Covid LIVE: Maharashtra sees 9,350 new cases; less than 1,000 in Bengaluru

Coronavirus live updates: India records 62,597 cases, 2,726 deaths in the last 24 hours. Tamil Nadu reported 12,772 new infections, followed by Maharashtra (8,129). Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:02 AM

EU raises €20 billion in 10-year bond to fund virus recovery

The European Commission said on Tuesday it has raised €20 billion (USD 24.2 billion) through a 10-year bond as part of its plans to finance the 27-nation bloc's recovery from the coronavirus crisis.
 

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the inaugural transaction of the NextGeneration EU program is the largest ever institutional bond issuance in Europe. The money will help finance the national recovery plans devised by member states to get their economies back on track.
 

Von der Leyen said the bond was priced at “very attractive terms" and that the European Union will pay less than 0.1% interest on it.
 

“Europe is attractive," she said. “By the end of this year, we expect to have issued around 100 billion in bonds and bills." The commissioner in charge of Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said the recovery plan's first borrowing operation attracted interest from investors across Europe and the rest of the world, including central banks and pension funds.
 

To finance the stimulus, the EU's executive arm said it will raise from capital markets up to an estimated €800 billion by the end of 2026. In total, member states have agreed on a €1.8 trillion budget and pandemic recovery package.
 

2:01 AM

UK fends off demands to give workers more virus support help

The British government fended off calls Tuesday to provide more financial support to businesses and workers suffering from its decision to delay lifting coronavirus restrictions in England until July 19.
 

Although many restrictions were eased in recent weeks, allowing large parts of the U.K. economy to reopen, a number of businesses, particularly in the hospitality and entertainment sectors, have remained shuttered because it was not financially viable.
 

After months of planning, those businesses had been preparing to reopen on June 21, the date the government had earmarked for the possible lifting of restrictions on social contact. But a recent spike in new infections as a result of the more contagious delta variant upended that plan and has fueled concerns that the restrictions may persist beyond July 19.
 

Scientists advising the government reckon that the delta variant, which was first found in India, is between 40% to 80% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain in the U.K. The alpha variant first found in Britain was largely behind a winter virus surge that left the country with Europe's highest virus-related death toll at nearly 128,000.
 

2:01 AM

Thousands of Indian students have secured visa appointments for July, August: US Embassy

Thousands of Indian students have secured visa appointments for July and August since Monday, the US Embassy here said on Tuesday.
 

A senior American diplomat had said on Sunday that the US mission in India is "actively working" to accommodate as many student visa applicants as possible in July and August, and facilitating their legitimate travel remained a top priority for it.
 

"Since June 14, thousands of students have secured visa appointments for July and August. Thousands of appointments remain available and we will open thousands more in coming weeks," the American Embassy said in a tweet.
 

"We appreciate your patience as we diligently work to resolve the technical issues you have encountered," it said.
 

Don Heflin, the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the US embassy, had also said earlier that the US-bound students will not require any proof of Covid-19 vaccination to enter the country.
 

2:00 AM

Assam logs 3,415 new Covid-19 cases, 34 deaths in 24 hours

Assam reported 3,415 new Covid-19 cases and 34 fresh fatalities on Tuesday pushing the caseload to 4,66,590, National Health Mission (NHM) said.
 

Five deaths were reported from Tinsukia, four from Lakhimpur, three each in Jorhat and Nagaon, two each in Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong, and Sivasagar, and one each in Baksa, Cachar, Hojai, Kamrup, Karimganj, Sonitpur and Udalguri in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,028.
 

NHM said, 1,347 more Covid-19 patients have died till now, but the government's Death Audit Board has not included them in the tally of deaths caused by the Covid-19 virus as they had other ailments too.
 

With detection of 3,415 patients against testing of 1,32,929 samples on Tuesday, Assam has reported a positivity rate of 2.57 per cent for the day, the NHM daily bulletin said.
 

The state had reported 3,678 coronavirus positive cases on Monday against testing of 1,46,046 samples.
 

Currently, the state has a total of 39,837 active cases and they are being treated at different hospitals and Covid Care Centres (CCCs). Some of the Covid-19 affected people are in home isolation.
 

1:59 AM

GIMS begins workshop to train doctors, staff for Covid 3rd wave

Preparing for a possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida has started special training for its doctors and support staff in dealing with cases of children, officials said on Tuesday.
 

A two-day workshop for 30 doctors and nurses on 'Basic Skills in Pediatrics' was held on Monday and Tuesday, GIMS Director Dr (Brig) Rakesh Gupta said.
 

The GIMS, which functions as an autonomous body under the Uttar Pradesh government, has treated over 4,500 patients during the two waves of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, he said, adding the hospital is preparing for the third wave, which is expected to chiefly affect children.
 

"Lectures and hands on training were given to these participants in basic skills to identify and manage a sick child by eminent faculties. Special case scenarios were created, especially Covid-related. Hands on training for operating ventilators, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), HFNC (high flow nasal cannula), intravenous line, basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support in pediatric perspective were also given," Gupta said.
 

He said that during the last two waves of the pandemic, the institute provided the best of care and over 4,500 patients of Covid were managed at the institute.
 

1:58 AM

Harris announces $1.25 billion for community lenders

Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that the Biden administration is distributing $1.25 billion to hundreds of community lenders in an effort to help boost the economic recovery from the coronavirus for small businesses and disadvantaged business owners.
 

“President Joe Biden and I knew that more than repair, we must re-imagine our economy,” Harris said during an event at the White House. “Small businesses, of course, are at the center of this re-imagining.” The funds are going to more than 860 community development financial institutions, or CDFIs, around the country.

CDFIs offer loans to small businesses and those who may be turned down for loans from major banks, a problem that studies have shown particularly plagues minority business owners.
 

Harris has focused on small businesses from the start of her vice presidency, and has emphasized in particular the need to support minority- and female-owned small businesses as key to a robust economic recovery.
 

On Tuesday, she lamented that “traditional banks have not always seen or understood the vision of women, small business owners, small business owners of color, small business owners who serve low income communities.” CDFIs, she said “add value to those communities, and by extension, to our entire nation.” This fund in particular comes from work she did as a California senator. The funding for the program comes from $12 billion provided for community lenders in the 2020 stimulus that was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump last December. At the time, Harris pushed to include funding for CDFIs in the final package, along with Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, and House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, both of whom joined her at Tuesday's event.
 

11:28 PM

Foreign-bound students, Olympic participants can get 2nd Covishield dose after 28 days: BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday issued fresh guidelines reducing the gap between two doses of coronavirus vaccine Covishield to 28 days from 84 days for citizens going abroad for studies and jobs besides participants of the Tokyo Olympics.
 

The guidelines said citizens in these three categories can get the second dose of the vaccine at inoculation centres at Kasturba Hospital, KEM Hospital, Cooper Hospital, Jumbo Covid-19 centre at suburban Dahisar, Rajawadi Hospital, Shatabdi Hospital and Seven Hills Hospital.
 

"Those citizens who are going to undertake international travel for educational or job purpose or participating in the Tokyo Olympics and if they have taken the first dose of the vaccine, they can get the second dose in 28 days instead of 84 days," a BMC circular stated.
 

The civic body directed nodal officers at vaccination centres to ensure the two-dose gap norm for the specified categories is adhered to after beneficiaries submit necessary documents.
 

Meanwhile, 41,87,747 citizens have taken vaccines against Covid-19 so far in Mumbai, the BMC said, adding of these, 75,867 took the jabs on Tuesday.
 

Of the total beneficiaries, 8,38,487 have taken both the doses of vaccines, the civic body said.
 

11:27 PM

Green fungus infection patient found in Indore

A 34-year-old Covid-19 survivor was diagnosed with green fungus infection in Madhya Pradesh's Indore and shifted to Mumbai by air ambulance for treatment, a senior doctor said on Tuesday.
 

Dr Ravi Dosi, head of the Department of Chest Diseases, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS) told PTI that the man, who had recovered from Covid-19, underwent a test on suspicion that he had contracted the dreaded black fungus infection (mucormycosis).
 

But he was instead found to have green fungus (Aspergillosis) infection in his sinuses, lungs and blood.
 

More research was needed on whether the nature of green fungus infection in people who have recovered from Covid-19 is different from other patients, Dr Dosi said.
 

The patient was airlifted to Mumbai on Monday and admitted to a hospital there, he said.
 

The man was admitted to a local hospital two months ago with almost 100 percent coronavirus infection in the lungs and was treated in the ICU for about a month.
 

"The patient recovered. But then he started having nose bleeds and high fever. He had also become very weak due to weight loss," the doctor said.
 

11:27 PM

Delhi health minister thanks AIF for its help in tackling Covid 2nd wave

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday thanked the American India Foundation (AIF) for helping in tackling the second wave of coronavirus in the national capital.
 

He said the American India Foundation has donated 500 oxygen concentrators, 6,720 resuscitators (single-use ventilators) and 1,200 ventilator monitors to help abate the shortage of medical equipment, despite facing a heavy shortage themselves.
 

The minister thanked the AIF through a Zoom meeting for its contribution towards improving the Covid management in the capital.
 

"I am thankful to American Indian Foundation (AIF) for helping us during this pandemic by providing medical equipment in such a huge number," he said.
 

Jain said 6,720 resuscitators (single-use ventilators) were donated by the AIF.
 

"This is in itself a huge number. We have also faced a time when the monitors were unavailable. The donation of 1,200 monitors came as a huge relief. It is commendable that despite heavy shortage the American India Foundation had arranged such a huge amount of medical equipment," he added.
 

Jain hoped that the foundation would keep standing for the noble causes and extend its support to other states as well.
 

8:56 PM

Gujarat sees 352 fresh coronavirus cases, 4 more deaths

Gujarat on Tuesday reported 352 Covid-19 cases, taking its tally to 8,21,078, while the day also saw 1,006 people getting discharged and four patients succumbing to the infection, an official said.

 

The state's toll is 10,007 and the recovery rate is 8,02,187, which is 97.70 per cent of the tally, leaving the state with 8,884 active cases, including 219 on ventilator support, the official said.

 

"Surat led with 71 cases, followed by 50 in Vadodara, 49 in Ahmedabad, 25 in Rajkot among other districts. Two deaths took place in Ahmedabad and one each in Surat and Junagadh," the official said. (PTI)

8:45 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 9,350 new cases

8:45 PM

Covid-related deaths breach 30,000 mark in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu recorded 11,805 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the caseload to 23,78,298 while 267 deaths including that of an eight-month old girl child took the toll to 30,068.

 

According to a medical bulletin, 23,207 people were discharged Tuesday, taking the overall tally to 22,23,015 leaving 1,25,215 active infections.

 

The fresh coronavirus cases in the state included two returnees from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar respectively. (PTI)

8:39 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana extends summer vacation for schools till June 20

8:19 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Rajasthan govt allows restaurants to operate with 50% capacity

8:08 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Mumbai sees 575 new cases

8:07 PM

Kerala reports 12,246 cases, 166 deaths

Kerala reported 12,246 new Covid-19 cases and 166 deaths on Tuesday, taking the caseload to 27,48,204 and the toll to 11,508.

 

Recoveries continued to outnumber fresh cases with 13,536 people being discharged, taking the total to 26,23,904.

 

Among the districts, Ernakulam recorded the highest number of positive cases today--1,702, followed by Kollam with 1,597 and Thiruvananthapuram with 1,567 cases.

 

"Out of those found infected today, 85 reached the state from outside while 11,459 contracted the disease from their contacts. The source of infection of 633 are yet to be traced. (PTI)

8:00 PM

Jammu and Kashmir adds 715 new coronavirus cases

Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday recorded 715 fresh cases, taking the total number of infected persons to 3,08,726, while 10 deaths took the toll to 4,205, officials said.

 

Out of the fresh cases, 218 were from Jammu division and 497 from Kashmir division of the Union Territory, the officials said.

 

They said Srinagar district recorded the highest of 132 cases, followed by 65 in Kupwara district.

 

The number of active cases has dropped to 12,407 in the UT, while 2,92,114 patients have recovered so far, the officials said. (PTI)

7:54 PM

Why daily coronavirus deaths are high in India despite low cases?

While the number of new Covid-19 infections in India has seen a decline in recent days, the high mortality rate remains a cause of concern.

 

Most of the deaths, which are happening now, are cases that were admitted to intensive care units in the last week of May, experts said on Tuesday.

 

India's daily Covid caseload continues to fall with the country recording 60,461 new cases in the last 24 hours, the lowest since March 29.

 

Yet the number of deaths remains high. The last 24 hours saw 2,726 persons succumbing to the virus, as per the data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday. Read here

7:50 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 11,805 new cases in Tamil Nadu

7:44 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Timely treatment can prevent deaths post vaccination, says N K Arora

7:39 PM

Haryana government extends schools' summer holidays till June 30

The Haryana government on Tuesday extended the summer vacation for all schools in the state till June 30.

 

All schools in the state will remain closed till June 30 as summer holidays have been extended, Education Minister Kanwar Pal told reporters here after a state Cabinet meeting.

 

According to an order issued by the Directorate of School Education last month, the state government had extended the summer vacation till June 15 after taking the coronavirus situation into account. Read here

7:38 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: UP records 340 new cases

7:22 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka sees 5,041 new cases; Bengaluru cases fall below 1,000

7:21 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana reports 1,556 new cases

7:07 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Govt offices allowed to function with 25% capacity in Kerala

6:59 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala CM announces region-wise lockdown strategy

6:58 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Uttarakhand reports 274 new cases

6:46 PM

Data Story: Hiring trends see green shoots in May despite second wave

After the long haul of lockdowns this year, the domestic job market is on the path of slow revival. According to the Monster Employment Index, May has shown green shoots growth despite the second wave and lockdowns.

 

Compared to April 2021, May showed a growth of 1 per cent, whereas May 2021 grew 4 per cent compared to May last year. About 45 per cent of the industries indicated positive month-on-month growth in job postings, with retail, home appliances, and telecom industries showing the highest growth. Read here

6:44 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Over 250 mn vaccination certificates issued the country, says NHA chief

6:39 PM

DATA STORY: Active cases at 913,378; test positivity rate falls to 3.45%

India on Tuesday reported a net reduction of 59,780 in active coronavirus cases to take its count to 913,378. India’s share of global active coronavirus cases now stands at 7.63 per cent (one in 13). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Monday, it added 60,471 cases to take its total caseload to 29,570,881. And, with 2,726 new fatalities, its Covid-19 death toll reached 377,031, or 1.28 per cent of total confirmed infections.

 

With 3,927,154 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Monday, India’s total count of vaccine shots so far reached 259,044,072. The count of recovered coronavirus cases across India, meanwhile, reached 28,280,472 – or 95.64 per cent of total caseload – with 117,525 new cured cases being reported on Monday. Read here