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Coronavirus LATEST Updates: The Centre has urged the states and UTs to ensure adequate allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to all hospitals, government as well as private, for the entire duration for which vaccination sessions have been planned As per reports, the decision was communicated to the states on Tuesday in a high-level meeting chaired by Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary along with Dr Ram S Sharma, Chairman of Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration An estimated 112 billion days of education have been lost altogether, with the world’s poorest children being disproportionately affected, a report by Save the Children revealed on Tuesday NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul urged people to come forward to get vaccinated and stressed that public compliance for COVID-19 appropriate behaviour cannot be diluted As per an official, samples of 390 teachers, staff members and students were taken after schools reopened recently, out of which the report of 54 students came out positive in Karnal’s Kunjpura Sainik school Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday said that although certain states in the country like Maharashtra and Kerala have seen a surge in the number of active cases, the fact remains that the recovered cases are more than 97% Giving the overall vaccination statistics, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that in total 1.48 crore doses have been dispensed in the same time frame The Union defence minister tweeted that India’s resolve for making the country ‘COVID free’ has been strengthened by the inoculation drive. “The vaccine is completely safe and hassle-free,” he said Asked whether there will be any shortage of doses in Maharashtra as the vaccination drive is being scaled up, state immunisation officer Dr Dilip Patil told PTI that the Centre is releasing a sufficient number of doses to the state Five states account for 84.16% of the active COVID-19 cases, while six states and UTs have a weekly positivity rate higher than the national average of 2 percent, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday The study comes as France and Germany consider reversing their refusal to authorise the AstraZeneca vaccine for those over the age of 65 due to concerns of its efficacy. A total of 1,57,248 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 52,184 from Maharashtra, followed by 12,501 from Tamil Nadu, 12,336 from Karnataka and 10,911 from Delhi. The Union health ministry on Tuesday said that the single-daily surge in coronavirus infection was witnessed in Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The Union health minister was administered the vaccine shot at Delhi Heart & Lung Institute in New Delhi. Vardhan was innoculated along with his wife. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 21,76,18,057 samples for COVID-19 have been tested up to 1 March. Of the total, 7,59,283 samples were tested on Monday alone. India’s active COVID-19 cases stand at 1,68,358, while 1,07,98,921 people have recovered from the infection so far, said Union health ministry on Tuesday. The COVID-19 toll was increased to 1.57 lakh after 91 more deaths were registered in the past 24 hours, said the Union health ministry on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine — he got his first dose of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin at AIIMS, New Delhi, early Monday morning. A total of 1,28,630 beneficiaries over 60 years of age and 18,850 aged 45 and above with co-morbidities took the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry as the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 1.47 crore. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on 16 January with the inoculation of healthcare workers, while the vaccination of the frontline workers (FLWs) started from 2 February. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from Monday for those over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 1.47 crore on Monday, the ministry said. The ministry said that 25 lakh potential beneficiaries registered on the Co-Win portal — cowin.gov.in since the registration opened up at 9 am on Monday. Out of this, 24.5 lakh are citizens and the rest are HCWs and FLWs. About 6.44 lakh appointments were booked by the citizen beneficiaries on Monday. “A total of 1,47,28,569 vaccine doses have been given, as per the provisional report till Monday 7 pm. These include 66,95,665 HCWs who have taken the 1st dose and 25,57,837 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 53,27,587 FLWs (1st dose), 1,28,630 beneficiaries more than 60 years old and 18,850 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities,” the ministry said. It further said that 4,27,072 vaccine doses were given till 7 pm on Monday, the forty-fifth day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination. Out of these, 3,25,485 beneficiaries were vaccinated for first dose and 1,01,587 HCWs received the second dose of the vaccine as per the provisional report, the ministry said, adding the final report would be completed for the day by late night. Vaccines provided at government health facilities are entirely free of cost, while private facilities cannot charge the beneficiary a sum above Rs 250 per person per dose (Rs 150 for vaccines and Rs100 as operational charges). Citizens can register and book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the Co-WIN 2.0 portal cowin.gov.in or through other IT applications such as Aarogya Setu. There is also a walk-in provision for beneficiaries to get themselves registered at the nearby session site to get vaccinated. The eligible beneficiaries can choose the centre of their choice and book an appointment based on the slots available. Citizens can register at the Co-WIN portal through their mobile number, according to a guidance document issued by the ministry. An OTP verification will be done prior to registration to ensure veracity of the mobile number and after registration, an account will be created on Co-WIN for the person. The person can access (login) his/her account on Co-WIN using the mobile phone number used at the time of registration. Features for adding beneficiaries, editing their details and for booking appointment(s) will be available in the citizen’s account, the document stated. The citizen can delete only the beneficiaries as have been added by him/her. “If one out of the four beneficiaries registered in an account is vaccinated, only three registrations are left, and so on. “Till the time of vaccination, all the records of registration and appointment can be edited/deleted by the person making the registration. Only when a person gets vaccinated, the record is locked and cannot be edited/deleted,” the document stated. The beneficiary then has to select the ID card type and provide ID card number. The photo ID card number for each such beneficiary must be different. Either of the following photo identity documents can be used by citizens for availing online registration — Aadhaar card/letter, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), passport, driving license, PAN card, NPR smart card or pension document with a photograph. If the age of the beneficiary is from 45 years to 59 years, the beneficiary will be prompted to confirm if he/she has any specified comorbidity. In such cases, the beneficiary will also be advised to bring the comorbidity certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner. Once all the necessary details are recorded by the beneficiary, registration is completed and an acknowledgement (registration slip/token) is sent to beneficiary on his registered mobile number. The facility for downloading and printing etc. has also been made available.
Coronavirus Updates: Don’t create buffer stock of COVID-19 vaccines, Centre tells states and UTs
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: The Centre has urged the states and UTs to ensure adequate allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to all hospitals, government as well as private, for the entire duration for which vaccination sessions have been planned
 "Coronavirus Updates: Don’t create buffer stock of COVID-19 vaccines, Centre tells states and UTs")
Over 1.54 crore vaccine doses administered so far, over 6 lakh on Tuesday: Govt
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses given in the country has crossed 1.54 crore which include 6,09,845 shots administered on Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry said in its provisional data, reports PTI.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on 16 January with healthcare workers (HCWs) being inoculated against the virus. Vaccination of the frontline workers (FLWs) started from 2 February.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on 1 March for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
A total of 1,54,61,864 vaccine doses have been given, as per the provisional report till 7 pm, the ministry said.
India’s overall case positivity rate suggests COVID-19 close to being under control, says govt
India’s present overall COVID-19 case positivity rate of 5.11 per cent suggests the pandemic is close to being under control, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
Addressing a weekly press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said though certain states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, are seeing a surge in number of COVID-19 active cases, “the fact remains that recovered cases are still more than 97 per cent and India’s total active cases are less than 2 per cent (1.51 per cent)”.
Bhushan said that central teams have been deputed to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. “We are monitoring Haryana also,” he said. Two states, Maharashtra and Kerala, account for 75 per cent of the total active COVID-19 cases in the country, he stated.
“According to WHO, if 140 tests per million are being conducted per day and case positivity rate is 5 per cent or below, it means the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. We are very close to that mark with the present overall case positivity being 5.11 per cent,” he said.
Centre urges states to ensure adequate allocation of COVID vaccines to hospitals
The Centre has urged the states and Union territories to ensure adequate allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to all hospitals, government as well as private, for the entire duration for which vaccination sessions have been planned.
At a meeting held on Tuesday, the Centre reiterated that there is no shortage of the vaccines and hence, adequate vaccine doses should be allocated to the COVID vaccination centres (CVCs). The states and Union territories should not store, reserve, conserve or create a buffer stock of the vaccines, the health ministry said in a statement.
“The central government has adequate stock and will provide the required vaccine doses to the states and UTs,” it said.
The Centre urged the states and Union territories to utilise the optimum capacity of all private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and the state health insurance schemes to enable them to effectively function as CVCs.
Delhi HC issues guidelines on physical court hearings, visitors to maintain social distancing
The Delhi High Court Tuesday issued certain guidelines to be followed upon resumption of physical court hearings from March 15, including that visitors and advocates shall maintain social distancing as per government norms, reports PTI.
A circular issued by the adminstration branch of the high court said entry of litigants will be regulated as it was during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period and facilitation counter/ pass counter will also function in the normal manner.
All the visitors including lawyers shall maintain social distancing as per norms/ protocol issued by the government of India/ Delhi government and or this court, it said.
It added that all the gates including the entry and exit gates of underground car parking shall be opened and operated as it was done pre-pandemic period.
Centre directs states to utilise private hospitals in full capacity for vaccination drive
The Centre Tuesday directed states to utilise all the private hospitals for the vaccination drive. “Private hospitals not empanelled under the above mentioned three categories have also been permitted to operate as COVID Vaccination Centers (CVCs)…States/UTs can proactively make efforts to use these private hospitals as CVCs,” the Union Health Ministry said.
Platform ticket fare raised five times at some Mumbai stations to avoid overcrowding
The Central Railways has increased the price of platform tickets at some key stations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to avoid overcrowding in view of the coronavirus pandemic, PTI reported on Tuesday.
The Central Railways Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar on Tuesday said that tickets would now cost Rs 50 instead of the earlier Rs 10 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Dadar and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai, and neighbouring Kalyan, Thane, Panvel and Bhiwandi Road stations.
Beneficiaries can take first, second vaccine shot at different places, says Centre
The Union health ministry on Tuesday said that people can take the first and second dose of the coronavirus vaccine at different locations as well as change the dates of their inoculation schedule, reports Scroll.in
“When you schedule a reservation and take your first jab, the second jab is also scheduled automatically at the same place, where you took your first jab,” RS Sharma, the chairperson of Empowered Group on Covid-19 vaccination, said at a press briefing. “…Now, in case you think you are not able to go to that place because of various reasons… you may change that also.”
He pointed out that the system will show only those locations that are administering the same vaccine given as the first dose
Centre asks for report from K’taka govt over minister getting COVID shot at home
The Centre on Tuesday said that it has asked for a report from the Karnataka government in connection with state Agriculture Minister B C Patil taking COVID-19 vaccine at his house instead of going to a hospital, reports PTI.
Patil on Tuesday courted controversy after taking the vaccine at his house instead of going to a hospital, drawing criticism from state Health Minister K Sudhakar and others.
Patil, 64, and his wife took the vaccine at his Hirekerur residence in Haveri district on the second day of the new phase of the vaccination drive to cover people aged above 60 and those aged 45 plus with co-morbidities.
“This is not allowed in the protocol. It has come to our notice and we have asked for a report from the state government,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in response to a query at a press conference.
Children have lost over a third of standard global 190-day school year due to COVID-19: Report
Children across the world have lost an average of 74 days of education or more than a third of the standard global 190-day school year each due to COVID-19-related school closures and lack of access to remote learning, a report by Save the Children revealed on Tuesday, reports PTI.
In total, an estimated 112 billion days of education have been lost altogether, with the world’s poorest children being disproportionately affected, it said.
New analysis of data for 194 countries and different regions showed that children in Latin America and the Caribbean, and South Asia, missed out on almost triple the education of children in Western Europe, the child rights NGO said.
For the study, the analysis of the total number of 112 billion days of lost education and the impact per region, Save the Children looked at existing data on school closures, access to remote learning, out of school rates, and school-aged population.
Centre urges citizens to get vaccinated, comply with COVID appropriate behaviour
NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul urged people to come forward to get vaccinated and stressed that public compliance for COVID-19 appropriate behaviour cannot be diluted.
He said one of the reasons for the surge in cases in some states are large gatherings, parties and weddings. He urged people to maintain social distancing and avoid gatherings, stating these can act as super-spreading events.
No glitches in Co-WIN portal, says official
R S Sharma, the Chairman of the Empowered Group (EG) on COVID-19 Vaccine Administration on Monday said there were no glitches in the system. “What happened was that people were looking for an App on Playstore which appeared similar to Co-WIN and started using that when no mobile App meant for registration is actually present right now”, he said.
Citizens can register and book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the Co-WIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Aarogya Setu, he said.
“Since last morning, when the registrations were opened up at 9 am, we had about 50 lakh registrations on our site. Though there were some glitches in the first version of the Co-WIN which was launched on January 16, we have had no glitches in the new version of the system,” he said.
About 50 lakh registrations on Co-WIN portal since Monday, 2.08 lakh received first shot: Govt
About 50 lakh people have registered themselves on the Co-WIN portal without any glitch since the window opened Monday morning, the Centre said Tuesday, adding that over 2.08 lakh beneficiaries have received their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the second phase of the inoculation drive so far.
The vaccination drive for those over 60 years of age and within the age bracket of 45-60 years with specified comorbidities began on 1 March, and the registrations opened at 9 am Monday on the Co-WIN portal — cowin.gov.in.
In the first tow phases so far, 1,48,55,073 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the country till 1 pm on Tuesday, out of which 67,04,856 healthcare workers have been given the first dose of the vaccine and 25,98,192 healthcare workers have been administered the second dose, the government said.
Besides, 53,43,219 frontline workers have been administered the first dose of vaccine till now.
As many as 2,08,791 people above 60 years of age and those aged 45-60 years with comorbidities have taken the first dose of the vaccine, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a weekly press conference.
Nigeria receives Made in India vaccines, says EAM S Jaishankar
Global South policy at work.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 2, 2021
Nigeria receives Made in India vaccines. #VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/0sdJxVqyXn
Acceptance for free, safe COVID-19 vaccine high among Indian women: Survey
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among pregnant women and mothers is the highest in India, the Philippines and some Latin American countries, according to a survey of 16 countries that asked questions premised on a safe and free preventive with 90 percent efficacy, reports PTI.
The survey to assess the response of pregnant women and mothers of children younger than 18 years and their willingness to vaccinate themselves and their children was conducted by a led by team from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The online survey was conduced between late October and mid-November 2020. Almost 18,000 women in 16 countries responded to questions about the hypothetical safe and free COVID-19 vaccine with 90 per cent efficacy, the Harvard researchers said.
Devendra Fadnavis alleges corruption in COVID-19 management in Maharashtra
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday alleged corruption in the measures taken by the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government in handling the COVID-19 situation in the state, reports PTI.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition also referred to a Central survey and said the number of COVID-19 deaths in Maharashtra could have been lesser by 30,900 and the cases by 9.55 lakh had the state government handled the situation properly.
Maharashtra’s caseload is 21,61,467 and the fatality count is 52,184 as on March 1, as per state health department.
Launching a broadside against the state government on various issues, Fadnavis wondered why an FIR was not registered in connection with the death of a Pune-based woman and accused the government of pressuring the police.
54 students of Haryana school hostel test positive for Covid-19
Fifty four students of a school near here have tested COVID-19 positive leading to suspension of classes and other academic activities, an official said on Tuesday.
Karnal Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Yogesh Sharma said three students of Sainik School Kunjpura had tested positive for the virus on Monday following which the health department took samples of 390 students and staff members of the school for testing.
“The reports revealed that 54 students are COVID-19 positive,” Sharma said.
54 students of a school hostel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Karnal, Haryana. Our medical teams have reached the spot and the hostel is being marked as a containment zone: Yogesh Kumar Sharma, Civil Surgeon, Karnal pic.twitter.com/DZrONIenwp
— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2021
50 lakh registered on CoWIN since yesterday, says official
RS Sharma, Chairman, Empowered Group on COVID vaccination on Tuesday said that since yesterday, “we have had 50 lakh registrations on CoWIN for COVID19 vaccination”.
Despite recent surge, active cases less than 2%, says Centre
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday said that although certain states in the country have seen a surge in the number of active cases, the fact remains that the recovered cases are more than 97 percent and active cases are still less than 2 percent.
Over 1.48 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine given till 1 pm today: Centre
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday addressed the media over the COVID-19 situation in the country. He said more than 1.48 crores doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered till 1 pm today. “Out of this, 2.08 lakh doses have been given to people who are 45 years to 59 years of age with comorbidities & people with above 60 years of age,” he added.
Goa: Co-WIN snag halts vaccination drive for senior citizens
A snag in the Co-WIN portal affected the COVID-19 vaccination process for senior citizens at private hospitals in Goa in initial hours on Tuesday, a Health official said.
The portal developed a glitch soon after the process for vaccination began after 9 AM, forcing many senior citizens who had gathered at the hospitals to take the first dose to leave.
“As the snag stalled the entire process in the first one hour, several senior citizens had to go back. We regret the inconvenience caused to them,” he said.
The process restarted at 2.30 pm after the snag was fixed, the official said.
Meanwhile, the Goa health department on Tuesday allowed 15 private hospitals to administer COVID-19 shots to the people who are eligible under the latest drive.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
I salute the efforts of India’s scientists and doctors who developed the Vaccine in a short span of time.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 2, 2021
I also thank the Doctors and paramedic staff at the RR Hospital for the vaccination.
I urge everyone who is eligible to take the vaccine and make India COVID free.
Prithviraj Chavan slams Centre for letting private hospitals charge for vaccine
Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday questioned the Centre’s decision to let private hospitals charge people for COVID-19 vaccine in the phase-II of the immunisation drive that began on Monday, reports PTI.
Last week, the government had announced that people above the age of 60 and those over 45 years suffering from co-morbidities can avail the vaccine for free at government facilities and for Rs 250 at private hospitals.
According to a statement issued by his office, Chavan said in phase-I of the drive, the Union government had procured 1.65 crore doses of the vaccine at a cost of Rs 210 per dose.
EC extends polling time by 30 minutes for first phase of Bengal elections
The Election Commission (EC) has extended polling time by 30 minutes for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections, and voters will now be able to exercise their franchise from 7 am to 6.30 pm, a notification issued by the poll panel on Tuesday said, reports PTI.
The decision was taken in view of the COVID-19 restrictions, an election official here said. “Keeping in mind the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the commission has decided to extend the polling time by 30 minutes. It will now be held from 7 am to 6.30 pm. The notification for the first phase of polls in West Bengal was issued this noon,” he said.
The first phase of elections is scheduled to be held on 27 March in 30 Assembly constituencies.
MNM chief Kamal Hassan takes first shot of vaccine in Chennai
Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan was on Tuesday administered with the COVID-19 vaccine at a city hospital.
The actor-politician was inoculated a day after the nationwide vaccination of 60 plus age group and those aged between 45-59 with co-morbidities was launched, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the first shot on Monday.
“I took the coronavirus vaccine at Sri Ramachandra Hospital. Those who care not only for themselves but also for others should get vaccinated,” Haasan said in a tweet that was accompanied with a picture of him getting vaccinated.
ஸ்ரீ ராமச்சந்திரா மருத்துவமனையில் கொரோனாவைரஸ் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக்கொண்டேன். தன் மேல் மாத்திரமல்ல, பிறர் மேல் அக்கறையுள்ளவர்களும் போட்டுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். உடல் நோய்த் தடுப்பூசி உடனடியாக, ஊழல் நோய்த் தடுப்பூசி அடுத்த மாதம். தயாராகிவிடுங்கள். pic.twitter.com/SmZEUr4qqT
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) March 2, 2021
Kotak Mahindra Bank MD and CEO Uday Kotak takes first shot of COVID-19 vaccine
Happy to share that I took the first shot of the vaccine this morning. Smooth and no pain. pic.twitter.com/G225LgDNCQ
— Uday Kotak (@udaykotak) March 2, 2021
Karnataka Minister BC Patil takes his first shot of COVID19 vaccine
Karnataka Minister BC Patil takes his first shot of the #COVID19 vaccine at his residence in Hirekerur, Haveri. pic.twitter.com/H0u0tBFL6G
— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2021
Maharashtra and Kerala account for 67.84% of active COVID-19 cases
Five states account for 84.16 percent of the active COVID-19 cases, while six states and UTs have a weekly positivity rate higher than the national average of 2 percent, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday.
Maharashtra and Kerala alone account for 67.84 percent of total active cases, it said.
Six states and UTs including Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Chandigarh, Punjab and Gujarat have a weekly positivity rate higher than the national average of 2 percent.
Maharashtra leads all the states with a weekly positivity rate of 10.02 percent, the ministry said.
_**Read full report here**_Andhra Pradesh guv receives COVID-19 vaccine shot
Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan and First Lady Suprava Harichandan on Tuesday got the COVID-19 vaccine administered as the process for inoculating those above 60 years of age began in the state.
The First Citizen and the First Lady drove to the Government General Hospital in Vijayawada and got inoculated.
“All eligible (persons) should get vaccinated. COVID-19 has to be rooted out not only of the state but also the country,” the Governor said on the occasion.
COVID-19 vaccine will work as ‘sanjeevani’: Harsh Vardhan after taking first shot
Union health minister Harsh Vardhan and his wife Nutan Goel took the coronavirus vaccine shot at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute on Tuesday morning.
“I request everyone to get vaccinated. After 28 days of first dose, everyone should get their second dose. Do not worry if you experience minor side-effects, but do let your doctors know,” the minister said after getting vaccinated.
“Today is Tuesday. I want to tell everyone that Hanumanji had to cross half of the world to get ‘sanjeevani’. But now it is there at your nearest hospital,” the health minister said.
Ravi Shankar Prasad gets first COVID-19 dose
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS Patna. On Monday the second phase of India’s vaccination drive, when the vaccines were rolled out for public use, begun.
Five states report 80.33% of new COVID cases
Of the new COVID-19 cases, 80.33 percent are from the five states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, which have been witnessing an upsurge in daily infections for past few weeks. Maharashtra and Kerala accounted for 67.84 percent of total active cases.
The health ministry said the Centre was in touch with the states and Union Territories that have a higher caseload of active cases and those reporting a rise in the daily infections.
Over 1.48 crore people vaccinated against COVID-19 till now
A total of 1,48,54,136 vaccine doses have been administered so far. Of this, over 5.52 lakh were inoculated on Monday, the beginning of the second phase of India’s vaccination drive, when the vaccines were rolled out for public use.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi receives first COVID-19 shot
Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi took the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur, a day after the start of the second phase of the inoculation drive.
Naqvi got inoculated at Rampur’s KD Dalmia Eye Hospital and was administered Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
After getting inoculated, the minister thanked the medical staff at the hospital and urged all those eligible to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.
Pfizer, Oxford vaccines reduce severe COVID-19 in elderly, says study
The Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines for COVID-19 are highly effective in reducing severe coronavirus infection among people aged 70 years and above, according to a study.
The research, posted as a pre-print and yet to be peer-reviewed, estimated the effect of both the COVID-19 vaccines on laboratory confirmed symptomatic disease in individuals aged 70 years or older in England.
The researchers, including those from Public Health England (PHE), compared the rate of hospitalisation and deaths in confirmed COVID-19 patients aged over 80 who were vaccinated more than 14 days before testing positive, with unvaccinated cases.
Data suggests that in the over 80s, a single dose of either vaccine is more than 80 percent effective at preventing hospitalisation, around 3 to 4 weeks after the jab, PHE said in a statement.
Single-day surge in COVID-19 cases witnessed in Maharashtra, four other states
The Union health ministry on Tuesday said that the single-day surge in coronavirus infection was witnessed in Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
“States have been advised to maintain a continued rigorous vigil for containing the spread of COVID-19,” the Centre said, adding that no new COVID-19 fatalities were reported in 19 states and UTs in the past 24 hours.
29 new cases of coronavirus in Puducherry, no fresh fatality
Puducherry clocked 29 fresh COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Tuesday, raising the aggregate to 39,763. There was no fresh fatality and the toll remained 669.
The new cases were spread over Puducherry and Karaikal regions (eight cases each) and the Mahe region accounted for
remaining 13 cases.
Ravi Shastri receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Ahmedabad
The Indian cricket team’s head coach Ravi Shastri on Tuesday received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a city hospital in Ahmedabad.
Shastri, who is 58, thanked the staff at the Apollo Hospital for their co-operation and support.
“Got the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you to the amazing medical professionals & scientists for empowering India Flag of India against the pandemic, the former India cricketer tweeted.
Over 8.25 lakh vaccinated against COVID-19 in Karnataka so far
With the inoculation drive against COVID-19 for senior citizens and those with comorbidities kickstarting, a total of 4,942 people have received the shot, taking the total number of those vaccinated in the state so far to 8.25 lakh, the Karnataka government said.
In 199 sessions held on Monday, 2,264 vaccinated were above 60 years and 624 were between 45-60 years with comorbidities.
Harsh Vardhan gets inoculated today
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and his wife received the first dose of COVID vaccine at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute on Tuesday.
Farooq Abdullah gets vaccine shot
National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah took his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science in Srinagar.
Jammu and Kashmir: National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah takes his first dose of the #COVID19 vaccine, at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science in Srinagar. pic.twitter.com/cKwzBdqR48
— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2021
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