Australia recognises Covaxin for travel

School students play in a playground during their break, in Chennai, on Monday. Pic/PTI

Australia's medicines and medical devices regulator on Monday formally recognised COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, as the country's border was reopened for the first time in nearly 20 months. It has already recognised Covishield.

"Today, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) determined that Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India)...would be ‘recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status," Australia's medicines and medical devices regulator TGA said.

This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and above. "This will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia," the TGA said in a statement.

With 12,514 people testing positive for Coronavirus in a day, India's total tally rose to 3,42,85,814, while the active cases declined to 1,58,817, the lowest in 248 days, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday.

The death toll climbed to 4,58,437 with 251 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.

Schools reopen in Kerala, TN, Delhi

From tiny tots to junior wing students, children in Delhi were excited to be back in schools on Monday after a closure of over 19 months. While several schools reope-ned with 50 per cent seating capacity, majority of private schools have deferred the reopening to post Diwali.

In Kerala, school authorities welcomed the children back with tiny gift packets, which included books, pen, sani-tisers, masks and balloons. Students of Std I to VII, X and XII returned to schools, while those from Std VIII, IX and XI will be back on November 15. Physical classes for Std I-VIII resumed in Tamil Nadu as well, with enthusiastic children greeted with warm and traditional welcome.

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