Covid India LIVE updates: Vaccine registration for 18+ begins on CoWin, Aarogya Setu app, here's how to do it

An oral drug for treating COVID-19 could be ready next year, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said.

Read the full story here: Pfizer's oral drug against Covid could be ready by 2022, says pharma giant's CEO

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported as many as 985 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the biggest single-day spike in fatalities. The state, one of the worst hit by theCOVID-19 pandemic, logged 63,309 fresh cases, taking the tally of infections to 44,73,394.

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Speaking at India TV's special discussion on the registration of COVID 19 vaccine for 18+ on CoWin and Arogya Setu apps, Dr Shashank Joshi clarified that such claims stating that more number of infections can cause herd immunity are false and the concept of herd immunity doesn't apply in practice to Covid-19.

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The double mutant Covid variant -- identified as B1617 -- that was first detected in India, has spread to 'at least 17 countries', the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

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COVID-19 vaccine registration: All those who are 18 years of age and above can now register themselves for COVID-19 vaccine from today on the government’s CoWin platform -  cowin.gov.in, the Aarogya Setu app and Umang App as the government gears up to launch the third phase of the immunisation drive on May 1. 

- Additionally, If you had covid after first dose, wait for 3 months then take second dose since covid acts as a booster dose. 

Aarogya Setu's Twitter account shared important information for 18 plus registrations that start on http://cowin.gov.in at 4 PM on 28th.           

1. Appointment for Age 18 to 44 is based on slots made available by the private vaccinations centers as well as the respective state government.

2. The minimum age for each vaccination center is displayed with the name of the vaccination center. Appointment slots are available where the age displayed is 18+.

3. More Appointment slots will soon be offered. If slots are not currently available, please check again after sometime. We request your patience and understanding.

Drone-as-a-Service company Garuda Aerospace starting from Wednesday will fly its drones spraying anti-coronavirus disinfectant to sanitise government hospitals and other public buildings in Bengaluru Central area as a social cause, said the top company official. The company will also look at the possibility of flying Covid-19 vaccine vials using drones in Karnataka, he added.

Affected severely by coronavirus infection, Karnataka has gone under 14-day Covid-19 lockdown starting April 27.

"At the initiative of P.C.Mohan, Lok Sabha Member from Bengaluru Central constituency, we will be starting the Covid-19 sanitisation programme for three days- April 27-30- in Bengaluru as our social commitment without charging any service fee," Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Managing Director of city-based Garuda Aerospace, told IANS on Monday.

Active COVID-19 cases in country recorded at 29,78,709: Union Health Ministry. Single-day rise of 3,60,960 COVID-19 infections, 3,293 fatalities push India's tally of cases to 1,79,97,267, death toll to 2,01,187: Government.

Active COVID-19 cases in country recorded at 29,78,709: Union Health Ministry. Single-day rise of 3,60,960 COVID-19 infections, 3,293 fatalities push India's tally of cases to 1,79,97,267, death toll to 2,01,187: Government.

Singapore sends oxygen cylinders to support India's fight against COVID-19.

One in four people experience mild, short lived systemic side effects like headache, fatigue and tenderness after receiving either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, according to a new study published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. Most side effects peaked within the first 24 hours following vaccination and usually lasted 1-2 days, and majorly among women under 55 years of age, said researchers from the King's College London.

"The data should reassure many people that in the real world, after effects of the vaccine are usually mild and short-lived, especially in the over 50's who are most at risk of the infection," Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at the varsity. "The results also show up to 70 per cent protection after 3 weeks following a single dose," Spector said.

-IANS

India on Wednesday recorded a massive surge of 360,960 new coronavirus cases and 3,293 new deaths, the highest spike so far, according to Health Ministry. With this, the total caseload stands at 17,997,267 while the death toll from the deadly coronavirus has crossed the 200,000-mark. The death toll stands at 2,01,187.

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COVID vaccine registration for 18+ begins today on Cowin App | How and where to register

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Registration for the third phase of Covid vaccination for everyone above 18 years will start from 4 p.m. Wednesday. On April 19, the Union Government announced that everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible to get a vaccine against Covid-19 from May 1.

In the morning, Aarogya Setu, the Government's mobile application for contact tracing and Adissemination of medical advisories to contain spread of Covid, tweeted: "Registration for 18 plus to begin on http://cowin.gov.in, Aarogya Setu App and UMANG App at 4 PM on 28th April. Appointments at State Government centers and Private centers depending on how many vaccination centers are ready on 1st May for Vaccination of 18 plus."

The government has already clarified that there will be no walk-in allowed for beneficiaries in the third phase.

-- IANS

The New York Times on Tuesday said Covaxin works by teaching the immune system to make antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The antibodies attach to viral proteins, such as the so-called spike proteins that stud its surface.

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While it is known that fast turnaround of COVID-19 test results for healthcare workers is critical, a team of investigators have now developed a coronavirusus testing strategy that maximises the proportion of negative results after a single round of testing, allowing prompt notification of results. The method also reduces the need for increasingly limited test reagents, as fewer additional tests are required. Their strategy is described in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier.

-ANI

A tweet on his official Twitter handle read, "Right now, the people of India are facing a tragic situation. To help with everything from ambulance services to buying personal protective equipment, we’re contributing $10 million to @IndianRedCross  through @RedCrossCanada. We stand ready to donate extra medical supplies, too."

Delhi logged a record 381 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, while the positivity rate stood at 32. 72 percent, according to the latest bulletin issued by the city health department. This is the sixth day on the trot that Delhi has recorded over 300 deaths due to coronavirus. It had reported 380 deaths on Monday, 350 on Sunday, 357 deaths on Saturday, 348 on Friday, and 306 on Thursday, according to government data.

A tweet made by him on Tuesday read, "Calling all citizens aged 18+ to gear up to get vaccinated against #COVID19 May 1 onwards. Registrations open up tomorrow, Apr 28 Log on to cowin & follow the steps to schedule your appointment."

COVID-19 vaccine registration has now been made mandatory for people of 18 years to 45 years of age. Here's how you can register for the vaccine via CoWin portal or Aarogya Setu app.

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The Centre on Tuesday said that it has provided more than 15 crore vaccine doses to states and Union Territories (UTs) "free of cost" so far, and more than 80 lakh additional doses will be received by the states/UTs in the next three days. In a statement, the Union Health Ministry said: "Government of India has so far provided more than 15 crore vaccine doses (15,65,26,140) to states/UTs free of cost. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 14,64,78,983 doses. More than one crore doses (1,00,47,157) are still available with the states/UTs to be administered."

Meanwhile, 86,40,000 more doses will be received in addition by the states/UTs in the next three days, it added.

-IANS

The government, from the very first day, has been asking the citizens to get themselves vaccinated for COVID-19. Previously, it was the senior citizens and people above 45 years of age who were getting their doses. But now registration for citizens over 18 years of age have begun. They will now be eligible to book their slots online with the help of the government’s Co-WIN portal or the Aarogya Setu application, launched last year.