Covid LIVE: Preparing for third wave, says Uddhav as cases hit 2-month low

Coronavirus live updates: India's Covid fatality count remains above the 3000-mark. Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:17 AM

Maha extends curbs till June 15; relaxations subject to positivity rate and oxygen beds

The Maharashtra government on Sunday extended the lockdown-like curbs till June 15 and also announcedthat relaxations will be granted depending upon the Covid-19 positivity rate and availability of oxygen beds.
 

In municipal corporations or regions of districts with less than 10 per cent Covid-19 positivity rate and where the availability of occupied oxygen beds will be less than 40 per cent, all the establishments/shops engaged in essential commodities and services that are presently opened from 7 am to 11 am can now remain open from 7 am to 2 pm, the government said in an order.
 

For districts and corporations having more than a 20 per cent positivity rate and where over 75 per cent of oxygen beds are occupied, the borders of such districts will be closed and no person will be allowed to enter or exit in such districts.
 

The exceptions will be death from a family, medical reason and emergency services or services related to such situations.
 

Instead of implementing the 'Break the chain' order uniformly in the state, the restrictions will now be relaxed or made more stringent till 7 amof June 15 by taking into account the positivity rate in the municipality jurisdiction and areas of districts, and the availability of oxygen beds at various places, the government said.
 

2:16 AM

Odisha extends lockdown till June 17 to curb Covid spread

The Odisha government on Sunday extended the lockdown by 16 more days till June 17 to further stem the spread of coronavirus.
 

The second phase of the lockdown was to end at 5 am on June 1. It will now continue till 5 am of June 17.
 

"The lockdown is primarily aimed at restricting movement of people and not goods. All restrictions and exemptions of the previous lockdowns will be implemented in the third phase, too," Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra said.
 

The weekend shutdown will also continue, he said.
 

"However, for three districts Nuapada, Gajapati and Sundergarh the relaxation period will be from 7 am till 1 pm, instead of 8 am to 11 am, from Monday to Friday, keeping in view the decline in COVID-19 cases in these places. This relaxation may be withdrawn if there is any sign of rise in infections," Mohapatra said.
 

He said all businesses except saloons, parlours and malls are allowed to operate with strict Covid guidelines in the three districts.
 

Restrictions like a cap of 25 people at marriage functions and 20 people at funerals will continue, along with prohibition on mass feasts during such events.
 

2:16 AM

Germany hunts down possible fraud in virus tests

The German government is following up on media reports that coronavirus test centres across the country have overbilled authorities for the number of tests taken.
 

Germans are allowed one free “citizen's test” per week to check if they are negative for coronavirus. They can use the result to be able to dine at outside restaurants, go shopping or visit cultural institutions.
 

In recent weeks, thousands of antigen tests centres have popped up everywhere in cities and towns in empty store fronts, closed dance clubs or community centres.
 

Several media have reported that test centre operators are illegally billing for more tests than they actually take.
 

German Health Minister Jens Spahn tweeted Saturday that “anybody who uses the pandemic to enrich himself should be ashamed.” He noted that prosecutors in the western city of Bochum were investigating some suspected cases of fraud, but said that most providers were doing a professional job.
 

9:14 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra CM says the state govt is preparing for third wave

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra CM says the state govt is preparing for third wave. "Third coronavirus wave may infect children, can't let our guard down," he said.

8:51 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Situation has improved but some districts are still seeing case surge, says Uddhav Thackeray

Situation has improved but, some districts are still seeing case surge, especially in rural areas. The govt will have to curb it, says Uddhav Thackeray

8:39 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Govt targets to buy 200-250 mn vaccine doses by July-end, says report

8:34 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra CM thanks people of the state for observing discipline and following curbs

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra CM thanks people of the state for observing discipline and following curbs

8:31 PM

Watch: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray addresses state on coronavirus situation

8:13 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Punjab sees 2,627 new cases

Punjab reports 2,627 new coronavirus cases, 127 deaths, and 5371 discharges in the past 24 hours, according to the state health department

8:06 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Odisha govt announces extension of lockdown for 16 more days

Odisha govt announces extension of lockdown for 16 more days till June 17 to curb spread of Covid-19: Official

7:55 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tamil Nadu records 28,864 new cases

Tamil Nadu records 28,864 new coronavirus cases, 32,982 discharges, and 493 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department

7:50 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Uttar Pradesh reports 1,908 new cases

Uttar Pradesh reports 1,908 new cases, 6,713 recoveries and 140 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 41,214, according to the state health department

7:17 PM

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Telangana govt extends lockdown for 10 more days, according to CMO

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Telangana govt extends lockdown for 10 more days, according to CMO

7:02 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Rajasthan sees 2,298 fresh cases

Rajasthan reports 2,298 fresh cases, 66 deaths and 9,636 recoveries today; active cases 49,224, according to the state health department.

6:48 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Goa sees 645 new cases

Goa records 645 new cases, 28 deaths and 1,663 recoveries in the last 24 hours; active cases 14,010, according to the state health department

6:32 PM

Second wave hits PSBs collection in May: Bankers

Indian Banks Association (IBA) Chairman Rajkiran Rai on Sunday said that the second wave of Covid-19 has impacted the collections of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in the month of May.

 

"It is difficult to give numbers but can say that we faced difficulty in collections in the Month of May," Rai said during a media briefing.

 

Replying to a question on the impact of the second wave on collection in Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) of Home Loan, Personal loan and payment of credit card bills when compared with the first wave, R Rai said, "We have seen some substantial improvement in the month of April 21 against April 2020, but we are witnessing the impact on the collection of banks in the current month of May." (ANI)

6:02 PM

Monthly pension to be transferred into accounts of children orphaned by Covid from today: MP CM

As the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government completed its seven years in the office on Sunday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the transfer process of monthly pension amount of Rs 5,000 announced by the state government for children who lost their parents in the pandemic will be initiated from today.

 

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also distributed ration kits and masks here today.

 

"So many families were destroyed due to the Covid crisis. There are so many children who have become orphans as their parents died due to Covid-19. They are our children. This state's children. Every month Rs 5,000 pension will be paid to such children. I will start transferring the amount in the bank account of these children from today evening at 4 pm. The food and education requirements of such children will also be taken care of by the state government. How can the niece and nephews suffer in the presence of their uncle?"

 

On May 13, 2021, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister had announced that a pension of Rs 5,000 per month besides free education and ration will be provided to the children who lost their parents to Covid-19. (ANI)

5:37 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Will supply 100 million Covishield doses in June, Serum tells Centre

5:20 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Andhra Pradesh reports 13,400 new cases

Andhra Pradesh reports 13,400 new coronavirus cases, 94 deaths, and 21,133 recoveries in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department

5:03 PM

Govt may lift restrictions on oxygen use for some industries in 2-3 days

The government is likely to lift restrictions on the use of liquid oxygen for some priority industries in the next 2-3 days as demand for medical oxygen has come down, a top government official said on Sunday.

 

To make oxygen available to more people during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19, the Centre on April 25 had barred the use of liquid oxygen for any non-medical purpose and asked manufacturing units to maximise its production and make it available to the government for medical use. Read here

4:52 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Curfew to continue in districts with over 600 active cases, says UP CM

4:32 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi sees 946 new cases

4:09 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: UP govt relaxes partial curfew from June 1

Uttar Pradesh govt announces relaxations in partial curfew in a graded manner from June 1. Economic activities outside the containment zones allowed from 7am to 7pm. 

3:50 PM

Govt announces relief to dependents of workers passing away due to Covid

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced additional benefits for workers through ESIC and EPFO schemes to address the fear and anxiety of workers about well-being of their family members due to increase in incidences of death due to Covid-19 pandemic. Enhanced social security is sought to be provided to the workers without any additional cost to the employer. Read full govt release here

3:45 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Govt issues advisory to private TV channels on Covid awareness

3:29 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra CM to address the state tonight at 8:30 pm

3:27 PM

Puducherry logs 930 new Covid-19 cases

The union territory of Puducherry added 930 fresh coronavirus cases during the last 24 taking the overall caseload to 1,03,826, a senior official of Department of Health and Family Welfare Services said on Sunday.

 

Twenty-one more people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours pushing the toll to 1,518, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services S Mohan Kumar said.

 

Twelve of the deceased were women, he said, adding 15 of the victims hailed from Puducherry, followed by Karaikal (3), Yanam (2) and Mahe (1).

 

The 930 new cases were identified at the end of the examination of 8,437 samples during the last 24 hours, the Health Department Director said. (PTI)

3:16 PM

9,541 new coronavirus cases, 33 deaths in Odisha: Health Department

9,541 new coronavirus cases, 33 deaths in Odisha: Health Department

3:02 PM

US on track for July 4 vaccination target: CDC

The US is on track to reach a target calling for 70 per cent of adults to have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by July 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

New CDC data released on Saturday indicates that more that half of all adults in the US, or more than 51 per cent, are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, marking another milestone in the country's pandemic recovery, reports dpa news agency.

 

Some 167.2 million people 18 years or older have received at least one dose, according to the CDC data.

2:42 PM

Karnataka: Lockdown to continue till June 7

Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday announced that the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in the state will continue till June 7.

 

"We have got general guidelines from GoI regarding how to follow containment measures till June 30. There will be no changes in ongoing restrictions till June 7", said Bommai.

 

The minister also informed that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will call for a meeting of ministers and experts in a few days to take the final call.

 

"The positivity rate and the number of cases in the state have declined, and if every citizen supports, we can control the infection", Bommai added. (ANI)