COVID-19: Over 33 lakh healthcare workers has been vaccinated across India so far. (File)
Chief Economic Advisor Dr K Subramanian on Friday said India's COVID-19 response strategy helped the country to prevent 37 lakh cases and 1 lakh deaths, PTI reported.
Addressing a press conference on Economic Survey 2020-21, Dr Subramanian said India's COVID-19 response was guided by research, epidemiology and economics.
India recorded 13,083 new coronavirus cases today, one year after the first infection was reported in the country, taking the total number of cases to 1.07 crore. Kerala logged the highest number of cases in the last 24 hours with 6,268 infections, followed by Maharashtra with 2,771 cases.
Over 14,000 people recovered in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to over 1.4 crore. 137 people died due to the deadly disease in the last 24 hours taking the total fatalities to 1,54,147.
Here are the live updates:
Saudi warns of virus restrictions as infections rise
Saudi Arabia's health minister warned Sunday that new coronavirus restrictions could be imposed amid an uptick in infections, as the kingdom slows the rollout of vaccines due to supply delays.
Dutch set to reopen daycare, primary schools
Dutch nursery and primary schools are set to reopen on February 8 amid falling coronavirus infection rates, the government announced Sunday, despite concern over new, more infectious variants of the disease.
Schools in the Netherlands have been closed since mid-December amid a second wave of infections in the lowlands nation of 17.2 million people, where almost 14,000 have now died of Covid-19, AFP reported.
Madhya Pradesh reports 226 new coronavirus cases; 318 recover, three die
Madhya Pradesh's COVID-19 tally on Sunday rose to 2,55,112 after the state recorded 226 fresh
cases, a health official said. With three more people dying due to the infection, the death count rose to 3,810, PTI reported.
COVID-19: 27,752 healthcare workers vaccinated in Himachal Pradesh so far
As many as 4,816 healthcare workers were administered COVID-19 vaccine shots in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, taking the total number of those inoculated so far to over 27,000, PTI reported.
No question of closing the door on talks with government: Samyukta Kisan Morcha
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha spearheading the agitation against the Centre's three agri laws said on Saturday that there was no question of closing the door on talks with the government, PTI reported.
Bengal's COVID-19 death count rises to 10,164The COVID-19 death count of West Bengal climbed to 10,164 after nine more fatalities were reported, the health department said. The coronavirus tally also mounted to 5,69,769 with 310 fresh cases, it said.
The state now has 5,671 active cases, while a total of 5,53,934 people have recovered from the disease. North 24 Parganas accounted for three deaths, followed by Kolkata, 2, among other districts, the department said in a bulletin.
Madhya Pradesh records 219 COVID-19 cases, 2 deathsMadhya Pradesh's COVID-19 case count rose to 2,54,886 after 219 people were detected with the infection, while the death count increased by two, an official said.
The number of deaths in the state stands at 3,807 and the recovery count is 2,48,319, including 283 who were discharged today, he added.
Egypt to receive first AstraZeneca vaccines on SundayEgypt said the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca would arrive on Sunday. The Egyptian authority in charge of the acquisition of pharmaceuticals announced "the arrival of the first batch of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine tomorrow, Sunday, January 31, 2021," without specifying the number of doses.
Last week, officials said they had ordered 20 million doses, according to Egyptian media.
Coronavirus Live Update: Goa records 93 new COVID-19 cases, 76 recoveriesGoa's COVID-19 tally rose to 53,357, after 93 persons tested positive for the infection, an official from the state health department said. As many as 76 patients were discharged from various treatment facilities, while no casualties were reported in the day, the official said.
With this, the count of recoveries in the coastal state has reached 51,831 and the death count stands at 766, he said. At present, there are 759 active cases in the state, he said.
COVID-19 Live Update: Delhi relaxes quarantine norms for those returning from UKConsidering low positivity rate of UK returnees regarding the new COVID-19 variant, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) did away with the compulsory institutional quarantine for a period of seven days followed by seven days of home quarantine for those travellers who are found negative in RT-PCR test at the airport.
Issuing an order, the DDMA said that the Delhi government might align with SOP issued by the centre from time to time in this regard.
Farmers' protest: Internet services to remain suspended in Haryana districts till tomorrow
Iran expects first batch of Russian vaccine by February 4: ReportIran's ambassador to Russia said that Tehran expects to receive the first batch of Moscow's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine by February 4, state news agency IRNA reported. The news comes just days after Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the vaccine had been approved by the Islamic republic.
"A contract for the purchase and joint production was signed yesterday between Iran and Russia," envoy Kazem Jalali said, quoted by IRNA. Two more batches are to be delivered by February 18 and 28, he added, without specifying quantities.
PM Modi should talk to farmers directly, says Rajasthan Chief MinisterWith the stalemate between the government and the farmers regarding the newly-enacted farm laws continuing despite several rounds of meetings, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should talk to farmers himself to resolve the issue.
Mr Gehlot said: "There is still a chance for the government to correct its ill measures. I believe the Prime Minister must take cognizance and talk to the farmers himself. The government should reverse the decision (regarding farm laws). There is nothing wrong with changing decisions. It happens in a democracy. People will welcome it."
Grand Alliance in Bihar forms human chains against new farm lawsSupporters of the opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar formed human chains across the state as an expression of solidarity with the farmers who have been agitating in the national capital seeking the repeal of the contentious farm laws.
Leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav took part in the demonstration in front of the Buddha Smriti Park in Patna, where he was joined by alliance partners, most notably party emblem waving workers from the Left who have been enthused since the CPI(ML), the CPI and the CPI(M) showed signs of recovery in the recently held assembly polls.
Delhi Police, families of injured personnel protest against Republic Day violenceDelhi Police Mahasangh and family members of the police personnel injured in violence during farmers' tractor rally on January 26, staged a demonstration at Shaheedi Park in protest against the attack. They were also accompanied by the retired as well as current Delhi Police officers at the protest.
"Still Ready To Suspend Farm Laws," Says PM At All-Party Meet: SourcesPrime Minister Narendra Modi today said that his government's proposal to pause implementation of the controversial agriculture laws for 18 months - while negotiations to resolve a weeks-long deadlock with irate farmers continue - remains on the table.
The proposal - presented earlier this month after nine rounds of talks failed to provide a breakthrough - had been rejected by farmer leaders who insist on the scrapping of all three laws.
Republic Day violence: Team of forensic experts visits Red Fort to collect evidenceA team of forensic experts on Saturday visited the Red Fort to collect evidence in connection with the violence that broke out at the iconic monument on Republic Day.
Thousands of protesting farmers had breached the monument on January 26 after deviating from their tractor rally route triggering a conflict with the police.
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police is investigating the matter and several teams have been formed to identify the culprits.
The force has termed the vandalisation at the fort as an "anti-national act".
"A team of forensic experts visited Red Fort and it is collecting evidence," an official said.
The protesting farmers had clashed with police during the tractor parade called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre''s three farm laws.
Philippines logs 2,109 new COVID-19 cases, total nears 524,000
The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported on Saturday 2,109 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 523,516.
The death toll climbed to 10,669 after 71 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.
It added 146 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 475,904.
Internet Suspended For 2 Days At Delhi's Borders Amid Farmers' Protest
Taiwan reports first COVID-19 death in 8 monthsTaiwan's government on Saturday reported the island's first death from COVID-19 since May, as it battles a small and unusual outbreak of locally transmitted cases.
A woman in her 80s with underlying health conditions died after being infected with the coronavirus as part of a domestic cluster connected to a hospital, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung.
Taiwan took early and effective steps to control the virus, with the large majority of its 909 confirmed cases in people who caught COVID-19 abroad
The new outbreak has infected 19 people since the start of the month, centring on a hospital in the northern city of Taoyuan.
Chen, reporting four new cases from the hospital cluster, announced the death, bringing to eight the total number of deaths in Taiwan from the pandemic.
Over 35 lakh beneficiaries vaccinated against COVID-19 so far: Health ministryOver 35 lakh beneficiaries have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country till now with 5,70,000 vaccinations conducted in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Saturday.
Of the 35,00,027 beneficiaries, the highest number of 4,63,793 people were vaccinated in Uttar Pradesh, followed by 3,24,973 in Rajasthan, 3,07,891 in Karnataka and 2,61,320 in Maharashtra.
In a statement, the ministry said in the last 24 hours, 5,71,974 people were vaccinated across 10,809 sessions, while a total of 63,687 sessions have been conducted so far.
"India''s total active caseload has dropped to less than 1.7 lakh (1,69,824). The active caseload now consists of less than 1.6 per cent (just 1.58 per cent) of India''s total positive cases," it said.
Nine states and Union territories have a higher weekly positivity rate than the national average. Kerala has recorded the highest weekly positivity rate at 12.20 per cent, followed by Chhattisgarh (7.30 per cent), the ministry said.
Outrage After Mahatma Gandhi's Statue Broken, Ripped From Base In CaliforniaA group of unknown people have vandalised, broken and ripped from the base a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a park in the US state of California, shocking and outraging Indian-Americans across the country, who have demanded that the officials investigate it as an incident of hate crime.
The 6-ft tall, 650-pound (294 kg) bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi, in the Central Park of the City of Davis in northern California, appeared to have been sawed off at the ankles and half its face was severed and missing, local news firm Davis Enterprise reported.
The vandalised statue of Mahatma Gandhi was found by a park employee in the early hours of the morning of January 27, the police said.
"Truth, Nonviolence": Farmers' Tribute To Mahatma Gandhi With 1-Day FastFarmer groups protesting for the past two months against the Centre's new agricultural laws will observe "Sadbhavna Diwas" on Mahatma Gandhi's 73rd death anniversary today with a day-long fast. The gesture comes amid a stiffening of the face-off between them and the Central government and the breakout of violence in the course of their agitation over the past week.
Restore internet at protest sites, else will hold demonstration: Krantikari Kisan Union to Centre
As the internet services were shut down in parts of Delhi-NCR close to farmers'' protest sites, Krantikari Kisan Union leader Darshal Pal has appealed to the government to restore the services, else the farmers will protest against it.
"We demand the restoration of internet services in areas where agitation is going on. Otherwise, we will hold a demonstration against it in the country," Pal said while addressing the media on Friday.
The Haryana government on Friday suspended all mobile internet, SMS, and dongle services in 17 districts including Sonipat, Palwal, and Jhajjar till 5 pm on January 30. The voice calls, however, are exempted as earlier from the suspension.
The districts under the fresh suspension order include Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari, and Sirsa.
3 new COVID-19 cases in Mizoram, tally rises to 4,366Three more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, taking the coronavirus caseload in the state to 4,366, an official said on Saturday.
Two fresh cases were reported from Aizawl district, while one case was reported from Hnahthial district, he said.
A couple was diagnosed with COVID-19 at a private hospital here through Rapid Antigen Test, while an employee of a construction company, who returned from Jharkhand, was detected through TrueNat test, he said.
The woman patient has developed symptoms of COVID-19, while two male patients were asymptomatic.
One Year Of India's Fight Against Coronavirus: 1.7 Crore Cases So FarIndia recorded 13,083 new coronavirus cases today, one year after the first infection was reported in the country, taking the total number of cases to 1.07 crore. Kerala logged the highest number of cases in the last 24 hours with 6,268 infections, followed by Maharashtra with 2,771 cases. Over 14,000 people recovered in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to over 1.4 crore. 137 people died due to the deadly disease in the last 24 hours taking the total fatalities to 1,54,147.
Jharkhand reports 45 new COVID-19 cases, 1 deathJharkhand's COVID-19 tally mounted to 1,18,602 as 45 more people tested positive for
the infection, a health official said on Saturday.
The COVID-19 death toll rose to 1,070 as one more person died due to the infection in the last 24-hours, he said.
Ranchi district reported the highest number of new cases at 33, followed by two cases each in East Singhbhum, Dhanbad, Gumla and Sahibganj, the official said.
The state now has 628 active cases, while 1,16,904 people have recovered from the disease so far, he said.
Jharkhand has tested 12,022 samples for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the official said.
Haridwar Police on high alert, increases patrolling after blast near Israel Embassy in Delhi
Haridwar Police increased patrolling and tightened security on Saturday following a low-intensity explosion that took place near the Israel Embassy in Delhi.
"Haridwar is on high alert after the low-intensity explosion occurred in Delhi. Police have been instructed to increase patrolling," said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Haridwar, Senthil Abudai Krishnaraj.
Colombia's COVID-19 deaths top 53,000
Colombia reported 371 more deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, raising the country's death toll to 53,284, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection said on Friday.
Up to 10,058 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the same period, taking the country''s total caseload to 2,077,633,
The Colombian government has extended the health emergency over COVID-19 till Feb. 28, urging people to avoid crowds and observe safety measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Brazil's COVID-19 death count tops 222,000
Brazil reported on Friday 1,119 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking its death count to 222,666, the Health Ministry said.
Meanwhile, 59,826 new cases of COVID-19 were detected, bringing its nationwide tally to 9,118,513.
The state of Sao Paulo, the most populated in the country, is the hardest hit, with 1,759,957 cases and 52,722 deaths, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with 516,868 cases and 29,563 deaths.
Brazil has the world's second-highest COVID-19 death count, after the United States.
EU backtracks on restricting vaccines to Northern IrelandThe EU backtracked Friday over threats to restrict vaccine exports to Northern Ireland after London voiced "grave concerns" over the proposed move.
A furious row over shortages of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine has risked stoking conflict with the UK just weeks after London and Brussels sealed a Brexit trade agreement.
The EU had warned it would invoke Article 16 -- overriding part of a deal with London allowing the free-flow of goods over the Irish border -- but backed down after criticism from the UK and Ireland.
"The Commission will ensure that the Ireland / Northern Ireland Protocol is unaffected," the EU Commissioner said in a statement late Friday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had told EU chief Ursula von der Leyen of his "grave concerns about the potential impact" the European bloc's decision might have.
The European scheme to monitor and bar exports of vaccines produced in EU plants has also been criticised by the World Health Organization.
The WHO said the move was part of a "very worrying trend" that could jeopardise the global supply chain for vaccines.
Although the EU has rowed back from the Article 16 threat, a Commission statement said if there were vaccines circumventing the European system, "the EU will consider using all the instruments at its disposal".
The EU earlier justified the "safeguard measure" as an attempt to keep member states' vaccine rollouts on track.
And Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides insisted: "We are not protecting ourselves against any specific country. And we're not in competition or in a race against any country."
Five dead in helicopter accident in Cuba: official
Five people died in Cuba on Friday when their helicopter crashed on its way from the province of Holguin to Guantanamo in the east of the island, the armed forces ministry announced.
The helicopter "crashed against a hill" and "the five people on board died," the ministry said in a statement released by state media.
The ministry has set up a commission to investigate what caused the accident, according to the statement. It gave no other details, including the identities of the victims.
The last serious air accident in Cuba occurred in May 2018, when a plane crashed shortly after take-off from Havana airport, killing 112 people, with only one passenger surviving.
An investigation found errors in the calculations of the aircraft's weight and center of gravity.
Assam reports 20 new COVID-19 cases Assam on Friday reported 20 new COVID-19 cases, according to an official bulletin.
The state has so far reported 2,17,091 cases of COVID-19, PTI reported.
Canada to impose hotel quarantine on arriving travellers
Travellers to Canada will have to quarantine in hotels at their own expense and airlines are suspending flights to southern destinations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday, further tightening restrictions to slow Covid-19's spread.
New arrivals will have to pay to quarantine in hotels for up to three days under strict supervision, AFP reported.