Latest News Highlights: The government hopes to vaccinate 30 crore people by August in second phase.
India today expanded the nationwide vaccination against the coronavirus, opening registerations for people above 60 years and those aged 45 in the second phase of the inoculation drive which began on January 16.
Citizens will be able to register and book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the Co-WIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Arogya Setu.
With 15,510 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,11,12,241, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,07,86,457, the Union health ministry said on Monday.
The death count due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,57,157 in the country with 106 more fatalities reported in a 24-hour period, the ministry's data updated at 8 am showed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today tweeted to say that he took first dose of coronavirus vaccine at Delhi's premier All India Institutes of Medical Sciences.
"Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19," PM Modi tweeted as he shared an image of himself taking first dose of the vaccine.
Here are the Latest News Highlights:
Trumps Vaccinated Against Covid Before Leaving White House: AdvisorDonald Trump and his wife, Melania, were vaccinated against the coronavirus in January before leaving the White House, an advisor to the former president said on Monday.
"President Trump and the first lady were vaccinated at the White House in January," the advisor said without providing any further details.
Joe Biden, who took over as president on January 20, was vaccinated publicly against the coronavirus on December 21 but the Trumps' vaccinations had not been revealed previously.
Trump, in a speech on Sunday, his first since leaving the White House, said everyone should get vaccinated against Covid-19, which has left more than 500,000 people dead in the United States.
COVID-19 Vaccine Makers Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech Targeted by Chinese Hackers: CyfirmaA Chinese state-backed hacking group has in recent weeks targeted the IT systems of two Indian vaccine makers whose coronavirus shots are being used in the country's immunisation campaign, cyber intelligence firm Cyfirma told Reuters. India produces more than 60 percent of all vaccines sold in the world. Goldman Sachs-backed Cyfirma, based in Singapore and Tokyo, said Chinese hacking group APT10, also known as Stone Panda, had identified gaps and vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure and supply chain software of Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine maker.
French Ambassador Visits Bharat Biotech Facility In HyderabadFrench Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain on Monday visited Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and said that he was impressed by the company's commitment of making Covid-19 vaccine "a global public good, accessible and affordable throughout the world."
During his visit, Mr Lenain met the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Krishna Ella and Gavi board member Mahima Datla.
"Glad to visit @BharatBiotech and meet CEO Dr. Krishna Ella - on the day PM @narendramodi was inoculated," Mr Lenain wrote in a tweet.
Pfizer, Oxford Covid Vaccines "Highly Effective" In Elderly: UK Study
The Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines have been "highly effective" in reducing coronavirus infections and severe illness among elderly people in Britain, with a more than 80 percent reduction in hospitalisation, official data showed Monday.
In the over 80s, a single dose of either vaccine is more than 80 percent effective at preventing hospitalisation around three to four weeks after the jab, according to a Public Health England real-world study that has gathered data since January.
The study comes as France and Germany consider reversing their refusal to authorise the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65 due to concerns of its efficacy.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed the new study as "extremely good news".
Brazil Seeks India's Support For Its Space ProgrammeUnion minister Jitendra Singh on Monday discussed with Brazilian Science, Technology and Innovation minister Marcos Pontes ways to further explore space cooperation between the two countries, including India's support in procurement of material and systems for Brazil's launch vehicle programme, a statement said.
Cooperation possibilities in future space science missions, utilising ISRO's PS4 orbital platform, space weather studies were also discussed in the virtual meeting, it added.
The meeting took place a day after the successful launch of Amazonia-1 satellite of Brazil by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday.
"The collaboration between the two countries mark a beginning of robust bonding and is a role model for other countries to follow," Mr Singh said, adding that the launch also marked the first dedicated mission of ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL).
"Nobody Should Relax Just Because Vaccine Is Here": Harsh Vardhan To NDTV
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Monday night warned people against letting down their guard because of the rollout of coronavirus vaccines. He urged them to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour for "at least a few months" to stop the virus' chain of transmission.
"People should not be complacent thinking that the vaccine is there and that cases are reducing. We can't relax. We can't forget about it at least for a few months," Dr Vardhan told NDTV.
The cautionary note comes amid a spike in cases in a few states - most notably in Maharashtra, where over 6,300 infections were reported over the past 24 hour, and over 8,000 in each of the five previous days - and concerns over mutated strains of the virus spreading through India.
No Issue In Co-WIN, "Walk-In Systems" To Be Streamlined: Harsh VardhanHealth Minister Harsh Vardhan today said that in the next few days, the "walk-in system" for people will be further streamlined in states to ensure smooth functioning.
"We have given some relaxation to state governments. In the next few days, the walk-in system will be streamlined, a provision is in place for this. A certain number of people can go to the centres after taking appointments through booking," Dr Vardhan said.
Reassuring that the Co-WIN portal is functioning without any issues, the union minister said that: "there are many people in the country who can't access or face difficulties in booking. All these systems will be streamlined within one week. As of now, there is no issue in the Co-WIN portal."
On the recent spike in cases especially in Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said that there is no link in the increase in cases and the mutation of the virus. "Scientists and Indian Council of Medical Research, (ICMR) confirmed that these have no link to any mutation," Dr Vardhan said.
No Deaths Occurred Due To Covid-19 Vaccination: Harsh VardhanUnion Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday stated that no death has occurred due to Covid-19 vaccination in the country so far.
Talking about the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines, he said to ANI, "The side effects are minimal like swelling or fever. This sometimes happens during normal vaccination too. Hospitalisation due to vaccination is 0.0004 - it's negligible. No death has occurred due to vaccination."
The Minister further said, "If someone dies 4 days or 10 days after inoculation, you can't link it to vaccination. Every death has been scientifically investigated. High powered experts committee evaluate it, no case has come yet that death is vaccine-induced."
Queen's Husband Prince Philip Moved, To Undergo Heart Tests: Palace
Queen Elizabeth II's 99-year-old husband Prince Philip on Monday left the private London hospital where he had spent nearly two weeks to have heart tests and treatment at another hospital, Buckingham Palace said.
Royal officials said the Duke of Edinburgh, as he is formally known, was taken from King Edward VII's hospital to the state-run St Bartholomew's Hospital in the City of London.
Doctors there "will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition," they added.
Amit Shah Gets Coronavirus Vaccine Shot
Union Home Minister Amit Shah today took the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine. He was vaccinated by Medanta Hospital doctors.
S Jaishankar Gets First Jab COVID-19 Vaccine
CoWIN Registration For Vaccine Opens: What You Need To Know
A user manual for registration and appointment for COVID-19 vaccination has been shared by the government. The second phase of the vaccination campaign has started today. "The exemplary groundwork and precaution advisory by the government has helped in containing the spread of the virus in our country," the centre said in the introduction to the user manual.
The registration on the CoWIN 2.0 portal opened this morning. See cowin.gov.in for details. More than 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals under the CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under state schemes can function as vaccination centres.
The latest announcement was on private hospitals - they can charge up to ₹ 250 per dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Supreme Court Judges To Be Vaccinated From Tomorrow, Can Choose Vaccine
Judges of the Supreme Court will get COVID-19 vaccine shots from tomorrow. They can choose which vaccine they want - Bharat Biotech's Covaxin or Serum Institute of India's Covishield.
Those eligible for the vaccine in the drive starting tomorrow also includes the families of the judges and retired judges.
The Supreme Court registry has arranged a vaccination facility at the court complex.
The judges and their families have an option of getting the jabs at the Supreme Court complex or any hospital listed by the government.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar takes the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at JJ Hospital in Mumbai.
A 97-year-old man, Ramaswami Parthasarathy, took his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Manipal Hospitals in Bengaluru today. He was the first person to get vaccinated here.
Vaccination drive for senior citizens begins in 37 Goa centres
The COVID-19 vaccination drive for senior citizens and those above the age of 45 with comorbidites began at 37 centres in Goa on Monday along with the rest of the country.
Those wanting to get inoculated need to produce government authorised identity documents like Aadhaar cards, while the 45 plus age group beneficiaries will have to get a certificate from a registered medical practitioner on a prescribed format approved by the Centre, an official said.
State Immunisation Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said the drive has started in 37 government-run facilities and a meeting would be held shortly to get private hospitals on board as well.
"The response so far has been good. The 37 centres include GMCH, South Goa District Hospital, Mapusa, Ponda Sub District Hospital. Each centre has a target of administering 100 doses per day," he said.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu took his first dose of COVID- 19 Vaccine today in Chennai.
Nepal's Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa receives his first dose of Made in India vaccine.
I will do the booking today and I plan to get vaccinated tomorrow: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took his first dose of COVID-19Vaccine today in Patna.
Arunachal Pradesh remains coronavirus-free for second day, over 32,000 inoculated
Arunachal Pradesh remained a coronavirus-free state for the second consecutive day, as no positive case was reported in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said on Monday.
The total caseload remained at 16,836, while the number of recoveries stood at 16,780, State Surveillance Officer Lobsang Jampa said.
So far, 56 people have died due to the contagion, he said.
Arunachal Pradesh's recovery rate and positivity rate are at 99.66 per cent and zero per cent, respectively, the official said.
Altogether, 4,05,804 samples have been tested, including 157 on Sunday.
Meanwhile, State Immunisation Officer (SIO) Dimong Padung said 32,325 health and frontline workers received vaccine shots in the state so far.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik takes first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as the state government launched the third phase of the inoculation drive for elderly people and those with comorbidities in the age group of 45-59, officials said.
The 74-year-old BJD supremo came down to the Vidhan Sabha dispensary to receive the Covaxin jab, they said.
Sharing a picture of him getting inoculated, Mr Patnaik tweeted, "Happy to share that I took my first dose of #COVID19 vaccine today. Grateful to our scientists, health workers for their race against time to deliver the vaccine to people.
Vaccination will be absolutely free in the entire Bihar state. Such facility will be made available even at private hospitals, it will be facilitated by the state government: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
We've begun free (government) and paid (private) vaccination for senior citizens and people above 45 years with comorbidities. There are 192 hospitals i.e. 56 government (Centre and Delhi) and 136 private with about 300 centres. Registration being done on CoWIN software: Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain
COVID-19 vaccination process at Nagpur's Indira Gandhi Hospital couldn't begin due to a technical glitch in the CoWIN portal
"Registration has begun & tokens are being given. We'd begin the process as soon as the site is up," says hospital's Medical Superintendent
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visits Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (Civil) Hospital to inspect the procedure of COVID-19 vaccination.
People above 60 years of age and those above 45 years with comorbidities are being vaccinated for COVID today, across the nation.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offers prayers at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati.
West Bengal polls: Tejashwi Yadav to meet Mamata Banerjee today
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav will meet West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee here on Monday to deliberate on the state assembly elections.
Also, the Chief Minister is scheduled to chair election committee's meeting today at her residence in Kalighat.
Mr Yadav had also escaped the brigade meeting called by the left, Congress and ISF in Kolkata on Sunday.
West Bengal will witness eight-phased Assembly polls beginning March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and BJP in the fray.
2 new cases push COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 5,020
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 5,020 on Monday as two more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
The Union territory now has six active cases, while 4,952 people have recovered from the disease and 62 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said.
The administration has tested over 2.68 lakh samples for COVID-19 to date, the official added.
Coronavirus News Updates: 668 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, 4 more deaths
With the addition of 668 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has reached 2,64,918,an official said on Monday.
Four more deaths due to the viral infection were also reported in the district on Sunday, raising the toll to 6,272, he said.
The COVID-19 fatality rate in the district stood at 2.37 per cent, the official said.
So far, 2,52,597 patients have recovered from the viral infection in the district, reflecting a recovery rate of 95.35 per cent.
There are 6,049 active cases in the district at present, the official said.
India Reports 15,510 New COVID-19 Cases, 106 Deaths In Last 24 HoursWith 15,510 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,11,12,241, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,07,86,457, the Union health ministry said on Monday. The death count due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,57,157 in the country with 106 more fatalities reported in a 24-hour period, the ministry's data updated at 8 am showed.
JustIn| PM Modi takes first dose of coronavirus vaccine at Delhi's AIIMS, appeals to all those "who are eligible to take vaccine"
CoWIN Registration For Vaccine Opens 9 AM Today, What You Need To KnowA user manual for registration and appointment for COVID-19 vaccination has been shared by the government. The second phase of the vaccination campaign will start today. "The exemplary groundwork and precaution advisory by the government has helped in containing the spread of the virus in our country," the centre said in the introduction to the user manual.
The registration on the CoWIN 2.0 portal will open at 9 am today, the government said. See cowin.gov.in for details. More than 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals under the CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under state schemes can function as vaccination centres.
The latest announcement was on private hospitals - they can charge up to Rs 250 per dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Don't Want It But "Majboori": Maharashtra Chief Minister On LockdownExpressing his disinterest in imposing the lockdown in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said, "I do not want to impose it but 'majboori' (helplessness) is also something."
"I do not want to impose lockdown in the state but 'majboori' is also something," the Chief Minister said during a press conference in Mumbai.
Mr Thackeray also urged people of the state to wear masks to avoid lockdown.
However, the Chief Minister assured that he is continuously monitoring the situation.
Maharashtra had been witnessing an upsurge in COVID-19 cases for the last few days.
6 Cases Of Brazil Coronavirus Strain Detected In UK: Health OfficialsUp to six cases of the variant of coronavirus first identified in the Brazilian city of Manaus have been detected in Britain, English health officials said on Sunday.
Two of three cases found in England were from a household in the South Gloucestershire area which had a history of travel to Brazil and there was a third, currently unlinked case, Public Health England said.