Coronavirus LIVE: 6 mn doses given Thurs; 109 new cases in Delhi

Today's coronavirus numbers: Bengaluru (1,008 cases), Mumbai (863 cases), Chennai (396 cases), Kolkata (178 cases), Delhi (111 cases). Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:10 AM

Nearly all Covid deaths in US are now among unvaccinated

Nearly all Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who weren't vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day — now down to under 300 — could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.
 

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that “breakthrough” infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,000 Covid-19 hospitalizations.
 

That's about 0.1per cent.
 

And only about 150 of the more than 18,000 Covid-19 deaths in May were in fully vaccinated people. That translates to about 0.8per cent, or five deaths per day on average.
 

The AP analyzed figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC itself has not estimated what percentage of hospitalizations and deaths are in fully vaccinated people, citing limitations in the data.
 

Among them: Only about 45 states report breakthrough infections, and some are more aggressive than others in looking for such cases. So the data probably understates such infections, CDC officials said.
 

Still, the overall trend that emerges from the data echoes what many health care authorities are seeing around the country and what top experts are saying.
 

Earlier this month, Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on Covid-19, suggested that 98per cent to 99per cent of the Americans dying of the coronavirus are unvaccinated.
 

2:07 AM

Bengal local train services unlikely to resume after Covid curbs end on June 30

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hinted that it is unlikely that local trains will start operating even if the ongoing restrictions are relaxed a bit after June 30, as that might spread the Covid-19 infection.
 

People blocked railway tracks in several stations in the state for around three hours on Thursday demanding that they be allowed to board staff special stations.
 

"We are not running the trains to keep the contagion under check. It is natural that stopping the service causes problems for the people. If we run trains now, everybody will be infected by Covid. What will you do then?" she told reporters.
 

Banerjee claimed that the restrictions imposed by her government are not like those in several other states.
 

"Shops, vegetable markets and all are almost open.
 

Organisations are providing transportation to bring employees.
 

People are working from home in several offices," she said.
 

The West Bengal government has imposed certain restrictions in the state from May 16 to May 30 to combat a surge in Covid-19 cases and extended it twice later.
The ongoing curbs are scheduled to come to an end on June 30.
 

Meanwhile, on Thursday, West Bengal's Covid-19 toll rose to 17,516 after 41 deaths were recorded in the state, the health bulletin said.
 

The tally went up to 14,89,286 as 1,923 more people tested positive for the virus.
 

2:07 AM

UN: 275 million people used drugs worldwide in 2020

Around 275 million people used drugs worldwide last year, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders, according to the World Drug Report released Thursday by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna.
 

The report also said many countries saw a rise in the use of cannabis during the coronavirus pandemic.
 

In surveys of health professionals across 77 countries, 42per cent said cannabis use had increased. A rise in the non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs was also observed in the same period.
 

The report further noted that in the last 24 years, cannabis potency had increased as much as four times in some parts, even as the percentage of adolescents who perceived the drug as harmful fell by as much as 40per cent.
 

This development came despite evidence that cannabis use is associated with a variety of health and other harms, especially among regular long-term users.
 

"Lower perception of drug use risks has been linked to higher rates of drug use, and the findings of UNODC's 2021 World Drug Report highlight the need to close the gap between perception and reality to educate young people and safeguard public health,” UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said.
 

According to the latest global estimates, about 5.5per cent of those between 15 and 64 have used drugs at least once in the past year, while 36.3 million people, or 13per cent of the total number of people who use drugs, suffer from drug use disorders, the report said.
 

Globally, over 11 million people are estimated to inject drugs, half of whom are living with Hepatitis C. Opioids continue to account for the largest burden of disease attributed to drug use, according to the report.
 

1:59 AM

Gehlot warns against Delta Plus variant of Covid-19

Expressing satisfaction over no Covid-19 fatality being reported in Rajasthan on Thursday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said people should be extra-cautious in the wake of the new Delta Plus variant of the virus.
 

"Today, after several months, there has been no death due to coronavirus in the state, which is very satisfactory. Coronavirus can be defeated if people follow Covid protocols properly," Gehlot tweeted.
 

He warned that a new variant of the virus, Delta Plus, has entered India and more than 40 people have been infected by it in the country.
 

It is more dangerous than the Delta variant and so, extra caution is needed, the chief minister said.
 

Gehlot also urged people to get vaccinated.
 

9:38 PM

Delhi reports 109 new Covid-19 cases, 8 deaths; positivity rate 0.14%

Delhi recorded eight deaths and 109 fresh cases of coronavirus infection on Thursday as the city's positivity rate dipped to 0.14 per cent, according to data shared by the Health department here.
 

The new fatalities have pushed the death toll due to the disease in the city to 24,948.
 

On Wednesday, Delhi recorded 111 Covid-19 cases and seven fatalities, while the positivity rate stood at 0.15 per cent.
 

On June 14, the city had registered 131 cases and 16 deaths, while on February 22, there were 128 cases of Covid-19, according to official figures.
 

On Monday, Delhi had reported 89 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 0.16 per cent, both lowest this year so far, while 11 people died, according to the data.
 

The city's infection rate, which had reached to 36 per cent in the last week of April, has dipped below 0.20 per cent now.
 

Despite the recent fall in daily cases, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has cautioned that chances of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic are quite real, asserting that his government is preparing on a "war-footing" to combat it.
 

Delhi had been reeling under a brutal second wave of the pandemic.
 

9:19 PM

25% of Delhi's youth population has received at least one dose of Covid vaccine: Atishi

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi on Thursday said 25 per cent of the national capital's youth population has received at least one dose of Covid vaccine.
 

On Wednesday, 1,09,358 doses were administered and out of these, nearly 90,000 doses were given to those in the 18-44 years age group, she said while issuing the vaccination bulletin.

8:56 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Chandigarh reports 19 new cases

Chandigarh reports 19 new cases, 42 discharges today; the total number of active cases in the UT is 247

8:53 PM

Maharashtra: Nashik records 263 new cases

The count of Covid-19 cases in Nashik district of Maharashtra rose to 3,93,414 after 263 persons tested positive for the infection on Thursday, an official said.

 

Apart from this, the district reported four fresh casualties and 54 deaths that had gone unreported previously, taking the toll to 8,172, the official said.

 

Of the total number of Covid-19 cases, Nashik city alone accounted for 2,26,125, while 1,49,366 were from other parts of the district, 12,522 from Malegaon and 5,401 from outside the district, he said. (PTI)

8:50 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Punjab reports 392 fresh cases

8:21 PM

Coronavirus Latest: 3,979 new cases, 138 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka has reported 3,979 new cases of Covid-19 and 138 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 28.23 lakh and toll to 34,425, the health department said on Thursday.

 

The day also saw 9,768 discharges, continuing to outnumber the fresh cases, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 26,78,473.

 

Out of 3,979 new cases reported, 969 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 3,176 discharges and 14 deaths. (PTI)

8:15 PM

Nearly 73% SMBs unable to report profit due to lockdown: study

Nearly 73 per cent of small and micro business entities operating in the country were unable to report profits during the last financial year following the impact caused by the COVID-19 enforced lockdown, a report prepared by Consortium of Indian Associations (CIA) along with 40 other associations said on Thursday.

 

As many as 63 million micro, small enterprises and 40 million self-employed individuals were present in the country, the report said.

 

The respondents included 81,000 self-employed and micro, small businesses across the country comprising 49 per cent manufacturing segment, 15 per cent service providers, 14 per cent self-employed, consultants, start-ups, traders, food and hospitality sectors, CIA said. Read here

8:08 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Rajasthan reports 147 fresh infections

Total number of coronavirus cases in Rajasthan rises to 951,695 with 147 fresh infections: Official report

8:00 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi sees 109 fresh cases

7:38 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Class 10 and 12 exams cancelled in Andhra Pradesh

7:32 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana reports 1,088 fresh cases

7:05 PM

Kerala sees 12,708 new infections

Kerala recorded 12,708 fresh coronavirus cases, including 77 health workers, on Thursday while over 99,000 people are undergoing treatment for the disease.

 

As many as 11,469 people have been cured, taking the total recoveries to 27.41 lakh so far.

 

The cumulative cases have mounted to 28.55 lakh. (PTI)

6:52 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Keeping an eye on efforts by Bharat Biotech to get EUL from WHO

We are closely following the developments regarding efforts by Bharat Biotech to obtain Emergency Use Listing authorization from World Health Organisation: MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi

 

6:47 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tamil Nadu sees 6,162 fresh cases

6:26 PM

Daimler equips BharatBenz buses with virus-prevention features

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) on Thursday said it has launched features across its BharatBenz bus range to ensure safe public transport amid the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The company has rolled out 'BSafe' features, which include hands-free doors, sanitisers and temperature sensors, for its BharatBenz bus fleet to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection.

 

Daimler Bus India Head Karl-Alexander Seidel said in a statement, "In response to the need of the hour, our BharatBenz Bus fleet offers innovative solutions to mitigate virus transmission. These vehicles address people's apprehensions towards public transport by offering reassuring features in line with Covid-19 safety and hygiene protocols." (PTI)

6:02 PM

CEA expects food inflation to ease with unlock, good monsoon

Attributing the rise in food prices to restrictions imposed by several states during April-May to deal with the second wave of Covid-19, Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian said food inflation is likely to moderate on account of the twin impact of opening up of economic activities and good monsoon.

 

Moreover, the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) asserted that high food inflation has not impacted a large section of population as they are being given free ration under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

 

"Some of the increase in food inflation in the recent print has been because of the restrictions that have been placed...we even saw last year when the lockdown happened and the supply side was affected, impacting food inflation, which in turn then led to an impact on CPI inflation. (PTI)

5:41 PM

Uttarakhand CM residence being prepared for COVID-19 patients during third wave

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Thursday said he is preparing his official residence for the treatment of coronavirus patients during the third wave.

 

"There is no lack of preparedness to tackle the third wave. There are more Covid dedicated hospitals now. Two 500-bed hospitals each were developed with the help of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Rishikesh and Haldwani in addition to the existing ones," he told reporters here.

 

Rawat said district magistrates (DMs) have been asked to keep one or two hotels ready to be converted into Covid care centres if the need arises. (PTI)

5:24 PM

Pfizer says vaccine highly effective against Delta variant

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is highly effective against the Delta variant of Covid-19, a Pfizer official in Israel said on Thursday. First identified in India, Delta is becoming the globally dominant version of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. Read here

5:03 PM

Singapore to ramp up vaccination drive; increasing daily doses by 70%

Singapore will accelerate its national Covid-19 vaccination programme from Saturday and administer up to 80,000 vaccine doses daily, a 70 per cent increase from the 47,000 daily doses currently, the health ministry said on Thursday.

 

The ramp up is due to the delivery of vaccine supplies being brought forward, The Straits Times newspaper reported.

 

The health ministry expects to add another 500,000 new slots in the next few days for people making their first dose appointments from now till mid-July. (PTI)

4:44 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Goa minister lays out guidelines for tourists post unlock

4:28 PM

Post Covid Clinics will be set up in TN: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday said the government will set up Post Covid Clinics to attend to complications that may arise in patients who had suffered the disease.

 

Speaking in the Assembly, Stalin said that the budget to be presented in the House will contain the government's programmes, its journey towards that, the hindrances and the challenges and steps to overcome those hindrances.

 

Stalin said the Governor's address is like a movie trailer containing the policies of the government for a year. It cannot contain the government's five year plans and programmes.

 

Listing the various measures taken by the DMK government, Stalin said the first task of the government is to set right its treasury which is now in a bad shape. (IANS)

4:13 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 4,981 new cases in Andhra Pradesh in a single day

4:00 PM

Distribution of vaccines among states done in transparent manner: Centre

Allocation of Covid-19 vaccines to a state is done based on its population, caseload, utilisation efficiency and wastage factors, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday said and dismissed media reports alleging non-transparent distribution of the jabs.

 

The ministry said the allegations of non-transparent distribution of vaccines among states are "completely without any basis, and not fully informed".

 

It clarified that the Government of India continues to allocate Covid-19 vaccines to states and union territories in a transparent manner based on the population of a state, caseload, its utilisation efficiency and wastage factors. (PTI)

3:41 PM

Novel method to accurately, quickly detect Covid-19 from phone swabs

Researchers have developed a non-invasive and low-cost method that can accurately and rapidly detect Covid-19 using samples taken from the screens of smartphones.

 

The researchers from University College London (UCL) in the UK analysed swabs from mobile screens rather than directly from people using the method known as Phone Screen Testing (PoST).

 

They found that people who tested positive by the regular nasal swabbing PCR test were also positive when samples were taken from smartphone screens.

 

The new method, described in the journal eLife on Tuesday, detected the Covid-19 virus on the phones of 81 to 100 per cent of contagious people with a high viral load, suggesting it is as accurate as antigen tests. (PTI)

3:26 PM

Pakistan Covid caseload reaches 951,865

Pakistan recorded 1,097 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, raising the total infection tally to 951,865, official data showed Thursday.

 

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 38 patients died in the same period, raising the death toll to 22,108, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

There have been 896,821 recoveries so far in Pakistan, as well as 32,936 active cases being treated across the country, including 2,084 in critical condition, the NCOC said. (PTI)

3:07 PM

Covid testing scam: Uttarakhand HC grants protection to accused from arbitrary arrest

The Uttarakhand High Court has granted protection to executives of Max Corporate Services from arbitrary arrest in connection with the alleged fake Covid testing scam during the Haridwar Kumbh Mela and asked the agency to join the investigation.

 

Justice N S Dhanik on Wednesday granted protection to the accused from arbitrary arrest in the scam after the Delhi-based agency's partner Mallika Pant went to the court on behalf of the agency challenging the FIR against it, the petitioner's counsel Kartikey Hari Gupta said.

 

However, the court asked the agency to cooperate in the investigation and appear before the investigation officer in the case on Friday, he said. (PTI)