Latest News Highlights: Covaxin Shows Interim Clinical Efficacy Of 81% In Phase 3 Results, Says Bharat Biotech Latest News Highlights: The COVID-19 active caseload has increased to 1,70,126 which comprises 1.53 per cent of the total infections, the data stated. Latest News Highlights: The active cases were recorded above 1.7 lakh after a month. (File) New Delhi: Phase 3 results for Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine - Covaxin - were released Wednesday afternoon, with the drug demonstrating "81 per cent interim efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection after the second dose", according to a statement by the company. India reported 14,989 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday - 22 per cent higher than Tuesday - taking the tally to 1,11, 39,516, according to the health ministry data this morning. The active cases were recorded above 1.7 lakh after a month, the data stated. The death count increased to 1,57,346 with 98 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The COVID-19 active caseload has increased to 1,70,126 which comprises 1.53 per cent of the total infections, it stated. The Centre has deputed teams to Tamil Nadu and Punjab following surge in COVID-19 cases across various states in the country. India on Tuesday had reported 12,286 fresh coronavirus cases and the tally climbed to 1,11,24,527, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,07,98,921. Here are the Latest News Highlights: Indian-Made COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive In Senegal A consignment of Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines has landed in Senegal on Wednesday under the ''Vaccine Maitri'' initiative, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. In a tweet, Mr Jaishankar said, "From Tiranga to Teranga. Made in India vaccines land in Senegal. #VaccineMaitri." The cumulative count of COVID-19 cases in Senegal has reached 35,037, including 896 deaths due to the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University. Earlier, Mr Jaishankar had said India has been "very much" at the forefront of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is providing vaccines to the world under ''Vaccine Maitri'' initiatives. Twenty-five nations across the world have already received Made in India vaccines and Forty-nine more countries will be supplied in the coming days, ranging from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to Africa, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands, he had announced. Under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, India has been providing coronavirus vaccines to its neighbouring countries. Brazil Reports Record Covid Deaths For Second Straight Day Brazil registered a record of Covid-19 deaths for the second straight day Wednesday, with 1,910 lives lost to the pandemic. With a surge in cases currently pushing health systems to the limit in many areas, Brazil has recorded a total of 259,271 deaths, according to the health ministry -- the second-highest death count worldwide, after the United States. "For the first time since the pandemic began, we are seeing a deterioration across the entire country," public health institute Fiocruz said Tuesday. "The situation is alarming." Brazil's 24-hour death count had just set a new record Tuesday, at 1,641. The sprawling country of 212 million people is having its deadliest week of the pandemic, with an average of 1,331 deaths per day. Arvind Kejriwal To Receive His First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose On Today Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will receive his first dose of coronavirus vaccine Thursday morning at the city''s LNJP hospital, a government statement said. The Chief Minister will receive the shot around 9.30 AM, the Delhi government statement said. Rajesh Vaishnaw Appointed India's Next Ambassador To Morocco: Foreign Ministry Diplomat Rajesh Vaishnaw has been appointed India's next Ambassador to Morocco, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. Mr Vaishnaw, a 1996-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently the High Commissioner of India to Malta. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the MEA said in a brief statement. The appointment comes at a time when India-Morocco ties are witnessing an upswing. Delhi Civic Bypolls: Largest Victory Margin In Chauhan Bangar Ward The Chauhan Bangar ward of Delhi witnessed the largest victory margin of over 10,000 votes, while Shalimar Bagh (North) recorded the lowest in the bypolls to the five municipal wards results of which were declared Wednesday. The Congress' Chaudhary Zubair Ahmad won the Chauhan Bangar by a massive margin of 10,642 votes, while the AAP's Sunita Mishra won the Shalimar Bagh (North) by a difference of 2,705 votes. The AAP won four of the five civic wards, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserting that people are desperate to bring the party to power in the three municipal corporations in the national capital. The AAP, however, suffered a defeat in the minority-dominated Chauhan Bangar ward, where Ahmad defeated Mohammad Ishraq Khan by a whopping margin of 10,642 votes. Mumbai Announces Mandatory Institutional Quarantine For Travellers From Brazil The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday announced that a seven day institutional quarantine will be mandatory for those arriving from Brazil even if they have obtained a COVID-19 negative report prior to the journey. In a fresh circular, the civic body included Brazil in the list of countries under quarantine rules, citing the latest guidelines of the Union Ministry of Health about international arrivals. The BMC said this rule will also be applicable to travelers from Maharashtra arriving at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in the city. Centre Allows Zonal Railways To Decide On Reopening Of Retiring Rooms At Stations Amid Covid The Ministry of Railways on Thursday gave a permission to Zonal Railways to decide on reopening of retiring rooms at railway stations keeping in view the COVID-19 conditions and protocols issued by the government. "Considering the convenience of passengers, Railways has decided to allow operation of retiring room at stations subject to fulfilment of protocols issued by the government. These conveniences were discontinued post announcement of lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus," read a statement by the Ministry. The Railway Board has already allowed operations of retiring rooms, Rail Yatri Niwas and hotels managed by IRCTC, the statement added. Private Delhi School Teachers, Staff Protest Over Non-Payment Of Full Salaries Teachers and staff of the Summer Fields School in Delhi have staged a protest against alleged non-payment of full salaries and arrears. In a statement, the teachers and staff of the school claimed they have been working with 50 per cent of their salaries since April 2020. They also claimed that they were yet to get the arrears for the 7th pay commission salary structure. The protesting teachers and staff later submitted a memorandum to the Delhi Directorate of Education (South east zone), the statement said. IAF Chief Arrives In Colombo For Sri Lanka Air Force's 70th Anniversary Celebrations Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief RKS Bhadauria on Wednesday arrived in Colombo for a two-day visit as the Sri Lanka Air Force's (SLAF) is celebrating its 70th anniversary. He was invited by Commander of SLAF Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria was scheduled to attend the inaugural ceremony in which an IAF contingent comprising of Suryakiran and Sarang Aerobatic Display Teams and Tejas LCA is taking part, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. During the course of his two day visit, the IAF Chief is also scheduled to interact with various dignitaries and the heads of services of the armed forces of Sri Lanka, the Ministry said. Nepal Parliamentarians Take First Shot Of "Made In India" COVID-19 Vaccine Members of Nepal Parliament on Wednesday were administered the first jab of Indian-made COVID-19 vaccine at Minbhawan based Civil Hospital in Kathmandu. According to The Himalayan Times, Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi, Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Spakota, Co-chairs of Nepal Communist Party's (NCP) Dahal-Nepal faction Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, among others were inoculated against the virus. This inoculation programme comes after the Cabinet meeting called by the Nepal Prime Minister (caretaker) KP Sharma Oli on February 26 has recommended President Bidya Devi Bhandari to call a meeting of the reinstated Lower House on March 7. Andhra Pradesh Records 135 New COVID-19 Cases In The Last 24 Hours Andhra Pradesh reported 135 fresh COVID-19 cases and 82 recoveries in the last 24 hours. With these new infections, the cumulative count of coronavirus cases has gone up to 8,87,320 and as many as 8,79,324 patients have recovered in the state, a statement by the state government said. The stae witnessed one fresh death in the last 24 hours, taking the death count to 7,170. At present, the state has 826 active cases. Bihar Health Minister Condoles Demise Of MBBS Student Who Allegedly Died Of Covid Expressing grief over the demise of an MBBS student in Bihar allegedly due to COVID-19, State Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Wednesday said that his death is saddening and the government is making all efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Shubhendu Shubham, a final year MBBS student of Patna's Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH), who took the first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine in first week of February, died on March 1 in Begusarai after testing positive for coronavirus. Mr Pandey informed that more doctors have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 after his death.