Covid LIVE: Tamil Nadu sees 33,361 new cases in a day; 1,266 in Mumbai

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 211,298 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 27,369,093. Death toll stands at 315,235. Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:59 AM

Assam records 5,704 new Covid-19 cases, 83 more fatalities

Assams Covid-19 caseload on Thursday surged to 3,92,574 after 5,704 more people tested positive for the infection, while 83 fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 3,088, the National Health Mission bulletin said.
 

The number of active cases has also risen to 53,721.
 

Kamrup (Metro) reported the highest of 17 deaths, followed by eight each in Barpeta, Cachar and Tinsukia, seven in Dibrugarh, five in Jorhat, four in Kamrup Rural and three each in Nagaon and Udalguri.
 

The current death rate is 0.79 percent and the number of Covid-19 patients dying due to comorbidities is 1,347.
 

Kamrup (Metro) reported the maximum number of 569 cases, followed by Dibrugarh at 528, Cachar at 448, and Nagaon at 393.
 

Assams daily positivity rate stands at 4.78 per cent while 10,622,979 samples have been tested for Covid-19 so far, including 1,19,441 on Thursday.
 

At least 4,784 patients have recovered during the day, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,34,418.
 

At present the recovery rate is 85.19 per cent.
 

As many as 39,79,828 doses of ant-coronavirus vaccine have been administered.
 

While 31,60,724 have received the first dose of the jab, 8,19,104 have received both the doses.
 

2:58 AM

Jharkhand Covid-19 update

2:58 AM

Covid-19 restrictions extended in Bengal till June 15: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday extended the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions till June 15, saying that the curbs have helped ease the pandemic situation.
 

The West Bengal government had announced the existing restrictions for 15 days from May 16 following a huge surge in the number of coronavirus cases.
 

The announcement for extension of the curbs came three days before they were scheduled to come to an end.
 

"The Covid-19 restrictions in the state will continue till June 15. This is not a lockdown or a curfew. We will strictly follow the restrictions.
 

"It's a relief to see that the ongoing restrictions have helped in easing the situation a little," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat 'Nabanna'.
 

Essential services will continue operating following protocols, the chief minister said adding that all the ongoing restrictions would continue till June 15.
 

"We will see that the state's economy is not disturbed," Banerjee said.

11:24 PM

Goa Covid-19 update

10:20 PM

India proposes BRICS consortium to address post-Covid challenges

India has proposed a BRICS consortium to address post-Covid challenges and tackling non-communicable diseases as a flagship programme during a meeting of scientists, officials and academicians from the countries in the bloc, the Department of Science and Technology said Thursday.
 

The members of the working group on Biotechnology and Biomedicine suggested future directions of research collaboration among BRICS countries in the areas such as antimicrobial resistance, long post-Covid challenges, complications including molecular pathogenesis of coronavirus, artificial intelligence, digital health medicine, non-communicable diseases and cancer among others.
 

The five BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- shared their experiences in fighting Covid-19 and their pandemic preparedness.
 

They presented their current work, their interests in joint funding areas, including opportunities for collaboration with other countries in the grouping, their strengths, milestones and achievements in the field of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, the DST said.
 

9:07 PM

Govt dismisses NYT report on Covid toll, terms it completely baseless

The government on Thursday dismissed as "completely baseless" a recent New York Times report on Covid-19 toll in India, saying it is not backed by any evidence.

 

At a press conference, the Union health ministry said the report is absolutely false and based on "distorted estimates".

 

The report titled "Just how big could India's true Covid toll be" estimated 600,000 deaths due to the infection in the country in a conservative scenario, 1.6 million estimated deaths in a more likely scenario and 4.2 million estimated deaths in a worse scenario. READ MORE...

8:56 PM

Andhra Pradesh has 579 Black fungus cases

Black Fungus (also known as Mucormycosis) cases are rising steadily in Andhra Pradesh with the state reporting 579 as of Thursday. From 32 on May 21, the number of Black Fungus cases increased to 252 on May 25. But no related fatalities were reported in the state so far, according to Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal.

 

"We are monitoring the cases and have also asked the private hospitals to give us data on Black Fungus cases. Accordingly, so far 579 cases of mucormycosis have been reported," the official told a press conference.

 

He said the Centre so far sent 3,000 doses of Liposomal Amphotericin-B injections for treating the Black Fungus-infected patients and another 1,800 doses were received on Thursday.

8:54 PM

Madhya Pradesh records 1,977 new Covid-19 cases, 70 deaths

Madhya Pradesh records 1,977 new Covid-19 cases, 70 deaths

8:54 PM

Govt expects speedy launch of Russia's single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine in India: PTI

8:37 PM

Caseload crosses 25 lakh-mark in Karnataka, 24,214 new cases in a day

The number of COVID-19 infections in Karnataka on Thursday crossed the 25 lakh mark, as the state recorded 24,214 new cases and 476 fatalities, the health department said. The day also saw 31,459 discharges, continuing to outnumber the fresh cases.

 

Out of the new cases, 5,949 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 6,643 discharges and 273 deaths.

 

As of May 27 evening, cumulatively 25,23,998 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 27,405 deaths and 20,94,369 discharges, the Health department said in its bulletin. Active cases stood at 4,02,203.

8:33 PM

Tamil Nadu reports 33,361 new positive cases and 474 new deaths in last 24 hours

8:23 PM

MHA orders continuation of Covid guidelines till June-end; asks states to focus on local curb strategy

The Centre on Thursday directed states and union territories to continue the ongoing COVID-19 guidelines till June 30 and asked them to go for intensive and local containment measures in districts with a high number of cases to check the spread of the deadly disease.

 

In a fresh order, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said strict implementation of containment and other measures has led to a declining trend in the number of new and active cases, across states and union territories, barring some areas in the southern and northeastern regions.

 

"I would like to highlight that in spite of the declining trend, the number of active cases presently is still very high. It is, therefore, important that containment measures may continue to be implemented strictly.

8:16 PM

Mumbai logs 1,266 new Covid-19 cases, 36 deaths

Mumbai reported 1,266 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and 36 fatalities, which pushed its overall count to 7,02,532 and death toll to 14,778, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. This is for the second consecutive day that the number of one-day COVID-19 fatalities remained below 40.

 

Mumbai's daily COVID-19 case count dipped by around 100 as compared to Wednesday, while the number of deaths went up by two.

 

The financial capital of the county had reported the highest ever 11,163 COVID-19 cases on April 4, while it had witnessed the highest number of 90 deaths on May 1, during the second wave.

8:07 PM

Telangana logs 3,614 fresh COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths

Telangana on Thursday reported 3,614 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to over 5.67 lakh, while the toll stood at 3207 with 18 more casualties, a government bulletin said.

 

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 504, followed by Nalgonda (229) and Khammam (228), the bulletin said.

 

The state has38,267 active cases and over 90,000 samples were tested. The total number of cumulative cases in the state stood at5,67,517 while with3,961being cured, the total recoveries were at 526,043.

7:59 PM

West Bengal reports 13,046 new Covid cases, 19,121 discharges, and 148 deaths in the last 24 hours

West Bengal reports 13,046 new Covid cases, 19,121 discharges, and 148 deaths in the last 24 hours 

7:59 PM

Maharashtra Covid-19 curbs to continue, graded easing later: CM Uddhav

The Maharashtra government will extend the coronavirus-enforced lockdown-like curbs in the state after June 1 and relax them later in a phased manner, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday.

 

Thackeray issued necessary directives in this regard to the state administration during a cabinet meeting, said a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) here.

 

Currently, a wide range of restrictions are in force till June 1 to stem the spread of coronavirus.

7:51 PM

MHA orders states to ensure compliance to containment measures to remain in force up to June 30

7:48 PM

Maharashtra lockdown to extend beyond June 1, then eased in phases

Lockdown in Maharashtra will be extended beyond June 1 and subsequently relaxed in phases, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday.

 

The issue of relaxing restrictions in the state was discussed in the cabinet meeting. While there has been pressure from various trade bodies for relaxation, government has decided to extend the lockdown beyond June 1.

 

While Covid-19 cases are declining in the state as a whole, they are rising rapidly in 10-15 districts. The spread Mucormycosis is also of concern. " We still need to exercise caution. Instructions have been issued to extend the lockdown beyond June 1 and then subsequently relax restrictions in phases, " Thackeray tweeted. READ ON...

7:39 PM

Additional 80,000 vials of Amphotericin-B allocated to States/UTs and Central Institutions: Govt

7:36 PM

Each family of 67 journalists who died of Covid to get Rs 5 lakh under Journalist Welfare Scheme

Each family of 67 journalists who died of Covid-19 to get Rs 5 lakh under Journalist Welfare Scheme of I&B Ministry

7:36 PM

Karnataka reports 24,214 new Covid cases, 476 deaths and 31,459 dishcarges today

Karnataka reports 24,214 new Covid cases, 476 deaths and 31,459 dishcarges today; active cases rise to 4,02,203

7:27 PM

Rs 3 lakh will be given to children who lost their parents due to Covid-19: Kerala CM

One-time financial help of Rs 3 lakh will be given to the children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19. Rs 2000 per month will be given to these children till the 18 years of age. The state government will bear the cost of their education till degree-level: Kerala CM

7:26 PM

Kerala clocks 24,166 new cases, 30,539 recoveries, 181 deaths

Kerala recorded 24,166 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking the caseload to 24,18,529, while 181 deaths pushed the toll to 8,063. Recoveries outnumbered new cases with 30,539 people under treatment testing negative for the virus, taking the total recoveries to 21,98,135. Active cases stood at 2,41,966.

 

As many as 1,35,232 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the test positivity rate to 17.87 per cent.

 

Malappuram recorded the highest number of 4,212 cases, followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 3,210 and Ernakulam 2,779, a health department release said. Of the new cases, 89 were health workers, 177 from outside the state and 22,193 were infected through contacts, it said. A total of 8,76,584 people are under observation in various districts, including 40,164 in various hospitals.

7:13 PM

Kin of 130 Karnataka teachers who died of Covid get job on compassionate grounds

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar on Thursday handed over compassionate appointment orders to relatives of teachers who died due to Coronavirus and other diseases during their service.

 

Handing over copies of the appointment order to 130 people, Kumar said their death has caused immense damage to the education department.

7:05 PM

Black fungus: Patients have right to life, can't be given preference over others, says HC

The Delhi High Court Thursday said every patient has a right to life and to live with dignity but it cannot give privilege to anyone over other patients for providing medicine to treat black fungus, primarily affecting those recovered or recovering from COVID-19.

 

The court said it was sure that a patient's granddaughter, who was seeking direction to the government and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to provide sufficient number of vials of Amphotericin B to him, was not seeking any preferential treatment over other patients.

 

Since the petitioner has now been included in the system set up in place for allocation of medicine for treatment of black fungus, we are hopeful that further allocation will be made while making it for other patients at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital as well, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said.

7:01 PM

Sikkim reports highest single-day spike of 408 Covid-19 cases: Officials

Sikkim reports highest single-day spike of 408 Covid-19 cases: Officials

7:00 PM

Additional 80,000 vials of Amphotericin-B allocated to States/UTs: D V Sadananda Gowda

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D V Sadananda Gowda announced that the additional 80,000 vials of Amphotericin-B, used in the treatment for Mucormycosis have been allocated to all the States/UTs and Central Institutions today. Earlier, 29,250 vials of Amphotericin- B drug, used in treatment of Mucormycosis, have been allocated to all the States/UTs on 26th May, 2021.

 

6:48 PM

Rajasthan reports 3,454 new cases, 85 deaths and 10,396 recoveries today

6:35 PM

No adverse effect if second dose of different Covid-19 vaccine taken, but it needs scrutiny: Govt

Any significant adverse effect is unlikely if the second dose of a different COVID-19 vaccine is administered, but reaching a firm opinion on this will need more scrutiny and understanding, the Centre said on Thursday. It, however, clarified that both doses administered to an individual should be of the same vaccine as per the existing protocol.

 

The clarification comes following reports that health workers in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar district administered Covaxin to 20 villagers who had been given Covishield in the first dose. NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul said the incident needed to be investigated.

 

"Any significant adverse effect is unlikely if the second dose of a different COVID-19 vaccine is given. In fact, there is a narrative that is going on that taking doses of two different vaccines can lead to stronger immunity... but for a firm opinion, more scrutiny and understanding will be required, he said at a presser.

6:18 PM

24,166 new cases and 181 deaths reported in Kerala in the last 24 hours

24,166 new cases and 181 deaths reported in Kerala in the last 24 hours. Active cases stand at 241,966: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Covid situation in the State