Covid LIVE: Maharashtra sees over 15,000 new cases; 25,317 in Tamil Nadu

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 133,228 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 28,307,832. Death toll stands at 335,102. Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:36 AM

Rahul alleges govt hiding Covid deaths, urges people to demand universal free vaccination

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday accused the Central government of "hiding" the actual coronavirus death figures, even as he urged people to raise their voice for universal free vaccination.
 

"GOI is hiding actual Covid deaths," he said in a tweet, tagging a media report that conducted a survey on who people thought were responsible for coronavirus deaths.
 

Gandhi also launched a campaign to pressure the government for universal free vaccination in the country.
 

"Vaccine is the strongest protection against the corona pandemic. You should also raise your voice for providing free vaccination to the people of the country - wake up the central government," he said on Twitter, using the hashtag #SpeakUpForFreeUniversalVaccination.
 

He also shared a video highlighting the shortage of vaccines.
 

His sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted for universal free vaccination and slammed the government over a "confused and dithering" vaccination program.
 

"We are one of the biggest vaccine-manufacturers in the world. Yet only 3.4% of our population is fully vaccinated. Who is responsible for India's confused and dithering vaccination program," she asked in the tweet.
 

1:34 AM

Rajasthan to set up special clinics in each district to help recovered Covid patients

Special clinics and wards will be set up in each district of Rajasthan for the treatment of various other diseases faced by patients who have recovered from coronavirus infection, a government order issued on Wednesday said.
 

Along with this, a pool of 10 counsellors will also be set up in each Covid designated hospital for psychological counselling of patients and their families recovering from the deadly infection, the order issued by Principal Secretary (Health) Akhil Arora stated.
 

According to the order, it has been seen during the second wave of the pandemic that in addition to black fungus, there are problems of fear, depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress, etc., among the recovered patients. Along with the patients, their families are also facing psychological issues.
 

Keeping this in mind, the 'post-corona' clinics and wards will be set up in a separate part of the Covid hospital in each district, where patients suffering from the above psychological problems will be treated.
 

An out-patient department (OPD) service will be conducted in two shifts in these clinics. Patients can avail consultations in the clinic from 8 am to 2 pm and 2 pm to 8 pm.
 

Availability of one senior doctor, two counsellors and one AYUSH doctor (who has knowledge pertaining to respiratory exercises and yoga) would be deployed in each shift.
 

1:33 AM

PhD admissions at Jamia Millia Islamia delayed by year due to Covid-19

The PhD admissions at the Jamia Millia Islamia have been delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Wednesday.
 

On Tuesday, the varsity released the notification for PHD entrance exams for the year 2020-21 instead of the current academic year 2021-22. The admission test will be held for different disciplines between June 22 and June 28 in two shifts while the results will be declared in the second week of July.
 

The reason for the delay is the pandemic situation, said Dr Nazim Hussain Jafri, Controller of Examinations at the varsity.
 

9:35 PM

FICCI suggests graded approach to unlock economic activities

With the number of coronavirus infections declining in the country, industry chamber FICCI has suggested the government to follow a graded approach in unlocking economic activities.
 

The chamber has suggested opening up of economic activities depending upon the positivity rate of Covid-19 cases in that region or district. It has divided regions at four levels — minimal risk, low risk, medium risk and high risk.
 

It has asked for opening e-commerce supplies for both essential and non-essential activities in all districts irrespective of the positivity rate, besides home delivery of alcoholic beverages, logistics, warehousing and all cargo movement.
 

"While certain categories of units such as those producing essential goods, export-oriented units, continuous process industries and those connected to national security can be permitted to operate at all times, they should be encouraged to create an isolation bubble for their workforce which reduces the risk of the virus spreading," FICCI said.
 

For the services sector, it has recommended that all essential services such as banking, information technology services and communications should be restricted with 50 per cent manpower in areas of high positivity rate (over 10 per cent).
 

9:34 PM

Call on Maha state board Class 12 exams this week: Minister

Maharashtra school education minister Varsha Gaikwad on Wednesday said a proposal has been sent to the disaster management authority regarding the state board exams for Class 12 students and a decision on the issue will be taken in a couple of days.
 

She said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the state cabinet here, a day after the Centre cancelled the CBSE Class 12 board exams citing the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
 

Amid the pandemic which has hit Maharashtra hard, Gaikwad said, students' health remains the top priority for the state government.
 

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Gaikwad said, "A proposal has been sent to the disaster management authority regarding the Class 12 state board examinations. The authority will hold a meeting and a decision will be out in a couple of days."
 

"Our priority is health and safety of students. They are facing two challenges - curriculum and the pandemic," she said.
 

"There is no change in the government's earlier stand on conducting state board exams for Class 12 students, Gaikwad said.
 

"However, we need to wait for an official announcement from the disaster management authority," the minister added.
 

"It is an uncommon situation (a reference to pandemic) for the society. Hence, some uncommon decisions need to be taken, she said.
 

Gaikwad said decisions taken by other states regarding Class 12 exams were also discussed during the cabinet meeting.
 

9:08 PM

Telangana reports 2,384 Covid-19 new cases, 17 deaths

Telangana on Wednesday reported 2,384 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to over 5.84 lakh, while the toll rose to 3,313 with 17 more deaths, a government bulletin said. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with307, followed by Nalgonda (170) and Khammam (167), the bulletin said.

 

The state has33,379active cases and over 1.08 lakh samples were tested. The total number of cumulative cases in the state stood at5,83,228while with 2,242being cured, the total recoveries were at 5,46,536. Cumulatively, over 1.53 crore samples have been tested.

9:07 PM

Haryana reports 1,171 fresh Covid cases, 2705 recoveries, and 78 deaths in a day

8:50 PM

Mumbai reports 925 Covid positive cases, 31 deaths, and 1,632 recoveries in a day

Mumbai on Wednesday reported less than 1,000 fresh coronavirus positive cases on the third consecutive day with the addition of 925 infections while 1,632 patients were discharged.

 

With the death of 31 more patients, the overall COVID-19 toll in the financial capital reached 14,938 while the cumulative case count now stands at 7,08,007, as per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data.

 

On Monday and Tuesday, Mumbai had logged 676 and 831 cases, respectively. On Wednesday, the city reported 94 more cases compared with Tuesday while it added eight more fatalities than the previous day's 23.

 

"The city reported 925 new cases after 24,732 COVID-19 tests conducted in the last 24 hours," the BMC said, adding the overall count of the samples tested so far in Mumbai has gone up to 63,19,978.

8:42 PM

Coronavirus disaster leaves deep psychological scars on India's economy

Expectations for India's economic growth are being revised sharply lower as a surge in people losing their jobs and defaulting on debt suggest a more halting recovery from the financial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Economists are downgrading their estimates as a range of data - from the rate of cheques bouncing to the amount of mortgaged gold jewellery up for sale - shows the extent of the economic damage from a devastating second wave of the disease.

 

Some observers also fear the psychological blow from the virus disaster that ripped through India this year killing tens of thousands of people will leave consumer reluctant to spend. READ MORE...

8:32 PM

Rajasthan sees 65 more Covid deaths, 1,276 new cases

Rajasthan recorded 1,276 fresh coronavirus cases and 65 deaths due to the disease on Wednesday, taking the infection tally to 9,42,236 and the toll to 8,515, according to an official report.

 

Jaipur recorded a maximum of seven such deaths, followed by Jodhpur (6) besides fatalities registered in other cities, the report said.

 

The state capital also accounted for a maximum of 241 fresh COVID-19 cases, while 121; 101 and 100 more people were tested positive for the infection in Alwar, Ganganagar and Jodhpur, respectively. A total of 9,01,071 people in Rajasthan have recovered from the infection and the number of active cases at present is 32,650, according to the report.

8:28 PM

29 Covid deaths in Himachal Pradesh, four had black fungus too

Twenty-nine coronavirus patients, four of whom also had the black fungus infection, died on Wednesday, taking Himachal Pradesh's overall Covid death figures to 3,194, an official said. He said the state also reported 891 fresh Covid cases, pushing the total number to 1,92,142.

 

Of the four black fungus or Mucormycosis cases, two were reported from Kangra and one each from Solan and Hamirpur, the official said. The number of recoveries rose to 1,76,949, with 1,292 patients recuperating from the disease in a 24-hour period, the official said. According to the health department, the state currently has 11,975 active coronavirus cases.

8:21 PM

Punjab govt creates CSR fund to procure vaccines

8:21 PM

Madhya Pradesh logs 991 new Covid cases, 45 deaths; 4,113 recuperate

Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday reported 991 fresh coronavirus positive cases and 45 deaths, taking its caseload to 7,82,099 and toll to 8,157, the state health department said. A total of 4,113 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the state's recovery count to 7,56,806, it said.

 

With 338 new cases, Indore's caseload went up to 1,50,516, while that of Bhopal rose to 1,21,284 with the addition of 191 cases.

 

The COVID-19 death toll in Indore rose to 1,347 with four more fatalities, and that in Bhopal rose by two to 936. There are 3,028 active cases in Indore at present and 3,988 such cases in state capital Bhopal. The active case count in the state stands at 17,136.

8:12 PM

Tamil Nadu reports 25,317 new cases, 483 deaths in past 24 hours

8:02 PM

Kerala logs 19,661 new Covid cases, 29,708 recoveries, 213 deaths

Kerala recorded 19,661 fresh C0VID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the caseload to 25,35,975, while the toll has mounted to9,222 with 213 more deaths.

 

As many as 29,708 people were cured of the infection today, taking the total recoveries to 23,64,210, the state governmentsaid in a press release.

 

The active cases in the state have come down to 1,92,165, according to the release. In the last 24 hours, 1,28,525 samples were tested and the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) was 15.3 per cent. So far, over two crore samples have been tested. READ MORE...

8:00 PM

Call on Maharashtra board Class 12 exams this week: State education minister

Maharashtra school education minister Varsha Gaikwad on Wednesday said a proposal has been sent to the disaster management authority regarding the state board exams for Class 12 students and a decision on the issue will be taken in a couple of days.

 

She said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the state cabinet here, a day after the Centre cancelled the CBSE Class 12 board exams citing the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Amid the pandemic which has hit Maharashtra hard, Gaikwad said, students' health remains the top priority for the state government. READ HERE...

7:58 PM

Japan announces another $800 million to UN-backed COVAX programme

Japan's prime minister announced another USD 800 million to the UN-backed programme to deploy COVID-19 vaccines for poor countries, a four-fold increase of Japanese funding to the COVAX programme.

 

Yoshihide Suga spoke as Japan co-sponsored a fundraising event for COVAX with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which helps run the programme. READ ON...

7:50 PM

891 new Covid cases, 29 deaths and 1,292 recoveries reported in Himachal Pradesh

891 new Covid cases, 29 deaths and 1,292 recoveries reported in Himachal Pradesh in the last 24 hours; active cases at 11,975

7:50 PM

UAE extends ban on travellers from Pakistan till June 30

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended the ban on travelers from Pakistan till June 30 as part of measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Dawn.

 

The restrictions were initially imposed on travellers from four countries, including Pakistan, on May 12. According to the Pakistani daily, the extension in the ban was also confirmed by a representative of the immigration department in Dubai.

 

Pakistan on Wednesday reported 1,843 coronavirus cases, pushing the country's COVID-19 count to 924,667 cases. Last week, UAE had extended travel restrictions from India till June 30 in view of the coronavirus situation in the country.

7:44 PM

Mumbai reports 925 Covid positive cases, 31 deaths, and 1,632 recoveries in a day

7:26 PM

Covid-19 pandemic: Uttarakhand cancels Class 12 state board exams

Uttarakhand government on Wednesday decided to cancel Class 12 state board examinations in view of the prevailing COVID situation in the state.

 

This comes a day after the Central government announced the cancellation of the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 12 board examinations.

 

Announcing this, state Education Minister Arvind Pandey said that Uttarakhand Intermediate board examinations have been cancelled on the lines of the CBSE and ICSE boards.

 

"The students would also be promoted accordingly.The government has taken this decision considering the interest of the students and teachers," he said.

7:17 PM

Jammu and Kashmir reports 1,718 new positive cases and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours

Jammu and Kashmir reports 1,718 new positive cases, 3,391 recoveries, and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours.

7:13 PM

Time to plan about next academic session, how students will be assessed in 2022: Manish Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Wednesday said it is time the government starts planning about how class 10 and 12 students will be assessed in March 2022 considering another academic session could be affected by the Covid pandemic.

 

His remarks came a day after the Centre announced cancellation of class 12 board exams by CBSE in view of the pandemic situation. The ICSE also cancelled it class 12 board examinations.

 

"It is time to move on to next year. We cannot deny that another academic session could be COVID affected and we need to plan before it's too late once again," Sisodia told PTI in an interview.

7:12 PM

Delhi Police to deploy four quick reaction teams for helping Covid patients

The Delhi Police will deploy at least four well-equipped Quick Reaction Teams in southwest district for facilitating medical assistance and oxygen support to Covid patients, officials said on Wednesday.

 

The community policing initiative has been started under the Yuva scheme of the Delhi Police, they said.

 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Ingit Pratap Singh said, "We have selected 30 Yuva trainees and started their training for first aid, CPR, disaster management, operation of oxygen concentrators through our NGO partners and hospitals."

7:09 PM

Manipur reports 729 new Covid infections, 14 deaths and 622 recoveries today

Manipur reports 729 new Covid infections, 14 deaths and 622 recoveries today; recovery rate at 81.11%

7:02 PM

Goa sees 706 new Covid-19 cases, 1,711 recoveries, 22 deaths

Goa on Wednesday reported 706 new coronavirus positive cases and 22 fatalities, taking the tally to 1,57,275 and the toll to 2,693, a health official said. A total of 1,711 patients were discharged during the day, taking the count of recoveries in Goa so far to 1,43,742, he said.

 

Goa is now left with 10,840 active cases, the official said.

 

With 3,715 new tests, the total number of samples tested so far in Goa has risen to 8,31,372, he added. Goa's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 1,57,275, new cases 706, death toll 2,693, discharged 1,43,742, active cases 10,840, samples tested till date 8,31,372.

6:37 PM

US to soon detail plans to distribute 80 mn Covid vaccine doses globally

In the next two weeks, the US will detail plans to equitably distribute about 80 million (8 crore) COVID-19 vaccine doses globally without "political requirements" of those receiving them, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

 

The Biden administration had been under pressure to send the excess COVID-19 vaccines with the US to nations like India, which are facing severe vaccine shortages.

 

Speaking at a joint news conference with Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado in San Jose on Tuesday, Blinken said the US will focus on equity, on the equitable distribution of vaccines. READ MORE...

6:34 PM

594 doctors have died due to Covid-19 in second wave: IMA

As many as 594 doctors have died due to COVID-19 in the ongoing second wave with Delhi recording the maximum 107 fatalities, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said. According to the IMA, 748 doctors died of the infection across the country in the first wave of the pandemic.

 

Delhi recorded 107 deaths in the second wave, followed by Bihar 96, Uttar Pradesh 67, Rajasthan 43, Jhakhand 39 and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana 32 each, according to data compiled at the IMA's COVID-19 registry.

 

"Last year 748 doctors across India succumbed to COVID-19, while in the current wave we have lost 594 doctors in a short period," IMA president J A Jayalal said.

6:23 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 12,768 new cases, 15,612 recoveries, 98 deaths

Andhra Pradesh recorded 12,768 fresh cases of coronavirus, 15,612 recoveries and 98 deaths in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Wednesday. The number of active COVID-19 cases dropped to 1,43,795, the latest bulletin said.

 

The cumulative positive cases now increased to 17,17,156, recoveries to 15,62,229 and deaths 11,132, it said.

 

East Godavari reported 2,703, Chittoor 1,551, Anantapuramu 1,506 and West Godavari 1,052 fresh cases in 24 hours. The remaining nine districts added less than 900 cases each.

6:18 PM

SC directs Centre to place on record documents, file notings on COVID vaccination policy

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to place on record all relevant documents and file notings reflecting its thinking culminating in the COVID-19 vaccination policy, and the purchase history till date of all jabs including Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V.

 

The top court also asked the Centre to specify the steps being taken by it to ensure drug availability for mucormycosis or black fungus.

 

Besides, it directed all states and Union Territories within 2 weeks their stand on providing free vaccination.