Coronavirus: India reports 51,667 new cases, 1,329 deaths in last 24 hours
The WHO said that groups most vulnerable to Covid-19 infection, such as the elderly, may need annual vaccine boosters for protection against variants.
India reported 51,667 new coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the total number of infections since the outbreak of the pandemic in January 2020 to 3,01,34,445. The country’s toll rose by 1,329 to 3,93,310. India’s tally of active cases stood at 6,12,868, while the number of recoveries reached 2,91,28,267.
Groups most vulnerable to Covid-19 infection, such as the elderly, may need annual vaccine boosters for protection against variants, the World Health Organization said.
Globally, the coronavirus disease has infected over 17.99 crore people and killed more than 38.98 lakh since the pandemic broke out in December 2019, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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Live updates
10.45 am: The Gujarat government has made it mandatory for managers, owners and staff of business/professional establishments to be vaccinated against the coronavirus by June 30, reports The Indian Express. This applies to 18 cities and towns are under night curfew. The deadline for the rest of the state is July 10.
10.40 am: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hints that the United Kingdom is close to allowing fully vaccinated people to travel abroad without restrictions, reports Reuters.
“I think that the whole double jab process is offering the real prospect of opening up to travel, and we’ll be setting out a bit more later on,” Johnson tells reporters.
10.33 am: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath accuses “some people” of spreading misinformation during the second wave of pandemic in the state, reports The Indian Express. “People even went to the extent of saying that Covid-19 was out of control in Uttar Pradesh,” he adds.
Adityanath’s government faced severe criticism for failing to tackle the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic effectively. Images of bodies of Covid patients floating in rivers or buried in sand along riverbeds had triggered outrage. Several BJP ministers and MLAs have also voiced grievances against their own government.
10.30 am: India says Covid-19 vaccine exports would depend on the country’s domestic needs, reports PTI.
“For the moment our priority remains on utilising made-in-India vaccines for our own vaccination programme which as you know has received a boost with the new phase of vaccination that was launched earlier this week on June 21,” says Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
9.24 am: India reports 51,667 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections since the outbreak of the pandemic in January 2020 to 3,01,34,445. The country’s toll rises by 1,329 to 3,93,310.
India’s tally of active cases stands at 6,12,868, while the number of recoveries reach 2,91,28,267.
9.21 am: The Gujarat government orders businesses in cities under curfew to vaccinate their employees by June 30 or face shutdowns, The Indian Express reports. The deadline for businesses in the rest of the state is July 10.
9.18 am: The Centre says its priority is to utilise made-in-India vaccines for the country’s inoculation drive, PTI reports.
9.14 am: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro claims his government never paid for or received doses of Bharat Biotech’s vaccine, amid allegations of irregularities in the deal, Reuters reports.
9.10 am: Groups most vulnerable to Covid-19 infection, such as the elderly, will need annual vaccine boosters for protection against variants, the World Health Organization estimates, according to Reuters.
8.45 am: Globally, the coronavirus disease has infected over 17.99 crore people and killed more than 38.98 lakh since the pandemic broke out in December 2019, according to Johns Hopkins University.
8.40 am: Maharashtra on Thursday recorded a grim milestone as Covid-19 cases tally in the state crossed the 60-lakh mark. The caseload stood at 60,07,431 after the state registered 9,844 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. With 197 deaths, the toll climbed to 1,19,859.