Covid LIVE: 7,761 new cases in Maharashtra; TN extends lockdown till Jul 31

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Pune reported 1,154 new infections, followed by Mumbai (545), Bengaluru (400), Chennai (148), Delhi (72). Stay tuned for corona-related news

Coronavirus LIVE updates: India has recorded a spike of 38,949 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload to 31,026,829, according to MoHFW. The death count increased to 412,531 with 542 new fatalities, the data showed.

Kerala reported 13,773 new infections, Maharashtra 8,010, followed by Tamil Nadu (2,405), Karnataka (1,977), Andhra Pradesh (2,526), West Bengal (891) and Delhi (72).

From the northeastern states, Assam reported 1,992 new cases and Manipur 796.

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6,189,257), Kerala (3,117,083), Karnataka (2,878,564), Tamil Nadu (2,528,806), and Andhra Pradesh (1,932,105).

World coronavirus update: Covid-19 is continuing to spread around the world, with 189,693,153 confirmed cases and 4,082,510 deaths across nearly 200 countries recorded since China reported its first cases in December 2019. The US remains the worst-hit country with 34,883,325 cases, followed by India, Brazil, Russia and France. 

To read updates from our yesterday's blog, click here

11:55 PM

Nagaland witnessing fresh Covid surge, positivity rate nearly 11%

Nagaland is once again witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases with more fresh infections as detection of 95 cases increased the caseload to 26,476 while three fatalities pushed the death toll to 519 on Friday, a health official said.

 

This is the fourth consecutive day that the State has reported more fresh infections putting the overall positivity rate at 10.83 per cent against a national average of 2.6 per cent.

 

The high positivity rate in Northeastern states has been a matter of concern for Indias health planners and the Prime Minister recently held virtual consultations with chief ministers of these states.

11:48 PM

India’s Covid vaccination coverage reaches nearly 40 crore

11:40 PM

Jharkhand reports 55 new coronavirus positive cases and 51 recoveries

Jharkhand reports 55 new coronavirus positive cases and 51 recoveries.

 

Active cases: 340

Total recoveries: 3,41,128

Death toll: 5,120

11:30 PM

Rajasthan govt issues fresh guidelines to combat Covid-19

The Rajasthan government on Friday issued fresh guidelines announcing curbs on gatherings ahead of upcoming religious festivals to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The three-tier public discipline guidelines 5.0 will come into effect from July 17.

 

As per the guidelines, religious processions of 'Kavad Yatra' and gatherings on Eid-ul-Adha will not be permitted in the wake of the pandemic.

 

Chaturmas festival is organised in many places of the state by the Jain community and many other people. This event lasts for four months. Devotees from all over the world come to participate in this event. Such events will not be allowed in any public and religious place, the guidelines said.

11:03 PM

We need to protect children from being Covid-infected: PM Modi

11:02 PM

Two vaccine doses successful in preventing 95% deaths, says ICMR study

A study on vaccine effectiveness in Tamil Nadu by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has shown that two vaccine doses were successful in preventing 95 per cent of deaths due to Covid-19 in the second wave, which was driven by the Delta variant. The study was conducted on 117,524 police personnel. India has so far given 394 million vaccine doses. READ ON...

10:53 PM

Odisha CM announces Rs 453 crore Covid assistance for women self- help groups

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday announced a special package of Rs 453.50 crore as COVID assistance to women members of self-help groups under the State Mission Shakti.

 

Attending a meeting on a virtual platform, Patnaik said a Mission Shakti Bhawan will be constructed in each of the 338 block-level Mission Shakti associations.

 

These Bhawans will be used as training centres/ business centres by the women members of the Mission Shakti, he said. Each block will get Rs 50 lakh for construction of the Bhawan, the chief minister said.

10:37 PM

Third wave may hit by August-end, but it isn't inevitable: ICMR official

The third Covid-19 wave is likely to hit the country at the end of August but it isn’t inevitable, said Dr Samiran Panda, Head of Epidemiology & Infectious Diseases,at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

 

The ICMR official cautioned the states to be more careful and said that they need to look into their own Covid-19 data and check at which stage of ‘epidemic they are in.’

 

“States need to look into their own Covid data and check, at which stage of the epidemic they are in. The third wave could happen around the end of August but it isn't inevitable. We need to be more careful,” said Dr Samiran Panda. READ ON...

10:11 PM

Gujarat govt extends night curfew in eight cities of the state till July 31

Gujarat govt extends night curfew in eight cities of the state till July 31; allows water parks and swimming pools to reopen with 50% capacity from July 20: ANI

9:54 PM

DCGI examining Zydus Cadila's Covid vaccine for children, says Dr V K Paul

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is examining pharmaceutical major Zydus Cadila's COVID-19 vaccine for children, said Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog on Friday. Dr VK Paul said the Centre has set the target to administer 50 crore doses of COVID vaccine before the month of July.

 

Speaking to ANI, Dr Paul said, "We are moving towards a set target to administer 50 crore doses before July. We are on the path to achieving it. The government has ordered 66 crore doses of Covishield and Covaxin. Additionally, 22 crore doses will go to the private sector."

 

Asked about when Zydus Cadila's COVID vaccine for children will be available, he said the Subject Expert Committee of DCGI is examining the matter.

 

"DCGI is examining it. More data is needed. The scientific process has to be completed. We have to be lucky that it should be effective and safe," stated Dr Paul.

9:38 PM

Maharashtra reports 7,761 new Covid cases and 167 deaths in past 24 hours

9:37 PM

Four-fold rise in patients with long Covid seen: Apollo Hospitals

Even as the second wave continues in India, the number of cases reported for long Covid after has been four times more than what was reported last year, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said on Friday.

 

Long Covid is a condition where people who have recovered from Covid-19 are still exhibiting symptoms far longer than usually expected.

 

The patients have reported problems like breathlessness, prolonged weakness, extreme fatigue, recurrent headaches and fever (post the suppression of initial fever during the time of infection), lung fibrosis, an increased pulse rate, various gastrointestinal issues and some uncommon complications like erectile dysfunction, hair loss and menstrual disturbances in women.

9:35 PM

Non-vaccinated Legislators will not be allowed to attend monsoon session of Bihar assembly: Speaker

Legislators who haven't been vaccinated will not be allowed to attend the upcoming monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly, Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha said on Friday, stressing on adherence to Covid related protocols for safe conduct of the House.

 

The assembly session will begin from July 26 and conclude on July 30.

 

"MLAs who have not been vaccinated against coronavirus will not be allowed to attend the proceedings of the house. Vaccination is important for all the MLAs attending the house," the speaker told PTI.

 

He, however, said exemptions can be given to the members on certain medical grounds. (PTI)

9:27 PM

China to donate 1.6 million more doses of vaccines to Nepal

China will donate an additional 1.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal, the foreign ministry here said on Friday.

 

The announcement was made by Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi, who paid a courtesy call to newly-appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Ambassador Hou also conveyed to Deuba that China will continue its support to Nepal to combat Covid-19 pandemic. (PTI)

8:50 PM

Covid-19: Karnataka logs 1,806 new cases,42 deaths

Karnataka on Friday reported 1,806 new Covid infections and 42 deaths, pushing the caseload to 28,80,370 and death toll to 36,079, the health department said.

 

Active cases stood at 31,399. As many as 2,748 patients recovered today, taking the total recoveries to 28,12,869. (PTI)