Covid LIVE: Karnataka sees 16,068 new cases in a day; 14,152 in Maharashtra

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 132,364 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 28,572,359. Death toll stands at 340,702. Stay tuned for corona-related news

4:25 PM

Decrease in active Covid cases by more than 21 lakh since peak on May 10: Govt

4:18 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 68% decline in daily Covid cases, says Health Ministry

If we analyse data in comparison to May 7 highest reported peak, we are recording a 68% decline in daily cases. 66% of new cases are coming effectively from 5 States & rest are coming from 31 States/UTs which indicates that we're able to control the virus locally: Health Ministry

 

4:16 PM

Less than 2 lakh daily cases since May 28, almost 68% decline in cases: Govt

4:14 PM

India's recovery rate against Covid-19 at 93.1%: Health Ministry

There has been a consistent increase in recovery rate, currently at 93.1%: Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry on Covid-19 situation

4:14 PM

So far, 5,763 cases of Black Fungus reported in Maharashtra and 476 people died due to it

So far, 5,763 cases of Black Fungus have been reported in Maharashtra and 476 people have died due to it: PRO, State Health Department

4:13 PM

377 districts reporting less than 5% case positivity currently: Health Ministry

377 districts reporting less than 5% case positivity currently: Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry

4:09 PM

Continuous decrease in districts reporting over 100 average daily new Covid cases: Govt

4:09 PM

LIVE: Health Ministry addressing media on Covid-19 situation in India

4:05 PM

Britain approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for teenagers

Britain's medicines agency has approved an extension of Pfizer and partner BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for use in children as young as 12, it said on Friday, a week after a similar clearance was given by European authorities.

 

3:53 PM

Covid LIVE: Maharashtra caps black fungus' treatment cost in private hospitals

3:43 PM

Visa of stranded foreign nationals valid till Aug 31: MHA

Due to non-availability of normal commercial flight operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020, a number of foreign nationals who came to India prior to March 2020 on valid Indian visas had got stranded in India.

Keeping in view the difficulties being faced by such foreign nationals in getting their visas extended in India due to the lockdown, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued an order on 29.06.2020 conveying that the Indian Visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals expiring post 30.06.2020 shall be deemed to be valid until 30 more days from the date of resumption of normal international flight operations, on gratis basis. However, such foreign nationals have been applying for extension of their visas or stay stipulation period on a monthly basis.

 

3:35 PM

World Health Organization warns of potential third Covid wave in Africa

WHO warns of third wave in Africa

 

A sudden, sharp rise in coronavirus cases in many parts of Africa could amount to a continental third wave, the World Health Organization has warned, a sign of deeper trouble for a continent whose immunisation drives have been crippled by shortfalls in funding and vaccine doses. WHO said test positivity had risen in 14 African countries over the last seven days. Experts also believe the spread of new coronavirus variants — like those first identified in Britain, India and South Africa — is contributing to the surge and the ensuing rise in deaths. READ MORE...

3:21 PM

Uttarakhand tourism industry seeks relief package to tide over Covid-19 crisis

The coronavirus battered tourism industry of Uttarakhand is pinning its hopes on a relief package for hoteliers, owners of roadside eateries, tour and travel operators and people connected with adventure tourism who are facing a livelihood crisis.

 

It is estimated that the tourism industry of the state has suffered losses worth Rs 1,600 crore in 2020 due to the pandemic

 

"We have submitted a proposal to the chief minister seeking a relief package to inject life into our embattled tourism industry," Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said on Friday

 

"Tourism is our bread and butter and it has suffered at multiple levels due to the pandemic. A relief package at this stage will do a world of good to people in the sector," Maharaj told PTI in an interview.

3:13 PM

Rajasthan CM asks Centre for timely supply of black fungus injections

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday asked the Centre to supply Amphotericin B injections used for the treatment of black fungus in a time-bound manner.

 

"Like Remdesivir injections, the Central government has taken the responsibility of allocating Amphotericin B injection to states. But the states are not getting the injections on time which is causing a lot of trouble to the patients," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

 

If this injection is given to the patient in time, then their life can be saved, he added. Gehlot appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to ensure the availability of Amphotericin B injections so that patients can be treated on time.

2:57 PM

Australia on alert over new Covid variant

Authorities in Victoria on Friday issued an alert as a new Covid-19 variant was detected in the Australian state's latest outbreak and the source of the strain is still unidentified. The B.1.6172 coronavirus variant, also known as Delta, has been detected in two members of a family of four in West Melbourne, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

However, the health authorities are still in search of how the persons were infected with the variant, since other cases were related to the Kappa strain.

 

"It is a very significant concern," Victoria Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said.