COVID-19 Cases in India: India's positivity rate has dropped to single digit over the last one month
India will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021, said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday. The announcement came soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre's handling of COVID-19 and predicted "multiple waves" in the country if vaccinations continued at the current pace.
"India's vaccination will be completed before 2021. The Health Ministry has given a blueprint for how 108 people - with 216 crore doses - will be vaccinated by December. Rahulji... if you're concerned about vaccination then pay attention to Congress ruled states... there is a mess. They are not taking the quota given to them for 18-44 year old beneficiaries from May 1," Mr Javadekar said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Delhi the government will now start the process of lifting the lockdown gradually, starting with resumption of construction activities and reopening of factories for one week from Monday.
In the last 24 hours, Delhi reported a positivity rate of around 1.5 percent and around 1,100 new cases, the Chief Minister said.
"It is time to start the unlock process. It should not be the case that people escape coronavirus but die of hunger... We have to maintain a balance between controlling the spread of coronavirus and allowing economic activities," Mr Kejriwal said during an online press briefing.
India's COVID-19 infection tally climbed to 2.75 crore as 1.86 lakh new COVID-19 cases - lowest in 44 days - were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry on Friday.
The death count due to the disease climbed to 3,18,895 with 3,660 fresh fatalities being reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Here are the Live Updates on India Coronavirus (Covid-19 Cases) Cases:
India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Crosses 20.86 Crore MarkIndia achieved a significant landmark in its ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive as the cumulative number of coronavirus vaccines administered reached the 20.86 crore mark on Friday, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
As of Day-133 of the vaccination drive (28th May 2021), a total of 28,07,411 vaccine doses was given out of which 25,99,754 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 2,07,657 beneficiaries received a second dose of vaccine as per the provisional report till 7 pm.
Odisha CM Attends Meeting Of COVID-19 Vaccination Advisory Panel, Seeks Suggestions To Strengthen Health SystemOdisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday attended the first COVID-19 Vaccination Advisory Committee meeting and said that the state needs to fine-tune the processes to defeat the coronavirus with the advice of the health experts.
According to a press release, Mr Patnaik sought the advice of top health experts of the country on the strategy to tackle the future waves of the pandemic and on ways to strengthen the healthcare system.
West Bengal Reports 12,193 Fresh COVID-19 Cases In Last 24 HoursWest Bengal registered a total of 12,193 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the state government informed.
With this, the cumulative count of cases of the infection in the state reached 13,43,442.
The state also saw 19,396 recoveries and 145 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the total tallies to 12,18,516 and 15,120 respectively.
Assam Reports 80 More COVID-19 Deaths, 5,436 Fresh CasesAssam's coronavirus caseload mounted to 3,98,010 on Friday as 5,436 people tested positive for the infection while 80 new fatalities pushed the COVID-19 death count to 3,168, the National Health Mission bulletin said.
At present, Assam has 53,317 COVID-19 active cases.
Vaccination For 18-44 Age Group Remains Suspended For 5th Day In Delhi: AAP MLAAs the national capital vaccinated about 39,000 people on Thursday, Delhi MLA Atishi said on Friday that there was no stock of Covaxin available for vaccination in any age group, reported news agency PTI.
While vaccination in the 18-44 age group remained suspended for the fifth day, she also alleged that states, including Delhi, were not receiving doses to vaccinate the youth, however, private hospitals are not short of it.
"It's been five days since vaccination of youth was suspended in Delhi. On one side, states are not able to vaccinate their youth, on the other private hospitals are not short of it and are charging Rs 900-1,350 for a jab," she said at a virtual press conference.
She added that only 45-plus age group people were getting vaccinated but "even for them Covaxin is not available".
Two Die Of Black Fungus Infection In Shimla
Two COVID-19 patients died due to to Mucormycosis, commonly known as Black Fungus, at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla, on Friday, reported news agency ANI.
"Two patients have died of Black Fungus while undergoing treatment at IGMC. Both the patients were male. One was from Hamirpur district, while the other was from the Kasauli area of Solan district. Both patients had diabetes ketoacidosis, and the black fungus had reached their brain". Dr Janak Raj, Senior Medical Superintendent of IGMC told the news agency.
Health Worker Suspended, Medical Officer Transferred In UP After Vaccine Mix UpA female health worker has been suspended and a medical officer transferred two weeks after 20 villagers in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar district were administered Covaxin after receiving Covishield in the first dose, reported news agency PTI.
The incident took place on May 14 at a primary health centre in UP's Barhni where people received Covaxin shots.
Covid Cases Significantly Reduced In Dehradun: OfficialThe number of COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand's Dehradun district has reduced significantly. The district has also reported a recovery rate of ninety percent, the District Magistrate Ashish Srivastav said, reported news agency ANI.
"There were many COVID cases in Dehradun, and around 3900 cases were recorded in a single day on May 7. This has now come down to 300 cases in 20 days. The recovery rate of Dehradun is ninety per cent, which is higher than other districts of the state," said Mr Srivastav.
Lockdown Violators Being Sent To Non-Covid Isolation Centres In This CityA city in Telangana, which is enforcing the statewide COVID-19 lockdown, has been stepping up the pressure on those violating the restrictions by sending them to non-Covid isolation centres.
In the absence of enough vaccines and battered by new waves of infections and mutant strains of the coronavirus, states everywhere have taken to lockdown measures to break the cycle of transmission.
COVID-19: India supports calls for detailed studies on origins of coronavirus
India on Friday supported renewed global calls for a comprehensive investigation by the WHO into the origins of COVID-19, days after US President Joe Biden asked American intelligence agencies to find out how coronavirus emerged in China.
There were growing demands by a sizeable number of countries including the US and Australia to investigate whether the virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 from an animal source or from a laboratory accident in December 2019
In March, the World Health Organisation (WHO) came out with a report on the origins of the virus but it had failed to meet the expectations of the US and several other leading countries.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the follow up of the WHO report and further studies deserve the understanding and cooperation of all.
"The WHO convened global study on the origin of COVID-19 is an important first step. It stressed the need for next phase studies as also for further data and studies to reach robust conclusions," he said.
India Will Vaccinate All By December 2021, Says Union MinisterIndia will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar declared Friday afternoon, as the centre lashed out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for pointing out that less than three per cent of the country's 130 crore had received both shots so far.
Mr Javadekar also deflected criticism by telling Rahul Gandhi to "pay attention to Congress-ruled states...there is a mess in vaccination", and accusing non-BJP governments, which have red-flagged low vaccine stocks, of "not taking the quota for 18-44 age group given to them from May 1".
Just In | India will vaccinate all by December 2021, says Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
Sputnik V Covid Vaccine To Be Rolled Out At Rs 1,195 In Apollo HospitalsApollo Group of Hospitals has announced that it will start administering the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, across its hospitals in India from the second week of June, at an estimated price of Rs 1,195 per dose.
"We will be charging Rs 995 for the vaccine and ₹ 200 would be administration charges," an official of the Apollo Group said.
On Thursday, Apollo Hospitals said they will start administering Sputnik V from the second week of June.
"Delhi Will Begin Unlocking Slowly From Monday," Says Arvind KejriwalDelhi will begin unlocking gradually from Monday, thanks to the efforts of the two crore people of the city which helped bring under control the second COVID-19 wave, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.
"This is the time to unlock lest people escape corona only to die of hunger," Mr Kejriwal said.
"Today there was meeting with the disaster management authority. To avoid losing the advantage gained in the past month, everyone is of the opinion that the opening up must be slow. There has to be some balance," he said.
Jut In | "Delhi Will Begin Unlocking Slowly From Monday," Says Arvind Kejriwal
S Jaishankar Meets US Lawmakers, Discusses Quad, Cooperation On VaccinesExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met influential American lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties on Thursday and discussed developments pertaining to Quad and the cooperation on vaccines with them.
"Discussed developments pertaining to Quad and our cooperation on vaccines. Recognise their leadership in building stronger ties," Mr Jaishankar said after his meeting with Congressman Gregory Meeks, who is the chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with its ranking member, Congressman Michael McCaul.
The minister also had a "good conversation" with the co-chairs of the House India Caucus, Congressman Brad Sherman from the Democratic Party and Congressman Steve Chabot from the Republican Party.
COVID-19: 239 new cases push Mizoram's tally to 11,382Mizoram continued to register a spike in fresh COVID-19 cases as 239 more people, including 46 children, tested positive for the infection, pushing the state's tally to 11,382 on Friday, a health official said.
Aizawl district reported the highest number of new cases at 149, followed by 35 in Lawngtlai and 21 in Lunglei, he said.
Five ambulance drivers and a BSF jawan are also among the new patients, the official said.
Three new patients have travel history, while 236 fresh infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
The state now has 2,861 active cases, while 34 people have succumbed to the infection to date and 8,487 people have so far recovered from the disease, including 195 on Thursday.
The recovery rate among coronavirus patients stands at 74.57 per cent.
2 Vaccines From China's Sinopharm Successfully Contained Covid: StudyVaccines from China's Sinopharm successfully contained Covid-19, according to a study published in a prestigious U.S. medical journal, the first time detailed findings from a late-stage trial of a Chinese shot have appeared in the scientific literature.
The two inactivated vaccines developed by Sinopharm's vaccine-making unit China National Biotec Group Co. prevented symptomatic infections by 72.8% and 78.1%, largely in-line with what the state-owned drugmaker previously announced. The findings were reported in the May 26 Journal of the American Medical Association.
Coronavirus live updates: Arunachal reports 444 new cases, 2 more deathsAt least 444 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, pushing the tally in the northeastern state to 25,820, a senior health department official said on Friday.
The death count rose to 109 after two more persons succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
A 54-year-old woman from Tawang had tested positive for the virus infection and was undergoing treatment at Dahung military hospital in West Kameng district. She died at the medical facility due to acute respiratory distress syndrome.
She was also suffering from hypertension, the SSO said.
COVID-19: India's daily positivity has declined to 9 per cent
20,70,508 tests were conducted on Thursday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 33,90,39,861.
The daily positivity has declined to 9 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for four consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate has further declined to 10.42 per cent.
The active cases have further reduced to 23,43,152 comprising 8.50 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 90.34 per cent.
Covid-19: No mixing of vaccines in state, assures Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister
Amid speculations of innoculation with different doses of COVID-19 vaccines, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan on Thursday assured that no mixing of vaccines is taking place in the state.
While addressing reporters, Karnataka Deputy CM said, "No mixing of vaccines is taking place in the State. The people are being given the same dose of vaccines."
"There are speculations that the healthcare workers are being given two different shots of vaccines. However, it is not true and there is no proof of it", the Deputy Chief Miniter said.
Just In | 1.86 lakh new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, lowest in 44 days; 3,660 deaths
COVID-19: Maharashtra's Thane reports 822 new cases, 52 deathsWith the addition of 822 new coronavirus cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra rose to 5,13,548, an official said on Friday.
The new cases were reported on Thursday, he said. The death count in the district rose to 9,061 after 52 more patients succumbed to the infection, the official said.
The mortality rate stood at 1.76 per cent, he added.
Over 100 Inflammatory Syndrome Cases Among Children In North India As Post-Covid ReactionMore than 100 cases of multi-organ inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been reported in northern India in the last five days as post-Covid reaction, Indian Academy of Pediatric Intensive Care said citing its data.
According to the academy, the sudden spurt in MIS-C cases has been observed typically in post-Covid patients mostly between 4 to 18 years. However, there are rare cases of MIS-C affecting babies six months old.
In India, 26 per cent population is under 14 years of age and around half of this percentage is aged under five years, according to the Indian Academy of Pediatric Intensive Care.
COVID-19: Germany To Vaccinate Children Over 12 From June 7Germany will start offering coronavirus jabs to children over the age of 12 from June 7, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday.
But she stressed that vaccination would not be compulsory and would have no bearing on whether children can attend school or go on holiday.
The European Medicines Agency is expected to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid jab for 12- to 15-year-olds on Friday. It is already authorised in the EU for those over 16.
"Children and young people aged 12 and over will have the chance to book a vaccine appointment from June 7," Merkel said after talks with Germany's regional leaders.
Global supply of COVAX hit due to coronavirus crisis in India, US top official tells lawmakersDue to the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis in India, the global supply of COVAX has been badly hit, so much so that there are many parts of the world where one shot has been dispensed to health workers or frontline workers and the second shot has not been forthcoming, a top Biden administration official told lawmakers on Thursday.
"COVAX has suffered a big blow given the scale of the pandemic in India," Samantha Power, Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), told members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations for a hearing on the Fiscal 2022 Budget Request for the USAID.
"The Serum Institute of India, which had planned to supply upwards of 140 million doses by the end of June, has had to pull back that supply because of the domestic emergency," Power said responding to a question on the vaccine crisis that has been created across the globe due to the scale of the pandemic in India.
"COVAX now is looking to countries like ours and other countries around the world to contribute supply, to donate supply," she said.
Delhi Government To Give Rs 5 Lakhs For Death Due To Lack Of OxygenThe Delhi government will give compensation amount of up to Rs 5 lakh to families of those COVID-19 patients who died due to lack of oxygen.
This amount will be an add-on to the already-announced Rs 50,000 compensation to families of those who died due to COVID-19 infection.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has formed a committee of six doctors to prepare the framework of the compensation.
Bengal Records Lower New COVID-19 Cases At 13,046West Bengal continued to record a declining trend of fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday as it recorded 13,046 new infections, raising the tally to 13,31,249, a health department bulletin said.
The death count mounted to 14,975 after 148 more fatalities were reported from different parts of the state, it said.
West Bengal now has 1,17,154 active cases, while 11,99,120 patients have recovered from the disease, including 19,121 since Wednesday.