Heena Sharma Blog

  A single day rise of 67,208 new coronavirus infections were recorded taking India's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,97,00,313, while the active cases declined to 8,26,740, the lowest after 71 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,81,903 with 2,330 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed   The active cases declined to 8,26,740 comprising 2.78 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 95.93 per cent. A net decline of 38,692 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. As many as 19,31,249 tests were conducted on Wednesday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 38,52,38,220. The daily positivity rate was recorded 3.48 per cent . It has been less than 5 per cent for 10 consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate has declined to...

  India saw72,330 new coronavirus infections being reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest single day rise so far this year, taking the COVID-19tally of cases to1,22,21,665,according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. The single-day rise in cassis the highest recorded since October 11, 2020, while the death toll increased to 1,62,927 with459daily new fatalities, the highest in around 116 days, the data updated at 8 am showed. Registering a steady increase for the 22nd day in row, the active cases have increased to5,84,055comprising 4.78per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 93.89 per cent, the data stated. As many as74,383new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on October 11. The active caseload was at its lowest at1, 35,926 on February 12 comprising 1.25 per cent of the total infections. Read More

  The overall number of global Covid-19 cases has surpassed 124.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 2.74 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. In its latest update on Thursday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 124,688,146 and 2,742,974, respectively. The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 30,009,386 and 545,237, respectively, according to the CSSE. Brazil follows in the second place with 12,220,011 cases and 300,685 fatalities. Read More

  India recorded 47,262 fresh coronavirus cases in a day, the highest single-day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,17,34,058, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday. The active caseload registered an increased for the 14th day in row and was recorded at3,68,457, comprising 3.14per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate further dropped to 95.49 per cent, the ministry data updated at 8 am said. The daily rise in infections was the highest recorded in 132 days, while the country's COVID-19 death toll increased to1,60,441, with 275 new fatalities, the highest in around 83 days. As many as47,905 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on November 12 last year, it said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,12,05,160, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.37 per cent, the data stated. Read More

  The overall number of global Covid-19 cases has surpassed 124 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 2.73 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 124,124,997 and 2,733,380, respectively. The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 29,920,561 and 543,793, respectively, according to the CSSE. Brazil follows in the second place with 12,130,019 cases and 298,676 fatalities. The other countries with more than 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases are India (11,686,796), Russia (4,424,595), France (4,373,607), the UK (4,321,006), Italy (3,419,616), Spain (3,234,319), Turkey (3,061,520), Germany (2,689,205), Colombia (2,347,224), Argentina (2,261,577), Mexico (2,203,041) and Poland (2,089,869), the CSSE figures showed. Read More

  Results from a US trial of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine may have used "outdated information," US federal health officials said in a statement early Tuesday. Late Monday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board said in a statement that it was concerned that AstraZeneca may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. Late Monday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board said in a statement that it was concerned that AstraZeneca the included outdated information from that trial may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. AstraZeneca reported Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection among adults of all ages in a long-anticipated U.S. study, a finding that could help rebuild public confidence in the shot around the world and move it a step closer to clearance in the U.S. In the study of 30,000 people, the vaccine was 79% effective at preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19 including in older adults. Read More

  India saw 46,951new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, the highest so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19tally to1,16,46,081, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday Registering an increase for the 12th day in a row, the total active caseload has increased to3,34,646, which now comprises 2.87per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 95.75 per cent, the data stated. The daily rise in infections was the highest recorded in 130 days, while the death toll increased to 1,59,967with 212 daily new fatalities, the highest in 72 days, the data updated at 8 am showed. As many as47,905 infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on November 12. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,11,51,468, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.37 per cent, the data stated. Read More

  As many as 35,871 new COVID-19 cases and 17,741 recoveries were reported in India in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Thursday. With the addition of fresh cases, the total number positive cases in the country reached 1,14,74,605, including 2,52,364 active cases and 1,10,63,025 recoveries. The death toll stands at 1,59,216 including 172 in the last 24 hours. As many as 3,71,43,255 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered so far in the country. As per the India Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 23,03,13,163 samples up to Wednesday have been tested for the coronavirus. 10,63,379 were tested yesterday. Maharashtra which is the worst affected state in the country administered a total of 2,74,037 doses (2,22,771 - Covishield and 51266 Covaxin ) for coronavirus in 2,908 vaccination sessions. Read More

India recorded 22,854 cases of coronavirus infection in a day, the highest in around two-and-half-months, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to1,12,85,561, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. Thedeath toll increased to1,58,189 with 126 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The total active cases have increased to1,89,226which now comprises1.68per cent of the total infections. Thenumber of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,09,38,146which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of96.92 per cent, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.40 per cent, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7,30 lakhonAugust 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and50 lakh onSeptember 16.It went past60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh onOctober 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29,90 lakh onNovember 20 andsurpassed theone-crore mark on December 19. According to the ICMR, 22,42,58,293 samples have b...

  A new study suggests that the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine can protect people against the concerning coronavirus variant first identified in Brazil. According to CNN, blood serum samples from people who had received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine "efficiently" neutralized a version of the virus engineered to carry the same mutations as the variant, known as the P.1. For the study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine on Monday, researchers at Pfizer, BioNTech and the University of Texas Medical Branch genetically engineered the virus to create versions carrying mutations found in a range of coronavirus variants, including P.1 They tested them against blood samples taken from 15 people two or 4 weeks after they had received a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as part of a clinical trial. The team found that the blood samples were able to neutralize the Brazil variant "roughly" as well as it could neutralize an earlier stra...

  India's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,12,62,707 with 17,921 fresh cases being reported in a day, while the recoveries surpassed 1.09 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The death toll increased to 1,58,063 with 133 new fatalities, according to the ministry data updated at 8 am. The number of active cases reduced to 1,84,598 which now comprises1.64per cent of the infection count. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,09,20,046, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.96 per cent, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.40 per cent, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7; 30 lakh on August 23; 40 lakh on September 5 and50 lakh on September 16. It went past60 lakh on September 28; 70 lakh on October 11; crossed 80 lakh on October 29; 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed one crore on December 19. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),22,34,79,...

  New cases of coronavirus infection in India were recorded above 18,000 for the third consecutive day taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to1,12,29,398, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The active cases also registered an increase for the sixth consecutive day and the COVID-19 active caseload increased to1,88,747whichnow comprises1.68per cent of the total infections. The recovery rate has dropped further to 96.91 per cent,the data stated. A totalof 18,599new infections were registered in a day, while thedeath toll increased to1,57,853with 97daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. On January 29,18,855 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours. Thenumber of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,08,82,798which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.91 per cent, while thecasefatality rate stands at 1.41per cent. Read More

  Following a 12-day visit to China to probe the origins of COVID-19 in Wuhan, a team of World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday dismissed the theory of a 'lab leak' of the virus. According to Washington Post, Peter Ben Embarek, the Danish WHO food safety expert leading the international team, said his group will not recommend further investigation into the theory that the virus accidentally leaked from labs conducting coronavirus research. Embarek told reporters that the judgment was based on "long, frank, open discussions with researchers and management" at institutions including the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). "They're the best ones to dismiss the claims and provide answers to all the questions," he said. "Our initial findings suggest that introduction through an intermediary host species is the most likely passway and one that will require more studies and more specific targeted research ... The findings suggest that a labora...

  Pfizer on Friday said that it has withdrawn it's application for emergency use authorization for the Covid-19 vaccine in India. The US based drug major said that it would submit the additional information as it becomes available in the near future, The company met the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on February 3. "Based on the deliberations at the meeting and our understanding of additional information that the regulator may need, the company has decided to withdraw its application at this time. Pfizer will continue to engage with the authority and resubmit its approval request with additional information as it becomes available in the near future," a company spokesperson said. The firm had missed appearing before the SEC thrice before. It had said that short notice and time zone difference were the reasons behind it. Pfizer has not conducted any bridge trial on Indian population for its mRNA vaccine. The Indian regulator has asked foreign vaccine makers lik...

  The number of people who have tested positive for the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 has climbed to 82 in India, the health ministry said on Friday. The number of such people stood at 73 till January 6, it added. "The total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel coronavirus, first reported in the UK, now stands at 82," the ministry said. All the people who have tested positive for the new variant of the virus were kept in single-room isolation at designated healthcare facilities by the respective state governments, the ministry had earlier said. Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine. A comprehensive contact-tracing exercise has been initiated for their co-travellers, family members and others and genome sequencing on other specimens is going on, the ministry said. Read More

  A dry run to assess the readiness for the COVID-19 vaccination drive will be held in 21 districts of Chhattisgarh over the next two days, a senior state health official said on Wednesday. Last week, a similar mock drill was held in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur and six other districts out of the total 28 districts in the state. Now, it will be held in the remaining 21 districts for the assessment of preparation for the imminent coronavirus vaccination drive, mission director for National Health Mission in Chhattisgarh, Priyanka Shukla, told PTI. The dry run will be conducted in Balrampur, Bijapur, Dantewada, Jashpur, Kanker, Kondagaon, Korea, Narayanpur, Sukma and Surajpur districts on Thursday, and in Balod, Raigarh, Balodabazar, Bemetara, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Janjgir- Champa, Kawardha, Korba, Mahasamund and Mungeli on Friday, the official said. Read More

  Amid rising concerns over the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK, five out of 266 passengers and crew members of a London to Delhi flight have tested positive for coronavirus, an official said on Tuesday. "Five out of 266 passengers and crew members of a flight which arrived at Delhi airport from London last night have tested positive for COVID-19 . Their samples have been sent to NCDC for research and they have been sent to the care centre," said a Nodal officer for COVID-19. This comes as flight services from the UK to India have been suspended till December 31 over the spread of a new strain of coronavirus in London and England. Passengers arriving from the UK in Punjab were seen waiting in a long queue on Tuesday at the Amritsar airport to get themselves tested for COVID-19 in the wake of the new virus coronavirus strain. Scores of people waited outside Amritsar airport to receive their relatives who came from a flight from London. Read More

  Police conducted a raid on a club near Mumbai airport in the early hours of Tuesday and arrested 34 people for allegedly violating the COVID-19 prevention norms, an official said. The police action came after the Maharashtra government on Monday declared a night curfew in municipal corporation areas as a precautionary step amid growing concerns over a new coronavirus variant spreading in Britain. Acting on an information, the police raided the club located in Sahar area near the airport around 2 am. They arrested 27 customers present in the club and seven staff members, the police official said. Those arrested were booked under relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections, including 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), he added. Read More

  Bharat Biotech has claimed that amongst all the vaccine platforms such as an mRNA-based vaccine, DNA-based vaccine, vector-based vaccine, or live attenuated vaccines, etc., the inactivated vaccines being developed by it for Covid 19 are safest, and hence, the adverse reactions are lesser. In a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for its trials, Bharat Biotech said BBV-152 is a whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Amongst all the vaccine platforms such as an mRNA-based vaccine, DNA-based vaccine, vector-based vaccine, or live attenuated vaccines, etc., the inactivated vaccines are safest, and hence, the adverse reactions are lesser. It said about 755 participants have been vaccinated in phase 1 & 2 clinical trials. No serious adverse events have been reported to be related to the vaccine in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. It said vaccination with BBV-152B may protect the participants only after 14-days post-second dose of vaccination. Hence, the particip...

  India will have to spend $1.4 billion to $1.8 billion in the first phase of a coronavirus vaccination programme, even after getting support under the COVAX global vaccine-sharing scheme, according to estimates by the GAVI vaccines alliance. India, which has the world’s second highest caseload of coronavirus behind the United States, plans to inoculate 300 million people over the next six to eight months, likely with vaccines from AstraZeneca, Russia’s Sputnik, Zydus Cadila and India’s own Bharat Biotech. Documents reviewed by Reuters underline the scale of the funding challenge India faces to immunise its vast population, with 600 million shots required in the first wave alone for critical workers and people most at risk from COVID-19. If India got 190-250 million shots of the vaccine under the COVAX facility - a best case scenario - then the government would need to line up about $1.4 billion to make up for the shortfall, according to an unpublished report prepared for G...