Last month, India's total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered crossed the 100-crore mark. (File)
The World Health Organization has granted Bharat Biotech's Covaxin an Emergency Use Listing, said sources on Wednesday evening, which means the COVID-19 vaccine will now be recognised by other countries. Moreover, Indians who have received the 'Made-in-India' shot need not self-quarantine or face restrictions when travelling abroad.
The development comes on a day the country reported 11,903 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which was 14% higher than yesterday. The country also witnessed 311 Covid-related deaths during the period.
With 14,159 recoveries reported in the last 24 hours, the cumulative recoveries reached 3,36,97,740. Consequently, the recovery rate is currently at 98.22 per cent, the highest since March 2020.
Last month, India's total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered crossed the 100-crore mark.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases In India:
"Responsibility Of Madhya Pradesh": Shivraj Chouhan On Covid OrphansMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that many children have lost their parents during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state government is committed to improving the lives of such children.
"All such children are the responsibility of Madhya Pradesh. The Government of Madhya Pradesh is committed to improving the lives of these children orphaned by the pandemic. We need to give them a bright future and light their lamp of happiness by extending a loving hand and making their Diwali special again," said Mr Chouhan today.
WHO South-East Asia Director Congratulates India Over Covaxin Approval World Health Organisation's South-East Asia Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh has congratulated India on the Emergency Use Listing of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin on Wednesday.
"Congratulations India for Emergency Use Listing of its indigenously produced #COVID19 vaccine COVAXIN," Dr Singh said in a tweet.
COVID-19 India News: Over 107.59 Crore Vaccine Doses Administered In India So FarThe cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 107.59 crore on Wednesday, with more than 27 lakh jabs given till 7 pm, the Union Health Ministry said, reported news agency PTI. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.
The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry underlined.
COVID-19 Live Update: Assam Reports 276 New Cases, 4 More DeathsThe number of new COVID-19 cases in Assam on Wednesday increased marginally over the previous day with 276 fresh infections taking the caseload to 6,11,487, said National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin, according to news agency PTI.
The new cases increased by six from Tuesday while the day's positivity rate dropped to 0.70% from 0.75% when the state had registered 270 fresh cases. Altogether 39,657 COVID tests were conducted during the day against 36,201 clinical examinations on Tuesday.
Four COVID-19 fatalities were registered on Wednesday, three less than the previous day's figure. At present, there are 2,292 active cases in the state.
COVID-19 India News: Haryana Reports 7 New Cases, Zero DeathHaryana reported no Covid-related death, even though seven new cases were recorded in the state Wednesday, pushing the tally to 7,71,280, reported news agency PTI. According to the health department's daily bulletin, the death count remained unchanged at 10,049. Of the new cases, the maximum of five were reported from Gurugram. There were 96 active cases in the state while the total number of recoveries was 7,61,112. The recovery rate was 98.68 percent, the bulletin said.
COVID-19 India News: Gujarat Reports 29 New Cases, Zero DeathGujarat on Wednesday reported 29 new coronavirus cases, raising its infection tally to 8,26,656, while no fresh death due to the disease was reported in the state, the health department said, reported news agency PTI. With 19 patients getting discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, the number of recovered cases rose to 8,16,357, it said.
The count of active cases in the state increased to 209, of which five patients are on ventilators, the department said in a release. With no new death, the COVID-19 fatalities remained unchanged at 10,090, said the release.
On COVID-19 vaccination front, 1.84 lakh people were inoculated on Wednesday, pushing the number of doses administered so far in the state to 7.15 crore, it added.
COVID-19 India News: One Death, 34 New Cases Reported In PunjabOne more person died from coronavirus in Punjab on Wednesday as 34 fresh cases pushed the state's infection count to 6,02,466, according to a medical bulletin, reported news agency PTI. So far, the infection has claimed 16,562 lives in the state. The fresh death was reported from Mohali.
Jalandhar reported seven cases followed by four in Pathankot and three each in Amritsar, Ferozepur and Rupnagar. The number of active cases rose to 240 from 228 on Tuesday. Nineteen people recovered from the infection, taking the number of cured persons to 5,85,664, the bulletin said. Meanwhile, Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, reported one COVID-19 case, taking its tally to 65,356. The death count in the union territory stood at 820.
COVID-19 India News: Himachal Pradesh Adds 138 New Cases, 4 More DeathsHimachal Pradesh recorded four more Covid-related fatalities, taking the death count to 3,749 on Wednesday, while 138 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 2,24,557, an official said, according to news agency PTI. Two fresh deaths were reported from Kangra and one each from Una and Shimla districts. Seventy more patients recuperated from the infection in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 2,18,931, the health official said. At present, there are 1,860 active cases in the state.
"Please Wear Masks": Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Appeal On Diwali EveOn Diwali eve, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday urged people to maintain Covid-appropriate behaviour during the festivities and warned them against not wearing masks. Underlining that the Covid pandemic is still not over and dengue is on the rise, he stressed the need to practise utmost care and preventive behaviour.
"Diwali is the time when happiness and zeal are galore all over the country. Covid cases have been low and people are flocking the markets. But, several people are not following norms and not wearing masks," Mr Kejriwal said.
"I have seen pictures from markets where norms are being flouted. I fold my hands before the people of Delhi and place forth an earnest request -- please wear masks, please follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. It was at this time last year when Covid cases boomed and badly affected the festivities of the state," he added.
"Please don't be irresponsible. I am not asking this for any personal gains. It is you who will fall sick, it is you whose families will be under threat. Covid is a very lethal disease and we need to treat it in that manner itself. Please only step out of your homes when necessary and please wear a mask when you do so," he said.
WHO Clears Bharat Biotech's Covaxin For Emergency Use: Sources
The World Health Organization has granted Bharat Biotech's Covaxin an Emergency Use Listing, said sources on Wednesday evening, which means the COVID-19 vaccine will be recognised by other countries and Indians who have received the shot need not self-quarantine or face restrictions when travelling abroad.
COVID-19 India News: Ladakh Records 8 New cases, Tally Rises To 20,979Eight more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Ladakh, taking the tally to 20,979, while the number of active cases in the Union Territory reached 81, officials said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. Ladakh has registered 208 coronavirus-related deaths -- 150 in Leh and 58 in Kargil -- since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. No new Covid-linked fatality has been reported in Ladakh, the officials said. Three coronavirus patients in Leh were discharged from hospital, bringing the recovery count to 20,690, they said. All of the fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Leh, while 475 samples in Ladakh tested negative for the disease, the officials said. Leh accounts for 76 of the total active novel coronavirus in Ladakh, while the remaining five such cases are in Kargil district, they said.
All Corporation, Government Vaccination Centres To Remain Closed Till November 7: Mumbai Civic Body
Watch: Focus On 2nd Dose," PM Tells Officials, Flags Vaccine ComplacencyPrime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasised on the importance of door-to-door vaccination and said equal importance has to be given to both doses. This, he said, is "because whenever the cases of infection start decreasing, sometimes the feeling of urgency decreases. People start feeling -- what is the hurry, we will get it".
COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Should Be Taken Door-To-Door: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that the COVID-19 vaccination drive needed to be taken door-to-door and asked officials of districts having low inoculation to adopt innovative ways to boost the campaign. PM Modi made the remarks at a meeting, held via video conferencing, with district magistrates of over 40 districts having low vaccination coverage. Pointing out that he recently met Pope Francis at the Vatican City, the prime minister said special emphasis was needed on taking message of religious leaders spreading awareness and encouraging the vaccination drive to the people.
Watch: PM Holds Meeting With Districts Having Low Covid Vaccination CoveragePrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday is holding a review meeting with district magistrates of over 40 districts having low COVID-19 vaccination coverage. The meeting, being held via video conferencing, includes districts with less than 50 per cent coverage of the first dose and low coverage of the second dose of vaccine.
More Than 114 Crore COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Provided To States, UTs So Far: Centre
More than 114 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories so far, out of which, more than 14.68 crore balance and unutilised doses are still available with them to be administered, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.
As per a press release issued by the ministry, 1,14,44,05,215 vaccine doses have been provided to the states/UTs so far through the Central government (free of cost channel) and through the direct state procurement category.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Puducherry Records 29 New Covid Cases
Puducherry registered 29 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday pushing overall caseload to 1,28,106. Each of the four regions of Union Territory-- Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam reported less than 10 fresh cases. While Puducherry logged nine fresh cases Karaikal reported eight cases and Yanam and Mahe regions reported four and eight fresh cases respectively. The fresh cases were identified at the end of examination of 2454 samples. The active cases were 359 of whom 73 patients were in hospitals and remaining 286 patients were in home isolation.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Mizoram Reports 638 New Covid Cases, 1 Death
The COVID-19 situation continued to improve in Mizoram, where single-day cases have remained below the 1,000-mark for the last 20 days, as the tally rose to 1,22,992 with 638 fresh infections on Wednesday. The death count mounted to 436, as one more patient succumbed to the virus. Mizoram now has 6,325 active cases, while 1,16,231 people have recovered from the disease, including 796 since Tuesday.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: West Bengal Logs 862 New COVID-19 cases In Last 24 Hours
West Bengal reported 862 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths in the past 24 hours, informed the state health department on Tuesday. According to the state health bulletin, the number of active cases in the state stands at 8,126. With 871 recoveries reported in the last 24 hours, a total of 15,67,209 people have recovered in the state so far. As many as 15,94,495 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state so far and a total of 19,160 people have succumbed to the virus in the state.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Thane Logs 131 New Covid Cases, 6 Deaths
With the addition of 131 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 5,66,130, while six more fatalities pushed the death count to 11,529 on Wednesday. These new cases and deaths were reported on Tuesday, he said. The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 2.03 per cent.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Assam Reports 270 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, 7 Deaths
Assam reported 270 fresh COVID-19 cases and seven fatalities in the last 24 hours, informed the state health department on Tuesday. As per the state health bulletin, with the addition of the new cases, the active caseload in the state stands at 2,385. With 159 recoveries reported in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries mounted to 6,01,468. As many as 6,11,211 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state so far and the death count in the state stands at 6,011.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Punjab Reports 15 Fresh Covid Cases
Punjab on Tuesday reported 15 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the infection tally to 6,02,434, according to a medical bulletin. No Covid-related death was reported in the state. The death count, which included one death case that was not reported earlier, stood at 16,561, as per the bulletin.
Scientists Identify New Antibody For COVID-19, Variants: ReportResearch collaboration between scientists at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has identified and tested an antibody that limits the severity of infections from a variety of coronaviruses, including those that cause COVID-19 as well as the original SARS illness.
The antibody was identified by a team at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) and tested in animal models at UNC-Chapel Hill.
"This antibody has the potential to be therapeutic for the current epidemic," said co-senior author Barton Haynes, M.D., director of DHVI. "It could also be available for future outbreaks, if or when other coronaviruses jump from their natural animal hosts to humans."