Data from human trials of India’s first homegrown mRNA COVID-19 vaccine are likely to be presented to authorities for evaluation by the end of the month, and company officials are aiming to roll out the product before April, two senior scientists connected to the Department of Biotechnology told Rashtra News.

You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.

Here are the updates:

West Bengal

Bengal govt to reopen primary schools after evaluating situation: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that her government will wait for a few more days to evaluate the COVID-19 situation before deciding to reopen primary schools in the state.

Some caution should be exercised before reopening primary schools as there are warnings of another variant of coronavirus, she said.

Ms. Banerjee said that schools reopened for classes 8 to 12 on February 3, while open air learning sessions for students up to class 7 started four days later under a project named ‘Paray Shikshalay’ (education centre at your locality).

“On reopening primary schools, we will wait for a few more days and review the Covid-19 situation. We have heard that a new variant (of the virus) is coming. We have to keep a tab on that,” Ms. Banerjee said at a state government programme here.

If that variant is not of much concern, schools can start offline classes for the junior section with students coming on alternate days, she said.

“We have to talk to the school authorities on that,” the chief minister said.

India

Overall COVID-19 situation optimistic; Kerala, Mizoram still reporting high positivity: Govt

The overall COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country is optimistic and improving even as some states, including Kerala and Mizoram, are still reporting high positivity rates and are of concern, the Centre said on Thursday.

It also said that a decline in coronavirus infections and positivity rate has been noted across all states, but nearly 40 districts are still reporting an increase in weekly cases and there is a need to maintain vigilance.

“Presently, 141 districts have COVID-19 positivity rate over 10 %, and 160 districts have positivity rate between 5-10 % in India,” the government said.

It added that Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have over 50,000 active cases.

It also said that the Covid daily positivity in Kerala is still enormously high at 29.57 %, adding that the positivity rate in Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Arunanchal Pradesh and Sikkim is also of concern.

The Union government noted that 69 % of adolescents aged 15-18 years have been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 14 % received both the doses.

“COVID appropriate behaviour has to be taken as new normal though there are decline in cases, but be vigilant,” it added.

– PTI

South Korea

South Korea to roll out Novavax COVID-19 vaccine next week

South Korea will begin offering Novavax Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine at hospitals, nursing homes and public health centres next week, officials said, adding another tool to fight a fast-developing omicron surge.

The country reported a record 54,122 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a 12-fold increase from daily levels seen in mid-January, when omicron first became the country’s dominant strain.-AP

National

Govt. revises guidelines for international arrivals, does away with 7-day home quarantine

The government on Thursday issued revised guidelines for international arrivals, doing away with the mandatory seven-day home quarantine for those arriving from overseas and the need for them to undertake an RT-PCR test on the eighth day. The revised guidelines will come into effect from February 14.

A sub-section (2 per cent of the total passengers on the flight) shall undergo random post-arrival testing at the airport on arrival. They will submit their samples and be allowed to leave the airport, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said while announcing the move on Twitter.

Instead of seven-day home quarantine as mandated earlier, all travellers will self-monitor their health for 14 days after their arrival, he said.   According to the minister, besides uploading a negative RT-PCR report (taken 72 hours prior to the journey), there would also be an option to upload certificates of the completion of full primary Covid vaccination schedule provided from countries on a reciprocal basis.   The ministry provided a list of 82 such countries. These include the US, US, New Zealand, Switzerland , Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Bangladesh,  Iran, Nepal, Mexico and the Netherlands. -PTI

Meghalaya

Meghalaya to reopen schools for Classes 1-5 from Feb 14

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said schools will reopen for Classes 1-5 from February 14, and no mandatory testing will be required on entry into the State for double-vaccinated people.

Mr. Sangma, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation late on Wednesday, also said the night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am will be withdrawn from Friday.

“No RT-PCR test will be needed for double-vaccinated individuals coming to the state starting Friday. The schools (Classes 1 to 5) will be fully functional from Monday,” he said.

National

Active COVID-19 cases in country decline to 7,90,789

India logged 67,084 new Coronavirus infections, taking the country’s total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,24,78,060, while the active cases declined to 7,90,789, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The death toll climbed to 5,06,520 with 1,241 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The active cases comprise 1.86% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further improved to 96.95%, the ministry said.

A reduction of 1,02,039 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. -PTI

Tamil Nadu

Omicron now the dominant variant in circulation in T.N.

From 12% in early December, Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 turned into the dominant variant in circulation as 97% of samples sequenced during the last week of January in Tamil Nadu were of this variant.

According to data released by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine on the proportion of Delta and Omicron variants in Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) samples, 100% of samples were of Delta on December 4 and 7. Analysis found the Delta variant in 88% of samples and the Omicron variant in 12% of samples on December 11.

International

As case counts fall, WHO chief warns “COVID isn’t finished”

The head of the World Health Organization insisted Wednesday that “COVID isn’t finished with us,” appealing for more support to fight the pandemic after his agency reported that case counts and deaths fell worldwide over the past week.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, launching a new $23 billion campaign to fund WHO’s efforts to lead a fair rollout of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines around the world, cautioned that “diseases know no borders” and the highly-transmissible omicron variant has shown that “any feeling of safety can change in a moment.” -AP

New Delhi

HC directs officials, staff to attend office with 100% strength from Feb 14

The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed all its officers and officials to start attending office with 100% strength on a regular basis from February 14 onwards.

In its circular, the high court has asked court staff to get themselves fully vaccinated and also strictly adhere to the norms of social distancing and COVID-19 protocols, guidelines, and directions issued by the central government, Delhi Government, and the court from time to time. -PTI

Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

Physical hearing to resume in courts across J-K, Ladakh from next week

Physical hearing with certain restrictions would resume in courts across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from February 14, Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal said on Wednesday as he issued fresh guidelines amid gradual improvement in the COVID-19 situation.

However, the chief justice of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh said the entry of litigants, clerks and agents of advocates into courtrooms shall remain prohibited for the time being, while judicial custody remands shall be given only through video conference as far as permissible. -PTI