Coronavirus LIVE: Bengal makes negative Covid report mandatory for 4 states

Coronavirus live updates: Travellers from Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab will need a negative coronavirus test report to enter Delhi. Stay tuned for corona-related news

Coronavirus live updates: India's count of active cases has dropped to 146,907. On Tuesday, the country registered 13,742 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking its the caseload tally to 11,030,176. India continues to be second-most-affected globally, and ranks 14th among worst-hit nations by active cases. The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered to healthcare and frontline workers in the country has crossed 11.9 million, the Union health ministry said.

Meanwhile, in the light of rising Covid cases in Maharashtra, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has directed private hospitals in the city to reserve around 2,000 to 3,000 beds for infected patients.

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (2,112,312), Kerala (1,040,903), Karnataka (948,849), Andhra Pradesh (889,409), and Tamil Nadu (849,166).

World coronavirus update: Coronavirus cases rise unabated across the globe, with 112,461,570 infected by the deadly contagion. While 88,020,066 have recovered, 2,490,519 have died so far. The US remains the worst-hit country with 28,841,399, followed by India, Brazil, Russia and the United Kingdom. However, it terms of the total number of active cases, US tops the charts, followed by France, UK, Brazil and Belgium.

9:21 PM

Pune reported 1,479 new Covid-19 cases, 945 recoveries

9:05 PM

Bengal makes Covid negative certificate mandatory for travellers from 4 states

Bengal govt makes it mandatory for passengers travelling in flights from Maharashtra, Kerala and 2 other states to produce negative Covid-19 report:, says officials according to PTI.

8:54 PM

4,106 new coronavirus cases in Kerala, tally 1.45 mn: Health minister Shailaja

4,106 new coronavirus cases in Kerala, tally 10.45 lakh, active cases 52,869; toll 4,136 with 17 more deaths: Health Minister K K Shailaja

7:49 PM

Maharashtra reported 8,807 new Covid-19 cases, 2,772 discharges

7:41 PM

Over 1.4 mn healthcare workers have taken second dose: Govt

The total vaccination includes 65,24,726 healthcare workers who have taken the 1st dose & 14,81,754 healthcare workers who have taken the 2nd dose, along with 43,60,153 frontline workers (1st dose): Union Ministry of Health

7:40 PM

12,366,633 vaccine doses have been given to healthcare & frontline workers: Govt

7:17 PM

Johnson & Johnson's one-shot Covid-19 vaccine effective, safe: FDA

Johnson & Johnson's one-shot Covid-19 vaccine appeared safe and effective in trials, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff said in documents published on Wednesday, paving the way for its approval for emergency use, according to Reuters. The FDA's panel of independent experts meets on Friday to decide whether to approve the shot. While it is not bound to follow the advice of its experts, the FDA did so when authorizing the Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc vaccines, Reuters reported.

J&J's vaccine was 66% effective in preventing Covid-19 against multiple variants in a global trial involving nearly 44,000 people, the company said last month. Its effectiveness varied from 72% in the United States to 66% in Latin America and 57% in South Africa, where a new variant has spread, though the vaccine was 85% effective overall in stopping severe cases of the disease, as per Reuters report.

6:53 PM

Goa records 52 fresh Covid-19 cases; 35 recoveries

As many as 52 persons tested positive for coronavirus, while 35 were discharged from hospitals after recovering from the infection in Goa on Wednesday, an official from the health department said, according to PTI. With the addition of the latest cases, the state's COVID-19 tally has reached 54,700, of which 53,416 patients have recovered so far, the official said.

Following the death of one patient during the day, the toll stood at 789, he said. The coastal state is now left with 495 active cases, the official said, as per PTI.

5:40 PM

Odisha issues SOPs ahead of vaccination of elderly, people with co-morbidities

5:11 PM

Vaccines will prevent new Covid strains, decease mortality: AIIMS chief

5:05 PM

Mamata writes to PM, seeks help in procurement of Covid vaccine to immunise free of cost

4:47 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 94 new Covid-19 cases, 66 recoveries

4:40 PM

Hong Kong to spend $15.4 billion to stabilise virus-ravaged economy

Hong Kong will introduce 120 billion Hong Kong dollars (USD 15.4 billion) in fiscal measures to help businesses and residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, as it looks towards economic growth later this year following a recession in 2020.

 

The measures which include tax relief, loans for the unemployed and consumption vouchers are aimed at stabilizing the economy, Hong Kong Finance Minister Paul Chan said in a budget speech Wednesday. He forecast the economy is set to grow 3.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent this year, compared to the economic contraction of 6.1 per in 2020.

4:25 PM

We shouldn't miss out on strains which are more infectious: AIIMS director

It doesn't seem that the strain is more infectious or causing mortality or vaccine will not work but we need to study it more aggressively and look at it more closely. We shouldn't miss out on strains which are more infectious, says AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria on new coronavirus strains

3:34 PM

LIVE: India is proud to have vaccines made locally, says Javadekar

LIVE: India is proud to have vaccines made locally, says Javadekar