Covid LIVE: We have a window of 6-8 months before 3rd wave, says N K Arora

Coronavirus live updates: 'Vaccine hesitancy in some places is dangerous', says PM Modi. Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:50 PM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan slams Rahul Gandhi for spreading lies, misconceptions regarding Covid

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday for allegedly spreading lies and misconceptions about Covid-19.

 

"Prime Minister Modi ensured free vaccination for all in the country but you (Rahul Gandhi) are spreading lies, misconceptions and putting people's lives in danger. While PM spoke to villagers of Dulariya, counselled them to take the vaccine and cleared their doubts regarding vaccination," Chouhan said while reacting to Congress MP's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann ki Baat'. (PTI)

2:19 PM

Delta plus variant affects lung tissues more than other strains: Expert

The Delta plus variant of Covid-19 has greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains but it does not mean that it will cause severe disease or is more transmissible, head of coronavirus working group NTAGI Dr N K Arora said.

 

A new viral variant of the coronavirus, Delta Plus, was identified on June 11. It was recently classified as a variant of concern.

 

Till now, 51 cases of Delta Plus have been detected across 12 states, with Maharashtra reporting the maximum cases of this variant. Read here

2:13 PM

Mizoram reports 233 new cases, 2 fresh fatalities

Mizoram's Covid-19 tally rose to 19,324 on Sunday as 233 more people, including 62 children, tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 91, a health official said.

 

Aizawl district registered the highest number of new cases at 127, followed by Kolasib (41) and Lunglei (15), he said.

 

Only five new patients have travel history, while 228 fresh infections were detected during contact tracing, the official said.

 

Mizoram now has 4,370 active cases, while 14,863 people have recovered from the infection thus far, including 309 on Saturday. (PTI)

2:05 PM

Russia registers 20,538 Covid cases in past 24 hours

Russia recorded 20,538 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, down from 21,665 the day before, while the total number reached 5,451,291, the federal response center said on Sunday.

 

"Over the past day, 20,538 Covid-19 cases were confirmed across 85 Russian regions, including 2,964 cases (14.4%) without clinical symptoms," the statement said.

 

Moscow confirmed 6,723 daily infections, down from 8,457 the day before. The Russian capital was followed by the Moscow region with 2,608 cases, up from 2,504 the day before, and St. Petersburg with 1,298 cases, up from 1,247 cases the day before. (PTI)

1:59 PM

Indo-Japanese partnership during Covid-19 more relevant for global stability: PM Modi

The Indo-Japanese partnership during the Covid-19 crisis is more relevant for global stability and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

 

The PM was speaking after virtually inaugurating a Japanese Zen garden and Kaizen Academy set up at the premises of the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) here.

 

Modi in his address via video conference said the opening of the Zen garden and the Kaizen Academy in Ahmedabad will deepen ties between the two countries.

 

"The current Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, is a very straight-forward person. PM Suga and I believe during this Covid-19 pandemic crisis, the Indo-Japanese friendship and our partnership has become even more relevant for global stability and prosperity. Today, when we are facing several global challenges, it is the need of the time that our friendship and relationship get stronger day by day," Modi said. (PTI)

1:44 PM

First of its kind month long health check up for kids to beat Covid starts in Haveri

In a first of its kind exercise in Karnataka, a month-long extensive health check-up drive for children below 16 years has been launched across Haveri district as part of the preparation to face a possible third wave of Covid-19, state Home Minister Basavaraj S Bommai said.

 

"Haveri has become the first district in the State to start a first-of-its-kind health check-up drive exclusively for children.

 

We are making sure that no child is malnourished," Bommai, an MLA from Shiggaon in the district, told PTI.

 

During the camp, which started on June 25 and will conclude on July 30, 2.75 lakh children under the age of 16 in the district will be screened, he said, adding, teachers and parents will also be subjected to check-up and vaccinated. (PTI)

1:21 PM

Delta plus has more affinity for lung tissues in comparison to other Covid strains: NTAGI chief

The Delta plus variant of COVID-19 has greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains, but it does not mean that it will cause severe disease or is more transmissible, head of coronavirus working group NTAGI Dr N K Arora said.

 

A new viral variant of the coronavirus, Delta Plus, was identified on June 11. It was recently classified as a variant of concern. Till now, 51 cases of Delta Plus have been detected across 12 states, with Maharashtra reporting the maximum cases of this variant.

 

1:19 PM

India’s Covid vaccination coverage crosses landmark of 32 crore: Health Ministry

1:05 PM

Former ICMR chief scientist explains why Delta Plus is a variant of concern

12:47 PM

Chandigarh reports first case of Delta Plus variant of Covid-19

The first case of the Delta plus COVID variant and 33 cases of the Delta variant have been reported in Chandigarh.

 

As per a statement from the Chandigarh administration, 50 random samples of Chandigarh residents from May and June were sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) lab on June 6 for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).

 

Out of the results received, variants of concern (VOC) were detected in 35 samples - One Alpha variant (B.1.1.1.7), 33 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and one Delta plus variant (AY.1). READ MORE...

12:36 PM

Odisha logs 3,408 new Covid cases, 39 fresh fatalities

Odisha's COVID-19 tally surpassed the 9 lakh-mark on Sunday as 3,408 more people tested positive for the infection, while 39 fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 3,887, a health official said.

 

The fresh infections recorded in all the 30 districts took the state's caseload to 9,00,470.

 

As many as 1,943 new cases were reported in quarantine centres, while 1,465 fresh infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.

12:22 PM

UNLOCK: Gyms and yoga institutes in Delhi to reopen with 50% capacity from Monday

12:13 PM

Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy can be dangerous; ignore rumours: PM Modi

Rumours and fear about coronavirus vaccines can be dangerous for India as the pandemic is not over, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

 

"I have taken both doses. My mother is almost hundred years old, she has taken both vaccines too. Please do not believe any negative rumours relating to vaccines,” he said on Mann ki Baat, his monthly radio speech to the nation.

 

“Those who are spreading rumours on vaccines, let them be. The threat of Covid-19 remains and we have to focus on vaccination,” he said. READ MORE...

12:07 PM

India has 1.94% active Covid cases: Health Ministry

11:50 AM

135 crore Covid vaccine doses to be available between Aug to Dec: Centre to SC

The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that a total of 135 crore COVID-19 vaccines will be available in India between August to December. The Centre informed about the projected availability of COVID-19 vaccines in an affidavit filed in the suo motu case on COVID-19 management initiated by the apex court.

 

As per the affidavit, out of the 135 crore vaccines, the estimated availability of Covishield doses is 50 crores, while of Covaxin doses is 40 crores.

 

It said that Russian made Sputnik V vaccine's estimated availability is 10 crores doses. The affidavit filed by the Central government also informed that the Bio E Sub unit vaccine's 30 crore doses will be available while Zydus Cadila DNA vaccine's 5 crore doses will be available.