India Covid-19 Cases: There are presently 21 lakh active cases in the country. (File)
India reported 2,51,209 fresh COVID-19 cases today, taking the total number of infections in the country to over 4 crore 6 lakh cases. The new cases reported were 12% lower than yesterday's daily spike of 2.86 lakh cases. The country also recorded 627 new deaths, taking the total number of Covid-related fatalities to 4,92,327.
There are presently 21 lakh active cases in the country. The active cases now comprise 5.18 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has marginally increased to 93.6 per cent. The daily positivity rate - the share of coronavirus tests that return positive and considered a key marker of the pandemic's status - is down from 19.59% to 15.88% while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 17.47 per cent.
India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 164.4 crore doses. 89.1 crore first doses have been administered while 69.9 crore second doses have been provided.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus cases in India:
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Uttar Pradesh records almost 8,000 new cases, 14 deaths due to COVID-19Uttar Pradesh reported 7,907 fresh COVID-19 infections on Friday, taking active cases tally to 65,263, and 14 more more deaths raised the death count to 23,139, an official statement said.
The count of total cases stands at 19,96,972.
Over 60% kids aged 15-18 yrs received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine: Health MinisterOver 60 per cent of children aged 15-18 years have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday.
He also congratulated the children, saying "Young India showed the way".
"Congratulations to all my young friends who have got vaccinated. Over 60 per cent children aged 15-18 years have received their first dose of vaccine against COVID-19," Mandaviya tweeted.
COVID-19: J&K reports 4,354 new cases, 5 more deathsJammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded 4,354 new Covid cases as the infection tally rose to 4,24,085, while five more fatalities in the last 24 hours pushed the death toll to 4,647, officials said.
Of the fresh cases, 1,440 were from the Jammu division and 2,914 from the Kashmir division, they said.
Covid Updates: Chennai police Commissioner tests positive
Chennai police commissioner Shankar Jiwal on Friday tested positive for COVID-19, police said.
Following the test result, he has isolated himself at his residence.
Calls received on Covid helpline dropped in Jan 12-25 period: Delhi government
The total number of calls received on the Covid helpline, enquiring about availability of beds, vaccination programme, e-passes and other details, fell from 2,041 on January 12 to 983 on January 25, according to official data.
These figures were shared during the meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on containment of COVID-19, held on Thursday.
According to data about the '1031' Covid helpline run by the Delhi government, 180 channels are active which is sufficient to handle 8,000 to 10,000 calls a day.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Covaxin Maker Bharat Biotech's Nasal Booster Dose Trials Get ApprovalVaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech has received approval to conduct Phase-III clinical trials of an intranasal booster dose on people who have received both doses of Covaxin.
The Drug Controller General of India today gave the go-ahead for the Phase-III trials. The trials will be conducted at nine locations in the country.
Bharat Biotech underlined how easily a nasal vaccine can be administered and the fact that it would not need trained healthcare workers.
Covid World News: Philippines To Reopen For Fully Vaccinated Foreign Tourists In FebruaryThe Philippines will re-open to fully vaccinated tourists from most countries on February 10 and lift quarantine requirements, officials said Friday, nearly two years after closing its borders to contain the coronavirus.
Tourism operators across the archipelago nation famed for its beaches and dive spots have been devastated by a plunge in international visitors and restrictions on domestic travel.
Their misery was worsened by a super typhoon that smashed into the country in December, wiping out resorts, restaurants and bars in popular tourist destinations.
Rajasthan may disallow unvaccinated entry into government offices, says state Health Minister
Coronavirus India Updates: 5,770 new Covid cases in Haryana, 18 deathsHaryana reported 18 Covid-related deaths on Thursday with addition of 5,770 fresh cases, an official bulletin said.
With the latest numbers, the state's overall Covid case tally was pushed to 9,32,976. So far, 10,237 people have died from the infection in the state.
Gurugram district emerged as the worst-hit with 1,671 cases, followed by Faridabad, Sonipat, and Panchkula, which reported 504, 493, 256 cases, respectively. The fatalities included three deaths each from Gurugram and Panchkula districts, as per the bulletin.
Coronavirus Live Updates: 2.51 lakh new Covid cases recorded in the last 24 hours
India recorded 2,51,209 cases in the past 24 hours, 12 per cent lower than yesterday's 2.86 lakh daily spike. 627 new deaths have also been reported. The Covid positivity rate has dropped from 19.5 per cent to 15.8 per cent.
Coronavirus India Updates: Punjab reports 4,189 new COVID-19 cases, 45 deathsPunjab lost 45 people to Covid on Thursday as it reported 4,189 fresh cases in 24 hours, taking the overall infection tally in the state to 7,32,135, a daily medical bulletin said.
The deaths were reported from several districts including Gurdaspur, Barnala Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Moga.
So far, the state has lost 17,129 lives to the infection. Active cases in the state stand at 36,941.
Coronavirus News: Australia Approves Covid Vaccine Boosters For 16- And 17-Year-OldsAustralia's drug regulator on Friday approved the use of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for 16- and 17-year-olds as authorities urge people to get their third doses soon to mitigate the threat from the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said it had approved Pfizer's vaccine for use as a booster in youths aged 16-17, joining the United States, Israel and Britain.