Covid LIVE: Karnataka sees 7,345 new cases in a day; 880 in Mumbai

Coronavirus live updates: PM Modi will launch a customised crash course programme for Covid-19 frontline workers on Friday. Stay tuned for corona-related news, unlock guidelines and more

4:58 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 6,617 new Covid cases, 57 deaths in last 24 hours

Andhra Pradesh reports 6,617 new Covid positive cases, 57 deaths, and 10,228 recoveries in the last 24 hours

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India will revisit Covishield dosage interval based on emerging data

India will revisit the dosage interval for Covishield vaccine and take appropriate action based on emerging data, N K Arora, chairperson of the working group of immunisation advisory body NTAGI, said.

 

Describing the Covid and vaccination situation as "very dynamic", he said in a statement that the emerging evidence and reports regarding efficacy of partial versus full immunisation are also under consideration. READ MORE...

4:39 PM

More 'Made in India' vaccines in development, trial stage: PM Modi

"Two Covid vaccines are made in India and more are in development, trial stage, says PM Narendra Modi at VivaTech conference. I invite the world to invest in India based on five pillars of talent, market, capital, ecosystem and culture of openness: PM Modi. We have to continue repair and prepare healthcare and economy after disruption due to pandemic. Start-ups must explore healthcare, eco-friendly technology, agriculture, new-age tool for learning", said PM Narendra Modi at start-up conference.

4:29 PM

Calf serum used in manufacturing of viral vaccines: Bharat Biotech

Bharat Biotech on Wednesday clarified that while new born calf serum is used in the manufacturing of viral vaccines, the final formulation of its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin is free from all impurities.

 

"New born calf serum is used in the manufacturing of viral vaccines. It is used for the growth of cells, but neither used in growth of SARS CoV2 virus nor in the final formulation," the company said in a statement.

 

"Covaxin is is highly purified to contain only the inactivated virus components by removing all other impurities," it added. READ ON...

4:14 PM

Uttar Pradesh overcoming second Covid wave with active cases at 6,496

Uttar Pradesh is finally overcoming the second wave of the pandemic. The state has recorded merely 310 fresh Covid cases -- the lowest daily count in over two-and-a-half months -- with positivity rate down to just 0.1 per cent.

 

Additional chief secretary, information, Navneet Sehgal, said that this was a result of numerous proactive measures adopted by chief minister Yogi Adityanath in limiting the transmission of the virus in the densely populated state. READ MORE...

4:04 PM

PM Modi to launch customised crash course for Covid frontline workers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a customised crash course programme for COVID-19 frontline workers on Friday through video conferencing, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

 

The launch will commence the programme in 111 training centres spread over 26 states, the PMO said. Prime Minister Modi will launch 'Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 Frontline workers' on June 18 at 11 am through video conferencing, it said.

 

The launch will be followed by the prime minister's address. the Union minister of skill development and entrepreneurship will also be present on the occasion. The programme aims to skill and upskill over one lakh "Covid warriors" across the country, the PMO said. READ ON...

3:54 PM

212 fresh Covid cases in Delhi, 25 deaths; positivity rate at 0.27%

Delhi recorded 212 fresh COVID-19 cases and 25 fatalities on Wednesday, while the positivity rate dipped to 0.27 per cent, according to data shared by the health department here.

 

According to the latest health bulletin, these new fatalities pushed the death toll due to COVID-19 here to 24,876.

 

On Tuesday, 228 cases with 0.32 per cent positivity rate, and 12 deaths were recorded. On March 8, Delhi had recorded 239 cases and on March 9, the tally was 320, according to official data.

3:54 PM

212 fresh Covid cases in Delhi, 25 deaths; positivity rate at 0.27

Delhi recorded 212 fresh COVID-19 cases and 25 fatalities on Wednesday, while the positivity rate dipped to 0.27 per cent, according to data shared by the health department here.

 

According to the latest health bulletin, these new fatalities pushed the death toll due to COVID-19 here to 24,876.

 

On Tuesday, 228 cases with 0.32 per cent positivity rate, and 12 deaths were recorded. On March 8, Delhi had recorded 239 cases and on March 9, the tally was 320, according to official data.

3:45 PM

Covid LIVE: 212 new coronavirus cases in Delhi

3:34 PM

'Based on scientific data': Harsh Vardhan on Covishield dose gap decision

Discussions are underway whether India should revert to four or eight weeks interval for Covishield vaccine and the emerging evidence regarding efficacy of partial versus full immunisation is also being considered, Chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of NTAGI, Dr N K, Arora said.

 

He stressed that the decision to increase the gap between two doses of Covishield from 4-6 weeks to 12-16 weeks was based on scientific decision and there was no dissenting voice among the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) members. READ MORE...

3:23 PM

Contract worker at Chennai hospital arrested for murdering Covid patient

A contract worker of Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital was arrested for allegedly killing a COVID-19 patient for her cellphone and cash, informed the police on Wednesday.

 

According to the police, Sunitha, a 41-year-old-woman was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital on May 23 after she tested positive for Covid. On May 24 her husband Mouli visited the hospital and found his wife missing from the corona ward. He filed a police complaint. Sunitha's decomposed body was found on June 8.

 

The reason for her death was unknown and on the complaint of Sunitha's husband, Chennai police started an investigation, said the police. The police stated that it solved the case after hospital staff members and patients told them that they had last seen Sunitha with Rathi Devi, who had taken her in a wheelchair.

3:12 PM

Odisha extends partial lockdown till July 1, opens borders with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand

Odisha extends partial lockdown till July 1, opens borders with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand: Official

3:05 PM

Centre gave over 270 million Covid vaccine doses to states, UTs

The Centre has provided more than 27 crores COVID vaccine doses to the states and Union Territories (UTs) so far, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) informed on Wednesday.

 

"As many as 27,28,31,900 vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far, through Government of India (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages is 25,45,45,692 doses," reads the official statement.

 

According to Union Health Ministry, more than 1,82,86,208 COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered. READ ON...

3:02 PM

LIVE: Cabinet briefing by Union Minsters Prakash Javadekar and Mansukh Mandaviya

2:58 PM

UK expands Covid vaccination drive to cover all over-21s

Around 1 million people in the UK aged 21 and 22 will begin to be called forward on Wednesday to book their coronavirus vaccine, as the National Health Service (NHS) led COVID-19 vaccination programme expanded the age-based rollout to cover further younger categories., PTI reported.

 

The latest expansion leaves only 18 to 20 year olds yet to be contacted for their first doses, even as the second doses for all those aged 40 and over and being encouraged to be brought forward as part of efforts to control the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19. The NHS has said that by the end of this week it is expected that all those aged 18 or over would also be able to book their jabs.