ADVERTISEMENT

Coronavirus India Updates: ICMR Aims To Launch Covid-19 Vaccine By Aug.15; Tally Tops 6.2 Lakh Cases

Track news and developments around the Covid-19 outbreak in India here.

A man wears a protective mask while driving a tractor in Gharaunda, Haryana, India. (Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg)
A man wears a protective mask while driving a tractor in Gharaunda, Haryana, India. (Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg)
LIVE FEED
Latest First
  • Oldest First

Covid-19 cases in India continue to mount by the day amid the second phase of the reopening of the economy.

India added nearly 21,000 new cases of the novel virus, taking the total tally to 6,25,544 in the world’s second-most populous country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on July 3.

This is the first time the country has reported fresh cases and recoveries of over 20,000 in a day.

Key Numbers

  • Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 6,25,544
  • Active cases: 2,27,439
  • Cured/discharged/migrated: 3,79,892
  • Deaths: 18,213
  • New Cases: 20,903
  • One-day recoveries: 20,032
  • One-day deaths: 379

Despite an improved daily recovery rate of over 10,000 for 11 days straight, the number of active cases in India now stands at over 2.2 lakh. Total recoveries, on the other hand, are set to hit the 4-lakh mark soon.

Global Update

The spread of the virus accelerated in the Americas with U.S. cases jumping the most in almost eight weeks, Brazil reporting its second-highest daily number and Mexico logging a record rise in new infections. The Centers for Disease Control said fatalities in the U.S. could reach 160,000 by late July. Peru became the 10th nation to report 10,000 deaths.

North Korea, which has never reported any cases, said it has halted the spread of the virus.

Cases near 11 million; Deaths top 519,500.

Track news and developments around the Covid-19 outbreak in India here.

Covid-19 Vaccine: ICMR Aims To Launch 'Covaxin' By Aug. 15

The Indian Council of Medical Research has written to select medical institutions and hospitals to fast-track clinical trials of Covaxin, a covid vaccine being developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech Ltd.

ICMR aims to launch a ‘Made in India' Covid-19 vaccine by Aug. 15 this year.

The apeax health research body has identified 12 clinical research sites and asked them to ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7.

The Covid-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin, developed by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the ICMR and the National Institute of Virology, recently got the approval for human clinical trials from the Drug Controller General of India.

Source: PTI

Opinion
Covid Vaccine: ICMR Seeks To Fastrack Clinical Trials Of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin
ADVERTISEMENT

Covid-19 Vaccine By Zydus Cadila Gets DCGI Nod For Human Clinical Trials

After Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, another potential Covid-19 vaccine indigenously developed by Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd got nod from the Drugs Controller General of India on Thursday for human clinical trials, government sources said.

The approval process was fast-tracked following recommendation by the subject expert committee on Covid-19, considering the emergency and unmet medical need during the pandemic.

"DCGI Dr. VG Somani has given approval for the phase I and II clinical trials (on humans) of the potential novel coronavirus vaccine developed by Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd on Thursday after its animal studies was found to be successful," a official source in the know of the developments told PTI.

The assent for human trials was given after the company submitted data of clinical trial on animals to the DCGI, in which the vaccine candidate was found to be successful with respect to safety and immunogenicity, sources said.

The company is likely to start enrolment of subjects soon.

"The phase I and II trials will take around three months to be completed," the source said.

A couple of days earlier, the country's 'first' indigenous Covid-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin, developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indican Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology, had got the nod for human clinical trials from the DCGI.

Source: PTI


Covid-19: Health Ministry issues revised home isolation guidelines

As a large number of people showing no symptoms being detected for Covid-19, the Union health ministry on Thursday revised the home isolation guidelines to include asymptomatic positive patients in the list of mild or pre-symptomatic coronavirus infection cases.

However, patients suffering from immune-compromised status (like HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy) are not eligible for home isolation, the revised guidelines stated.

Also, elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/kidney disease and cerebro-vascular disease among others shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.

Patients under home isolation will stand discharged after 10 days of onset of symptoms and no fever for three days, the guidelines stated.

"Thereafter, the patient will be advised to isolate at home and self-monitor their health for further seven days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over," stated the 'Revised Guidelines for Home Isolation of Very mild/pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic Covid-19 cases'.

According to the document, asymptomatic patients like the ones who are pre-symptomatic and have very mild symptoms can opt for home isolation if they have the requisite self-isolation facility at their residence so as to avoid contact with other family members.

Source: PTI

ADVERTISEMENT

Total Tests Inch Towards 1 Crore

The Indian Council Of Medical Research has tested nearly 93 lakh people so far with 2.4 lakh of these in the last 24 hours alone.


ICMR Writes To Complete Trial Procedure Of Indigenous Covid-19 Vaccine

ADVERTISEMENT