This Article is From Feb 17, 2021

Latest News Highlights: South African Covid Strain In 4 Returnees, Brazil Variant In 1, Says Centre

Latest News Highlights: There are 187 cases of the UK strain, the government said.

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Latest News Live Updates: South African variant is circulating in 41 countries around the world

New Delhi:

The South African strain of the coronavirus has been detected in four people in India and the Brazil variant has been seen in one, the government said today. All five have been quarantined.

There are 187 cases of the UK strain, the government said.

The South African variant is circulating in 41 countries around the world including the United States.

The UK COVID-19 variant has now spread to 82 countries and the Brazilian strain of Covid has spread to nine countries.

Meanwhile, the daily new infections fell below 10,000 for the fourth time this month taking India's tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,09,25,710, while fresh fatalities remained below 100 for the tenth time this month, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Tuesday.

A total of 9,121 new cases were reported in a day, while the death count increased to 1,55,813 with 81 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Here are the Latest News Highlights:

Feb 17, 2021 05:22 (IST)
New COVID-19 cases down 16 percent last week: World Health Organization
The number of new cases of Covid-19 reported worldwide fell by 16 percent last week to 2.7 million, the World Health Organization said. The number of new deaths reported also fell 10 percent week-on-week, to 81,000, the WHO said late Tuesday in its weekly epidemiological update, using figures up to Sunday.

Five of the six WHO regions of the world reported a double-digit percentage decline in new cases, with only the Eastern Mediterranean showing a rise, of seven percent.
Feb 17, 2021 04:55 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi to visit poll-bound Puducherry today
As Puducherry Assembly polls are slated to be held later this year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit the Union Territory today. During the visit, the former Congress chief will interact with the people of Puducherry.

"Rahul Gandhi will visit and interact with the citizens of Puducherry on February 17," Congress tweeted from its official Twitter handle.
Feb 17, 2021 03:47 (IST)
Adverse Event Cases After Coronavirus Vaccination Just 1 In 2,000: Centre
Just one out of 2,000 beneficiaries report minor effects post vaccination against COVID-19, the Centre said on Tuesday, noting that the rate of adverse event following immunisation has been recorded at 0.05 per cent.
Feb 17, 2021 03:02 (IST)
India's Fight Against COVID-19 Is Inspiring World: PM Modi
India's fight against COVID-19 is inspiring the world, though at the beginning of the pandemic other countries worried about the country's situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

India is following a human centric approach to furthering global good, which is based on a healthy balanced welfare and well-being, he said, virtually delivering the valedictory address to ''Heartfulness Practitioners'' on the platinum jubilee celebrations of Heartfulness Institute of Shri Ram Chandra Mission.
Feb 17, 2021 02:21 (IST)
New Tech To Pick Out People At High COVID-19 Risk In England For Vaccines
A new risk-prediction model devised by Oxford University scientists is to be deployed as new technology by the National Health Service (NHS) in England to help clinicians identify a new group of people who may be at high risk from COVID-19.
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Feb 17, 2021 01:51 (IST)
Feb 17, 2021 01:03 (IST)
COVID-19 vaccination coverage to healthcare, frontline workers crosses 88.5 lakh doses
The COVID-19 vaccination coverage to healthcare and frontline workers has crossed 88.5 lakh doses on Tuesday. According to a statement by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), 88,57,341 vaccine doses were administered through 1,90,665 sessions, as per the provisional report till 6 pm.

This includes 61,29,745 Healthcare Workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 2,16,339 HCWs who have taken the second dose, along with 25,11,257 Frontline Workers (FLWs) (1st dose). While the countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on 16th Jan 2021, vaccination of the FLWs started from February 2, 2021.
Feb 17, 2021 00:02 (IST)
RT-PCR Covid Test Mandatory For Travellers From Brazil, South Africa In Bengaluru
The Karnataka government on Tuesday made RT-PCR test for international travellers, who have visited or transited through Brazil or South Africa during their journey, mandatory upon arrival at Bengaluru airport.

"In view of new variants of SARS-COV-2 identified in Brazil and South Africa, it is mandatory that international travellers who have visited or transited through Brazil or South Africa, irrespective of their negative RT-PCR test before boarding the flight, should additionally undergo RT-PCR testing at Bengaluru airport," said Health and Family Welfare Services commissioner in a statement.
Feb 16, 2021 23:33 (IST)
Delhi Records 94 New COVID-19 Cases, Lowest In Over 9 Months: Government
Delhi recorded 94 fresh COVID-19 cases today, the lowest in over nine months, while the positivity rate slipped to 0.17 per cent in the city, authorities said.

One fatality was also registered, taking the number of deaths due to the viral disease to 10,894 in the national capital, according to the latest health bulletin issued by the Delhi government.

Delhi had recorded 96 coronavirus cases on January 27, which was the lowest then in over nine months and the first time that the daily cases' count was below the 100-mark in that month.

No death due to COVID-19 was recorded in the city on Saturday, the second time in February when the single-day fatality count was nil.
Feb 16, 2021 23:04 (IST)
Amid Rising Cases, Mumbai Mayor's Lockdown Caution
As Mumbai records a surge in Covid cases, a lockdown is a possibility, a top Mumbai official warned today. But whether the city will go into lockdown mode once again would depend on the people, said Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar.

The Mayor noted that most people travelling on trains did not wear masks.

"It's a matter of concern. Most people travelling in trains don't wear masks. People must take precautions or we will head towards another lockdown," Kishori Pednekar said.

"Whether a lockdown will be implemented again is in the hands of people."
Feb 16, 2021 22:32 (IST)
Follow Covid Norms Or Face New Lockdown, Warns Maharashtra Chief Minister
Concerned over the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday asked citizens to strictly follow government-mandated guidelines on masks and social distancing or be prepared to face another round of lockdown.

After reporting 4,092 COVID-19 cases on last Sunday, highest single-day tally in more than a month, Maharashtra registered 3,663 new cases on Tuesday, 461 of them in Mumbai.

This was the seventh straight day when the state's daily count remained above the 3,000-mark, indicating a steady rise in infections as compared to the previous few weeks.
Feb 16, 2021 22:01 (IST)
Kiran Bedi Removed As Puducherry Lt Governor Amid Congress Crisis
Kiran Bedi has been removed as Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement released late Tuesday night.

The statement from President Ram Nath Kovind's office said that Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Governor of Telangana, had been directed to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, in addition to her own duties, until a new appointment is made.
Feb 16, 2021 21:26 (IST)
Over 100 Covid Cases In One Bengaluru Apartment Complex After 2 Parties
An apartment complex in Karnataka capital Bengaluru has been declared a containment zone after 103 of its residents tested positive for coronavirus. According to district officials, the surge in Covid cases was recorded just days after two marriage anniversary parties were organised in the residential society.

The new coronavirus cluster has emerged in South Bengaluru's Bilekhali area's SNN Raj Lakeview apartments.

The district administration had started a mass testing drive last week in the apartment complex after around two dozen cases emerged from there in a couple of days.
Feb 16, 2021 20:31 (IST)
Over 87 Lakh COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered In India So Far
Over 87 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in India so far, informed the Union Health Ministry here on Tuesday.

"We have administered over 87,40,000 vaccine doses. Out of this, 85,70,000 are first doses and over 1,70,000 are second doses. These numbers are increasing," said Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry at a press conference in New Delhi.

He added, "Active cases in the country are less than 1,40,000. Average daily deaths in the previous one week have also decreased to 93 and the cumulative positivity rate in the country is decreasing, as of now it is 5.27 per cent."
Feb 16, 2021 20:01 (IST)
Will Increase Covid Vaccination Sites Up To 5 Times, Says Centre
India will increase the number of its COVID-19 vaccination sites by up to five times after administering nearly 9 million shots in a month, a government official said on Tuesday, amid concerns about the speed of coverage in the country.

Having reported the highest number of coronavirus infections after the United States, and with the world's biggest vaccine-making capacity, India says it has been the fastest to reach many inoculation milestones.

However it is vaccinating around 300,000 front-line workers a day, a total that will have to increase sharply to meet the government's target of covering 300 million of its 1.35 billion people by August, experts say.
Feb 16, 2021 19:23 (IST)
Amnesty International India's Assets Attached In Money Laundering Case
The Enforcement Directorate has attached movable properties - worth Rs 17.66 crore- of the global human rights advocacy group, the Amnesty International, which had last year announced that it was winding down its India operation because of the alleged "witch hunt" from the central government.

Feb 16, 2021 18:50 (IST)
Warm Clothes, Time With Family Daily For Disha Ravi In Cops' Custody
A Delhi court today said Disha Ravi, the 22-year-old climate activist charged with sedition, and whose arrest raised questions over due process followed by Delhi Police, will be allowed a copy of the FIR (detailing charges against her), a remand application and a fresh set of clothes.

The court also allowed Ms Ravi access to her lawyer - a basic right of those accused and one she did not enjoy when produced before the court on Monday - and her family while in police custody.

She will be allowed to meet her lawyer for 30 minutes every day, and her family for 15. Read here.
Feb 16, 2021 18:14 (IST)
India is playing a central role in global vaccination. Our vision for wellness is as much global as it is domestic. The world is looking at health and wellness very seriously especially after COVID19: PM Narendra Modi

Feb 16, 2021 17:44 (IST)
We have done disembarkations, mandatory RT-PCR tests for travellers coming from UK. Those who tested positive, their genome sequencing being done. This is a good strategy. I hope- we might follow this similar strategy for flights from South Africa & Brazil: Secy, Health Ministry

Feb 16, 2021 17:32 (IST)
Single Dose Of Pfizer Covid Vaccine Provokes Strong Immune Response: Study
People previously infected with the novel coronavirus respond very strongly to single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of when they were infected and whether or not they had detectable antibodies against the disease prior to receiving the preventive, according to a study.

Researchers from Bar-Ilan University and Ziv Medical Center in Israel noted that the real-world evidence with regard to the COVID-19 vaccine remains scarce even though the clinical trial data are encouraging.

Specifically, the response to the COVID-19 vaccine among those previously infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still not completely understood, they said.

The latest study, published in the journal Eurosurveillance, was conducted on a cohort of 514 staff members at Ziv Medical Center.



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