The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 172.75 crore on Saturday, the Union Health Ministry said.
More than 44 lakh vaccine doses were administered till 7 p.m. on Saturday, the ministry said, adding that the daily vaccination tally is expected to go up with the compilation of the final reports by late night.
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.
Night curfew lifted across J&K
The Jammu and Kashmir State Executive Committee (SEC) on Sunday announced the lifting of the night curfew after almost six months and opening of educational institutions in a phased manner beginning Monday amid a decline in COVID-19 cases.
The SEC also attendance at indoor gatherings to 50 % of the authorized capacity against the previous 25 %, while cinema halls, theatres, restaurants, clubs, gymnasiums and swimming pools were permitted to function at 25 % of the authorized capacity with due precautions.
Announcing the guidelines on Sunday after a fresh review of the COVID-19 situation, the SEC, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary A.K. Mehta, said all universities, colleges, polytechnics and ITIs shall commence routine offline classes teaching from February 14.
“All the students between 15-17 age group coming to attend regular offline classes must carry a vaccination certificate with them. The heads of the institutions must ensure that guidelines related to social distancing and Covid-appropriate Behaviour are strictly followed, including regular screening at the entrance to the institution. - PTI
Schools in Kerala to resume in full swing from February 21
Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty announced additional guidelines for resumption of offline classes in schools from Monday.
Pre-primary and classes from 1 to 9 will will begin functioning in batches till afternoon from Monday by adhering to already released guidelines. Classes 10 to 12 will continue lessons as at present till February 19, the Minister said at a press conference here on Sunday.
From February 21, all students in classes 1 to 12 will attend school from morning till evening. There will be no batches, so as to complete portions at the earliest, and the usual school timetable will be followed. All Saturdays in February and March, except for public holidays, will be working days.
Cook Islands braces for first community COVID cases
Cook Islands, a small South Pacific nation that has not experienced COVID-19 in its community, is readying for its first coronavirus infections after an infected traveller visited, Prime minister Mark Brown said on Sunday.
The traveller from New Zealand spent eight days in the community and tested positive for Omicron upon returning home last week, Brown said in a video posted on the government’s Facebook page.
“It is likely that the person ... was infectious while here and further likely that the virus is in our community,” he said.
“It may be there is ‘silent transmission’, where our high vaccination rate is so protective that people get COVID but so mildly that they do not realise they have it.” - Reuters
New Bangladesh batting coach tests COVID positive
Newly-appointed Bangladesh batting coach Jamie Siddons has tested positive for COVID-19, the country’s cricket board (BCB) said.
The 57-year-old Australian, who was named as the batting coach after South Africa’s Ashwell Prince stepped down from the same position earlier this week.
Jalal Yunus, the BCB’s cricket operations committee chairman, has confirmed to the Dhaka-based Prothom Alo that Siddons tested positive for COVID-19 and has mild symptoms.
He is currently in quarantine in his hotel in Dhaka.
Siddons, who was Bangladesh’s head coach from 2007 to 2011, has spent most of his time watching BPL matches after arriving in the country. - PTI
Blockades on Canada-U.S. border continue, protests swell
Protesters opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions withdrew their vehicles from a key U.S.-Canadian border bridge Saturday but still blocked access while other demonstrations ramped up in cities across Canada, including the capital, where police said they were awaiting more officers before ending what they described as an illegal occupation.
The tense standoff at the Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, eased somewhat early in the day when Canadian police persuaded demonstrators to move the trucks they had used to barricade the entrance to the busy international crossing.
But protesters reconvened nearby — with reinforcements — and were still choking off access from the Canadian side late Saturday, snarling traffic and commerce for a sixth day. - AP
More than 172.25 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India: Govt.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 172.75 crore on Saturday, the Union Health Ministry said.
More than 44 lakh vaccine doses were administered till 7 p.m. on Saturday, the Ministry said, adding that the daily vaccination tally is expected to go up with the compilation of the final reports by late night.
More than 1.72 crore precaution doses have so far been administered to healthcare workers (HCWs), frontline workers (FLWs) and those aged 60 years and above with comorbidities, the ministry said. - PTI
COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted in Bihar
The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Saturday announced that it would lift “all restrictions” that had been imposed in the wake of the recent COVID-19 surge.
The chief minister, who chaired a meeting of the crisis management group during the day, took to Twitter to say that the new guidelines will come into force from February 14.
Later, a notification issued by the state home department said that the restrictions which have been done away with include the cap of 200 attendees at weddings and funerals. Besides, schools can run “normally” for all classes. Earlier 50% attendance was allowed for till class 8. - PTI
Hong Kong food supplies may be disrupted as COVID hits goods drivers
Hong Kong authorities said on Sunday supplies of vegetables and chilled poultry into the global financial hub may be temporarily disrupted after some mainland goods vehicle drivers preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.
Hong Kong imports 90% of its food, with the mainland its most important source, especially for fresh food. Consumers have already seen a shortage of some foreign imported goods, including premium seafood, due to stringent flight restrictions.
“The mainland authorities and the (Hong Kong) government are working closely together to firm up the detailed arrangements to expedite the logistics of food supply for Hong Kong so as to make the supply situation resumes normal as soon as possible,” the government said in a statement. - Reuters
Paris police fire tear gas to disperse banned virus protest
Paris police fired tear gas Saturday against a handful of demonstrators on the Champs-Elysees Avenue who defied a police order by taking part in a vehicle protest against virus restrictions inspired by Canada’s horn-honking truckers.
In the Netherlands, dozens of trucks and other vehicles — ranging from tractors to a car towing a camping van — arrived in The Hague for a similar virus-related protest Saturday, blocking an entrance to the historic Dutch parliamentary complex.
But a threatened blockade of Paris failed to materialize Saturday, despite days of online organizing efforts. - AP
U.S. authorises new antibody drug to fight omicron
US health regulators on Friday authorised a new antibody drug that targets the omicron variant, a key step in restocking the nation’s arsenal against the latest version of COVID-19.
The Food and Drug Administration said it cleared the Eli Lilly drug for adults and adolescent patients with mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19. Lilly announced work on the treatment late last year after testing revealed that its previous antibody therapy was ineffective against the dominant omicron variant.
The Biden administration has purchased 600,000 doses before the authorization and will begin shipping initial supplies to state health authorities for distribution. - AP
