Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala reports 13,658 new cases; 4,506 in Tamil Nadu

Today's coronavirus numbers: Bengaluru (753 cases), Mumbai 562 cases), Chennai (275 cases), Kolkata (191 cases), Delhi (59 cases). Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:47 AM

Manipur extends Covid curfew till July 10

The Manipur government on Wednesday extended the coronavirus-induced curfew in seven districts of the state till July 10, a notification said.
 

The restrictions were scheduled to end on June 30.
 

The curfew was first imposed on May 8 and repeatedly extended in the districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Churachandpur and Ukhrul due to a surge in coronavirus cases.
 

As per the fresh order issued by Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, agriculture, horticulture, MGNREGA works will be allowed, and stationary and optician shops outside the main markets of Thangal Bazaar and Paona Bazaar may open from 10 AM to 2 PM when grocery shops are closed.
 

Vegetable vendors and grocery shops may open from 7 AM to 10 AM on July 1, 4, 7 and 10, it said.
 

The Manipur High Court may decide its activities, based on various measures taken by the government, as deemed appropriate, the order stated.
 

"The Covid situation in the state has improved compared to May 2021. However, a careful approach along with mass vaccination is required to ensure the pandemic is controlled," it said.
 

"Further opening-up will depend on the Covid scenario and the progress in vaccination," the order added.
 

1:46 AM

New Covid-19 cases drop below 15,000 in West Bengal

Almost after three months, West Bengal's daily Covid-19 count on Wednesday was recorded below the 1,500-mark with 1,478 new cases, the health department said.
 

The death toll rose to 17,708 after 29 fresh fatalities were registered in the state.
 

All of the 29 deaths were due to comorbidities where Covid-19 was incidental, the health department bulletin said.
 

The states coronavirus tally now stands at 14,99,783.
 

North 24 Parganas district accounted for 10 Covid-19 deaths while seven patients in the city succumbed to the infection, the bulletin said.
 

As many as 1,980 people have been cured of the disease since Tuesday improving the recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state to 97.45 per cent.
 

A total of 14,61,490 people have recovered from the infection as of date.
 

The state now has 20, 585 active coronavirus cases.
 

West Bengal has tested 53,975 samples for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
 

Meanwhile, 1,70,869 people in the state have been inoculated on Wednesday, a health department official said.
 

10:21 PM

Maharashtra reports 9,771 new Covid-19 cases, 141 deaths; 10,353 recover

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 9,771 new cases of Covid-19, taking the tally to 60,61,404, while the death toll rose to 1,21,945 after 141 patients succumbed to the infection, according to a health department official.
 

The state reported about 1,700 more cases, but 90 less fatalities as compared to Tuesday, when the new infections stood at 8,085 and the deaths at 231.
 

The official said as many as 10,353 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, pushing the number of recovered cases to 58,19,901.
 

The state now has 1,16,364 active Covid-19 cases.
 

Maharashtra's Covid-19 recovery rate is 96.02 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.01 per cent, he said.
 

According to the official, out of 4,16,37,950 Covid-19 tests conducted so far, 60,61,404 have tested positive for coronavirus, reflecting a case positivity rate of 14.56 per cent.
 

Currently, 6,17,926 people are in home quarantine and 4,173 in institutional quarantine, he said.
 

According to the official, Mumbai reported 706 new Covid-19 cases, taking the tally to 7,22,222, while the death toll increased to 15,451 with the addition of 25 fresh fatalities.
 

10:19 PM

10-day unlock to begin in Nagaland from Thursday

A 10-day unlock will begin in Nagaland from Thursday after a month-and-half-long lockdown imposed in view of a surge in coronavirus cases, a notification said.
 

The lockdown, imposed on May 14 and repeatedly extended, ended on Wednesday, following which Unlock-1 will come into force from July 1-10.
 

The decision was taken at the June 28 meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
 

Shops dealing with all kinds of goods are permitted to remain open from 6 AM to 2 PM, the order issued by Chief Secretary J Alam on Wednesday said.
 

Shops dealing with essential goods like vegetables, fish, meat, milk, groceries and LPG cylinders can remain open on all days, while those selling other items are allowed to open on alternate days for which a rotational arrangement will be put in place by the district task force, it said.
 

Every shop has to keep hand sanitiser for use by visitors and display vaccination status of employees. Salons can open only if the staffers are vaccinated.
 

All government offices will open with 50 per cent staff, while the remaining half will work from home, he said, adding private offices can also function with up to 50 per cent staff.
 

The duration of the ban on the movement of people and vehicles barring those with permits has been reduced to 7 PM to 4 AM from earlier 4 PM to 5 AM.
 

10:18 PM

Rajasthan records 3 Covid deaths, 100 fresh cases

Rajasthan recorded three coronavirus deaths and 100 positive cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of fatalities and positive cases to 8,921 and 9,52,422 respectively.
 

Jaipur, Alwar and Banswara recorded one death each, according to an official report.
 

Of the fresh positive cases, maximum of 43 were reported from Jaipur.
 

A total of 9,42,030 persons have recovered from the infection so far and the number of active cases at present is 1,471. 
 

10:18 PM

Himachal transport corporation suffered Rs 105 crore loss during 2nd wave: Minister

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) suffered losses amounting to Rs 105 crore during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Transport Minister Bikram Singh said on Wednesday.
 

He told the media here that the overall losses of the HRTC were Rs 950 crore at the moment due to Covid and non-Covid reasons.
 

The services of 317 interstate buses is set to resume after 52 days in the state from July 1 following Covid protocols.
 

The interstate bus service was suspended on May 10 during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19.
 

Earlier, the services within the state were resumed on June 14 on around one-third of the total routes with the maximum of 50 per cent occupancy.
 

However, the HRTC is currently facing losses in operating the intrastate buses as they are being run with only 40 percent passengers.
 

The HRTC has been struggling to pay salaries to its employees on time for the last several months.
 

But the minister said on Wednesday, "We have fixed the salary issues of our employees." "The pensions of HRTC pensioners are getting delayed but we are trying to sort it out." He added.
 

10:17 PM

Gujarat extends deadline for Covid-19 vaccination of commercial unit owners, staff

The Gujarat government on Wednesday extended the deadline by ten days for the owners, operators and employees of commercial units in the state's 18 cities to get compulsorily vaccinated against Covid-19.
 

The state home department said in a notification that its earlier deadline for the owners, operators and employees of commercial units in 18 cities, and others involved in trade activities with all such facilities, to get vaccinated till June 30 has been extended by ten days to July 10.
 

The government's decision comes as a large number of people involved in commercial units in the 18 cities are yet to be inoculated against coronavirus due to a short supply of vaccines.
 

Over the last few days, there has been a rush of people at vaccination centres in these cities due to the previous notification issued on June 25.
 

The 18 cities, where the compulsory vaccination rule for people linked to commercial activities is applicable, are: Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Gandhinagar, Gandhidham, Bhuj, Morbi, Patan, Valsad, Mehsana, Bharuch, Navsari, Ankleshwar and Vapi.
 

10:17 PM

Putin reveals he was vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik

President Vladimir Putin revealed Wednesday that he had received the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine earlier this year, stressing the importance of getting vaccinated amid a surge of new coronavirus infections and deaths in Russia.
 

During an annual call-in show taking pore-screened questions, Putin voiced hope the immunisation drive could help avoid a nationwide lockdown.
 

Russia on Wednesday reported 21,042 new infections and 669 deaths — similar to numbers it has been reporting daily since June 24. The number of reported deaths was a record for a single day for the country.
 

While reaffirming his position that vaccinations should be voluntary, Putin emphasised that decisions by local authorities in regions across Russia that made shots mandatory for some workers should help contain the surge.
 

Those decisions were based on the law and “aimed at avoiding the need for a lockdown, when entire enterprises shut down and people are left without their jobs, without their salaries,” Putin said.
 

9:09 PM

Delhi reports 94 new Covid positive cases, six deaths

The national capital on Wednesday reported 94 new Covid cases with six deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily Covid positivity rate was at 0.12 per cent, according to a health bulletin issued by the Delhi government. The death toll in Delhi due to the Covid pandemic has risen to 24,977 till Wednesday.

 

In the last 24 hours, a total of 240 people recovered from the disease, taking the national capital's total number of recoveries to 14,07,832 till date.

 

A total of 79,935 Covid samples were tested in the last 24 hours, including 56,899 through RT-PCR and 23,036 through the Rapid Antigen method. Furthermore, in an improvement indicator in the Covid situation in Delhi, the active cases have reduced to 1,379, which during the peak of the second wave was close to 1 lakh.

8:59 PM

Serum Institute expects EU regulatory nod for Covishield in a month

The Serum Institute of India expects European drug regulators will approve Covishield -- the Covid-19 shot it manufactures in partnership with AstraZeneca Plc -- in a few weeks, paving way for it to be added to the region’s ‘Green Pass’ list.
 

The world’s biggest vaccine maker is “quite confident” that the European Medicines Agency will approve the shot in a month, Serum’s Chief Executive Office Adar Poonawalla said at the India Global Forum Wednesday. Serum has applied through AstraZeneca, he said, and it was “just a matter of time” since the vaccine was approved by the World Health Organization and the U.K.’s health care regulator. READ MORE...

8:53 PM

Telangana reports 917 new Covid cases, 1,006 recoveries, and 10 deaths in a day

Telangana reports 917 new Covid cases, 1,006 recoveries, and 10 deaths in a day.

 

Active cases: 13,388

Total recoveries: 6,06,461

Death toll: 3,661

8:22 PM

Covid in children often asymptomatic, 2-3% infected kids may require hospitalization: V K Paul

COVID-19 in children is often asymptomatic and rarely require hospitalisation, however it is possible that a small percentage of children who get infected may need hospitalization and the Centre is making all adequate arrangements in terms of healthcare infrastructure to provide effective care and treatment to them, accroding to the Union health ministry.

 

The ministry on Wednesday put out a statement detailing responses by experts over several questions raised in the media regarding higher vulnerability of children to get adversely impacted by COVID-19 during the subsequent waves.

 

Dr VK Paul, Member Health at NITI Aayog said that COVID-19 in children is often asymptomatic and rarely require hospitalisation.

8:16 PM

Tamil Nadu reports 4,506 new Covid cases, 5,537 recoveries, and 113 deaths in a day

Tamil Nadu reports 4,506 new Covid positive cases, 5,537 recoveries, and 113 deaths today.

 

Active cases: 38,191

Total recoveries: 24,08,886

Death toll: 32,619

8:15 PM

No scientific evidence found linking Covid vaccination with infertility: Govt

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday said that there is no scientific evidence suggesting COVID-19 vaccination can cause infertility in men and women and asserted the vaccines have been found to be safe and effective.

 

It further said that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has also recommended Covid vaccination for all lactating women, terming it as safe with no need to stop or pause breastfeeding before or after the inoculation.

 

The statement by the ministry comes in the wake of media reports expressing concerns regarding infertility due to COVID-19 vaccination among population of reproductive age and whether the vaccination is safe for lactating women.

7:40 PM

Serum Institute ramping up vaccine production: CEO Adar Poonawalla

7:31 PM

Vladimir Putin says he remains opposed to compulsory Covid vaccinations in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been confirmed with high-level antibodies against COVID-19 virus after being inoculated with Sputnik V vaccine, on Wednesday said he remains opposed to compulsory coronavirus vaccinations for Russians, even as the country faces a deadly third coronavirus wave.

 

"I said once as you remember that I don't support compulsory vaccination. And I continue to adhere to the same point of view, " Putin said during his annual "Direct Line" call-in television show, responding to citizens questions, the Russian news agency TASS reported.

 

The 68-year-old Russian leader was quoted by The Washington Post as saying: "The only way to prevent the pandemic from developing further is vaccination," he said. "I hope that the prejudices among people will decrease."

7:15 PM

562 Covid recoveries, 364 new cases in Jammu and Kashmir

Recoveries continued to outnumber new Covid cases in J&K on Wednesday as 562 patients recovered while 364 new cases and 7 deaths were reported during the last 24 hours.

 

Officials said the new cases comprised 149 from the Jammu division and 215 from the Kashmir division.

 

No new case of black fungus was reported, and the tally stayed at 29. As many as 315,662 people have been infected with coronavirus so far out of which 306,739 have recovered, and 4,323 have succumbed.

7:13 PM

Ready to build idle vaccine capacities via long-term contracts: Adar Poonawalla

Serum Institute has offered to create large-scale empty vaccine manufacturing capacities to some regions which do not have substantial vaccine manufacturing capacities as preparedness for future pandemics, CEO Adar Poonawalla said.

 

Poonawalla, the CEO of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volumes, was speaking at the Indian Global Forum. READ ON...

7:03 PM

Karnataka reports 3,382 new coronavirus cases and 111 deaths in past 24 hours

Karnataka reports 3,382 new coronavirus cases, 12,763 discharges and 111 deaths in the past 24 hours.

 

Active cases: 76,505

Total recoveries: 27,32,242

Death toll: 35,040

6:39 PM

Odisha halts vaccination drive in 11 districts due to 'shortage' of Covishield doses

The Odisha government on Wednesday stopped the COVID-19 vaccination drive in 11 districts due to an "acute shortage" of Covishield doses, officials said.

 

The inoculation exercise was temporarily halted during the day in Angul, Bolangir, Balasore, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Koraput and Sonepur , they said.

 

The authorities were administering over 3 lakh doses of the vaccines to eligible beneficiaries every day since June 21 after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had asked officials to accelerate the inoculation process before the possible third wave of COVID-19.

6:17 PM

Kerala reports 13,658 new Covid cases, 11,808 recoveries and 142 deaths

6:13 PM

Shortage of doses at vaccination centre in Guwahati

6:05 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 3,797 new Covid cases and 35 deaths in last 24 hours

Andhra Pradesh reports 3,797 new Covid positive cases, 5,498 recoveries and 35 deaths in the last 24 hours.

 

Total cases: 18,89,513

Total recoveries: 18,38,469

Death toll: 12,706

 

Active cases 38,338

5:49 PM

Mizoram's Covid tally tops 20,000-mark with 256 fresh cases

Mizoram reported 256 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, raising the tally past the 20,000-mark, a health department official said. The total number of infections rose to 20,075 with a single-day positivity rate of 7.27 per cent, he said.

 

The new cases - the highest of 154 from Aizawl - include 68 children.

 

Mizoram now has 4,471 active cases, while 15,512 people have recovered from the disease. The death toll stood at 92. The state has so far tested over 4.85 lakh samples for COVID-19, the official said. According to State Immunisation Officer Lalzawmi, more than 5 lakh people have been vaccinated till Tuesday.

5:38 PM

People living with HIV/AIDS may be less susceptible to Covid: AIIMS study

The presence of antibodies, or the seroprevelance against the SARS-CoV-2 was found to be lower among people living with HIV and AIDS according to a study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

 

In the observational prospective cohort study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, researchers conducted the study of 164 PLHAs or people living with HIV/AIDS (aged a mean of 41.2 years), recruited from the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centre at AIIMS between September 1 and November 30 last year.

 

The antibody prevalence was found to be 14 per cent among the 164 persons with HIV/AIDS, who visited the hospital for their anti-retroviral therapy.

5:22 PM

Covid death toll in Odisha crosses 4,000-mark

Odisha's COVID-19 death toll breached the 4,000-mark on Wednesday as the state reported 48 more fatalities due to the infection, the highest single-day count, a health department official said.

 

The new fatalities raised the toll to 4,018, he said.

 

At least 3,371 fresh coronavirus cases pushed the tally to 9,09,800.

5:12 PM

Partial lockdown to continue in Odisha till July 16

5:04 PM

Indian banks will face heat of second Covid wave in H1 of FY22: S&P

Indian banks face systemic risks as the country wades through the aftermath of the Covid second wave. The banking sector's weak loans are likely to remain elevated at 11-12 per cent of gross loans in the next 12-18 months, according to Standard and Poor's (S&P).

 

The second wave will impair the performance of Indian financial institutions in the first half of fiscal 2022, with much resting on the effectiveness of government measures to address this problem. READ MORE...

4:45 PM

Bengal govt taking strong action against fake vaccine scam: CM Mamata Banerjee

4:33 PM

Candidates can opt out of CA exams if they, family members suffer from Covid: SC

Observing that the scheme provided by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is not enough, the Supreme Court Wednesday permitted candidates scheduled to appear for the upcoming CA exams to opt out if they or their family members have suffered from COVID-19.

 

A three-judge bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Aniruddha Bose also made it clear that a candidate need not produce RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test if medical certificate issued by registered medical practitioners for his family members is produced along with request for opting out.