COVID-19: News
25 Aug 2021
United States of AmericaUS: Indian-origin executive sentenced to two years for $1.8mn fraud
A 48-year-old Indian-origin tech executive in the US has been sentenced to two years in prison for fraudulently obtaining nearly $1.8 million in federal COVID-19 disaster relief loans.
25 Aug 2021
World Health OrganizationCOVID-19 may be entering endemic stage. What does it mean?
Coronavirus in India might be entering the "endemic stage," World Health Organization's (WHO) Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said in an interview with The Wire.
25 Aug 2021
Union Health MinistryCoronavirus: India reports 37K+ cases; daily infections surpass recoveries again
India on Wednesday reported roughly 37,600 new COVID-19 cases, surpassing the number of daily recoveries (over 34,000).
25 Aug 2021
AfghanistanAfghanistan crisis: 16 of 78 new evacuees test COVID-19 positive
Sixteen of the 78 evacuees from Afghanistan, who had landed in India on Tuesday, have tested positive for the coronavirus, reports say.
24 Aug 2021
WhatsAppHere's how you can book COVID-19 vaccination slots on WhatsApp
In a renewed attempt to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccination drive in India, the government has now enabled vaccination slot booking via the MyGov Corona Helpdesk service on WhatsApp.
24 Aug 2021
Mariyappan ThangaveluMariyappan withdrawn as India's Paralympic flag-bearer
High-jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu was on Tuesday replaced by javelin thrower Tek Chand as India's flag-bearer for the Paralympics opening ceremony this evening after coming in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person during his flight to Tokyo.
24 Aug 2021
Union Health MinistryCoronavirus: India reports 25K+ cases; active infections drop under 1%
India on Tuesday reported over 25,000 new COVID-19 cases, along with over 350 fresh deaths.
23 Aug 2021
PfizerUS: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine officially granted full approval by FDA
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has finally received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday for use in people aged 16 and above in the country.
23 Aug 2021
Tamil NaduTN: Multiplexes, theaters to welcome guests from August 27
Multiplexes and theaters in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu will start receiving film lovers from August 27, nearly four months after cinema halls were closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tamil Nadu Theater and Multiplex Owners Association said on Monday.
23 Aug 2021
Union Health MinistryCoronavirus: India reports 25K cases; third wave likely by October
India on Monday reported a little over 25,000 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest single-day spike in 160 days.
23 Aug 2021
ResearchCOVID-19 antibody that protects against broad range of variants identified
Researchers have identified an antibody that is highly protective at low doses against a wide range of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes the deadly COVID-19.
23 Aug 2021
Government of IndiaCOVID-19 third wave by October; panel says pediatric facilities inadequate
An expert committee set up on the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said that the third wave of COVID-19 may hit the country by October.
23 Aug 2021
MizoramMore than 300 schools reopen in Mizoram
Over 300 schools in Mizoram's COVID-19 free areas have been allowed to reopen for the new academic session 2021-2022, an official of the school education department said.
22 Aug 2021
Union Health MinistryAfter second wave, COVID-19 group suggests preparing for 23% hospitalizations
A government COVID-19 task force has recommended preparing for a 23% hospitalization rate in the event of a surge in infections.
22 Aug 2021
Zydus CadilaCOVID-19 vaccine trials for ages 3-12 soon: Zydus Cadila MD
After receiving emergency use approval for its COVID-19 vaccine, Zydus Cadila will now submit an application to start vaccine trials for children aged 3-12 years, Managing Director Dr. Sharvil Patel said Saturday.
22 Aug 2021
KeralaCoronavirus: India reports 31K new cases; 55% in Kerala alone
India on Sunday reported nearly 31,000 new COVID-19 cases, with around 55% of the daily infections concentrated in Kerala alone.
21 Aug 2021
Government of IndiaZydus Cadila's COVID-19 vaccine approved. What you need to know
Zydus Cadila's three-dose coronavirus vaccine has received the emergency use authorization from India's top drug regulator, becoming the sixth jab to get the nod in the country.
21 Aug 2021
COVID-19 IndiaHere's how you can download your COVID-19 vaccination certificate
COVID-19 vaccination certificates are fast becoming a mandate for various tasks such as traveling outside the country. They also simplify the hassles of post-pandemic domestic travel. In fact, several private and government offices now require staff to display their certificates.
21 Aug 2021
PfizerPfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to get US-FDA's full approval next week
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly set to grant full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's two-dose COVID-19 vaccine next week, expediting the previous timeline for licensing the vaccine.
Expert panel recommends emergency use authorization for Zydus's three-dose vaccine
The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has recommended granting an emergency use authorization (EUA) to ZyCoV-D, the three-dose COVID-19 vaccine developed by Zydus Cadila, on Friday.
20 Aug 2021
KeralaHalf of India's 87K breakthrough infections in Kerala, Centre says
Kerala has accounted for nearly half of all the breakthrough infections reported in India so far, according to the central government.
20 Aug 2021
Himachal PradeshCentre prepared to tackle possible COVID-19 third wave: Anurag Thakur
The Centre is fully ready to tackle a possible third wave of COVID-19 and a provision of Rs. 23,123 has been made for this purpose, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said on Friday.
19 Aug 2021
IntelIntel to give $250 to employees for taking COVID-19 vaccines
In a bid to encourage COVID-19 vaccination, computer chip-maker Intel on Wednesday announced an incentive of $250 for all its employees for getting vaccinated.
19 Aug 2021
Government of IndiaConvalescent plasma therapy doesn't stop COVID-19 progression: NIH
The results of a clinical trial showed that convalescent plasma therapy is not effective against high-risk COVID-19 patients.
19 Aug 2021
PfizerPfizer, AstraZeneca vaccines less effective against Delta variant: Oxford study
COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca are less effective against the Delta variant of the coronavirus, compared to the Alpha variant, a study led by researchers at the University of Oxford said.
19 Aug 2021
World Health OrganizationCOVID-19 booster shot will be recommended in India: ICMR-NIV chief
India will "definitely recommend" booster shots of the coronavirus vaccine in future, Dr. Priya Abraham said in an interview.
19 Aug 2021
KeralaCoronavirus: India reports 36K+ cases; active infections hit 149-day low
India on Thursday reported over 36,000 new COVID-19 cases, with Kerala contributing nearly 60% of the day's total fresh infections.
19 Aug 2021
XTwitter testing new process for reporting COVID-19 misinformation
Microblogging platform Twitter has announced that its users in the US, Australia, and South Korea will be able to report COVID-19 and election-related misinformation through the conventional process of reporting other kinds of unwanted content.
18 Aug 2021
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)COVID-19 vaccine for children likely by September, says ICMR-NIV chief
India will likely have a COVID-19 vaccine for children by next month, Dr. Priya Abraham said in an interview.
18 Aug 2021
Maharashtra'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' an invitation to third wave: Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday claimed the "Jan Ashirwad Yatra," being carried out by a number of Union ministers in various states, was an "invitation to the third wave of COVID-19."
18 Aug 2021
KeralaCoronavirus: India reports 35K+ new cases; 60% concentrated in Kerala
India on Wednesday reported over 35,000 new COVID-19 cases. However, over 37,000 fresh recoveries pushed the number of active infections further down to 3.67 lakh, the lowest in 148 days. The recovery rate peaked at 97.52%.
17 Aug 2021
New ZealandNew Zealand to enter lockdown after single virus case found
New Zealand's government took drastic action on Tuesday by putting the entire nation into strict lockdown for at least three days after finding a single case of coronavirus infection in the community.
17 Aug 2021
Narendra ModiStop RT-PCR tests of vaccinated travelers, Assam MP urges PM
A Rajya Sabha member and Congress MP Ripun Bora in a letter appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to stop COVID-19 tests of fully vaccinated travelers in Assam, saying such a step is nothing but a "wastage of resources" and "harassment of people."
17 Aug 2021
MaharashtraCoronavirus: India hits record 1-day vaccinations; cases reach 154-day low
As of Tuesday, India has administered nearly 55.5 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines. In the past 24 hours, the country administered a record number of 88.13 lakh vaccine doses.
14 Aug 2021
DelhiDelhi cites zero requirement of test kits, oxygen tanks: Report
The Delhi government has cited zero fresh requirement of new testing kits, laboratories, pediatric ICU beds, and liquid oxygen storage tanks, News18 reported.
14 Aug 2021
PunjabNegative RT-PCR report or full vaccination mandatory for entering Punjab
The Punjab government on Saturday announced that from Monday the state will allow entry to only those who are either fully vaccinated against coronavirus or have a negative RT-PCR report.
14 Aug 2021
MumbaiMumbai local trains: Documents to be carried from tomorrow
Mumbai local trains are set to start running for fully vaccinated people from tomorrow, August 15.
14 Aug 2021
West BengalBengal allows business establishments to remain open till 10:30 pm
The West Bengal government on Friday allowed all shops and business establishments including bars and restaurants to remain open till usual working hours but not beyond 10:30 pm.
13 Aug 2021
World Health OrganizationCOVID-19 origin: China rejects further WHO probe, calls it 'political'
China on Friday rejected the World Health Organization's (WHO) request for a renewed probe into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak.
13 Aug 2021
MumbaiMaharashtra reports 3 deaths from Delta Plus, 1 in Mumbai
Maharashtra has reported three deaths from the relatively new Delta Plus variant of the coronavirus, including one in state capital Mumbai.
