Swab testing at Mumbai's Juhu beach.
With 227 deaths in the last 24 hours, the death toll due to Covid-19 in Maharashtra reached 54,549 on Wednesday. This was the highest death toll recorded in a single day this year. The state also reported 39,544 new Covid-19 cases. The total caseload of the state is now at 28,12,980.
A day before India open up its Covid-19 vaccination drive to people above 45, the Centre on Wednesday asked states and Union Territories to identify low vaccine-coverage pockets, particularly in districts reporting a surge in new infections, and take corrective action. The status and pace of the inoculation drive across the country were reviewed at the meeting held through video-conferencing, as were the preparations for April 2021, when vaccination would be extended to cover everybody above the age of 45, a statement by the health ministry said.
In other news, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Devegowda and his wife Chennamma tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. “My wife Chennamma and I have tested positive for COVID-19. We are self-isolating along with other family members. I request all those who came in contact with us over the last few days to get themselves tested. I request party workers and well-wishers not to panic,” Devegowda said in a tweet.
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With 227 deaths in the last 24 hrs, the death toll due to Covid-19 in Maharashtra has reached 54,549. This was the highest death toll recorded in a single day this year. The state also reported 39,544 new Covid-19 cases. The total caseload of the state is now at 28,12,980.
Amidst a growing surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, the government will roll out the third phase of its vaccination drive from April 1. The Centre has warned that the situation is going from “bad to worse” and urged states to achieve 100 per cent vaccination coverage of those above the age of 45 years in surge districts within the next two weeks. From eligibility to the registration process, here's everything you need to know about the next phase of the vaccination.
Russia has registered the world’s first vaccine for animals against COVID-19, its agricultural regulator said on Wednesday, after tests showed it generated antibodies against the virus in dogs, cats, foxes and mink. Mass production of the vaccine, called Carnivac-Cov, can start in April, regulator Rosselkhoznadzor said.
India's drug regulator DCGI has extended the shelf life of Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, from six to nine months from its manufacturing date. In a letter to the Serum Institute of India, Drugs Controller General of India V G Somani said the SII is permitted to apply the shelf life of nine months to unlabelled vials available on hand.
Shelf life is the length of time for which an item remains fit for use. The DCGI said it has no objection in respect of 'Extension of Shelf Life of Covishield Vaccine' in a multi-dose glass vial (10 dose-5ml) from six months to nine months. (PTI)
A court in Vietnam on Tuesday issued a two-year suspended jail term to a flight attendant over breaking Covid-19 quarantine rules and allegedly spreading the virus to others. The 29-year-old man is the first person in the country to go on trial for violating Covid rules.
Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall.
Most COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at higher risk from the coronavirus. Pfizer’s vaccine is authorized for ages 16 and older. But vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to stopping the pandemic — and helping schools, at least the upper grades, start to look a little more normal after months of disruption. More details here.
A day before India open up its Covid-19 vaccination drive to people above 45, the Centre on Wednesday asked states and Union Territories to identify low vaccine-coverage pockets, particularly in districts reporting a surge in new infections and take corrective action. The status and pace of the inoculation drive across the country were reviewed at the meeting held through video-conferencing, as were the preparations for April 2021, when vaccination would be extended to cover everybody above the age of 45, a statement by the health ministry said.
As India starts vaccinating everyone above the age of 45 from April 1, a commonly asked question remains whether taking the jab will mean you can no longer drink alcohol. So should you avoid alcohol after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine?
There is no need to abstain from alcohol only because you have taken your shot of the vaccine. Alcohol will not by itself render the vaccine ineffective against the novel coronavirus infection. More details here.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope Wednesday said that people should be ready for stringent measures in the coming days to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the state. "Though the state does not want to implement a lockdown, saving lives is paramount. Thus, the state could undertake measures to curb further spread of the coronavirus," he was quoted as saying by PTI. On Tuesday, Maharashtra reported 27,918 new cases of coronavirus, taking the tally to 27,73,436.
Women will not reach parity with men until the middle of the next century as the COVID-19 pandemic hits them hardest, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) report released on Wednesday.
“The pandemic has fundamentally impacted gender equality in both the workplace and the home, rolling back years of progress,” said WEF’s managing director Saadia Zahidi.
The annual report estimated that the gender gap will not be closed for another 135.6 years, versus 99.5 years previously. More details here.
Maharashtra Health Minister Wednesday said there is no shortage of beds, medicines and doctors in the state. "We're increasing testing, tracking & tracing in the State. We are also going to increase the number of vaccination centres. Today, there is no shortage of beds, medicines, doctors. If the number of cases keeps rising,then, we'll have to take a decision," he added.
Tamil Nadu government Wednesday extended the statewide lockdown with relaxations till April 30. It stressed on effective enforcement of the Test-Track-Treat protocol.
In January, Britain made a change to its vaccine guidelines that shocked many health experts: If the second dose of one vaccine wasn’t available, patients could be given a different one.
The new rule was based on sheer guesswork; there was no scientific data at the time demonstrating that mixing two coronavirus vaccines was safe and effective. But that may change soon.
In February, researchers at the University of Oxford began a trial in which volunteers received a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine followed by a dose of AstraZeneca’s formulation, or vice versa. This month, the researchers will start analyzing the blood of the subjects to see how well the mix-and-match approach works.
Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda Wednesday confirmed that he tested positive for Covid-19.
"My wife Chennamma and I have tested positive for COVID-19. We are self-isolating along with other family members. I request all those who came in contact with us over the last few days to get themselves tested. I request party workers and well-wishers not to panic," Devegowda said in a tweet.
The 87-year-old veteran leader also requested party workers and well-wishers to avoid panic and take suitable precautions to avoid infection.
The Union Health Ministry Wednesday said that eight states -- Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab & Madhya Pradesh accounted for 84.73% of the new Covid-19 cases.
The Covid surge in Delhi has mainly affected the younger population with most of the patients reporting “relatively milder symptoms”, according to AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria. But there is a need to remain vigilant, he said, because the infection can “spread to the elderly” and trigger “serious symptoms”, which would once again put healthcare resources under strain.
And, while some states are considering the option of imposing another lockdown, Guleria said that having more containment zones within a city would be a better strategy in containing the spread.
At least nine people have tested positive for COVID-19 in a Chinese city on the border with Myanmar, health officials said Wednesday.
Five are Chinese citizens are four are Myanmar nationals, the Yunnan Province Health Commission said in a report posted online.
The city of Ruili, with a population of about 210,000 people, said all residents would be tested for COVID-19 and would have to home quarantine for one week. The residential compound where the infections were found has been locked down.
In view of increasing covid cases in the national capital, random COVID-19 testing of passengers arriving at the Delhi Airport will be done from Wednesday, the Airport authorities have said, news agency ANI reported.
Passengers who are found to be positive will be quarantined.
India's drug regulator DCGI has extended the shelf life of Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, from six to nine months from its manufacturing date, PTI reported.
In a letter to the Serum Institute of India, Drugs Controller General of India V G Somani said the SII is permitted to apply the shelf life of nine months to unlabelled vials available on hand.
Shelf life is the length of time for which an item remains fit for use.