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Oxford Covid-19 vaccine shows 70% efficacy in phase 3 trials

Covishield
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Oxford University’s coronavirus vaccine candidate, AZD1222, has shown 70 percent efficacy on average, according to the newly published data of phase 3 clinical trials held in the United Kingdom and Brazil.

In effect, the results mean that of all the people who get vaccinated, about 70 per cent will not be infected by the disease.

“Positive high-level results from an interim analysis of clinical trials of AZD1222 in the UK and Brazil showed the vaccine was highly effective in preventing Covid-19, the primary endpoint, and no hospitalisations or severe cases of the disease were reported in participants receiving the vaccine,” said AstraZeneca in a statement issued today.

There were a total of 131 COVID-19 cases in the interim analysis.

Furthermore, researchers had tried two different dosing regimens, of which one showed a better profile — close to 90 per cent efficacy.

“One dosing regimen (n=2,741) showed vaccine efficacy of 90% when AZD1222 was given as a half dose, followed by a full dose at least one month apart, and another dosing regimen (n=8,895) showed 62% efficacy when given as two full doses at least one month apart. The combined analysis from both dosing regimens (n=11,636) resulted in an average efficacy of 70%,” the statement read.

An independent Data Safety Monitoring Board determined that the analysis met its primary endpoint showing protection from COVID-19 occurring 14 days or more after receiving two doses of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, no serious safety events related to the vaccine have been confirmed. AZD1222 was well tolerated across both dosing regimens, the statement added.

“These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives. Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90% effective and if this dosing regime is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply,” said Andrew Pollard, chief investigator, Oxford vaccine trial at Oxford University.

However, since the results are based on an interim data analysis, the company has said it will be conducting additional analysis based on further data that gets generated over time, to refine efficacy reading and establish the duration of protection.

Clinical trials are also being conducted in the US, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Kenya and Latin America with planned trials in other European and Asian countries. In total, the Company expects to enrol up to 60,000 participants globally.

AstraZeneca is now preparing regulatory submissions of the data to authorities around the world that have a framework in place for conditional or early approval.

-CHK

SC seeks Covid status report from 4 states

New Delhi (NVI): The Supreme Court today asked Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Assam to file a status report within two days on steps taken to control the spread of coronavirus, while observing that the situation is going to be out of control in Gujarat.

The court also sounded alarm over the Covid-19 situation and said that things may get worse in December if the states are not well prepared.

The apex court also observed that the situation had worsened in the national capital in the last two weeks. The SC bench, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, told Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, who was appearing for the Delhi government, to file a status report on steps taken to contain the spread of infection in the national capital.

Notably, the Home Ministry has also issued directions and new Covid measures for Delhi recently, considering the spike in the number of new cases here.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had held a meeting on the Covid-19 situation in Delhi on November 13, whereby various directives had been issued. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also present in the meeting.

Yesterday, High-level Central Teams were deputed to Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to support these States in COVID response and management.

These States have been either reporting a rise in the number of active cases i.e. those who are hospitalized or are in home isolation under medical supervision, or demonstrating a rise in the daily new cases, the Health Ministry said.

India has registered 44,059 new infections of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, pushing the overall caseload to 91,39,866. The country’s death toll due to the virus rose to 1,33,738, with 511 patients succumbing to the infection since yesterday.

-ARK

Fact check: Govt has taken no decision to stop train services after Dec 1

Govt has taken no decision to stop train services after Dec 1

New Delhi (NVI): A viral message is doing rounds on social media, especially WhatsApp, claiming that all the train services operated by the Indian Railways will stop operating from December 1.

The message stated that the most of the normal and COVID-19 special trains are also going to stop operating after December 1. After December all trains including COVID-19 special trains to stop operating the message also read.

Debunking such claims on social media, the fact check unit of the Government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) said that this claim is a fake and Railway Ministry has taken no such decision on halting of train services.

“It is claimed in a #WhatsApp forward that all trains including the #COVID19 special trains will stop operating after 1st December.

#PIBFactCheck: This claim is #Fake. Railway Ministry of India has taken no such decision on halting of train services after 1st December,” PIB wrote in a tweet.

Earlier on May 12, Indian Railways gradually resumed passenger train operations, which were suspended when the lockdown started on March 25 amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

The Press Information Bureau launched this fact-checking unit in December last year, to identify misinformation related to government’s policies and schemes that are circulating on various social media platforms.

 

-RJV

PM inaugurates multi storeyed flats for MPs in national capital

PM inaugurates multi storeyed flats for MPs in national capital

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated 76 multi-storeyed flats for Members of Parliament through video conference. The flats, located at Dr BD Marg in New Delhi, have been redeveloped from eight old bungalows which were more than 80 years old, the PMO said.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said that green building norms have been incorporated in these multi storeyed flats for the MPs. The PM said accommodation for the MPs has been a long standing problem but it is now solved.

The Prime Minister further listed many such projects in Delhi which were incomplete for many years and were taken up by the BJP government and finished before the scheduled time.

He said during the time of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the discussion of Ambedkar National Memorial started, but it was built by the BJP government after a long wait of 23 years. He said the new building of the Central Information Commission, the War Memorial near India Gate and the National Police Memorial was also built by the BJP government which were pending for a long time.

PM said that this period has been “historic” in the nation’s development. He said the period between 16th and 18th Lok Sabha (2014-29) is equally significant for a young country like India while noting that the 16 to 18 age is very important for youngsters.

On the occasion, the PM remarked that all the MPs have taken care of both the products and the process in the productivity of Parliament and have attained a new height in this direction.

He praised the Lok Sabha Speaker for his stewardship of the house in a productive and procedurally sound way. He expressed happiness that Parliament proceedings continued even during the pandemic, with new regulations and several precautionary measures. He added that both houses worked even on weekends for ensuring smooth proceedings in the Monsoon Session.

-ARK

Rajasthan Health Min tests COVID positive

Rajasthan Health Min tests COVID positive
Raghu Sharma

New Delhi (NVI): Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma today informed that he tested positive for novel coronavirus.

Sharma also requested the people who recently came in his contact, to get themselves tested.

Taking to Twitter, the Minister wrote in Hindi, “On getting the initial symptoms of COVID-19, I got myself checked and tested positive. I request that all of you who have come in contact with me in the last few days, to please isolate yourself and get yourself tested.”

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot als took to Twitter and said, “Wishing my ministerial colleague, Dr Raghu Sharma Ji speedy recovery from COVID-19. May he gets well soon.”

Meanwhile, the state has been witnessing a spike in coronavirus cases and to tackle the same, the Rajasthan government on Saturday decided to impose night curfew in eight districts of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar and Bhilwara.

So far, the coronavirus tally in Rajasthan stands at 2,43,936 with 2,163 deaths in the country, as per the Health Ministry data.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 91 lakh-mark and currently stands at 91,39,866 after 44,059 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,33,738 after 511 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In the worst-affected Maharashtra, COVID-19 confirmed cases increased to 17,80,208 which include 46,623 deaths. The active cases in the state stand at 81,512 and 16,51,064 recoveries.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,641

Andhra Pradesh- 8,62,213

Arunachal Pradesh- 16,061

Assam- 2,11,513

Bihar- 2,29,544

Chandigarh- 16,671

Chhattisgarh- 2,23,436

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,321

Delhi- 5,29,863

Gujarat- 1,97,412

Goa- 46,826

Haryana– 2,17,300

Himachal Pradesh- 34,327

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,06,548

Jharkhand- 1,07,469

Karnataka- 8,73,046

Kerala- 5,62,695

Ladakh- 7,939

Madhya Pradesh- 1,93,044

Maharashtra- 17,80,208

Manipur- 23,400

Meghalaya- 11,339

Mizoram- 3,660

Nagaland- 10,777

Odisha- 3,13,961

Puducherry- 36,693

Punjab- 1,46,346

Rajasthan- 2,43,936

Sikkim- 4,722

Tamil Nadu- 7,69,995

Telangana- 2,64,128

Tripura- 32,434

Uttarakhand- 71,256

Uttar Pradesh- 5,26,780

West Bengal – 4,56,361

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 61

Andhra Pradesh- 6,938

Arunachal Pradesh- 49

Assam- 974

Bihar- 1,221

Chandigarh- 260

Chhattisgarh- 2,732

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 8,391

Goa- 677

Gujarat- 3,859

Haryana- 2,188

Himachal Pradesh- 537

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,629

Jharkhand- 951

Karnataka- 11,654

Kerala- 2,049

Ladakh- 100

Madhya Pradesh- 3,162

Maharashtra- 46,623

Manipur- 236

Meghalaya- 110

Mizoram- 5

Nagaland- 59

Odisha- 1,640

Puducherry- 609

Punjab- 4,614

Rajasthan- 2,163

Sikkim- 99

Tamil Nadu- 11,605

Telangana- 1,433

Tripura- 369

Uttar Pradesh- 7,559

Uttarakhand- 1,155

West Bengal- 8,025

However, a total of 85,62,641 people have been cured and discharged. The total active cases stands at 4,43,486 in the country.

-CHK

Delhi’s air quality remains in ‘poor’ category, likely to decline further

air quality
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The air quality in Delhi continued to remain in the ‘poor’ category this morning, when government agencies said the air quality might further decline due to unfavourable meteorological conditions.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 282 at around 9 am.

An AQI of 263 was recorded in Mathura Road, 262 in Chandni Chowk, 259 in Dilshad Garden, 297 in RK Puram and 249 in Sirifort, all recorded in the ‘poor’ category, as per the CPCB data.

The adjoining Noida in Uttar Pradesh recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, with the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 docking at 227 and 317 respectively.

However, the reduction in the concentration of pollutants was observed after there was an increase in wind speed.

Officials at the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air monitoring agency, SAFAR said, Delhi’s overall AQI is expected to deteriorate towards the higher end of the ‘very poor’ category between Tuesday and Friday as the speed of surface winds is likely to drop during that period.

 

Meanwhile, the temperature also drops in Delhi, India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts minimum temperature of 8 degree Celsius and maximum of 25 degree Celsius today.

“The national capital experienced fog or mist in morning and to witness partly cloudy sky later,” as per the IMD forecast.

Furthermore, in order to improve the national capital’s air quality, the Delhi government yesterday installed 23 anti-smog guns at key intersections and construction sites across the city, and assured that this number will be increased, if necessary.

-RJV

Gunfight rages along LoC in J&K’s Kupwara

Security forces launch search op in South Kashmir's Pulwama
(File/Representational Image)

Lubna Fayaz

Srinagar (NVI): A brief gunfight broke out between security forces and suspected terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district today, officials said.

Deputy Inspector General of BSF R Muthu Krishnan said, “Along LoC in Kupwara’s Machil sector, alert Border Security Force (BSF) troopers observed some suspected movement on the intervening night of 22 and 23 November. The soldiers fired on the suspicious movement and there was late retaliation.”

However, he further said, due to heavy snowfall, the search operation could not be carried but will be resumed again soon.

“Army and BSF are jointly involved in the operation. Police have also been alerted,” the BSF DIG added.

On November 8, four defence personnel including a BSF jawan were killed while three terrorists were neutralised in an encounter in Kupwara’s Machil sector along LoC.

(More details awaited)

-RJV

Cyclone Nivar likely to make landfall in Tamil Nadu, AP on Nov 25

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Cyclone Nivar is heading towards the north Tamil Nadu coast and south Andhra Pradesh. It is expected to make landfall between Mamallapuram and Karaikal, including Mayiladuthurai district on Wednesday, November 25.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), speed of winds could reach 100 kmph during the landfall.

Under the influence of the potential cyclone, widespread rainfall is forecast over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal between Tuesday and Thursday.

The department has advised agriculture and horticulture farmers to harvest their crops without delay.

Moreover, the IMD has also forecast fairly widespread rainfall over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema, and Telangana on Wednesday and Thursday.

The meteorological subdivision of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam has also been kept under an ‘orange alert’.

The weather department has asked fishermen not to venture into the sea. Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts are also likely to receive light to moderate rains.

The disaster management teams, police, forest, health services, and others have been put on high alert.

-CHK

Coronavirus cases surge past 58.6 mn worldwide; death toll nears 14 lakh

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 58.6 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll is nearing 13,87,179, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 37.4 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

In the US, the number of coronavirus infections have surpassed 12.2 million while the number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion have crossed 2,56,500.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases have exceeded the 6 million-mark while the number of deaths have surged past 1,69,000 in the country.

Meanwhile, South Korea reported another daily rise of 271 new coronavirus cases on Monday, a day before tighter social distancing rules aimed at blunting a third wave of infections takes effect.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 10,864 to 9,29,133. The reported death toll rose by 90 to 14,112, the tally showed.

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK confirmed in laboratories has passed 1.5m after a further 18,662 cases were announced by the government.

Iran recorded 13,053 new cases of coronavirus and 475 related deaths over the past 24 hours, after tougher coronavirus restrictions came into force in the country.

-CHK

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