Karnataka's capital Bengaluru which has been hit hard due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/delhi-new-virus-cytomegalovirus-found-in-covid-patients-394725">virus</a> has vaccinated over 50 per cent of the population with the coronavirus vaccine, according to the CoWin portal data.

According to the state's health ministry, in the middle of the month, 38,34,843 had received the first dose in the city which is nearly 34 per cent of the population.

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On Tuesday, Karnataka reported 3,222 fresh coronavirus cases and 93 deaths with 85,997 active coronavirus cases in the state. The death toll due to the virus in the state has reached over 34,920 with total recoveries at 27,19,479.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru urban district reported 563 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths.

Bengaluru authorities have been trying to build "herd immunity" amid reports of a possible third wave hitting the country. At least over 5 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine in Bengaluru in a population of just over 9 million, reports say and&nbsp;914,000 people have received both vaccine shots.

According to the health ministry, 27.27crore people nationwide have got the first dose of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cipla-gets-dcgi-nod-to-import-modernas-covid-vaccine-for-restricted-emergency-use-in-india-sources-394590">vaccine</a> and 5.84 crore people have got the second dose.

India's health ministry said on Tuesday that there is a continuous decline in cases since the peak in May with&nbsp;recovery rate at 96.9 per cent across the country.

Karnataka deputy chief minister C N Ashwath Narayan has asserted that all students studying in various higher education courses will be vaccinated in the next ten days.

Narayan informed that 60 lakh vaccines have been supplied to the state this month with the state preparing to battle the third wave. The deputy chief minister informed that oxygen generation capacity will be enhanced by 400 MT with oxygen storage capacity to be increased by about 2,500-2,800 MT.

The authorities have also been asked to increase the number of oxygenated beds to 84,000 from the existing 58,000.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

Karnataka's capital Bengaluru which has been hit hard due to the virus has vaccinated over 50 per cent of the population with the coronavirus vaccine, according to the CoWin portal data.

Karnataka's capital Bengaluru which has been hit hard due to the virus has vaccinated over 50 per cent of the population with the coronavirus vaccine, according to the CoWin portal data. According to the state's health ministry, in the middle of the month, 38,34,843 had received the first dose in the city which is nearly 34 per cent of the population. Watch: On Tuesday, Karnataka reported 3,222 fresh coronavirus cases and 93 deaths with 85,997 active coronavirus cases in the state. The death toll due to the virus in the state has reached over 34,920 with total recoveries at 27,19,479. Meanwhile, Bengaluru urban district reported 563 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths. Bengaluru authorities have been trying to build "herd immunity" amid reports of a possible third wave hitting the country. At least over 5 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine in Bengaluru in a population of just over 9 million, reports say and 914,000 people have received both vaccine shots. According to the health ministry, 27.27crore people nationwide have got the first dose of the vaccine and 5.84 crore people have got the second dose. India's health ministry said on Tuesday that there is a continuous decline in cases since the peak in May with recovery rate at 96.9 per cent across the country. Karnataka deputy chief minister C N Ashwath Narayan has asserted that all students studying in various higher education courses will be vaccinated in the next ten days. Narayan informed that 60 lakh vaccines have been supplied to the state this month with the state preparing to battle the third wave. The deputy chief minister informed that oxygen generation capacity will be enhanced by 400 MT with oxygen storage capacity to be increased by about 2,500-2,800 MT. The authorities have also been asked to increase the number of oxygenated beds to 84,000 from the existing 58,000. (With inputs from Agencies)

50% Bengaluru residents have received at least one coronavirus vaccine shot, reveals data

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa&nbsp;said that due to the increasing coronavirus cases some areas in Bengaluru have been sealed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-india-records-highest-daily-spike-of-16922-cases-delhi-crosses-70000-mark-308412">Also Read:&nbsp;India records highest daily COVID-19 spike of 16,922 cases; Delhi crosses 70,000 mark</a>

"We have called ministers and officials meeting where further handling of the situation will be discussed," the Karnataka CM said, adding, "in Bengaluru have arranged all facilities to treat coronavirus patients."

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Police said that three deaths were reported in the last 24 hours with the total death toll rising to 54 in the forces.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that 75,60,782 samples were tested on Wednesday with 2,07,871 samples being tested in the last 24 hours as a government official asserted that out of India's total COVID-19 cases, only 4.16 per cent of patients required ventilator support.

In Rajasthan, 76 new coronavirus cases were reported with the total number of cases going up to 16,085 including 3,064 active cases. The death toll due to the virus has reached to 375 in the state.

Andhra Pradesh reported 477 new coronavirus cases and 7 deaths in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 8783. The death toll in the state due to the virus has gone up to 136.

West Bengal reported 445 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases rises to 15,173 in the state including 4,880 active cases and 591 deaths.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that due to the increasing coronavirus cases some areas in Bengaluru have been sealed. Also Read: India records highest daily COVID-19 spike of 16,922 cases; Delhi crosses 70,000 mark "We have called ministers and officials meeting where further handling of the situation will be discussed," the Karnataka CM said, adding, "in Bengaluru have arranged all facilities to treat coronavirus patients.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that due to the increasing coronavirus cases some areas in Bengaluru have been sealed. Also Read: India records highest daily COVID-19 spike of 16,922 cases; Delhi crosses 70,000 mark "We have called ministers and officials meeting where further handling of the situation will be discussed," the Karnataka CM said, adding, "in Bengaluru have arranged all facilities to treat coronavirus patients." Meanwhile, Maharashtra Police said that three deaths were reported in the last 24 hours with the total death toll rising to 54 in the forces. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that 75,60,782 samples were tested on Wednesday with 2,07,871 samples being tested in the last 24 hours as a government official asserted that out of India's total COVID-19 cases, only 4.16 per cent of patients required ventilator support. In Rajasthan, 76 new coronavirus cases were reported with the total number of cases going up to 16,085 including 3,064 active cases. The death toll due to the virus has reached to 375 in the state. Andhra Pradesh reported 477 new coronavirus cases and 7 deaths in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 8783. The death toll in the state due to the virus has gone up to 136. West Bengal reported 445 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases rises to 15,173 in the state including 4,880 active cases and 591 deaths.

Some areas in Bengaluru sealed due to virus: Karnataka CM Yediyurappa

Plasma therapy to fight <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/21797-covid-19-cases-in-india-confirmed-says-icmr-5-lakh-samples-tested-294152">COVID-19</a> infection has been a much discussed topic over the last few months.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/is-india-on-right-track-to-defeat-coronavirus-what-numbers-tell-294174">Also Read:&nbsp;Is India on right track to defeat coronavirus?&nbsp;</a>

On April 20, the ICMR gave permission to a Bengaluru-based research team to carry out a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma as a therapy to combat coronavirus.

Convalescent plasma therapy is an experimental procedure for COVID-19 patients. In this treatment, plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patient is transfused into a coronavirus patient who is in critical condition.

The principle behind this therapy is that immunity can be transferred from a healthy person to a sick patient using convalescent plasma. The blood of the recovered patient would have developed antibodies against COVID-19, which may be beneficial to treat severely sick patients.&nbsp;

Dr Vishal Rao, a renowned Oncologist from Bengaluru, and his team are researching three different approaches to treating COVID-19 as of now - convalescent plasma protocol, cytokine therapy protocol and mesenchymal protocol for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

"In principle what we decided was that there are four groups of patients in COVID-19 which can be divided into three stages. Now 80 per cent of them do not require any treatment other than home rest and isolation. Another 15 per cent will require ICU admission at some point in time. Another 5 per cent will require ventilator support. Now the Cytokine therapy will be targeted on patients who are symptomatic - those who have fever, cough, cold without breathlessness. The second group of patients are those who have breathlessness and on them we are proposing to use Convalescent Plasma. When it comes to the ventilator-dependent patients - Mesenchymal protocol can be used," Dr Vishal Rao told WION.&nbsp;

In 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had recommended plasma therapy to treat the Ebola virus disease. The plasma therapy was also used during Spanish flu pandemic and the H1N1 infection of 2009 as well.&nbsp;

The US-FDA has granted permission for use of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients with the therapy being administered in some critical cases. China, where the outbreak first emerged, had used this treatment to treat critical COVID-19 patients as well. Two trials of plasma therapy were conducted on 15 coronavirus patients and they showed improvement.&nbsp;

"The most important aspect here is safety of the clinical trial. When any new therapy is added to any new illness, we need to test its efficacy and check whether it is useful or not and whether it creates any complications," Dr Vishal Rao said.&nbsp;

The therapy, through transfusion of convalescent plasma, may prevent infection or blunt the severity of the infection in individuals with relatively recent exposure to the virus. In India, the Government Medical College in Delhi is also carrying out a trial for the same therapy.&nbsp;

"The way the immune system responds in every virus and every infection is different. Will the same tablet work in every patient? We know the answer is no. In the same way we don’t know how it will work in the current setting. Will it be helpful? What are the complications that might happen? As this is a new virus, our body is responding to it in a different way. That is why it is called a novel coronavirus," Dr Vishal Rao asserted.&nbsp;

The researchers are now arranging the required protocols to be met to start the clinical trial. Fortunately, they don’t have to wait too long for the results. The initial response after administering the plasma to the patient will be within a span of 48 hours.&nbsp;

The first set of results will be assessed within a week of the trials beginning. The trial will be based out of HCG Hospitals in Bengaluru.&nbsp;

According to data from cochrane community - a global independent network of researchers, at least 400 clinical trials are registered across the world for COVID-19 pandemic of which 55 are focused on Convalescent plasma usage.&nbsp;

Plasma therapy to fight COVID-19 infection has been a much discussed topic over the last few months. Also Read: Is India on right track to defeat coronavirus? On April 20, the ICMR gave permission to a Bengaluru-based research team to carry out a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma as a therapy to combat coronavirus.

Plasma therapy to fight COVID-19 infection has been a much discussed topic over the last few months. Also Read: Is India on right track to defeat coronavirus? On April 20, the ICMR gave permission to a Bengaluru-based research team to carry out a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma as a therapy to combat coronavirus. Convalescent plasma therapy is an experimental procedure for COVID-19 patients. In this treatment, plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patient is transfused into a coronavirus patient who is in critical condition. The principle behind this therapy is that immunity can be transferred from a healthy person to a sick patient using convalescent plasma. The blood of the recovered patient would have developed antibodies against COVID-19, which may be beneficial to treat severely sick patients. Dr Vishal Rao, a renowned Oncologist from Bengaluru, and his team are researching three different approaches to treating COVID-19 as of now - convalescent plasma protocol, cytokine therapy protocol and mesenchymal protocol for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. "In principle what we decided was that there are four groups of patients in COVID-19 which can be divided into three stages. Now 80 per cent of them do not require any treatment other than home rest and isolation. Another 15 per cent will require ICU admission at some point in time. Another 5 per cent will require ventilator support. Now the Cytokine therapy will be targeted on patients who are symptomatic - those who have fever, cough, cold without breathlessness. The second group of patients are those who have breathlessness and on them we are proposing to use Convalescent Plasma. When it comes to the ventilator-dependent patients - Mesenchymal protocol can be used," Dr Vishal Rao told WION. In 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had recommended plasma therapy to treat the Ebola virus disease. The plasma therapy was also used during Spanish flu pandemic and the H1N1 infection of 2009 as well. The US-FDA has granted permission for use of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients with the therapy being administered in some critical cases. China, where the outbreak first emerged, had used this treatment to treat critical COVID-19 patients as well. Two trials of plasma therapy were conducted on 15 coronavirus patients and they showed improvement. "The most important aspect here is safety of the clinical trial. When any new therapy is added to any new illness, we need to test its efficacy and check whether it is useful or not and whether it creates any complications," Dr Vishal Rao said. The therapy, through transfusion of convalescent plasma, may prevent infection or blunt the severity of the infection in individuals with relatively recent exposure to the virus. In India, the Government Medical College in Delhi is also carrying out a trial for the same therapy. "The way the immune system responds in every virus and every infection is different. Will the same tablet work in every patient? We know the answer is no. In the same way we don’t know how it will work in the current setting. Will it be helpful? What are the complications that might happen? As this is a new virus, our body is responding to it in a different way. That is why it is called a novel coronavirus," Dr Vishal Rao asserted. The researchers are now arranging the required protocols to be met to start the clinical trial. Fortunately, they don’t have to wait too long for the results. The initial response after administering the plasma to the patient will be within a span of 48 hours. The first set of results will be assessed within a week of the trials beginning. The trial will be based out of HCG Hospitals in Bengaluru. According to data from cochrane community - a global independent network of researchers, at least 400 clinical trials are registered across the world for COVID-19 pandemic of which 55 are focused on Convalescent plasma usage.

Bengaluru team to conduct trial on convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients

The civic body in Bengaluru has said that gathering at marriage functions should not exceed 100 people in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.

A circular issued by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) dated March 15 said, "All marriage functions pre-booked in marriage halls, hotels, Party places, etc. prior to the issue of circular dated March 13, shall be allowed to be conducted subject to the condition that the gathering in the function not exceeding 100 persons.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/218-indians-stranded-in-coronavirus-hit-italy-arrive-in-india-mea-286457">218 Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Italy arrive in India: MEA&nbsp;</a>

"The above relaxation is an exception in consideration of the difficulties in rescheduling and cancelling the Marriage event immediately," the circular said.

It said, "The Owners/Management of such locations where Marriages are to be solemnized due to pre-booking shall maintain high standards of sanitation and hygiene by periodically cleaning by 10 per cent Sodium Hydrochloride Solution or any other effective disinfectant the surfaces, floors and exposed areas likely to be touched by the attendants.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-shuts-down-kartarpur-corridor-with-pakistan-for-indefinite-period-286460">India shuts down Kartarpur corridor with Pakistan for indefinite period &nbsp;</a>

"Any person attending the function having any such symptoms like Cough, Cold, and Fever etc. shall be requested for immediately leaving the Programmes," it said.

The civic body further said in the circular, "No fresh bookings of any place for Marriage programme are permitted till further orders. Any bookings on future dates by any organizer, event manager, owner of such property or any other person will be at his own risk and action will be taken against the property or any other person for any kind of bookings before an Order allowing such bookings is issued by a Competent Authority.

"The restrictions imposed are in the absolute interest of Public Health for preventing the Community Spread and outbreak of the disease at a mass scale. All other restrictions imposed by order dated March 13 shall stand the same," the Circular added.

The civic body in Bengaluru has said that gathering at marriage functions should not exceed 100 people in order to curb the spread of coronavirus. A circular issued by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) dated March 15 said, "All marriage functions pre-booked in marriage halls, hotels, Party places, etc.

The civic body in Bengaluru has said that gathering at marriage functions should not exceed 100 people in order to curb the spread of coronavirus. A circular issued by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) dated March 15 said, "All marriage functions pre-booked in marriage halls, hotels, Party places, etc. prior to the issue of circular dated March 13, shall be allowed to be conducted subject to the condition that the gathering in the function not exceeding 100 persons. Also read: 218 Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Italy arrive in India: MEA "The above relaxation is an exception in consideration of the difficulties in rescheduling and cancelling the Marriage event immediately," the circular said. It said, "The Owners/Management of such locations where Marriages are to be solemnized due to pre-booking shall maintain high standards of sanitation and hygiene by periodically cleaning by 10 per cent Sodium Hydrochloride Solution or any other effective disinfectant the surfaces, floors and exposed areas likely to be touched by the attendants. Also read: India shuts down Kartarpur corridor with Pakistan for indefinite period "Any person attending the function having any such symptoms like Cough, Cold, and Fever etc. shall be requested for immediately leaving the Programmes," it said. The civic body further said in the circular, "No fresh bookings of any place for Marriage programme are permitted till further orders. Any bookings on future dates by any organizer, event manager, owner of such property or any other person will be at his own risk and action will be taken against the property or any other person for any kind of bookings before an Order allowing such bookings is issued by a Competent Authority. "The restrictions imposed are in the absolute interest of Public Health for preventing the Community Spread and outbreak of the disease at a mass scale. All other restrictions imposed by order dated March 13 shall stand the same," the Circular added.

Gathering at marriage functions shouldn't exceed 100 people: Bengaluru civic body amid COVID-19 scare