Will provide global access to our Covid-19 vaccines, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech in joint pledge

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that its Covid-19 mission to China was enroute, reports AFP.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) vaccinated 8% of its population and aims to cover half of its residents in the first quarter. Farida Al Hosani, spokesperson for the UAE Health Sector said that over 826,000 doses have been administered so far. Vaccines are being offered free of cost for all residents, reports Bloomberg.

Uttar Pradesh added 771 fresh coronavirus cases on Tuesday which pushed the overall tally to 589,611. The active cases stands at 12,286, of which 4,929 are in home isolation and 1,255 undergoing treatment in private hospitals, additional chief secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said.

Gujarat's coronavirus tally mounted to nearly 249,000 on Tuesday after 655 new cases and four deaths were registered. As many as 48,039 tests were conducted for Covid on Tuesday.

Germany is set to tighten contact restrictions in order to slow the spread of the Covid-19, according to news agency Reuters. Members of a household will be permitted to meet just one additional person.

Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar told news agency ANI that 11 returnees from the United Kingdom (UK) have tested positive for the new Covid-19 variant in the state. So far, 58 people have tested positive for the variant across India.

11 UK returnees have tested positive for new coronavirus strain in the state: Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar pic.twitter.com/SYW1HJ02X6

— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2021

Jammu and Kashmir added 137 new coronavirus cases and six more related deaths on Tuesday, which pushed the tally and death toll to 121,923 and 1,897 respectively. Officials said that Jammu district reported the highest number of cases (49), followed by 22 cases in Srinagar. Over 117,000 people have recovered so far, they added, reports PTI.

As the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) approved the vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech for emergency use, health secretary Bhushan said that the health ministry is prepared to roll out vaccine within 10 days of emergency use authorisation approvals adding that the final call will be taken by the Centre.

Bhushan also added that healthcare workers and frontline workers are not required to register themselves as beneficiaries as their data has been populated on the Co-WIN vaccine delivery management system in a bulk manner.

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan also said that there are 4 primary vaccine stores called GMSD situated in Karnal, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata and 37 vaccine stores in the country.

The facility including the number of vaccines stored and temperature trackers is monitored digitally. We have this facility for over a decade in the country: Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan https://t.co/51FIOW9K0I

— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2021

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Tuesday that the active cases in the country were less than 2.5 lakhs and they continued to decline. The positivity rate stood at 1.97%, he added.

US based Moderna said on Tuesday that Israel approved its Covid-19 vaccine adding that it would begin delivering the six million doses this month. Israel has vaccinated over 10 per cent of its population till now, primarily the elderly and healthcare workers, reports AP.

Ladakh reported five new coronavirus infections and 21 new discharges. Active cases in the union territory currently stands at 241.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that his government was ready for the coronavirus vaccination drive in the state. He said that the vaccine would be given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above 50 years on priority, and that they would be following the central guideline &and conducting the vaccination effectively

The Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech said that they would provide global access to their respective vaccines as they understood their importance for people and countries.