COVID: India Records Slight Dip In Daily Cases With 25,920 New Infections
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India on Friday, 18 February, recorded a slight decline in new cases with 25,920 fresh COVID infections, 66,254 recoveries, and 492 deaths in the last 24 hours.
India's active COVID-19 cases stood at 2,92,092 with 2.07 percent positivity rate. A total of 174.64 crore COVID vaccine doses having been administered so far.
The country's death toll stood at 5,10,558.
Night curfew, from 12 am to 5 am, will be enforced in only two cities of Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Vadodara, from 18-25 February, Gujarat Chief Minister's Office announced on Thursday.
The global coronavirus caseload has topped 419.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.86 million and vaccinations to over 10.30 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University.
India Records 25,920 Fresh COVID Cases, 492 Deaths
India on Friday, 18 February, recorded a slight decline in new cases with 25,920 fresh COVID infections, 66,254 recoveries, and 492 deaths in the last 24 hours.
India's active COVID-19 cases stood at 2,92,092 with 2.07 percent positivity rate. The country's death toll stood at 5,10,558.
Mizoram Reports 1,119 Fresh COVID Cases
Mizoram reported 1,119 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking active cases to 10,592 in the state, as per the Health Department on Friday, 18 December.
The positivity rate stands at 22.01 percent. The state has recorded a total of 640 deaths so far.
COVID Immunity Falls After 4 Months Despite Booster: US CDC
A nationwide study by the US CDC has confirmed that protection from severe COVID falls significantly within four months of getting a third vaccine shot.
The study published on 12 February indicates that, just like immunity reduces gradually after the second vaccine shot, it falls similarly after the third vaccine as well.
The study showed that protection from severe COVID or hospitalisation fell from 96 percent in the first two months to 76-78 percent after four months. Immunity from moderate COVID fell from 96 percent to 87-89 percent after four months, after a booster.
More Recoveries than New Cases in Andaman & Nicobar
The union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported more COVID-19 recoveries than fresh cases with only 8 new cases and 21 recoveries, pushing the tally to 9,994, a health department official said here on Friday.
The archipelago now has 83 active COVID-19 cases, while 9,782 people have recovered from the disease so far, he said.
The COVID-19 death toll remained at 129 as no fresh fatality was reported in the last 24 hours, the official said.
The UT had reported one new COVID-19 case and eight recoveries on Thursday.
Odisha Lifts Night Curfew in All Urban Areas
Odisha government decided to lift the night curfew in all urban areas with effect from today, reports news agency ANI.
Two Crore Teens in the 15-18 Age Group Fully Vaccinated: Health Minister
Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday that over 2 crore youngsters between the 15-18 age group have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19
80 Percent Eligible Indian Population Fully Vaccinated: Health Minister
India has vaccinated 80 percent of its eligible adult population against COVID with both doses, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday.
Kerala Reports 7,780 New COVID Cases
Kerala registered 7,780 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths and 21,134 recoveries on Friday. Active cases currently stand at 85,875, while the death toll is at 63,529.
Maharashtra Reports 2,068 New COVID Cases
Maharashtra reported 2,068 new cases and 15 deaths on Friday. Active cases currently stand at 21,159.
Mumbai Reports 202 New COVID Cases
Mumbai reports 202 new infections and one death on Friday. Active cases currently stand at 1,780.
Delhi Reports 607 New COVID Cases
Delhi recorded 607 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths in the last 24 hours on Friday. Active case currently stand at 2,775.
‘Cannot Lower Our Guards’: Niti Aayog
Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul stated on Friday, "We can see that the surge has settled, but we must also know that there are cases at a significant number. Hopefully, it will be sustained but we cannot lower our guards. There should be a complete watch that we are ready for any eventuality."
He added, "We invited other vaccine manufacturers to collaborate with our scientists and develop vaccines on our soil. Later they manufactured vaccines and offered us to buy them demanding sovereign immunity waiver, but this was not acceptable to the government," news agency ANI reported.
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