Covid LIVE: Karnataka sees nearly 23,000 new cases; 20,740 in Maharashtra

Coronavirus live updates: India reported 186,364 fresh Covid-19 infections today, taking the caseload tally to 27,555,457. Death toll stands at 318,895. Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:55 PM

Vaccination exercise in India to be complete by December: Prakash Javadekar

Vaccination exercise in India to be complete by December; Health Ministry gave roadmap for producing 216 crore doses by then: Prakash Javadekar

2:48 PM

50,000 vials of Amphotericin-B arrive at Mumbai Airport

2:47 PM

WHO calls member states to restart IP sharing scheme for Covid vax

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on member states to engage with vaccine manufacturers to encourage intellectual property (IP) sharing and technology transfer to improve inequality in access to vaccines by poor countries.

 

"The single most important priority of the global community is to stop the pandemic in its tracks, to halt its rapid transmission and reverse the trend of consequential global distress," wrote WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, in a letter published on Thursday.

 

"We know that this goal is only achievable when everyone, everywhere, can access the health technologies they need for Covid-19 detection, prevention, treatment and response," they wrote.

2:27 PM

Covid LIVE: DRDO’s 2DG drug priced at Rs 990 per sachet, says Dr Reddy's

2:18 PM

Maharashtra Education dept announces financial help to students for who lost parents due to Covid-19

Maharashtra Education Department announces financial help to students for Class 1 to 12 who lost parents due to Covid-19

2:17 PM

Covid lockdowns reduced bacterial diseases spread: Lancet

National lockdowns and public health campaigns introduced at the start of the Coronavirus pandemic have reduced the transmission of deadly invasive bacteria that cause respiratory infections -- potentially saving thousands of lives, according to a large study published in The Lancet Digital Health on Friday.

 

Diseases caused by invasive bacteria, including pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis, are leading causes of illness and death worldwide, especially among children and older adults. These pathogens are typically transmitted person-to-person via the respiratory route.

 

The rapid spread of Covid-19 forced many countries to lockdown and create national containment policies leading to a significant reduction in people's movements in all countries.

2:13 PM

Puducherry adds 1,223 fresh Covid-19 cases, overall tally

Puducherry logged 1,223 new coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 1,01,900, a senior official of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services said on Friday.

 

Twenty-one more people succumbed to the virus during the last 24 ending 10 AM Friday, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services S Mohan Kumar said. The Puducherry region accounted for 15 fatalities followed by Karaikal (5) and Yanam (1) as the toll rose to 1,476. Twelve of the 21 deceased had no comorbidities.

2:12 PM

India’s Active Caseload further dips to 23,43,152: Health Ministry

2:09 PM

World Coronavirus Dispatch: California to give $116.5 mn in prizes for jabs

California will offer residents who have gotten at least one vaccine dose before June a chance to win $116.5 million in cash prizes. The move is part of an effort to boost vaccinations as the state prepares to reopen fully on June 15. Ten lucky Californians who get at least one vaccine dose stand to win lottery-style prizes of $1.5 million apiece, while another 30 can win $50,000 each. Under the state’s new “Vax for the Win” campaign residents 12 years or older will be eligible for cash prizes. Read here

 

2:02 PM

Covid positivity rate has come down to 1.5% in Delhi: CM

1:49 PM

Sputnik V Covid vaccine to be rolled out at Rs 1,195 in Apollo hospitals

Apollo Group of Hospitals has announced that it will start administering the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, across its hospitals in India from the second week of June, at an estimated price of Rs 1,195 per dose.

 

"We will be charging Rs 995 for the vaccine and Rs 200 would be administration charges," an official of the Apollo Group said.

 

On Thursday, Apollo Hospitals said they will start administering Sputnik V from the second week of June. In a statement, Executive Vice-chairperson Shobana Kamineni of the Apollo Group of Hospitals said that the group has completed administering one million vaccine doses across 80 locations in India, and will prioritise frontline workers, high-risk population, and corporate employees.

1:32 PM

Spoke to CMs of Congress-ruled States, told them that lying will only harm them: Rahul Gandhi on death toll

1:30 PM

Covid positivity rate in Delhi has come down to 1.5%

Positivity rate has come down to 1.5% & around 1,100 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

1:29 PM

Delhi to start unlock process from Monday, says Arvind Kejriwal

Lockdown will last till Monday, 5am. We will begin the unlocking process. Construction activities & factories will be reopened from Monday keeping the daily wage workers in mind: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

1:06 PM

The Prime Minister's 'nautanki' is the reason behind the second wave of Covid-19 in India: Rahul Gandhi

The Prime Minister's 'nautanki' is the reason behind the second wave of Covid-19 in India. He did not understand Covid-19. India's death rate is a lie. The government should tell the truth: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi