Addressing the first session of the G20 summit in Rome — “Global economy and global health”, — Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the need for a collaborative approach to fight the COVID-19 pandemic covering scientific communities and governments.
The leaders of the world’s economic powerhouses on October 30 took part in the first in-person summit since the coronavirus pandemic, with climate change, COVID-19 economic recovery and the global minimum corporate tax rate on the agenda.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the United Kingdom will donate 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to developing countries as part of efforts to share vaccines with countries that sorely lack them.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Read | On fixing priorities for vaccinating children
Here are the latest updates:
Several Delhi schools to reopen for all classes from Monday, some to open after Diwali
Several schools in the national capital are set to reopen for all classes from Monday after remaining closed for 19 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while many have chosen defer the reopening to post-festive week.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had last week announced that schools would reopen for all classes from November 1, even though teaching and learning would continue in blended mode.
The DDMA had also said that schools would have to ensure that there is not more than 50% attendance in a class at one point of time and no student is forced to attend physical classes.
While government schools have been reporting over 80 per cent attendance after they reopened in September for classes 9 to 12, private schools are in the process of sending out consent forms to parents and most of them will decide their plan of action post-Diwali. - PTI
Healthy individuals may not need vaccination booster dose, say doctors
Doctors in India advocating against COVID-19 vaccination booster dose for all have said that healthy individuals may not need them. The Union Health Ministry also indicated that vaccination coverage for all is their current focus with optional COVID-19 vaccination booster dose to specific individuals needing it for medical conditions.
The indication comes at a time when the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the support of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation and its COVID-19 Vaccines Working Group, continues to review the emerging evidence on the need for and timing of a booster dose for the currently available COVID-19 vaccines which have received Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
COVID-19 | Healthy individuals may not need vaccination booster dose, say doctors
Active COVID-19 cases in country lowest in 247 days
With 12,830 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,42,73,300, while the active cases declined to 1,59,272, the lowest in 247 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.
The death toll climbed to 4,58,186 with 446 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 23 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 126 consecutive days now.
The active cases comprise 0.46% of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.20%, the ministry said. -PTI
Vulnerable groups to get booster jabs faster in U.K.
COVID-19 booster shots can now be administered sooner than six months after the second dose to certain vulnerable groups for operational reasons, the U.K. government has announced.
Under the new guidelines, care home residents who have been given their second vaccine dose at different times will be able to be jabbed in the same session, as long as it has been at least five months since their last dose. It is also expected to help other vulnerable groups, so that they can have their flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.
Vulnerable groups to get booster jabs faster in U.K.
Australia set for international border reopening for vaccinated public
Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia will resume from Monday, Australia's tourism minister said on Sunday, as the country readies itself for a partial reopening of its international borders for the first time since March 2020. Vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents living in New South Wales, Victoria and the capital Canberra will be free to fly internationally from Monday without the need of an exemption or to quarantine upon return. -Reuters
CDC clarifies unvaccinated young foreign travelers do not need to quarantine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Saturday that unvaccinated foreign nationals under the age of 18 traveling to the United States by air do not have to self-quarantine upon arrival. -Reuters
South Africa to use local government elections to boost COVID-19 vaccination campaign
The South Africa government plans to use the November 1 local body elections to boost the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the country by setting up 1,000 vaccination sites next to voting stations to inoculate citizens against the virus, officials said. -PTI
