Covid LIVE: Both Karnataka, Maharashtra see daily cases below 30,000-mark

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 276,110 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 25,772,440. Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:08 AM

Jharkhand Covid-19 update

2:06 AM

NHRC notice to centre, states over denial of benefits under schemes during Covid-19

The NHRC has sent notices to the centre and states over the alleged denial of benefits to beneficiaries of various public schemes during the coronavirus pandemic due to "non-completion of biometric authentication," officials said.
 

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a statement said, it has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging "denial of benefits to the people during the Covid pandenic, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PMGKAY) and other schemes under the integral management of public distribution system (IMPDS), due to non-completion of biometric authentication of the beneficiaries".
 

Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and the chief secretaries, administrators of all the states and Union Territories, it said.
 

The reports have been sought from them within four weeks on the action taken, regarding the issue of problematic biometric authentication or “end-to-end computerisation of Public Distribution System (PDS) operations”.
 

2:05 AM

EU lawmakers and nations reach compromise on Covid-19 passes

European Union citizens can start packing for summer vacations in the bloc's 27 nations without having to worry about quarantines: they should be able to travel freely across the EU.
 

European Union legislators and member countries found a compromise Thursday for launching Covid-19 certificates before the height of the summer holiday season, a move aimed at boosting travel and tourism following the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic.
 

The various players managed to reconcile their differences during another round of discussions, paving the way for the trans-border travel passes to be introduced. Officials said the system should be up and running by July 1.
 

“This agreement is the first step to get the Schengen Area back on track," European Parliament rapporteur Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar said, referring to Europe's passport-free travel zone.
 

“It will make all the difference, and it won't be repeating the nightmare of Summer 2020.” The European Commission said the certificates will be issued in digital format and designed to be shown either on smartphones or paper. It guaranteed that “a very high level of data protection will be ensured.” 

10:22 PM

Will declare black fungus an epidemic if need arises: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the city government will declare black fungus an epidemic if the need arises and urged hospitals to use steroids in Covid-19 treatment in a controlled manner.
 

He also said dedicated centres will be set up for treatment of the fungal infection or mucormycosis at three city government-run hospitals.
 

"We will declare it (black fungus) an epidemic if needs arise. I also appeal to all hospitals and doctors to use steroids in a controlled manner. Patients should take care of their sugar levels," he told reporters.
 

The combination of steroids and sugar is leading to a rise in number of black fungus cases, the chief minister said.
 

The Union Health Ministry has urged states and Union territories to make black fungus or mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, stating that the infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality among Covid-19 patients.
 

10:21 PM

Chhattisgarh govt slightly eases curbs for travellers visiting state

The Chhattisgarh government has provided some relaxations to the travellers arriving in the state from outside under its fresh set of guidelines issued on Thursday to contain the spread of Covid-19, an official said.
 

As per the new guidelines, the mandatory provision of having a negative RT-PCR report of the test conducted within 72 hours for people arriving in the state through air, rail and road routes has now been relaxed.
 

Now, the report of the test conducted within 96 hour of the arrival will be considered valid, the public relations department official said.
 

Besides, the persons who have certificates to prove that they have received both the doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines will also be allowed to enter the state, he said.
 

For air travellers who do not have a Covid negative test report, arrangements will be made for test at airports.
 

Such passengers will have to be in home isolation till the report comes, he said.
 

Similar arrangements for health examination will be done at railway stations and inter-state border check posts, he said.
 

9:01 PM

Madhya Pradesh records 4,952 new Covid-19 cases, 9,746 recoveries; 88 die

Madhya Pradesh on Thursday reported 4,952 new coronavirus cases and 88 fatalities, taking the infection tally to 7,52,735 and the toll to 7,315, the state health department said. Recoveries outnumbered new COVID-19 cases in the state, bringing down the count of patients under treatment below the 75,000-mark.

 

A total of 9,746 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the count of recoveries in Madhya Pradesh to 6,72,695, the department said. The state is now left with 72,725 active cases, it said. With 1,072 new infections, Indore's caseload went up to 1,42,6872, while that of Bhopal rose by 693 to 1,15,872.

8:53 PM

Karnataka reports 28,869 new Covid cases, 52,257 recoveries and 548 deaths in the last 24 hours

8:43 PM

Aerosols from Covid-19 infected person can travel in air up to 10 metres: Govt

Nasal droplets fall within 2 metres from a COVID-19 infected person and the aerosols can travel in air up to 10 metres, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser said on Thursday, adding that proper ventilation can decrease the risk of transmission.

 

In its advisory 'Stop the Transmission, Crush the Pandemic--Masks, Distance, Sanitation and Ventilation to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus', the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) noted that well-ventilated spaces play a crucial role in diluting the COVID-19 viral load of infected air and help in decreasing the risk of transmission from one infected person to the other.

 

Saliva and nasal discharge in the form of droplets and aerosols carry the virus from one person to another. Larger size droplets fall to the ground and on surfaces, and smaller aerosol particles are carried in the air to greater distances, the advisory said.

8:33 PM

Maharashtra reports 29,911 new Covid and 738 deaths in the last 24 hours

8:30 PM

4,169 new Covid cases, 67 more deaths in Jammu and Kashmir

The COVID-19 death toll in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 3,422 on Thursday with 67 more fatalities, while 4,169 new cases pushed the infection tally to 2,60,057, officials said.

 

Of the new cases, 1,518 were from the Jammu division and 2,651 from the Kashmir division, they said.

 

Srinagar district recorded the highest 674 new cases, followed by 499 in Jammu district and 393 in Budgam district. The number of active cases stands at 50,554 while 2,06,081 patients have recovered from the infection so far, officials said. The death toll has risen to 3,422 as 67 patients died in the past 24 hours, officials added.

8:24 PM

Delivered 12,630 tonnes of O2 in over 775 tankers to 13 states: Railways

The railways has delivered nearly 12,630 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen in more than 775 tankers to 13 states across the country, the national transporter said on Thursday.

 

So far, around 200 Oxygen Expresses have completed their journey, while 10 more are currently on their way with more than 784 tonnes of LMO in 45 tankers, it said.

 

Oxygen Expresses have been delivering more than 800 tonnes of LMO to the nation each day now. The life-saving gas was delivered to 13 states namely Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. READ MORE...

8:12 PM

Negative RT-PCR report mandatory for train passengers arriving in Maharashtra: Railways

8:11 PM

Guidelines for mild Covid cases patients in peri-urban, rural and tribal areas: Govt

8:10 PM

Rajasthan records 7,680 new Covid-19 cases, 127 fatalities. Infection tally rises to 8,97,193

Rajasthan records 7,680 new Covid-19 cases, 127 fatalities. Infection tally rises to 8,97,193, death toll 7,346. Number of active cases of the disease in the state stands at 1,43,974.

7:46 PM

To ramp up daily testing capacity for Covid to 4.5 mn by June-end: Govt

The government aims to ramp up India's daily testing capacity for COVID-19 to 45 lakh by end of June from the current capacity of 16-20 lakh per day, the Centre said on Thursday as a record 20.55 lakh tests were conducted in a span of 24 hours.

 

On augmenting testing for COVID-19 while ICMR has so far approved a home-based rapid antigen testing (RAT) kit manufactured by Mylab Discovery Solutions Ltd, Pune, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said kits by three more companies are in pipeline and likely to get the approval within a week. READ MORE...

7:40 PM

Experts divided over unhygienic masks being factor for black fungus

Amid a rise in black fungus cases particularly in COVID patients in Delhi, some medical experts feel that "unhygienic masks" and poorly ventilated rooms could be a contributing factor, while others said "no clinical evidence" has been established linking the two.

 

Doctors at many leading hospitals here said many patients, both COVID and non-COVID ones, have presented themselves at the facilities who have been infected with mucormycosis or black fungus and had a history of exhibiting poor hygienic practices, including wearing unwashed masks for a long time. READ MORE...

7:28 PM

Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) curing drug Amphotericin B's shortage will be resolved soon: Govt official

7:01 PM

Kerala logs 30,491 new Covid-19 cases, 128 deaths, 44,369 recoveries

Kerala on Thursday reported 30,491 new COVID-19 cases and 128 more deaths, taking the caseload to 22,33, 904 and the toll to 6,852, the state government said. As many as 44,369 persons have been cured,pushing the total recoveries to 19,38,887, while 3,17,850 are undergoing treatment for the infection.

 

In the last 24 hours, 1,31,525 samples were tested and the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) was 23.18 per cent. So far 1,84,21,465 samples have been tested.

 

6:56 PM

India's Covid crisis worsened by complications like fungal infection

Rare, life-threatening Covid-19 complications appear to be escalating in India, creating a fresh wave of critical medical challenges in a country that has already seen short supplies of oxygen and other basic needs.
 

Pharmacists are warning of a shortage of a crucial drug to treat an invasive fungal infection preying on patients with weakened immune systems. An uptick in cases across India of a dangerous inflammatory syndrome in children -- also seen in the U.S. and Europe at the height of their outbreaks -- is a harbinger of a potentially deadly spate of the pediatric illness in the coming weeks. READ MORE...

6:50 PM

Punjab govt announces Rs 1,500 per month for children orphaned in Covid pandemic

The Punjab government on Thursday decided to provide Rs 1,500 per month as social security pension and free education up to graduation to all those children orphaned in the COVID pandemic, as well as families that have lost their breadwinning member, beginning July 1.

 

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said his government will ensure free education in government institutions for such children as well as kids belonging to families that have lost their breadwinner to COVID, according to an official statement.

 

He dubbed it as the "state's duty to become the foster parents of the children" who have lost both their parents in the COVID-19 pandemic.

6:40 PM

Current Covid vaccines appear protective against variants, says WHO Europe

Covid-19 vaccines currently being deployed in the fight against the pandemic in Europe appear able to protect against all variants that are circulating and causing concern, the World Health Organization's regional director said on Thursday.

Hans Kluge said health authorities should remain vigilant on the rising number of cases in the region of Covid-19 caused by a variant that emerged in India, but stressed that vaccination and infection control measures would help prevent its spread.

"All Covid-19 virus variants that have emerged so far do respond to the available, approved vaccines," Kluge told a media briefing.

6:33 PM

Punjab govt announces SOPs for children orphaned during Covid pandemic

6:31 PM

NHRC issues notices to the Centre, States and UTs over alleged denial of benefits under schemes

NHRC issues notices to the Centre, States and UTs over alleged denial of benefits during Covid-19 pandemic under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and IMPDS due to non-completion of biometric authentication of beneficiaries: National Human Rights Commission

6:11 PM

ITBP-run Covid care centre in Delhi adds 150 more ventilator beds

A new specialised ward equipped with 150 ventilator beds has been operationalised at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)-run COVID care centre in south Delhi for patients requiring critical care, officials said. The ventilators, a vital medical equipment for stabilising patients with low oxygen saturation levels and related morbidities, were provided to the facility by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) from the PM-CARES fund early this month.

 

ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said, "150 GPS-based ventilator beds have been made functional. This will be in addition to the 500 oxygen beds which are already functional at the centre."

 

"The ventilators are being used to provide critical care to the patients infected with coronavirus. About 10 patients have been admitted today," he said.

5:59 PM

Covid LIVE: Andhra reports over 22,500 new cases in 24 hours

Andhra Pradesh reports 22,610 new coronavirus cases,  23,098 recoveries and 114 deaths in the last 24 hours.

5:58 PM

150 GPS-based ventilator beds from PM CARES Fund established at Delhi Covid Care Centre

5:51 PM

Don't take dip in Covid-19 cases lightly, virus could again hit badly: HC warns Centre, Delhi govt

The Delhi High Court Thursday warned the authorities that they should not take lightly the dip in COVID-19 cases in the national capital as there is a likelihood that the virus would again raise its ugly head and hit the citizens badly and reminded them about their responsibility to create buffer stock of liquid medical oxygen (LMO).

 

The high court said it is the duty of the Centre and Delhi government to ensure that they are again not caught underprepared to deal with the situation.

 

If you have not taken steps, we will come and chase you again. We are telling you, we mean business. Please don't take it lightly we are again warning you, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh told the Centre.

5:29 PM

Uttar Pradesh reports 6,725 new coronavirus cases, 13,590 discharges and 238 deaths in the last 24 hours

Uttar Pradesh reports 6,725 new coronavirus cases, 13,590 discharges and 238 deaths in the last 24 hours.

5:28 PM

Meghalaya records highest one-day spike of 1,183 new Covid-19 cases

Meghalaya on Thursday registered its highest single-day spike of 1,183 new COVID-19 cases, which pushed the tally to 26,927, a senior official said. Ten more fatalities raised the toll to 389, Health Services Director Aman War said. Accordingly, the number of active cases climbed to 6477, War stated. Six deaths were reported from East Khasi Hills district - of which state capital Shillong is apart -- one each from West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, North Garo Hills and South Garo Hills.

 

Of the 1,183 new cases, 656 were recorded in East Khasi Hills district, where lockdown was imposed on Wednesday night for 12 days, War said.

 

At least 464 more people recuperated from the infection, increasing the total number of recoveries to 20,061, the senior official said. As many as 5.19 lakh tests have been conducted in the state so far. Altogether 4.33 lakh people have been inoculated in Meghalata, of which 83000 have received both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine, War added.

5:08 PM

Half of India isn't wearing a mask: Health Ministry