Coronavirus live upates | Centre’s move to stop vaccine exports might affect U.K.: Adar Poonawalla

Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab collectively account for 76.4% of active COVID-19 cases currently, with Maharashtra alone contributing almost 60%, mentioned information launched by the Health Ministry on Wednesday.

You can observe coronavirus circumstances, deaths and testing charges on the nationwide and State ranges here. An inventory of State Helpline numbers is offered as nicely.

Here are the newest updates:

The Netherlands

EU drug regulator backs AstraZeneca vaccine after security investigation

The EU’s drug watchdog said on March 18 it’s nonetheless satisfied the advantages of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the dangers following an investigation into stories of blood problems that prompted greater than a dozen nations to droop its use.

The information got here because the European Medicines Agency (EMA) director Emer Cooke mentioned the company couldn’t definitively rule out a hyperlink to blood clot incidents and the vaccine in its investigation into 30 circumstances of a uncommon blood clotting situation. It will nevertheless replace its steerage to embody a proof in regards to the potential dangers for docs and the general public, she mentioned.

The company has been beneath rising stress to clear up security considerations after a small variety of stories in current weeks of bleeding, blood clots and low platelet counts in individuals who have obtained the shot.

Telangana

File standing report on COVID-19 measures by April 6, HC tells Telangana

Telangana High Court on Thursday sought to know what steps had the State government taken to preserve a tab on incidence of COVID-19 within the not too long ago opened colleges and faculties.

Observing that these locations witness enormous gatherings in lessons and college students could be showing for exams in coming days, a bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy mentioned that it was crucial that the State centered on this facet. “We keep hearing that second wave of coronavirus had hit many countries and we don’t want our State to go that way,” the bench famous.

The Bench wished to know what measures the State authorities had initiated to display passengers getting into Telangana from neighbouring States of Maharashtra and Karnataka which witnessed a spike in COVID-19 circumstances. Those getting into the State via bus stations, railway stations and airport had been having the potential to unfold the virus.

Karnataka

Centre says no to vaccination factors in previous age houses, care services

The Centre has dominated out the opportunity of COVID-19 vaccination centres (CVCs) in old age homes and long-term care services, as CVCs have to meet sure necessities to present secure vaccination. This has irked authorities of previous age houses and different long-term care services.

The Centre’s “No” follows a request from Karnataka in search of permission to arrange CVCs past well being services (reminiscent of previous age houses, long-term care services, condominium complexes and recognized polling cubicles) to ramp up vaccination protection among the many aged.

In a letter dated March 17 addressed to Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), Vandana Gurnani, Union Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), has mentioned that CVCs ought to have sufficient area for vaccination, sufficient chilly chain preparations for vaccine storage, preparations for administration of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI).

“These facilities would then also need to be registered on CoWIN to enable session planning, reporting of AEFI and allocation of vaccines. Based on the analysis done from Co-WIN, it is observed that out of 460 private health facilities empanelled under Ayushman Bharat – Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) in the State, only 55 are registered on Co-WIN,” the letter acknowledged.

France

France pronounces tender new virus restrictions in Paris area

The French authorities backed off from ordering a troublesome lockdown for Paris and several other different areas regardless of an more and more alarming scenario at hospitals with an increase within the numbers of COVID-19 sufferers.

Instead, the Prime Minister on March 18 announced a patchwork of new restrictions whereas decreasing the nationwide curfew by one hour.

Getting massive doses of contemporary air is being inspired, which means that folks residing within the Paris area and within the north of the nation can stroll so long as they like in a day, however inside a 10-kilometre (6-mile) radius of their houses and with a paper authorising the stroll.

Stores, nevertheless, will really feel the pinch with all non-essential retailers — however not bookshops — closing down. And journey between areas is forbidden and not using a compelling motive.

Maharashtra

Centre’s move to stop vaccine exports might affect United Kingdom

With India, and significantly Maharashtra, witnessing a renewed surge in COVID-19 circumstances, the United Kingdom’s vaccination programme could hit a roadblock because the Indian authorities is quickly staying exports to deal with the elevated home vaccination calls for.

Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Serum Institute of India (SII) which is manufacturing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, advised the UK’s Telegraph newspaper that the scenario was solely depending on the Indian authorities and had nothing to do with the SII.

“It is solely dependent on India and it has nothing to do with the SII. It is to do with the Indian government allowing more doses to the U.K.,” Mr. Poonawalla advised The Telegraph.

According to the paper, Mr. Poonawalla confirmed that 5 million doses of the Oxford vaccine had already been delivered to the U.K. early this month.