Coronavirus News Highlights: Over 33 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India

Pharma major Cipla on Tuesday received the DCGI's approval to import Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for restricted emergency use in India. Meanwhile, the nation reported 37,566 new Covid-19 cases, 56,994 recoveries and 907 deaths in the last 24 hours as per the Union Health Ministry. Active cases in the country further declined to 5,52,659. Stay tuned for updates.

Over 33 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed the landmark of 33 crore, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

A total of 33,25,81,423 vaccine doses have been administered in the country, including over 33.79 lakh (33,79,525) on Tuesday, according to a provisional report compiled at 7 pm.

The ministry said 19,42,308 beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group received the first dose while 78,039 were administered the second dose of the vaccine on Tuesday.

Maharashtra reports 8,085 new Covid-19 cases, 231 deaths

Maharashtra reported 8,085 new Covid-19 cases and 231 fatalities on Tuesday, taking its caseload to 60,51,633 and death toll to 1,21,804, the health department said in a release.

As many as 8,623 patients were discharged from hospitals in the 24 hours since Monday evening, pushing the number of recovered patients to 58,09,548.

Record Covid deaths in Russia as Australia locks down major cities

Russia on Tuesday reported its highest daily coronavirus death toll and Australia locked down major cities as the highly infectious Delta strain has caused mayhem around the world.

Fears grew over major sporting events like Euro 2020 and the Olympic Games, even as an AFP tally showed the world passed the milestone of over three billion Covid-19 vaccines administered.

At least 3.9 million people have died from Covid-19 and the pattern of vaccinations globally is highly uneven.

According to the AFP count, high-income countries as defined by the World Bank have administered an average of 79 doses per 100 inhabitants.

In low-income nations, the figure is just one shot per 100 people.

Russia reported 652 coronavirus fatalities over the past 24 hours, with a record-high number of daily deaths -- 119 -- in Saint Petersburg, which is due to host a Euro 2020 quarter final on Friday.

Focus should be on five-fold strategy of Covid-19 management -- test, track, treat, vaccination, Covid-appropriate behaviour: MHA to states.

MHA asks states to carry out 'carefully calibrated' process of relaxing Covid-19 restrictions.

Delhi reports 101 new Covid-19 cases, 4 deaths

Delhi recorded 101 fresh Covid-19 cases and four more deaths on Tuesday, according to data shared by the health department here.

The positivity rate increased slightly to 0.15 per cent from 0.10 per cent on Monday, the data showed.

The latest fatalities pushed the death toll in the national capital to 24,971.

On Monday, the city had recorded 59 cases, the lowest single-day rise this year, and two deaths.

On Sunday, Delhi had reported 89 cases and four deaths while the positivity rate stood at 0.12 per cent.

About 49% of 60 years & above population vaccinated with first dose of Covid vaccine: Centre

About 49 per cent of the population aged 60 years and above has been vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, government said on Tuesday.

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Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine shows promise against Delta variant in lab study

Moderna Inc said on Tuesday its Covid-19 vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies against emerging variants, including the delta variant first identified in India, in a lab study.

Data was reported from blood serum from eight participants obtained one week after they received the second dose of the vaccine in an early-stage trial.

Why Centre's approval needed for door-to-door vaccination? HC asks Maharashtra govt

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government why it needs an approval from the Centre to start door-to-door vaccination programme for senior citizens, specially-abled and bedridden persons in the state.

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13.8 crore people aged 60 years & above vaccinated with first dose of Covid vaccine: Centre

An estimated 13.8 crore people, that is 49 per cent of the population, aged 60 years and above have been vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, government said on Tuesday.

About 59.7 crore people aged 18-44 years, that is 15 per cent of the population, have been vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine, it said.

A total of 51 Delta plus variant cases reported in India, according to Union Health Ministry

We will soon close the deal on Pfizer as well: V K Paul

There are four vaccines now Covaxin, Covishield, SputnikV and Moderna. We will soon close the deal on Pfizer as well: Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog

From May 1 to June 24, 56% of Covid-19 vaccine doses given in rural areas, rest in urban areas, says Centre

Covid-19: Five patients at Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi suffer rectal bleeding due to CMV infection, one dies

Five Covid-19 patients have suffered cytomegalovirus-related rectal bleeding at a leading private facility in New Delhi during the second wave of the pandemic, hospital authorities said on Tuesday, claiming that it was being reported for the "first time" in immunocompetent persons.

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Over 11,000 'super-spreaders' vaccinated in Ahmedabad under special drive

More than 11,000 people categorised as 'super-spreaders' have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city so far in a special drive started recently for their inoculation, local civic body said on Tuesday.

'Super-spreaders' are those who transmit an infectious disease to a large number of other people due to the nature of their job. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) recently started a special vaccination drive for 'super-spreaders', like vegetable vendors, grocers, petrol pump staff, barbers, courier and food delivery agents.

Bhupesh Baghel asks PM Modi to send 1 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses to Chhattisgarh in July

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide at least one crore doses of vaccines against Covid-19 to the state next month, an official said here on Tuesday.

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Pharma major Cipla on Tuesday received the DCGI's approval to import Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for restricted emergency use in India.

Odisha reports 2,640 new Covid-19 cases, its lowest in last three months, says Health official

Police personnel try to regulate beneficiaries during Covid-19 vaccination, at a district nurses training centre, in Thane.

Credit: PTI Photo

EMA to assess Covishield production site, says no role in EU travel approval: Report

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will assess the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covishield manufacturing sites before approving it. However, the agency said it has no role in lifting European Union (EU) travel restrictions.

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Over 34,000 children tested Covid-19 positive in Assam in last three months

As many as 34,606 children tested positive for Covid-19 positive since April this year, of which, 34 succumbed to the virus so far.

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Chinese Covid-19 vaccine CoronaVac safe, effective in 3 to 17-year-old children: Lancet Study

Two doses of the China-made Covid-19 vaccine, CoronaVac, are safe and produce a strong antibody response among children and adolescents aged 3-17 years, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

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Delhi hospital sees first case of rectal bleeding among Covid-19 patients

Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine may get DCGI nod soon

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is likely to give its nod to Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine soon for emergency use for 18 years and above,PTIreported quoting sources.

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Moderna seeks nod for Covid-19 vaccine in India; Cipla to market jab

Moderna seeks regulatory approval for its Covid-19 vaccine in India; Cipla applies for import, marketing authorisation of jabs: sources

(PTI)

Cases reducing but second wave not over: Harsh Vardhan

Uttarakhand postpones Char Dham yatra

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday postponed the Char Dham Yatra in compliance with the order of the High Court over fears of the Covid situation.

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SC issues directions regarding welfare of migrant workers, urges states to run community kitchens till end of pandemic

SC directs states, union territories to implement 'one nation, one ration card' scheme till July 31.

(PTI)

No shortage of vaccines in Karnataka: K Sudhakar

US announces $41 million additional Covid-19 assistance to India

The US has announced an additional $41 million assistance to help India respond to theCovid-19 pandemic and strengthen the country’s preparedness for the future health emergencies, taking the total aid to more than $200 million.

In April and May, India struggled with the second wave of theCovid-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new cases. Hospitals were reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

(PTI)

Johnson & Johnson to not conduct trials for its Covid-19 vaccine in India: Report

Johnson & Johnson will not will not be undertaking local trials for its single-shot Covid-19 vaccine in India, theEconomic Timesreported on Tuesday, citing a company spokesperson.

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Over 17 lakh tests conducted over past 24 hours: ICMR

India logs 37,566 new Covid-19 cases, 907 more fatalities

India on Tuesday reported 37,566new Covid-19 cases and 907deaths. The country's daily infections fell below the 40,000-mark after 102 days, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.

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Three Australian cities lock down in fight against Delta Covid-19 variant

Australia's most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), reported a slight rise in locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, while officials tightened curbs to contain flare-ups of the highly infectious Delta variant in several other regions.

An outbreak in NSW capital Sydney linked to the variant has grown to nearly 150 cases. Worries the strain could touch off major outbreaks have forced lockdowns in three major cities and some form of curbs in several others - affecting more than 20 million Australians, or about 80% of the population.

(Reuters)

Centre's 60L jabs in July to slacken Karnataka's vaccination drive

Karnataka is set to receive nearly 60 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines in July, allowing it to administer just about two lakh jabs daily, slowing down the pace of the vaccination drive.

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Jobless for months, school bus, van drivers resort to street vending

School bus and van drivers are sinking into a deeper financial crisis as a government panel’s recommendation to use own vehicles to transport children seems to have ended hopes of reviving their services.

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Hong Kong to ban passenger flights from UK to curb virus spread

Hong Kong says it will ban all passenger flights from the UK starting Thursday as it seeks to curb the spread of new variants of the coronavirus.

It said in a statement Monday that the UK has been classified as “extremely high risk“ because of the “recent rebound of the epidemic situation in the UK and the widespread delta variant virus strain there.”

(AP)

Brazil passes 5,00,000 Covid-19 deaths, a tragedy with no sign of letup

Brazilians were recovering from Carnival in the heady days of February 2020 when the first known carriers of the new coronavirus flew home from Europe, planting the seeds of catastrophe.

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SII, Bharat Biotech supplied 30% fewer vaccines in first 5 months of 2021: Data

The two Indian manufacturers of Covid-19 vaccines appear to have supplied at least 30% fewer doses than their known production capacities in the first five months of this year, suggests an analysis of the data shared by the Union Health Ministry in an affidavit presented before the Supreme Court.

Read more here

40% higher hospital mortality in second Covid-19 wave, suggests new study

The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic witnessed more than 40% higher level of hospital fatality in India, according to a nine-hospital study, which found that the maximum death rate happened among those who are less than 45 years of age.

Read more here

India’s cumulative vaccination coverage exceeds 32.85 crores, more than 48.01 lakh vaccine doses administered till 7 pm today. More than 8.95 crores vaccine doses administered in the age group 18-44, so far: Union Health Ministry.