Coronavirus News highlights: Moderna's single-dose vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 cr doses for 2021

Top virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang said that death is a lagging indicator for Covid and now that cases have stabilised deaths will too. In the last 24 hours, India reported 1.96 lakh Covid-19 cases and 3,511 deaths, marking the lowest single day spike in 40 days. A total of 33,25,94,176 Covid-19 samples have been tested in the country. Amid the second wave, some states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, UP and Rajasthan recorded the highest number of administered vaccines. Stay tuned to DH for more updates.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has instructed all district authorities to engage doctors and nurses on contractual basis to combat theCOVID-19 pandemic, an official said. (PTI)

Moderna's single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in India likely next year; Pfizer ready with 5 cr doses for 2021

Moderna is expecting to launch a single-doseCovid-19 vaccine in India next year and is in talks with Cipla among other Indian firms, while another US giant Pfizer is ready to offer 5 crore shots in 2021 itself but it wants significant regulatory relaxations including indemnification, sources said on Tuesday. (PTI)

Amid restrictions, Karnataka sees further drop in daily cases

Amid strict restrictions, Karnataka sees further drop in daily cases as the state recorded 22,758 Covid cases in last 24 hours. Death toll stood at 588. Bengaluru reported 6,243 cases, and 350 deaths.

Assam govt extends curfew in urban areas till June 5

Process on to fix formula for MRP of oxygen concentrators, Centre tells Delhi HC

The Centre Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that pricing authority NPPA has initiated the process to fix a formula to determine the MRP of oxygen concentrators, needed for Covid-19 treatment, as people were being charged exorbitantly. (PTI)

Covaxin reached 30 cities in 30 days, says Bharat Biotech's Suchitra Ella

Bharat Biotech Co-Founder and Joint MD Suchitra Ella on Tuesday said that Covaxin has reached thirty cities in thirty days despite some employees being off work due toCovid. (PTI)

Covid doesn't remain active in nasal, oral cavities 12-24 hrs after death: AIIMS forensic chief

Coronavirus doesn't remain active in nasal and oral cavities 12 to 24 hours after the death of an infected person as a result of which the risk of transmission from the deceased is highly unlikely, AIIMS Forensic Chief Dr Sudhir Gupta said. (PTI)

India's Covid-19 positivity rate down to 9.54%

The daily Covid-19 positivity rate has reduced and now stands at 9.54 per cent, while the single-day recoveries continue to outnumber the new cases for the 12th consecutive day, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

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Strict lockdown in Karnataka's Kalaburagi for three days from May 27th

The strict lockdown will be implemented in the district for three days from May 27th 6am to May 30th 6am. The lockdown will restrict everything except essential goods and services said Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi

Black fungus is not related to new variant, says top virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang

Vaccination process slow due to shortage of supply: Dr Gagandeep Kang

Maharshtra stops home isolation for patients of 18 districts where the positivity rate is high

Maharashtra reports positivity rate at 12% and recovery rate at 93% with 2,245 cases of Black fungus

Maharashtra declares black fungus as a notified disease

IMA Uttaranchal asks Uttarakhand CM for 'strict action' against Ramdev for statements on allopathy

No response for global tender for vaccine procurement, request Center to float tender, says Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope

Chhattisgarh eases Covid lockdown in districts with positivity rate of 8% or less

Ensure more Covid-19 vaccines are available to states: Gehlot to Centre

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Tuesday that the Union Health Ministry should provide more vaccines to states instead of highlighting vaccination statistics.

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Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattachargee hospitalised due to Covid-19

Maharashtra administers total of 2,10,48,169 vaccines in the state

Delhi HC dismisses PIL seeking direction to ICMR, Niti Aayog and others regarding reconsideration of the prevalent treatment protocol for mild cases of Covid-19 and to also modify the treatment protocol in the disease

INS Shardul brings liquid oxygen tankers from Kuwait

Russia Deputy Envoy to India says that Sputnik Lite in 3rd phase of clinical trials

Uttarakhand State Health Dept said that no company has responded to the global tender for Covid vaccines procurement and has increased time for submission of interest for tender till May 31st

19,420 vials of Amphotericin-B allocated to States and UTs by Center

Additional 19,420 vials of Amphotericin- B have been allocated to all States/UTs and Central Institutions on 24th May. Besides this, 23680 vials of Amphotericin- B were allocated across the country on 21st May, saysMinistry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Maharashtra, UP, Rajasthan and Gujarat administer highest number of Covid-19 vaccines in the country, as per Government of Maharashtra

A flight from Russia carrying Remdesivir vials along with other medicines arrived in India today

India's daily Covid infections fall to 1.96 lakh, lowest since mid-April

India on Tuesday reported 1,96,427 new Covid-19 cases — lowest since April 14 — as 3,511 more people were killed by the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry data showed.

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Hong Kong could soon bin millions of unused vaccine doses

Hong Kong may soon have to throw away millions of Coronavirus vaccine doses because they are approaching their expiry date and not enough people have signed up for the jabs, an official warned Tuesday.

Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world fortunate enough to have secured more than enough doses to innoculate its entire population of 7.5 million people.

But swirling distrust of the government as it stamps out dissent -- combined with online misinformation and a lack of urgency in the comparatively virus-free city -- has led to entrenched vaccine hesitancy and a dismal inoculation drive.

On Tuesday a member of the government's vaccine task force warned that Hong Kongers "only have a three-month window" before the city's first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines go out of date.

(AFP)

Punjab Police arrest actor Deep Singh Sidhu for violating Covid-19 guidelines in Faridkot district and addressing a gathering without a mask

Ex-servicemen from Army spread awareness about Covid-19 in J&K

AAP, BJP spar over Covid vaccine availability

The AAP on Monday alleged that the Centre is playing with the lives of people and doing business by allowing just two companies to manufacture Covid vaccines, a claim dismissed by the Delhi BJP as "emotional bluff".

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WHO says 'more information' required from Bharat Biotech for emergency use listing of Covaxin

The World Health Organization (WHO) said “more information” is “required” from Bharat Biotech, which is seeking emergency use listing (EUL) for its Covaxin vaccine for Covid-19.

The latest ‘Status of Covid-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process’ guidance document dated May 18 on the WHO website said Bharat Biotech submitted EOI (Expression of Interest) on April 19 and that “More information required”. A pre-submission meeting is expected “to be planned May-June 2021,” the guidance document said.

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Uttarakhand govt suspends vaccine for 18-44 age group in Pithoragarh

Pfizer, Moderna vaccine order book full, says Centre

The Centre on Monday said the order books of Pfizer and Moderna were already full and it was in touch with them for supply of Covid-19 vaccines, even as it told the Kerala High Court that only57% of the dosesproduced in the country were reaching the people.

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NHRC notice to Centre, states on 'poor working conditions' of ASHA workers

The NHRC has issued notices to the the Centre and the states over allegations of "poor working conditions" of ASHA workers in the rural areas across the country, the rights panel said on Monday.

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Case against BBMP officials for forcing people to undergo Covid tests

Bengaluru police have taken up a suo motu case against the BBMP officials who were seen beating and forcing residents to undergo RT-PCR tests in Nagarthpet on Monday.

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