Covid LIVE: Maharashtra scraps RT-PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers

Coronavirus live updates: Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya denies vaccine shortage in states as Delhi is said to be running low in its reserves.

11:54 PM

Punjab records 105 fresh Covid cases, three deaths in a day

With 105 new cases, the virus tally in Punjab on Thursday reached 5,98,027 and three more deaths took the toll to 16,212, the medical bulletin said.

 

One death each was reported from Faridkot, Fazilka and Ludhiana. The death toll includes two deaths, which were not reported earlier, it said.

 

The number of active cases stood at 1,332. Bathinda and Ludhiana each reported 16 infections, followed by 12 in Fazilka, as per the bulletin.

11:53 PM

Olympics 2021: Overseas athlete Covid infected in Tokyo

An overseas athlete has tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Tokyo ahead of the Olympic Games, organisers said on Thursday.

 

The Tokyo 2020 organising committee said that the athlete, who tested positive on Wednesday, was observing a 14-day period of self-isolation and has not entered the athletes' village, Japan's state broadcaster NHK reported.

 

This is the first time an overseas athlete who is staying at or was heading to a facility managed by the organising committee has been found to have COVID-19, reports Xinhua.

11:47 PM

Why are Covid vaccination rates low in India and vary across states?

By July 18, India would have administered 400 million Covid-19 vaccine doses. The country has administered the first dose to 23 per cent of the population, and 5.5 per cent of it is fully vaccinated.

 

While some states have administered the first dose to nearly a third of their population, a Business Standard analysis reveals that wide variations in the vaccination strategy across states are keeping India from achieving a desirable vaccination rate.

 

Data reflects that the availability of vaccination sites is a significant hurdle for India to administer vaccines to most of its population. READ MORE...

11:37 PM

Jharkhand reports 54 new coronavirus cases and 62 recoveries

Jharkhand reports 54 new coronavirus cases and 62 recoveries.

 

Active cases: 336

Total recoveries: 3,41,077

Death toll: 5,120

11:37 PM

Over 900 beneficiaries sought financial aid under Delhi govt's Covid relief scheme

Over 900 beneficiaries have applied for monetary assistance under a scheme of the Delhi government to provide financial aid to families who lost their loved ones to COVID-19, officials said on Thursday. They said 522 applications have been received for a monthly pension of Rs 2,500 and 417 for Rs 50,000 one-time ex gratia.

 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam had launched 'Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana' on July 6.

 

Under the scheme, Rs 50,000 ex gratia will be given to every family that lost a member to COVID-19 and an additional Rs 2,500 per month will be given if the deceased was the sole breadwinner.

11:15 PM

Andhra logs 2,000 more Covid cases, 24 deaths

Andhra Pradesh on Thursday registered 2,526 new Covid cases, raising the state's overall tally over 19.3 lakh, even as its active caseload dropped to 25,526.

 

As many as 2,526 more persons recovered from the disease in the past 24 hours, raising the state's total number of recoveries over 18.9 lakh.

 

East Godavari district reported the highest number of cases at 404, followed by Chittoor (391), Prakasam (308), Krishna (269), West Godavari (235), Nellore (210), Guntur (178), Kadapa (157), Visakhapatnam (119), Srikakulam (91), Anantapur (80), Vizianagaram (49) and Kurnool (35).

11:04 PM

Some Covid vaccination centres may be shut on Friday as Delhi may run out of doses

Some Covid vaccination centres in the national capital are likely to be shut on Friday as the city may run out of jabs, officials said on Thursday. Delhi had 2,38,580 doses of Covaxin and only 19,500 doses of Covishield till Thursday morning, according to a bulletin by the government.

 

It said only 20 per cent of Covaxin stocks are used for administering the first dose in view of limited stocks and irregular delivery cycles. Only 33,187 vaccine doses were administered on Thursday, according to the Cowin portal, while 64,983 doses were administered a day ago. Out of 64,983 doses administered on Wednesday, 45,221 were first doses and the rest second jabs.

10:59 PM

Covid LIVE: Maharashtra scraps RT-PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers

10:53 PM

AIIMS Director lists three possible triggers for Covid third wave

Waning immunity, the emergence of a more transmissible coronavirus variant capable of escaping the immunity shield and lockdown relaxations can be the likely causes of a possible third wave of COVID-19, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said Thursday.

 

Speaking at an event, he said the third wave can be mitigated by following Covid-appropriate behaviour such as maintaining social distancing, using masks, and taking vaccine.

 

He said several studies and modelling have been conducted to project the trajectory of a possible third wave of the pandemic under different scenarios. READ ON...

10:43 PM

Assam reports 1,992 new Covid cases, and 27 deaths in the past 24 hours

Assam reports 1,992 new Covid cases, 2,498 patient discharges, and 27 deaths in the past 24 hours 

 

Active cases: 19,120

Total discharges: 5,17,041

Death toll: 4,937

10:12 PM

Maharashtra reports 8,010 new Covid cases, 170 deaths, 7,391 recoveries

Maharashtra's coronavirus caseload rose to 61,89,257 with the addition of 8,010 new infections on Thursday, while the death toll jumped to 1,26,560 after 170 patients succumbed to the respiratory illness, a health department official said here.

 

The state witnessed a drop in the daily COVID-19 cases, while the fatalities remained the same as compared to Wednesday, when it had reported 8,602 new infections and 170 deaths. Significantly, Parbhani and Jalgaon cities did not report any new coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, the official said. READ ON...

10:04 PM

394 mn Covid vaccine doses administered in India so far: Health Ministry

The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India so far has surpassed 39.49 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. According to a provisional report at 7pm, more than 35.15 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Thursday.

 

The ministry said 16,59,977 vaccine doses were administered as first dose and 1,61,950 as the second dose in the age group 18-44 years on Thursday. Cumulatively, 11,97,36,449 people in the age group 18-44 years have received their first dose and 43,72,202 their second dose since the start of phase three of the vaccination drive. READ MORE...

9:50 PM

8,010 new Covid cases and 170 deaths in Maharashtra

9:34 PM

Vaccination drive for pregnant women to begin from July 16 in Kerala

The Kerala government's campaign -- 'mathrukavacham' -- to vaccinate all the pregnant women in the state against COVID-19 infection will be inaugurated at the district level here on July 16. The inaugural function will be held at the Thycaud Women's and Children's Hospital in the presence of the District Collector, the health department said on Thursday.

 

Spot registrations for vaccination of pregnant women would be carried out at various government hospitals in the state capital, a release said. It also said that COVID vaccination for pregnant women will be made available in all hospitals in the coming days depending on the availability of the vaccine.

9:28 PM

Telangana sees 710 new Covid cases, 808 recoveries and four deaths in a day

Telangana has reported 710 new Covid-19 positive cases, 808 recoveries and four deaths in the last 24 hours. 

9:18 PM

Waning immunity, emergence of more transmissible variant can be reasons behind third wave: AIIMS Director

Waning immunity, the emergence of a more transmissible coronavirus variant capable of escaping the immunity shield and lockdown relaxations can be the likely causes of a possible third wave of COVID-19, c Randeep Guleria said Thursday. Speaking at an event, he said the third wave can be mitigated by following Covid-appropriate behaviour such as maintaining social distancing, using masks, and taking vaccine.

 

He said several studies and modelling have been conducted to project the trajectory of a possible third wave of the pandemic under different scenarios.

 

"One such model from an IIT shows that if all restrictions are lifted and if a virus (variant) is also able to escape immunity then the next wave can be bigger than the second wave. "If some restrictions are kept and the virus also remains stable then cases will not be much and if we keep more restrictions then cases will further reduce," he said. Guleria said even if new variants emerge, the available vaccines can be tweaked.

9:14 PM

Mamata writes to PM Modi seeking more Covid-19 vaccines

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an increase in supply of COVID-19 vaccines, as she insisted that her government wanted to inoculate a substantial part of the population before the third wave sets in.

 

In a two-page letter, Banerjee said that the state, as per the intimation of the health ministry, has been allocated 73 lakh doses of vaccine for July.

 

"Unfortunately, only 25 lakh doses have arrived so far this month. Hence, we would earnestly request you to kindly give necessary instructions so that supply in our state is increased and substantial portion of the population is vaccinated before third wave sets in," she wrote.

9:05 PM

Mumbai reports 545 new Covid-19 cases, 13 deaths

Mumbai reported 545 new infections and 13 fresh fatalities on Thursday, taking the COVID-19 tally to 7,29,795 and the death toll to 15,667, the city civic body said.

 

The financial capital witnessed a drop in the new COVID-19 cases, but a rise in fatalities as compared to Wednesday, when it had reported 635 new coronavirus infections and 10 fatalities. With 505 patients getting discharged from hospitals during the last 24 hours, the number of recovered cases climbed to 7,04,764, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The city's COVID-19 recovery rate is 96 per cent, it said.

The civic body said in the last 24 hours, a total of 36,568 tests were conducted for detecting coronavirus, taking the cumulative number of COVID-19 tests to 76,65,037.

8:53 PM

Centre raises Covid norm violations with states, warns against complacency

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday raised with the states the issue of violations in COVID-19 norms in many parts of the country, especially hill stations, and impressed upon them the need for focussed public health measures to check the pandemic.

 

In a letter to all states and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said complacency at this juncture has the potential to result in another surge in COVID-19 cases. READ MORE...

8:47 PM

People with learning disabilities highly vulnerable to effects of Covid: Study

A new study has found that people with learning disabilities with COVID-19 are five times more likely to be admitted to hospital and eight times more likely to die compared with the general population of England. The findings of the study were published in the journal 'The BMJ'.

 

Risks were particularly high for those with severe to profound learning disabilities, Down's syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

 

The researchers said prompt access to COVID-19 testing and healthcare is warranted for this group, and prioritisation for COVID-19 vaccination and other targeted preventive measures should be considered.

8:27 PM

Covid LIVE: Strong likelihood of possibly more dangerous variants, says WHO

8:21 PM

India administered more than 35.15 lakh Covid vaccine doses today: Ministry of Health

India administered more than 35.15 lakh Covid vaccine doses today, taking total vaccine coverage to 39.49 crore: Union Ministry of Health

8:20 PM

Karnataka reports 1,977 new coronavirus cases, 48 deaths in 24 hours

Karnataka has reported 1,977 new cases of COVID-19 and 48 deaths, taking the total number of infections till date to 28,78,564 and fatalities to 36,037, the Health Department said on Thursday. The day saw 3,188 people getting discharged thereby continuing to outnumber the fresh cases. The total number of recoveries till date is 28,10,121.

 

Out of the 1,977 new cases, 462 were from Bengaluru Urban. The city saw 501 being discharged and 10 dead. The total number of active cases in the State is 32,383.

8:04 PM

World is in 'early stages' of Covid's third wave, warns WHO chief

The world is now in the early stages of a third wave, amid rising cases of Covid's Delta variant, World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said.

 

The spread of the Delta variant, along with increased social mobility and the inconsistent use of proven public health measures, is driving an increase in both case numbers and deaths, he said at the 8th meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Wednesday.

 

"And after 10 weeks of declines, deaths are increasing again. The virus continues to evolve, resulting in more transmissible variants. Unfortunately, we are now in the early stages of a third wave," Ghebreyesus said. READ MORE...

7:52 PM

Puducherry postpones reopening of schools, colleges

In view of the current COVID-19 situation, Puducherry Education Minister A Namassivayam decided to postpone the reopening of the colleges and educational institutions that were earlier scheduled to be open on July 16.

 

The decision was taken after a meeting of Chief Minister N Rangasamy with the Education Secretary and the Director, followed by a meeting with Deputy Governor Tamizhai Soundararajan, said Namassivayam. On July 11, Rangasamy had announced that schools and colleges would be opened for students from class 9 to class 12 in the first phase from July 16 in Pondicherry. READ ON...

7:45 PM

EU likely to decide on Moderna vaccine shot for kids next week

A top official at the European Medicines Agency said a decision on whether to recommend that Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine be authorised for children is expected late next week. If approved, it would be the first such license for the shot's use in children globally.

 

At a press briefing on Thursday, Dr. Marco Cavaleri, the EU drug regulator's head of vaccines strategy, said its expert committee was currently evaluating Moderna's application to extend the use of its coronavirus vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old.

 

We expect that the committee will reach a conclusion by the end of next week, he said. Moderna's vaccine was given the green light for use in anyone 18 and over across the 27-nation European Union in January. It has also been licensed in countries including Britain, Canada and the US, but so far its use has not been extended to children.

7:29 PM

Strict adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour being undertaken by states: Govt

7:17 PM

Karnataka reports 1,977 fresh Covid cases, 3,188 discharges, and 48 deaths in the past 24 hours

Karnataka reports 1,977 fresh Covid cases, 3,188 discharges, and 48 deaths in the past 24 hours.

 

Active cases: 32,383

Total discharges: 28,10,121

Death toll: 36,037

7:05 PM

Kerala logs 13,773 Covid-19 cases, 87 more deaths

Kerala on Thursday recorded 13,773 fresh COVID-19casespushing the total infection count to 31,17,083 while the number of people who have succumbed to thevirusrose to 15,025 with 87 more deaths.

 

As many as12,370 people have been cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to29.82 lakhand the number of activecasesin the state to 1,19,022, a state government release said. In the last 24 hours,

125,742 samples were tested and the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) was found to be 10.95 per cent. So far,2.49 crore samples have been tested.

6:49 PM

Covid LIVE: 4th session dates of JEE Mains 2021 postponed, says Pradhan