Coronavirus LIVE: Maharashtra reports 15,817 new cases, 56 deaths in a day

Coronavirus live updates: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, MP, Delhi, Gujarat and Karnataka - are displaying an upward trajectory in the number of fresh cases. Stay tuned for corona-related news

AstraZeneca wasn't the obvious choice to partner up with Oxford when scientists there started developing a coronavirus shot. Photographer: Mikael Sjoberg/Bloomberg

4:42 PM

Germany: Tough weeks ahead with rising cases

Germany's health minister says the country should prepare for several very challenging weeks amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

Health Minister Jens Spahn told reporters in Berlin on Friday that the situation remains tense, as the country's disease control center reported 12,834 newly confirmed cases in the past day, and 252 new Covid-related deaths.

The head of the agency, Lothar Wieler, said Germany is at the beginning of the third wave of infections following surges in cases last spring and in the fall.

4:32 PM

Uttar Pradesh reports 168 Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths in a day

The number of fresh Covid-19 cases reported daily in Uttar Pradesh has been showing an upward trend in the last 10 days with 187 new instances of the infection reported in a day, according to official data on Friday.

Two fresh Covid-19 fatalities took the death toll in the state to 8,743, he said.

Ten days ago, daily cases were in two-digits. Now it is seeing an upward trend, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said.

4:30 PM

Japan intends to limit number of arrivals to 2,000 per day amid Covid-19

"Currently, to implement reliable quarantine measures, a limit will be imposed on the number of people entering the country, including Japanese citizens and returning foreigners, in the amount of 2,000 people per day," Akaba quoted.

Besides, the minister noted that the government called on airlines to introduce a limit on the numbers of passengers on international flights arriving in Japan.

The media outlet reported that several companies, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, have already voiced their intention to comply with the authorities' request, by reducing the numbers of passengers on international flights to 3,400 people per week.

4:12 PM

LIVE: Delhi reports 431 new cases, 356 recoveries and 2 deaths in last 24 hours

3:44 PM

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and wife Seema Athawale get coronavirus vaccine

3:35 PM

Pfizer, Moderna vaccines may greatly reduce risk of asymptomatic infection, study says

Patients without Covid-19 symptoms are far less likely to test positive, and unknowingly spread COVID-19 ten days after receiving a second dose of a messenger RNA vaccine, compared to those who have not been vaccinated, a study says.

Researchers from Mayo Clinic in the US noted that several vaccines are now clinically available under emergency use authorisation and have demonstrated efficacy against symptomatic Covid-19.

However, the impact of vaccines on asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection is largely unknown, they said.

3:13 PM

Manoj Bajpayee tests positive for Covid-19, under home quarantine

Manoj Bajpayee has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is currently under home quarantine, the actor's spokesperson said on Friday.

Bajpayee's spokesperson said the actor, who had commenced shooting for Kanu Behl-directed "Despatch" last month, was diagnosed with Covid-19 after the director got infected with it.

"Manoj Bajpayee was shooting for 'Despatch' film which is produced by Ronnie Screwvala and has tested Covid positive after his director got infected with it.

3:07 PM

Mumbai's 90% Covid patients in past 2 months from high rises

As many as 90 per cent patients in Mumbai, who tested positive for Covid-19 in January and February this year, were residents of high-rise buildings, while the remaining 10 per cent were from slums and chawls, the city civic body has said.

However, the situation has changed to some extent this month as the number of cases from slums are also going up, civic officials said.

Of the total number of 23,002 people, who tested positive for COVID-19 in the first two months of this year, 90 per centwere residents of building and 10 per cent others from slums and chawls, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)said in a release.

2:48 PM

India's self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing has proved beneficial for entire world: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India's self-reliance in Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing has proved beneficial for the entire world.

The Prime Minister, earlier in the day, flagged off 'padyatra' (foot march) from Ahmedabad to Dandi, as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' program to mark the 75 years of India's independence.

Speaking at the Mahotsav here, Prime Minister Modi said, "To relieve the humanity of the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic, India's self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing has proved beneficial for the entire world. The achievements of India are not only our own today, but they are going to show light to the whole world."

2:44 PM

HDFC Bank to bear the cost of Covid vaccination for employees and family members

2:43 PM

Pak reports 2,701 new cases of coronavirus; total figure crosses 600,000

Pakistan's cases of coronavirus has crossed the 600,000 mark as the nation has reported 2,701 new patients with the disease in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Friday.

The National Health Services said that the number of total Covid-19 infections reached 600,198 while the death toll jumped to 13,430 after 54 more deaths in the last one day.

It reported that 568,065 people had recovered so far while some 1,709 were in critical condition. The number of active patients is 18,703.

2:38 PM

Covid-19: Six states account for over 85 per cent of new cases

Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in daily Covid-19 cases, accounting for 85.6 per cent of the new cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

India's total Covid-19 active caseload has reached 1,97,237 and now comprises 1.74 per cent of India's total infections.

"Five states cumulatively account for 82.96 per cent of the total active cases in the country. Two states Maharashtra and Kerala- account for 71.69 per cent of India's total active cases," the ministry said.

2:01 PM

BWF cancels US Open and Canada Open due to Covid-19

Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Friday announced that the US Open 2021 -- a Super 300 tournament on the BWF World Tour -- and Canada Open 2021 has been cancelled. The US Open was due to take place from July 6-11 while the Canada Open was slated for June 29 to July 4.

"The ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and complications left local organisers no choice but to cancel the tournaments. The respective decisions of USA Badminton and Badminton Canada were made in consultation and agreement with the BWF," BWF said in a statement.

BWF also informed that Badminton Asia Championships 2021 has been postponed.

1:53 PM