Coronavirus Cases in India: The positivity rate was 8.51 per cent (File)
The centre wants 300 to 400 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine being developed by the Oxford University and pharma company AstraZeneca by July, Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla, said on Saturday. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to a company facility today to review the vaccine's development, Mr Poonawalla said "we are amazed with what he already knew".
India has reported 41,322 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday, 4% lower than on Friday, taking its overall number to 93.51 lakh cases and 1,36,200 deaths, Union Health Ministry data shows. These numbers come even as a vaccine to fight back the virus seemed tantalisingly close. The states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala were the most affected ones, with deaths ranging from 23 to 85 in the past 24 hours.
PM Modi began his three-city vaccine tour with a visit to pharma major Zydus Cadila's plant near Ahmedabad. He then visited Pune where Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for a COVID-19 vaccine, is based.
On November 24, Prime Minister while speaking with chief ministers of various states over the deteriorating pandemic situation in their states at a virtual meeting advised the states to establish cold storage facilities for COVID-19 vaccine beforehand and suggested them to prepare and send a plan for its distribution to the Central government. Delhi registered 5,482 fresh COVID-19 cases in a day, while 98 more fatalities linked to the disease pushed the city's death count to 8,909 on Friday, authorities said.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases:
West Bengal reported 3,459 new COVID-19 cases, 3,487 discharges, and 52 deaths in last 24 hours, says State Health Department
Total cases: 4,77,446
Active cases: 24,537
Death count: 8,322
Total discharges: 4,44,587
650 new COVID-19 cases and 270 recoveries reported in the state on Saturday. The total number of cases in the state is 38,977 including 29,753 recovered cases, 8,574 active cases and 613 deaths: Health Department, Himachal Pradesh
Haryana reports 1,967 new COVID-19 cases, 2,421 discharges, and 30 deaths, says State Health Department
Total cases at 2,30,713
Total number of discharged patients:2,08,422
Total deaths: 2,375
Active cases: 19,916
Mumbai reports 1,063 new COVID-19 cases, 880 recoveries/discharges and 17 deaths on Saturday.
Total cases rise to 2,81,874 including 2,55,345 recoveries/discharges and 10,773 deaths.
Active cases stand at 12,753
Jharkhand reported 209 new COVID-19 cases, 216 recoveries and 1 death on Saturday. Total cases in the state rise to 1,08,786, including 1,05,669 recoveries and 963 deaths. Active cases stand at 2,154.
163 new COVID-19 cases and 122 discharges reported in Assam on Saturday. Total cases in the state rise to 2,12,483, including 2,08,187 discharges and 980 deaths. Active cases stand at 3,313
98 inmates of a jail in Chhattisgarh's Korba district were among the 1,890 people who were detected with the coronavirus infection, news agency PTI reported.
"Cases, Positivity In Delhi Going Down": Arvind Kejriwal
The COVID-19 positivity rate in Delhi dropped to 7.24 per cent on Saturday, the lowest since October 23.
"Since 7 November, cases and positivity in Delhi are going down. Today, less than 5000 cases, 89 deaths and 7.24 positivity. Hope this trend continues. Delhiites and Delhi govt together will win over this third wave also. Pl continue to observe all precautions," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
Rajasthan Caps RT-PCR Covid Test By Private Labs At Rs 800
The Rajasthan government on Saturday fixed the rate for COVID-19 RT-PCR tests by private labs in the state to Rs 800, slashing it by Rs 400, news agency PTI reported.
Zero Hospitalisation Among Those Who Took Vaccine: Adar Poonawalla- At the moment, the trials were more than enough for the efficacy. We might later on look at doing trials on the group less than 18 years of age.
- We are talking about how to distribute it, where to distribute, also about the price, so it can be affordable, how many doses will go where. We are trying to get to the number to 300-400 million doses by July
- Even if we get the approval two months later, it will not make much difference to the delivery.
- We got good efficacy results. Zero hospitalisation among those who took it. Even those who got the disease were not infecting, which is a very good bonus to have for the disease, which is so infectious.
"Amazed With What He Already Knew": Adar Poonawalla On PM's Visit
"We are amazed with what he already knew. He was impressed with the new facility that we have built. We have showed him a new facility so that we can deal with more than one billion doses"
Adar Poonawala On COVID-19 Vaccine - As of yet, we don't have anything in writing as in how many doses the Government of India will purchase.
- We are in the process of applying, in the next 2 weeks, for the emergency use.
- PM Modi has great knowledge about the vaccine. We didn't need to explain much to him.
Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla On Vaccine
"What we discussed is the implementation plan only after we get the emergency use approval after we make the submissions. After that, the health ministry will roll out the doses in first and second quarter. But, that is after we have made the submissions and everything is approved"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on Saturday to Zydus Cadila's manufacturing facility near Ahmedabad where a coronavirus vaccine is being developed was encouraging, the pharma major said.
"Today, honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited our Zydus Biotech park. This visit has encouraged us in doing more and doing fast," the company's Chairman Pankaj Patel was quoted by PTI as saying in a video.
"Great Inspiration": Bharat BioTech On PM's Visit
PM Modi today visited a facility of Bharat BioTech, which is working on Covaxin, pitched as India's first indigenous vaccine candidate. The company later released a statement: "The prime minister's visit serves as a great inspiration to our team, and further reinforces our commitment towards scientific discovery, solving public health issues, and the nation's fight against COVID-19".
Coronavirus Pandemic Spread Contained: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
The Tamil Nadu government has contained the spread of coronavirus through focused and concerted efforts and is now engaged in efforts to ensure that normalcy returns to the state, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Saturday.
"We have observed that whenever there is a large gathering like a wedding or when people step out of their homes, some wear face masks while others ignore the precaution," the Chief Minister was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
Delhi government can vaccinate entire population in 3-4 weeks once vaccine is available: Minister
The entire population of the national capital will be vaccinated within three to four weeks after a vaccine is available, Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain told reporters today.
"Whenever the vaccine is available in Delhi, within three to four weeks it will be administered all over the national capital with the help of our health facilities such as polyclinics, mohalla clinics, dispensaries, hospitals, etc," Mr Jain told reporters.
The Health Minister said that there are no issues with the storage of vaccines in the city.
From Gujarat, PM Modi flew to Hyderabad where he visited Bharat BioTech, which is working on Covaxin, pitched as India's first indigenous vaccine candidate. The facility is around 50 km from Hyderabad.
Odisha reports 550 new COVID-19 cases, 12 more deaths
Odisha on Saturday reported 550 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 3,17,789, a Health Department official said.
Among the new patients is BJP''s national vice-president Baijayant Panda who announced his COVID test result on Twitter late Friday.
Twelve more people died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, following which the toll mounted to 1,730.
PM Modi reviewed vaccine development process at Gujarat's Zydus Cadila plant earlier today
PM Modi began his three-city vaccine tour with a visit to pharma major Zydus Cadila's plant in Gujarat. Wearing a PPE kit, PM Modi reviewed the vaccine development process at the Zydus Cadila research centre in Changodar industrial area, over 20 km from Ahmedabad.
The drug maker has announced that the first phase of clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, ZyCoV-D, has been completed and it commenced the second phase of clinical trials in August.
746 new COVID-19 cases in Thane district; 11 more deaths
The COVID-19 caseload of Maharashtra's Thane district reached 2,27,101 after 746 persons tested positive for the infection, news agency PTI reported.
Apart from the latest cases detected on Friday, the district also recorded 11 fatalities that took the toll to 5,659, the official said.
As per the official data, the district has recorded a recovery rate of 94.13 per cent, while the mortality rate stood at 2.49 per cent.
Puducherry reports 46 new COVID-19 cases, tally touches 36,902
Puducherry's Covid tally has reached 36,902 after 46 more cases of coronavirus were reported today in the Union Territory.
The number of dead remained 609 as no fresh fatality was reported due to the viral infection for ninth day in succession.
7 new cases push COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 4,689
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 4,689 as seven more persons tested positive for the infection, news agency PTI reported quoting a health official.
Four new cases were detected during contact tracing, while three have travel history, it said. Seventeen more people have been cured of the disease.
A large number of farmers are still camping around the Delhi border despite a ground being allocated to them in the capital's outskirts to hold their protest against the farm laws that they want repealed.
27 new COVID-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh; tally rises to 16,231
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 caseload rose to 16,231 as 27 more people tested positive for the virus, a health department official said here on Saturday.
One more person died to the infection on Friday, pushing the number of fatalities in the northeastern state to 50, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
Of the 27 fresh cases, 10 were reported from the Capital Complex region, Changlang (6) and West Kameng (4), he said.
With 18 lakh cases, Maharashtra continues to be worst affected state in India
Maharashtra continued to be the worst affected state in the country with 6,185 new COVID-19 cases, 4,089 recoveries, and 85 deaths on Friday. The total number of cases in the state now stands at 18,08,550, including 87,969 active cases and 46,898 deaths.
PM Modi visits Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, reviews the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidate ZyCOV-D
PM Modi began his three-city vaccine tour today with a visit to pharma major Zydus Cadila's plant near Ahmedabad. The plant is located in the Changodar industrial area, over 20 km from Ahmedabad. PM Modi will be at the plant for an hour, an official said. The drug maker has announced that the first phase of clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, ZyCoV-D, has been completed and it commenced the second phase of clinical trials in August.
Fresh restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 have come into force in Leh district of Ladakh Union Territory, prohibiting assembly of over four people and allowing only 50 per cent staff to attend government offices, while vehicles will ply with only half their capacities.
Delhi on Friday recorded 5,482 new cases and 98 deaths. The city's overall number of cases now stands at 5,56,744, with 8,909 deaths at a rate of 1.6%. Up to 64,455 tests were conducted across the city in the past 24 hours.
India Records 4 Per Cent Lesser COVID-19 Cases, Total At 93.51 lakh
India has reported 41,322 fresh COVID-19 cases till today, 4% lower than on Friday, taking its overall number to 93.51 lakh cases and 1,36,200 deaths, Union Health Ministry data shows. These numbers come even as a vaccine to fight back the virus seemed tantalisingly close. The states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala were the most affected ones, with deaths ranging from 23 to 85 in the past 24 hours.
PM To Visit India's Top Vaccine Hubs Today To Review Vaccine Development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit India's top vaccine hubs today to personally review the vaccine development and manufacturing process. As per schedule, PM Modi will begin his three-city vaccine tour with a visit to pharma major Zydus Cadila's plant near Ahmedabad at 9:30 am. The drug-maker has announced that the phase-I clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, ZyCoV-D, has been completed and it has commenced phase-II clinical trials from August.
From Ahmedabad, PM Modi will fly to Pune where Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and the Oxford University for a COVID-19 vaccine, is based. PM Modi is expected to review the status of the vaccine, including its launch, production and distribution mechanisms during the visit.
PM Modi will then travel to Hyderabad and visit Bharat BioTech, which is working on Covaxin, pitched as India's first indigenous vaccine candidate. The Prime Minister is expected to reach at 3:40 pm and after a visit to the facility between 4 and 5 pm, he would fly out at 5:40 pm. (Read full story
here)
Coronavirus news: Bihar reports five more COVID-19 deaths, 698 fresh cases
Bihar's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,33,839 after 698 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, while five fresh fatalities took the death count to 1,248, a health department bulletin said on Friday.
It said that 654 patients recovered from the disease taking the total number of cured people to 2,27,046.
The state now has 5,545 active cases, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Leh announces fresh COVID restrictions, night curfew from Saturday
Fresh restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 will come into force from Saturday in Leh district of Ladakh Union Territory, prohibiting assembly of more than four people, allowing only 50 per cent staff to attend government offices and plying of vehicles with half of their seating capacity, officials said.
The order was issued by Leh District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya in exercise of the powers conferred upon him as the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority under Section-34 of the Disaster Management Act and under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Epidemic Act, PTI reported.