Covid LIVE: Tamil Nadu sees 15,759 new cases in a day; 8,249 in Karnataka

Coronavirus live updates: Tamil Nadu recorded 16,813 cases in the last 24 hours. Kerala registered 14,424 infections, Maharashtra 12,207, Karnataka 11,042, Delhi 305. Stay tuned for corona-related new

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Our regulator endorsed licensure for Covaxin: Niti Aayog's V K Paul

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Will have no impact on our vaccine prog: Govt on US denying emergency approval to Covaxin

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ICMR to start national sero surveys to assess Covid spread: Health ministry

The ICMR will start national-level sero surveys to assess the spread of COVID-19 and all states/UTs should also be encouraged to conduct them so that information from all geographies can be collected, the Union health ministry said on Friday.

 

The ministry also said that the Covid situation in the country appears to be stabilising, but urged people to continue following the appropriate behaviour and social distancing norms.

 

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will conduct national sero surveys to assess the Covid spread and states/UTs should also conduct them to get all geographies' information, it said.

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GST Council meet tomorrow; tax cut on Covid essentials, black fungus medicine on agenda

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Saturday chair the meeting of the GST Council, which is expected to decide on tax relief for COVID-19 essentials and black fungus medicine.

 

The 44th GST Council meeting will be attended by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, besides finance ministers of states and Union territories and senior officers from Union government and states, the Union finance ministry tweeted on Friday.

 

The Council will discuss the report of the Group of Ministers, headed by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, on GST concessions on COVID-19 relief items like medical grade oxygen, pulse oximeters, hand sanitisers and ventilators, among others.

 

Besides, GoM also looked into vaccines, drugs and medicines for COVID-19 treatment and testing kits for its detection. Some state finance ministers in the GoM are understood to have pitched for a rate cut on COVID-19 essentials.

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What is Delta variant of Covid and how effective are vaccines against it?

According to Indian scientists, the Delta variant is responsible for the severe second wave in India. First identified in Maharashtra, it was previously labelled as B.1.617.2.
 

Because of its rapid transmission not just in India but in several other countries, the WHO graduated it from a “variant of interest” (VOI) to a “variant of concern” (VOC).
 

But, what sets the Delta variant apart from other strains?

 

Listen to the PODCAST to know more.

4:56 PM

Govt considering plea for Rs 4 lakh to Covid victims, Centre tells SC

The Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it was considering a plea to provide monetary compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of those who have died due to Covid-19.

 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted before a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and M.R. Shah that the issue raised in the PILs is important, and the government would file its response in the matter.

 

Mehta said that the government is contemplating a national policy, and sought two weeks to file its reply.

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Breaking chain of transmission ensures lesser strain on health infrastructure, better quality of care: Govt

Breaking chain of transmission ensures lesser strain on health infrastructure, better quality of care: Health Ministry

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People need to follow appropriate behaviour and social distancing norms: Health Ministry

Covid situation appears to be stabilizing in India, but people need to follow appropriate behaviour & social distancing norms: Health Ministry

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Break the chain of transmission by following Covid Appropriate Behaviour: Health Ministry

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Need to encourage states for sero-surveys as well: Dr V K Paul

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About 74% decrease in weekly Covid-19 positivity rate in India: Govt

About 74% decrease in weekly Covid-19 positivity rate since the highest such rate reported between April 30-May 6 at 21.6% in India: Govt

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Almost 78% decline in Covid cases since the highest reported peak in daily new cases: Govt

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Consistent increase in recovery rate observed since May 3 when it was 81.8% to 94.9% as on date: Govt

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LIVE: Health Ministry addressing media on Covid-19 situation in India

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SC says fixing June 16 for INI CET 2021 is arbitrary, postpones test

The Supreme Court Friday termed as "arbitrary" the fixing of June 16 for conducting INI CET 2021 and directed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to hold the post graduate medical entrance test after one month.

 

A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and M R Shah disposed of a plea filed by doctors seeking admission in PG medical and challenging the notification of fixing June 16 as date of INI CET 2021.

 

The bench said that having regard to the difficulty faced by the candidates due to the examination and many placed far way due to COVID duty from the examination centre, the exam needs to be postponed. READ ON...