Covid LIVE: G7 calls for transparent, expert-led study on virus origins

Coronavirus live updates: ICMR will conduct a national sero survey to assess the spread of Covid-19. Stay tuned for coronavirus related news

4:38 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: People throng markets in Delhi

4:33 PM

Jharkhand registers zero fresh fatality for first time during second wave

Jharkhand on Sunday did not report any fresh coronavirus death for the first time during the ongoing second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, but 239 new cases pushed the state's tally to 3,43,304, a health bulletin said.

 

East Singhbhum district registered the highest number of new cases at 51, followed by 27 in Ranchi and 23 in Hazaribag, it said.

 

The state now has 3,966 active cases, while the coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 5,082. (PTI)

4:28 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Only two cases reported in Mumbai's Dharavi

4:23 PM

DATA STORY: India's vaccinations cross 250 mn-mark

India on Sunday reported a net reduction of 54,531 in active coronavirus cases to take its count to 1,026,159. India’s share of global active coronavirus cases now stands at 8.4 per cent (one in 11). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Saturday, it added 80,834 cases to take its total caseload to 29,439,989. And, with 3,303 new fatalities, its Covid-19 death toll reached 370,384, or 1.26 per cent of total confirmed infections.

 

With 3,484,239 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Saturday, India’s total count of vaccine shots so far reached 253,195,048. The count of recovered coronavirus cases across India, meanwhile, reached 28,043,446 – or 95.26 per cent of total caseload – with 132,062 new cured cases being reported on Saturday. Read here

4:05 PM

World Coronavirus Update: US deaths reach 600,000

World Coronavirus Update: The death toll from the deadly virus has reached 600,000 in the United States, according to Worldometer.com. The country has recorded more than 34,315,873 infections so far.

3:44 PM

Philippines logs 7,302 new cases, tally rises over 1. 3 million

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday 7,302 new Covid-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,315,639.

 

The death toll climbed to 22,788 after 137 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

 

The Philippines, which has a more than 110 million population, has tested more than 13 million people since the outbreak in January 2020. (PTI)

3:24 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 255 new cases in Delhi

3:17 PM

AstraZeneca shots should be halted for over-60s too: EMA official

Countries should also avoid giving the Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine to people over 60, the head of the EU drug regulator's Covid-19 task force was quoted on Sunday as saying, amid fears over rare blood clotting and as more vaccines become available.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) considers the Astrazeneca shot safe for all age groups. However several European Union member states have stopped administering it to people below a certain age, usually ranging from 50 to 65, restricting its use to the older population, due to the rare cases of blood clotting, mainly among young people. (Reuters)

 

3:04 PM

Assam govt tells fully vaccinated employees to join office from Monday

The Assam government on Sunday asked all its employees who have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine to join offices from Monday even as a partial lockdown across the state will be in force.

 

The General Administration Department Commissioner and Secretary M S Manivannan issued an order and said the decision has been taken for the smooth functioning of the government offices.

 

"In order to ensure smooth functioning of government offices, all the employees of Government of Assam who have received both the doses of Covid-19 vaccine are hereby directed to attend office from 14/06/2021 regularly," he added. Read here

2:36 PM

States, UTs to get over 400,000 Covid vaccine doses in next three days: Centre

More than four lakh (4,48,760) vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the States and the Union Territories (UTs) within the next 3 days.

 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) made the announcement through a statement and also clarified that more than 1.53 crore (1,53,79,233) Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and the UTs to be administered.

 

The Ministry further said that more than 26 crore (26,64,84,350) vaccine doses have been provided to states and the UTs so far, through government of India (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category. Read here

2:32 PM

Sunday prayers reduced to few churches amid lockdown in Kerala's Kottayam

Amid lockdown in Kerala's Kottayam, Sunday prayers have been reduced to a few churches, while other churches remain closed.

 

As public gatherings is not allowed in the wake of Covid-19 protocols, many churches remained closed.

 

Almost five weeks into lockdown, Kerala seems to have entered the plateau phase again in Covid-19 cases.

 

The Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala has announced stringent measures for June 12-13, in addition to the existing lockdown guidelines which are in place till June 16. (PTI)

2:27 PM

Nationwide sero survey will help in building strategy on vaccination: Expert

Health experts dealing with Covid-19 believe that a nationwide coronavirus serological survey will be beneficial as it will help in bringing out exact viral load and thus help in building up strategies.

 

Sero surveys estimate as well as monitor infection trends in the population which is specifically location-based to understand the current course of the virus.

 

The Centre recently announced that it would commence a nationwide sero surveillance project and has asked the States to participate for fact-based monitoring of the situation. (ANI)

2:13 PM

Odisha logs 4,469 new cases, 45 more deaths

Odisha on Sunday reported 4,469 new Covid-19 cases, taking the state's tally to 8,51,782, a Health Department official said.

 

Forty-five more deaths pushed the toll to 3,302, he said.

 

Of the new infections, 2,546 were reported from quarantine centres, while the rest 1,923 were local contact cases. (PTI)

2:11 PM

Japanese airline starts crew vaccination drive

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways has begun vaccinating its pilots and cabin attendants on international flights.

 

That makes it one of the first companies to launch workplace vaccinations in Japan, one of the world's least-vaccinated nations.

 

Japan is desperately pushing to accelerate the pace of inoculations before the Tokyo Olympics start in about 40 days.

 

Following criticism over the slow pace of the vaccine rollout, the government recently unveiled workplace inoculation programs by major companies to supplement efforts led by municipalities around the country. (AP)

2:01 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi govt releases unlock guidelines