India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,08,58,371 with 11,067 infections being reported in a day, while fresh fatalities remained below 100 for the fifth consecutive day, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death toll increased to 1,55,252 with 94 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
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:
Health workers in Meghalaya reluctant to take COVID-19 jabs, says official
Health workers in Meghalaya are "reluctant" to take COVID-19 vaccine shots, with only 27% of the over 33,000 beneficiaries having turned up for inoculation thus far, a senior official said.
The northeastern State has received 35,000 Covishield doses for the first phase of the vaccination process, Health Services Director Aman War said.
"Only 9,017 of the 33,185 COVID-19 beneficiaries in the state have taken the shots, and none has reported any adverse effect following immunisation (AEFI)," he said. - PTI
Assam to discontinue mandatory coronavirus testing
Assam government has decided to discontinue mandatory COVID-19 testing at airports, railway stations and land routes from March 1, 2021 following a decline in new positive cases, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
"In view of the rapidly declining cases of #COVID19 & given that vaccination is in full swing, Government of Assam has decided to discontinue mandatory testing at railway stations, land routes & airports from March 1, 2021," he tweeted.
It is, however, expected that people will adhere to "Covid appropriate behaviour", he added. - PTI
165 lakh doses of vaccine procured at ₹350.25 crore: Health Ministry
The Central government did not enter into any pre-procurement agreement with either of the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers in the country before starting the vaccination drive and it had so far procured 165 lakh doses at a cost of ₹350.25 crore (all inclusive), according to information submitted by the Health Ministry in Parliament.
The vaccine was being offered free of cost in the initial phase of the drive to healthcare and front line workers. The government had procured 110 lakh doses of Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and 55 lakh doses of Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech International Limited, it said.
165 lakh doses of vaccine procured at ₹350.25 crore: Health Ministry
Japan will begin giving COVID vaccine next week
Japan will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine next week, with medical experts at the pandemic's frontlines the first recipients.
“We will make every effort to prepare for everything,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a meeting of ruling party officials Wednesday where he confirmed the timing of the first inoculations.
He called for cooperation by doctors, nurses and local municipalities to smoothly carry out the massive inoculations.
Nursery admissions in Delhi to begin from February 18
Nursery admissions in Delhi will begin from February 18, the Directorate of Education (DoE) announced on Wednesday.
“The application process will begin on February 18 and the first list is expected on March 20. The entire process will conclude on March 31,” Yogesh Pal Singh, Assistant Director of Education, said.
Usually, nursery admissions in around 1,700 schools in the national capital begin in the last week of November. The DoE releases guidelines and schools are asked to furnish required information, following which the application process is rolled out in December. However, there has been no development on it in 2020.
SC rejects plea seeking formulation of national mortal remains management, disposal protocol
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea which had sought a direction to the Centre to formulate a national mortal remains management and disposal protocol for pandemic and non-pandemic times to be implemented across the country.
The plea was filed by a Delhi-based man who had said that body of his mother was mistaken for some other COVID-19 victim and was handed over to another person due to the negligence of a hospital.
India records 11,067 new cases
India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,08,58,371 with 11,067 infections being reported in a day, while fresh fatalities remained below 100 for the fifth consecutive day, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death toll increased to 1,55,252 with 94 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,05,61,608 pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 97.27%, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.43%. The total COVID-19 active cases remained below 2 lakh.
More key officers take vaccine to encourage their staff
After Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri took the jab on day one of the vaccination on Monday to encourage her staff to follow suit, other top officials from the district came forward to get the shot against COVID-19, to send a message to their staff on the need for taking it without fail.
Mysuru Zilla Panchayat CEO B.A. Paramesh and Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde were among the key officers who were administered the vaccine on the second day of the second phase of vaccination for the frontline workers here on Tuesday.
As the pourakarmikas are among the frontline workers eligible to be vaccinated, the MCC has taken up the task of vaccinating its staff registered on the CoWIN app. An SMS had been sent to them with the date and venue of the vaccination.
More key officers take vaccine to encourage their staff
No new COVID-19 death reported in the Capital after nine months
For the first time in almost nine months, no new COVID-19-related death was reported in the national capital over 24 hours, a health bulletin issued by the Delhi government said on Tuesday.
The last time the city witnessed no COVID-19 death was on May 11, 2020.
The death toll stands at 10,882.
“Today, no death has been reported due to COVID infection. Delhi’s collective will is gradually winning over the infection. I congratulate the people of Delhi for taking proper precautions and our healthcare and front-line workers who have fought this battle tooth and nail,” Health Minister Satyendar Jain said in a tweet.
No new COVID-19 death reported in the Capital after nine months
