Coronavirus live updates: 88% of total deaths among 45+, data shows

The Rajasthan government on Wednesday decided to increase the night curfew timings by one hour in eight worst-affected districts in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the state. Also, markets in urban areas across the state will close by 9pm instead of 10pm, according to an official release.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed possible cooperation on vaccines with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a joint video conference on Tuesday, Macron's office and the Kremlin said.

Not bringing about two lakh Indian seafarers under the ambit of 'priority workers' for vaccination may mar their employability perspective, maritime bodies on Wednesday cautioned seeking urgent intervention from the government. There are about two lakh Indian seafarers below the age of 45 years who are facing unprecedented crisis, maritime bodies MASSA and MUI said urging the government to bring them into the fold of 'priority workers' in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive.

Spain has decided to extend AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccination to essential workers over 65 years old to protect a small group of people who have not yet retired, the health ministry said on Wednesday. A number of other European countries have gone further and lifted the age limit altogether, or, like in Germany, are now giving the AstraZeneca vaccine primarily to older people.

Nepal has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to provide Covid-19 jabs to refugees through its national vaccination rollout.According to the UN refugee agency in Kathmandu, Nepal started to inoculate the Covid vaccine to the Bhutanese refugees living in eastern part of the country from March 7.

Meeting of Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will be held on Wednesday to deliberate on emergency use authorisation application of Russian vaccine Sputnik V. The vaccine manufacturers in India, Dr Reddy's, have already submitted the safety and immunogenicity data of the third phase trials.