E-Paper
Highlights: 'All hypotheses remain open', says WHO chief on pandemic's origin
While the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have come under control in the second worst-hit India, it is still very much active in the US, whose global tally of cases is the highest.
India's count of cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is at 10,880,603 after the Union health ministry on Friday said that the country had recorded 9,309 new infections in the preceding 24 hours. The global tally of cases, meanwhile, is at well over 107 million, as per the Johns Hopkins University tracker, which also shows that the global death toll due to the disease is at over 2.36 million. While India has the second-highest tally globally, that of the United States, the highest in the world, is in excess of 27 million, the tracker shows....Read More
Click here for full Covid-19 coverage
The world's largest vaccination drive against Covid-19 is currently underway in India and, according to the health ministry's latest figures, more than 7.5 million healthcare and frontline workers have been inoculated against the disease. In the first phase of the drive, which commenced on January 16, India aims to vaccinate 30 million workers, who are scheduled to receive their second vaccine shots from February 13 onwards. Covishield and Covaxin anti Covid-19 vaccines are being used in the country.
'All hypotheses remain open', says WHO chief on pandemic's origin
World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press briefing on Friday that all 'hypotheses are still open' in the WHO's search for the origins of Covid-19, reported Reuters.
Kuwait records 1,021 new Covid-19 cases, 7 deaths
Kuwait reported1,021 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 176,052. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced seven more deaths, taking the death toll to 992, reported news agency ANI.
Karnataka records 380 new Covid-19 cases, 8 fatalities
Maharashtra records 3,670 new cases of Covid-19, 36 fatalities
Maharashtra records 3,670 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, taking the state-wide tally to 2,056,575. 36 deaths were also recorded in the last 24 hours, the death toll currently stands at 51,451.
Delhi records 141 new cases of Covid-19, 3 fatalities
229.7 lakh doses of India-made Covid-19 vaccine has been supplied around the world: MEA
Anurag Srivastav, MEA, spokesperson said at a press conference that India has supplied a total of 229.7 lakh doses of India-made Covid-19 vaccines all over the world till date. Adding that 64.7 lakh doses have been supplied as a grant while 165 lakh doses have been supplied on a commercial basis.
Bosnia starts vaccination drive with Russia's Sputnik V
After receiving its first batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccines Bosnia started its vaccination drive on Friday. So far only healthcare workers have been vaccinated but a mass inoculation drive has also been planned for later this month, reported Reuters.
Melbourne placed under lockdown for 5 days
The second most populous city in Australia has been placed under a snap lockdown for 5 days. A new and developing Covid-19 cluster linked to a quarantine hotel in Melbourne has forced authorities to declare fresh lockdown in the city, reported Reuters.
Mutated Covid-19 strain from UK found in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has reported the highly contagious new variant of the coronavirus found in the UK, Dr Chandima Jeewandara, a health official, said on Friday. Jeewandara added that four mutated samples have been found and all are from different locations, reported PTI.
6 states account for 79.87% of new cases
Russia reports 15,089 new Covid-19 cases, tally reaches 40,42,837 cases
With 15,089 new Covid-19 cases and 507 new fatalities, Russia's Covid-19 tally reached 40,42,837 cases and 79,194 deaths, reports Reuters.
'Antibodies will develop in about 14 days after second vaccine shot': AIIMS Director Dr R Guleria
Answering a question about Covid-19 vaccines, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said that "A good amount of antibodies will develop about 14 days after second vaccine shot. It is not clear how long the protection will last but it is believed that it will last for at least 8 months, or may be longer."
Health ministry says 18 states, UTs reported no deaths in last 24 hours
According to the health ministry, 18 states/UTs have reported no Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.
Four states, UTs reports no new Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours: Government
Government says Dadra And Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Tripura and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have recorded no new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, reports ANI.
Odisha health ministry says 2.73 lakh healthcare workers vaccinated for Covid-19
Odisha health ministry says 2.73 lakh healthcare workers have been vaccinated in the state, in the first phase of Covid-19 vaccinations.
India's active cases slump to under 140,000
India's active Covid-19 caseload at 135,926 while recoveries rise to 10,589,230 with 15,858 new discharges.
India records 9,309 new Covid-19 cases
India's Covid-19 tally reaches 10,880,603 with 9,309 new infections in last 24 hours. Death toll at 155,447 with 87 new deaths.
5-day 'snap lockdown' imposed in Australia's Melbourne
A five-day 'snap lockdown' has been announced in Australia's Melbourne after a Covid-19 cluster linked to a city hotel expanded to 13 cases as of Thursday midnight.
Schools to reopen in West Bengal today for class 9-12
West Bengal to resume schools for classes 9 to 12 from today, following Covid-19 guidelines.
Mexico reports 10,677 new Covid-19 cases
Mexico reports 10,677 new Covid-19 cases and 1,474 deaths. National tally reaches 1,968,566 cases while death toll at 171,234.
US to acquire 200 million more doses of Covid-19 vaccines
President Joe Biden has announced that his administration has signed deals for 100 million more doses each of Moderna and Pfizer anti Covid-19 vaccines.
