LIVE: UK reports 915 new Covid deaths, 20,634 cases

Chhattisgarh on Thursday reported 373 new coronavirus cases and six deaths, taking the infection count to 3,06,743 and death toll to 3,724, a health official said. The number of recoveries rose to 2,98,724 after 28 people were discharged from hospitals and 359 completed home isolation, leaving the state with 4,295 active cases.

Britain reported 915 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19 on Thursday, down from 1,322 a day earlier, with a further 20,634 cases of the disease. Official data showed 10.49 million people had been given the first dose of a vaccine, up from 10.02 million people announced on Wednesday.

Nearly 9,500 healthcare workers received Covid-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on Thursday in the third week of the inoculation drive, with a turnout of more than 51 per cent. After a sluggish start, since the exercise was kicked off on January 16, the inoculation drive had picked up pace in the last several days. The targeted number for vaccination on February 4 was 18,300, officials said.

"Today, 9,494 people were administered coronavirus vaccine, and AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) was reported in 13 persons," a senior official of the Delhi Health Department said. On the previous day of the vaccination drive, 7,365 healthcare workers had got the jabs, with a turnout of about 40 per cent.

Karnataka reported 474 new Covid- 19 cases and two deaths, taking the total number of infections to 9,41,070 and the toll to 12,227, the Health department said on Thursday. The day also saw 470 patients getting discharged as the total recoveries rose to 9,22,907 discharges. Of the fresh cases, as many as 263 were from Bengaluru Urban alone, a bulletin said. There were 5,917 active of which 146 were in intensive care units of various hospitals.

The Rajasthan government has made RT-PCR tests for detecting coronavirus mandatory for those participating in religious events or celebrating festivals in the state. Those willing to attend a fair in the state will have to register in advance with the district administration concerned, Principal Secretary (Home) Abhay Kumar referring to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the state government Wednesday night. The SOPs were issued as a preventive measure to contain the spread of Covid-19 during festivals, fairs and religious events, he said.

As many as 79 persons tested positive for coronavirus, while two died of the infection in Goa on Thursday, an official from the state health department said.

With this, the count of infections in the coastal state reached 53,717 and the toll rose to 770, the official said. At least 56 patients were discharged from various treatment facilities during the day, taking the count of recoveries to 52,165, he said. Currently, there are 782 active cases in the coastal state, the official said. With the addition of 1,938 samples tested during the day, the total number of tests conducted in the state has gone up to 4,58,068, he added.

The national capital logged 158 new coronavirus infections, taking its tally to 6,35,639. The death toll after seven new fatalities stands at 10,871.

Andhra Pradesh reported 79 new coronavirus infections, taking the state's tally to 8,88,178. The death toll currently stands at 7,157.

Sweden reported 3,758 new coronavirus infections and 89 fresh fatalities, taking the country's death toll to 12,028.

Beneficiaries aged above 50, the Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs and journalists are likely to be vaccinated against coronavirus soon, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar indicated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday.

Dr VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog, said that the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will be administered to healthcare workers from February 13.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that there was a structured and robust system of AEFI monitoring in the country and that it was strengthened in view of the Covid-19 vaccination. He also said that there were 8563 AEFI so far which constituted 0.18% of vaccinated people.

The Philippines recorded 1,590 new coronavirus infections, taking the country's tally to 531,699. The death toll after 55 new fatalities stands at 10,997.

Tamil Nadu, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir were among the 11 states and union territories where 30% or fewer healthcare workers were vaccinated as per the Union Health Ministry.

ICMR DG Balaram Bhargava said that the sero prevalence was highest among healthcare workers at 25.7%. He also said that statistically it was not different between doctors, nurses, field staff & paramedics, but it was highest among doctors and nurses with 26.6% as against the administrative staff which was 24.9%.

ICMR DG Balaram Bhargava said that the third sero survey was done from December 17 to January 8 and it included 28,589 individuals including 7,171 healthcare workers.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that 1,239 private hospitals and 5,912 public hospitals were being used as vaccination session sites for healthcare and front line workers.

The Union Health Ministry said that the nation's cumulative positivity rate was currently 5.42% and that it was declining. It also said that the positivity rate the previous week was 1.82%.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that Kerala and Maharashtra were the two states that accounted for 70% of all active coronavirus cases in the country. He also said that 47 districts had not reported any new Covid-19 cases in the last three weeks and 251 districts had not reported any Covid related deaths in the same time.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that deaths due to Covid-19 were on the decline.

Bangladesh's Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd said on Thursday the Serum Institute of India (SII) had delayed the first supplies of a Covid-19 vaccine for private sale, instead prioritising government immunisation campaigns.

The Union Health Ministry said that about 4.5 million coronavirus vaccination doses have been administered so far in India's vaccination drive. 44,49,552 beneficiaries have received the shot.

Odisha reported 87 new coronavirus infections, taking the state's active case tally to 910. It also recorded 122 new recoveries.

Palestine will receive Russia's Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, enough to inoculate 5,000 people, as per as per the Health Minister.

Telangana reported 177 new coronavirus infections, taking the state's tally to 2,95,101. The death toll after two new fatalities stands at 1,606.