KThe COVID-19 death count in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 1,924 on Thursday with one more fatality, while 117 new cases pushed the infection tally to 1,23,764, officials said.
Of the new cases, 42 were from Jammu division and 75 from Kashmir division of the Union Territory, they said.
Srinagar district recorded the highest 46 cases followed by 33 in Jammu district.
While six districts - Rajouri, Doda, Samba, Poonch, Reasi and Ramban -- did not report any new cases, 12 districts had cases in single digits, the officials said.
''Centre destroying federal structure'', says Akali Dal leader
''Centre destroying federal structure'', says Akali Dal leader
Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central Government for allegedly holding back the Rural Development Fund for Punjab, Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Prem Singh Chandumajra on Thursday said the Centre's actions indicate a move towards the ''destruction of the federal structure''.
Speaking to ANI, Chandumajra said, "We have political differences with Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. But we will never accept Central Government holding back the Rural Development Fund due for the State."
Terming the stopping of Rural Development Fund allocation to Punjab as ''unconstitutional'' he said, "Our party believes that we are moving towards a unitary system. These are the indicators of moving towards a Presidential form of government from the Parliament system."
Fire At Serum Institute, Covishield Production Won't Be Hit: Sources
A fire broke out today at at a building, which was under construction, at the Serum Institute of India in Pune. It is unlikely to affect the production of Covishield, the coronavirus vaccine developed by the SII in partnership with the Oxford University and British-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca.
The facility where the fire broke out is a few minutes drive from the production facility, as per sources.
BS Yediyurappa Assigns Portfolios In New Karnataka Cabinet
A week after expanding his cabinet, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa today allocated portfolios to the seven new inductees and also effected a reshuffle of the departments of some ministers.
Among the new ministers, Umesh Katti gets the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs while S Angara has been given Fisheries, Ports and Inland Transport.
Murugesh Nirani will be the Mines and Geology minister and Arvind Limbavali gets Forest Department, according to an official gazette notification issued in this regard with the consent of the Governor.
Among the others, R Shankar gets Municipal Administration and Sericulture portfolio while MTB Nagaraj would be the Excise Minister and CP Yogeshwar in charge of Minor Irrigation department.
3 BJP Workers Arrested In Bengal For Incendiary SlogansStreet-level politics in poll-bound West Bengal has taken a turn for the worse with three BJP workers being arrested today for raising provocative slogans calling for violence. Yesterday's sloganeering came a day after similar calls were made by Trinamool supporters during a march in Kolkata. While neither party has endorsed the practice, the incidents have only added to the already acrimonious political atmosphere in the state.
The three BJP supporters were arrested today for shouting "Desh Ke Gaddaron Ko, Goli Maaro Saalon Ko" (Shoot the country's traitors) at a rally in Chandannagar area of Hooghly district yesterday.
Read Sensex Hits 50,000 For First Time, Nifty Above 14,700, Led By Reliance Industries
The S&P BSE Sensex moved above 50,000 mark for the first on Thursday, led by gains in Reliance Industries after the market regulator SEBI approved Reliance Industries' ₹ 24,713-crore deal to buy Future Group's retail assets, in a blow to Amazon's efforts to block the agreement. The BSE also granted its "no adverse observation" report after the deal clearance from the market regulator, with some riders. The Sensex rose as much as 335 points to hit an all-time high of 50,126.73 and Nifty 50 index also moved 14,700 mark for the first time.
PM, Chief Ministers To Receive Shots In Round 2 Of Vaccination: SourcesPrime Minister Narendra Modi will be vaccinated in the second phase of the Covid inoculation drive launched last week, sources said today. All Chief Ministers will also receive vaccines.
The vaccine drive was launched on January 16 with healthcare workers and others at the frontline of the coronavirus fight receiving jabs of two vaccines - Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
In the second phase, it is the turn of those above 50 and people with comorbidities to take shots.
All MPs and MLAs who are above 50 will also be vaccinated.
Maharashtra: 372 new COVID-19 cases in Thane; 4 more deaths
Thane has added 372 new cases of coronavirus, taking the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 2,50,407, an official said on Thursday.
Four more deaths due to the viral infection were also reported on Wednesday, raising the toll in the district to
6,067, he said.
The COVID-19 mortality rate in the district is 2.42 per cent, he said.
So far, 2,40,600 patients have recovered from the infection, improving the recovery rate to 96.08 per cent, the official said.
Currently, there are 3,740 active COVID-19 cases in the district, he added.
15,223 New Coronavirus Cases Recorded In India, 10% Higher Than Yesterday
15,223 fresh coronavirus cases in India, 10 per cent higher than yesterday; 1.06 crore cases so far, 1.52 lakh deaths.
Indore College Student Raped, Thrown On Train Tracks, Survives: CopsDays after a string of crimes against women that have put the state government on notice, two brutal rape cases have shocked Madhya Pradesh once again.
A 14-year-old girl was raped, bludgeoned with a stone and buried alive but survived the attack in Betul.
In Indore, a 19-year-old college girl was gang raped, stabbed, stuffed in a sack and thrown on railway tracks. She also survived the attack.
The 14-year-old girl had gone to a farm in a village in Betul to switch off a motor and on finding her alone, the accused allegedly raped her.
Read "Warmest Congratulations": PM Modi Tweets As Joe Biden Takes Office
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today tweeted his congratulations to Joe Biden who just took oath as the 46th President of the United States. In a series of tweets, he said India will work with the United States to ensure global peace and security and take the partnership between the two nations to greater heights.
"My warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as the President of United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership," his tweet read.
"My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security," a second tweet read.
Joe Biden, New US President, Vows To End "Uncivil War"
Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in as president of the United States on Wednesday, vowing to end the 'uncivil war' in a deeply divided country reeling from a battered economy and a raging coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 Americans.
With the US Capitol encircled by thousands of armed troops two weeks after a mob laid siege to it, Biden took the oath of office administered by US Chief Justice John Roberts and became the oldest US president in history at age 78.
"To overcome these challenges to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity," he said in his inauguration speech.
Biden Signs Executive Orders To Reverse Trumps Policies Hours After OathPresident Joe Biden signed a blizzard of executive orders Wednesday on the coronavirus, immigration and climate change - launching a 10-day cascade of directives reversing the policies of his GOP predecessor as Democrats pushed for even more sweeping and prompt legislative action.
The most pressing of his priorities are measures to combat the ongoing deadly coronavirus pandemic. Biden signed executive actions to require masks on all federal grounds and asked agencies to extend moratoriums on evictions and on federal student loan payments.
He urged Americans to don face coverings for 100 days while reviving a global health unit in the National Security Council - allowed to go dormant during the Trump administration - to oversee pandemic preparedness and response. Biden also began to reverse several steps taken by former president Donald Trump by embracing the World Health Organization,revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and rejoining the Paris climate agreement.