4 years ago
New Delhi:
India's coronavirus vaccination drive will begin on January 16, the government said Saturday evening, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Priority will be given to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers, estimated to be around three crore in number, the government said, adding that they would be followed by 27 crore people consisting of those above 50 years of age and then those under 50 with co-morbidities.
The government had earlier approved two vaccines for emergency use in the country - Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Covishield, which was developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and is being manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India.
Meanwhile, India has recorded more than 1.04 crore coronavirus cases till now, according to official figures. On Saturday, 18,222 new cases were reported, marginally higher than yesterday.1.5 lakh deaths have been reported in the country so far.
Here are today's LIVE Updates:
Cuba to test Covid vaccine candidate in Iran
Cuba will test its most advanced Covid vaccine candidate, in Iran, the research center that developed it announced on Saturday.
State-run Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV) and the Pasteur Institute of Iran signed an agreement in Havana that will see a Phase 3 clinical trial in Iran, to "move forward faster in immunization against Covid-19 in both countries," the IFV announced on Twitter.
The news came on the heels of Iran's supreme leader on Friday banning the import of American and British-produced vaccines against Covid-19, saying they were "completely untrustworthy."
Rajasthan reports 430 new COVID-19 cases
Rajasthan reported 430 new COVID-19 cases. According to the state health department, the total count of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 3,12,521 including 6,730 active cases.
The state has seen 1,098 new recoveries and total recoveries in the state have gone up to 3,03,060. Four more deaths were reported due to the disease, taking the count to 2,731.
France records 20,177 new COVID-19 cases
France reported 20,177 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its accumulative tally to 2,767,312, according to the country's health authorities.
The COVID-19 death toll in the country rose by 168 in the past day to 67,599, the third-highest in Europe after Britain and Italy, and the seventh in the world, showed data posted on the government's website on epidemic indicators.
As of Saturday, a total of 24,273 COVID-19 patients remain hospitalized, down by 137 from the previous day, while 2,609 patients are in intensive care, 6 fewer than Friday's figure.
Israel records four South African Covid-19 variant cases
Israel's health ministry said Saturday four people had tested positive for the novel coronavirus strain first detected in South Africa, with the new British variant already recorded. The cases were discovered after testing of travellers arriving from South Africa.
The two new strains are more infectious than previous variants of the virus. Amid surging cases, Israel last month reimposed a national lockdown. On Friday it tightened restrictions further as the daily caseload remained high.
UK records over 3 million COVID-19 cases: Report
The United Kingdom became the first country in Western Europe to register over 3 million Covid-19 cases, according to government data.
The UK recorded 59,937 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic to 3,017,409, reported CNN.
The country also crossed 80,000 coronavirus-related deaths, with 1,035 new deaths added to the total in the past 24 hours. The total number of deaths stands at 80,868.
Coronavirus news update: Israeli PM gets second dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday received the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine after becoming the first Israeli to be inoculated last month.
Israel is in the midst of a third nationwide lockdown after seeing a surge in cases despite unleashing one of the worlds fastest vaccination campaigns. The country has given the first of two vaccine doses to nearly 20% of its population, and Netanyahu said Saturday that it has secured enough vaccines to inoculate the whole adult population by the end of March.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Jharkhand's COVID-19 Case Count Rises To 1,16,672
Jharkhand reported 236 new COVID-19 cases, 205 recoveries and two deaths today, as per State Health Department
- ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2021
Total cases: 1,16,672
Total recoveries: 1,14,133
Active cases: 1,494
Death toll: 1,045 pic.twitter.com/ikroFleROg
Farmers' Protest Latest News: Congress To Protest Against Farm Laws Outside Governor Houses On Jan 15
The Congress party on Saturday announced that it will stage protests outside governor houses across the country on January 15 to extend its support to the ongoing farmers' agitation.
"Why the government is not fulfilling its duties towards people? The government is sold out to few capitalists. The Congress party has decided to celebrate ''Kisan Adhikar Diwas'' on January 15 while holding protest and demonstration at district headquarters. We will also organise rallies and after the rallies, we will march towards governor houses across the country. Now, the time has come to listen farmers' voices," said Congress' General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala.
This comes a day after the eighth round of talks between the government and the farmer unions remained inconclusive. The government asked farmer unions to "give an option other than repealing" and the next round of talks is proposed for January 15.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Pope Francis To Have Covid Vaccine As Early As Next Week
Pope Francis said on Saturday he planned to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as early as next week and urged everyone to get a shot, to protect not only their own lives but those of others.
"I believe that ethically everyone should take the vaccine," the Pope said in an interview with TV station Canale 5. "It is an ethical choice because you are gambling with your health, with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others."
Vatican City, the smallest independent county in the world, home to about 450 people including Pope Francis, has said it will shortly launch its own vaccination campaign against the coronavirus.
"Next week," the Pope said, "we will start doing it here, in the Vatican, and I have booked myself in. It must be done."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Britain Tops Three Million Coronavirus Cases
Britain on Saturday said it had recorded over three million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began last year, after the government announced another 59,937 new cases.
The country also recorded another 1,035 fatalities from the virus, taking the total death count to 80,868, one of the highest in Europe alongside Italy.
Farmers' Protest Latest News: Farmers' Leaders Should Discuss With Government And Resolve Stir, Says Ramdas Athawale
The leaders of the farmers' agitation in Delhi should discuss with the Centre on the three farm laws and try to resolve the issue as the government is ready to amend the laws, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said on Saturday.
While the farmers' leaders want the farm laws to be repealed, the government is explaining to them that the new legislations are aimed at helping the farmers' cause, he said.
"Government is also ready to amend the laws. But, the leaders of the farmers are not ready. Therefore, I request all the leaders...on 15th (of January), there is a meeting with (Union Agriculture Minister) Narendra Singh Tomar," he said.
"I have confidence that leaders of the farmers... they should accept the proposal of the Government of India...," he told reporters in Hyderabad.
It is not good for democracy if the laws are repealed as there could be more demands to abolish the laws made by Parliament, he said.
The Centre is ready to make amendments with regard to the laws on the points raised by the leaders of farmers, he said.
Bird Flu Latest News: Delhi's Sanjay Lake, 4 Big Parks Shut After Several Birds Found Dead
Three recreational parks and the famous Sanjay Lake in Delhi were closed by authorities on Saturday amid an avian flu scare in the city as several birds were found dead on their premises in the last couple of days, officials said.
Besides, the popular Hauz Khas Park in south Delhi, which is a huge water body and attracts a large number of crowd every day, has also been shut, they said.
At least 24 crows have been found dead at a district park in south Delhi's Jasola in the past three days and 10 ducks have died at the famous Sanjay Lake, DDA officials said on Saturday.
The DDA, which owns a large number of parks in the city, said authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and parks are being disinfected.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Jordan Approves China's Sinopharm Covid Vaccine
Jordan said on Saturday it has approved China's Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, after giving the Pfizer-BioNTech jab the green light.
"Emergency use of the... Sinopharm vaccine against the novel coronavirus has been authorised," the head of the Jordanian Food and Drug administration, Nizar Mheidat, told state television.
"It is the second vaccine available for use in Jordan, after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine," which Jordan approved in December, he told Al-Mamlaka television.
Health ministry Secretary-General Wael Hayajneh said the first batch of Sinopharm would arrive at midnight Saturday, while an initial consignment of the Pfizer vaccine was due on Monday.
"The kingdom has requested several hundred doses of (Sinopharm) and they will arrive in weekly batches," Hayajneh told Al-Mamlaka television.
Jordan also expects to receive at least 200,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the first quarter of this year, he added.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: UK's Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip Receive Covid Vaccine
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip received Covid-19 vaccinations on Saturday, Buckingham Palace said, in a rare public comment on the private health matters of the long-serving monarch.
"The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have today received Covid-19 vaccinations," a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
A source told Britain's domestic Press Association news agency that the queen, 94, and Philip, 99, were given the injections by a royal household doctor at Windsor Castle.
Farmers' Protest Latest News: Khalsa Aid To Come Up With Night Shelter At Tikri Border
After successfully running a 600-bed full-to-capacity night shelter for farmers putting up at the Singhu border, NGO Khalsa Aid India will now open its second one at the Tikri border on Monday.
The "semi-permanent" shelter, which is claimed to be bigger and better than the one at Singhu, will accommodate over 800 people. It is equipped with mattresses, blankets and pillows.
"German technology was used to make this night shelter. It is semi-permanent and much bigger than the one we have in Singhu presently. Also, for the convenience of farmers who would stay here we have built 100 bathrooms and toilets here," Amarpreet Singh, the director of Khalsa Aid Project (Asia Chapter), told PTI.
Increase in the number of protesters, severe cold and sporadic rains have led to an immediate need of night shelters for protesting farmers, especially the elderly.
According to Singh, one of the major reasons for building a night shelter now was to protect farmers whose personal belongings, including ration and clothes, were destroyed amid the rains this week.
"People who were putting up at the trolleys complained how water got into their vehicles. There was water-logging and many had to work real hard to prevent their belongings from getting soaked," he explained.
Bird Flu Latest News: 4 Lakh Chickens Died In Haryana Poultry Farms In One Month; Glanders Detected In Horses
At a time when avian influenza has been detected in several states, over four lakh chickens have died in Haryana in the last month, JP Dalal, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Fisheries Minister of Haryana said on Saturday.
Samples from two poultry farms in Haryana have tested positive for H5N8 (Bird Flu), Dalal said. He added that as per the guidelines, all birds within a 1 km radius of where the birds tested positive will be culled and buried.
"Over 4 lakh chickens have died here in the past month. We sent samples to the Northern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar. Samples from different poultry farms were also sent to Bhopal. Two of these were found positive for H5N8," Mr Dalal said.
He said that about 1.60 lakh birds in five nearby farms would be culled and Rs 90 per bird will be given as compensation to the owners. Workers at the farms will be monitored and anti-viral tablets will be given to them.
The minister said that another disease, glanders, has been confirmed in horses in Ambala.
"All the mules, donkey and horses in the area have been barred from exiting the area," he said.
Maharashtra Hospital Fire Latest News: Abandoned At Birth, Fire Claimed Baby's Life At Bhandara Hospital
Authorities know the names of the mothers of nine out of ten babies who perished in fire at a state-run hospital in Maharashtra's Bhandara district on early Saturday morning.
One name is missing, as the child had been abandoned at birth.
The new-born baby, a boy, had been found in the remote village of Kesalwada in Lakhanitehsil last week, a district official said. Discovery of an abandoned child also made headlines in local newspapers.
Police registered a case against its unidentified parents and admitted it to local rural hospital. As his condition was critical, he was shifted to Special Newborn Care Unit of Bhandara district hospital, the official said.
When a fire broke out in the hospital in the early hours of Saturday, the staff succeeded in rescuing seven out of 17 babies from the Newborn Care Unit. The boy was not among the lucky ones.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: UK Rolls Out "Act Like You've Got It" Drive Amid "Alarming" Covid Spike
The UK government on Saturday began rolling out a series of stark advertisements as part of a new awareness drive that warns people to "Act like you've got it" because anyone can spread coronavirus, especially the new highly transmissible variant that has seen hospitals being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
The campaign - made up of television, radio and newspaper adverts as well as a social media blitz - comes as the latest daily death count from the deadly virus hit a new peak of 1,325 deaths and infections rose to 68,053 cases. Around one in three people infected with the virus do not have any symptoms and could therefore be passing it on without realising, according to the government's messaging.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to social media to urge people to strictly follow the stay-at-home lockdown as the disease continues to spread at an "alarming rate".
Coronavirus Latest News: French President's Wife Caught Coronavirus Over Christmas
Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, caught the coronavirus over Christmas, her office said Saturday, confirming press reports.
Macron, 67, tested positive on December 24 but presented only light symptoms and was negative six days later, said her office.
She tested positive after her husband President Macron went into isolation for a week after having tested positive himself on December 17.
During that period, she stayed at the official presidential residence, the Elysees palace, while he worked at another residence outside Paris.
His wife's office said that the information regarding her condition was not made public at the time as it had no impact on her public agenda. She had since made a full recovery, they added.
Farmers' Protest Latest News: Protesting Farmers Take Out Tractor Rally In Haryana's Ambala
Farmers protesting against the Centre's three new farm laws took out a protest march on their tractors in Ambala on Saturday, raising slogans against the Union and the state governments.
The farmers gathered at a grain market near the Ambala-Hisar highway in the morning and then marched towards Ambala cantonment, leading to traffic snarls in the city.
Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Harbans Singh Manakpur dubbed the march a rehearsal for the proposed tractor parade of January 26.
He said the protests would continue till the Centre repeals the three farm laws enacted in September last year.
Meanwhile, heavy police force was deployed at the grain market in the wake of the protest march.
National Fire Service College Team To Probe Maharashtra Hospital Fire: State Home Minister
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Saturday said the cause of the fire incident at the Bhandara district hospital in which ten babies died will be investigated by experts from the National Fire Service College (NFSC) and the VINT in Nagpur.
Ten newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit of the hospital in the early hours on Saturday while seven new born babies were rescued.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Deshmukh described the fire incident as unfortunate and heart-wrenching.
"The government has ordered a high-level probe to find out if a short circuit or the air conditioner malfunctioning was the reason. Experts of NFSC and the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) will conduct investigation. It will also be probed whether the fire audit was conducted at the hospital. The guilty will not be spared. The strictest possible action will be taken against the culprits," he said.
Meanwhile, terming the incident as "painful", Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said a stern punitive action will be taken against persons responsible for the blaze.
"The incident is shocking and painful. State health minister Rajesh Tope has gone to Bhandara to take the stock of the situation," Mr Pawar told reporters in Pune.
The deputy chief minister said the state government has decided to give compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the dead babies.
"A detailed inquiry has been ordered into the incident and clear instructions have been given to conduct an audit of all hospitals that are equipped with neonatal intensive care units to prevent a repeat of such incidents," Mr Pawar said.
COVID-19 Vaccine LIVE News: Coronavirus Vaccination Drive In India To Begin On January 16
India's coronavirus vaccination drive will begin on January 16, the government said Saturday evening, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Priority will be given to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers, estimated to be around three crore in number, the government said, adding that they would be followed by 27 crore people consisting of those above 50 years of age and then those under 50 with co-morbidities
Farmers' Protest: Indian Youth Congress To Collect Soil From Villages Of Those Who Dies, Create Map Of India
The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Saturday said it will pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the farmers' movement against the Centre's new agri laws by collecting soil from across the country, especially from towns and villages of farmers who died, and create a map of India with it in the national capital.
Beside paying tribute to the farmers who died, the nationwide campaign, "Ek Mutthi Mitti Shaheddon Ke Naam" has also been launched in support of the farmers'' movement and against the three "black laws" brought by the central government.
"I request everyone to come out and support this campaign and the farmers' movement. We will be travelling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and collect soil from across the country, especially from villages and hometown of the 60 farmers who have lost their lives during the ongoing agitation," said Krishna Allavaru, national in-charge of IYC.
"With that soil, we will create a map of India, the one built on the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and sacrifices made by martyrs who laid their lives during the freedom struggle of India," said Mr Allavaru.
15 States, Union Territories With Covid Positivity Rate Below National Average
A total of 15 states and Union Territories have a cumulative COVID-19 positivity rate below the national average of 5.79 per cent with Bihar having the lowest positivity rate of 1.44 per cent, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.
Over 18 crore total COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the country till date with over 9 lakh tests in the past 24 hours alone, the Health ministry said in a statement around noon.
It said India's Tests per Million (TPM) stand at 1,30,618.3. "With the increase in testing infrastructure, the TPM has also increased exponentially."
The Health ministry said 15 states and UTs have a positivity rate less than the national average with Bihar having the lowest positivity rate at 1.44 per cent.
The 15 states and UTs are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Assam, Punjab, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Odisha, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.
Foreign Companies Not Allowed To Test Covid Vaccines On Iranians: President
Foreign companies will not be allowed to test COVID-19 vaccines on the Iranian people, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday, a day after Iran's Supreme Leader banned vaccine imports from the United States and Britain.
"Foreign companies wanted to give us vaccines so they would be tested on the Iranian people. But the health ministry prevented it," Rouhani said in televised remarks, without naming the companies or giving further details.
"Our people will not be a testing device for vaccine manufacturing companies," he added. "We shall purchase safe foreign vaccines."
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, said on Friday the U.S. and Britain were "untrustworthy" and possibly sought to spread the infection to other countries.
Iran could obtain vaccines from other reliable places, he added, without giving details. China and Russia are both allies of Iran, the Middle East country hardest hit by the coronavirus.
Fire Personnel's Swift Action Saved 7 Babies In Maharashtra Hospital Fire: Minister
Swift actions of Fire Brigade personnel and security guards at the Bhandara district hospital in Maharashtra saved the lives of seven babies admitted at the Special Newborn Care Unit following a fire incident on early Saturday, but unfortunately ten other babies were not that lucky.
Sharing this information with reporters at Nagpur airport, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh also said that experts at the National Fire College and the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) in Nagpur are investigating the cause of the fire.
"Security guards and fire brigade personnel immediately sprang to action and rescued seven babies from the hospital ward," he said, adding that the guilty will not be spared.
Speaking to reporters, former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said security guards used a ladder to rescue the seven babies.
"It seems the fire erupted after a spark in the air conditioner (of the hospital ward). Fortunately, seven babies were saved as security guards rescued them using a ladder," he said.
China tightens virus restrictions on new cluster ahead of Lunar New Year
Two Chinese cities south of Beijing further tightened virus restrictions Saturday and issued week-long stay at home orders to residents as authorities race to stamp out a resurgence in infections.
China has largely brought its domestic outbreak under control after the coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019 but a spike in Hebei province, bordering Beijing, has sparked fresh lockdowns ahead of the Lunar New Year next month.
Hebei has reported over 130 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the past week, with more than 200 more asymptomatic infections.
Most of the cases were in Shijiazhuang city, which along with its surrounding areas is home to 11 million people. Several other infections were reported in neighbouring Xingtai city, home to 7 million.
Two Chinese cities south of Beijing further tightened virus restrictions Saturday and issued week-long stay at home orders to residents as authorities race to stamp out a resurgence in infections.
China has largely brought its domestic outbreak under control after the coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019 but a spike in Hebei province, bordering Beijing, has sparked fresh lockdowns ahead of the Lunar New Year next month.
Hebei has reported over 130 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the past week, with more than 200 more asymptomatic infections.
Most of the cases were in Shijiazhuang city, which along with its surrounding areas is home to 11 million people. Several other infections were reported in neighbouring Xingtai city, home to 7 million.
New Covid-19 variant found in eight US states: Official data
The B117 coronavirus strain, which emerged in Britain late last year, has been shown to be between 40 and 70 percent more contagious than variants which have spread previously.
Data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed Friday that the strain -- first reported in the US last week -- has been detected in eight states, with California and Florida the worst affected.
The strain has also been found in Colorado, Texas, New York, Georgia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, in a total of 63 cases.
Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told Newsweek on Wednesday that the variant may be "more widespread in the United States than we are currently detecting it to be".
A new, more infectious strain of the coronavirus has now spread to at least eight US states, official data showed Friday, as the country logged a record new daily virus caseload.
The B117 coronavirus strain, which emerged in Britain late last year, has been shown to be between 40 and 70 percent more contagious than variants which have spread previously.
Data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed Friday that the strain -- first reported in the US last week -- has been detected in eight states, with California and Florida the worst affected.
The strain has also been found in Colorado, Texas, New York, Georgia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, in a total of 63 cases.
Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told Newsweek on Wednesday that the variant may be "more widespread in the United States than we are currently detecting it to be".
Farmers Protest Live: Mayawati demands repeal of farm laws
After several rounds of talks between the Centre and farmers remained inconclusive, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday demanded that the government should revoke the new farm laws.
After several rounds of talks between the Centre and farmers remained inconclusive, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday demanded that the government should revoke the new farm laws.
"Discussions between the central government and farmers who have been protesting on the borders of Delhi for a long time once again failed. It is a matter of extreme concern. The Centre is again requested to accept the demand of farmers to withdraw the new agricultural laws and solve this problem soon," Mayawati tweeted.
After talks between the Central Government and farmers' union leaders held at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Friday remained inconclusive, as the farmers remained adamant on their demand for the repeal the three farm laws, it was decided that the next round of talks will be held on January 15.
Cases Of People Infected With UK Coronavirus Strain In India Rise To 90
Across the country, 18,222 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours took the tally to 1,04,31,639; 228 deaths took the total number of deaths linked to the disease to 1,50,798. The active caseload, however, is 2,24,190; more than 1 crore people have already recovered.
The surge in the number of patients with the new strain comes as India waits for the vaccine rollout after Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Pune-based Serum Institute of India's Covishield were cleared for emergency use by the drug regulator DCGI last Sunday. The government carried out the third vaccine dry run across the country yesterday to check the preparedness.
Ninety people in India have so far contracted the new strain of coronavirus, which was first detected in the United Kingdom in September, the Health Ministry said this today. Eight of these cases of the mutant strain - believed to be more infectious - are new, the data shows.
The surge in the number of patients with the new strain comes as India waits for the vaccine rollout after Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Pune-based Serum Institute of India's Covishield were cleared for emergency use by the drug regulator DCGI last Sunday. The government carried out the third vaccine dry run across the country yesterday to check the preparedness.
China ready to receive WHO experts to probe COVID-19 origin but still silent on timeline
Chinese experts are waiting for their WHO counterparts, he said.
China is ready to receive a WHO expert team to probe the origin of COVID-19 and has reached a consensus with the UN's top health agency, a senior Chinese official said on Saturday, but gave no specific timeline for the visit.
The exact time on when the WHO expert team will arrive in Wuhan, where the virus emerged in December last, and investigate into the coronavirus origin is still under negotiation, Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, told a press conference.
China and the World Health Organisation have reached a consensus on specific arrangements of the investigation with four video conferences, Zeng was quoted as saying by state-run Global Times.
Goa Chief Minister Condoles Deaths of infant in Maharashtra fire
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday expressed grief over the death of ten infants in a fire incident at a government hospital in Maharashtra.
Ten babies, aged between one month and three months, died after a fire broke out in the special newborn care unit of the hospital in Maharashtra''s Bhandra district in the early hours on Saturday, doctors said.
RT-PCR test compulsory for air travellers both in UK, India
With flights resuming operation from the United Kingdom amid the scare of the new Covid-19 strain, passengers will have to undergo an RT-PCR test both in the UK before boarding their flight and after arriving in India.
In a set of passenger advisory guidelines, the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Friday said that passengers will have to upload their negative RT-PCR test report via ''Air Suvidha Portal'' on the airport's official website before boarding in the UK.
"The RT-PCR must be conducted within 72 hours before undertaking the journey," the guidelines stated, adding that passengers taking the test at the Airport will have to shell out Rs 3,400 for a test and lounge.
With flights resuming operation from the United Kingdom amid the scare of the new Covid-19 strain, passengers will have to undergo an RT-PCR test both in the UK before boarding their flight and after arriving in India.
In a set of passenger advisory guidelines, the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Friday said that passengers will have to upload their negative RT-PCR test report via ''Air Suvidha Portal'' on the airport's official website before boarding in the UK.
"The RT-PCR must be conducted within 72 hours before undertaking the journey," the guidelines stated, adding that passengers taking the test at the Airport will have to shell out Rs 3,400 for a test and lounge.
2 deaths, 298 new COVID-19 cases in Telangana
Telangana registered 298 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the total caseload to 2.89 lakh, while the count surged to 1,563 with two more fatalities.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 61, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 28 and 25 respectively, a state government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 PM on January 8.
The cumulative recovered cases stood at 2,83,048, while 4,822 were under treatment.
Telangana registered 298 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the total caseload to 2.89 lakh, while the count surged to 1,563 with two more fatalities.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 61, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 28 and 25 respectively, a state government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 PM on January 8.
The cumulative recovered cases stood at 2,83,048, while 4,822 were under treatment.
Deeply saddened by death of infants in Maharashtra hospital fire, says President
Ten babies, aged between one month and three months, died after a fire broke out in the special newborn care unit of the hospital in Maharashtra''s Bhandra district in the early hours on Saturday, doctors said.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said he was deeply saddened by the death of infants in a fire incident at a government hospital in Maharashtra and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the affected families.
India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines: PM Modi
"Today India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines. World not only waiting for Indian vaccines for COVID-19 but also looking at how it rolls out largest vaccination programme in world, said PM Narendra Modi at 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention
"Today India is ready to save humanity with two 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines. World not only waiting for Indian vaccines for COVID-19 but also looking at how it rolls out largest vaccination programme in world, said PM Narendra Modi at 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention
China says WHO visit preparations ongoing
China confirmed Saturday that preparations were still ongoing for a World Health Organization mission to Wuhan to investigate the origins of Covid-19, following a rare rebuke from the UN body over a delay to the long-planned trip.
The comments came after the WHO chief said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that Beijing had yet to finalise permission even as the team of experts had begun travelling to China to explore the beginnings of the virus, which first emerged late last year in the central city.
On Saturday, National Health Commission vice minister Zeng Yixin told reporters: "The specific time is being determined, and we are ready here."
"As long as these experts complete the procedures and confirm their schedule, we will go to Wuhan together to carry out investigations," he said.
China confirmed Saturday that preparations were still ongoing for a World Health Organization mission to Wuhan to investigate the origins of Covid-19, following a rare rebuke from the UN body over a delay to the long-planned trip.
The comments came after the WHO chief said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that Beijing had yet to finalise permission even as the team of experts had begun travelling to China to explore the beginnings of the virus, which first emerged late last year in the central city.
On Saturday, National Health Commission vice minister Zeng Yixin told reporters: "The specific time is being determined, and we are ready here."
"As long as these experts complete the procedures and confirm their schedule, we will go to Wuhan together to carry out investigations," he said.
Just In | 18,222 new cases in India, marginally higher than yesterday; 1.04 crore cases so far, 1.5 lakh deaths
PM Modi expresses grief over death of newborn babies in Maharashtra hospital fire
Ten newborn babies died after fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit of a hospital in Maharashtra in the early hours on Saturday, doctors said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief at a tragic fire incident in a Maharashtra hospital in which 10 newborn babies died.
"Heart-wrenching tragedy in Bhandara, Maharashtra, where we have lost precious young lives. My thoughts are with all the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover as early as possible," PM Modi tweeted.
Jharkhand reports 207 new COVID-19 cases, two more deaths
Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,16,436 as 207 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said on Saturday.
The death count increased to 1,043 after two persons from Ranchi and Dhanbad succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, he said.
Ranchi district registered the maximum number of fresh cases at 102, followed by Dhanbad at 29 and East Singhbhum at 17.
Jharkhand now has 1,465 active cases, while 1,13,928 people have been cured of the disease so far, the official said.
China to provide COVID-19 vaccines free of charge: Official
China will provide COVID-19 vaccines free of charge once they become available to general public, government authorities said on Saturday.At a press event in Beijing, Zheng Zhongwei, an official with China's National Health Commission, told reporters that while manufacturing and transport of vaccines does have costs, the government will still be able to provide vaccines for free to individuals.
"Our people don't have to pay a single cent for the vaccine," said Zheng.China has administered more than 9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, National Health Commission official Zeng Yixin added during the briefing.
Brazil asks India to expedite vaccine shipment as delays loom
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite a shipment of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine amid broader delays to the vaccine's arrival in Brazil, according to a letter on Friday.
Bolsonaro's letter, released by his press office, comes amid growing pressure to speed up Brazil's vaccine rollout and end the world's second-deadliest coronavirus outbreak. Critics say the immunization campaign is running behind regional peers, and they question why the government has not moved more quickly.
"To enable the immediate implementation of our National Immunization Program, I would appreciate ... the supply to Brazil, with the possible urgency and without jeopardizing the Indian vaccination program, of 2 million doses," Bolsonaro wrote in the letter, shared by his press office.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite a shipment of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine amid broader delays to the vaccine's arrival in Brazil, according to a letter on Friday.
Bolsonaro's letter, released by his press office, comes amid growing pressure to speed up Brazil's vaccine rollout and end the world's second-deadliest coronavirus outbreak. Critics say the immunization campaign is running behind regional peers, and they question why the government has not moved more quickly.
"To enable the immediate implementation of our National Immunization Program, I would appreciate ... the supply to Brazil, with the possible urgency and without jeopardizing the Indian vaccination program, of 2 million doses," Bolsonaro wrote in the letter, shared by his press office.
Over 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China's CNBG administered in emergency use
More than 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China National Biotec Group (CNBG) have been administered as of January 4 via China's emergency use program, the company's parent firm said.
Two vaccines respectively from two institutes owned by CNBG, a unit of state-backed China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), are included in China's emergency vaccination scheme, which was officially started in July targeting specific groups of people facing a high infection risk.
Most COVID-19 Patients Have At Least One Symptom After 6 Months: StudyMore than three quarters of people hospitalised with Covid-19 still suffered from at least one symptom after six months, according to a study published Saturday that scientists said shows the need for further investigation into lingering coronavirus effects.
Joe Biden blasts coronavirus vaccine rollout in US as "travesty"
US President-elect Joe Biden slammed the Trump administration's distribution of Covid-19 vaccine as a "travesty." "Vaccines give us hope, but the roll-out has been a travesty," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware.
He said distribution of the vaccine would be "the greatest operational challenge we will ever face as a nation."
Two Chinese cities sealed off to squash virus outbreak
China has sealed off two cities south of Beijing, cutting transport links and banning millions of residents from leaving, as authorities move to stem the country's largest Covid-19 outbreak in six months.
The pandemic has so far broadly been brought to heel by Chinese authorities since its emergence in Wuhan in late 2019, with small outbreaks swiftly snuffed out using mass testing, local lockdowns and travel restrictions.
But Hebei province in northern China has seen 127 new Covid-19 cases, plus an additional 183 asymptomatic infections, in the past week. The vast majority were found in Shijiazhuang, a city of several million in Hebei province whose surrounding areas take the total population to 11 million. Nine confirmed cases were in the neighbouring city of Xingtai, whose area covers 7 million people.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Gets Coronavirus Vaccine DoseSaudi Arabia's King Salman on Thursday received a Covid-19 vaccine jab, more than three weeks after the kingdom kicked off a three-phase inoculation programme, official media said.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Second dry run for Covid vaccine conducted
A second dry run to check the best way to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and plug loopholes in logistics and training took place across 737 districts in the country on Friday. The first massive dry run was held on January 2. The day-long exercise tested the operational feasibility of the CoWIN application in a field environment.
A second dry run to check the best way to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and plug loopholes in logistics and training took place across 737 districts in the country on Friday. The first massive dry run was held on January 2. The day-long exercise tested the operational feasibility of the CoWIN application in a field environment.
