Covid LIVE: WHO's chief scientist warns the pandemic isn't slowing down

Today's coronavirus numbers: Kerala reported 13,563 new infections, Maharashtra 8,992, followed by Tamil Nadu (3,211), Andhra Pradesh (3,040). Stay tuned for corona-related news

6:51 PM

Tokyo Olympics: Spectators also barred from outlying venues

Two more prefectures outside the immediate Tokyo area have decided to bar fans from attending Olympic events because of rising coronavirus infections, Tokyo Olympic organizers confirmed on Saturday with the pandemic-delayed games opening in just under two weeks.

 

Tokyo organizers and the IOC earlier in the week barred all fans from venues in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures. They make up the overwhelming majority of Olympic venues, although a smattering of outlying areas were allowed initially to have limited attendance.

 

All fans from abroad were banned months ago.

 

Now, two prefectures that were permitted to have fans have backed out of those plans. (AP)

6:26 PM

Delta variant cases mark 32% weekly increase in UK, vaccine protection high

UK health officials said the Delta variant of Covid-19 continues as the dominant strain of coronavirus and marked a sharp increase in the UK with 54,268 more cases logged on Friday, which marks a 32 per cent increase over the previous week.

 

Public Health England (PHE) said its weekly analysis shows the continued rise in infections is not followed by a similar increase in hospitalisations and deaths, which reflects a high protection offered by both doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

 

In a separate study, PHE also found that all the vaccines being administered are as effective at preventing symptomatic disease in the majority of people with underlying health conditions as the rest of the population. Read here

6:24 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala sees 14,000 new cases, 109 deaths in a day, says CM

Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala sees 14,000 new cases, 109 deaths in a day, says CM

5:43 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: No cases of Delta plus variant found in Assam so far, says CM

5:41 PM

India raises mutual recognition of Co-Win vaccine certificate with Italy

At the 21st session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) with Italy, India raised several issues including the mutual recognition of CoWIN vaccine certificate and opening up of travel restrictions, the commerce ministry informed on Saturday.

 

A total of 15 countries in the European Union (EU) have now recognized the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for travellers. Belgium is the latest EU nation to recognise the Covishield. Read here

5:09 PM

Covid LIVE: Kerala health minister says official death numbers are accurate

We are following the guidelines of WHO and ICMR. We had conducted a Covid-death analysis after the first wave and found out that our numbers were almost correct. We have made it more transparent by doing real-time entry: Veena George, Kerala Health Minister

4:57 PM

Virus-plagued Sindh to introduce tough restrictions; vaccine certificate mandatory for hospital visit

Pakistan's worst coronavirus-hit province, Sindh, on Saturday announced a slew of disincentives for people who have not yet vaccinated against Covid-19, including a partial ban on visiting the outpatient departments of hospitals.

 

The other deterrents are unvaccinated people cannot appear for government job interviews, would not be permitted for elective surgeries, and cannot avail public transport.

 

The measures were announced on a day when Sindh once again reported the most number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

 

In the last 24 hours, Pakistan has reported 1,828 cases and 35 deaths, taking the Covid-19 caseload and related deaths to 971,304 and 22,555 respectively, the Ministry of National Health Services said on Saturday. Of the new infections, 1,046 cases were reported from Sindh province.

 

Sindh health department representative Dr Irshad Memon said to visit the out patient department (OPD) at hospitals the people would have to produce vaccination certificates. (PTI)

4:43 PM

Coronavirus Latest: Tourists visit Lonavla as curbs ease

4:14 PM

WHO's decision on EUL for Covaxin likely by first week of August

3:46 PM

Arunachal Pradesh reports 403 new cases

Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 39,085 with 403 more people testing positive for the infection, a senior health official said here on Saturday.

 

The COVID-19 death toll in the frontier state increased to 186 with one more person succumbing to the disease on Friday, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

3:38 PM

Too early to say anything on Kappa variant: UP official

2:39 PM

Vice President stresses on need for behavioural change in wake of pandemic

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today called for removing vaccine hesitancy among sections of people and underlined the need for concerted efforts to counter fake news and dispel myths on issues relating to COVID-19.

 

Noting the effect of mental stress and fear among people, he said that misinformation on COVID-19 and vaccination is a matter of serious concern. The Vice President urged icons in different fields, doctors and others to dispel fears and create awareness among the people on the importance of vaccination. 

2:01 PM

Operation of buses to Puducherry to continue: TN govt

1:58 PM

India-Sri Lanka ODI series to start on July 18

India's six-match white-ball series in Sri Lanka will now start from July 18 due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the home team camp, BCCI secretary Jay Shah told PTI on Saturday.

 

The series, which was originally scheduled to start with three ODIs on July 13, had to be rescheduled after Sri Lanka's batting coach Grant Flower and data analyst G T Niroshan tested positive for the dreaded virus on their return from the UK tour, which also meant an extended quarantine period for the squad members.

1:54 PM

Tamil Nadu lockdown extended by a week