COVID-19: Covishield and Covaxin doses will now cost Rs 225. (Representational)
The prices of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines at private hospitals have been slashed by more than half. This comes a day before the Covid vaccine booster shots become available to all Indian adults. Doses of the two vaccines will now cost Rs 225. While Covishield has been slashed from Rs 600, Covaxin is down from Rs 1,200 per dose.
Meanwhile, a person in Gujarat has been infected with Coronavirus variant XE, official sources told NDTV today. One case of XM variant has also been detected in the state, they added.
India today reported 1,150 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of coronavirus infections to 4,30,34,217. According to the Union Health Ministry data, the active cases dipped to 11,492. The number of deaths climbed to 5,21,656 with 83 fresh fatalities, showed the data updated this morning. The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 98.76 per cent, the ministry said.
A reduction of 147 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded as 0.24 per cent and the weekly positivity rate as 0.23 per cent, according to the ministry.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus cases in India:
Booster Dose For 18+ Group To Be Available At Private Centres: Mumbai Civic Body
The precautionary dose against coronavirus for the age group of 18-59 years will be available for administration at private centres from Sunday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said. The BMC has also appealed that the age group of 12-17 years be inoculated at the earliest, keeping in view the fourth wave of coronavirus. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: 24 New Cases, No Death In TelanganaThe COVID-19 recovery rate in Telangana rose to 99.45 per cent on Saturday as the state recorded just 24 new COVID-19 cases. With the fresh cases, the statewide tally went up 7,91,485. Hyderabad reported the highest number of cases with 14. A health department bulletin said 40 people recuperated from the infection and the cumulative number of recoveries till date was 7,87,142. No fresh fatality occurred due to the infectious disease and the death count continued to be 4,111. The number of active cases was 232, the bulletin said. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: Delhi Records 160 New Cases, Positivity Rises To 1.55%
Delhi today recorded 160 fresh COVID-19 cases while the positivity rate rose to 1.55 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. With this, the national capital's COVID-19 caseload has increased to 18,66,102. The death count due to the viral disease remained unchanged at 26,156, the latest bulletin stated. There has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases in Delhi over the last three days. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News Live: Chhattisgarh Reports 8 New Cases, No Death
Chhattisgarh today reported eight fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the state's tally to 11,52,202. The death count remained unchanged at 14,034 as no fresh death was reported due to the viral infection, an official said. The positivity rate, or cases detected per 100 tests, stood at 0.19 per cent, he said. The recovery count in Chhattisgarh rose to 11,38,109 after eight people completed their home isolation during the day, leaving the state with 59 active cases, he said. (PTI)
LIVE: XE Sub-Variant Not Lethal, Infected Man Asymptomatic: Maharashtra MinisterMaharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope today said that the Omicron sub-variant XE is not lethal and the only case detected in the state of an elderly man is asymptomatic. Talking to media persons in Jalna, Mr Tope said a 67-year-old man and his wife who had been in Mumbai tested positive for coronavirus in Gujarat last month. (PTI)
COVID-19 News: Delhi Private Vaccination Centres Gear Up For Covid Booster Drive
With the Centre announcing the roll-out of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines for all adults, doctors at private vaccination centres in Delhi today said they are all prepared for the exercise and that the third shot will provide "stronger protection" against the coronavirus. Doctors and administrators at several leading private hospitals in Delhi asserted that they are all set to administer the booster shot to people. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: Andhra Pradesh Reports 8 New Cases, No Death
Andhra Pradesh today recorded eight new coronavirus cases, taking the statewide total to 23,19,607. As there was no new death, the death count remained at 14,370, a health bulletin said providing details for the last 24 hours ending 9 am on Saturday. The active COVID-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh fell to 56, while the total number of people cured of the disease was 23,04,821, it said. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: 9 New Cases, No Death In Madhya Pradesh
The COVID-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh reached 10,41,197 today after the detection of nine cases at a positivity rate of 0.01 per cent, while the death count continued to remain at 10,734, a health official said. The recovery count increased by 12 to touch 10,30,412, leaving the state with 51 active cases, the official informed. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: Mumbai Reports 55 New Cases, No Death; Active Tally At 305
Mumbai today reported 55 COVID-19 cases, up from 49 a day earlier, taking the tally here to 10,58,381, while the death count stood unchanged at 19,560, a civic official said. Of the 55 new cases, 53, or 96 per cent, are asymptomatic, while two have been hospitalised, he said. So far, 10,38,516 people have been discharged post recovery, including 49 in the last 24 hours, leaving the metropolis with 305 active cases, the official added. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: India’s Vaccine Coverage Crosses 185.68 Crore Doses
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 185.68 crore today, the Union Health Ministry said. Over 12 lakh (12,55,277) doses were administrated today till 7 pm, it said. It added that over 2.21 crore (2,21,44,238) doses have been administered to children in the 12-14 years age group so far. Over 2.43 crore (2,43,08,220) precaution doses have been administered to healthcare and frontline workers, and to those above 60 so far, the ministry said. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: Gujarat Records 34 New Cases, Highest In Over 3 Weeks
Gujarat reported 34 new COVID-19 cases today, its highest single-day addition in over three weeks, raising its tally to 12,24,025, while the death count remained unchanged at 10,942, a state health department official said. So far, 12,12,969 people have been discharged post recovery, including six during the day, leaving the state with an active caseload of 114, an official said. Of the new cases, 23 were reported from Gandhinagar followed by eight in Ahmedabad, two in Vadodara and one in rural Gandhinagar, the official informed. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: Tamil Nadu Reports 21 New Cases, Zero Death
Tamil Nadu today reported 21 new COVID-19 cases, pushing its total number of cases to 34,53,054. No fresh death occurred due to the infectious disease and the death count remained at 38,025, the Health Department said in a bulletin. As many as 29 people recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 34,14,800. The active cases stood at 229, the medical bulletin said. (PTI)
COVID-19 LIVE Updates: Maharashtra Reports 132 New Cases, 6 Deaths
Maharashtra today recorded 132 new coronavirus cases and six pandemic-related deaths besides one case of the XE variant, the state health department said. The state's infection tally rose to 78,75,080, and death count reached 1,47,816. On Friday, Maharashtra had reported 130 cases and four deaths. Meanwhile, 135 patients recovered since previous evening in the state, and the total of recovered patients rose to 77,26,461. The recovery rate in the state stands at 98.11 per cent. There are 803 active cases in Maharashtra now. (PTI)
COVID-19 India News: Kerala Reports 347 New Cases; Active Tally At 2,293
Kerala reported 347 fresh coronavirus cases and 21 virus-related deaths today, taking the total number of cases to 65,35,748 and the death count to 68,360. Currently, there are 2,293 active COVID-19 cases in Kerala, the Health Department said, adding that the state has tested 13,599 samples in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, 383 people recuperated from the disease. Among the districts, Ernakulam reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases with 106, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (60) and Kozhikode (31). (PTI)
Covid Booster To Be Available At Private Centres From April 10: Karnataka Minister
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar announced today the precaution jab for those aged above 18 years will be available at private vaccination centers across the state from April 10, adding that the precaution jab is another step towards strengthening the battle against COVID pandemic. "Precautionary dose for COVID-19 vaccine will be available to everybody who belong to the 18+ age group at private vaccination centres from 10 April 2022 onwards," read an official statement. (ANI)
COVID-19 Vaccine Precaution Dose Details
The Centre today told the states that the precaution dose will be of the same COVID-19 vaccine as the one used for the administration of the first two doses and that private vaccination centres can charge up to a maximum of ₹ 150 per dose as service charge over and above the cost of the vaccine.
The Centre had announced that the precaution dose of Covid vaccines will be available to everyone aged above 18 years at the private vaccination centres from April 10.
All those above the age of 18, who have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose, will be eligible for the precaution dose.
All About Covid XE Variant: What We Know So FarA person in Gujarat was found with a new COVID-19 variant, XE, recently. One incidence of another variant, XM, too, had been discovered in the state. Before that, in India, the first case of the XE variant was reported from Mumbai a few days ago but
Zero COVID-19 Cases, Deaths In Puducherry For 10th Straight Day
Puducherry registered zero COVID-19 cases and related deaths for the 10th consecutive day today.
The department of health tested 185 samples during the last twenty-four hours and no fresh infection was detected.
The total case load remained 1,65,774 and the overall recoveries were 1,63,812. The toll remained 1,962, Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release.
So far 22,30,584 samples have been tested and 18,75,504 out of them were found to be negative.
The test positivity rate was zero while the fatality and recovery rates remained 1.18 percent and 98.82 percent respectively, the Director added.
The Department of Health has administered so far 16,53,706 doses which comprised 9,57,569 first doses, 6,80,065 second and 16,072 booster doses.
COVID-19 UPDATE - APRIL 9
Once case each of Covid XE and XM variants found in Gujarat, say sources
Number of new Covid cases recorded in the last 24 hours - 1,150
India's active caseload currently stands at 11,365
Number of COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours - 83
185.55 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
Active cases stand at 0.03%
Recovery rate currently at 98.76%
1,194 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases the total recoveries to 4,25,01,196.
Daily positivity rate (0.25%)
Weekly positivity rate (0.23%)
79.34 crore total tests conducted so far; 4,66,362 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.
Covid XE Variant Found In Gujarat, Say Sources
A person in Gujarat has been infected with Coronavirus variant XE, official sources told NDTV today. One case of XM variant has also been detected in the state, they said, without giving more details on the health condition of the two patients.
Earlier this week, a patient with foreign travel history was reported to have contracted the XE variant but the Health Ministry had denied the report, saying that the "present evidence does not suggest the presence of the new variant".
"Hours after report of detection of XE variant of Coronavirus in Mumbai, @MoHFW_INDIA has said present evidence does not suggest the presence of the new variant," PIB Maharashtra said in a tweet on Thursday.
It referred to the Health Ministry clarification on the reported case of COVID XE Variant in Mumbai.
The Health Ministry said FastQ files in respect of the sample, which is being said to be #XEVariant were analysed in detail by genomic experts of INSACOG who have inferred that the genomic constitution of this variant does not correlate with the genomic picture of 'XE' variant".
The new mutant may be more transmissible than any strain of COVID-19, World Health Organisation had said last week.
The World Health Organisation had recently said that a new COVID mutant 'XE' has been found in the UK and noted that it may be more transmissible than the BA.2 sublineage of COVID-19. However, the virologists in India have said that it is not clear that the variant is strong enough to cause another COVID wave in the country even as they advised to exercise caution and follow COVID-appropriate behaviour.
XE is recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 sublineages of COVID-19.
"The XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2), was first detected in the United Kingdom on January 19 and sequences have been reported and confirmed since," the WHO had said.
India today reported 1,150 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of coronavirus infections to 4,30,34,217. The number of deaths in the last 24 hours stood at 83.