Covid LIVE: Govt suggests night curfew to Kerala, Maha in areas of high TPR

Coronavirus India update: Kerala recorded 31,445 fresh Covid-19 cases and 215 fatalities in a day. Meanwhile, Maharashtra reported 5,031 cases and 216 deaths. Stay tuned for corona-related news

6:44 PM

Some evacuees from Afghanistan have tested positive for Covid-19: Govt

Some of those evacuated from Afghanistan have tested positive for COVID-19 and they have been isolated and are being treated, the government said on Thursday, PTI reported.

 

Responding to a question at a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, "Whoever lands (in India) they are given anti-polio vaccine because wild polio is still prevalent in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We have also made arrangement that all of their RT-PCR tests are done and some of them have tested positive."

 

He said over 400 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan so far.

6:44 PM

Goa records 92 new Covid-19 cases; four more casualties

Goa on Thursday recorded 92 new cases of coronavirus that raised the tally of infections to 1,73,526, an official from the state health department said, PTI reported.

With the addition of four casualties during the day, the toll reached 3,191, while the count of recoveries rose to 1,69,385, as 71 patients were discharged from hospitals, the official said.

The coastal state currently has 950 patients undergoing treatment for the infection, he said.

6:14 PM

Kerala reports 30,007 new cases

6:12 PM

Vaccination for mothers who have kids aged under 12 years being prioritised in WB: Mamata

6:09 PM

Africa's Covid-19 third wave stabilises as vaccine levels rise - WHO

5:43 PM

Karnataka CM seeks more Covid vaccines from Centre

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai on Thursday met Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and requested him to supply more doses of Covid vaccine to the state, PTI reported.

In the meeting, Bommai also updated the Union minister on measures taken to control spread of the Covid pandemic, according to the CMO office.

5:42 PM

Genomics can help in a big way in healthcare, fight against Covid: Rajnath Singh

Genomics would be a major area in the 21st century and help in a big way in healthcare, the fight against COVID-19, increasing productivity and contributing to fighting challenges like climate change, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, PTI reported.

He said that through COVID genome sequencing, the part of the genome which is not changing frequently can be identified and it will help in vaccine development.

He noted that while Information Technology (IT) played an important role in the 1990s in strengthening the country's economy, genomics would be a major area in the 21st century and play a crucial role in the country's and societal development.

5:41 PM

No provision for taking a third dose of Covid vaccine: Govt to Kerala HC

5:14 PM

Over 10 mn people fully vaccinated against Covid in Rajasthan: Health minister

Over one crore people have been administered both doses of Covid vaccine in Rajasthan, state Health Minister Raghu Sharma said on Thursday, PTI reported.

With this, 20 per cent of the target population in the state has been fully vaccinated, he said.

"A total of 4, 12, 67,359 beneficiaries have been vaccinated in the state. Of them, 3, 12, 58,116 have been given the first dose and 1,00,09,243 beneficiaries have received both doses," the minister said.

5:13 PM

Bengaluru civic body allows business establishments to operate

After months of closure due to COVID-19 pandemic, commercial establishments in the city will see the light of the day as the Bengaluru civic body permitted them to operate with several riders, including testing at regular intervals and vaccination of the staff, PTI reported.

5:13 PM

Kerala Health Minister cautions against spread of Covid-19 in homes

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Thursday cautioned against the increased indoor transmission of COVID-19 at homes and urged people to strictly abide by the directives of the government to keep the disease at bay, PTI reported.

Quoting a recent study by the health department, she said 35 per cent of people in the state were found to have been infected with the disease from home.

4:49 PM

'Reduction in gap between 2 Covishield doses being considered'

4:45 PM

September, October key in controlling pandemic due to festivals: Govt

4:43 PM

Important to wear masks even after vaccination: Govt

4:29 PM

41 districts reporting weekly positivity rate of more than 10%: Govt