Coronavirus Vaccination Highlights: India's total active number of Covid cases has seen a sharp decline.
India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,08,92,746 with 12,143 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries crossed 1.06 crore, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.
The death count increased to 1,55,550 with 103 daily new fatalities, data updated at 8 am showed.
Meanwhile, The second dose of the Covid vaccine will be administered today to those who took the first shot on Day 1 of the nationwide inoculation drive on January 16. AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria and NITI Aayog's VK Paul, who were among the first to take the jab, are expected to receive the second shot, which needs to be taken 28 days after the first one.
Over 77 lakh healthcare and frontline workers have received the first dose of the vaccine till Friday, the government said, adding that 97 per cent people of the beneficiaries are "satisfied". India has set a target of inoculating 30 crore people against COVID-19 by July.
Here are the Highlights:
Farmers' Protest: Republic Day Violence Aimed At Discrediting Farmers' Stir, Says Sharad PawarNationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar cited "complaints" to claim that people close to the ruling party were associated with the January 26 violence during a tractor rally in New Delhi, which he said was aimed at "discrediting" the stir. Mr Pawar slammed the Narendra Modi government for not considering the demands of the agitating farmers who have been demanding scrapping of the three contentious agri marketing laws.
"Farmers from Haryana, Punjab and UP have been protesting peacefully (at Delhi borders). No farmer took law into hands. One incident (of January 26) happened to discredit the ongoing agitation. Farmers were not involved. As per complaints, those associated with the violence were close to the ruling party," he alleged.
Iran sees risk of fourth COVID wave fed by mutant virusIran's health minister warned on Saturday of a fourth COVID-19 surge with the possible spread of a mutated virus in the worst-hit country in the Middle East.
President Hassan Rouhani told state television "alarm bells were ringing for a fourth coronavirus wave" as at least nine cities and towns in Iran's southwest were declared high-risk "red" zones after a rise in cases on Friday.
"Hard days are beginning for us and you must prepare to fight the most uncontrollable mutated virus which is unfortunately infecting the country," health minister Saeed Namaki told heads of medical colleges in a meeting carried live on state TV.
Over 84,800 vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday: Health MinistryHealth Ministry has said that over 84,800 vaccinations against COVID-19 were carried out on Saturday and over 80 lakh vaccinations have so far been done in the country. Joint Secretary in Union Health Ministry Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari said that second dose vaccination started from February 13 for the beneficiaries who have completed 28 days after receiving the first dose of vaccine.
"Till 6pm today, a total of 80,52,454 vaccinations have been carried out. 84,807 vaccinations (provisional figure) done today till 6pm," he said.
High-level judicial inquiry should be ordered into Jan 26 violence and cases against farmers: Farmer unionsProtesting farmer unions on Saturday demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the violence that took place during the tractor rally in Delhi on January 26 and the alleged ''false" cases slapped on the farmers.
Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border, Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders asked farmers who are getting police notices not to appear before the force directly and, instead, approach the legal cell constituted by the unions for any assistance.
Kuldeep Singh, a member of SKM's legal cell, alleged that a retired judge of the Supreme Court or high court should probe the incidents to unravel the "conspiracy" behind the January 26 violence and the alleged "false cases" against the farmers.
According to SKM leaders, 16 farmers who had participated in the tractor parade are still untraceable.
PM's parasite reference has deeply hurt farmers: Union leadersPrime Minister Narendra Modi referring to farmers as "parasites" has deeply hurt the farming community, leaders of unions protesting against the Centre's agriculture laws said on Saturday.
They also called on the farming community to respond to the "diplomatic abuses" with "diplomatic punishment" by rejecting the government.
The remarks came as farmer leaders Darshan Pal, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Rakesh Tikait of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha held an interaction with the press at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.
The farmer leaders also announced that on Sunday torch processions and candle marches will be organised across the country to pay homage to the soldiers who have laid down their lives in line of action and the farmers who have died during the ongoing stir on the Delhi borders since November.
Avian flu: 151 birds found dead in Maharashtra, samples being tested
A total of 151 birds were found dead in Maharashtra on Friday amid the avian influenza scare and samples have been sent for tests, a state animal husbandry department official said on Saturday. These include 134 poultry birds from Buldana, Amravati and Jalgaon, he said.
India vaccinates close to 8 million beneficiaries against COVID-19 in 28 days
India has vaccinated close to 80 lakh beneficiaries in its fight against COVID-19, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Saturday.
"Till 8:00 AM 13 February, 79,67,647 beneficiaries have received the vaccination under the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination exercise. Out of these, 5,909,136 are health care workers and 2,058,511 are front line workers. A total of 1,64,781 sessions have been conducted so far," said MoHFW in an official statement.
On February 12, which is day 28 of the vaccination drive, 4,62,637 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 10,411 sessions.
Second dose of COVID-19 vaccination for begins in Tamil NaduThe second dose of COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers in Tamil Nadu commenced on Saturday, 28 days after they took the first shot, with a senior official saying that it would soon be available to members of the public.
Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, who inspected the administering of the second dose to healthcare workers at the Government Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, said the vaccination drive would soon be extended to the public.
Speaking to reporters, he said nearly 2,27,340 people, including 1.9 lakh health workers, 19,405 frontline workers and 9,789 police personnel have so far been vaccinated.
"One need not have any apprehensions over the vaccine being administered. We have given time till February 17 for the frontline workers to register.
Delhi Police chief reviews arrangements at border points in view of farmers' protestDelhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava on Saturday reviewed the law and order situation and arrangements at various borders points of the national capital in view of the agitation by farmers protesting the three agri laws, officials said.
During the crime review meeting held with senior officers of the force, the police chief also took stock of action taken against criminals involved in burglary, and other cases related to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), Excise Act and gambling, they said.
To reduce such crime, Mr Shrivastava stressed the need to take effective and sustained steps.
He insisted on carrying out regular checking of listed criminals, including jail/bail/parole released, temporal and special analysis of crime incidents as well as optimal use of available human resources and technology.
COVID-19: Philippines logs 1,960 new cases, more cases of variants detected
The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported on Saturday 1,960 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 547,255.
The death count climbed to 11,507 after 12 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. It added 133 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 500,781.
The Philippines, with a population of 110 million, has tested over 7.77 million people since the disease emerged in January last year.
The DOH has confirmed the detection of 19 additional COVID-19 cases for the more contagious coronavirus variant first found in Britain, raising the number of cases in the country to 44.
No Fresh COVID-19 Case In Andamans
No new COVID-19 case was reported in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Saturday, a health official said. Two more people have recovered from the disease, he said. The Union territory's caseload stood at 5,007, of which 11 are active cases, while 4,934 people have recovered
from the disease and 62 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, the official said.
Russia Registers 14,861 New COVID-19 Cases
Russia registered 14,861 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, down from 15,089 the day before, taking the overall tally to 4,057,698, the coronavirus response center said on Saturday. "Over the past day, 14,861 coronavirus cases were confirmed across 85 regions, including 1,595 cases (10.7 per cent) that were detected actively, with people showing no clinical symptoms," the center said, adding that the cumulative case count has now reached 4,057,698, with the rate of increase at 0.37 per cent.
Russia Registers 14,861 New COVID-19 Cases
Russia registered 14,861 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, down from 15,089 the day before, taking the overall tally to 4,057,698, the coronavirus response center said on Saturday. "Over the past day, 14,861 coronavirus cases were confirmed across 85 regions, including 1,595 cases (10.7 per cent) that were detected actively, with people showing no clinical symptoms," the center said, adding that the cumulative case count has now reached 4,057,698, with the rate of increase at 0.37 per cent.
Iran's Tally Of COVID-19 Cases Surpasses 1.5 Million
Iran's health ministry reported 7,298 daily COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising the total nationwide infections to 1,503,753. The pandemic has so far claimed 58,809 lives in Iran, up by 58 in the past 24 hours, said Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
59 New Cases Push Odisha's COVID-19 Tally To 3,36,101
Odisha's COVID-19 tally mounted to 3,36,101 on Saturday as 59 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Half of the state's 30 districts did not report any fresh case, he said. Thirty-four new cases were reported in quarantine centres, while 25 infections were detected during contact tracing, the official said.
COVID-19: Maharashtra 2nd Round Of Vaccination To Start From February 15
The Maharashtra government will start giving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to the healthcare workers in the state from February 15, an official said on Saturday. Those healthcare workers, who have received their first dose of the vaccine and completed the four-week period, will be eligible for the second dose as per the standard guidelines laid down by central health ministry, the official from the state health department.
No New Deaths Due To COVID-19 Reported In 17 States: Health Ministry
The distribution of daily deaths among states and union territories in a span of 24 hours reflects a significant decline, with 17 of them not reporting any new COVID-19 fatality, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday. A total of 17 states and union territories that have not reported any new deaths in the last 24 hours are Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Ladakh, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tripura, Lakshadweep, Arunachal Pradesh and Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. While a total of 13 states and UTs have reported between 1-5 new deaths due to COVID-19.
France Recommends Single Vaccine Dose For People Who Have Had Covid
France on Friday recommended that people who have already recovered from Covid-19 infection receive a single vaccine dose, becoming the first country to issue such advice. Its public health authority said that people who had previously been infected with Covid-19 develop an immune response similar to that bestowed by a vaccine dose, and that a single dose after infection would likely suffice.
Puducherry Adds 24 Fresh Cases To Its COVID-19 Tally
No fresh fatality was reported from any of the four regions in the union territory and the number of fatalities remained 656.
Top US Health Body Says Schools Can Re-Open, Issues Covid Guidelines
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday issued new guidelines urging schools to reopen safely and as soon as possible, while offering a detailed plan for limiting the spread of Covid-19. The strategy emphasizes universal masking, handwashing, and disinfection, as well as contact tracing, but spent relatively little time on the subject of ventilation, despite this being the virus' main transmission route.
No Fresh COVID-19 Case In Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh has not reported any fresh COVID-19 case on Saturday, a senior health official said. The state's caseload stands at 16,832, of which five are active cases, while 16,771 people have recovered from the disease and 56 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
COVID-19: 151 New Cases In Telangana
Telangana recorded 151 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the total caseload to over 2.96 lakh even as the toll due to the infection remained 1614. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 31, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri with 13 and 11 respectively, a government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 pm on February 12.
12,143 New Coronavirus Cases In India
India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,08,92,746 with 12,143 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries crossed 1.06 crore, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The death count increased to 1,55,550 with 103 daily new fatalities, data updated at 8 am showed.
Covid Vaccine Booster Shot Today For Those Who Took 1st Dose 28 Days Ago
The second dose of the Covid vaccine will be administered today to those who took the first shot on Day 1 of the nationwide inoculation drive on January 16. AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria and NITI Aayog's VK Paul, who were among the first to take the jab, are expected to receive the second shot, which needs to be taken 28 days after the first one.
Read Here Coronavirus Expected To Last Long-Term Despite Global Vaccine Rollout
The head of the EU's disease control agency warned Friday that the novel coronavirus could last indefinitely even as global infections slowed by nearly half in the last month and vaccine rollouts gathered pace in parts of the world.
Melbourne Starts Five-Day Virus Lockdown
Australia's second-most populous state Victoria entered a five-day lockdown on Saturday as authorities raced to prevent a third wave of COVID-19 cases sparked by the highly infections UK variant. One new locally acquired case was confirmed in the past 24 hours, Victoria health authorities said on Saturday, taking the number of active cases in the state to 20.
2,072 Indians Died Due To Covid Abroad: Government
A total of 2,072 Indians died due to the coronavirus in various countries with the highest death count of 906 being reported in Saudi Arabia followed by 375 in the United Arab Emirates, the government said on Thursday.
"All Hypotheses Remain Open" On Covid Origins: WHO Chief
The head of the World Health Organization said Friday that all hypotheses on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic remained on the table, following an investigation mission in China. The WHO's mission to Wuhan, where the first cases were identified, failed to identify the source of the virus but poured cold water on the theory that it leaked from the city's virology laboratory.
Sent 229 Lakh Covid Vaccine Doses To Other Countries: Foreign Ministry
India provided over 229 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines to various countries out of which 64 lakh doses have been supplied as grant assistance and 165 lakh on commercial basis, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Coronavirus could last indefinitely despite global vaccine rollout: EU officialThe head of the EU's disease control agency warned Friday that the novel coronavirus could last indefinitely even as global infections slowed by nearly half in the last month and vaccine rollouts gathered pace in parts of the world.
ECDC chief Andrea Ammon urged European countries in particular not to drop their guard against a virus that "seems very well adapted to humans" and may require experts to tweak vaccines over time, as is the case for the seasonal flu. "So we should be prepared that it will remain with us," according to Ammon, head of the Stockholm-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
US firm Moderna wants to pack 50% more Covid vaccine per vialUS biotech firm Moderna said Friday it was seeking clearance with regulators around the world to put 50 percent more coronavirus vaccine into each of its vials as a way to quickly boost current supply levels.
The company issued a statement after The New York Times first reported the US Food and Drug Administration had already cleared it to increase levels by 40 percent. "In order to better maximize resources as well as maximize opportunities to deliver more doses into each market faster, Moderna has proposed filling vials with up to 15 doses of vaccine versus the previous 10 doses," a spokesperson said.