Covid LIVE: PM says stimulus package will boost production, create jobs

Today's coronavirus numbers: Bengaluru (788 cases), Mumbai (746 cases), Chennai (308 cases), Kolkata (191 cases), Delhi (89 cases). Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:15 AM

Over 34,000 children have tested Covid-19 positive during second wave of pandemic in Assam

Altogether 34,066 children below the age of 18 years have tested positive for Covid-19 during the second wave of the pandemic in Assam, Director, National Health Mission of the state, Dr Lakshmanan S said on Monday.
 

This accounts for 12 per cent of the total cases reported since April this year.
 

A total of 5,755 cases are children below five years whereas 28,851 are between 6 and 18 years.
 

Of the 34,066 positive cases, 34 children, mostly with comorbidities, have succumbed to the infection, he said.
 

Most of them had comorbidities like congenital diseases of the heart, kidney, rare malformations and others, especially among those less than five years of age.
 

Kamrup Metro has the highest caseload with 5,346 children found to be infected by the virus. This comprises 10.04 per cent of the total caseload of 53,251 in the district.
 

Dibrugarh follows next with 2,430 Covid-19 cases among children, which accounts for 12.19 per cent of the total 19,937 Covid19 cases in the district.
 

Nagaon is placed third with 2,288 cases below 18 years and this stands at 14.38 per cent of the total 15,910 cases.
 

Kamrup Rural is placed fourth with 2,023 coronavirus cases among children, which stands at 11.75 per cent of the total 17,216 cases.
 

2:14 AM

Bengal reports 32 more Covid deaths, 1,761 fresh cases

West Bengal's Covid-19 toll rose to 17,644 after 32 more people succumbed to the disease on Monday, the health department said in a bulletin.
 

The tally mounted to 14,96,710 after 1,761 new people tested positive for the disease, it added.
 

While North 24 Parganas district accounted for nine fatalities, seven deaths were registered in Kolkata.
 

At least 2,033 recoveries were recorded in the state in the last 24 hours improving the discharge rate to 97.38 per cent.

West Bengal now has 21,580 active cases.
 

Since Sunday, 50,005 samples were tested for coronavirus, taking the total number of such tests to 1,41,11,051, the bulletin said.
 

Altogether 2,93,491 people were inoculated against Covid-19 on Monday.
 

The West Bengal government announced a state holiday on July 1 in honour of the doctors who have been fighting against the disease, an official said.
 

July 1 is celebrated as National Doctors' day in India as a mark of respect to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, renowned physician and the second chief minister of West Bengal, on his birth and death anniversary.

9:03 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Measures announced by FM will boost India's engagement with the world, says Jaishankar

8:46 PM

40,845 cases of black fungus reported in India so far: Harsh Vardhan

A total of 40,845 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis have been reported in the country so far, of which 31,344 are rhinocerebral in nature, and the death toll from the infections stands at 3,129, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.

 

Vardhan, who chaired the 29th meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on Covid-19, apprised the members that of the total numbers, 34,940 patients had Covid (85.5 per cent), 26,187 (about 64.11 per cent) were co-morbid for diabetes, while 21,523 (52.69 per vent) of those infected were on steroids.

 

A total of 13,083 patients were in the age group of 18-45 years (32 per cent), 17,464 were in the age group of 45-60 years (42 per cent), while 10,082 (24 per cent) patients were 60-plus years of age, a health ministry statement said. (PTI)

8:22 PM

Covid LIVE: PM says stimulus package will boost production, create jobs

Prime Minister Modi has said that the measures announced by the Finance Minister today will help to stimulate economic activities, boost production & exports and generate employment. He also underlined the measures taken for healthcare, healthcare facilities for children, farmers, small entrepreneurs and self-employed persons. Read full government release here

7:53 PM

Over 50 countries interested in Co-WIN, India ready to share open source software free: R S Sharma

About 50 countries, including Canada, Mexico, Nigeria and Panama, have shown interest in having a Co-WIN like system to run their vaccination drive, a senior official said Monday, adding India is ready to share the open source software free of cost.

 

Dr R S Sharma, the chairman of the empowered group for Covid-19 vaccine administration, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed officials to create an open source version of the platform and give it free of cost to any country that wants it.

 

"The Cowin platform has become so popular that as many as 50 countries from central Asia, Latin America, Africa all showed interest in having a Co-win like system," Sharma said at the second Public Health Summit 2021 on 'Emerging Imperatives in Strengthening Public Health for India' organised by Confederation of Indian Industry. (PTI)

7:36 PM

Switzerland eases restrictions for travellers entry for those fully vaccinated

The Swiss Federal Council has initiated the process of accepting visas for Switzerland from several countries including India, the embassy of Embassy Switzerland based in New Delhi announced on Monday.

 

"The Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi is currently accepting all visa categories for persons coming from third countries such as India...who can prove that they have been fully vaccinated." the Embassy said.

 

Apart from this, Switzerland made it clear that travellers from India and other countries will have to follow quarantine and other mandatory Covid-19 protocols in Switzerland. The announcement has been made for issuing a Schengen visa (Type C) for Switzerland for people willing to travel the country. (PTI)

7:07 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Goa sees 138 fresh cases

7:03 PM

Japan ups health controls as Olympic athlete tests positive

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged Monday to strengthen health controls at airports after a Ugandan Olympic team member tested positive for Covid-19 at the town hosting their training camp, triggering concerns that the upcoming games will spread infections.

 

A Ugandan team member, reportedly a coach, tested positive on Saturday at Tokyo's Narita airport and was quarantined there. But the rest of the nine-person team was allowed to travel more than 500 kilometers (300 miles) on a chartered bus to their pre-Olympics camp in the western prefecture of Osaka.

 

Three days later, a second Ugandan also tested positive for the virus, forcing seven town officials and drivers who had close contacts with the team to self-isolate. The team members were quarantined at a local hotel. (PTI)

6:29 PM

Mumbai's 50% pediatric population has Covid antibodies

In a significant finding, a sero-survey conducted by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revealed that 50 per cent of the pediatric population in Mumbai has developed Covid-19 antibodies, ahead of the anticipated third wave of the pandemic, a top official said here on Monday.

 

BMC Commissioner I.S. Chahal said that even the proportion of the pediatric population having antibodies has shown an increase, as per the survey, the fourth of its kind conducted between April 1 and June 15.

 

While the sero-positivity is highest -- 53.43 per cent -- in the 10-14 age group, it is 51.04 per cent for 1-4, 47.33 per cent for 5-9 and 51.39 per cent for 15-18 age groups. (IANS)

6:00 PM

West Bengal extends restrictions till July 15 with some relaxations

The West Bengal Government on Monday extended the Covid restrictions till July 15 while allowing several relaxations.

 

Briefing mediapersons, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Covid-19 restrictions will remain into effect till July 15. Private and corporates offices can remain open from 10 am to 4 pm with 50 per cent capacity. Salons, beauty parlors will be allowed to open from 11 am to 6 pm with 50 per cent seating capacity provided staff has to be vaccinated. Fitness centres or gyms have been allowed to open with 50 per cent occupancy."

 

The chief minister said the local train and metro services will remain closed. However, public transport will be allowed with 50 per cent capacity. (ANI)

5:48 PM

Govt discussing ways to approve Pfizer, Moderna's Covid vaccines at the earliest, says Paul

Govt discussing ways to approve Pfizer, Moderna's COVID vaccines for inoculation in India at the earliest, says Paul

5:38 PM

No scientific data so far to show Delta plus variant adversely impacts vaccine efficacy, says V K Paul

No scientific data so far to show Delta plus variant adversely impacts vaccine efficacy, says V K Paul

5:32 PM

AstraZeneca vaccine immune response higher with longer gap, third dose

Immune responses to the AstraZeneca Plc Covid-19 vaccine improve with a longer gap of up to 45 weeks between doses, with a third shot able to boost antibody levels even further, according to a study.

 

Leaving a gap of as long as 10 months between the first and second doses increased the level of protective antibodies, according to research from the University of Oxford published Monday. The researchers were also able to show for the first time that a booster dose induced a strong response and increased activity against variants. Read here

5:29 PM

Coronavirus Latest: Ladakh reports 23 new cases, tally 19,964

Ladakh recorded 23 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, taking the infection tally to 19,964. officials said.

 

Twenty-three more people were discharged from hospitals, taking the overall recoveries to 19,481, they said.

 

Officials said 10 patients in Leh and 13 in Kargil were discharged.

 

The number of active cases currently stands at 281, of which 229 are in Leh and 52 are in Kargil district, officials said. (PTI)

5:26 PM

Large part of FM's stimulus package will work only in medium-term

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s new deal as Covid-19 relief is based on three prongs: More guarantees by the government to improve flow of credit to vulnerable and important sectors; direct action when it comes to health; and support for the poor and farming community. These measures are timely and will help alleviate the hardships of the concerned sectors. But these again are supply side measures and not on the demand side. A large part of the package will work only in the medium-term. Read here

4:51 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Andhra Pradesh sees 2,224 fresh cases in a day

4:42 PM

Economic revival: FM Sitharaman raises ECLGS scheme limit to Rs 4.5 trn

To help revival of the economy battered by Covid-19, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced a slew of measures, including Rs 1.1 lakh crore (Rs 1.1 trillion) credit guarantee scheme for improving health infrastructure, and enhancing the limit under the ECLGS by 50 per cent to Rs 4.5 lakh crore for the MSME sector facing liquidity crunch.
 

Sharing the details of stimulus package, the finance minister said this comprises eight relief measures and other eight measures to support the economic growth. Read here

4:23 PM

LIVE: FM announces new streamlined process for PPP projects and asset monetisation

States have already been allowed additional borrowing for four years up to 0.5% of GSDP annually (Rs 1,05,864 crore for 2021-22 crore) subject to carrying out specific power sector reforms.
 

New streamlined process for PPP projects and asset monetisation: New policy to be formulated for appraisal and approval of PPP proposals and monetisation of core infra assets, including through InvITs

4:13 PM

LIVE: FM announces extension of PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing

• The tenure of the PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing has been extended by a year till 2025-26, says FM.

• Participating companies will be allowed to choose any five years to meet the production targets under the scheme

4:11 PM

LIVE: Total outlay has reached Rs 61,109 crore under Digital India mission, says FM

To give a boost to Digital India, an additional amount of Rs 19,041 crore to be provided to BharatNet to take broadband to each village of the country. Total Outlay has reached Rs 61,109 crore, including the already approved Rs 42,068 crore in 2017.

4:10 PM

LIVE: Govt to infuse more equity in ECGC to boost export insurance cover by Rs 88,000 cr

LIVE: Govt to infuse more equity in ECGC to boost export insurance cover by Rs 88,000 cr

4:05 PM

LIVE: Govt to infuse more equity in ECGC to enable it to extend Rs 88,000 crore in export insurance

• Project exports through the National Export Insurance Account to get a Rs 33,000-crore boost over the next five years

• Govt to infuse more equity in ECGC to enable it to extend Rs 88,000 crore in export insurance

3:59 PM

LIVE: Farmers in NE to get 10-15% higher price for their produce, says FM

Farmers in NE to get 10-15% higher price for their produce through removal of middlemen and agents

3:58 PM

LIVE: North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation to get an infusion of Rs 77.45 cr, says FM

The North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation to get an infusion of Rs 77.45 crore for financial restructuring and revival

3:54 PM

LIVE: FM announces measures for doubling farming income

Impetus for growth and employment

• ICAR has developed bio-fortified crop varieties having high nutrients like protein iron, zinc and Vitamin A

• These varieties are tolerant to diseases, insects, pests, drought, salinity and flooding. These will help augment farmers' income

3:50 PM

LIVE: FM says govt will spend Rs 23,220 cr this fiscal year for paediatric care

New scheme focused on short-term emergency preparedness with a special emphasis on children and paediatric care

3:43 PM

LIVE: FM reiterates 5 kg of free food grains will be provided to the poor

• Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana: 5 kg of food grains to be provided free of cost to NFSA beneficiaries from May to November 2021

• Estimated financial implication: Rs 93,869 crore, bringing the total cost to Rs 2,27,841 crore 

3:40 PM

LIVE: Additional subsidy of Rs 14,775 crore to be provided for DAP and NPK fertilisers, says FM

Additional subsidy of Rs 14,775 crore to be provided for DAP and NPK fertilisers. Rs 9,125 crore for DAP and Rs 5,650 crore for NPK-based complex fertilisers

3:34 PM

LIVE: Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana to be extended to March 31, 2022, says FM

• Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana to be extended to March 31, 2022, says FM

• Benefit of Rs 902 crore given under the scheme to 2.14 million beneficiaries of 79,577 establishments till June 18, 2021