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12:51 (IST) Coronavirus News LATEST Updates Ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccine in India: Serum Institute of India Serum Institute of India (SII) on Sunday said it is ready to roll out Covishield vaccine in the country in the coming weeks after receiving approval from the Indian drug regulator. The Pune-based vaccine major has entered into a collaboration with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine. The company has already stockpiled around 50 million dosages of the vaccine and aims to produce up to 100 million dosages per month by March next year. The approval by the DCGI was given on the basis of recommendations submitted by a COVID-19 subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). "After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation

Editor's note: This explainer is being republished in light of the DCGI's approval for restricted emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Bharat Biotech, and Serum Institute of India (SII) for restricted emergency use. In December 2020, as many as three pharmaceutical firms had applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorisation for COVID-19 vaccines that they are developing. HFW - DCGI Energency Use Authorisation- 3rd January 2021-2 by Natasha T. on Scribd The Indian arm of US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer had on 4 December sought approval for its vaccine from the central drug regulator, after the firm secured such clearance in the UK and Bahrain. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India sought the nod for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, on 6 December. Bharat Biotech

India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and the indigenously-developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive . The approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) was given on the basis of recommendations submitted by a COVID-19 subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). “After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation," DCGI Dr V G Somani told a press conference. This paves the way for the roll out of at least two vaccines in India in the coming days. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON CORONAVIRUS VACCINE HERE Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the approvals as a 'decisive turning p

Hyderabad: Bharat Biotech has successfully recruited 23,000 volunteers, and continued progress towards achieving the goal of 26,000 participants for Phase-3 clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin across multiple sites in India, it said. The Phase III human clinical trials of Covaxin began mid-November, targeted to be done in 26,000 volunteers and it is the country's first and only Phase III efficacy study for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the largest phase III efficacy trial ever conducted for any vaccine in India, a press release from the vaccine maker said on Saturday night. Thanking volunteers for their participation in the trials, Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director of Bharat Biotech said that the volunteering spirit is a great morale boost for India and the world. "We thank all the principal investigators, doctors, medical staff and the hospitals for their cooperation and support in taking the phase III trials forward in 26,000 volunteers in India. We continue ou

Chennai: About 85 people, including staff members of ITC Grand Chola in Chennai's Guindy area, have tested positive for COVID-19 since 15 December last year, a senior official said on Saturday. Of the total of 609 samples collected till date, 85 were found to be positive. Following this, the Greater Chennai Corporation has been instructed to carry out saturation testing of all the guests at the hotel, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said. ITC Grand Chola, in a release, said all events at the property have been conducted in adherence to the norms mandated by the authorities. Additionally, only 50 percent capacity of the hall is used to ensure maximum distancing and safety, it said. The first case was reported after a chef got infected on 15 December. As many as 16 and 13 cases were reported on 31 December, 2020, and 1 January, 2021. "Of the total of 609 samples collected till now from the hotel and in and around the residences of the staff, 85 have so far been found to

09:52 (IST) Coronavirus News LATEST Updates India reports over 18,000 new cases; tally now at 1.03 cr India recorded 18,177 new COVID-19 cases in a day, while 99,27,310 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 96.15 percent on Sunday, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The total coronavirus cases mounted to 1,03,23,965 and the death toll climbed to 1,49,435 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 217 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed. The COVID-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.45 percent. There are 2,47,220 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 2.39 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 17,48,99,783 samples have been tested up to 2 January with 9,58,125 samples being tested on Saturday. 09:48 (IST) Coronavirus News LATEST Updates DCGI to brief media at 11 am today The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)

Patna: A dry run for COVID vaccination was conducted in three districts of Bihar on Saturday, the health department said. Altogether 75 personnel took part in the mock exercises that took place at three centres each in Patna, Jamui and West Champaran districts, it said in a statement. Top officials of the department visited the primary health centres of Shastri Nagar and Phulwari Sharif in the state capital where the dry run was conducted. The drill was part of the nationwide exercise to test the preparedness of authorities before commencement of the actual vaccination process. The state government, in a recent cabinet decision, made a provision for free of cost inoculation for the entire population once the vaccine is available in the market from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/3hAF0gP Press Trust of India

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday termed the anti-COVID-19 vaccine to be rolled out in the country a "vaccine of the BJP" and said he would not take the shot, prompting a sharp reaction not only from the ruling party but also from NC vice-president Omar Abdullah. While the ruling BJP accused Yadav of "insulting" doctors and scientists, Abdullah said vaccines don't belong to any political party, but humanity. Hours later after terming the anti-Covid vaccine as a “vaccine of the BJP”, Yadav, however, said in a tweet that he had full faith in scientists but not in the “taali and thali wali” unscientific thinking of the BJP. "How can I trust the vaccine, which will be used for vaccination by the BJP? We cannot get vaccinated by the BJP's vaccine," he told reporters earlier in the day. Yadav’s remarks prompted an instant retort from BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who termed his st

Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval rating is the highest among world leaders in a survey conducted by a US data firm, BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday said this is a testimony to his able leadership and a matter of pride for all Indians. While Nadda tweeted to laud the prime minister's leadership, the BJP also held a press conference wherein Union minister Prakash Javadekar said it is a "rare phenomenon" that the prime minister's public approval has been rising over the past six years, defying the general trend of fluctuating ratings for most leaders. American firm Morning Consult, which regularly tracks approval ratings of world leaders, said over 75 percent of people approve of Modi while 20 percent disapprove, putting his net approval rating at 55 percent. This is higher than any other world leader the firm tracks. Referring to the survey, Nadda tweeted that Prime Minister Modi has yet again emerged as the most popular head of government

Bharuch: The Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) in Gujarat will contest upcoming local body polls in the state in alliance with the AIMIM, BTP chief Chhotu Vasava said on Saturday after AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel met him at his residence at Jhagadia in Bharuch district. Notably, Vasava had in December announced the severing of ties with the Congress party in two district Panchayats in Narmada and Bharuch. "(Asaduddin) Owaisi is with the people who are fighting for the Indian Constitution. We will fight for our rights that are being taken away by the Narendra Modi government which is doing nothing for the poor...We will contest the upcoming elections to local bodies with theAIMIM," Vasava told reporters. Owaisi heads the Hyderabad-headquartered All IndiaMajlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM). "Well begun is half done! Had a fruitful meeting with BTP chief Chotu bhai Vasava at his house in Bharuch. The long wait of the Gujarati people finally gets over as BTP and AIMIM come toget

Chandigarh: A 23-year-old man who married a woman belonging to a different caste was stabbed to death allegedly by his brother-in-law in Panipat, police said on Saturday, the second suspected case of honour killing in Haryana in the past three days. Neeraj had married in November, but the brother of the woman was unhappy over the marriage, according to police. The suspect and his relative attacked Neeraj in the market area of the city on Friday night. The youth was taken to the hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said. Neeraj's body bore multiple stab injuries. A case has been registered and efforts are on to nab the suspects, a police official said. On Wednesday, a couple who planned to marry were shot dead in broad daylight in Rohtak. from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/3544sWT Press Trust of India

Chennai: About 85 people, including staff members of ITC Grand Chola in Chennai's Guindy area, have tested positive for COVID-19 since 15 December last year, a senior official said on Saturday. Of the total of 609 samples collected till date, 85 were found to be positive. Following this, the Greater Chennai Corporation has been instructed to carry out saturation testing of all the guests at the hotel, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said. ITC Grand Chola, in a release, said all events at the property have been conducted in adherence to the norms mandated by the authorities. Additionally, only 50 percent capacity of the hall is used to ensure maximum distancing and safety, it said. The first case was reported after a chef got infected on 15 December. As many as 16 and 13 cases were reported on 31 December, 2020, and 1 January, 2021. "Of the total of 609 samples collected till now from the hotel and in and around the residences of the staff, 85 have so far been found to

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday took strong exception to the state Governor summoning the top officials to explain the law and order situation in the state instead of seeking a report on it directly from him as home minister. Amarinder Singh also said it was unfortunate that the Governor bowed to BJP's antics. Mobile towers can be repaired but farmers dying at Delhi borders can’t be brought back. @BJP4India ’s false propaganda on law & order in Punjab is a diversionary tactic. Unfortunate that @vpsbadnore ji fell for it & summoned my officers rather than seeking a direct report from me. — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 2, 2021 The chief minister was reacting to Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore summoning the Punjab chief secretary and police chief to question them on the alleged law and order problems in the state, amid "sporadic" incidents of damage to mobile towers, according to a government statement. Notab

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Saturday permitted all shops and commercial establishments in the state employing ten or more people to be open on 24x7basis on all days for a period of three years with some conditions. The move seems to be aimed at generating employment and accelerating economic growth which has taken a hit following the COVID-19 pandemic. The employer shall appoint additional staff in order to allow every employee to avail one day holiday in a week on a rotation basis, and the details of every employee shall be exhibited by the employer at a conspicuous place in the shop or commercial establishment, the official notification by the labour department said. It said, an employer shall not require or allow any person employed to work therein for more than eight hours in any day and 48 hours in any week and the period of work including overtime shall not exceed ten hours in any day and 50 hours in a period of three continuous months. If employees are found work

Indore: Munawar Faruqui, a stand-up comedian from Gujarat, was arrested along with four others after the son of a BJP MLA complained against him for alleged indecent remarks made against Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a show at Indore in Madhya Pradesh, a police official said on Saturday. Police said the comedy show was held at a cafe in 56 Dukan area of Indore on Friday. Eklavya Singh Gaur (36), son of local BJP legislator Malini Laxman Singh Gaur, filed the complaint in this regard, police said. Gaur said he and his associates had gone to the show as audience, where the comedian made the remarks. They objected to his comments and created ruckus over it. They also forced the event to stop. "A case was filed late on Friday night against stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, a resident of Junagadh in Gujarat, and four Indore-based persons based on a written complaint filed by Eklavya Singh Gaur, who also submitted a controversial video footage of the comed

New Delhi: Prominent Dalit leader of the Congress and former Union home minister Buta Singh, who served under four prime ministers in a political career spanning over five decades, died at the AIIMS Delhi on Saturday morning. He was 86. Singh was in a coma since October last year when he was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he suffered a brain hemorrhage. He died around 7.10 am, his family said. He was cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium in the evening. A large number of Congress leaders and workers attended the cremation. His supporters earlier paid their last respects to the departed leader at his Jangpura Extension residence and at the Sri Nanaksar Gurudwara in Wazirabad, where his body was kept. A staunch loyalist of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Singh was a member of Lok Sabha for eight terms, held several positions in varied ideological dispensations at the Centre and became the Governor of Bihar in 2004. Singh often found himse

A COVID-19 expert panel of the CDSCO on Saturday recommended  a second COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN, indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech and the ICMR, for emergency use authorisation, especially against the mutant strains. The SEC’s recommendations will now be considered by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), who will grant the final approval, reports said. This came on a day India tested its COVID-19 vaccine delivery system with a nationwide trail, as it prepares to roll out an inoculation programme to stem the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the number of new COVID-19 cases in the country fell below 20,000 while the national recovery rate rose to 96.12 percent, according to data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Additionally, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan appealed to people not to be "misguided" by rumours and disinformation regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, while announcing that the govt would bear the cost towards