A medic collects swab sample of an infant for Covid-19 test at a hospital in Navi Mumbai's Nerul on Friday. (PTI photo) Coronavirus Cases and Deaths in India Today, Covid-19 Vaccine Live Tracker: The number of active Covid-19 cases in India has dipped further and experts believe that it is now in the zone where the existing health infrastructure can handle it. According to the Union Health Ministry, the daily positivity rate has now dropped to 6.21 per cent. The number of active cases has begun to fall in almost all the states and the biggest relief is that a dip is clearly visible in the daily count of deaths.
Meanwhile, over 22.37 lakh doses of vaccine have been administered in the country. The health ministry said that out of total people vaccine vaccinated so far, 99,24,634 are healthcare and 1,59,18,192 frontline workers who have taken the first dose.
However several states have started preparing to combat the possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. It must be noted that experts have warned that the third wave may affect people of different age groups along with children as anticipated.
Follow our live blog for all the latest updates on Coronavirus from India and the world:
Highlights
Maharashtra reports 14,152 new COVID-19 cases, 289 deaths and 20,852 recoveries in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 1,96,894Total cases: 58,05,565Total discharges: 55,07,058 (ANI)
Telangana reports 2175 new COVID-19 cases, 3821 recoveries, and 15 deaths in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 5,87,664Total recoveries: 5,53,400Death toll: 3346Active cases: 30,918 (ANI)
Kerala reports 16,229 fresh COVID19 cases, 135 deaths today; active cases at 1,74,526 (ANI)
The European Union on Friday submitted a plan to the World Trade Organization that it believes will more effectively broaden supply of COVID-19 vaccines than the intellectual property (IP) rights waiver backed by the United States. India, South Africa and dozens of developing countries are demanding the waiver to address what they say is a “staggering inequity” in access to vaccines and other COVID-19 treatments.
A surprise US shift in May to support a waiver heaped pressure on remaining opponents, such as the European Union and Switzerland that are home to many drugmakers. The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-nation EU, said on Friday it had submitted an alternative, focused on limits on export restrictions and making use of flexibility in existing WTO rules. The World Trade Organization will next be able to discuss the plan at meetings planned next Tuesday and Wednesday. | Read More
Our aim is to increase global vaccine coverage. We are also hopeful other countries will also start sharing vaccines. Our intention is to lead on global vaccine coverage. A lot of work has to be done to actually deliver the vaccines. When other countries also share vaccines, then, we can get in a position to actually end this global pandemic: Gayle E Smith, US State Dept Coordinator for COVID-19 Response and Health Security on US strategy for global vaccine sharing (ANI)
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) cancels class 12 exams in view of COVID-19 pandemic: Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal (PTI)
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) cancels class 12 exams in view of COVID-19 pandemic: Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal (PTI)
The Indore Municipal Corporation in Madhya Pradesh on Friday organised a special COVID-19 vaccination camp for eunuchs as they fall in the "high risk" category, an official said. The camp was held in Nandlalpura in partnership with an NGO, and 86 eunuchs were vaccinated, including a 71 year-old and 65-year-old, the official added. "As the eunuch community roams the city and its members come in contact with several people, they are classified in the high risk category. Therefore, we arranged a vaccination camp for them," IMC commissioner Pratibha Pal said.
Meanwhile, Indore vaccination official Tarun Gupta said 10.5 lakh people overall have been given the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 2.2 lakh who have got thesecond dose as well. Indore is the state's worst coronavirus-hit district with a caseload of over 1.51 lakh, including 1,351 deaths. PTI
DIAL launches COVID19 vaccination centre for airport staff at T3.
Delhi Airport and its staff have been at forefront since the COVID19 outbreak. We’ve launched vaccination drive for these COVID warriors to save them from virus: DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar (ANI)
The surge of COVID-19 cases in the country in the last two months shows a correlation with the rise in B.1.617 variant of the SARS-CoV-2, according to INSACOG, a grouping of 10 national laboratories. April and May witnessed a deadly second wave of coronavirus cases that swept through the country stretching the healthcare infrastructure to its limits. | Read More
Total 42,000 vaccines were given to private hospitals which we've taken back from them. Chief Minister immediately took cognisance of the incident and the decision was nixed. Those who have paid extra price for vaccine will get reimbursement: Punjab Health Min Balbir Singh Sidhu (ANI)
Coronavirus Live Tracker: Delhi reports 523 fresh infections, 50 deaths and 1,161 recoveries in last 24 hours
COVID19 | Delhi reports 523 fresh infections, 50 deaths and 1,161 recoveries in the last 24 hours; Positivity rate at 0.68% (ANI)
Former Indian sprinter Milkha Singh, being unwell due to COVID 19, was admitted here yesterday. His condition is stable: Prof. Ashok Kumar, Official Spokesperson, PGIMER, Chandigarh (ANI)
The UK's medicines regulator on Friday approved the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the decision followed a 'rigorous review' of safety and effectiveness in the lower age groups and its conclusion is that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh any risks. Until now, COVID-19 vaccines being administered in the UK have been approved for adults aged 16 and over. 'We have carefully reviewed clinical trial data in children aged 12 to 15 years and have concluded that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group and that the benefits of this vaccine outweigh any risk,' said Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive. (PTI)
Data sharing is going on with WHO to give recognition to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, we want to achieve it as soon as possible: Govt (PTI)
Data sharing is going on with WHO to give recognition to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, we want to achieve it as soon as possible: Govt - PTI
As per Our World in Data, the number of people who have received at least one dose of vaccine in India is 17.2 crore. We have overtaken the US in terms of the number of people in our country who have received the first dose of vaccine: Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog - ANI
United Kingdom approves Pfizer/BioNTech COVID shot for 12- to 15-year-olds - Reuters
There has been a continuous decrease in districts reporting more than 100 average daily new cases; 257 districts reporting more than 100 daily cases: Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry on COVID19 situation - ANI
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the state has set a target of vaccinating the entire population in the age group of 18 to 44 years by July 30. Speaking to reporters here, the chief minister urged citizens eligible for vaccination to cooperate and get themselves inoculated. (PTI)
A plea in the Delhi High Court on Friday urged it to direct the Delhi government to take immediate steps for ensuring operation of non-functional hospitals and to improve Mohalla clinics in the national capital to deal with the predicted third wave of COVID-19. Justice Rekha Palli issued notice to the Centre and Delhi government and sought their stand on the petition which also seeks formulation of a scheme for fair and transparent distribution of the Rs one crore compensation to family of frontline workers who succumbed to COVID-19 while performing their duties. (PTI)
Critical of the government's handling of Covid, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said doctors need protection from coronavirus and the BJP dispensation's callousness as he made an appeal to save them. Gandhi has criticised the government's policies to check the spread of the pandemic and the vaccination drive.
India will be a "significant recipient" of US vaccines, the country's envoy here has said as President Joe Biden announced details of his administration's decision to share 2.5 crore COVID-19 shots to countries across the globe that have been facing vaccine shortages. Biden on Thursday said that the US will allocate 75 per cent - nearly 1.9 crore of the first tranche of 2.5 crore doses - of unused COVID-19 vaccines from its stockpile through the UN-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing programme to countries in South and Southeast Asia as well as Africa. (PTI)
India has managed the second COVID wave very well as the number of fresh cases have come down significantly, Niti Aayog Member V K Saraswat has said even as he emphasised that preparations need to be in place to deal with the third wave that might impact the younger population more. Saraswat further said that India's epidemiologists have made very clear indications that the third wave of COVID-19 is inevitable and is likely to start from September-October, so the country should vaccinate as many people as possible. (PTI)
India will be a "significant recipient" of US vaccines, the country's envoy here has said as President Joe Biden announced details of his administration's decision to share 2.5 crore COVID-19 shots to countries across the globe that have been facing vaccine shortages. Biden on Thursday said that the US will allocate 75 per cent - nearly 1.9 crore of the first tranche of 2.5 crore doses - of unused COVID-19 vaccines from its stockpile through the UN-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing programme to countries in South and Southeast Asia as well as Africa. (PTI)
More than 1.93 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday. The Centre has so far provided, both through the free of cost and through direct state procurement categories, more than 24 crore vaccine doses to states and UTs. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages, is 22,27,33,963 doses, the ministry said. "As many as 1,93,95,287 are still available with the states and UTs to be administered," it said. (PTI)
The World Health Organisation's top vaccines expert says that immunising children against the coronavirus 'is not a high priority' given the extremely limited global supply of vaccines. Dr Kate O'Brien says vaccinating children 'is not a priority from a WHO perspective', even as increasing numbers of rich countries authorise their COVID-19 shots for teenagers and children.
The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of the Centre and the city government on a plea seeking a CBI probe into the death of 21 Covid patients at the Jaipur Golden Hospital here last month allegedly due to oxygen shortage. Justice Rekha Palli issued a notice to the Union ministries of home and health and the Delhi government seeking their response by August 20 on the plea filed by the families of some patients who died on the intervening night of April 23 and 24. (PTI)
Vietnam plans to test high-risk groups in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. People in Ho Chi Minh City are only allowed to leave home for necessary activities and public gatherings of more than 10 people are banned for the next two weeks, the government announced. Prior to the order, the city, also Vietnam's economic hub, shut down non-essential business last Thursday when cases started to increase. (PTI)
The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to prioritise the vaccination of parents having children below 12 years of age, so that they can look after the kids in case the latter get infected with COVID-19. The decision has been taken in view of the projection that the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic would impact children more, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said. (PTI)
The Delhi government has formed a four-member expert committee to look into the deaths due to the shortage of oxygen during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and is awaiting the lieutenant governor's approval, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday. During the second wave of coronavirus, there was an oxygen crisis and there were reports that the oxygen shortage led to deaths at some hospitals, Sisodia said in an online briefing. (PTI)
Odisha on Friday reported 7,729 new COVID-19 cases and 39 more deaths, a Health Department official said. The state has so far recorded 7,98,699 cases and 2,912 deaths, he said. In the last 24 hours, 10,343 people recovered, taking the total recoveries to 7,13,055. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded Indian scientists developing made-in-India vaccine against Covid and boosting other measures to fight the pandemic within a year of its outbreak. Addressing a meeting of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Society via video conferencing, he cited India's experience in the previous century to say that it used to wait for years to lay its hands on innovations achieved abroad, but its scientists are now working shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts outside. They are working at the same quick pace, he said. (PTI)
The risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is substantially reduced for up to 10 months following the first infection with the virus, according to a study. The research, published in the journal Lancet Healthy Longevity on Tuesday, looked at rates of COVID-19 infections between October lat years, and February this year among over 2,000 care home residents and staff in England. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court has taken strong note of an accused filing a fabricated COVID-19 positive report to seek extension of interim bail in a criminal case and has ordered a judicial inquiry against the man, his relatives, lawyer, hospital staff and police officials. Justice Prathiba M Singh said all parties who come to the court have to come with clean hands, especially during the pandemic as the courts have been empathetic and compassionate towards those who have been infected with COVID-19. (PTI)
The private and government offices will be allowed to function with 100% staff from June 7: Gujarat Information Department (ANI)
Ladakh has recorded two more coronavirus-related fatalities and 113 fresh cases, taking the infection tally to 18,854 and the death toll to 193, officials said on Friday. Both deaths have been reported from Leh. Leh has so far registered 139 fatalities and Kargil 54, officials said, quoting a bulletin released by the directorate of health services. (PTI)
Puducherry reported 712 fresh coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 1,07,826, a senior Health department official said on Friday. Puducherry has been witnessing a decline in the number of fresh infections during the last few days after it had crossed the 1,000 mark. (PTI)
At least 205 people, including over 50 children tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram on Friday, pushing the tally in the state to 13,064, an official said. The COVID-19 death toll rose to 47 as a 44-year-old man succumbed to the infection at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on Thursday night, he said. (PTI)