It is too early to say anything definite on the COVID-19 pandemic becoming an endemic, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday while inaugurating the revamped canteen of the Ministry. The Centre was maintaining a strict vigil on the spread of the infection, he stressed.
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:
Japan
Japan is set to announce easing of its strict border controls by increasing the daily quota for foreign arrivals and shortening the quarantine requirement beginning in March, following criticisms that the country’s policy is unscientific and xenophobic.
Senior officials of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s governing party recently said they are considering raising the daily entry cap to 5,000 from the current 3,500 beginning March 1 as one way of relaxing the border measures for foreign scholars, students and business people. The measure will not include tourists for now. - AP
DU colleges reopen, students back on campus after two years
Colleges in the city reopened on Thursday after being shut for almost two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with students saying that they are excited to be back on campus.
The Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station, near the Delhi University, was jampacked as many students made their way to colleges on the north campus. Gajendra Mohan Thakur, a 26-year-old Campus Law Centre student, said, “I am excited to go back to the campus. The university was shut for around two years. The online mode of study was not efficient enough to substitute the offline mode of education. It is a time to reclaim our lost years.” Delhi University colleges were closed in March 2020 following the outbreak of the coronavirus infection.
Students seen at Miranda House College of Delhi University on the first day of reopening of college on Thursday | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
India adds 30,757 COVID-19 cases, tally increased to 4,27,54,315
With 30,757 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India’s total tally of cases rose to 4,27,54,315, while the recovery rate crossed the 98%-mark again, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death toll has climbed to 5,10,413 with 541 daily fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily COVID-19 cases have been recorded at less than one lakh for the last 11 consecutive days.
The active cases have declined to 3,32,918, comprising 0.78% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 98.03%, the health ministry said. -PTI
BioNTech to ship mobile Covid vaccine labs to Africa
Germany’s BioNTech, which together with Pfizer developed the first mRNA vaccine against the coronavirus, said Wednesday it plans to ship mobile vaccine production units to Africa.
“The question was, can we make the process compact enough to fit in a container,” the chief executive and co-founder of BioNTech, Ugur Sahin, told AFP as the company unveiled the new labs, dubbed “BioNTainers”.
BioNTech said it aims to establish the “first manufacturing facility in the African Union” in “mid-2022” and expects to ship the modular production units to Rwanda and/or Senegal. -AFP
Germany announces end to most COVID-19 restrictions on March 20
Germany’s leaders on Wednesday announced plans to end most of the country’s coronavirus restrictions by March 20, a decision that coincided with moves by neighboring Austria and Switzerland to drop many of their curbs sooner.
A three-step plan was endorsed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the country’s 16 State governors as official figures show Germany’s COVID-19 infection rate beginning to drift downward.
“The peak has now probably been reached,” Mr. Scholz said, adding that “a constantly improved situation” can be expected in the coming weeks. -AFP
U.K. to offer COVID-19 vaccine to all children from age 5-11
British authorities will offer a coronavirus vaccine to almost six million children from age 5 to 11, officials said Wednesday.
The government said young children will be offered a low-dose COVID-19 shot on a “non-urgent” basis beginning in April in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also announced similar measures.
“Parents can, if they want, take up the offer to increase protection against potential future waves of COVID-19 as we learn to live with this virus,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. -AP
Karnataka universities urged to put off degree exams by one month
The Karnataka government has requested the vice chancellors of universities in the state to consider deferring the semester examinations of degree courses by a month, citing COVID-19 third wave.
G Kumar Naik, Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Higher Education stated in a press release on Wednesday that the Vice-Chancellors of all the institutions have been asked to take a call regarding postponing examinations, since the syllabus is yet to be completed.
The portions could not be completed within the timeframe since offline classes were suspended in view of the surge in COVID-19 third wave, he said. -PTI
Haryana lifts all Covid restrictions
The Haryana government on Wednesday lifted all Covid-related restrictions in the state, officials said.
However, the residents of the state are advised to strictly follow Covid-appropriate behavioural norms, including social distancing, an order issued by Sanjeev Kaushal, Chief Secretary-cum-Chairperson of the State Executive Committee of Haryana State Disaster Management Authority (HSDMA) said. -PTI
Gauhati HC to resume physical hearing of cases from February 21
Gauhati High Court will resume physical hearing of all cases from February 21 and requests for virtual hearing will be allowed only on a case-to-case basis with prior approval of the concerned bench at least a day before the hearing. A notification issued by Gauhati High Court Registrar General Gautam Barua on Wednesday stated that all types of cases shall be listed and mention for urgent listing shall be made physically before the concerned judge. -PTI
Swiss lift most COVID-19 restrictions as infections decline
Switzerland on Wednesday became the latest European country to ease coronavirus restrictions, including ending health checks for incoming travellers and the need to have COVID-19 passes to enter many public venues.
The Federal Council, the seven-member Swiss executive branch, said as of Thursday, masks and COVID-19 vaccination passes will no longer be required to enter shops, restaurants, cultural venues and other public settings and events. The requirement to wear masks in workplaces and a work-from-home recommendation will also end, as will capacity limits on large-scale gatherings. -AP
