Covid LIVE: Lockdown restrictions in Bengaluru to be eased from June 14

Coronavirus live updates: Tamil Nadu recorded 17,321 cases in the last 24 hours. Kerala registered 15,204 infections, Maharashtra 10,959, Karnataka 10,959, Delhi 337. Stay tuned for corona-related new

2:15 AM

Taking up with govts issue of Indians unable to travel to foreign countries to pursue studies: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it is aware of the challenges being faced by the Indian students who are unable to travel to foreign countries to pursue their studies due to the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 and is taking up the issue with the governments concerned on priority.
 

At an online media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the ministry, in line with the government's policies and priorities, has been working actively to protect the interests of the Indians residing abroad -- be it for education, employment or other reasons.
 

"We are aware of the challenges being faced by the Indian students who are unable to join or return to foreign countries to pursue their studies. We have been taking this issue up with the governments concerned on priority.
 

"We have also requested the students facing difficulties to contact the MEA," he said.
 

To a separate question on vaccine supply from the United States, Bagchi said the US administration has announced that it will donate a first tranche of 25 million (2.5 crore) doses of Covid vaccines to identified countries.
 

"On June 3, US Vice President Kamala Harris called the prime minister (Narendra Modi) on the phone to confirm that India will be among the recipient countries. We are awaiting the details about the exact quantity and type of vaccines to be given to India and the timelines for the same," he said.
 

As India was facing a rapid increase in the number of coronavirus cases, the US sent six planeloads of life-saving supplies in support of the country's fight against the pandemic.
 

2:15 AM

DUTA seeks setting up of oxygen plant in north campus to prepare for possible third Covid wave

The Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) on Thursday proposed to the varsity administration to set up an oxygen plant in north campus to prepare for a possible third Covid wave, it said in a statement.
 

The association also urged the university to expedite any clearance process and distribute adequate number of oxygen concentrators among colleges and hostels, it said.
 

The proposal was discussed at a meeting held by DUTA office bearers with the Delhi University (DU) Vice Chancellor (VC) and Registrar.
 

According to DUTA, it discussed a proposal of setting up the plant through contributions of teachers and employees as decided in the last executive meeting to which the VC assured that they are also exploring various ways of materialising the demand including requesting funds from the government and various agencies.
 

In the meeting, the teachers' body also requested inclusion of elected DUTA members in the ‘Covid task force' of the university, the statement mentioned.
 

"The delegation also requested that teachers be given EL benefits (30 days) or equivalent days of station leave, which a teacher may avail in the period for which she/he is not assigned any classes or special Covid-care leave to deal with illness of self and family members," it said, adding that the university has agreed to consider the matter.
 

The DUTA also requested the university to ensure employees get salaries on time in the 12 DU colleges that are fully funded by the Delhi government.
 

It also asked the university administration to remind the Delhi government about its promise of allocating Rs 28 crore to settle the issue of this existing gap in grants and requirements.
 

At least 40 professors of the varsity have so far lost their lives due to coronavirus.
 

2:13 AM

Assam reports 3,756 fresh Covid-19 cases, 51 more deaths

Assam's Covid-19 tally surged to 4,50,201 on Thursday as 3,756 more people tested positive for the virus while 51 new fatalities pushed the coronavirus death toll to 3,844, the National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin said.
 

Tinsukia district reported seven deaths, followed by Jorhat (6), five deaths each in Barpeta, Dibrugarh and Sonitpur, three each in Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong and Sivasagar, two each in Cachar, Darrang and Goalpara, and one each in Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Nagaon and Nalbari districts, it said.
 

With the detection of 3,756 new cases against testing of 1,22,313 samples on Thursday, Assam has reported a positivity rate of 3.07 per cent for the day, the NHM bulletin said.
 

Of the new cases, the highest 323 patients were detected from Kamrup Metropolitan, followed by 291 in Cachar, 265 in Sonitpur and 236 in Tinsukia.

Currently, the state has a total of 47,081 active Covid-19 cases.
 

With 4,50,201 total Covid-19 positive cases in Assam, the overall positivity rate stands at 3.70 per cent against the total testing of 1,21,80,068 samples so far.
 

2:13 AM

Chhattisgarh records 1,034 new Covid-19 cases, 14 deaths

Chhattisgarh on Thursday reported 1,034 new Covid-19 cases and 14 deaths, taking the infection count to 9,84,950 and the death toll to 13,285, a health official said.
 

The number of recoveries rose to 9,54,390 after 292 people were discharged from various hospitals while 1,566 others completed their home isolation during the day.
 

The number of active cases in the state stands at 17,275, the official informed.
 

Raipur district recorded 113 new cases, taking its caseload to 1,56,692, including 3,117 deaths. Janjgir-Champa recorded 65 new cases, Bastar 64 and Surajpur 54, among other districts, he said.
 

With 44,969 samples tested on Thursday, the total of coronavirus tests in the state went up to 95,76,463.
 

Chhattisgarh's coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 9,84,950, New cases 1,034, Death toll 13,285, Recovered 9,54,390, Active cases 17,275, Total tests 95,76,463.
 

2:00 AM

Biden lays out US vax donations, urges world leaders to join

President Joe Biden urged global leaders Thursday to join him in sharing coronavirus vaccines with struggling nations around the world after he promised the US would donate 500 million doses to help speed the pandemic's end and bolster the strategic position of the world's wealthiest democracies.
 

Speaking in England before a summit of the Group of Seven world leaders, Biden announced the US commitment to vaccine sharing, which comes on top of 80 million doses he has already pledged by the end of the month. He argued it was in both America's interests and the world's to make vaccination widely and speedily available everywhere.
 

“We're going to help lead the world out of this pandemic working alongside our global partners," Biden said. He added that on Friday the G-7 nations would join the US in outlining their vaccine donation commitments.
 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote in The Times of London newspaper that it was now time for wealthy countries to “shoulder their responsibilities” and “vaccinate the world.” His country has yet to send any doses abroad or announce a solid plan to share vaccines. Johnson indicated Britain had millions of doses in surplus stocks.
 

Biden said the US was sharing its doses “with no strings attached” or “pressure for favors.” “We're doing this to save lives, to end this pandemic, and that's it,” he said.
 

10:21 PM

Haryana to launch third round of sero survey on June 15

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij will launch the third round of the sero survey in the state on June 15 to determine the prevalence of coronavirus antibodies in the community, especially in children aged 6-17.
 

Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Rajeev Arora said all the necessary preparations in this regard have already been made.
 

The study will also collect data to know the effect and efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine besides helping the government in planning and strengthening paediatric services, including the establishment and upscaling of intensive care units.
 

“The study is to provide us information regarding susceptible populations and areas in the state to prioritise the vaccination drive,” he said in a statement.
 

Arora said the aim of this round of sero survey is to identify the impact of the second wave of Covid-19. Children aged six and above have also been included in the study to assess seroprevalence in them, he said.
 

Arora further said the state has already conducted two rounds of sero surveys, the first in August 2020 wherein seroprevalence of Covid- 19 was found to be 8 per cent and the second round was conducted in October, wherein seroprevalence of Covid-19 was found to be 14.8 per cent in the whole state.
 

Sero survey or seroprevalence studies are based on the analysis of antibodies collected through blood sample collection. 
 

10:20 PM

India asks Chinese govt to allow Indian nationals to travel to China

India on Thursday asked China to allow Indian citizens to travel to that country, especially those who work or study there, saying essential two-way visits should be facilitated keeping in view the fact that Chinese nationals are able to come to India.
 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also said that India supports the need for a follow up to the WHO's report on the origin of the Covid 19, amid growing global calls to find out how the coronavirus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
 

To a separate question on the proposal at the World Trade Organisation by India and South Africa to waive patents on Covid-19 vaccines and related products, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said,"We are happy to see that our initiative has gathered support from a number of countries." On the issue of travel to China, he said India was in touch with the Chinese side in order to seek an early resumption of travel by Indian citizens to China.
 

He said though Chinese nationals are able to travel to India, Indian citizens are not being able to do so since last November including those who have met China's condition of getting vaccinated with Chinese vaccines.
 

"We have been in touch with the Chinese side in order to seek an early resumption of travel by Indian citizens to China, especially for those who work or study there," Bagchi said.
 

"While we recognize the need to ensure safety and strictly follow Covid- related protocols, essential two-way travel should be facilitated, especially keeping in view the fact that Chinese nationals are able to travel to India," he said.
 

9:03 PM

Rajasthan adds 538 new Covid cases, 23 deaths

Rajasthan's COVID-19 caseload surged to 9,48,562 on Thursday with 538 fresh infections while the death toll mounted to 8,772 as 23 more people succumbed to the viral disease, according to an official report.

 

Jaipur reported the highest number of new cases at 103 while Jodhpur reported the maximum number of fresh deaths at four, the report stated.

 

There are 10,079 active COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan. So far, 9,29,711 patients have recovered from the disease in the state, it said.

8:58 PM

Maharashtra reports 12,207 new Covid cases and 393 deaths in last 24 hours

8:57 PM

Child labour records first rise in 20 years, millions more at risk due to Covid: Report

The number of children in child labour has risen to 16 crore worldwide -- first increase in two decades -- with millions more at risk due to COVID-19, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UNICEF.

 

The report -- 'Child Labour: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward' -- released ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, says the progress to end child labour has stalled for the first time in 20 years, reversing the downward trend that saw it fall by 94 million (9.4 crore) between 2000 and 2016.

 

The report points to a significant rise in the number of children aged 5 to 11 years in child labour, who now account for over half of the total global figure. The number of children aged 5 to 17 years in hazardous work --defined as work that is likely to harm their health, safety or morals -- has risen by 6.5 million to 79 million since 2016, the report said.

8:53 PM

Night curfew in Bengaluru to continue from 7 pm to 5 am

8:45 PM

Covid LIVE: Lockdown restrictions in Bengaluru to be eased from June 14

Lockdown restrictions in Bengaluru to be relaxed till 2 pm from June 14. But night curfew to continue from 7 pm to 5 am.

 

8:30 PM

Covid LIVE: Karnataka relaxes lockdown guidelines, relock in 11 districts

8:26 PM

Covid LIVE: Karnataka relaxes lockdown guidelines, relock in 11 districts

CM of Karnataka on Thursday announced beginning of phased unlock. Lockdown to continue (and be stricter) in 11 districts where positivity rate still high: Chikmaglur, Shimoga, Davangere, Hassan, Blore Rural, Mandya, Belagavi Kodagu, Dakshin Kannada, Mysore, Chamarajnagar.

8:22 PM

China suspends import of frozen seafood from 6 Indian firms after coronavirus traces found on packaging

China on Thursday suspended the import of frozen seafood products from six Indian marine export companies after traces of coronavirus were detected on the packaging.

 

Since early last year, China has been testing imported frozen food products from all over the world. It has periodically suspended imports from companies after finding traces of the virus on the packaging.

 

The General Administration of Customs of China in a press release said the traces of the virus were found on the outer packages of the seafood products from the six companies and imports would be suspended for a week.