India's COVID-19 infection tally climbed to 2,73,69,093 as 2,11,298 more people tested positive for the disease in a day, while the country's recovery was recorded at 90 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.
The death count due to the disease climbed to 3,15,235 with 3,847 fresh fatalities being reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Also, 21,57,857 COVID-19 tests were conducted on Wednesday, taking the total number of such exams done so far in the country to 33,69,69,353.
The daily positivity was recorded at 9.79 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for three consecutive days now, the ministry said.
The weekly positivity rate has also declined and now stands at 10.93 per cent.
Meanwhile, Pfizer has told the government its Covid vaccine shows "high effectiveness" against the India-dominant variant experts believe is behind the second wave of infections in the country, sources told news agency PTI Wednesday.
Pfizer also told the government its vaccine had been proven suitable for everyone over 12, and can be stored for a month in cold storage facilities with a temperature range of 2-8 degrees Celsius.
The American pharma giant is in talks with the government over fast-track approval to roll out five crore doses between July and October - if it receives significant regulatory relaxations, including indemnification, or protection from compensation claims in case of adverse events.
Here are the Live Updates on India Coronavirus (Covid-19 Cases) Cases:
West Bengal continued to record a declining trend of fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday as it recorded 13,046 new infections, raising the tally to 13,31,249, a health department bulletin said.
The death count mounted to 14,975 after 148 more fatalities were reported from different parts of the state, it said.
West Bengal now has 1,17,154 active cases, while 11,99,120 patients have recovered from the disease, including 19,121 since Wednesday.
Assam reported 5,704 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the state government.
With this, the cumulative case count in the state has reached 3,92,574.
The northeastern state also saw 4,784 recoveries and 83 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the overall tallies to 3,34,418 and 3,088 respectively.
Current positivity rate in the state is 4.78 per cent.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia in the form of fixed deposit to the children who lost their parents due to COVID-19.
The scheme is applicable to the children below the age of 18 years whose families are below the poverty line, informed a statement by the Chief Minister Office (CMO).
"The government hopes that by making a fixed deposit of Rs 10 lakhs per child they can utilise the monthly interest amount of about Rs 5,000 for their sustenance and fixed deposit as security for their future. After attaining the age of 25 years they can redeem the fixed deposit amount of Rs 10 lakhs for their future," the statement added.
Studies are currently underway on whether there is a need for a COVID-19 booster dose, the Centre said on Thursday, and asserted that no vaccine can give 100 per cent protection from the virus.
Responding to a question, on whether a booster dose is needed, at a press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said if there is a need, it will be communicated to the people.
In a vaccination campaign, we want to immunise everyone against a particular disease, he said.
The Delhi government on Thursday set up a 13-member committee to prepare an action plan for a third wave of COVID-19 after assessing the current status and projected requirement of the health infrastructure such as hospitals, oxygen plants and drug supplies in the city.
Another eight-member expert committee has been set up to devise a strategy for mitigation and management of the third wave, especially the preparation required for the specialised needs of children of the city.
Both the committees will be chaired by IAS officer Satya Gopal, ACS (Power) and Nodal Officer (COVID-19).
Compulsory licensing for COVID vaccines is not a very attractive option since it is not a 'formula' that matters and other aspects like sourcing of raw materials and training of human resources also need to be taken into consideration, Niti Aayog Member V K Paul said on Thursday.
Paul, the Chair of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), noted that technology transfer is the key and that remains in the hands of the company that has carried out R&D.
People's Priority - Vaccines, Centre's - "False Image": Rahul GandhiCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that while the priority of the public is vaccines and inflation, that of the government is "false image".
Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine Supply To India Likely To Start In July: NITI Aayog's VK PaulThe government is examining Pfizer's request for indemnity and will take a decision in the larger interest of people and on merit, NITI Aayog Member (Health) VK Paul said today.
Black Fungus: Delhi High Court Says Can't Be Biased In Providing Amphotericin BThe Delhi High Court today said every patient has the right to life and to live with dignity and that it cannot give preference to some over others in providing medicines for Black Fungus, primarily affecting those recovered or recovering from Covid.
Delhi To Unlock After May 31? Key Arvind Kejriwal Meet TomorrowDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a meeting on Friday to decide whether the city's Covid-induced lockdown can be lifted after May 31, with the national capital registering a steady drop in coronavirus cases over the last few days.
Maharashtra Covid Curbs To Continue, Graded Easing Later: Uddhav ThackerayThe Maharashtra government will extend the lockdown-like curbs in the state after June 1 to stem the spread of coronavirus and relax them later in a phased manner, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said today.
Private Hospitals Procured More COVID-19 Vaccines Than Delhi Government: BJPBJP said private hospitals in Delhi have procured more Covid vaccines than Delhi government has done on its own as it sought to put Arvind Kejriwal dispensation in dock over its inoculation programme.
Covid Vaccine: Niti Aayog's Dr VK Paul Says India Must Prepare To Administer One Crore Vaccine Doses Per DayIndia should prepare to administer one crore Covid jabs a day which will be possible in a few weeks with due preparation and the vaccination should be taken up to 73 lakh doses in the next three weeks, Niti Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul said.
No Basis At All: Centre Trashes New York Times Report On Covid DeathsThe government today trashed as "baseless" a New York Times report that said India's Covid deaths were severely undercounted and underreported.
Coronavirus News: Court Seeks Delhi Governments Stand On Quality Of Masks Made And SoldThe High Court has sought the Delhi government's stand on whether masks were being manufactured and sold according to specific rules and standards. A petitioner has claimed that there is non-compliance of the rules and regulations.
Second Covid-19 Wave On Downswing, Steady Decline In New Cases: CentreA steady decline in new COVID-19 cases has been recorded in India for the last 20 days, with 24 states witnessing a dip in active cases since the last week, the Union health ministry said today. It also noted that the country is on a downswing of the second wave of COVID-19.
Nearly 10,000 villages in Chhattisgarh are completely free from coronavirus infection as the virus has either not been able to reach these villages or those infected have already recovered, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) informed said today, reported news agency ANI.
Due to the micro-level arrangements made by the state government today, out of the total 20,092 villages in Chhattisgarh, about 9,462 villages are free from Corona infection, read the release by the CMO.
"At present, there is not a single COVID-19 case in these villages, this was possible due to the prompt measures initiated by the Chhattisgarh government to prevent infection from reaching these villages," it said.
With the outbreak of the second wave of Corona in the urban areas of the state, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had directed that all necessary steps should be taken to prevent infection from reaching rural areas.
Significant adverse effects are "unlikely" if an individual's second Covid vaccine dose is different from the first, the centre said Thursday afternoon, in response to controversy over a group of Uttar Pradesh villagers being given mixed doses at a government hospital in Siddharthnagar district.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed that 10,000 sachets of anti-Covid drug 2-DG will be available in the market from today, reported news agency ANI. The anti-Covid drug has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Launching the "Services e-Health Assistance and Tele-consultation (SeHAT)" via video conferencing, Mr Singh lauded the armed forces, stating that it is a key step taken at a very critical time for the health of service personnel as it will reduce the load on hospitals.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen M M Naravane, and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh were among those who attended the event.
Video Shows Madhya Pradesh Plant Washing Used Covid Safety Kits For ResaleIn a shocking case of violation of Covid protocols, a video reportedly from Madhya Pradesh's Satna district shows used Covid safety gears being washed for resale by a bio-waste disposal plant.
West Bengal to conduct Class 12 board exams in late July and Class 10 tests in mid-August, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today, reported news agency PTI.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed officials to form groups comprising the young in villages to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, reported news agency PTI.
Centre is doing politics, they should not give such misleading reports. All our reports are going to them. Those who go for vaccination without registering on CoWIN are being deemed by them to be cases of vaccine wastage: Chhattisgarh CM on #COVID19 vaccine wastage in the state pic.twitter.com/WwTuxg8AMO
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
We don't have vaccines in the first place. The supply that is being made to us is not at par with our demand. It is a matter of concern. It is a 'hand to mouth' situation for us almost every day: Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on #COVID19 vaccine wastage in the state pic.twitter.com/koLIbhDabd
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia inaugurated a drive-in #COVID19 vaccination centre at Select City Mall, Saket today. pic.twitter.com/bZy9My8mRi
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurates COVID care center at Barathi Govt Women's college & starts COVID19 vaccination program at Don Bosco School pic.twitter.com/LDc4XabkKA
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
This wave of COVID is unprecedented & more dangerous than earlier. But Defence Ministry has rendered its services in the second wave too...DRDO has set up COVID hospitals & Oxygen generation plants in Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and many other parts of the country: Defence Minister pic.twitter.com/UCTQar4YBR
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
Migrant workers return to Delhi as the number of #COVID19 cases goes down here.
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
"I'm from Bihar. Cases have reduced so I've come back for my livelihood," says a worker, Raees
"I saw in news that numbers are going down in Delhi, so I've come back," another worker Surender says. pic.twitter.com/QKunIKH3HK
Bihar | Primary Health Centre in Samastipur's Morwa block is being used as a cattle shelter while another Health Centre in Chaklalshahi (pic 3) area looks deserted
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
"Doctors come once in a month for vaccination of children. There's no medicine/injection for others,"says a local pic.twitter.com/krLtZ4COjn
Gujarat | Ashish, former radio jockey from Vadodara, is providing ration to people affected by the pandemic
- ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
"Each day, I put ration kits in car & drive around to talk to people. If they've low income in current times or are jobless, I give them the kit," he said (26.05) pic.twitter.com/IMHI4RN96m
