Covid LIVE: Discussed virus challenge with UN Secy General, says Jaishankar

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 195,815 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 26,947,496. Death toll surged to 307,249. Stay tuned for corona-related news

8:05 PM

NHRC notice to Delhi, UP, Haryana on alleged flouting of Covid norms by protesting farmers

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments over allegations of flouting of COVID safety norms by farmers protesting at the borders against the farm laws.

 

It has asked then to file within four weeks action taken reports regarding the steps taken to control the spread of COVID-19 infection at the protest sites.

 

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NHRC said that India is reeling under a "scary" second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and these protesters are not only putting their lives in danger but also posing a risk to the others in rural areas as "potential carriers" of the virus.

7:56 PM

Goa reports 1,549 new Covid cases, 2,082 recoveries and 39 deaths in the last 24 hours

Goa reports 1,549 new Covid cases, 2,082 recoveries and 39 deaths in the last 24 hours.

7:56 PM

Over 1.77 crore doses of anti-Covid vaccines still available with states and UTs: Health Ministry

More than 1.77 crore doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines are still available with the states and Union Territories, while seven lakh doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

 

The Government of India has so far provided more than 21.89 crore vaccine doses to states and Union Territories.

 

Of this, the total consumption, including the wastage, is 19,93,39,750 doses, according to data available at 8 am on Tuesday.

7:47 PM

Uttar Pradesh reports 3,957 fresh Covid cases, 10,441 discharges, and 163 deaths in the last 24 hours

Uttar Pradesh reports 3,957 fresh Covid cases, 10,441 discharges, and 163 deaths in the last 24 hours 

7:37 PM

Karnataka reports 22,758 fresh coronavirus cases and 588 deaths in the last 24 hours

Karnataka reports 22,758 fresh coronavirus cases (positivity rate - 21.13%), 38,224 discharges, and 588 deaths in the last 24 hours.

7:33 PM

Bharat Biotech expects EUA from WHO for Covaxin in July-September

Bharat Biotech on Tuesday said it expects approval for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin from the World Health Organisation for Emergency Use Authorisation during July-September. The company said regulatory approvals for Covaxin are in process in more than 60 countries including the USA, Brazil and Hungary among others.

 

"Application for EUL has been submitted to WHO-Geneva, regulatory approvals are expected July-September 2021," it said in a release.

 

The city based vaccine maker said it has got EUA in 13 countries with more to follow. Most countries recommend vaccinations against COVID-19. Unvaccinated travelers can travel with negative RT-PCR tests prior to travel, in the absence of any other country specific travel restrictions, Bharat Biotech said.

7:26 PM

Covid LIVE: EUA obtained for Covaxin from 13 countries, says Bharat Biotech

7:18 PM

Covid-19 pandemic: Assam govt extends curfew in urban areas till June 5

7:10 PM

Kerala records 29,803 new Covid cases, 33,397 recoveries, and 177 deaths

Kerala on Tuesday reported 29,803 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total count to 23,65,565, while recoveries mounted to 21,32,071 with 33,397 recovering from the infection. The toll rose to 7,731 with 177 more deaths. Those who tested positive for the virus today included 94 health workers,

 

Active cases stood at 2,55,406. As many as 1,43,028 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the test positivity rate to 20.84 per cent.

 

Malappuram district accounted for 5,313 cases today, the highest, while Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam clocked over 3,000 cases. Of the positive cases, 202 had come from outside the state and 27,502 were infected through contact. At least 9,04,178 people are under observation, including 38,740 in hospitals. So far 1,90,24,615 samples have been tested.

7:06 PM

MP govt to procure 1 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines through global tender

The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to float a global tender for procuring one crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines which will be used to inoculate people in the age group of 18 to 44 years.

 

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the state Health Department to float a global tender for the procurement of Covaxin and Covishield after assessing their demand and requirement, Mishra told reporters after attending the meeting of the council of ministers.

 

Mishra said the CM has also decided to constitute five groups of ministers to look after various aspects related to the pandemic such as unlocking the "corona curfew"; vaccination; spreading awareness related to the pandemic among others.

6:54 PM

577 children lost their parents due to second wave of Covid-19 pandemic

6:44 PM

Kerala reports 29,803 new coronavirus positive cases, 33,397 recoveries and 177 deaths in past 24 hours

Kerala reports 29,803 new coronavirus positive cases, 33,397 recoveries and 177 deaths in past 24 hours

6:41 PM

Second big cyclone in less than two weeks can worsen India's Covid crisis

A powerful cyclone is set to slam into India on Wednesday, the second in less than two weeks, with authorities gearing up for relief operations at a time when the nation is facing the world’s worst outbreak of Covid-19.

 

Cyclone Yaas, equivalent to a category 3 hurricane, will cause heavy rains in the eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha, with wind speeds as high as 185 kilometers (115 miles) per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department. Sea levels may increase 4 meters above regular tides and inundate low-lying areas, it said.

 

The latest storm follows a severe cyclone that hit the west coast last week -- the worst in over two decades in the western state of Gujarat -- killing dozens after a barge sank in the sea. The eastern region was hit by a cyclone in May 2020 with similar wind speeds, while another one in 2019 prompted authorities to evacuate millions of people. READ MORE...

6:32 PM

Deaths a 'lagging indicator' of Covid, will stabilise soon: Gagandeep Kang

India's leading virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang has said that since the number of Covid-19 cases in the country has stabilized now, the number of deaths due to the virus will also stabilize soon and if it fails to do so then it can only point to an issue with reporting systems.

 

Kang, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed committee on medical oxygen in an interview to ANI said, "Death is a lagging indicator, it comes two to three weeks after case numbers climb. Now that the numbers have stabilized, we should expect deaths to also stabilize and start to taper off. If they do not, there is an issue with some aspect of our reporting systems."

 

The virologist explained that looking at the fatality rate is not a preferred way to measure the current spread of the pandemic as people dying are usually infected at least two to three weeks earlier, which means deaths don't reflect current spread of the disease. READ ON...

6:23 PM

Countless lives lost due to Centre's negligence; it must be held accountable: Priyanka Gandhi