Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Total Lockdown in Maharashtra's Mira-Bhayandar from Tomorrow till July 10

Public Service Announcement

In light of the guidelines issued by the government, Metro services will remain closed for commuters until further notice.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) June 30, 2020

EU to List Citizens Who Can Enter 31 Countries | The European Union is announcing a list of nations whose citizens will be allowed to enter 31 European countries, but most Americans are likely to be refused entry for at least another two weeks due to soaring coronavirus infections in the US.

Chandigarh COVID-19 Cases | The total number of COVID-19 cases in Chandigarh stands at 440, and the death toll is at 6. There are 70 active cases now: Health Department, Chandigarh

COVID-19 Lockdown Will be Stricter in Nashik: Maha Minister | Lockdown will be implemented in a stricter manner in Nashik, where "curfew-like situation" will prevail between 7 pm and 5 am to contain the spread of COVID-19, Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said.

Complete Lockdown in Maharashtra's Mira-Bhayander | A complete lockdown will be observed in Mira-Bhayander from July 1 to July 10 midnight, and only home delivery will be allowed. Medical shops will remain open from 9am to 5pm.

Patanjali CEO on Coronil | We never told the medicine (coronil) can cure or control corona, we said that we had made medicines and used them in clinical controlled trial which cured corona patients. There is no confusion in it: Acharya Balkrishna, CEO Patanjali

ASHA Workers Tracked 30.43 Lakh Migrant Returnees in UP | In a major exercise,1.6 lakh accredited social health activists have tracked in two phases over 30.43 lakh migrants who returned to Uttar Pradesh during the COVID-19 lockdown and assisted the state government in contact tracing and community surveillance, the Union Health Ministry said.

Video on Dumping Bodies Triggers Outrage | A video purportedly showing health workers burying inappropriately some bodies of COVID-19 victims in a large pit allegedly in Ballari district in Karnataka has surfaced, triggering an outrage on social media. In the video, the workers wearing personal protection equipment are seen bringing bodies in black sheets from a vehicle parked nearby and dropping one after another into the large pit, dug up with the help of an earthmover.

COVID-19 Vaccination Must be Affordable & Universal: PM | Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed India's preparations for vaccinating its vast population against COVID-19 once a vaccine is available and asserted that vaccination must be affordable and universal. Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review planning and preparations for vaccination against the novel coronavirus.

PM Modi Addresses the Nation | Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the nation, his sixth such televised address since the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Follow live updates here

Nearly 60% Recovery Rate in India | The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the country is fast approaching 60 per cent, with the Union Health Ministry attributing it to collective and focussed efforts of the Centre and states for containment and management of the pandemic.

2 Sikh Shrines in Maha No Longer Containment Zones | Two prominent Sikh shrines in Maharashtra's Nanded are no longer under containment zones, as no fresh COVID-19 case was reported from the area in the last 20 days, a district official said.

WHO Says Cannot Let Guard Down after Study on New Flu Virus Found in Pigs | The World Health Organization (WHO) will "read carefully" a Chinese study on a new flu virus found in pigs, a spokesman said, saying the findings underscored the importance of influenza surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read full article here

ICMR Study on Plasma Therapy Ongoing | The ICMR study on plasma therapy (PLACID Trial) is still ongoing. The sample size for study is 452. An interim analysis of 300 patients has not been conducted. The results will be shared on completion of the study from a scientific perspective: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Pharma Sector Seeks Clearance of Imported APIs, Medical Devices | The strict customs scrutiny and non-clearance of imports from China has now hit the pharmaceutical sector -- the lifeline amid the pandemic -- making industry representatives to reach out to the government and seek urgent clearance of the goods at ports and airports. In a communication to the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) said that it has been inundated with distress calls from its member companies over an acute disruption in manufacturing of pharmaceutical products over the last three days.

Patanjali Says No 'Corona Kit' Packaged by it | In reply to the notice sent by Uttarakhand Ayurved Department, Patanjali said no 'Corona Kit' has been packaged by them. Patanjali has printed a representative picture of Coronavirus on 'Coronil' packaging. Samples of 'Coronil' and two other drugs have been taken for testing, says YS Rawat, Licence Officer, Uttarakhand Ayurved Dept.

In June, the national capital added over 64,000 fresh cases to its tally, while over 47,357 patients recovered, were discharged or migrated.

Wedding Ceremony Sets Off Biggest Infection Chain in Bihar | A wedding ceremony in rural Patna a fortnight ago where the groom was running high fever, two days before he died and his body cremated without being tested for COVID 19, appears to have set off the biggest infection chain in Bihar so far, say health department officials. More than 100 people have tested positive in Paliganj sub-division of Patna district, about 55 km from the state capital, in the last few days, out of over 350 who have been tested upon contact tracing, they said. Fifteen of his relatives who attended the wedding tested positive for the contagion and apparently infected others.

Odisha Allows Counter Sale of Liquor | The Odisha government will allow over-the-counter sale of liquor from Wednesday after more than three months, and one needs to book a time-slot through an online system for buying alcoholic beverages from the outlets. The liquor shops across the state will remain open from 7 am to 6 pm. The government allows the counter sale of liquor in OFF and ON shops in addition to the ongoing home delivery of these items from July 1.

Unlock 2.0 Guidelines and Directives - From July 1 Till July 31

The government has agreed to include private doctors and paramedical staff involved in treatment of coronavirus patients under insurance coverage.

The current status of Indian and global vaccine development efforts has also been reviewed at the meeting held by PM Modi. The Prime Minister highlights India’s responsibility and commitment to the global community to play an enabling role in global vaccination efforts against Covid-19.

PM Tells Officials to Ensure Timely Vaccine Development | Prime Minister Narendra Modi directs officials to evaluate various technology tools to ensure efficient and timely vaccination in due course of time. He also directs detailed planning for such large scale vaccination should be undertaken immediately. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a high-level meeting to review the preparations being undertaken for vaccination against Covid-19.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparations being undertaken for vaccination against #COVID19, as and when a vaccine is available. pic.twitter.com/HaAOIKX2wp

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020

HIV Drug Combo Showed No Benefit in UK | A combination of antiviral drugs commonly used to treat HIV showed no beneficial effects in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in a large-scale randomised trial, find scientists in the UK. In March, the RECOVERY trial was established as a randomised clinical trial to test a range of potential treatments for COVID-19, including lopinavir-ritonavir, an antiviral treatment commonly used to treat HIV. Over 11,800 patients have been enrolled from 176 NHS hospitals in the UK for the trial. READ MORE

Karnataka Minister Back at Work after Home Quarantine | Karnataka Medical Education minister K Sudhakar resumes duty after eight days of home quarantine when a few of his family members had tested Covid-19 positive. The 45-year-old minister's sample was tested at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, which turned out to be negative. He also shared a June 22 test result of 16 more persons who worked at his home or were connected with it, comprising 15 men and a woman, all of whom tested negative.

HCQ Trial Resumes after Nod from UK Regulator | A global trial designed to find out whether the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine can prevent infection with Covid-19 is to restart after getting approval from the UK medicines agency. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) decision on the trial, which is known as the COPCOV trial, comes after the drug was found in another UK trial to have no benefit for patients already infected with COVID-19, the pandemic disease caused by the new coronavirus.

EAM S Jaishankar says had a wide-ranging discussion with French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian. Both the leaders covered issues of contemporary security and political importance, and agreed to address COVID-related challenges in health and aviation. Jaishankar thanked him French leader for his strong support in UNSC and says, he is looking forward to working together.

As a result of this, it is also difficult to assess when the disease will reach its peak in Uttar Pradesh, he said on Twitter.

In a setback to both Maharashtra and Delhi governments, the Centre warns people against dependence on convalescent plasma for Covid-19 treatment. New guidance says plasma therapy has not been proven yet and is still under trial. Blood banks can collect plasma only after treatment efficacy is established, rules the Centre.