Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Delta Plus Variant Reaches Northeast, 138 Cases Detected In Tripura
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Saturday, July 10: The Gurugram health department will start administering the Russian-made vaccine against Covid-19, Sputnik V, from Saturday (July 10) free of cost.
The highly infectious Delta plus variant of coronavirus has been found for the first time in Tripura after the Delta strain was detected in three northeastern states -- Assam, Manipur and Mizoram, doctors said here on Saturday.
After the samples of Tripura were tested in the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG) at Kalyani in West Bengal, 138 cases of Delta plus, 10 cases of Delta (plain) and three cases of UK variant were found in the northeastern state.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Saturday sounded a note of caution against reported blatant disregard of COVID-appropriate behaviour at hill stations and other tourist locations, stressing that the second wave of the pandemic is not yet over.
Bhalla emphasised that the second wave of COVID was not yet over and states should ensure strict adherence to the protocols prescribed in respect of wearing of masks, social distancing and other safe behaviour.
We're following the guidelines of WHO & ICMR. We had conducted a COVID death analysis after the first wave & found out that our numbers were almost correct. We have made it more transparent by doing real-time entry: Veena George, Kerala Health Minister
The World Health Organization (WHO) is likely to take a decision on including Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin in the emergency use list (EUL) within four to six weeks, Soumya Swaminathan, the global health body's chief scientist has said.
Speaking at a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Friday, Swaminathan said the WHO is reviewing Covaxin as its manufacturer Bharat Biotech is now uploading its entire data on the health body's portal.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is likely to take a decision on including Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin in the emergency use list (EUL) within four to six weeks, Soumya Swaminathan, the global health body's chief scientist has said.
Speaking at a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Friday, Swaminathan said the WHO is reviewing Covaxin as its manufacturer Bharat Biotech is now uploading its entire data on the health body's portal.
According to WHO guidelines, EUL is a procedure to streamline the process by which new or unlicensed products can be used during public health emergencies.
There is a process to be followed for EUL and pre-qualification of vaccines under which a company has to complete phase 3 trials and submit the whole data to the regulatory department of WHO which is examined by an expert advisory group, Swaminathan said.
Lockdown in Tamil Nadu extended till July 19th with further relaxations. Hotels, tea shops, bakeries, roadside shops, snack shops can function with 50% of customers till 9 PM. Schools, colleges, theatres, liquor bars, swimming pools, zoos will remain closed.
The executive board of the International Monetary Fund approved a $650 billion expansion in resources to support economically vulnerable nations as they battle the coronavirus pandemic. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Friday that the new support, the largest such expansion in the history of the 190-nation lending institution, would be a shot in the arm for the world.
The coronavirus caseload in Thane district of Maharashtra has risen to 5,36,928 with the addition of 479 cases, an official said on Saturday.
These cases were reported on Friday, he said.
The virus claimed the lives of 14 patients during the day, which pushed the overall death toll in the district to 10,803.
Thane's COVID-19 mortality rate now stands at 2.01 per cent, he added.
In neighboring Palghar district, the infection count has gone up to 1,18,010, while the death toll has reached 2,627, another official said.
Uttarakhand | Registration at Dehradun Smart City portal, proof of hotel booking & negative Covid 19 report not more than 72 hours old is necessary to visit Mussoorie: Dehradun District Magistrate Dr. Ashish Kumar Srivastava
By administering a record 2.5-crore doses till date since the vaccination drive was launched across the state on January 16, Karnataka ranked first in South India in inoculating maximum number of its eligible population, said state Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Friday.
"Karnataka achieved another milestone in Covid vaccination by crossing 2.5 crore doses today (Friday)! The last 50-lakh doses were administered in 17 days! We (state) are first in South India and fifth in India," tweeted Sudhakar.
According to the state health bulletin, 2,52,07,840 people, including senior citizens above 45 years, healthcare workers, frontline warriors and those in the 18-44 years age group received the jab over the last 6 months.
"On Friday, 2,60,654 beneficiaries, including 1,13,739 above 45 years and 1,41,008 in the 18-44 years age group were vaccinated across the state," said the bulletin.
Meanwhile, 2,290 new cases were registered on Thursday, taking the state's Covid tally to 28,67,158, including 37,906, while recoveries rose to 27,93,498, with 3,045 patients discharged during the day.
Odisha govt issues guidelines for Rath Yatra on Monday
The Covid-19 virus may reach its endemic stage after a while, just like influenza, and the vulnerable population may have to take the vaccine shot annually, said Samiran Panda, Head, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
“Mutation is normal for all viruses when they proliferate. Experts suggest that the Covid-19 virus will reach its endemic stage like influenza after a while and then the vulnerable population may have to take the vaccine shot annually," Panda said.
He explained that influenza, commonly known as flu, was a pandemic 100 years ago but today it is an endemic.
“Similarly, in case of Covid-19, we expect that it will gradually become an endemic from its current state of being a pandemic. Currently, we recommend the elderly to take annual flu shots. As the influenza virus keeps on mutating, we simultaneously make minor changes in the vaccine. So, there is no need to panic. The vaccines available now are largely effective against the new variants of Covid-19," he said.
Ladakh reported 12 COVID cases, 15 discharges, and one death on Friday The total number of COVID-19 active cases in Ladakh has gone up to 131; 93 in Leh district and 38 in Kargil district.
The Gurugram health department will start administering the Russian-made vaccine against Covid-19, Sputnik V, from Saturday (July 10) at the government polyclinic sector-31 without any charge, officials said on Friday.
With this initiative, the Gurugram district will be among the first ones across Haryana, where the Russian-made vaccine will be administered at government facilities.
Officials said the health department has made the necessary arrangements for administering Sputnik V.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Gurugram, Virender Yadav, said that the vaccination drive will be stated at 12.00 at the government polyclinic sector-31 and 50 doses will be available on the first day.
The vaccine will be administered free of cost on a first-come-first-serve basis. The second dose of the jab will be given after 21 days".
A weekend curfew will be imposed in Tripura starting from Saturday 12 noon to Monday 6 am with various restrictions: Revenue Secretary Tanushree Deb Barma
Even as India witnesses a decline in Covid-19 cases, the emergence of a new variant of interest called Kappa in Uttar Pradesh has put the ehalth ministry to worry. Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog says Kappa variant had some presence in India in March as well, similar to the Delta variant and we need to keep an eye on the scientific impact and vaccine immunity of Kappa variant.He adds that the Kappa variant is a Variant of Interest (VoI) and is being examined by the surveillance system.
Background
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Saturday, July 10: The Gurugram health department will start administering the Russian-made vaccine against Covid-19, Sputnik V, from Saturday (July 10) at the government polyclinic sector-31 without any charge, officials said on Friday.
With this initiative, the Gurugram district will be among the first ones across Haryana, where the Russian-made vaccine will be administered at government facilities.
Officials said the health department has made the necessary arrangements for administering Sputnik V.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Gurugram, Virender Yadav, said that the vaccination drive will be stated at 12.00 at the government polyclinic sector-31 and 50 doses will be available on the first day.
The vaccine will be administered free of cost on a first-come-first-serve basis. The second dose of the jab will be given after 21 days".
By administering a record 2.5-crore doses till date since the vaccination drive was launched across the state on January 16, Karnataka ranked first in South India in inoculating maximum number of its eligible population, said state Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Friday.
"Karnataka achieved another milestone in Covid vaccination by crossing 2.5 crore doses today (Friday)! The last 50-lakh doses were administered in 17 days! We (state) are first in South India and fifth in India," tweeted Sudhakar.
According to the state health bulletin, 2,52,07,840 people, including senior citizens above 45 years, healthcare workers, frontline warriors and those in the 18-44 years age group received the jab over the last 6 months.
"On Friday, 2,60,654 beneficiaries, including 1,13,739 above 45 years and 1,41,008 in the 18-44 years age group were vaccinated across the state," said the bulletin.
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