Covid LIVE: Tamil Nadu sees 33,361 new cases in a day; 1,266 in Mumbai

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 211,298 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 27,369,093. Death toll stands at 315,235. Stay tuned for corona-related news

4:40 PM

We are engaged with Pfizer for Covid vaccine: Dr V K Paul

4:38 PM

Covid LIVE: Delhi sees 1,072 new cases in a day; positivity rate at 1.53%

4:30 PM

Covid LIVE: Bengal extends restrictions by 15 days; Punjab till June 10

4:28 PM

More than 20 lakh (average) Covid tests being done every day: Health Ministry

4:11 PM

India's Covid recovery rate increased to 90% now: Ministry of Health

4:11 PM

Highest single day tests done in India conducted on May 26: Health Ministry

4:10 PM

24 states reported a decline in active Covid cases since last week: Health Ministry

4:05 PM

GST Council to discuss tax rate on Covid essentials, compensation to states on Friday

The GST Council is likely to discuss on Friday a reduction in the tax rate on Covid medicines, vaccines and medical equipment as well as means to make up for the shortfall in revenues promised to states.

 

Ahead of the first meeting of the top decision-making body, finance ministers of eight states ruled by non-BJP and like-minded parties -- Rajasthan, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala and West Bengal -- have devised a joint strategy to press for a zero tax rate on Covid essentials, sources said.

 

The Council, which is headed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and includes representatives of all states and Union territories, is meeting for the first time in nearly eight months.

4:05 PM

SII wants to begin pediatric trial of Novavax for children: Dr V K Paul

4:02 PM

LIVE: Health Ministry addressing media on Covid-19

3:37 PM

Covid vaccine trials on children in India to begin soon: Govt

The Central government on Thursday announced that Covid-19 vaccine trials on children in the country would begin soon.

 

Member (Health) in NITI Aayog and the chair of National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), Dr Vinod K. Paul, made the announcement on behalf of the government while clearing several myths on India's Covid-19 vaccination programme doing the rounds.

 

Clarifying one such myth that "Centre is not taking any step to vaccinate children", Paul said: "As of now, no country in the world is giving vaccines to children. Also, WHO has no recommendation on vaccinating children." Paul, however, said that there have been studies about safety of vaccines in children, which have been encouraging.

3:29 PM

We'll have to prepare to give 1 crore Covid vaccine doses in a day: Dr V K Paul

3:12 PM

Maha govt announces paediatric task force to prepare for COVID-19 third wave

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday announced the setting up of a paediatric task force, comprising 13 experts from the state, to prepare for the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which children are likely to be affected.

 

Tope in a statement said noted paediatrician Dr Suhas Prabhu will be the chief of the 13-member task force, while Tatyarao Lahane, the director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, will be its member secretary.

 

An order in this regard was issued on Thursday by Dr Pradeep Vyas, additional chief secretary of the public health department, it was stated.

 

Anticipating a third wave of the pandemic, which is likely to affect children in more numbers, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had instructed the public health department to set up a task force of experts to make necessary preparations, the statement said.

3:04 PM

Oxygen Express carrying 66.12 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen arrived: Indian Railways

2:48 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Stricter lockdown in Mysuru from May 29 to June 7

As coronavirus cases continue to rise in Mysuru. DC has ordered total lockdown from May 29 to June 7. Only milk parlours, medical services, Hopcoms can open. Shops selling essentials & other activities are allowed only on 2days (Monday & Thursday 6 am to 12 pm)