Covid LIVE: Domestic carriers allowed to operate at 65% passenger capacity

Today's coronavirus numbers: Bengaluru (352 cases), Mumbai 553 cases), Chennai (222 cases), Kolkata (137 cases), Delhi (94 cases). Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:43 AM

Covid-19: Gujarat adds 17 lakh beneficiaries under food welfare scheme

Gujarat has added 17 lakh beneficiaries in the last one year under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a central scheme launched to provide free ration to the poor and needy people affected by the coronavirus outbreak, according to Food Corporation of India (FCI) data.
 

The scheme was launched in March last year to lessen the hardships faced by poor people due to economic disruption caused by the coronavirus, said a release by FCI's Gujarat office on Monday.
 

As against 3.24 crore eligible persons who received free ration last year under this scheme (when it was launched) in Gujarat, as many as 3.41 crore beneficiaries received foodgrains this year in Gujarat, said Aseem Chhabra, General Manager, FCI, Gujarat region.
 

Figures shared by Chhabra indicated that 17 lakh beneficiaries were added to the scheme in Gujarat in the last one year.
 

"Five kilogram foodgrains per person per month are provided free of cost under the PMGKAY. Respective state governments identify beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Tribals, landless labourers, marginalised farmers and daily wage earners are also covered under this scheme" Chhabra told reporters.
 

The scheme has been given multiple extensions ever since its launch.
 

10:17 PM

Germany looks to increase vaccine rates

Germany's disease control center says the country should aim to vaccinate 85% of people ages 12-59 and 90% of people over 60 to prevent the delta variant causing a strong resurgence of coronavirus cases this autumn and winter.
 

Monday's report by the Robert Koch Institute was based on mathematical modelling and survey findings. It comes as Germany's infection rate is at its lowest in months. On Monday, the institute said that five new cases per 100,000 residents have been reported over the past week. But the more contagious delta variant is thought to account for more than half of new cases.
 

The report said the vaccination targets are reached soon enough, then “a strong fourth wave in the coming fall/winter appears unlikely,” provided people also use basic hygiene measures and reduce contacts if infection rates rise.
 

Germany had given 56.5% of its entire population at least one vaccine shot by Sunday and 38.9% were fully vaccinated.

10:17 PM

Johnson: UK must live with virus but restrictions can ease

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says people in England will no longer be required by law to wear face masks in indoor public spaces and to keep at least 1 meter (3 feet) apart as soon as later this month, confirming plans to reopen society despite rising coronavirus cases.
 

Johnson confirmed Monday that legal sanctions will be replaced by individual “informed decisions” when the country moves to the final stage of its lockdown-lifting roadmap. He said that's scheduled to happen on July 19, although a final decision will come on July 12.
 

The change will mean people can throw away masks after months of enforced face-covering, though businesses and transit operators may still require them, and they will still be recommended in some enclosed spaces.
 

Britain has recorded more than 128,000 coronavirus deaths, the highest toll in Western Europe, and confirmed infections are rising due to the highly transmissible delta variant.
 

Public health officials say Britain's robust vaccination program has weakened the link between infections and deaths, but not severed it entirely. The government acknowledges that infections, hospitalizations and deaths will all rise once the remaining restrictions are lifted.
 

Johnson said “this pandemic is far from over” and “we must reconcile ourselves, sadly, to more deaths from Covid.” 
 

10:16 PM

Chhattisgarh records 319 Covid-19 cases, 1 death

Chhattisgarh on Monday reported 319 Covid-19 cases and one death, taking the infection count to 9,96,037 and the toll to 13,457, a health official said.
 

The number of recoveries reached 9,77,360 after 107 people were discharged from hospitals and 336 completed home isolation during the day, leaving the state with 5,220 active cases, the official informed.
 

"Raipur's tally rose by 10 to touch 1,57,270, including 3,131 deaths. Sukma recorded 47 cases, Bijapur and Janjgir-Champa saw 35 cases each. With 31,557 samples being examined on Monday, the number of tests in the state went up to 1,04,50,120," the official said.
 

He said, till Sunday, 1,01,36,466 Covid-19 vaccine doses had been administered in the state, with 84,20,556 people getting the first shot and 17,15,910 the second.
 

Chhattisgarh's coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 9,96,037, New cases 319, Deaths 13,457, Recovered 9,77,360, Active cases 5,220, Tests today 31,557, Total tests 1,04,50,120.
 

10:16 PM

Maharashtra reports 6,740 new Covid-19 cases, 51 deaths; 13,027 recover

Maharashtra reported 6,740 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, taking the infection tally to 61,04,917, while the death toll increased to 1,23,136 with the addition of 51 fresh fatalities, a health department official said.
 

The state reported a sharp drop in both daily Covid-19 cases and fatalities as compared to Sunday, when it had registered 9,336 infections and 123 fatalities.
 

The official said as many as 13,027 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, pushing the number of recovered cases to 58,61,720.
 

The state now has 1,16,827 active cases, he said.
 

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, 1,69,517 coronavirus tests were conducted in the last 24 hours (down from 2,22,063 on Sunday), taking their overall count to 4,27,12,460.
 

The official said currently, 6,42,253 people are in home quarantine and 4,233 people in institutional quarantine across the state.
 

According to the official, Mumbai recorded 486 new Covid-19 cases, taking the tally to 7,25,161, while the death toll increased to 15,554 after 10 more patients succumbed to the infection.
 

8:55 PM

Over 8.3 million vaccine doses administered in Delhi: Govt bulletin

Delhi has administered a total of 83,82,845 Covid vaccine doses till Monday, according to the city government's daily bulletin.

 

As many as 19,10,694 people have been fully vaccinated while 64,72,151 have received the first dose of the vaccine, the bulletin said.

 

A total of 9,509 jabs were administered in the national capital on Sunday as the government vaccination centres were closed. Read here

8:46 PM

CBSE's special scheme for class 10,12 board exams in 2021-22: Check details

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday unveiled a special assessment scheme for class 10 and 12 board exams for academic session 2021-22 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Under the new scheme, academic session will be divided into two terms with 50 per cent syllabus in each term.

 

"The syllabus for the academic session 2021-22 will be divided into two terms by following a systematic approach by looking into the interconnectivity of concepts and topics by the Subject Experts," CBSE said. Read here

8:38 PM

Andhra Pradesh registers 2,100 new Covid-19 infections, 26 deaths

Andhra Pradesh logged 2,100 fresh cases of coronavirus, 3,435 recoveries and 26 deaths in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Monday.

 

Active cases stood at 33,964.

 

A total of 2.24 crore tests so far turned out 19,05,023 positive cases of Covid-19 in the state, at an overall positivity rate of 8.65 per cent. Read here

8:32 PM

Luxembourg PM in ''serious,'' stable condition with Covid-19

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is in a serious, but stable condition and will remain in the hospital for up to four more days after he was unable to shake a bout of Covid-19 that developed over a week ago, the government said.

 

In a statement, it added that the running of state affairs will be taken over by Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna in the meantime.

 

Bettel, 48, was diagnosed with insufficient oxygen saturation, forcing him to remain under medical observation since the weekend. He was also suffering from coronavirus symptoms including coughing, headaches and a fever.

 

The medical state of the prime minister is considered serious, but stable, the government said. (AP)

8:13 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Govt allows airlines to operate at 65% capacity

8:02 PM

CBSE announces special assessment scheme for class 10,12 board exams for 2021-22 session.

CBSE announces special assessment scheme for class 10,12 board exams for 2021-22 session.

8:01 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Malls re-open in Shivamogga from today

7:40 PM

India to work with Maldives, Croatia, others to enable adaptation of Co-Win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered the CoWIN platform to every country, saying that Indian civilization considers the whole world as one family.

 

Addressing the delegates at CoWIN Global Conclave, PM Modi said, "This pandemic has made many people realize the fundamental truth of this philosophy. That's why, our technology platform for Covid vaccination - the platform we call Co-WIN - is being prepared to be made open-source."

 

ANI has learnt that several countries showed interest in the adoption Co-WIN platform. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will work with the National Health Authority (NHA) for enabling the adaptation and adoption of the platform by these countries. Read here

7:28 PM

Sputnik V trials among 12-17s start in Moscow

Early trials of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine among children ages 12 to 17 have started in Moscow, city officials said Monday.

 

Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said 100 volunteers have been recruited who haven't been previously infected with the coronavirus and don't have health issues that would prevent them from getting the shots. Rakova said the youths will receive a small dose of Sputnik V than what is usually administered for adults. Read here

7:23 PM

Kerala records 8,037 fresh coronavirus infections, 102 fatalities

Kerala on Monday recorded 8,037 fresh Covid-19 cases, pushing the infection caseload to 29,81,721, while 102 fatalities took the toll to 13,818.

 

As many as 11,346 people have been cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 28,66,806 and the number of active cases in the state was 1,00,626, a state government release said.

 

Thrissur topped in the number of cases (922), followed by Palakkad (902), Malappuram (894), Kozhikode (758), Thiruvananthapuram (744), Kollam (741), Ernakulam (713), Kannur (560) and Alappuzha (545). Read here