Covid LIVE: Karnataka releases unlock plan; 10,697 new cases in Maharashtra

Coronavirus live updates: Tamil Nadu recorded 15,759 cases in the last 24 hours. Kerala registered 14,233 infections, Maharashtra 11,766, Karnataka 8,249, Delhi 238. Stay tuned for corona-related news

1:45 PM

Govt confirms that claim of alleged data leak on CoWin is baseless

The matter of the alleged hacking of the Co-WIN system has now been investigated by the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MietY).

 

Dr R S Sharma, Chairman of the Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration (EGVAC) has clarified that “the claims of so called hackers on the dark web, relating to alleged hacking of the Co-WIN system and data leak, is baseless. We continue to take appropriate steps as are necessary, from time to time, to ensure that the data of the people is safe with Co-WIN”. Read full release here

1:33 PM

Covid-19: Did a delayed 2nd vaccine dose give delta variant evolutionary help?

The delta coronavirus variant, which was first detected in India, is now the dominant variant in the UK.
 

Some experts warn that the delta variant may be 100 per cent more transmissible than the previously dominant variant, alpha.

 

But we don't think that transmissibility alone explains delta's dominance.
 

Successful variants often have a biological advantage -- through mutation -- that helps them spread more easily among the population. Read on...

1:32 PM

Chances of third wave quite real, Delhi govt preparing on war-footing: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday cautioned that the chances of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic were quite real, while he asserted that his government was preparing on a "war-footing" to combat it.

 

Indications are coming from the UK on the fear of the third wave. Cases are rising there, despite 45 per cent of vaccination. So, we cannot afford to sit idle, he said.

 

Kejriwal was speaking at an online event during which he jointly inaugurated 22 new PSA oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi. Read on...

1:20 PM

Brazil reports 85,149 new Covid-19 cases, 2,216 deaths in last 24 hours

Brazil on Friday reported 2,216 more deaths from Covid-19 and 85,149 new cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said.

 

The nationwide death toll thus stood at 484,235 while the national count of Covid-19 cases mounted to 17,296,118, said the ministry.

 

Most of the country is seeing more than 80 per cent occupancy of hospital intensive care units (ICU) by patients with Covid-19, according to a newsletter published by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil's state-run medical research facility. Read on...

1:02 PM

Chances of third wave of Covid hitting us are quite real: Kejriwal

Chances of third wave of Covid hitting us are quite real, Delhi govt preparing on war-footing to combat it: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

1:01 PM

Pray that third wave of Covid doesn't hit us: CM Arvind Kejriwal

We pray that third wave of Covid doesn't hit us, but if it happens, Delhi has to again fight together: CM Arvind Kejriwal

1:01 PM

22 new PSA oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi being added today: CM Arvind Kejriwal

To strengthen preparations to fight Covid, 22 new PSA oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi being added today: CM Arvind Kejriwal

12:56 PM

We congratulate Delhiites for successfully controlling Covid 2nd wave with struggle and discipline: Kejriwal

We congratulate people of Delhi who have together faced Covid second wave with struggle and discipline and succeeded in controlling it: CM

12:54 PM

Due to resistance in some people, 10%-15% vaccination of 45+ age group is still left: J&K CMO

"Due to resistance in some people, 10%-15% vaccination of 45+ age group is still left. People are requested to get vaccinated. We also urge NGOs & social workers to motivate people to get the jabs so that we also begin our next target of vaccination for 18-44 age group," CMO adds

12:45 PM

Mizoram logs 178 new Covid-19 cases, one more death

Mizoram reported 178 new Covid-19 cases and one fatality in the last 24 hours, which took the tally in the state to 14,921 and death toll to 62, an official said on Saturday.

 

A 75-year-old man from Aizawl succumbed to the infection at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on Friday night, he said.

 

Of the 178 fresh cases, Aizawl district reported (118), Lunglei (16), Siaha (5), Lawngtlai (18), Kolasib (12), Champhai (7), Mamit and Saitual districts reported 1 case each.

 

The official said that the single-day rate of infection was 6.57 per cent as 2,709 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

12:16 PM

GST Council meet LIVE: FM Sitharaman to address media at 2:30 pm today

12:13 PM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 44th GST Council meeting via video conferencing in New Delhi

11:44 AM

11,241,187 Covid vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered

11,241,187 Covid vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered

11:35 AM

PMCARES funded 500-bed Covid hospital at Srinagar is admitting patients now

PMCARES funded 500-bed Covid hospital at Srinagar is admitting patients now. The hospital has been set-up by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in 17 days only. This facility includes 125 ICU beds with ventilators, out of which 25 are reserved for children: DRDO

11:30 AM

Puducherry logs 442 new Covid cases, 9 deaths

Puducherry clocked 442 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Saturday, raising the aggregate to 112,126.

 

Nine more people succumbed to the deadly disease taking the toll to 1677.

 

The 442 new cases were identified at the end of examination of swabs of 9030 people and they were spread over Puducherry 321, Karaikal 97, Yanam 10 and Mahe 14.

 

The deceased were in the age groups of 35 and 88 years and two of them had no no co-morbidities.