Coronavirus News Highlights: 1,432 new Covid-19 cases, 27 deaths in Karnataka

India on Thursday crosses the 50-crore mark for Covid-19 tests conducted, according to the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). New Zealand expanded its vaccination drive, allowing 12-15-year-olds to get the Covid-19 vaccine. In other news, Biocon's Covid-19 vaccine may be out next year. Stay tuned to DH for more updates...

Health experts worried about Covid surge in Kerala amid Onam

With commercial streets and shopping centres in Kerala busy owing to the onset of the Onam celebrations, health experts are concerned over a possible surge of Covid-19 in the state.

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1,432 new Covid-19 cases, 27 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka has witnessed 1,432 new cases of coronavirus and 27 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 29.34 lakh and the toll to 37,088, the health department said on Thursday. The day also saw 1,538 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 28,76,377. Out of 1,432 new cases reported on Thursday, 318 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 294 discharges and 2 deaths.

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Covid gives global reach to Kerala's Onam celebrations

Malayalis and art lovers across the globe can enjoy this year's popular Onam celebrations of Kerala as the state tourism department is observing the festival online, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Telangana: 409 new Covid-19 cases, three deaths

Telangana on Thursday registered 409 fresh Covid-19 cases, pushing the tally to 6,54,035, while the toll rose to 3,852 with three more fatalities. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 71, followed by Karimnagar 45 and Nalgonda 31 districts, a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM on Thursday.

Biden says he, first lady will get Covid-19 booster shot

US President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden would receive a third shot of the Covid-19 vaccine to boost their immunity against the novel coronavirus.

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Goa logs 83 new Covid-19 cases; two fatalities

With the addition of 83 new cases of Covid-19, the tally of infections in Goa rose to 1,72,846 on Thursday, an official from the state health department said.

Over 3.86 crore people didn't get second dose of Covid vaccines within stipulated time: Govt

Over 3.86 crore people did not get their second dose of anti-Covid vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin -- within the stipulated period of time, the government has said in response to an RTI query.

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Andhra Pradesh records 1,501 new Covid-19 cases

Focus on kids as states prepare for third Covid wave

Several states are building facilities with more paediatric beds, plus oxygen, due to concern that children returning to school without being vaccinated will be among the most vulnerable during a third wave of coronavirus infections.

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Iran Covid deaths top 1,00,000: Health Ministry

Recorded deaths from Covid in Iran passed the 1,00,000 mark on Thursday, the health ministry said, amid tighter restrictions nationwide to contain the spread of the virus.

In the past 24 hours, 31,266 people tested positive for coronavirus and 564 died, the ministry said. That brought total infections since the pandemic started to 4,587,683, and deaths to 100,255.

Kerala ready to vaccinate children once Centre's approval is received: State Health Minister

The Kerala government is ready to vaccinate children against Covid-19 and will take steps as soon as approval for it is received from the Centre, state Health Minister Veena George said on Thursday.

23-25 cases of recovered Covid-19 patients contracting TB have been found in Karnataka, K Sudhakar

Covid-19 has hampered blood and organ donation. We have taken few special measures to encourage organ donation in the state: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar (ANI)

Pfizer, AstraZeneca Covid vaccines less effective against Delta variant, says Oxford-led study

TheCovid-19 vaccines by Pfizer and AstraZeneca are less effective against the Delta variant of coronavirus compared to the Alpha variant, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Oxford.

The researchers, however, noted that with Delta, Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and Oxford-AstraZeneca preventive, known as Covishield in India, still offer good protection against new infections.

(PTI)

Delta outbreak exposes New Zealand's low vaccination rates

New Zealand's coronavirus cases jumped on Thursday, as questions grew about the government's response to the pandemic given the slowest vaccination rate among developed countries and the economic pressures of prolonged isolation.

Eleven new cases were reported on Thursday, taking the total to 21 in the latest outbreak that ended the country's six-month, virus-free run

(Reuters)

Over 58.31 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses provided to states, UTs: Govt (PTI)

Britain's legal cannabis market booms on Covid demand

Britain's legal cannabis market has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic to become the second biggest after the United States, as consumers rushed to alleviateCovid-linked symptoms, industry experts say.

Cannabidiol or CBD, which is most commonly sold as oil at high street retailers, is one of the active ingredients of non-psychoactive cannabis.

(AFP)

New Zealand says it has solved Covid outbreak 'puzzle'

New Zealand reported a breakthrough Thursday in tracing the source of aCovid-19 outbreak that plunged the nation into lockdown, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying it should help "stamp out" the virus.

Health officials have been trying to determine how an Auckland man contracted the coronavirus this week, ending a six-month run of no community cases in New Zealand.

Tests showed the man had a version of the Delta strain found in Australia, and Ardern said investigations narrowed down the origin to a person who arrived from Sydney on August 7.

(AFP)

Active Covid-19 cases in country decline to 3,64,129, says Union Health Ministry (PTI)

Mizoram reports 487 new Covid-19 cases, 2 more fatalities (PTI)

Thane logs 207 new Covid-19 cases, 7 more deaths (PTI)

India records 36,401 new Covid-19 cases, 530 deaths

India on Thursday recorded36,401 new Covid-19 cases and 530 deaths, according to data published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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New Zealand now allows 12-15-year-olds to get Covid-19 vaccine

New Zealand will now allow youths aged 12 to 15 to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Previously, only those aged 16 and over were eligible.

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Total tests conducted crosses 50-crore mark; 18.73 lakh conducted over last 24 hours

Delta variant can infect both vaccinated unvaccinated individuals; mortality risk lower among vaccinated: ICMR study

An ICMR study conducted in Chennai has found that the Delta variant has the potential to infect both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, but it reduces mortality among the former group

Australia also records new Covid-19 highs

Australia's two most populous states on Thursday recorded new benchmark highs inCovid-19 infections.

New South Wales reported a record 681 cases in the latest 24-hour period, mostly in Sydney. The previous record for the most populous state was 633 cases set on Wednesday.

Neighboring Victoria reported 57 new cases in its capital Melbourne. It was the highest daily tally since the final days of a second wave of infections in early September last year. (AP)

US urges over 150 world leaders not to come to UN over Covid-19

The US is urging the more than 150 countries planning to send their leader or a government minister to New York to speak in person at theUNGeneral Assembly next month to consider giving a video address instead to prevent the annual high-level week from becoming "a super-spreader event".

A note from the US Mission sent to the 192 otherUNmember nations also called for all otherUN-hosted meetings and side events to be virtual, saying these parallel meetings that draw travelers to New York "needlessly increase risk to our community, New Yorkers and the other travellers". (AP)

New Zealand Covid-19 cases jump to 21; origin of outbreak identified

New Zealand'sCovid-19 outbreak jumped to 21 cases on Thursday, but the authorities said the virus may not have been in the community for long as they linked its origin to a recent Sydney returnee.

There were 11 new cases in the last 24 hours, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Chief Ashley Bloomfield told a news conference.

Ardern said genome sequencing revealed the current positive cases were a close match to a returnee from Sydney who arrived on a flight on Aug. 7. (Reuters)

Biocon vaccine to prevent, treat Covid-19 likely next year: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Bengaluru-based biopharmaceutical company Biocon Biologics, a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd, is working on abiologic jab to prevent and treat coronavirus and its variants. The new drug, which is undergoing Phase 2 & Phase 3 trials, is likely to be launched during the next financial year.

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Now, online registration mandatory for people to enter Himachal Pradesh

Online registration has again been made mandatory for the people visiting Himachal Pradesh.

"All inter-state movement to the state will be monitored through registration on Covid e-registration software” of the Himachal government, Chief Secretary-cum-Chairperson of State Executive Committee Ram Subhag Singh said in an order on Wednesday.

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