Coronavirus LIVE: 34,867 new Covid cases in Tamil Nadu, 25,311 in Karnataka

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 223,601 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 26,752,447. Death toll past 300,000. Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:52 PM

Post Covid-19 effects, third wave main challenges ahead: Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said that post Covid-19 effects and a likely third wave are going to to be the main challenges in the days ahead.

 

While addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said, "Post Covid-19 effects and third wave are challenges for us. We have to be ready for the third wave. We are launching Sanjeevni Pariyojna an integrated program for Covid-19."

 

The CM also highlighted the Covid-related efforts in the state. He said, "We have 20,000 oxygen beds including ventilators while Covid-19 Centres have 30,000 beds." Haryana, which is currently facing a surge Covid-19 cases, has also reported cases of black fungus.

1:13 PM

"Pfizer, Moderna refused to sell vaccines to Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal

US pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna have said they won't sell vaccines directly to Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, stressing that vaccine manufacturers have made it clear "they will deal with the central government". Vaccine rollout for the 18-44 age group  was paused on Saturday due to the shortage of doses.
 

"We've spoken to Pfizer and Moderna for vaccines, and both the manufacturers have refused to sell vaccines directly to us. They have said they will deal with the central government. We appeal to the centre to import vaccines and distribute to the states," Kejriwal told reporters this afternoon.

 

His statement comes a day after Punjab said Moderna has refused to sell vaccines to the state directly. The Amarinder Singh government had reached out all such manufacturers, according to officials, looking for direct purchases.

1:07 PM

Over 10 mn Covid-19 vaccine doses administered for 18-44 age group in India

India crossed a significant landmark in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic after the cumulative number of coronavirus vaccine doses for the 18-44 age group under Phase-3 of the vaccination drive administered in the country crossed one crore on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19.60 crores today under Phase-3 of the nationwide Vaccination Drive. Read on...

12:11 PM

'Not convinced' Covid-19 developed naturally, says Dr Fauci

America's top expert on infectious diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci said he is "not convinced" the novel coronavirus developed naturally and has called for an open investigation into the origins of Covid-19 virus.

 

When Dr Fauci was asked at an event whether he was still confident that the coronavirus developed naturally he said: "I am not convinced about that, I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out to the best of our ability what happened."

 

"Certainly, the people who investigated it say it likely was the emergence from an animal reservoir that then infected individuals, but it could have been something else, and we need to find that out. So, you know, that's the reason why I said I'm perfectly in favour of any investigation that looks into the origin of the virus," Dr Fauci was quoted by Fox News.

 

The Biden administration's top medical adviser made these remarks during 'United Facts of America: A Festival of Fact-Checking' event.

11:59 AM

Mumbai coronavirus update: Over Rs 55 crore collected in fine for not wearing face masks since April 2020

Mumbai coronavirus update: Over Rs 55 crore collected in fine for not wearing face masks since April 2020, says BMC

11:33 AM

BJP demands sedition case against Kamal Nath for controversial Covid remark

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Indore demanded that the city police register a sedition case against former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath over his controversial remarks about the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

BJP leaders on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Indore Harinarayan Chari Mishra against the former CM seeking action against Nath.

 

Speaking to ANI, the Chief of BJP in Indore Gaurav Ranadive said, "Recently, two videos of Kamal Nath went viral. In one video, he was seen asking party workers to 'aag lagao'. In the second video, he was seen terming coronavirus as an Indian virus. He is ruining the image of India, which is equivalent to sedition." Read on...

10:42 AM

Wuhan lab staff took hospital care before Covid outbreak disclosed: Report

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the Covid-19 pandemic, the 'Wall Street Journal' reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report.

 

The newspaper said the report - which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits - may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the Covid-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory. Read on...

10:38 AM

Uttarakhand: Hospitals have been instructed to report the number of Covid-related death on the same day

All the hospitals have been strictly instructed to report the number of death of the patients on the same day, failing which, strict action will be taken: Uttarakhand Health Secretary Amit Negi

10:05 AM

Bihar | Primary Health Centre in Madhubani's Sakri in a dilapidated condition

"This hospital only exists on paper. Doctors, nurses & sanitation workers are also appointed to this facility but they're not present here. They only come once in a month," says a local

10:04 AM

Focus on the pandemic, not the economy, writes Mihir S Sharma

The data suggests that the pandemic’s devastating second wave has peaked in many parts of the country, at least as far as case numbers go. (Death numbers lag cases by a fortnight or more.) The growth rate of active cases is now well into negative territory, and has been for about 10 days, even as testing continues to increase.

 

This is a fact. It is also a fact that another wave is not just possible but likely. The government — at all levels — relaxed far too much after the peak late last year. This cannot be allowed to happen again. Attention must be focused on what was learned from this wave, and how the lessons can be swiftly implemented to prepare India for what will certainly be a deeply troubled 2021. Read on...

9:43 AM

Coronavirus in India: Summary of MoHFW data (May 24)

Active cases: 2,720,716 (Net reduction: 84,683)

Deaths: 303,720 (Net increase: 4,454)

Cured: 23,728,011 (Net increase: 302,544)

Total cases: 26,752,447 (Net increase: 223,601)

Total vaccination: 196,051,962 (Increase over previous day: 942,722)

9:12 AM

Wuhan lab staff took hospital care before Covid outbreak disclosed: Report

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the Covid-19 pandemic, the 'Wall Street Journal' reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report.

 

The newspaper said the report - which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits - may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the Covid-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory. Read on...

8:25 AM

India becomes third nation after US, Brazil to cross 300,000 Covid deaths

India’s Covid-19 death toll crossed the 300,000-mark on Sunday, with nearly 100,000 deaths having been added just between May 1 and 23, according to the website covid19india.org.

 

India is the third country after the US and Brazil to cross the grim milestone. The US has so far reported over 589,000 deaths and Brazil 448,000 deaths.

 

It took India more than a year to reach the 200,000-mark. However, with the severe second wave there has been a huge surge and over 4,000 deaths were recorded daily on several days this month. Union health ministry data said that as of Sunday morning, 3,741 fresh deaths were recorded in the country.

8:16 AM

Different Covid vaccines not a problem, may do better: Virologist Polly Roy

India does not have enough Covid-19 vaccine doses to vaccinate the entire country, or even the groups of people who must be vaccinated in the government's recommended timeframe. There are not enough vaccines to distribute within cities, across the country and across age groups. This compounds the problem of Covid-19 spreading faster, or coming back in new waves.

 

Another set of problems is that the Indian variant--the B.1.617 mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus--seems to be spreading very fast not just in India but also in other parts of the world. What do we know about this mutation? What can we understand better about how it will spread? Given where India stands on vaccine supplies and the likely pace at which these will be rolled out, what do we need to do next? About 191 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in India as of May 22, but of this, only 41.5 million (3%) of a 1.3 billion-plus population are fully vaccinated with two doses, which is not enough. Read on...

8:07 AM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka reports 31,183 new cases

Karnataka reports 31,183 new coronavirus cases, 61,766 recoveries and 451 deaths, according to the state health department