Covid LIVE: Assam logs 1,120 new COVID-19 cases, 17 more fatalities

Coronvirus live updates: Indian researchers find mixing doses of 2 vaccines is safe; USA's Anthony Fauci supports booster shots.

1:12 AM

Assam logs 1,120 new COVID-19 cases, 17 more fatalities

Assam on Monday reported 17 more COVID-19 deaths, which took the toll to 5,404, according to a bulletin issued by the National Health Mission. The coronavirus caseload in the northeastern state mounted 5,75,220 with 1,120 new cases, it said.

 

Of the fresh fatalities, three were recorded in Golaghat district, two each in Hojai, Kamrup Rural and Karimganj and one each in Cachar, Darrang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Jorhat, Kamrup Metro, Nagaon and Sonitpur.

 

Currently, the COVID death rate is at 0.94 per cent, and 1,347 coronavirus-positive patients have died in the state due to other ailments. Of the new cases, 197 were reported from Kamrup Metro,74 from Barpeta, 68 from Golaghat and 67 from Lakhimpur.

12:18 AM

Why Delta variant of Covid-19 is making herd immunity harder

Many countries are counting on vaccines to build sufficient immunity in their populations so that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, isn’t able to find enough people to infect, causing transmission to eventually stop. But even in countries with a high proportion of people inoculated with highly effective vaccines, it’s unclear if it’s possible to reach the so-called herd immunity threshold anytime soon.

 

Will vaccines eliminate Covid-19?

 

There’s considerable uncertainty about that. One scientific paper calculated that if a vaccine could provide a lifelong, fail-safe shield against infection with SARS-CoV-2, it would need to reach 60-72 per cent of people to establish herd immunity. READ MORE...

11:56 PM

Bangladesh records 11,463 new COVID-19 cases, 245 more deaths

Bangladesh reported 11,463 new COVID-19 cases and 245 new deaths on Monday, making the tally at 1,365,158 and death toll at 22,897, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

 

The official data showed that 47,207 samples were tested in the last 24 hours as of 8:00 a.m. local time Monday across Bangladesh.

 

The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 1,219,859 including 14,412 new recoveries Monday, said the DGHS. According to the official data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is now 1.68 percent and the current recovery rate is 89.36 percent. Bangladesh recorded the highest daily new cases of 16,230 on July 28 and the highest number of deaths of 264 on Aug. 5.

9:57 PM

Doctors to visit every house to screen people for COVID-19

To detect COVID-19 cases, the city civic body - Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) - would launch a programme involving doctors making door-to- door visits, Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said on Monday.

 

The Minister, who held a meeting with officials of the civic body to assess the COVID-19 situation, said the programme would be launched on August 16.

 

To start with, two wards would be selected in each Assembly segment, he said. A team of doctors, paramedics and ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers would visit every house and screen the households. For this, an app has been developed wherein the patients would be screened for any symptoms and co-morbidities.

 

9:03 PM

Maha sees 4,505 Covid-19 cases, 68 deaths, 7,568 recoveries

Maharashtra on Monday reported 4,505 new coronavirus positive cases and 68 fatalities while 7,568 patients recovered, a health department official said.

 

With the new additions, Maharashtra's tally of infections and the death toll climbed to 63,57,833 and 1,34,064, respectively. The total number of recoveries in the state stands at 61,51,956 and active cases at 68,375.

 

Notably, Dhule, Nandurbar, Parbhani, Akola, Wardha, and Gondia districts and Dhule, Parbhani and Chandrapur municipal corporations did not report any new coronavirus case during the day, the official said.

 

Maharashtra's case recovery rate now stands at 96.76 per cent and the fatality rate is 2.01 per cent. Mumbai city saw 218 new cases and three deaths while Pune added 139 new infections but did not report any fatality.

8:36 PM

1,929 new cases in Tamil Nadu

8:29 PM

Covid curfew in Uttarakhand

7:41 PM

Delhi govt issues guidelines for partial re-opening of schools

7:22 PM

Passport of foreign nationals residing in India needed for CoWIN registration

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken a decision to allow foreign nationals residing in India to get registered on CoWin portal to take Covid vaccine. They can use their passport as identity document for the purpose of registration on CoWIN portal. Once they are registered on this portal, they will get a slot for vaccination.

6:57 PM

13,049 fresh Covid-19 cases, 105 more deaths in Kerala

Kerala on Monday reported 13,049 fresh COVID cases pushing the total infection caseload to 35,65,574, with the number of people succumbing to the virus rising to 17,852 after 105 more deaths, PTI reported.

As many as 20,004 people have been cured of the infection since Sunday, taking the total recoveries to 33,77,691 and the number of active cases in the state to1,69,512, a state government release said.

In the last 24 hours, 98,640 samples were tested and the TPR was found to be 13.23 per cent.

6:34 PM

UNSC debate: Must keep fiscal sustainability in mind, says PM on infra for maritime trade

6:31 PM

UNSC debate: PM Modi calls for an inclusive framework on maritime security

6:20 PM

We should remove barriers to maritime trade: PM Modi at UNSC debate

6:19 PM

PM Modi proposes five principles for maritime security at UNSC debate

6:08 PM

PM Modi chairs UNSC debate

4:27 PM

Vaccination drive a huge confidence booster for tourism: Kishan Reddy

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), G Kishan Reddy said that the Covid vaccination  crossing the landmark of 500 million doses would serve as a huge confidence booster for tourism.

 

“With 50 crore #COVID vaccines administered, we have proven to the world that India is emerging from the pandemic with the concerted efforts of our people, health care providers & the @narendramodi govt! #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine," the minister tweeted.

4:08 PM

Night curfew in Haryana discontinued till Aug 23

3:56 PM

Delhi sees 39 new cases, 1 death in last 24 hours

3:20 PM

Odisha govt issues instructions for conduct of puja in pandals

2:17 PM

Fort Kochi Beach opens for visitors

1:28 PM

Australia to get first Moderna doses next month

Moderna next month will become the third Covid-19 vaccine available in Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Australian vaccine regulator approved the Moderna shot Monday for adults, the AP reported.

1:15 PM

Puducherry reports 63 new cases

Puducherry reported 63 new cases during of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours to take its total to 121,665. Deaths from the disease remained at 1,800 after no new fatality was reported, PTI reported quoting the health department.

12:46 PM

Supreme Court seeks govt report on medical oxygen supply

The Supreme Court asked on Monday the government to give it within two weeks a report explaining how it has acted on the recommendations of a National Task Force on allocating medical oxygen to states and union territories in the pandemic. More about the story here

12:15 PM

SC asks govt respond to plead on Covid vaccines

Supreme Court seeks the central government’s response to a plea calling for disclosing data of clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines, reports PTI.

12:07 PM

Canada allows vaccinated US citizens to visit again

Canada on Monday is lifting its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but the United States is keeping similar restrictions in place for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from Covid-19 travel bans. US citizens and legal permanent residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to get across one of the world's longest and busiest land borders, the AP reported. 

10:51 AM

Karnataka CM to review Covid handling

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will visit border districts to review their handling of the pandemic. "I will be traveling in Mysuru district today. I will have a discussion with officials on the COVID situation there. In the same way, I have decided to visit all the border districts, where there are more COVID cases," he said Monday, according to PTI.

10:40 AM

China's outbreak enters third week

China reported more Covid-19 cases as it entered the third week of its current outbreak on Monday, while some cities added rounds of mass testing in the effort to stamp out locally-transmitted infections. The highly infectious Delta variant has been detected in more than a dozen cities since July 20, Reuters reported.

 

10:29 AM

HC asks Kerala govt to explain crowds at vaccination centres

The Kerala High Court has asked the state to explain how it’s controlling crowds at vaccination centres. "Steps taken to reduce crowding at Covid centres should also be explained with supporting documents," said the bench after news reports of crowding.

9:57 AM

India’s active cases drop by 4,634

India’s active Covid-19 cases—infections being treated—dropped by 4,634 in 24 hours to reach 402,188 in total, said the health ministry on Monday. As many as 39,686 people were declared cured in 24 hours.

9:34 AM

Goa extends curfew

Goa extended on Sunday extended until August 16 a curfew to slow down Covid-19 cases, changing the August 9 date set before. The state allows most business activities, except casinos.