Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Not the Time to Fight Over Kejriwal Model vs Amit Shah Model, Says Deputy CM

"I have advised the @ugc_india to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar. The foundation for revisited guidelines shall be health and safety students, teachers and staff," HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal says.

Hetero Healthcare said it has fixed a maximum retail price of Rs 5,400 per vial for the drug. On Tuesday, pharma major Cipla said, it will price its generic version of remdesivir at less than Rs 5,000 per vial. It also said that the drug will be available in the next 8 to 10 days.

Mamata Banerjee Holds All-party Meet | West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holds an all-party meeting over COVID-19 situation in the state, at Nabanna in Kolkata.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holds an all-party meeting over #COVID19 situation in the state, at Nabanna in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/Q34vy5gY3a

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2020

Hetero Set to Deliver 20,000 Vials of Covifor | Following the approval of Covifor, the generic version of Remdesivir, by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Hetero Healthcare Limited is set to deliver the first set of 20,000 vials in two equal lots of 10,000 each. Managing director of Hetero Healthcare M Srinivasa Reddy said the launch of Covifor in the country is a milestone in addressing public health emergencies.

"Uttarakhand reports 33 new cases of COVID-19, taking total number of active cases to 863. Number of deaths due to the disease stands at 35," state health department.

Uttarakhand reports 33 new cases of #COVID19, taking total number of active cases to 863. Number of deaths due to the disease stands at 35: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/VaKLFQYmqK

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2020

"We intend to open Post Office Passport Seva Kendras in every Lok Sabha constituency where no PSK exist today. We've so far been able to provide for 488 Lok Sabha constituencies. This process which we were going forward with very ambitiously, stopped momentarily due to COVID-19," says Jaishankar.

"I would like to felicitate all our passport issuing authorities in India and abroad on Passport Sewa Diwas and I'm sure,you all appreciate we're meeting under unique circumstances. I acknowledge how well all of you have responded to changing public requirements amid COVID-19," says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

BMC to Procure 1L Antigen Testing Kits | The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will purchase one lakh antigen testing kits to ensure speedy results for suspected COVID-19 patients, an official said today. According to a release issued on Tuesday, the civic body has initiated Mission Universal Testing, under which it will use ICMR-approved antigen testing kits that provide results within 15 to 30 minutes.

Cinema halls in Bengaluru face losses due to closure of their operations in wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Arun Kumar, a theatre owner, says, "If it continues for another month, theatres will have to take tough decisions. We demand 50% concession in fixed power charges."

Karnataka: Cinema halls in Bengaluru face problems due to closure of their operations in wake of #COVID19 pandemic. Arun Kumar, a theatre owner, says, "If it continues for another month, theatres will have to take tough decisions. We demand 50% concession in fixed power charges." pic.twitter.com/kmnG11utsu

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2020

UPDATE | Over 73.5 lakh samples tested for Covid-19 in India till June 23, ICMR said. 

UPDATE | Indonesian authorities complained that hundreds of people had refused to test for the new coronavirus as social taboos emerge as another obstacle to stopping its spread in the world*s fourth-most populous nation.

Ukraine to Open More Hospitals As Cases Surge | Ukraine is opening more of its hospitals to coronavirus cases as the institutions initially chosen to accept patients no longer have enough beds to cope with a surge in infections, the health minister said.

Taiwan to Ease Travel Curbs for Hong Kong People for 'Humanitarian' Reasons | Taiwan will ease its coronavirus border restrictions to allow in people from Hong Kong for humanitarian reasons, the government said, ahead of Taiwan's opening of an office to help people wanting to flee the Chinese-ruled city.

Thailand Plans to Allow Some Foreign Travellers in Next Week | Thailand plans to allow some foreign travellers into the country starting next week, as it eases restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, a senior official said. 

A team of officials from the border guarding force visited the Radha Soami Beas facility and held discussions with the Delhi government and other stakeholders who will be partners in running the…

UPDATE | France’s coronavirus contact application Stop Covid has alerted just 14 people that they have been near someone with the virus in the three weeks since it was launched. Only 68 people have signalled that they have tested positive for the virus on the application.

Dine-in Facilities in Ludhiana Resume | Dine-in facilities have resumed in hotels and restaurants in Ludhiana, Punjab, after state government allowed reopening of hotels, restaurants, marriage halls and other hospitality services at reduced 50% capacity.

Delhi Govt's Revised Covid Response Plan | The Delhi government is preparing an eight-point 'Revised COVID Response Plan' in line with recommendations of Dr VK Paul committee. The plan includes conducting sero-survey of 20,000 people across districts and house-to-house screening by July 6, among other measures.

The charges for virus test at SGPGI have been capped at Rs 1,500 per person.

Patanjali's Controversial Treatment | "As per Patanjali's application, we issued them license. They didn't mention coronavirus, we only approved license for immunity booster, cough & fever. We'll issue them a notice asking how they got permission to make the kit (for COVID-19): Licence Officer, Uttarakhand Ayurved Department.

Andhra Coronavirus Fresh Cases | In the last 24 hours, 497 fresh COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths have been reported in Andhra Pradesh. Total positive cases stand at 10,331 including 5,423 active cases, 129 deaths and 4,779 discharged cases, said State Command Control Room.

SSLC Exams Tomorrow | "SSLC exams to take place tomorrow. About 8,48,203 students will write the exam. Social Distancing and mask required. Minister of Education and I have already held lot of meetings. Students from containment zones will be carefully handled," said Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu.

WB Health Dept Warns Private & Govt Hospitals of Strict Action if Patients Denied Admission | The West Bengal Health department has warned both private and state-run hospitals that strict action will be taken if patients were denied admission for treatment in the medical facilities.

UPDATE | London stocks retreated as a spike in novel coronavirus cases across the globe compounded fears of a second wave of the pandemic, while builder Crest Nicholson tumbled after issuing a grim forecast for the year. The homebuilder fell 7.6% to its lowest in more than a month as it posted a first-half pretax loss and said it expected annual adjusted pretax profit to fall around 60% to 70% due to coronavirus-led disruptions.

The death toll in the national capital due to the coronavirus infection has risen to 2,301, and the total number of cases mounted to 66,602.

UPDATE | Austria has issued a warning against travel to the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia after a coronavirus outbreak at a meatpacking plant there, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said. The move puts the state in the same category as the Italian region of Lombardy, the epicentre of Italy’s coronavirus outbreak, which was one of the worst in Europe.

Russia Reports 7,176 New Cases | Russia on Wednesday reported 7,176 new cases of the novel coronavirus, pushing its nationwide case total to 606,881, the world’s third highest tally. The country’s coronavirus crisis response centre said 154 people had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 8,513.

ICMR Says Covid-19 Testing Should be Widely Available to All Symptomatic Individuals | Expanding the testing criterion for coronavirus, the Indian Council of Medical Research has said it should be made widely available to all symptomatic individuals across the country. 

All hospitalised patients who develop ILI symptoms, symptomatic individuals living within hotspots or containment zones and healthcare and frontline workers were also advised testing.

South Africa Records Highest Daily Toll of 111 Dead | South Africa has recorded its highest daily death toll from the coronavirus-111.  More than 2,100 people have died in the country that makes up nearly one-third of the virus cases across Africa with more than 106,000.