Latest News Live Updates: On April 30, Delhi had recorded 76 new cases. (File)
The national capital reported 96 COVID-19 cases with 9 deaths in the last 24 hours, government data shows. Some 212 people also recovered in this duration.
This is the first time that Delhi, which has seen and surmounted three waves of coronavirus infections, logged less than 100 since April last year, when India was still in first phase of the nationwide lockdown to control the pandemic.
On April 30, Delhi had recorded 76 new cases.
With this, Delhi's overall cases have shot to 6,34,325, of whom 6.2 lakh have fought off the highly infectious disease taking the city's overall recovery rate to 98 per cent.
India's COVID-19 tally mounted to 1,06,89,527 with 12,689 new cases in a day, while 1,03,59,305 people have recuperated from the infection so far pushing the national recovery rate to 96.91 per cent on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry's data.
With 137 more fatalities, the death count reached 1,53,724, the data updated at 8 am showed.
There are 1,76,498 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprise 1.65 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
Vaccine maker Bharat Biotech said today that its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has been found effective against the UK variant of the virus, which is considered 70 per cent more infectious than the Wuhan variety and is more lethal. In a tweet today, Bharat Biotech said "Covaxin effectively neutralises UK variants of SARS-CoV-2 reducing the possibility of mutant virus escape".
In the tweet, the firm also enclosed a link to the findings of it is research, which was conducted by scientists of the National Institute of Virology. The report, however, is yet to be peer reviewed.
Here are the Latest News LIVE Updates:
Maldives Lauds PM Modi For Providing 1 Lakh Covid Vaccine Doses
The President of the Republic of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, its Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and Consul (Mumbai) of the Republic of Maldives Bobby Mohanty have expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation, praising Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for providing COVID-19 vaccine to their country, reported news agency ANI. Bobby Mohanty called it a noble and a memorable Republic Day gift.
India has supplied 1,00,000 doses of Covishield (Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine) manufactured by Serum Institute of India to the Maldives.
The Maldives is the among the first countries to receive COVID-19 vaccines from India.
Ratan Tata, Amartya Sen, Anand Mahindra To Address "Kerala Looks Ahead" Global Meet
Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen are among an impressive line-up of speakers expected to share their insights and suggestions at "Kerala Looks Ahead" (KLA) global meet, news agency ANI reported.
According to an official statement issued by the Kerala government on Wednesday, "The three-day event, which begins on February 1, is envisaged to take the state forward by attracting investment from the country and world in the post-pandemic era."
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state Industries Minister EP Jayarajan will attend the special session. On February 1, Mr Vijayan will inaugurate the conference.
Tractor Rally Ripples In Haryana: Locals Want Protesting Farmers GoneUpset over the violence in Delhi during Republic Day's tractor rally, a group of villages in Haryana have asked farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws to vacate the nearby highway. The police had to step in to stop another flare-up. The villagers have given the protesters an ultimatum -- asking them to vacate the highway within 24 hours. The langar or community kitchen for the protesters has been shut and there is heavy police presence in the area.
Over 100 Injured In Clash Between Protesting Teachers, Police In TripuraOver 100 people, including security personnel and schoolteachers protesting their termination, were injured in Agartala on Wednesday, after the police used force to thwart the protesters' attempt to picket outside Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb's official residence. Over 200 protesters were arrested.
COVID-19: Over 14,000 people vaccinated in Himachal PradeshAs many as 510 more people were administered the COVID-19 vaccine in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, a senior health official said.
The total number of people vaccinated for COVID-19 in the state has now risen to 14,072, Special Secretary (Health) Nipun Jindal said, adding that the target for Wednesday was 649 and the percentage coverage is 78.5 per cent.
Of them, 471 were vaccinated in Mandi and 39 in Kangra district, he added.
Earlier a total of 13,562 people were administered vaccine till January 23.
The vaccination drive had begun on January 16 when 1,536 members of the medical fraternity were administered the vaccine while 3,299 people received the jabs on January 18, 232 on January 19, 45 on January 20, 686 on January 21, 3,819 on January 22 and 3,935 on January 23.
One case of AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) was reported in the state on Wednesday, he said, adding that the number of AEFI in the state has now risen to 42.
More Covid Vaccines To Be Introduced In India: Health MinisterHealth Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Wednesday that more COVID-19 vaccines are on their way to be introduced in India after the country launched the world's biggest vaccination drive with two made-in-India shots earlier this month.
Addressing an online 'Future Investment Initiative' event, Mr Vardhan said it is evident that the current crisis will reshape the world as one knew.
"Mankind will only remember one thing from the year 2020 that is the deadly virus that created devastation across the world. But at the same time, it will also be remembered how science and healthcare sectors came to the rescue in a record time," he said.
The health minister said the pandemic has also resulted in heightened nationalism, but it has also shown us how important global cooperation is for everyone.
No New Covid Case Found In Dharavi For Third Time In JanuaryDharavi, the biggest slum in Mumbai, did not report any coronavirus positive case in the last 24 hours, a civic official said on Wednesday.
It is for the third time in January and for the second consecutive day, this slum pocket has not recorded even a single case in a day.
This has happened for the fourth time since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the city, officials said.
On January 22 and 26, not a single infection case was reported in Dharavi. It had also happened on December 25.
Dharavi's caseload currently stands at 3,911, and so far 3,585 patients have recovered and got discharge from hospitals, the official said.
British Covid Variant In 70 Countries, South Africa One In 31: WHOThe new and more contagious Covid-19 variant first spotted in Britain has now spread to 70 countries -- 10 more than a week ago, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
In its latest epidemiological update, the UN health agency also said the variant of the virus first found in South Africa had spread to eight more countries in the past week and was now present in 31 nations; meanwhile another variant discovered in Brazil had spread to eight countries.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Boris Johnson Delays Schools Reopening Amid High Covid Death Rate In UKPrime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament on Wednesday that schools in England would have to remain closed at least until March 8 as the strict stay-at-home lockdown continues through February, even as he fielded a barrage of questions over the UK becoming the first European country to cross the grim milestone of over 100,000 COVID-19 deaths this week.
Addressing cross-party members of Parliament in a part-remote House of Commons session, Johnson reiterated his deep sorrow at every loss of life from the pandemic and said the best way to honour their memory was to work together to fight against the deadly virus.
He also told MPs that 6.9 million Britons have now been vaccinated as the government remains "on target" to vaccinate the most vulnerable groups by mid-February.
Increased Theatre Occupancy, Swimming Pools Open For All: New GuidelinesCinema halls and theatres will be allowed to operate at higher sitting capacity, the Centre has announced in its revised coronavirus guidelines. The fresh standard operating procedures (SOPs) that have been issued amid a steady decline in daily Covid numbers across the country, also allow the reopening of swimming pools for all.
"Cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted upto 50% of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in consultation with MHA (the Ministry of Home Affairs)," it said in a release.
23,28,779 beneficiaries have been vaccinated for COVID-19 till 6 today across the country, including 2,99,299 people vaccinated today: Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry
Coronavirus Latest News: Italy To Develop COVID-19 Vaccine With Public MoneyThe Italian government will take a stake in a home-grown company working on a new Covid-19 vaccine, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Wednesday.
"It is the right choice, and an important one," Speranza said in a statement announcing the investment in ReiThera, a biotech firm based near Rome.
On Tuesday, the office of Italy's coronavirus crisis commissioner, Invitalia, said the state would take a 30-per-cent stake.
A spokeswoman told AFP she could not yet say how much the investment was worth and when the operation would be finalised.
COVID-19 India LIVE Updates: Over 72,000 Active Cases In Kerala, 5,659 Fresh CasesKerala's COVID-19 active cases soared to 72,234 on Wednesday as the state reported 5,659 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the caseload to 9,05,591.
As many as 5,006 people have been cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 8,29,452.
The count has mounted to 3,663 with 20 recent deaths being added to the tally after being confirmed due to COVID.
According to a government release, 2,14,315 people are presently under observation in various districts, including 12,119 in various hospitals.
Coronavirus Latest Updates: Meet The 97-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Who Beat COVID-19The inspiring story of an Auschwitz survivor who made a "miraculous recovery" from Covid-19 at the age of 97 is currently going viral on social media. Lily Ebert has been hailed a hero for delivering a message of hope and tolerance after recovering from the virus. She appeared on the show Good Morning Britain on Monday after falling "really ill" with Covid-19 a month ago, reports Jewish News.
Ms Ebert, who survived the Holocaust in the 1940s, was joined on the show by her great-grandson Dov Forman.
It was Mr Forman who last week shared a photograph of his great-grandmother on Twitter, where it went massively viral. The photograph shows the 97-year-old smiling for the camera while out on her first walk after recovering from Covid-19.
Coronavirus World Updates: Relatives Of Covid Victims Say China Silencing Them As WHO Team VisitsRelatives of Wuhan's coronavirus dead on Wednesday said Chinese authorities have deleted their social media group and are pressuring them to keep quiet while a World Health Organization team is in the city to investigate the pandemic's origins.
Scores of relatives have banded together online in a shared quest for accountability from Wuhan officials who they blame for mishandling the outbreak that tore through the city one year ago.
The effort has thus far been thwarted by official obstruction, monitoring of social media groups and intimidation, say next-of-kin.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India, China's Covid Vaccinations To Stretch To Late 2022, Shows StudyCOVID-19 vaccination programmes in China and India will stretch until late 2022 due to the sheer size of population, and more than 85 poor countries will not have widespread access to vaccines before 2023, a study showed on Wednesday.
While rapid development of vaccines has raised hopes for an end to the year-long pandemic, concerns over unequal distribution have also mounted due to production problems and large bilateral deals between wealthy countries and drug makers.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the United States aims to secure an additional 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and its partner BioNTech and Moderna Inc by summer.
Coronavirus World Updates: Myanmar Launches Covid Vaccination Drive, Prioritises Healthcare WorkersMyanmar launched a COVID-19 vaccination programme on Wednesday, with healthcare staff and volunteer medical workers the first to receive shots of the AstraZeneca and Oxford University vaccine donated by India.
Myanmar managed to contain the number of COVID-19 cases early in the pandemic, but is now fighting a second wave, recording more than 138,000 cases and 3,082 deaths.
Last week, Myanmar received 1.5 million doses of the vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, just as China has also pledged vaccine consignments.
Coronavirus India Latest News: Covaxin "Effectively Neutralises" UK Covid Strain, Claims Bharat BiotechVaccine maker Bharat Biotech said today that its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has been found effective against the UK variant of the virus, which is considered 70 per cent more infectious than the Wuhan variety and is more lethal. In a tweet today, Bharat Biotech said "Covaxin effectively neutralises UK variants of SARS-CoV-2 reducing the possibility of mutant virus escape".
In the tweet, the firm also enclosed a link to the findings of it is research, which was conducted by scientists of the National Institute of Virology. The report, however, is yet to be peer reviewed.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Nepal Begins Covid Inoculations With Indian VaccineNepal launched its largest immunisation campaign on Wednesday with its first coronavirus vaccinations for medical workers, following a gift of one million doses from India.
Wearing a traditional black peaked cap and sleeveless red vest, a doctor at a teaching hospital in the capital, Kathmandu, became the first recipient of a dose taken from a bed of ice in a cubical blue cooler and injected by masked and gowned staff.
"We have a new weapon now and I hope we will be able to defeat the coronavirus soon," said Dinesh Kafle, 50, after he was applauded by those queuing for their turn while he sat in a white-walled room before a poster advertising the campaign.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: China Begins Using Anal Swabs To Test Covid As Cases SurgeChina has begun using anal swabs to test those it considers at high risk of contracting Covid-19, state TV reported, with social media users and travellers squirming over the invasive procedure which doctors say can be more effective in detecting the virus.
Officials took anal swabs from residents of neighbourhoods with confirmed Covid-19 cases in Beijing last week, broadcaster CCTV said, while those in designated quarantine facilities have also undergone the test.
Small, localized outbreaks in recent weeks have seen multiple cities in northern China sealed off from the rest of the country and prompted mass testing campaigns -- which up until now have mostly been conducted using throat and nose swabs.
Latest News LIVE: Top Court Rejects Tandav Makers', Actor's Plea For Protection From ArrestThe makers and actors of Amazon Prime web series "Tandav" who appealed for protection against arrest, failed to get any relief from the Supreme Court today.
Actor Zeeshan Ayyub, Amazon Creative Head Aparna Purohit and the maker of the series Himanshu Kishan Mehra had moved the top court asking for a freeze on possible arrest. They had also asked the court to order that the cases against them be clubbed and transferred to a Mumbai court.
Coronavirus Latest Updates: UK To Impose Hotel Quarantine For Returning BritonsBritish citizens returning home from roughly 30 countries deemed at "high risk" from new coronavirus variants could soon have to quarantine in hotels, reports said on Wednesday.
Beefed-up rules will require the travellers to stay in hotels near airports for 10 days, according to the Times and BBC.
Non-UK arrivals from the targeted destinations -- which include South America, Portugal, Cape Verde and South Africa -- are already barred following the discovery of two virus variants in Brazil and South Africa.
The 10-day quarantine will cost returning Britons £1,500 ($2,060, 1,697 euros), with meals served at the bedroom door and security guards supervising stays.
Justin Trudeau Warns Canadians Against Travel Ahead Of Likely New Covid Rules
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday warned Canadians not to travel, saying further pandemic restrictions may be around the corner that would make it harder to fly home from trips abroad. The caution comes as public health officials are increasingly concerned about the spread of new Covid-19 variants, and provincial leaders are calling for stepped up federal restrictions including stricter quarantine enforcement.
Relatives Of Covid Victims Say China Silencing Them As WHO Team Visits
Relatives of Wuhan's coronavirus dead on Wednesday said Chinese authorities have deleted their social media group and are pressuring them to keep quiet while a World Health Organization team is in the city to investigate the pandemic's origins. Scores of relatives have banded together online in a shared quest for accountability from Wuhan officials who they blame for mishandling the outbreak that tore through the city one year ago.
Odisha Logs 138 New COVID-19 Cases, Tally At 3,34,667
Odisha's COVID-19 tally on Wednesday mounted to 3,34,667 as 138 more people tested positive for the disease, a health department official said. Eighty-one new cases were reported from quarantine centres and 57 detected during contact tracing. Cuttack district recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 26, followed by Nuapada and Sundargarh at 15 each. Six districts -- Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Koraput, Nayagarh and Nabarangpur -- did not register any new case since Tuesday, the official said.
Sri Lanka To Procure 2 To 3 Million Doses Of Anti-COVID Vaccine From India: Official
Sri Lanka will purchase 2 to 3 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from its Indian manufacturing company Serum Institute of India during the next two days, a top Sri Lankan official said on Wednesday, reports PTI.
We got an early chance to administer COVID19 vaccine. For this, I extend my thanks and gratitude to our neighbour India's Govt, its people and especially PM Modi. They sent us vaccine within about a week of its rollout in India, that too one million dosages and in grant: Nepal PM
Schools for classes 9 and 11 to start from February 1, following COVID-19 guidelines: Gujarat Education Minister, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.
Kamala Harris Takes Second Dose Of Covid Vaccine
US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday took her second dose of the coronavirus vaccine in a televised setting at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and urged Americans to get vaccinated. "I want to urge everyone to take the vaccine when it is your turn," Harris told C-SPAN viewers on Tuesday. "It will save your life."
First phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive begins in Nepal.
Puducherry Adds 24 New Cases To COVID-19 Tally
Twenty four fresh cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday in Puducherry, raising the total infection count to 38,934. An 87-year-old person hailing from Sooramangalam village in the Puducherry region died of the infection, taking the toll to 646.
VK Sasikala, Ex-AIADMK Leader, Released After Four Years In Jail
VK Sasikala, expelled AIADMK leader and a close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has been released after spending four years in a Bengaluru jail in a corruption case. She will, however, remain in a hospital in the city as she is being treated for Covid.
A total of 19,36,13,120 samples tested for COVID-19 up to January 26.
Mexico Eyes Delivery Of Russian Sputnik V Vaccine Next Week
Mexico is very close to signing a contract for Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine and the first shipment of around 200,000 doses could arrive next week, a Mexican official said on Tuesday.
Australia Records 10th Day Of No Local COVID-19 Cases
Australia recorded a 10th straight day of no new local COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, allowing its most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) to relax coronavirus restrictions after controlling a fast-spreading cluster. NSW has recorded no local cases for 10 days after low single digit numbers earlier in January. Victoria state, which is hosting the Australia Open tennis tournament, has gone three weeks without a local case.
Thane Records 255 New COVID-19 Cases, 5 More Deaths
The COVID-19 case count in Thane district of Maharashtra has gone up to 2,52,463 with the detection of 255 new cases,an official said on Wednesday. The viral infection also claimed lives of five more people, taking the death toll in the district to 6,127. Currently, the COVID-19 death rate in the district is 2.43 per cent, the official said.
12,689 Fresh COVID-19 Cases In India
India's COVID-19 tally mounted to 1,06,89,527 with 12,689 new cases in a day, while 1,03,59,305 people have recuperated from the infection so far pushing the national recovery rate to 96.91 per cent on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry's data.
Why Scientists Think UK Variant of Coronavirus Could be Deadlier
The announcement that the coronavirus strain sweeping Britain could be more deadly, as well as more transmissible, has raised fresh concerns about the variant that has spread to dozens of countries. Initially, British experts said that their evidence suggested the new strain circulating in the UK -- one of several to have emerged internationally in recent months -- was between 50 percent and 70 percent more transmissible.
100 Million Cases Worldwide, As US Seeks To Reset Its Covid Fight
More than 100 million Covid-19 cases have now been recorded worldwide, according to an AFP tally on Tuesday, as newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden pledged to ramp up the United States's struggling vaccine program. The number of cases, compiled from data provided by national health agencies, represents just a fraction of the real infections as the coronavirus has spread around the globe.
Ex-AIADMK Leader VK Sasikala To Be Freed From Jail After 4 Years Today
Former AIADMK leader VK Sasikala will be freed today from Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Prison after spending four years in jail in a corruption case. Ms Sasikala, a former aide of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, will remain in the hospital as she is being treated for the coronavirus infection.
UK's Death Count From Covid Crosses One Lakh Mark
The UK on Tuesday hit another grim COVID-19 milestone as the country's death count from the deadly virus crossed 100,000 since the peak of the pandemic last year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) assessment of death certificate data reveals that there have been nearly 104,000 deaths since last year. The UK government's daily death count figures rely on positive coronavirus tests in the past 28 days and are therefore slightly lower, at 98,531.
Coronavirus: Over 19.5 Lakh People Vaccinated Against Covid In India: Centre
The number of beneficiaries vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country had crossed 19.5 lakh till the evening of Monday, the 10th day of the nationwide immunisation drive, the health ministry said. A total of 19,50,183 beneficiaries were inoculated in 35,785 sessions till 7.10 pm on Monday, including 3,34,679 in 7,171 sessions during the day, the ministry said, adding that the final report would be compiled by late in the night.