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.
Here are the latest updates:
India fastest country to reach 4 million COVID-19 vaccination mark
India has become the fastest country in the world to reach the 4 million COVID-19 vaccination mark, achieving this feat in 18 days, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
More than 41 lakh beneficiaries have been administered shots under the countrywide exercise till morning. "As on February, 1, India was among the top five countries in terms of number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to people. India continues to undertake its vaccination drive at a fast pace," the ministry highlighted. - PTI
Jharkhand health worker dies after receiving COVID vaccine
A health worker has died 36 hours after being administered COVID vaccine in Jharkhand, officials said on Wednesday.
The health worker, identified as Mannu Pahan, was administered the Covishield vaccine at his workplace Medanta Hospital here on February 1 and he died on Tuesday night, the private medical establishment's CEO Dr Pankaj Sahni said.
Though 52-year-old Pahan did not have comorbidities, the cause of his death is being investigated, he said. - PTI
China to send 10 million coronavirus vaccine doses abroad
China on Wednesday announced a plan to provide 10 million coronavirus vaccine doses to developing nations through the global COVAX initiative.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China is responding to a request from the World Health Organization as developing countries seek to fill shortages predicted to run through March.
COVAX, coordinated by WHO and others, seeks to ensure low and middle-income countries have enough coronavirus vaccines, as wealthy nations have snapped up many of the millions of upcoming doses. - AP
WHO team visits Wuhan virus lab at centre of speculation
World Health Organisation (WHO) investigators on Wednesday visited a research centre in the Chinese city of Wuhan that has been the subject of speculation about the origins of the coronavirus, with one member saying they intended to meet key staff and press them on critical issues.
The WHO team’s visit to the Wuhan Institute of Virology is a highlight of their mission to gather data and search for clues as to where the virus originated and how it spread.
“We’re looking forward to meeting with all the key people here and asking all the important questions that need to be asked,” zoologist and team member Peter Daszak said.
Reporters followed the team to the high security facility, but as with past visits, there was little direct access to team members, who have given scant details of their discussions and visits thus far. Uniformed and plainclothes security guards stood watch along the facility’s gated front entrance, but there was no sign of the protective suits team members had donned Tuesday during a visit to an animal disease research centre.
COVID-19 | WHO team visits Wuhan virus lab at centre of speculation
More women have developed antibodies compared to men in Delhi
More women were found to have developed antibodies against COVID-19 compared to men in the fifth and the largest serological survey done by the Delhi government, said Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday.
Many experts and the Minister said the city is getting closer to attaining herd immunity, but people should still take vaccines as it will provide a better immune response against the virus and also continue to take all precautions.
About 56.13% of over 28,000 people, whose blood samples were collected, have developed antibodies against COVID-19, the results show. This means that 56.13% of the people surveyed had caught the infection at some point and have recovered from it, Mr. Jain said.
More women have developed antibodies compared to men in Delhi: Survey
T.N. given ₹773.24 crore under COVID-19 emergency package
Tamil Nadu has been provided ₹773.24 crore in financial support under the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package, according to information provided in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Under the package, ₹6,309.9 crore had been released to the States and the Union Territories, through the National Health Mission as on January 15.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey said this in a written reply to questions about the COVID-19 assistance that was provided to the States.
In all, 18.66 lakh N-95 masks and 5.39 lakh PPE kits had been procured centrally and distributed in Tamil Nadu. Besides, 3,625 oxygen cylinders had been distributed in the State as on January 24.
T.N. given ₹773.24 crore under COVID-19 emergency package
Curbs being reimposed as COVID-19 cases surge in Kozhikode
With the active COVID-19 case load remaining high in Kozhikode district in the past few weeks, the district administration is clamping restrictions in public places again to contain the infection.
According to media reports, Kozhikode is among the 13 districts across the country in terms of the highest number of infected persons.
The number of infected people from the district, which went below 6,000 in the first week of January, went beyond 8,000 in around three weeks. As on Tuesday, over 7,600 people from Kozhikode are either in home isolation or are undergoing treatment in government or private facilities. Around 200 people from other districts too are being treated here.
Curbs being reimposed as COVID-19 cases surge in Kozhikode
Nursery admissions to begin soon: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the government will soon begin the admission process for nursery classes, which has been delayed since December last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Kejriwal, who was speaking at an interaction with principals and the management of private schools at the Delhi Secretariat, said although there have been demands to reopen schools for all classes, incidents in other countries have shown that it is advisable to wait till all students are vaccinated against the virus.
Appreciating the work that private schools have done in providing quality education, Mr. Kejriwal said education has always been the top priority for the Aam Aadmi Party government.
Nursery admissions to begin soon: Kejriwal
Non-health frontline warriors to get COVID shots from February 6
COVID-19 vaccination for frontline workers such as those from municipality and police department would begin on February 6. Currently, healthcare workers (HCWs) in the government and private sectors are being immunised.
The vaccination programme was launched on January 16 at government hospitals. After giving opportunity to the HCWs from State Health department, the vaccines were given to the HCWs at private hospitals from January 25.
Meanwhile, mop-up rounds are being held for the HCWs from government sector who missed the jab, irrespective of their reasons.
Non-health frontline warriors to get COVID shots from February 6
