Covid LIVE: India has been offered 7.5 mn Moderna doses via Covax, says WHO

Coronavirus LIVE updates: Pune reported 545 new infections, followed by Mumbai (1,481), Bengaluru (432), Chennai (150), Delhi (51). Stay tuned for corona-related news

5:56 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Tourism is worst-hit, can't stop it, says Himachal CM

5:36 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Andhra Pradesh reports 1,628 fresh cases

Andhra Pradesh reports 1,628 fresh coronavirus cases,  2,744 recoveries, and 22 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the state health department.

5:23 PM

Covid antibodies last at least nine months after infection, study finds

Antibody levels remain high nine months after infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, according to a study published on Monday that analysed data from an entire Italian town.

 

Researchers from the University of Padua in Italy and Imperial College London in the UK tested over 85 per cent of the 3,000 residents of Vo', Italy, in February and March last year for infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Read here

4:52 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi reports 36 fresh cases in a day

4:44 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Female gymnast from US tests positive at Olympics

4:28 PM

Covid antibodies last at least nine months after infection, study finds

Antibody levels remain high nine months after infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, according to a study published on Monday that analysed data from an entire Italian town.

 

Researchers from the University of Padua in Italy and Imperial College London in the UK tested over 85 per cent of the 3,000 residents of Vo', Italy, in February and March last year for infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. 

 

They then tested them again in May and November 2020 for antibodies against the virus. Read here

4:26 PM

DATA STORY: Fewest Covid deaths in 104 days

India on Monday reported a net reduction of 995 in active coronavirus cases to take its count to 421,665. India’s share of global active coronavirus cases now stands at 3.26 per cent (one in 30). The country is seventh among the most affected countries by active cases. On Sunday, it added 38,164 cases to take its total caseload to 31,144,229 from 31,106,065 — an increase of 0.1%. And, with 499 new fatalities, its Covid-19 death toll reached 414,108, or 1.33 per cent of total confirmed infections. Read here

4:24 PM

India Coronavirus Dispatch: SC questions lifting of curbs in Kerala

How Kashmiris are being convinced to take Covid shot, study finds no trace of mRNA vaccine in human milk, and more-news relevant to India's fight against the pandemic. Read here

 

3:40 PM

Those who get jabbed become 'Baahubali'; Over 400 million vaccinated: PM

Vaccine is given in the 'baahu' (arm) and those who take it become 'Baahubali', Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday and asserted that over 40 crore people have become 'Baahubali' (strong) in the fight against coronavirus.

 

Addressing reporters ahead of the start of the session, Modi also said the inoculation programme in the country was moving forward at a fast pace.

 

"Vaccine is given in 'baahu' (arm), and those who take it become 'Baahubali'. The only way to become Baahubali to fight against corona is to get vaccinated. More than 40 crore people have become Bahubali in the fight against coronavirus," he said.

 

The Prime Minister's remarks triggered reactions from netizens, who referred to the South Indian hit movie 'Baahubali' which had a very strong protagonist. (PTI)

3:16 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Future waves will be controlled if more people get vaccinated, says ICMR official

In a recent interview, Dr N K Arora, co-chair, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) elaborates about the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for testing and follow-up on variants, what makes the Delta variant so transmissible, how genomic surveillance can help contain its spread, and reemphasises on the importance of Covid appropriate behaviour. Read full release here

2:20 PM

India's economic fundamentals strong: Sitharaman

India's strong fundamentals and market size will continue to attract investments, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Lok Sabha on Monday. FDI inflows into India rose by 25.4 per cent to reach $64 billion in 2020, from $51 billion in 2019, she said quoting the World Investment Report 2021.

 

2:05 PM

USA’s Coco Gauff ruled out of Olympics

Tennis player Coco Gauff, aged 17 and ranked 25th in the world, tested positive for Covid-19, ruling her out of joining the women’s US Olympic team in Tokyo. She was set to become the youngest tennis player to take part in the Olympics since 2000, Bloomberg reported. Jennifer Capriati, aged 16, won the gold medal at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

1:47 PM

Boris Johnson urges caution as England eases curbs

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged caution as the legal lockdown restrictions come to an end in England on the so-called “Freedom Day”, even as he remains in self-isolation after coming in contact with UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid who has tested positive for Covid. Johnson warned of the “extreme contagiousness” of the Delta variant of coronavirus, which continues to keep the infection rate in the country at very high levels, PTI reported from London.

12:55 PM

Mizoram reports 335 new cases

Mizoram reported 335 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, pushing the tally to 27,488. More than 67 children are among people to contract the virus since Sunday, PTI reported quoting the health department.

 

11:40 AM

Want coronavirus to be discussed on priority in Parliament: PM Modi

With the Monsoon Session set to begin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government wants pandemic to be discussed in the Parliament on priority while adding that people who take the Covid vaccine become 'Baahubali' in the fight against the disease.

 

Briefing media persons outside the Parliament, the Prime Minister said, "The vaccine is given in 'baahu' (arms), those who take the jab become 'Baahubali'. Over 40 crore people have become 'Baahubali' in the fight against Covid. It is being taken forward. The pandemic has gripped the entire world. So we want meaningful discussions in the Parliament over it." Read on...