India has seen a slight uptick in the number of active Covid cases in the country. (PTI Photo)Coronavirus Case and Fatality Rate in India, Coronavirus Third Wave Highlights: In the next four months, the world will complete 2 years of the painful existence of the novel coronavirus. It was in 2019 when on December 31st, China officially communicated to the World Health Organization about the emergence of a new virus. Since then, nothing has been the same again. Major economies are experiencing a new wave of Covid-19 infections. From Russia to Australia, from Japan to the US, the coronavirus is still raging and plundering the already fragile healthcare systems. What has changed in 2021 is the face of the virus. Now, the new variant, which was first detected in India is raging in various parts around the globe. Health experts have warned that Delta is just one of the many variants of the ever-changing novel coronavirus. Unlike measles, the transmission of the coronavirus can’t be completely stopped.
It is against the backdrop of such a volatile situation that the coronavirus vaccination holds the key to our safer future. Many nations that had bought stocks of vaccines in 2020 managed a quick rollout. However, things have quickly turned tense with inoculation drive hitting a roadblock. While the US is undergoing a new Delta wave, New Zealand has said that it would be shutting down its borders again and may look at gradual reopening in 2022.
Back home, the pace of daily vaccination has picked up. In a new trend, rural areas have seen a higher number of daily Covid jabs in comparison with the cities.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest news, views, studies and lockdown/unlock updates from India and around the world:
Highlights
Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded 135 fresh coronavirus cases that took its infection tally to 3,23,325, officials said.
No new deaths were reported in the union territory. The death toll stands at 4,395, they said. Of the new cases, 37 were reported from the Jammu division and 98 from the Kashmir division of the union territory, the officials said.
Srinagar district recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 35, followed by 11 in Bandipora. The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 1,303 in Jammu and Kashmir. So far, 3,17,627 patients have recovered from the disease, the officials said.
There are 42 mucormycosis (black fungus) cases in the union territory. One fresh case has been reported since last evening, they said. (PTI)
Armed Forces Medical Service was first to set up quarantine centres for Indians returning from COVID affected countries. At the time when Galwan Valley was in news, Forces extended a helping hand to civilians & showed solidarity in the govt's fight against Covid-19: Rajnath Singh (ANI)
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 54 crore, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. Nearly 52 lakh doses were administered on Saturday, according to a provisional report till 7 pm.
The ministry said 27,37,130 first doses and 6,07,591 second doses were administered to beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group on Saturday.
Cumulatively, 19,45,18,646 people in the 18-44 age group across all states and union territories have received their first dose and 1,51,14,678 have received their second dose since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive, it said.
Five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh -- have administered more than 1 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine to people in the 18-44 age group, according to the ministry.
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have administered the first dose to more than 10 lakh beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group.
As many as 51,83,396 vaccine doses were administered on Saturday, the 211th day of the vaccination drive, the ministry said. | Read More
Assam reports 755 new COVID-19 cases, 969 recoveries and 11 deaths today.
Active cases: 8,429Total cases: 5,79,488Death toll: 5,482 (ANI)
9,36,000 people vaccinated till 7pm in the state today, the highest number of vaccinations in a single day. Earlier on July 3, the state had set a record by vaccinating 8,11,000 people in a day: Maharashtra Health Department (ANI)
Manipur reports 439 new COVID-19 cases, 573 recoveries and 9 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total cases: 1,07,668 Total recoveries: 99,440Death toll: 1700
Active cases: 6528 (ANI)
Delhi records 50 fresh COVID-19 cases, one more death; positivity rate 0.07 per cent: Authorities (PTI)
AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said here on Saturday that the country might not see a third wave of coronavirus disease but it largely depended on people following Covid Appropriate Behaviour.
Talking to reporters at the Gitam Institute, where he received the Foundation Day Award in recognition of his services, Guleria noted that the only unpredictable part was how the virus behaved.
"But I don't think that we will see a third wave which will be as bad as the second wave," he observed. | Read More
COVID19 | Maharashtra reports 5,787 new cases, 134 deaths and 5,352 recoveries today; active cases 63,262 (ANI)
COVID guidelines have been issued by the Collectors of North & South Goa. We're giving full support in the enforcement of these guidelines at the borders & all points of influx. We've deployed manpower at railway stations, bus stands & airport: Shobhit Saxena, SP, North Goa (ANI)
Goa on Saturday reported 88 new coronavirus positive cases and 120 recoveries, a health department official said. The death toll remained unchanged at 3,168 with no fresh COVID-19 fatality being reported during the day.With the new additions, the number of cases in Goa rose to 1,72,431 and recoveries to 1,68,338, leaving the state with 925 active cases, the official said. With 5,416 new tests, the total number of samples tested for coronavirus so far in Goa has gone up to 11,23,864, he added.Goa's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 1,72,431, new cases 88, death toll 3,168, discharged 1,68,338, active cases 925, samples tested till date 11,23,864. (PTI)
I speak for the whole nation when I say that I share the grief of all the affected families with the same intensity: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day
Yet, due to the new variants and other unexpected factors, we suffered from a terrible second wave. I am deeply sad that many lives could not be saved & many more suffered immensely in this phase of an unprecedented crisis: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day
Our scientists had succeeded in developing vaccines in a very short time. Therefore, at the beginning of this year, there was every reason to be hopeful as we launched the largest vaccination exercise in history: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day
Our scientists had succeeded in developing vaccines in a very short time. Therefore, at the beginning of this year, there was every reason to be hopeful as we launched the largest vaccination exercise in history: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day
Intensity of the pandemic has come down, but COVID hasn't yet gone away. We're yet to come out of devastating effects of its recurrence this year. Last year, with exceptional efforts from all, we had succeeded in bringing the spread of infections under control: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day
Second wave of COVID-19 pandemic brought our public healthcare infrastructure under stress: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day
I convey my profound appreciation for all covid warriors. Many of them succumbed to Covid-19. I pay homage to them: President Kovind on Independence Day eve
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I urge all eligible citizens who are yet to get vaccinated to do so at the earliest and also inspire others: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day
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Country yet to come out of devastating effects of coronavirus recurrence this year: President Ram Nath Kovind in address to the nation on eve of Independence Day (PTI)
Tamil Nadu reports 1,916 fresh COVID cases, 1,866 discharges, and 34 deaths today
Active cases: 20,427Total discharges: 25,31,962Death toll: 34,496 (ANI)
The Uttar Pradesh government has asked district authorities to not allow any religious processions to be taken out on the occasion of Muharram in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and security concerns.
'Tazias' will not be installed publicly. However, they can be set up at homes, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said in directions issued to district magistrates, senior superintendents of police and other senior officials. "Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, no permission should be granted to take out any processions/'Tazias'," the order said.
It also directed officials to talk to religious leaders to ensure strict compliance of the order. Adequate police force will be deployed in sensitive areas and containment zones, it added. (PTI)
We have decided to open schools for classes 9th to 12th in the districts where the positivity rate is less than 2%. Mandatory for all parents & school staff to be vaccinated for entry into the school premises: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai (ANI)
Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav have completed their quarantine period and have joined the team at Lord's: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) (ANI)
Kerala reports 19,451 fresh COVID cases, 19,104 recoveries, and 105 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Active cases: 1,80,240 Death toll: 18,499 (ANI)
Active Covid-19 cases fell by 556 to 18,210 in Andhra Pradesh as 2,075 patients got cured in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Saturday. The state registered 1,535 fresh cases and 16 deaths in a day, the latest bulletin said.
The cumulative positives inched up to 19,92,191, recoveries to 19,60,350 and toll 13,631, it said. | Read More
Karnataka reports 1,632 fresh cases, 25 deaths and 1,612 recoveries today; active cases 22,698: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar (ANI)
Iran says it will impose a six-day-long ‘general lockdown’ in cities across the country after being hit by what it describes as its fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, state media reported Saturday. The lockdown includes all bazaars, markets and public offices, as well as movie theaters, gyms and restaurants in all Iranian cities. The lockdown will begin on Monday and will last through Saturday. The national coronavirus taskforce, which issued the decision, also ordered a travel ban between all Iranian cities from Sunday to Friday. Also on Saturday, Iran reported 466 deaths and 29,700 new cases of coronavirus patients in a single day. That brought the total pandemic death toll to 97,208, and total confirmed cases to 4,389,085. Last week, Iran hit a record in both its single-day death toll and confirmed new cases of COVID-19, with 42,541 new coronavirus cases and a daily death toll of 588. - AP
The UK on Saturday reduced the cost of COVID-19 tests for international travellers from Amber list countries like India from 88 pounds to 68 pounds (USD 122 to USD 94), after many representations over the high charges of the mandatory testing. Passengers returning from Green list countries or Amber list destinations like India, if they are fully vaccinated, will now pay 20 pounds (USD 27) less per Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. The test must be taken on or before day two after the traveller arrives in England. People who have not had both doses of the coronavirus vaccine and are returning from Amber list countries like India will also see the price of the two tests they need fall from 170 pounds to 136 pounds (USD 235 to USD 188). The tests must be taken on days two and eight of their arrival from abroad. - PTI
Mizoram's COVID graph and infection rate are showing a declining trend in the last few days as the northeastern state registered one of its lowest single-day positivity rate of 3.48 per cent on Saturday, a senior health official said. The state's COVID-19 tally rose to 47,995 as 524 more people, including 103 children and 4 BSF personnel, tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed its coronavirus death toll to 177, he said. The coronavirus curve and the infection rate per 1,000 samples have shown a downward trend in the last few days, official spokesperson on COVID-19, Dr Pachuau Lalmlasawma said. - PTI
Researchers from IIT Madras, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai and London's Queen Mary University have joined hands to develop a revolutionary air sanitisation system aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus and TB bacterium. The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAENG), UK will be the chief sponsor for the project and air sanitisation solution provider Magneto CleanTech will be the sole industry partner. According to officials from the top educational institutions, the aim of this joint research is to develop a robust low-cost bio-aerosol protection system to contain airborne diseases in indoor environments for the Indian subcontinent, a geography known for its high population and heavy urban pollution. - PTI
Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra down with high fever, tests negative for COVID-19 - ANI
No new case of COVID19 reported in Mumbai's Dharavi today; active cases in the area stand at 11, says Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) - ANI
Active Covid-19 cases fell by 556 to 18,210 in Andhra Pradesh as 2,075 patients got cured in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Saturday. The state registered 1,535 fresh cases and 16 deaths in a day, the latest bulletin said. The cumulative positives inched up to 19,92,191, recoveries to 19,60,350 and toll 13,631, it said. East Godavari reported 299, Chittoor 237, SPS Nellore 211, West Godavari 177, Guntur 173, Krishna 109 and Prakasam 107 new cases in 24 hours. The remaining six districts added less than 70 new cases each, with Kurnool logging just eight. Chittoor, Krishna and SPS Nellore reported three more Covid-19 deaths, East and West Godavari two each, Guntur, Kadapa and Visakhapatnam one each in a day. - PTI
Iran is to impose a one-week lockdown and a ban on road travel amid a fifth COVID-19 surge in the worst-hit country in the Middle East, state television reported on Saturday.All non-essential businesses and offices will have to close under the nationwide lockdown from Monday to Aug. 21, in an effort to curb the highly contagious Delta variant.Authorities are also imposing a driving ban from Sunday until Aug. 27, except for essential vehicles."All roads will be closed except for trucks carrying food and essential goods and ambulances. This traffic ban will be very strictly imposed," Alireza Raisi, spokesman for the national coronavirus task force, told the television.Authorities will only allow open-air gatherings for ongoing Shi'ite Muslim mourning ceremonies, Raisi said. – Reuters
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday ordered an increase in number of Covid tests to at least 60,000 per day. His statement comes amid projections that cases will double in about 64 days at the current growth rate. At present, the Covid tests are in the range of 45,000 to 49,000 per day. Reviewing the state's preparation for an imminent third wave, Singh directed the health department to undertake priority sentinel testing for patients at government and private hospitals, travellers at entry points, government offices, industries and labour colonies etc. Based on this, districts should formulate strategies for micro-containment zones, he said in a statement. - PTI
Australia's most populous state reported a daily record 466 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections on Saturday and increased fines for breaches of pandemic restrictions. The previous record tally in New South Wales, home to Sydney, was 390 reported on Friday. Four people had died overnight, bringing the death toll in New South Wales from an outbreak of the delta variant first detected in Sydney in mid-June to 42. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said fines for breaking pandemic rules such as breaching quarantine orders had been increased from 1,000 Australian dollars to AU$5,000. Sydney residents will be restricted to within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of home, half the distance they were previously allowed. The government later announced that all of New South Wales would be locked down from 5 p.m. until Aug. 22. - AP
Russia reported a new record of 819 daily COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, bringing the total during the pandemic to 169,683.The Russian coronavirus task force also said it had confirmed 22,144 new infections in the past 24 hours, taking the national tally of cases to 6,579,212.Daily cases in Russia decreased after a peak in July, which authorities blamed on the infectious Delta variant and a slow vaccination rate. – Reuters
Egypt received a new batch of about 1.7 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses through the global COVAX initiative, the health ministry said late on Friday.The new shipment, the third of its kind, brings the total number of AstraZeneca shots received by Egypt via COVAX to about 4.3 million doses.COVAX was established by the Geneva-based GAVI vaccine alliance and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the equitable distribution of vaccines.Egypt has also received shipments of the Sputnik, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Johnson & Johnson shots. It also recently began locally producing Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccines.The government said in June it aims to vaccinate 40% of the 100 million population by the end of this year. – Reuters
The Philippine health ministry on Saturday recorded 14,249 new coronavirus cases, the new second-largest daily increase in infections.In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed infections in the Philippines have increased to 1.727 million, while deaths have reached 30,070, after reporting 233 additional casualties.Active cases, at 98,847, was at a near four-month high, government data showed. – Reuters