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India added 18,088 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, placing its overall number at 1.03 crore cases, the Health Ministry's data showed. The number of fresh infections reported on Wednesday were 10 per cent higher than on Tuesday. In this period, India reported 264 deaths linked to the virus, taking the total number of fatalities to 1,50,114.
The total number of people who have tested positive for the new UK strain of the coronavirus in the country now stands at 73, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The government said on Tuesday said the COVID-19 vaccine can be rolled out within 10 days from the emergency use authorisation date, based on dry run feedback,
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to India, hours after he announced a fresh lockdown in the United Kingdom over the new strain of coronavirus that has affected thousands of people in the UK. Mr Johnson was to be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
Mr Johnson's government has announced a complete lockdown for England's 56 million people, which could last until mid-February.
Here are the LIVE updates on Coronavirus Cases:
Punjab To Reopen Schools For Students Of Class 5 To 12
Schools in Punjab will reopen tomorrow only for students from Class 5 to 12, the state government said today in a statement. The schools can work from 10 am to 3 pm, Punjab Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said in the statement.
Mr Singla said the decision comes after persistent demand by parents to reopen all schools - government, semi-government and private ones.
"If the strength of the students is large in the school and social distancing norms are not maintainable, in that case school head or management may take a decision whether to hold the classes in two shifts or call the students at alternate days, at their own level," the Education Minister said.
Mr Singla said the decision comes after persistent demand by parents to reopen all schools - government, semi-government and private ones.
"If the strength of the students is large in the school and social distancing norms are not maintainable, in that case school head or management may take a decision whether to hold the classes in two shifts or call the students at alternate days, at their own level," the Education Minister said.
Ahead Of Covid Vaccine Roll Out, Second Dry Run On Friday
A second dry run for COVID-19 vaccination will be held in all the states on Friday, sources have said. The first massive dry run was held on January 2. The exercise checked the best way to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and plug loopholes in logistics and training.
The day-long drive on Friday will again test the operational feasibility of CoWIN application in a field environment. Short for Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network, CoWIN is a digital platform to roll out and scale up the vaccination drive.
The government has said vaccination for COVID-19 would start within 10 days from the day when vaccine-makers were given emergency use authorisation. India has cleared Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
A second dry run for COVID-19 vaccination will be held in all the states on Friday, sources have said. The first massive dry run was held on January 2. The exercise checked the best way to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and plug loopholes in logistics and training.
The day-long drive on Friday will again test the operational feasibility of CoWIN application in a field environment. Short for Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network, CoWIN is a digital platform to roll out and scale up the vaccination drive.
The government has said vaccination for COVID-19 would start within 10 days from the day when vaccine-makers were given emergency use authorisation. India has cleared Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
Mumbai Police Lifts Night Curfew Imposed During Christmas, New Year
Mumbai Police on Wednesday decided against extending the night curfew in the city, which was clamped by the Maharashtra government from December 22 to January 5 between 11 pm and 6 am, a senior official said.
The night curfew was imposed in view of the threat of the new UK variant of coronavirus and in a bid to prevent crowding during Christmas and New Year celebrations in Mumbai and other municipal areas in the state.
"The night curfew deadline ended at 12 am on Tuesday, following which the police decided not to extend the curbs on movement of the people in night," the official said.
UK Records Over 1,000 Daily Covid Deaths, Highest Since April
The latest tally means 77,346 people have now died in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test -- among the highest in Europe alongside Italy -- and came as a record 62,322 new daily cases were recorded.
Britain on Wednesday announced another 1,041 fatalities from the coronavirus, the first time the daily death toll has topped 1,000 since April and the outset of the pandemic.
The latest tally means 77,346 people have now died in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test -- among the highest in Europe alongside Italy -- and came as a record 62,322 new daily cases were recorded.
After Pfizer, European Union Authorises Moderna Covid Vaccine
The Moderna vaccine is the second to be approved by the European Medicines Agency, and von der Leyen's European Commission has organised a joint purchasing programme to provide doses for member states.
The European Union authorised the coronavirus vaccine developed by US drug company Moderna on Wednesday, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said, just hours after medical regulators gave it the green light.
The Moderna vaccine is the second to be approved by the European Medicines Agency, and von der Leyen's European Commission has organised a joint purchasing programme to provide doses for member states.
Centre To Send High-Level Team To Aid COVID-19 Management In Kerala
The team headed by the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr SK Singh, will reach Kerala on Friday.
During the last seven days, a total of 35,038 new cases were logged in Kerala, and around 5,000 new cases are added daily to the state's COVID-19 tally, it said.
The Centre will send a high-level team to support public health interventions for COVID-19 management in Kerala as the state has been reporting a "very high" number of daily coronavirus cases, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
The team headed by the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr SK Singh, will reach Kerala on Friday.
During the last seven days, a total of 35,038 new cases were logged in Kerala, and around 5,000 new cases are added daily to the state's COVID-19 tally, it said.
Coronavirus Latest News: Gujarat Sees 665 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, 897 Recoveries
With four more fatalities the overall death count rose to 4,329, it said.
A total of 897 patients were discharged during the day, taking the total number of recoveries in Gujarat to 2,36,323, the department said in a release.
With this, the COVID-19 case recovery rate in the state has improved to 94.82 per cent.
Gujarat on Wednesday reported 665 fresh coronavirus positive cases, taking the tally to 2,49,246, the state health department said.
With four more fatalities the overall death count rose to 4,329, it said.
A total of 897 patients were discharged during the day, taking the total number of recoveries in Gujarat to 2,36,323, the department said in a release.
With this, the COVID-19 case recovery rate in the state has improved to 94.82 per cent.
Coronavirus Live News: Portgual Detects Record 10,000 Covid Cases In 24 Hours
Meanwhile the country's conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa entered isolation less than three weeks ahead of his reelection bid on January 24, his office said, after he had come into contact with an infected person.
Portugal's government acknowledged Wednesday that hospitals were under "strong pressure" from the coronavirus, as health authorities reported a record 10,000 new cases in 24 hours in the country of 10 million people.
Meanwhile the country's conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa entered isolation less than three weeks ahead of his reelection bid on January 24, his office said, after he had come into contact with an infected person.
Coronavirus Latest Updates: Health Ministry Warns People Against Fake "Co-WIN" Apps
"Some apps named 'Co-WIN' apparently created by unscrupulous elements to sound similar to upcoming official platform of Government, are on Appstores. DO NOT download or share personal information on these. MoHFW Official platform will be adequately publicised on its launch," the Union Health ministry tweeted.
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday cautioned people against downloading and sharing personal information on some apps named Co-WIN, "created by unscrupulous elements", that sound similar to the upcoming official platform of the government for carrying out the COVID-19 vaccination process.
"Some apps named 'Co-WIN' apparently created by unscrupulous elements to sound similar to upcoming official platform of Government, are on Appstores. DO NOT download or share personal information on these. MoHFW Official platform will be adequately publicised on its launch," the Union Health ministry tweeted.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Centre Tells Tamil Nadu To Revoke 100% Movie Theatre Occupancy Decision
The Union home ministry has so far allowed 50 per cent occupancy in movie theatres outside containment zones as part of the phased unlock process.
Hundred per cent occupancy in movie theatres cannot be allowed yet, the Union home ministry told Tamil Nadu today. The AIADMK government of the state, which lifted the restrictions on movie theatres last week, was told to scrap its order making that allowance.
The Union home ministry has so far allowed 50 per cent occupancy in movie theatres outside containment zones as part of the phased unlock process.
COVID-19 Latest News: Second Dry Run In All Districts On January 8
Ahead of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, second dry run will be conducted on January 8 in all districts of the country.
73 Persons Infected With New UK Mutant Covid Strain In India: Health Ministry
Most of the samples have been detected positive at Pune's National Institute of Virology (30) and CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (20) in New Delhi, the ministry said.
The total number of people who have tested positive for the new UK strain of the coronavirus in the country now stands at 73, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.
Most of the samples have been detected positive at Pune's National Institute of Virology (30) and CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (20) in New Delhi, the ministry said.
COVID-19 Latest Updates: Delhi Records 654 Fresh Cases, 16 Deaths
The infection tally in the city rose to 6.28 lakh and the death count mounted to 10,625, they said.
The national capital had recorded 442 cases on Tuesday with a positivity rate of 0.55 per cent.
Delhi recorded 654 fresh COVID-19 cases and 16 more fatalities on Wednesday, even as the positivity rate stood at 0.88 per cent, authorities said.
The infection tally in the city rose to 6.28 lakh and the death count mounted to 10,625, they said.
The national capital had recorded 442 cases on Tuesday with a positivity rate of 0.55 per cent.
COVID-19 Live News: Indian Embassy Suspends All Consular Services In UK Till February 20
"All Consular Services by @HCI_London will remain suspended till 20.02.2021 due to #COVID19 #Tier5 restrictions imposed by the Government of the UK and in light of health threat to the service seekers posed by fast spreading of the new COVID-19 variant," the Embassy said in a tweet.
Amid the coronavirus restrictions in the United Kingdom, all consular services have been suspended till February 20, said Indian Embassy in the UK.
"All Consular Services by @HCI_London will remain suspended till 20.02.2021 due to #COVID19 #Tier5 restrictions imposed by the Government of the UK and in light of health threat to the service seekers posed by fast spreading of the new COVID-19 variant," the Embassy said in a tweet.
China Downplays WHO Concern About Delay In Covid Team's Trip
The head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that China had not authorised the entry of the team for the investigation, which he said was a WHO priority.
China played down on Wednesday World Health Organization (WHO) concern about a delay in authorisation for a visit by team of experts looking into the origins of the novel coronavirus, saying arrangements were being worked out.
The head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that China had not authorised the entry of the team for the investigation, which he said was a WHO priority.
Coronavirus Live News: Over 1 Million People Vaccinated With Sputnik V In Russia
Over 1 million people in Russia have now been vaccinated with Sputnik V: Statement
- ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2021
UK vows 'massive' increase in virus jabs
Britain's minister for vaccinations on Wednesday promised the drive would speed up dramatically to inoculate nearly 14 million people in the coming weeks, as lawmakers were set to back an England-wide lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged that the most vulnerable -- including those over 80 and in care homes -- will get a first dose by mid-February.
"My absolute focus is to get to 13.9 million," vaccines deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi told BBC radio.
"I'm confident the NHS (National Health Service) has a plan and we will meet that target," he said.
"You will see a massive increase in the numbers," he said, with the public able to get shots at national vaccination centres opening soon, as well as in hospitals, doctors' surgeries and community pharmacies.
The House of Commons has been recalled and will vote retroactively on the latest restrictions, which took legal effect overnight and could remain in force until March 31
Japan to declare COVID-19 emergency in Tokyo area from Saturday: report
Japan will declare a month-long emergency in Tokyo and surrounding areas to tackle a surge in coronavirus cases from Saturday until Feb 7, broadcaster Asahi TV reported.
Japan's capital recorded a record number of daily coronavirus cases on Wednesday, with at least 1,591 new infections
11 staffers at Gujarat secretariat complex test positive for COVID-19
Eleven people working in a complex of the state secretariat premises in Gandhinagar have tested positive for coronavirus in the last four days,
officials said on Wednesday.
Gujarat Chief Minister's Office is located on the fourth floor of the complex, known as ''Swarnim Sankul-1'', while offices of the deputy chief minister and other cabinet- rank ministers are on the lower floors.
Out of nearly 70 employees of the four-storey complex, who were tested as part of a drive recently conducted by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, 11 were found infected with the coronavirus, the civic body's health officer, Dr Kalpesh Goswami, said.
"Eleven people, mostly peons and clerks, were found infected with the coronavirus during our testing drive in the last four days. They were referred to hospitals for further treatment," he said.
Telangana's COVID-19 tally surges beyond 2.88 lakh with 417 new additions
Telangana registered 417 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the total infection count past 2.88 lakh while two more fatalities pushed the toll to 1,556.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 82, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri with 34 and 32 respectively, a government bulletin said on Wednesday providing details as o 8 pm on January 5.
The total number of cases stood at 2,88,410 while recoveries were at 2,81,872.
As many as 4,982 patients are under treatment and 43,318 samples were tested on Tuesday.
Cumulatively, over 71 lakh samples have been tested.
The samples tested per million population was over 1.90 lakh, the bulletin said.
COVID-19: Share of active cases in total caseload shrinks to 2.19 per cent
There is a steady decline in the number of daily COVID-19 fatalities recorded in the country with less than 300 new deaths being reported in the last 12 days, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The effective strategy of containment including prompt tracing and tracking, aggressive and widespread testing, combined with standardised clinical management protocols have ensured the low mortality levels.
The effective implementation by the state and UT governments has resulted in early identification, prompt isolation and timely clinical management of hospitalised cases, the ministry said.
"Only one new death per million population has been reported in India in the last 7 days. This new achievement is a testament of effective COVID-19 management and response policy of the Central Government," the ministry stated.
In another achievement, the trajectory of contraction in India''s total COVID-19 active cases continues unabated. The active caseload of the country stands at 2,27,546. The share of active cases in the total cases has further shrunk to 2.19 per cent, the ministry said.
3 new COVID-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh recorded three new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally in the state to 16,744, a senior health official said on Wednesday.
One case each was detected from East Siang, Pakke Kessang and Lohit district respectively, the official said.
Two patients are symptomatic and shifted to Covid-Care Centres, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
All the cases were detected through rapid antigen tests, the official said.
Eleven more people were cured of the disease on Tuesday, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 16,609, the SSO said.
The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state is 99.19 per cent, he said.
60 new COVID-19 cases in Aurangabad, no fresh death
Aurangabad has reported 60 new cases of coronavirus, taking the tally in the Maharashtra district to 45,949, an official said on Wednesday.
These fresh cases were added on Tuesday, but no new death was recorded, he said.
Till now, 1,209 patients have died due to the viral infection in the district, the official said in a release.
So far, 44,264 patients have recovered from the disease in the district, he said.
There are currently 476 active COVID-19 cases in the district, the official said.
With schools reopening for Classes 9 and 10 in the district from Monday, 3,210 teachers and other staff members have undergone COVID-19 tests so far since December 28, 2020.
Eight of them have till now tested positive, he said.
One New COVID-19 Case In Andamans; Tally At 4,949
The COVID-19 caseload in Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 4,949 as one more person has tested positive for the disease in the Union Territory, a health department official said on Wednesday.
The fresh case was detected during contact tracing, he said.
The death toll remained at 62 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours.
At least eight people were cured of the disease on Tuesday, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 4,856, the official said.
The Union Territory now has 31 active cases.
After witnessing a steady rise in coronavirus cases for several months, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not report any fresh case on Monday, which, according to the official, was encouraging.
JustIn| 18,088 fresh coronavirus cases in India, 10% higher than yesterday; over 1.03 crore total cases, 1.5 lakh deaths
Coronavirus Can Be Transiently Airborne In Certain Conditions: Study
A study on the air-borne nature of coronavirus has shown that the virus can be transiently air-borne, but preventive measures like wearing masks can keep one safe. Read more
A study on the air-borne nature of coronavirus has shown that the virus can be transiently air-borne, but preventive measures like wearing masks can keep one safe. Read more
Centre Allows Limited Resumption Of Flights To, From UK
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said that the government has allowed limited resumption of civil aviation with the United Kingdom.
"We took a decision on limited resumption of civil aviation traffic between India and the United Kingdom based on an assessment of available facts as available with our medical professionals. We decided that RT-PCR test which was done 72 hours ahead of travelling was not enough," Mr Puri told ANI.
"So, we made it compulsory to test again on arrival. We will review the situation if any steps have to be taken. So far it is the limited resumption of civil aviation with the UK. The total number of flights to UK has been reduced from 60 a week to 30," he added.
"If the situation demands that we need to take more steps, we are constantly reviewing the situation," the minister added.
Covid Vaccine Roll-Out By Next Week? What Government Said
The Covid-19 vaccines will be ready for rollout in 10 days from the emergency use authorisation date based on feedback from the dry run, the government said today, ending speculation about the time frame that started since the drug regulator's approval on Sunday. Two vaccines have received approval -- Oxford University's Covishield, which is being developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Read more
The Covid-19 vaccines will be ready for rollout in 10 days from the emergency use authorisation date based on feedback from the dry run, the government said today, ending speculation about the time frame that started since the drug regulator's approval on Sunday. Two vaccines have received approval -- Oxford University's Covishield, which is being developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Read more
Boris Johnson Cancels Republic Day Visit To India Over Covid Crisis In UK
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to India, hours after he announced a fresh lockdown in the United Kingdom over the new strain of coronavirus that has affected thousands of people in the UK. Mr Johnson was to be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade in New Delhi, which was also to be his first bilateral visit after the UK's departure from the European Union in December. He had accepted the invitation last month.
"The prime minister spoke to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned," read a statement from his Downing Street office. Read
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to India, hours after he announced a fresh lockdown in the United Kingdom over the new strain of coronavirus that has affected thousands of people in the UK. Mr Johnson was to be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade in New Delhi, which was also to be his first bilateral visit after the UK's departure from the European Union in December. He had accepted the invitation last month.
"The prime minister spoke to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned," read a statement from his Downing Street office. Read
