India added 11,850 new coronavirus infections, taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,44, 26,036, while the active cases declined to 1,36,308, the lowest in 274 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.
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:
No COVID vaccine jab, no bus travel in civic buses, says Thane mayor
Those people who have not received even one shot of anti-COVID 19 vaccines will not be allowed to travel in the buses operated by the Thane Municipal Corporation, city Mayor Naresh Mhaske said on Saturday.
This announcement comes days after the Thane civic body said its employees who have not taken even one dose of the vaccine will not be paid salaries.
It said the Municipal Corporation had launched a door-to-door survey of vaccinated citizens.
"If anyone is found to be not vaccinated then the civic body gets them vaccinated immediately at their centres. Those travelling in the civic-run buses are required to carry with them a proof of vaccination or the universal travel pass, or else they will not be allowed to board these buses. Those people who have not received even one jab of anti-COVID 19 vaccines will not be allowed to travel in the buses operated by the Thane Municipal Corporation," the release stated.
Till Friday, 86,00,118 people were vaccinated in the Thane district. A total of 56,00,856 of them had received the first jab and 29,99,262 were administered the second jab, as per the figures provided by the Municipal Corporation.- PTI
Beijing Olympics venue restricted to 20% capacity over COVID-19 fears
A major Beijing Winter Olympics venue will only let in one-fifth the spectators it normally holds due to COVID-19 fears, Chinese state media reported.
With less than 100 days to go to the Games, China is bracing for a major challenge to its zero-Covid strategy as thousands of international athletes and officials descend on its capital after months of strict border controls.
The National Aquatics Centre, the main curling venue, will allow "no more than 1,000 people", 20% of its capacity, to attend 2022 Winter Olympics events, manager Yang Qiyong told the state-run Global Times .- AFP
Active cases decline to lowest in 274 days
A total of 11,850 new coronavirus infections were reported in a span of 24 hours, taking the country's infection tally to 3,44, 26,036, while the active cases declined to 1,36,308, the lowest in 274 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll has climbed to 4,63,245 with 555 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 36 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 139 consecutive days now.- PTI
U.S. appeals court affirms hold on Biden COVID-19 vaccine mandate
A U.S. appeals court on Friday affirmed its decision to put on hold an order by President Joe Biden for companies with 100 workers or more to require COVID-19 vaccines, rejecting a challenge by his administration.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld the ruling despite the Biden administration saying on Monday that halting implementation of the rule could lead to the deaths of dozens or even hundreds of workers.
India’s first coronavirus victims’ memorial installed
India’s first COVID-19 victims’ memorial was inaugurated at Rajannapet village in the district by Project Madad, which is a voluntary group of Indian and Indian diaspora doctors and professionals, on Thursday, a press release said.
The memorial was installed at Rajannapet alongside a marker of the village’s COVID resilience.
Assam withdraws exemptions from attending office due to pandemic
In view of improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the State, the Assam government on Friday withdrew relaxation given to its women employees who are pregnant or have children below three years of age from attending office physically, an order said.
The COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the State, with 95% of the eligible population having already received the first dose, has also led the government to make attendance by all employees compulsory, it said.- PTI
High prevalence of post-COVID-19 fatigue in people with type 2 diabetes
Among the many symptoms, including myalgia (muscle pain), headache, cough and breathlessness, fatigue is most prevalent and makes a COVID-19 affected person severely debilitated.
A recent study, jointly done by Fortis and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, and published in journal Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, indicated that type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients who had COVID-19 show significantly more fatigue and a more complicated course of COVID-19, resulting in excess morbidity and mortality. Further, diabetes posed challenges in recovery.
Eighteen months on, staff give thumbs up to work from home
Eighteen months is ample time for people to decide whether they prefer working from home or commuting to office every day. And the verdict is out: pulse surveys conducted by many IT, ITeS, and financial services companies prior to chalking out a back-to-work plan has revealed that most people – parents to even young millennials – are keen on working remotely.
BBMP making calls to citizens hesitating to take second dose
Civic health workers and officials have started to observe an inexplicable trend: many people who received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine seem to be either reluctant to take the second dose, or are delaying it. In an attempt to nip this problem in the bud, the BBMP is resorting to making calls to citizens to remind them to get their shot in time.
BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said that though vaccine coverage in the city has been a big achievement, there is a need to improve it further.
Grocery kits given to COVID-hit families in Andhra Pradesh
Principal Secretary, Department of Women Development and Child Welfare, Anuradha on Friday said besides the financial aid of ₹10 lakh grant for children affected by the COVID-19 sanctioned by the State government, the process for seeking assistance under Centre’s PM Care had been completed.
Speaking after distributing food relief kits to COVID-affected families and COVID care kits to child care organisations, she said 8,131 children had lost one parent to the Coronavirus pandemic while 255 children had lost lost both parents, in the State.
Austria plans lockdown for those not vaccinated or cured
Austria's government said Friday it wanted a nationwide lockdown for those not vaccinated against or recovered from the coronavirus, while Vienna city authorities said they would start vaccinating children as young as five -- a first in the EU.
Only around 65% of the population is fully vaccinated in Austria, a rate described by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg as "shamefully low".
Salzburg and Upper Austria states, which have seen some of the worst case rates, are already introducing a lockdown for the unvaccinated from Monday.
This means they will not be able to leave the house except for reasons such as buying essential supplies, exercise or seeking medical care.
Lockdowns across the country would be enforced with "random" spot checks.- AFP
Dutch govt. orders 3-week partial lockdown amid virus surge
Caretaker Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a three-week partial lockdown Friday amid surging COVID-19 cases in the Netherlands, saying his government wants to “deliver a hard blow to the virus.”
The lockdown that begins Saturday night is the first to start in Western Europe since a new wave of infections began surging across parts of the continent.
Under the lockdown, bars, restaurants and supermarkets will have to close at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT), professional sports matches will be played in empty stadiums and people are being urged to work from home as much as possible. Stores selling non-essential items will have to close at 6 p.m.- AP
