Coronavirus updates

A study drove by the 'American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology' discovered that the antibodies that help in guarding against the COVID-19 infection are transferred from mothers to their babies while in the womb. This discovery adds to growing evidence that suggests that pregnant women who generate protective antibodies after contracting the coronavirus often convey some of that natural immunity to their fetuses. The findings also lend support to the idea that vaccinating mothers-to-be may also have benefits for their newborns. "Since we can now say that the antibodies pregnant women make against COVID-19 have been shown to be passed down to their babies, we suspect that there`s a good chance they could pass down the antibodies the body makes after being vaccinated as well," said Dr Yawei Jenny Yang, an assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and the study`s senior author. Dr Yang and her team analysed blood samples from 88 ... » Learn More about Coronavirus antibodies move from pregnant ladies to their infants, new study finds

Mumbai: As the second phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive began in Mumbai on Monday, beneficiaries had to face several inconveniences related to the CoWIN portal and many were even asked to return home at the Mulund Jumbo Centre . Citizens above 60 years of age and those above 45 with co-morbidities are eligible to get inoculated during the second phase. They were asked to get themselves registered in advance on the Centre's CoWIN 2.0 portal, however, several people complained that their names did not show up on the portal at the Centre even after registering. For latest updates about Mumbai city, click here BKC Jumbo Centre, NESCO Jumbo Centre and at the private HJ Doshi Hindu Sabha Hospital in Ghatkopar since 9 am, but many found their names were not called due to CoWIN portal's glitches. Crowd at BKC Jumbo Centre. Photo by Uma Kadam/BCCL As a result, the situation throughout the day was quite chaotic at these centres and the elderly, who had ... » Learn More about Vaccination Second Phase: Senior citizens at Mulund Jumbo Centre asked to return after glitches in CoWIN portal

Mumbai : After a sudden spike of cases, Mumbai witnessed a drop in cases on Monday. The city reported four deaths and 855 new COVID-19 cases today. The total number of positive cases in Mumbai now stands at 3,26,770, according to information received by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC ). At least 11,474 people have succumbed to the virus in Mumbai so far. Out of four deaths reported, three patients had co-morbidities. There are 9,690 active cases in the city. The total number of recoveries surged to 3,04,736 with 876 new discharges on Monday. The recovery rate of Mumbai district is 93 per cent. READ: Mumbai City LIVE Updates here The number of active containment zones (slums and chawls) remain below 15 at 10. Meanwhile, Maharashtra reported 6,397 fresh COVID-19 infections on Monday. The state's COVID-19 tally has now risen to 21,61,467. With 30 new deaths, the state's fatality count rose to 52,184. On the other hand, 5,754 patients recovered on ... » Learn More about Mumbai COVID-19 tracker: With 855 new cases, Mumbai’s total tally reaches 3,26,770

LUCKNOW : As the second phase of the nationwide mass COVID-19 vaccination drive began on Monday, Ram Govind Chaudhary, the opposition leader in the UP Legislative Assembly, had asked the Yogi Adityanath government to explain why the vaccine is not being provided free of cost as promised by the Centre earlier. During a discussion in the state assembly, the senior Samajwadi Party leader had sought to know from the state’s Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh if the COVID vaccine will be provided free of cost to the public or some charges will be taken for the same. Chaudhary was backed by other opposition leaders like Manoj Kumar Pandey (SP), Ajai Kumar of Congress and BSP MLAs Uma Shankar Singh and Virendra Yadav who had also demanded an explanation from the state government over the fee being charged for administering COVID vaccine to those above 45 years of age and with comorbidities. Replying to them, UP Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh said that as per the ... » Learn More about Why Covid-19 vaccine is not free for public, asks UP opposition leader Ram Govind Chaudhary, Yogi govt responds

Pune: The district administration of Pune declared the closure of all educational institutions to curb the sudden surge in coronavirus cases in the metropolitan. Among other restrictions imposed, hotels, restaurant and wedding venues are allowed to operate only till 11 pm, an order said. From 11pm to 6am, no public movement will be allowed except for those involved in essential services, in view of rising COVID19 cases. Schools & colleges in the district will remain closed till 28 Feb. New guidelines to be effective from tomorrow: Pune Divisional Commissioner pic.twitter.com/F7iZFTcn0j — ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2021 Not more than 200 people will be allowed in wedding ceremonies and public gatherings. Notably, the Union Health Ministry issued a note of caution to the state governments and asked for increasing the number of tests and more RT-PCR tests so that no cases are missed out. Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray government is contemplating ... » Learn More about Pune schools, colleges closed till Feb 28 imposes night curfew amid surge in COVID-19 cases

Hyderabad : The Bharat Biotech on Monday (March 1, 2021) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has set a powerful example for all the Indians. "We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine himself and are deeply appreciative of the gesture. This has set a powerful example for all Indians to follow, which will go a long way in reducing vaccine hesitancy and building confidence in immunization against the ongoing pandemic," said Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Biotech International Limited. He added, "We express our sincere gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for reposing his trust in the indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, COVAXIN." Bharat Biotech Chairman & Managing Director also urged the fellow citizens to not hesitate from taking part in the COVID-19 immunization program so that the country can bring an end to the public health crisis. ... » Learn More about This has set powerful example: Bharat Biotech on PM Narendra Modi taking first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

NEW DELHI: The second phase of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive for people above 60 years and those aged 45 and above with comorbidities will begin from Monday (March 1, 2021). People can register themselves on the government’s Co-WIN2.0 portal that will open at 9 AM on Monday. How To Register For Vaccination? Citizens will be able to register and book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the Co-WIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Arogya Setu. Registration will open at 9 AM on March 1 at www.Cowin.Gov.In , the Health Ministry said. Who All Are Eligible? All citizens that are aged, or will attain the age of 60 or more as on January 1, 2022, are eligible to register, in addition to all such citizens that are aged, or will attain the age of 45 to 59 years as on January 1, 2022, and have any of the specified 20 comorbidities. This information was shared during the orientation workshop organised by the Union Health ... » Learn More about COVID-19: Second phase of vaccination drive begins today, citizens can register on Co-WIN2.0 portal

New Delhi : The Centre has released a list of private hospitals that can participate in the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination program which aims to vaccinate the age-appropriate groups from Monday (March 1, 2021). The private sector participation is being scaled up in the coronavirus vaccination program as over 10,000 hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and 687 hospitals under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) can be used by states as COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs). Come March 1, the nationwide coronavirus vaccination program will be exponentially expanded to the following age-groups: i) All citizens above 60 years of age, and ii) Those within the age bracket of 45 to 59 years with specified co-morbidities. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Health Departments of the State Governments have already initiated dialogue with the given private hospitals so that they can be encouraged to participate in this drive as CVCs. ... » Learn More about Centre releases list of private hospitals that can participate in COVID-19 vaccination drive from March 1

New Delhi : The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has said that no COVID-19 vaccination sessions will be held on February 27 and February 28 across India. The country will witness a two-day halt as the Co-Win digital platform , a software used to coordinate India's COVID-19 vaccination campaign, is being upgraded. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that on this Saturday and Sunday, the Co-Win digital platform will be transitioning from Co-Win1.0 to Co-Win 2.0. "In view of this, COVID-19 vaccination sessions will not be scheduled during these two days," the ministry informed. The up-gradation is being done as India will begin giving COVID-19 vaccine shots to people above 60 years of age from March 1. People above 45 years of age with comorbidities will also be vaccinated from the same date. Earlier on Friday, Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary along with RS Sharma, Chairman of Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration (Co-WIN) and ... » Learn More about No COVID-19 vaccination sessions on February 27, 28 across India: Know why

New Delhi: Indian government on Friday (February 26) said it will let people choose their coronavirus vaccination centres when the campaign expands next week, effectively letting beneficiaries pick either a home-grown shot or the AstraZeneca one, unlike now. The country will halt vaccinations this weekend to upgrade software used to coordinate its campaign, as it prepares to widen coverage beyond the 11.5 million health and front-line workers immunised since Jan. 16. But the inoculation campaign has progressed slower than expected due to a reluctance of health and front-line workers to take the home-grown Covaxin shot that was approved without late-stage efficacy data. Only 11% of vaccinated people have opted for the product developed by Bharat Biotech and the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research. With the world’s highest tally of infections after the United States, India wants to vaccinate 300 million of its 1.35 billion people by August. The decision to give ... » Learn More about People can choose their COVID-19 vaccination centre, says govt for faster roll-out