Coronavirus news highlights: New Zealand declares nation virus-free, lifts all Covid-19 restrictions

Over the last 24 hours, India saw 15,158 fresh Covid-19 infections and 175 individuals succumb to the deadly virus, while 16,977 recovered from the disease. Meanwhile, PM Modi is addressing the nation ahead of the launch of the world's largest vaccination drive. A total of 3006 vaccination sites across all states and union territories will be virtually connected during the launch, and close to 100 beneficiaries in each site will receive the vaccine. Stay tuned for more updates...

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Bengaluru doctors share their experiences of receiving Covid-19 vaccines

As the nation saw the world's largest vaccination drive coming to life on January 16, health professionals who received it on the first day shared their experiences of being part of the landmark event.

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India under PM Modi has fought most successful battle against coronavirus in the world: Amit Shah

India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fought the most successful battle against coronavirus in the world, and with the beginning of the vaccination drive, the country has taken the fight against the pandemic to a final stage,Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday.

"The whole world for about a year has been fighting against corona, many people have lost lives.This was probably one of the toughest fights that humanity has fought, using knowledge, innovations and mutual cooperation," Shah said. (PTI)

State-wise tally of India's Covid-19 cases

New Zealand declares the nation virus-free

New Zealand lifts all Covid-19 restrictions, declaring the nation virus-free. (CNBC-TV18)

Indonesia reports record daily increase in Covid-19 cases

Indonesia reported a record daily increase in Covid-19 cases with 14,224 new infections, its Covid-19 task force said on Saturday, bringing the total to 896,642.

It also reported 283 Covid-19 deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 25,767. (Reuters)

Biden slams Republican lawmakers for not wearing masks during Capitol Hill attack

President-elect Joe Biden has slammed Republican lawmakers who refused to wear masks while huddling in a secure location during the January 6 riot at the US Capitol despite the threat of coronavirus, telling them that "it's time to grow up".

At least four members of US Congress — including Democratic leaders Pramila Jayapal, Brad Schneider and Bonnie Watson Coleman — have tested positive for Covid-19 since the Capitol attack by Trump's supporters which left five people dead. (PTI)

Do not make the mistake of taking off the mask: PM Modi

Emirates stops flight to three major Australian cities

Emirates has suspended flights to Australia's three largest cities as the country further restricts international arrivals over fears of new virus strains.

The Dubai-based carrier was one of the last to maintain routes into and out of the country's east coast throughout most of the pandemic but on Friday evening told travellers a handful of planned flights next week would be the last.

"Due to operational reasons, Emirates flights to/from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne will be suspended until further notice," Emirates said on its website. (AFP)

Two Covid cases on Aus Open flight, arrivals to quarantine

Two coronavirus infections were reported on Saturday on a flight to the Australian Open, forcing two weeks of strict hotel quarantine for all the tennis players and entourage on board.

The positive cases were recorded after the charter flight from Los Angeles landed in Melbourne for the tennis grand slam, according to online posts from players.

In quarantine, the players must train indoors, instead of being allowed out for five hours training per day, part of conditions that allowed the event to go ahead. (Reuters)

Mike Pompeo pushes new claim of China hiding origin of Covid-19

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged Friday there were Covid-like illnesses among staff at a Chinese virology institute in autumn 2019, casting further blame on Beijing as health experts arrived in the country to probe the pandemic's origins.

The top US diplomat in a statement urged the World Health Organization team that landed Thursday in Wuhan, where Covid-19 was first detected, to "press the government of China" on the "new information."

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Human behaviour caused Covid-19 case surge, not mutant: WHO Emergencies Chief

The World Health Organization's emergencies chief has said that the impact of new variants of Covid-19 in places like Britain, South Africa and Brazil remains to be seen, citing human behaviour for some recent rises in infection counts.

“It's just too easy to lay the blame on the variant and say, 'It's the virus that did it,'” Dr Michael Ryan told reporters on Friday. “Well unfortunately, it's also what we didn't do that did it.” That was an allusion to holiday merrymaking and other social contacts plus loosening adherence -- in pockets -- to calls from public health officials for people to respect measures like physical distancing, regular hand hygiene and mask-wearing.

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India sees 15,158 new Covid infections, 175 deaths, nearly 17k recoveries

India reported 15,158 new Covid-19 infections and 175 deaths over the last 24 hours, data from the Union health Ministry's website showed. the number of patients who recovered from the virus stood at 16,977

Total cases: 1,05,42,841

Active cases: 2,11,033

Total discharges: 1,01,79715

Death toll: 1,52,093

4,000 health workers to get Covid-19 vaccine in Mumbai daily

As many as 4,000 health workers will be administered Covid-19 vaccine every day at nine vaccination centres in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Friday.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will launch the vaccination drive from a centre at Bandra Kurla Complex on Saturday, the civic body stated in an official release.

The vaccination will start at Vile Parle-based Dr R N Cooper Hospital, it was stated.

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24,000 health workers at 243 sites in Karnataka to be vaccinated on Jan 16

As many as 24,300 health workers will be vaccinated in 243 vaccination sites across Karnataka on Saturday. Karnataka has seen registration of health workers on Co-WIN portal exceed by 43% above the set target.

In all, the state has seen 7,17,439 health workers register for a Covid vaccine jab against8,14,500 doses of both Covishield and Covaxin vaccines received in the state till now. The quantity isenough to vaccinate around four lakh health workers. Further vaccine consignments are expected in the coming days, said Health Minister K Sudhakar.

Among 100 beneficiaries at each vaccination site, safai karamcharis and group ‘D’ workers, have been consciously included so that one of them is the first to receive the vaccine at the site.

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Mizoram schools to reopen on Jan 22, churches in Feb

Mizoram has decided to allow reopening of schools for classes 10 and 12 from January 22, and places of worship from February, officials said on Friday.

Mizoram, a Christian-majority state, decided to reopen places of worship with limited attendees as the COVID-19 situation improved, they said.

The decisions were taken at a meeting among doctors, churches and civil society groups. Health minister R Lalthangliana presided over the meeting.

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Covid vaccination drive set to begin under shadow of doubt over Covaxin efficacy

The Union Health Ministry’s last-minute 180 degrees turn on Covaxin – an indigenous Covid-19 vaccine - has generated concerns among doctors and healthcare workers as a section of them are reluctant to accept it without the efficacy data even as India is set to publicly roll out the two shots, Covishield and Covaxin, on Saturday in the world’s largest adult vaccination drive.

On the eve of the rollout by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 3,006 sites, a senior Health Ministry official wrote to the States and Union Territories making it clear that both vaccines made by Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech would be used.

Many doctors are discussing among themselves why they are being forced to take a vaccine that lacks efficacy data. "Some of them feel as if they're being forced into a clinical trial," said a senior doctor and researcher, describing discussions among peers.

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India set to roll-out world's biggest vaccination drive against Covid-19

Indiais all set to roll out the world's biggest vaccination programme on Saturday with over 3 lakh healthcare workers to be inoculated on the first day of the much-anticipateddrive, which the government said is "probably the beginning of the end" of Covid-19.

A total of 3,006 session sites across all states and union territories will be virtually connected during the launch at 10.30 am by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and around 100 beneficiaries will be vaccinated at each session site.

Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College Principal Sudhir Bhandari will be the first person in Rajasthan to be given the shot, while in Madhya Pradesh, a hospital security guard and an attender will be among the first to get the jab.

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