India administered 1.64 million new doses of COVID-19 vaccines until 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2021. Rajasthan recorded the highest number of vaccinations (0.24 million) followed by Gujarat (0.22 million) and Chhattisgarh (0.17 million).
In a separate development, a worrying trend, Maharashtra’s cases outweighed its recoveries for the second consecutive day, with the State reporting a mere 8,562 recoveries as against a surge of 9,974 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
Gyms, beauty parlours can operate with 50% capacity
The West Bengal government on Monday extended the COVID-related restrictions till July 15, announcing certain relaxations.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said public buses will be allowed to operate in the state with 50 per cent capacity. Government and private offices would also be allowed to function with 50 per cent workforce, she said.
Gymnasiums and beauty parlours can also operate with 50 per cent capacity from 11 am to 6 pm, she added.
Social gatherings such as weddings would be allowed with a maximum of 50 people, Ms Banerjee said, urging people to continue wearing masks and maintaining social distance. The government also allowed vegetable markets to remain open from 6 am to 12 pm.
- PTI
India's vaccination drive keeps gaining momentum
Noting that India's Covid vaccination drive "keeps gaining" momentum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, June 28, 2021, that "vaccines for all, free for all" remains the government's commitment.
Mr. Modi was reacting to a tweet of the Union Health Ministry that put out an infographic saying India has achieved another milestone as the total number of jabs administered here is more than in countries like the US, the UK, Germany, France and Italy.
India administered 323.66 million doses by 8 am on Monday, it said. The prime minister said, "India's vaccination drive keeps gaining momentum! Congrats to all those who are driving this effort. Our commitment remains vaccines for all, free for all."—
Supreme Court pays tribute to 77 lawyers who died due to COVID-19
The Supreme Court on June 28 paid tribute to 77 advocates of the apex court lawyers’ body, who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
At the start of the day’s proceedings, a Bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana expressed condolence on behalf of the Supreme Court judges.
“We are informed by the Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) that 77 advocates who were members of SCBA have lost their lives to COVID-19. We pay our deepest condolences. We will observe two-minute silence for the departed souls,” Chief Justice Ramana said.
Educational institutions in Bihar to reopen after July 6
Educational institutions in Bihar will reopen in a phased manner after July 6, if the COVID-19 pandemic situation kept improving and remained stable. All government and private educational institutions across the State remain closed since April 5.
“If COVID-19 pandemic situation keeps improving like this and remained stable, all government and private educational institutions across the State will be reopened in a phased manner after July 6,” State Education Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhury said.
In first phase, all universities and colleges would be allowed to open with 50% students adhering to COVID-19 protocol. In the second phase, senior secondary and secondary classes would resume and classes from 1 to V would start functioning in third phase, the Minister said.
Dr. Reddy’s announces commercial launch of 2-DG
A woman gets inoculated with a dose of vaccine against COVID-19 at a drive-in vaccination facility in Mumbai.
Drugmaker Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has announced the commercial launch of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), an oral drug for use as an adjunct therapy for hospitalised COVID-19 patients.
The maximum retail price is ₹990 per sachet. It will be made available at a subsidised rate to government institutions, the company said.
India overtakes U.S. in total number of vaccines administered
India has overtaken the US in the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.
While India launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16, and has administered over 32.36 crore doses till date, the US which started its inoculation drive on December 14, 2020 has given over 32.33 crore doses.
"India achieves another milestone in COVID-19 vaccination and overtakes USA in total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered," the Ministry said.
‘Tribal vaccine coverage better than national average’
Vaccination coverage in tribal areas is “better” than the national average, the government claimed in the Supreme Court.
In fact, more walk-in vaccinations are happening in tribal districts as compared to the national average. The gender ratio for people vaccinated was better in the tribal districts, the Health Ministry said.
‘Important for COVID patients to eat small meals at short intervals’
What are the ideal foods to consume during monsoon, a season which brings many diseases in its wake, especially when we are in the midst of a pandemic? National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) Director R. Hemalatha shares her suggestion to keep the body, mind and soul in the right space in this exclusive interview. For excerpts from the interview click below.
Fresh cases surpass recoveries in Maharashtra
In a worrying trend, Maharashtra’s cases outweighed its recoveries for the second consecutive day, with the State reporting a mere 8,562 recoveries as against a surge of 9,974 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, June 27, 2021.
The State’s active case tally has risen again to 1,22,252 with the three districts in the Maharashtra’s ‘sugar heartland’ — Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli — along with rural Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad recording spikes.
Easing of curbs may increase virus transmissibility: expert
Any relaxation in the COVID-19 lockdown may increase the transmissibility of the virus, especially with the emergence of the highly infective mutants and the lack of vaccine uptake, says V. Ramasubramanian, a member of the medical expert committee.
Commenting on the impact of the variants, the senior consultant, infectious diseases department, Apollo Hospitals, told The Hindu on Sunday that though the vaccine efficacy might be compromised against the mutants, it was believed, based on real life evidence, that two doses of Covishield would give a protection of 60% against the Delta variants.
BBMP targeting 70% vaccination coverage by July-end
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set an ambitious target of vaccinating at least 70% of the adult population by the end of July. In a few days, 50% of the adult population in the city will be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of low-key Kempe Gowda Jayanti celebrations at the BBMP head office here on Sunday, civic chief Gaurav Gupta said in preparing for the third wave, the BBMP was focusing primarily on improving vaccination coverage.
(With inputs from our Correspondents and agencies)