Coronavirus LIVE: Over 20 million vaccinated in 18-44 age group, says govt

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 152,734 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 28,047,534. Death toll stands at 329,100. Stay tuned for corona-related news

8:04 PM

SC concerned over reports on kids, rural India exposure in third Covid wave

Concerned over reports that kids and rural India may be exposed more in the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court Monday asked the Centre whether any study on these aspects has been conducted.

 

The top court also asked the Centre about its responsibility on the regulation of prices of vaccines and said it has seen prices of Remdesivir and some other medicines hitting the roof.

 

Has any study been carried out by any government for the rural areas. We have been told that children will be exposed in the third wave and that rural areas will be affected. We want to know the vaccination policy for that too, said a special bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat. (PTI)

7:52 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana records 2,524 new cases

Telangana records 2524 new coronavirus cases, 3464 recoveries, and 18 deaths in the last 24 hours; case tally at 578,351, according to the state health department

7:49 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Karnataka records 16,604 new cases

Karnataka records 16,604 new coronavirus cases, 44,473 discharges, and 411 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 3,13,730, according to the state health department

7:22 PM

Bangladesh's Covid caseload tops 800,000

As Bangladesh reported 1,710 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the country's cumulative count of infections has surpassed 800,000 mark on Monday.

 

As many as 36 more people died in the last 24 hours, taking the number of total deaths to 12,619, according to the country's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Meanwhile, the number of all coronavirus cases jumped to 800,540.

 

Dhaka Tribune reported that it took 47 days for Bangladesh to cross the latest mark from 700,000 cases registered on April 14. (ANI)

7:21 PM

Indonesia reports 5,662 new Covid cases, 174 deaths

The Covid cases in Indonesia rose by 5,662 in the past 24 hours to 1,821,703, with the death toll adding by 174 to 50,578, the Health Ministry said on Monday.

 

According to the ministry, 5,121 more recovered patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries from the pandemic to 1,669,119.

 

The coronavirus has spread to all the country's 34 provinces. (ANI)

7:20 PM

Bharat Biotech to ramp up production of Covaxin to 100-120 mn doses by July

With ramping up of production capacities, nearly 25 crore 'Made in India' vaccines are expected to be available by August, a senior official has said and noted that it will go a long way in meeting the target of vaccinating one crore people daily against Covid-19.

 

There has been shortage of vaccines after it was decided to open up vaccination to all those above 18 years.

 

"Yesterday, SII in a letter mentioned that they will be manufacturing 10-12 crore of vaccine doses, which is almost 50 per cent ramping up (of their capacity) by June-end. Similarly, Covaxin is also going to increase its production and by July-end they will also produce between 10-12 crore doses (per month)," said Dr N K Arora, Chairman of Covid-19 working group under National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). (PTI)

7:18 PM

99 new Covid cases push Mizoram s tally to 12,087

Mizoram on Monday reported 99 new Covid-19, pushing the state's tally to 12,087, officials said.

 

The Covid-19 death toll rose to 40 as two more persons succumbed to the infection, they said.

 

A 64-year-old woman from Aizawl died of Covid-19 at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on Monday, state information and public relations department said in its official Twitter handle. (PTI)

7:17 PM

Kerala CM writes to 11 CMs of non-BJP states to press Centre on procuring Covid-19 vaccines

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to 11 CMs of non-BJP ruled states seeking a united effort to press the Centre to procure Covid-19 vaccines and ensure free universal vaccination.

 

"Wrote to 11 CMs in the spirit of Cooperative Federalism. Quite unfortunate that Centre absolves itself of its duty to procure vaccines, ensure free universal vaccination.United effort to jointly pursue our genuine demand is the need of the hour, so that Centre acts immediately," Vijayan tweeted.

 

In his letter, the Chief Minister said statements to the effect that the responsibility to provide vaccine entirely falls within the realm of the states defy the very basis of the co-operative federal system. (PTI)

6:31 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Centre reviews progress of vaccination with states and UTs

As part of its commitment to pro-actively guide, review and monitor the Covid-19 vaccination drive in collaboration with States/UTs, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) today held a review meeting through video conferencing with administrators from States and UTs on the progress of vaccination in States. This comes in the backdrop of more flexibilities given to States to enhance the pace of vaccination,and increased vaccine supplies for June 2021 shared with the States and UTs through the advance vaccine visibility calendar. This meeting was chaired by Union Health Secretary Shri Rajesh Bhushan. Read full govt release here

6:08 PM

Sikkim logs 146 new Covid cases, 3 more deaths

Sikkim's Covid-19 tally rose to 15,317 as 146 more people tested positive for the virus while three new fatalities pushed the death toll to 253, a health department bulletin said on Monday.

 

West Sikkim district registered 68 new cases followed by South Sikkim (50), East Sikkim (22) and North Sikkim district (6), it said.

 

The Himalayan state now has 4,021 active Covid-19 cases, while 10,829 patients have recovered from the disease. At least 214 Covid-19 patients have migrated to other states, it said. (PTI)

5:51 PM

Recalling CS will affect Covid fight, cyclone relief in Bengal: TMC

The Trinamool Congress on Monday said that the Centre's order to recall West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay will affect the fight against the raging Covid-19 pandemic and relief work after the devastation wreaked by cyclone Yaas in the state.

 

Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, eloquently and comprehensively pointed out the grounds on which the chief secretary should be allowed to continue his work in the state.

 

"At a time when West Bengal is faced with pincer attacks of cyclone devastation and Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre should not recall the official who is at the helm of the contingency measures. Neither was the state's views sought nor was it informed before the Centre recalled CS," Roy told PTI. (PTI)

5:42 PM

India's GDP grows 1.6% in fourth quarter, contracts 7.3% in FY21

Amid coronavirus pandemic, India's gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 1.6 per cent in the January-March quarter of fiscal year 2020-21, but witnessed a contraction of 7.3 per cent for the entire fiscal year, showed government data on Monday.

 

This is the second straight quarter of expansion since India exited a rare recession.

 

India’s GDP figures showed the growth at 3 per cent in Q4 of FY20, while growth for FY20 came at 4 per cent, an 11-year low. Read here

5:19 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Dehli's daily cases lowest since March 16

5:18 PM

'Zero vaccine policy acting like dagger in Mother India's heart', alleges Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the central government has a "zero vaccine policy" which is acting as a "dagger in Mother India's heart".

 

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over media reports which claimed that post-Covid the unemployment rate was in double digits in May this year.

 

"The zero vaccine policy of the Modi government is acting like a dagger in Mother India's heart. Sad truth," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

 

"One man and his arrogance + One virus and its mutants," he said in another tweet, citing a report that claimed that "97 percent of Indians are poorer post-Covid". (PTI)

5:02 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Chandigarh extends Covid norms till June 30