Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Over 13 Cr Jabs Administered in July, to Accelerate in Aug, Says Health Min

More Vaccine-resistant, Highly Transmissible: FAQs on Epsilon Covid Variant Detected in Pakistan

Reportedly more resistant to vaccines, the Epsilon strain of Covid-19 has now been detected close to home; five cases were registered in Pakistan today, as the country witnesses surge of infections.

Covid-19: For 16th Straight Day, Less Than 1,000 People Fined for Not Wearing Mask in Delhi

The Delhi Police issued fewer than 1,000 challans to people for not wearing a face mask for the sixteenth consecutive day on Saturday, officials said.

'Number of Vaccines to be Administered Will Accelerate this Month': Health Minister | "More than 13 crore vaccines have been administered in the country in July. The number is going to accelerate this month," tweets Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Delhi Zoo Reopens After Being Temporarily Shut During Second Covid Wave

The Delhi zoo was reopened to the public on Sunday, three and a half months after it was temporarily shut due to a surge in coronavirus cases during the second wave.

Punjab to Reopen Schools for all Classes from August 2 | The Punjab government allowed the reopening of schools for all classes from August 2 as it further relaxed restrictions in view of declining COVID-19 cases. The state government had allowed the reopening of schools for classes 10 to 12 from July 26. “All schools are allowed to open for all classes from August 2. They shall follow proper protocols to ensure COVID-19-appropriate behaviour,” according to fresh guidelines.

READ | India, UK to Conduct Clinical Trials of Ashwagandha for Promoting Recovery from Covid-19

vid-29The AYUSH Ministry has collaborated with UK's London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to conduct a study on Ashwagandha for promoting recovery from COVID-19.

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 47 crore with 60,15,842 doses being given in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. More than three crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories and private hospitals to be administered.

Jharkhand reported 32 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which pushed the tally to 3,47,137, a health department bulletin said. The COVID-19 death toll rose to 5,128 in the state with two fresh fatalities due to the contagion reported from East Singhbhum and Bokaro, it said on Saturday.

Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja Makes a Comeback, Ganeshotsav to be Held With Covid Curbs | Seated on a grand throne in South Mumbai market for the last 93 years, Lord Ganesha — popularly known as Lalbaugcha Raja or King of Lalbaug — will witness celebration of Ganesh Utsav in a traditional manner this year adhering to all Covid-19 related guidelines &restrictions. Last year, a blood and plasma donation camp was organised in place of Ganesh Mahotsav celebrations due to rising number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai.

Travellers from Kerala, Maha Must Carry Negative RT-PCR: K'taka Govt | In view of rising Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra and Kerala, Karnataka government has made negative RT-PCR test, not older than 72 hours, mandatory for all incoming travelers. Even those who have been fully vaccinated need to carry the negative certificate on arrival in Karnataka by road, rail or air. Those who do not carry a negative RT-PCR certificate will not be allowed to board flights and railway officials and bus conductors would be responsible for ensuring passengers carry negative RT-PCR certificate in their mode of transport.

Pakistan Reports Spike in New Covid-19 Cases | Pakistan reported 5,026 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, its highest daily-case count in three months. In an official update, the Ministry of National Health Services said 62 people died due to the virus in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 death toll to 23,422.

10 Fresh COVID-19 Cases Recorded in Ladakh | Ladakh recorded 10 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 20,338 while the active cases in the union territory stood at 56, officials said on Sunday. Ladakh has registered 207 Covid-related deaths -- 149 in Leh and 58 in Kargil -- since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. A total of 20,075 patients have recovered till date. 

READ | Worst-Hit Districts in Second Wave of Covid-19 May be Partially Spared in Third Wave, Says ICMR: Report

According to the latest ICMR study, much to the respite of places like Delhi and Mumbai, districts that were severely impacted by the second wave may not see an equally intense third wave.

Delhi Zoo Reopens After Second Covid Wave | The Delhi zoo was reopened to the public on Sunday, three and a half months after it was temporarily shut due to a surge in coronavirus cases during the second wave. The facility had earlier remained closed for over a year due to the pandemic and bird flu and was reopened on April 1.

More than 49.49 Crore vaccine doses have been provided to States and UTs, centre said. More than 3 Crore balance and unutilized doses are still available with States, UTs and private hospitals to be administered.

India reports 41,831 new cases, 541 deaths and 39,258 recoveries in the last 24 hours; Recovery Rate currently at 97.36%.

Streets remain deserted during the complete lockdown in Kerala's Kochi this weekend amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Kerala Under Complete Weekend Lockdown | Complete lockdown imposed in Kerala this weekend due to rising Covid-19 cases in the state. Only shops selling essential commodities allowed to remain open.

Assam Logs 989 New Covid Cases, 19 More Deaths | Assam on Saturday reported 19 more COVID-19 deaths, which took the toll to 5,260, according to a bulletin issued by the National Health Mission. The coronavirus caseload in the northeastern state mounted 5,66,198 with 989 new cases, the lowest since May, it said. Assam now has 11,975 active cases. At least 1,480 people were cured of the disease during the day, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,47,616, it said.

READ | Haryana Govt Extends Covid-induced Lockdown Till August 9

The Haryana government on Saturday extended the coronavirus-induced lockdown till August 9 in the state, as per an official order issued under provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

New Covid-19 Cases Rise for Third Day in Tamil Nadu | New Covid-19 infections continued to rise for the third day in a row in Tamil Nadu with 1,986 people testing positive, pushing the overall tally to 25,59,597, while 26 deaths took the toll to 34,076. Recoveries outnumbered new infections with 2,178 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 25,04,805, leaving 20,716 active infections, a health department bulletin said. 

Karnataka Police check negative RT-PCR certificates of people entering Kalburagi from Maharashtra. "Those who don't have the certificate are being sent back. Testing facility is available at checkpoints for daily commuters,"Dileesh Sasi, CEO, Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat told ANI.

Odisha: What's Open, What's Closed | All weekly and monthly markets, shopping malls and parks are allowed to reopen across the state from Sunday but the restrictions on social and political gatherings are not withdrawn. Offices, both government and private, are also permitted to function with half the manpower. The state government asked the district administrations to decide on the reopening of religious places, except Shree Jagannath temple in Puri and Shree Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar.

Covid Curbs Remain in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri | "The new guidelines will be enforced for a month till 6 am on September 1," he said. The SRC also said the unlock measures will not be implemented in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri where the pandemic situation is worrisome. The weekend shutdown will remain in force in the three cities. 

Odisha Relaxes Covid Curbs; Malls, Cinema Halls to Reopen from Today | With an improvement in the COVID-19 situation, the Odisha government on Saturday announced reopening of shopping malls, parks and cinema halls among several relaxations in all the districts, barring three cities where coronavirus caseload is relatively high. The administration granted the relaxations for a month starting from 6 am on Sunday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said, adding that the existing 10-hour night curfew from 8 pm will be in place in all the districts.