Covid LIVE: UAE world's most vaccinated nation; Haryana extends lockdown

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Covid-19 is continuing to spread around the world, with more than 184.2 million confirmed cases. Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:58 AM

Goa govt extends Covid-19 curfew by week, but allows restricted gatherings

The Goa government on Sunday extended till July 12 the current state-level curfew that is in place to curb the Covid-19 cases, but allowed social, political, cultural gatherings, marriages and other congregations of up to 100 people or 50 per cent of the venue capacity.
 

The casinos in the state, however, will continue to remain shut till July 12.
 

“Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural gatherings, marriages and other congregations are allowed with 100 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue,” the government said in a notification, which announced the extension of the curfew period.
 

The curfew, which was first imposed on May 9, has since been extended from time to time considering the number of infections in the coastal state. The previous extension was up to July 5.
 

The notification says that indoor sports complexes, auditoriums, community halls or similar places, river cruises, water-parks, entertainment parks, gym, spa, massage parlours, cinema halls, theatres and other establishments will continue to remain shut during the curfew period.
 

Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutes will also continue to remain closed for students, except for holding competitive examinations after taking prior permission from the authorities, it said.
 

Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 164 to reach 1,67,436 on Sunday, while the death of four patients took its fatality count to 3,073.
 

1:58 AM

Covid-19: Chhattisgarh logs 229 new cases, three deaths

Chhattisgarh on Sunday reported 229 new cases of Covid-19 and three deaths, taking the total number of infections in the state to 9,95,718 and toll to 13,456, a health official said.
 

The number of recoveries reached to 9,76,917 after a total of 30 people were discharged from various hospitals, while 181 others completed their home isolation during the day.
 

The number of active Covid-19 cases in the state stands at 5,345, the official said.
 

Raipur district recorded 19 new cases, taking its caseload to 1,57,260, including 3,131 deaths.
 

Sukma reported 21 new cases, Korea 18 and Dantewada 16, he said.
 

As 23,479 samples were tested on Sunday, the total number of tests conducted so far in the state went up to 1,04,18,563.
 

Chhattisgarh's coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 9,95,718, new cases 229, deaths 13,456, recoveries 9,76,917, active cases 5,345, tests so far 1,04,18,563.
 

1:57 AM

Assam logs 1,213 new Covid-19 cases, 20 fresh fatalities

Assam's Covid-19 tally rose to 5,17,194 on Sunday as 1,213 more people tested positive for the infection, while 20 fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 4,652, a health bulletin said.
 

Kamrup Metropolitan district registered the highest number of new cases at 140, followed by Golaghat (114), Sonitpur (96) and Dibrugarh (83).
 

Morigaon and Nagaon districts reported the highest number of fresh fatalities at three each, followed by two in Dibrugarh.
 

The state now has 22,155 active cases, while 4,89,040 people have thus far recovered from the disease, including 2,775 in the last 24 hours.
 

The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state stands at 94.56 per cent, while the mortality rate is at 0.90 per cent, the bulletin said, adding that 1,347 coronavirus patients have died due to other ailments so far.
 

The state has thus far tested over 1.53 crore samples for Covid-19, including 53,848 in the last 24 hours, it said, adding the daily positivity rate stands at 2.25 per cent.
 

More than 76.28 lakh people have been inoculated so far, of whom 12.99 lakh have received both doses.
 

1:56 AM

Covid-19: UP govt allows opening of cinema halls from Monday

The Uttar Pradesh government allowed opening of cinema halls in the state from Monday, further easing the coronavirus curbs.
 

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi, in a statement, said cinema halls, multiplex cinema halls, gyms and sports stadia have been allowed to open from Monday to Friday while adhering to Covid-19 protocol.
 

He said these relaxations are not for containment zones in the state, adding that swimming pools will also remain closed till further orders.
 

The official added that at the entrance points of cinema halls, multiplex cinema halls, gyms and sports stadia, provisions of pulse oxymeters, thermometers and sanitisers have to be made and Covid-19 helpdesks be established.
 

Use of masks and social distancing norms are also to be adhered to, the statement added.
 

9:08 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra sees 9,336 fresh cases in a day

8:48 PM

Fully vaccinated tourists can now visit Sikkim from Monday

People who have taken both doses of the Covid vaccine can now visit Sikkim from July 5 as the state government on Sunday lifted the temporary ban on the entry of visitors from other parts of the country following a dip in fresh coronavirus cases.

 

The Sikkim government had prohibited the entry of tourists since March this year following a surge in Covid-19 cases.

 

The state Home Department, in a notification, said that fully vaccinated tourists can enter the Himalayan state through Rangpo in East Sikkim and Melli in South Sikkim after exhibiting their vaccination certificates at the border check-gates. (PTI)

8:29 PM

Telangana records 605 new cases, seven more deaths

Telangana on Sunday recorded 605 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 6,26,690.

 

Seven more people succumbed to the virus pushing the death toll to 3,691, a bulletin said.

 

The number of active cases stood at 11,964. (PTI)

8:01 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tamil Nadu sees 3,867 fresh cases

7:42 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Haryana govt extends lockdown till July 12

7:31 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka reports 1,564 fresh cases in a day

7:17 PM

Goa logs 164 new Covid-19 cases, four deaths; 202 recover

Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 164 to reach 1,67,436 on Sunday, while the death of four patients took its fatality count to 3,073, a health department official said.

 

As 202 Covid-19 patients recuperated and got discharge from hospitals during the day, the state's recovery count rose to 1,62,276.

 

There are 2,087 active infection cases in the coastal state at present, the official said. (PTI)

7:07 PM

Govt readies two more labs for Covid vaccine testing

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and considering the enhanced production of Covid Vaccines, the Government proactively took the decision of setting up additional laboratories,to facilitate expedited testing / pre-release certification of the vaccines. Read full government release here

6:57 PM

Iran likely to face fifth wave due to spread of Delta variant, warns President

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday warned that the country could witness a fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as the highly contagious Delta variant is spreading in the nation.

 

"There are concerns that the whole country may enter the fifth wave if enough care is not taken in following health protocols... The Delta variant entered the country from the south and southeast and we should have been careful to prevent its spread in the country," the New York Times quoted Rouhani's remarks on state media.

 

Last week, during a meeting with members of Iran's coronavirus task force, Rouhani said that people need to fully observe safety protocols "so that we do not have to impose severe restrictions again". (ANI)

6:35 PM

Kerala clocks 11,551 new coronavirus cases, 76 fatalities

Kerala on Sunday logged 11,551 fresh Covid-19 cases and 76 related deaths, taking the total case count to 29.73 lakh and the toll to 13,716.

 

According to a health department bulletin, 1,18,047 samples were tested in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 10.25 per cent. (PTI)

6:35 PM

Goa Congress chief demands genome testing facility in state, warns of protest

Demanding the Pramod Sawant-led BJP Government in Goa to immediately take steps to start genome testing facility in the state, Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar on Sunday threatened to launch protests if the laboratory is not set up within 15 days.

 

Chodankar asked Sawant why the full-fledged testing laboratory is not established to date. (ANI)

6:19 PM

What ICMR study reveals about efficacy of Covishield against Delta strain

Breakthrough cases and Covid-19 recovered individuals with one or two doses of vaccine have relatively higher protection against Delta variant in comparison to those administered either one or two doses of Covishield, a study stated. Read here

5:57 PM

7.5 mn need second jab in July; we have 4.8 mn doses: Rajasthan minister

In a Q&A, the state's Health Minister Raghu Sharma says Rajasthan has started work to ensure no shortage of medical oxygen during the third Covid-19 wave. Read here

5:28 PM

State prepared for third wave: Odisha Health Minister

The Odisha government has made necessary preparations to tackle the possible third wave of Covid-19, State health minister Naba Kishore Das said on Sunday.

 

"My department has prepared an SOP on June 17, 2021 and shared it with all collectors, municipal commissioners and heads of medical colleges," Das said.

 

Children are likely to be affected more during the possible third wave as predicted by public health experts. Therefore, the government is providing training to doctors and healthcare workers from Community Health Centre level, he said. (IANS)

5:02 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: No weekend lockdown in J&K's 13 districts

4:48 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Andhra Pradesh reports 3,175 fresh cases in a day

4:36 PM

Delta variant creates emerging market gap as outperformers hit

A handful of emerging-market currencies have held onto gains versus the dollar this year. That list may shrink in the coming weeks as the highly contagious delta variant forms a new fault line for developing nations.

 

Countries that are lagging in vaccination rates -- such as South Africa and Russia -- may feel the pressure as they tighten restrictions that will hurt economic activity, according to Credit Agricole CIB. Once the best performers of 2021, the rand and ruble were among those that knocked an index of emerging-market currencies lower in June for the first time in three months. Read here

4:17 PM

Over 117,000 more in 18-44 group vaccinated in Telangana

Continuing its special drive for vaccination for the 18-44 year age group, Telangana has administered over 1.17 lakh doses for this beneficiary group.

 

A total of 1,68,143 doses were administered on Saturday. This comprised 1,41,507 first dose and 26,636 second dose.

 

According to Director of Public Health, Dr G. Srinivasa Rao, 1,17,254 people in the 18-44 age group were vaccinated. Of them, 5,985 received the second dose. (IANS)

4:06 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: No new case in Dharavi today

3:38 PM

India's Covid vax coverage crosses 350 mn-mark

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a statement on Sunday said that India's vaccination coverage has crossed the landmark of 35 crore.

 

The landmark was achieved on Saturday with a total of 35,12,21,306 vaccine doses that have been administered through 46,04,925 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 a.m. Sunday. A total of 63,87,849 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours. (IANS)

3:31 PM

UAE passes Seychelles to become world’s most vaccinated

The United Arab Emirates has overtaken Seychelles to become the world’s most vaccinated nation, according to Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker.

 

The Persian Gulf nation has so far administered 15.5 million doses, enough to cover 72.1% of its mostly expatriate population of 10 million based on a two-dose regimen. The Seychelles has administered enough doses to cover 71.7% of its population of just under 100,000. (Bloomberg)

3:28 PM

Coronavirus Latest: Iran reimposes virus restrictions as delta variant spreads

Iran announced on Sunday it was reimposing coronavirus restrictions on major cities, as the spread of the highly contagious delta variant spurs fears of another devastating surge in the nation.

 

After over a year battling the worst virus outbreak in the Middle East, Iran ordered the closures of non-essential businesses in 275 cities, including the capital of Tehran.

 

The shutdown of all public parks, restaurants, dessert shops, beauty salons, malls and bookstores applies to the country's "red" and orange" zones, or municipalities ranked as having an elevated risk of Covid-19.

 

The government said it was also imposing a travel ban between cities with high infection rates. (PTI)

3:17 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi sees 94 fresh cases

3:16 PM

Coronavirus Latest: Kejriwal writes to PM Modi, seeks Bharat Ratna for Indian doctors

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking that the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna should be given this year to all doctors, nurses and paramedics who served the people amid the pandemic.

 

It will be a true homage to doctors who lost their lives, he said.

 

In the letter to the prime minister, Kejriwal said this year's Bharat Ratna should be conferred upon doctors, nurses and paramedics. (PTI)

3:05 PM

Coronavirus Latest: Mizoram reports 243 new cases, 1 fresh fatality

Mizoram's Covid-19 tally rose to 21,246 on Sunday as 243 more people, including 59 children, tested positive for the infection, while one fresh fatality pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 95, a health official said.

 

Aizawl registered the highest number of fresh cases at 152, followed by Lunglei (41) and Kolasib (30), he said.

 

Six new patients have travel history, while the remaining 237 fresh infections were detected during contact tracing. (PTI)

2:41 PM

NZ reports 7 new Covid cases in managed isolation

New Zealand reported seven new Covid-19 cases in two days, all recent returnees in managed isolation facilities, said the Ministry of Health on Sunday.

 

There was no however, case in the wider New Zealand community, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Ministry as saying.

 

The number of active cases in New Zealand is 32, and the total number of confirmed infections reached 2,751, it said. (ANI)