The government on Saturday extended the free foodgrain scheme by six more months. This as India’s Covid-19 death toll climbed to 5,20,855 with 4,100 fatalities recorded in a day and Maharashtra reconciling the number of deaths caused by the viral disease in the state, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. Stay with TOI for latest updatesRead Less
Shanghai has launched a new round of city-wide screening using both nucleic acid and antigen testing amid its latest efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak
Centre’s TDB, Sapigen Biologix ink deal to make intranasal Covid-19 vaccine and malaria drug
The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology and Sapigen Biologix Private Limited, Hyderabad on Saturday entered into an agreement for development and commercialisation of two novel vaccines — “Intranasal Covid-19 Vaccine and RTS, S Malaria Vaccine”.
India’s cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage crosses 183.16 crore
India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage crossed 183.16 crore with the administration of over 26 lakh doses during the past 24 hours, informed Union Health Ministry on Saturday. “With the administration of more than 26,65,241 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 183.16 crore (1,83,16,09,155) as per provisional reports till 7 am today,” the Ministry said in a press release.
Chhattisgarh sees 12 Covid-19 cases, no death; nearly 4 crore vaccine doses administered so far
Chhattisgarh on Saturday reported 12 Covid-19 cases, taking the state’s tally to 11,52,050, while the death toll remained unchanged at 14,034, an official said. The positivity rate, or cases detected per 100 tests, stood at 0.14 per cent, he added. The recovery count rose to 11,37,869 after five people completed home isolation during the day, leaving the state with 147 active cases, he said.
India, Maldives agree to mutually recognise each other’s Covid-19 certificates
India and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to mutually recognise the Covid-19 vaccine certificates issued by each other, a move that will facilitate easier travel between the two countries and give boost to the tourism sector. Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid after their talks here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated the Maldives for scripting a success story during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Delhi records 120 Covid cases, zero death; positivity rate 0.44 pc
Delhi on Saturday reported 120 fresh Covid-19 cases and zero death, while the positivity rate stood at 0.44 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. These cases came out of the 27,182 tests, conducted a day ago.
Assam reports no cases, in the last 24 hours; one recovery & zero deaths logged.
Mumbai logs 33 new Covid-19 cases; active tally at 252: PTI
Govt extends free foodgrain scheme PMGKAY by six months till September, says Food Minister Piyush Goyal
Over 50 lakh in Tamil Nadu yet to receive first dose of Covid-19 vaccination: Health Minister
More than 50 lakh people were yet to receive the first dose of vaccination against Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu while over 1.34 crore people have not got their second dose with short messaging services sent to such individuals encouraging them to receive the jabs, state Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Saturday. Subramanian along with Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises T M Anbarasan inspected the 26th edition of the Mega Vaccination Camp which is currently underway in over 50,000 camps across the state.
Govt considering Covid-19 vaccine booster dose for Indians travelling overseas for education, jobs, official and business commitments
The government may soon allow a precaution dose of Covid-19 vaccine for those seeking to travel abroad for education, employment, sports and for attending official or business commitments, official sources said on Saturday. Discussions are also underway on whether overseas-bound travellers opting for booster dose should receive the shot at private vaccination centres and pay for it, they said.
Covid infection linked to higher risk of neuropathy
Some people infected with Covid-19 during the pandemic’s early months experienced peripheral neuropathy, pain, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, during and following their bouts with the virus, finds a new study. The study, published in the journal Pain, found that those who tested positive for the virus were about three times more likely to report pain, numbness or tingling in their hands and feet as those with negative tests.
Canada funds to clear pandemic-related medical backlogs
The Canadian federal government announced it would provide an additional C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) one-time top-up to provinces and territories to reduce the backlog accumulated during the Covid-19 pandemic.According to a statement issued by Finance Ministry, the Covid-19 pandemic has delayed an estimated 700,000 surgeries and other medical procedures, resulting in an increase of waitlists and backlogs, reports Xinhua news agency.
3rd Covid vax may improve immune response in blood cancer patients
The weakened immune systems of blood cancer patients can improve after they receive a third Covid-19 vaccination, finds a new study.Patients with lymphoma have defects in their immune system that restrict their response to vaccination. Despite this, the new study found improvements in antibody and T-cell responses after a third vaccine dose, except in patients who had recently received a certain antibody treatment for their cancer.”Despite the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions worldwide, a cloud continues to hang over immunosuppressed patients, who may not develop protective immune responses after vaccination,” said Sean Lim from the University of Southampton, who led the research.
Pakistan reports 189 new Covid-19 cases, 4 deaths in last 24 hrs
Pakistan has reported 189 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Friday.With the new infections, the overall number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has risen to 1,523,590 in the country, according to the NCOC data.
No new Covid-19 cases, fatalities in Puducherry
The union territory of Puducherry did not report any fresh coronavirus cases for a second straight day as the overall caseload remained at 1,65,774, a senior Health department official said on Saturda. As many as 221 samples were tested during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM Saturday, Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release here.
Centre plans to resume printing PM’s photo on Covid vaccination certificates in 5 states: Source
With the conclusion of the Assembly polls in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, the Centre plans to resume publishing the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Covid-19 vaccination certificates in these states.Modi’s photo was removed from the vaccination certificates in the five states — Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Manipur — on January 8, after the announcement of the poll dates and the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.
The pat-down search conducted by the security personnel at the airport is re-introduced. Wearing masks at the airport or aircraft should still be continued: Airports Authority of India
As per revised Covid-19 guidelines, the restriction of keeping 3 seats vacant on International flights is removed. Also, the requirement of a complete PPE kit for crew members stands removed: Airports Authority of India
Maharashtra reported a high death toll because of the inclusion of non-Covid fatalities (4,005) reported till Friday. The state reported two fresh deaths caused by the viral disease in the last 24 hours, according to a media bulletin.
