Passengers arrive through a special train at Sealdah Station in Kolkata. (PTI Photo)Coronavirus Cases in India News Live: After the peak of over 4.15 lakh daily cases on May 7, India’s second wave has receded with the 24-hour update showing 62,480 viral infections on Friday morning. It is after more than 70 days that the active cases have also gone down below the 8-lakh mark. With daily deaths also dipping below the 2K mark, many say that the worst is over. An ANI report quoted an AIIMS-WHO survey saying that the third wave of the coronavirus may not impact the children in the country. While all these are just reassurances, the problem is with the ‘unlock’ and the unmanageable crowding in public places and hill stations. A few days ago, a viral clip showed how the roads leading to Kasauli, a popular destination among tourists from North India, were jampacked with cars. Then those regular snapshots from vegetable markets, malls etc show that the public has almost forgotten the second wave horrors. Elsewhere, the Delta variant of the coronavirus, which was first detected in India is causing a significant surge. After the UK, the US and Australia have also reported a spike in the daily Covid numbers due to the variant.
With crowds returning to the streets, India will see the third wave of the coronavirus sooner than later. In a grim warning, the Maharashtra Covid task force has said that if the public goes on about doing its business the usual way, Maharashtra will see the third wave in less than 2 weeks. With the Delta variant still prevalent, states are reconciling the death data. Madhya Pradesh Congress has demanded the Shivraj Singh Chauhan government to report the actual numbers. As the global death toll crosses the 4 million mark, the pandemic seems to be far from over. Here are the latest Covid updates from India and around the globe.
Highlights
Punjab reports 626 new COVID cases, 1,229 patient discharges, and 35 deaths in the past 24 hours
Active cases: 8,829Total discharges: 5,66,568Death toll: 15,771 (ANI)
Genome sequencing of the samples of four COVID-19 infected lions at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur, near here, has revealed that they belong to Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2 and are Delta variants as per WHO nomenclature, the park said on Friday.
On May 11, this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified B.1.617.2 lineage as a variant of concern (VOC), and said it showed evidence of higher transmissibility and reduced neutralization, the zoo’s deputy director said. | Read More
While coronavirus mutated and evolved, citizens let their guard down and all this led to a spike in cases, snowballing into second wave: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan (PTI)
On 154th day of the vaccination drive today, the cumulative COVID vaccination coverage crossed the 27 crores (27,20,72,645) mark: Union Health Ministry (ANI)
Maharashtra reports 9,798 new COVID cases, 14,347 patient discharges, and 198 deaths in the past 24 hours
Active cases: 1,34,747Total discharges: 56,99,983Death toll: 1,16,674 (ANI)
COVID-19 claimed nine more lives and infected 150 people more, taking the total number of deaths to 8,884 and infection cases to 9,50,768 respectively in Rajasthan on Friday. Udaipur recorded the maximum number of our deaths, 4, while the highest number of cases of infection, 25, was reported from Jaipur. A total of 9,38,101 COVID-19 patients have recovered so far while the number of active cases is 3,783, according to an official report. (PTI)
COVID19 | Karnataka reports 5,783 new cases, 168 deaths, and 15,290 recoveries today; active case tally at 1,37,050 (ANI)
Mumbai reports 762 new COVID cases, 684 discharges, and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours
Active cases: 14,860Total discharges: 6,87,550Death toll: 15,266 (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh reports 344 new COVID-19 cases, 576 recoveries, and 5 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 3,193 (ANI)
COVID19 | 603 new cases, 12 deaths and 447 recoveries recorded in Manipur today; active cases at 9,246 (ANI)
Sputnik V vaccine for coronavirus: Sputnik V vaccine to get a version for Delta strain! Global vaccination drives have been gaining momentum to effectively tackle the coronavirus pandemic collectively. However, amid this, a variant of concern that was first identified in India – the Delta strain – caused a severe second wave in the country, and also spread elsewhere, albeit in a more controlled manner than in India. What worried health authorities more was the fact that the new strain contained properties allowing it to escape the immune defences in the body, and they expressed concerns that the vaccines might not be able to defend a person against this coronavirus strain, even as tests were being conducted in labs to check the efficacy of vaccines against the Delta variant. | Read More
Assam cancels class 10, 12 board exams due to prevailing COVID situation: Education Minister Ranoj Pegu (ANI)
Goa reports 315 new COVID19 cases, 6 deaths and 534 recoveries. The recovery rate in the State is 95.99% and active cases are 3,599. (ANI)
The Union Health Ministry has urged all states and Union Territories to review in detail and ensure prompt steps for the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers while strictly implementing the amended Epidemic Disease Act.
Healthcare workers are the most crucial resources in COVID-19 management on all fronts, said Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal in a letter to additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and health secretaries of all states and Union Territories. | Read More
Uttar Pradesh recorded 53 COVID-19 deaths and 291 fresh cases on Friday, taking the total number of fatalities and positive cases to 22,081 and 17,03,882 respectively. The maximum of nine deaths were reported in Lucknow, followed by seven in Shahjahanpur; five in Ayodhya; four in Lakhimpur Kheri; three in Meerut; two each in Mathura, Azamgarh,Ghazipur, Gonda, Pilibhit and Jalaun; and one each in Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad, Deoria, Mahrajganj, Moradabad, Unnao, Mirzapur, Bahraich, Sant Kabirnagar, Chandauli, Bijnor, Shrawasti and Chitrakoot, a Health Department bulletin said. (PTI)
Uttarakhand reports 222 COVID19 new cases, 4 deaths and 451 recoveries today; the number of active cases in the State is 3,231. Recovery rate at 95.26%.
Uttarakhand government constitutes a 7-member SIT to investigate the alleged fake COVID testing during Kumbh Mela in Haridwar
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Moscow hit a daily record Friday and increased nearly 30 per cent from the day before. Authorities reported 9,056 new cases in Russia's capital, the city's highest daily surge since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. In all of Russia, 17,262 new infections were registered Friday, the highest daily tally since early February. (PTI)
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky says she expects the delta variant will become the dominant coronavirus strain in the United States. The delta variant, first detected in India, has become dominant in Britain. (PTI)
AstraZeneca is claiming victory in a court tussle with the European Union over allegations that the coronavirus vaccine-maker was not producing shots fast enough. AstraZeneca said in a statement Friday that the EU's executive branch, the European Commission, had requested that the drug-maker deliver 120 million vaccine doses in total by the end of June 2021, but that a judge in Brussels ordered delivery of 80.2 million doses by 27 September 2021. (PTI)
Meghalaya on Friday recorded nine fresh COVID-19 fatalities and 650 new cases pushing the death toll to 771 and the tally to 44,382, a senior health department official said. Of the nine deaths, three were reported from East Khasi Hills district and one each from East Jaintia Hills, Ri Bhoi, South West Garo Hills, West Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills district respectively, Health Services, Director, Aman War said. (PTI)
Sikkim's COVID-19 tally rose to 19,058 on Friday as 162 more people tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed the Himalayan state's coronavirus death toll to 290, a health bulletin said. East Sikkim registered the highest number of new cases at 133, followed by 19 in West Sikkim and 10 in South Sikkim, it said. (PTI)
Sikkim's COVID-19 tally rose to 19,058 on Friday as 162 more people tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed the Himalayan state's coronavirus death to 290, a health bulletin said. East Sikkim registered the highest number of new cases at 133, followed by 19 in West Sikkim and 10 in South Sikkim, it said. Sikkim now has 2,900 active cases, while 15,618 people have recovered from the disease and 250 patients have migrated to other states so far. (PTI)
The Covid curfew in Andhra Pradesh has been further extended till June 30 but with a four-hour additional relaxation in timings. Accordingly, curfew will be in force from 6 pm to 6 am daily from June 21. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy announced this at a high-level review meeting on Covid-19 here on Friday. The Covid curfew, first imposed on May 5 this year, has so far been extended in phases till June 20. (PTI)
Mining major Vedanta on Friday said its group firm Hindustan Zinc has set up a 100-bed fully-equipped COVID care field hospital at Rajsamand, in Rajasthan. The company said it firmly supports the Rajasthan government in its efforts to provide priority medical care to COVID-affected people. "In the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, India's leading metals and oil and gas company, Vedanta, through its flagship company Hindustan Zinc and as part of Anil Agarwal Foundation Initiative has inaugurated state-of-the-art fully equipped COVID care field hospital at Dariba, Rajsamand (Rajasthan)," the company said in a statement. (PTI
Studies show after vaccination, chances of hospitalisation reduce by 75-80 pc after contracting Covid; O2 requirement comes down to 8 pc: Govt
Tata Group's healthcare arm on Friday announced a tie-up with Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research for COVID-19 testing in smaller cities and rural areas. Tata MD, the newly formed venture of Tata Group, and the apex scientific research organisation will ramp up the COVID-19 testing capacity across Tier II and III towns as well as rural areas across India, an official statement said. The capacity is being developed to manage any future surge in the COVID-19 testing requirements, it added. (PTI)
Delhi recorded 165 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths on Friday, while its positivity rate stood at 0.22 per cent, data shared by the Health department here showed. These new fatalities have pushed the death toll in the city to 24,900. The national capital had on April 3 recorded 10 deaths due to COVID-19. (PTI)
There will be no lockdown or closure on Sunday. Night curfew will be from 10:30 pm to 5:00 am. Sukhna Lake will remain closed except from 5:00 am to 9:00 am and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sunday: Chandigarh Administration
The Uttarakhand Police has filed a case against a company and two private labs for issuing fake coronavirus test reports during the Kumbh Mela 2021. The FIR has been registered on behalf of Haridwar Chief Medical Officer Shambhu Kumar Jha. According to cops, those who have been named in the FIR are Max Corporate Service Kumbh Mela, Nalwa Laboratories Private Limited of Hisar, and Delhi-based Dr Lalchandani Lab. Read full story here
We've been witnessing an increase in the recovery rate since May 3, which now stands at 96%. We are seeing a downward trend in active cases. Between June 11-June 17, the overall positivity case was less than 5% in 513 districts: Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry - ANI
Studies show that chances of hospitalization are 75-80% less in vaccinated individuals. The possibility of such individuals needing oxygen support is around 8% and the risk of ICU admission is only 6% in vaccinated persons: Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog
"Step out of your home only when required. Following Covid appropriate behaviour should be a part of our life": Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry on India's COVID19 situation - ANI
Aster DM Healthcare on Friday said it has tied up with Dr Reddy's Laboratories to administer the COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V as part of a limited pilot soft launch. The Kochi-based healthcare provider would initially inoculate beneficiaries in (Kochi) Kerala and Kolhapur (Maharashtra) as part of the initiative. "We look forward to building a strong partnership with Dr Reddy's across our network of hospitals to further strengthen our efforts in providing easy access and vaccinating the community," Aster DM Healthcare Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Harish Pillai said in a statement. -- PTI
Kolhapur continues to have the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in Maharashtra as per the weekly figures shared by the state government, while neighbouring Sindhudurg has topped in terms of the oxygen bed occupancy. While Kolhapur's positivity rate is 13.77 per cent, Sindhudurg's oxygen bed occupancy is 55.20 per cent. These figures were shared by the Maharashtra disaster management department. Last week, the positivity rate of Kolhapur was 15.85 per cent and its oxygen bed occupancy was 67.41 per cent - both highest in the state at that time. The total number of oxygen beds occupied across the state is 16,570 and the trend is "declining", the data said. In terms of the positivity rate, Raigad and Ratnagiri follow Kolhapur with 12.77 per cent and 11.90 per cent respectively, it said, adding that Gondia has the lowest positivity rate of 0.27 per cent. Pune's positivity rate is now 9.88 per cent, while that of Nagpur is 1.25 per cent, it said. - PTI
COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna do not harm male fertility, suggests a study which found the levels of sperm in participants remained at healthy levels after they got two doses of the mRNA preventive. The study, published on Thursday in the journal JAMA, recruited 45 healthy male volunteers aged 18 to 50 years scheduled for mRNA COVID-19 vaccination by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The participants were pre-screened to ensure they had no underlying fertility issues. Those with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result within 90 days were excluded. - PTI
In a major boost for Bharat Biotech, the World health Organisation (WHO) has accepted its Expression of Interest (EoI) for Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin and scheduled a pre-submission meeting on June 23. Though the meeting will not be a detailed review on the product, the vaccine maker will have an opportunity to submit a summary on overall quality of the jab, according to the WHO. The information was provided in the WHO website in the Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL-PQ evaluation process document. Bharat Biotech had said last month that it expects approval for its COVID-19 vaccineCovaxinfrom the World Health Organisation for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) during July-September. - PTI
Pakistan on Friday reported the lowest coronavirus positivity rate of the year after 1,043 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours. The authorities conducted 54,647 tests to report 1.9 per cent positivity, the lowest so far in 2021, the Ministry of National Health Services said. The ministry also said that 39 more people died due to COVID-19, taking the country's death toll to 21,913. The total tally of confirmed cases reached 946,227. The inoculation drive was also going ahead and over 12.75 million doses have been administered so far. - PTI