Covid LIVE: Domestic carriers allowed to operate at 65% passenger capacity

Today's coronavirus numbers: Bengaluru (352 cases), Mumbai 553 cases), Chennai (222 cases), Kolkata (137 cases), Delhi (94 cases). Stay tuned for corona-related news

3:53 PM

British royal Kate goes into self-isolation after Covid-19 contact

British royal Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is self-isolating and has cancelled her engagements after someone she came into contact with subsequently tested positive for Covid-19, her office said on Monday.

 

"Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for Covid-19," a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said.

 

"Her Royal Highness is not experiencing any symptoms, but is following all relevant government guidelines and is self-isolating at home." Read here

3:51 PM

Covid second wave to fray apparel retail growth, profitability

Temporary store closures, restricted mobility, and curtailed discretionary spending because of the second wave of Covid-19 infections are set to pull down revenue growth of the organised apparel retail sector to 15-20 per cent this fiscal, from an earlier expectation of 30-35 per cent, a report by CRISIL has said.

 

According to the ratings agency, the expectation of lower revenue growth this fiscal would be on a low base of last fiscal, which saw a decline of 35-40 per cent.

 

Slower recovery in revenue will mean the operating margin of apparel retailers will remain moderate at 4-5 per cent for this fiscal, compared with the earlier expectation of 7-8 per cent. (IANS)

3:30 PM

Boris Johnson to set out plans for end of lockdown on July 19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host a press conference on Monday to set out plans for the final step of the lockdown roadmap in England to give businesses and the public time to prepare for the July 19 timeline, Downing Street said.

 

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid will announce the plans for an end to all legal lockdown restrictions from July 19 to Parliament. The government said its plans will be data-driven and will be confirmed next Monday on July 12, following a review of the latest coronavirus infections and hospitalisations statistics. Read here

3:12 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: PM highlights India's digital approach to vaccination at Global Co-WIN conclave

Vaccination is the best hope for humanity to emerge successfully from the pandemic. And right from the beginning, we in India decided to adopt a completely digital approach while planning our vaccination strategy: PM Modi

3:09 PM

India is committed to sharing our experiences, expertise with the global community, says PM

India is committed to sharing our experiences, expertise, with the global community despite all our constraints, says PM at Global Co-WIN Conclave

3:08 PM

No parallel to such a pandemic in 100 years, says PM Modi at Global Co-WIN Conclave

No parallel to such a pandemic in 100 years, says PM at at Global Co-WIN Conclave

3:01 PM

Watch: PM Narendra Modi's remarks at Global Co-Win Conclave

2:55 PM

Covid LIVE: Moderna vaccine likely to reach India this week, says report

Covid LIVE: Moderna vaccine likely to reach India this week, says report

2:45 PM

Vaccination is key to improve TN's travel sector: Tour operators

The Tamil Nadu Tour Operators Association has said vaccination is the key to increase the flow of travellers from the state to foreign destinations. This is because most of the countries insist on a vaccination certificate to allow tourists into their territories.

 

Shuhaib Mohammed, an office-bearer of the Association, told IANS, "Enquires are pouring into nearly all agencies regarding leisure travel but vaccination is an important factor without which travel is impossible. Most of the countries are now insisting on the vaccination certificate to allow entry."

 

Enquiries, according to the tour agents, are mostly for Switzerland which is a popular honeymoon destination as well as Russia. Both these countries have commenced issuing visas to travellers who have taken both vaccine jabs. (IANS)

2:41 PM

India Coronavirus Dispatch: 76 countries express interest in CoWin

Two new vaccine testing labs set up, Delhi sees a sharp dip in Covid funerals in June, and more-news relevant to India's fight against the pandemic. Read here

 

2:37 PM

Coronavirus Latest: Ladakh records 2 more deaths

Two more people died of coronavirus in Ladakh, taking the death toll in the Union Territory to 204 while five new cases pushed the infection tally to 20,120, officials said on Monday.

 

According to officials, the two deaths were reported from Leh on Sunday. Of the total fatalities so far, 146 were reported from Leh and 58 from Kargil, they added.

 

Ladakh last reported a Covid-related fatality on June 19. (PTI)

2:17 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Schools, colleges, can re-open in Bihar, says CM

1:53 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Curfew in Uttarakhand extended till July 13, malls to re-open

1:46 PM

Global coronavirus update: Bangladesh records highest daily Covid deaths

Bangladesh reported 153 new Covid-19 fatalities in the last 24 hours, marking the highest-ever single-day spike, increasing the overall death toll to 15,065, said the country's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

 

Also in the same period, an additional 8,661 people tested positive for the virus, raising the total infection tally to 944,917, Xinhua news agency reported. Read here

1:44 PM

US closer to declaring 'independence' from Covid, says Biden

The United States is getting closer to overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, said President Joe Biden on the occasion of the country's 245th Independence Day.

 

"Today, we are closer than ever to declare our independence from a deadly virus," Biden said in a speech at the White House. First responders, military members, and other guests were present there, as reported by Kyodo News.

 

"We have gained the upper hand against this virus," he said, adding that "Do not get me wrong: Covid-19 has not been vanquished. We all know powerful variants have emerged, like the Delta variant." (ANI)