COVID-19 cases in India: The current caseload across the country stands at 3,67,415 (File)
India reported a single-day rise of 35,178 new COVID-19 cases today, nearly 40% higher than yesterday's 25,166 cases. Besides, 440 new fatalities have taken the COVID-related death count to 4,32,519, according to the health ministry's morning update.
The current caseload across the country stands at 3,67,415, lowest in 148 days. The active cases constitute 1.14% of the total cases, lowest since March 2020. The daily positivity rate is at 1.96%, less than 3% for the last 23 days.
The recovery rate is currently at 97.52%, the highest since March 2020. As many as 3,14,85,923 people have recovered so far across the country with 37,169 patients recovering during the last 24 hours. So far, 56.06 crore vaccine doses have been administered across India, with 55,05,075 doses being administered in the last 24 hours.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases:
Maharashtra Malls To Close Again Over "Fully Vaccinated Staff" OrderAs Maharashtra takes measured steps to unlock amid fears over Delta variant, malls across the state will close again over challenges in meeting the requirement of fully vaccinated staff. The Shopping Centres Association of India, however, has urged the Uddhav Thackeray government to consider opening the malls if the staff has "received one dose".
"In light of the modified guidelines issued by the government of Maharashtra on 16 August 2021, restraining mall staff from returning to workplace unless they are vaccinated with two doses with a gap 14 days after the second dose, it is unfortunate that malls across the state have decided to close down," read the official statement by the top industry body Shopping Centres Association of India.
Coronavirus New: 36 New Cases In Delhi In 24 Hours
Delhi reported 36 new Covid cases with a positivity rate of 0.05 per cent in the last 24 hours. This is the lowest positivity rate in the capital city this year, reported news agency ANI.
Previously, on August 7, Delhi reported a positivity rate of 0.06 per cent.
Coronavirus News: 54 Cases In Punjab
Punjab today reported 54 coronavirus cases, taking the state's infection count to 6,00,060, according to a medical bulletin, reported news agency PTI. No death was reported in the period.
Ferozepur reported 14 cases, followed by six in Jalandhar and five in Amritsar.
Coronavirus News: Vaccine Nationalism Could Lead To Increase In Variants, Shows Study
Vaccine stockpiling by nations may strongly impact global trajectories of Covid case numbers, and increase the potential emergence of novel variants of the virus, a modelling study has warned, reported news agency PTI.
The research, published in the journal Science on Tuesday, explored the effects of different vaccine-sharing schemes on the global persistence of Covid infections, as well as the possibility for the evolution of new variants, using mathematical models.
The researchers noted that allocation of COVID-19 preventives between countries has so far tended towards vaccine nationalism, where countries are stockpiling vaccines to prioritise access for their citizens over equitable vaccine sharing.
Coronavirus News: No Vaccinations At Mumbai Civic Body-Run Centres On Thursday, Friday
Vaccines will not be administered at centres run by Mumbai's civic body tomorrow and on Friday. The drive will resume on Saturday, officials said.
Coronavirus News: Over 94 Lakh Covid Vaccine Doses Available With States, Union Territories, Says Centre
More than 57.88 crore Covid vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories so far, and another 18,62,530 doses are in the pipeline, the Union Health Ministry said today, reported news agency PTI.
Of this, the total consumption, including wastage, is 55,11,64,635 doses (as per data available at 8 am). More than 94 lakh balance and unutilised doses are still available with the states, UTs and private hospitals to be administered, the ministry said.
The Union government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country, it added.
Coronavirus News: UP Reopens Schools For Classes 9-12 With 50% Attendance
Schools in Uttar Pradesh reopened this week for senior classes with 50 percent attendance, after being shut since the coronavirus outbreak last year. In the state's rural areas and small towns with less access to mobile learning, students and teachers have both welcomed the decision. The UP government said that it will consider reopening offline classes for other standards too, including the primary sections, by September.
Coronavirus News: Sputnik Light Covid Vaccine Shows 93.5% Efficacy In Paraguay
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) today announced the data from Paraguay regarding the one-shot Russian Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrating high safety profile and a 93.5 percent efficacy.
An official release stated that the one-shot Sputnik Light vaccine has proven to be highly effective against Covid among more than 320,000 subjects who had received the vaccine based on the data collected by July 30, 2021.
Coronavirus News: Twitter Introduces New Feature For Reporting Covid Misinformation
In a new attempt to combat misinformation regarding coronavirus, Twitter has announced that it will begin testing a new reporting feature for users to flag tweets containing possible misinformation, reported news agency ANI.
According to The Verge, through the new feature, the users will be able to report misinformation through the same process as they use to report harassment or other harmful content.
Users will also be given an option to select whether the misinformation is political, health-related, or falls into another category.
COVID-19 News: Over 57.88 Crore Vaccine Doses Provided To States So Far: CentreThe central government on Wednesday said over 57.88 crore COVID-19 vaccines have been provided to the states and Union Territories till date, while 18,62,530 doses will be handed over soon, reported news agency ANI. Of this, the total consumption, including wastage, was recorded to be 55,11,64,635 doses, as per data available at 8 am today. The ministry informed over 94 lakh unutilised doses are available with states, UTs and private hospitals, and are yet to be administered.
COVID-19 India News: Ladakh Reports 11 New Cases, 7 DischargedLadakh has recorded 11 fresh Covid cases, taking its overall tally to 20,466, with active cases increasing to 81, officials said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. The Union Territory has registered 207 Covid-related deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. A total of 20,164 patients have recovered till date. No Covid death was reported in Ladakh on Tuesday. There are 69 active cases in Leh and 12 in Kargil, the officials said, adding that seven patients recovered from the diseases on Tuesday.
COVID-19 India News: Mizoram Adds 600 New Cases, One Death
Mizoram on Wednesday reported 600 fresh COVID-19 cases, raising the tally to 49,950, while the death count mounted to 185 with one more fatality, a health department official said, reported news agency PTI. Over 133 children and two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were among the newly-infected patients, he said. The northeastern state now has 9,084 active cases and 40,681 people have recovered from the disease. The state's recovery rate stood at 81.44 per cent and the death rate at 0.37 per cent.
COVID-19 India News: Arunachal Reports 142 New Cases, Tally Rises To 51,655Arunachal Pradesh logged 142 fresh COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 51,655, a senior health department official said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. The death count in the state remained at 252 as no fatality was reported in the past 24 hours, said State Surveillance Officer Lobsang Jampa. The state currently has 1,763 active cases, while 49,640 people have recovered from the disease so far, Mr Jampa said. The recovery rate stood at 96.10% and the positivity rate at 3.56%. An official said a total of 9,16,075 people have been administered vaccines thus far.
COVID-19 Update: India Reports 35,178 New Cases In Last 24 hoursIndia reported 35,178 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The active caseload is currently 3,67,415, lowest in 148 days. The active cases constitute 1.14% of total cases, lowest since March 2020, according to the latest health update. The daily positivity rate is at 1.96%, less than 3% for the last 23 days. The recovery rate is currently at 97.52%, the highest since March 2020. As many as 3,14,85,923 people have recovered so far across the country with 37,169 patients recovering during the last 24 hours. So far, 56.06 crore vaccine doses have been administered under Nationwide Vaccination Drive.
COVID-19: New Zealand PM announces lockdown over single suspected Delta variant case
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a nationwide lockdown after the country confirmed the first locally transmitted COVID-19 since February.
Addressing a press conference Tuesday (local time), Ardern said that authorities were assuming it was the contagious Delta variant, although genome sequencing is still underway, CNN reported.
"New Zealand will be under the strictest level lockdown level for the next three days starting from 11:59 pm Tuesday (local time)," Ardern said adding that under level four lockdown, everyone must stay home and businesses are closed aside for essential services such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Australia's Qantas to make vaccines mandatory for staff
Australian airline Qantas said Wednesday it would make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for staff, as the company bids to get planes back into the skies.
The national carrier is one of the first major Australian firms to mandate vaccines for employees, saying the rule would also apply to its budget offshoot Jetstar.
Pilots, cabin crew and airport staff must be fully vaccinated by November 15, with other staff members given until March 31 next year.
"Having a fully vaccinated workforce will safeguard our people against the virus but also protect our customers and the communities we fly to," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement.
Ahead Of Paralympics, Japan Expands COVID-19 Emergency To Battle SurgeJapan's government on Tuesday expanded a coronavirus state of emergency to seven more regions as it battles a record wave of infections a week before the Paralympic Games. Virus emergency measures that ban restaurants and bars from selling alcohol and require them to close by 8 pm are already in place in Tokyo and five other regions, and had been due to end by August 31. But Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the measure would be expanded to additional areas, with the restrictions in all parts of the country running until September 12.
Centre Curbs Export Of Covid Rapid Antigen Test Kits Over Third Wave ConcernsThe government on Monday imposed restrictions on the export of Covid rapid antigen testing kits amid several experts warning of a possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
"The export of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits... has been put under the restricted category, with immediate effect," the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
Exporters have to seek a licence or permission from the DGFT for shipping items under the restricted category. Such restrictions are aimed at increasing the domestic availability of the kits.
Cases Are Down In Tamil Nadu, But There's New COVID-19 WorryIn a new worry for Tamil Nadu, health authorities say the state is facing a kind of vaccination apathy among its residents following a drastic dip in daily coronavirus case numbers from about 36,000 a day during the peak of the second wave in May to less than 2,000 now.
Though on Monday the state administered over 4 lakh doses, its daily average over the last week is 2.23 lakh doses and even more worryingly, only 37 per cent of the population have got one Covid dose and little over 8.2 per cent have got both doses, much less than the national average.
The state has a capacity to inoculate 8 lakh people daily but it managed to cross 5 lakh just one day.