Covid LIVE: PM Modi lauds record breaking vaccination numbers today

Coronavirus unlock live updates: Kerala reported 11,647 new infections, followed by Maharashtra (9,361), Tamil Nadu (7,817), Andhra Pradesh (5,646). Stay tuned for corona-related news

2:21 AM

WHO planning vaccine tech hub in South Africa

The head of the World Health Organisation said it is in discussions with numerous companies and institutions to create a technology transfer hub for coronavirus vaccines in South Africa.
 

At a press briefing on Monday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the consortium involves a company called Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, which will act as a hub both for making vaccines that use a genetic code of the spike protein, known as mRNA vaccines, and by providing training to other manufacturers to make these shots, including the company, Biovac Institute.
 

“WHO is facilitating this effort by establishing the criteria for technology transfer,” Tedros said.
 

“We are now in discussions with several companies that have indicated interest in providing their mRNA technology.” The German company BioNTech, which has partnered with Pfizer to makes its COVID-19 vaccine, recently announced it would scale up efforts to establish mRNA vaccine facilities across Africa.
 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the new WHO effort would “change the narrative” for Africa and help enhance the continent's ability to “take responsibility for the health of our people, for the health of Africans.” Ramaphosa said many people in developing countries were “still struggling for access to vaccines that are made in their billions in the north.” He said it was “just not equitable and not fair” that some people were denied access to COVID-19 doses because of where they live.
 

2:04 AM

Assam reports 2,805 new Covid-19 cases, 35 fresh fatalities

Assam's Covid-19 caseload mounted to 4,85,310 on Monday as 2,805 more people tested positive for the infection, while 35 fresh fatalities pushed the coronavirus death toll of the northeastern state to 4,243, the National Health Mission bulletin said.
 

Golaghat district reported the highest number of fresh cases at 306, followed by 217 in Dibrugarh, 165 in Sonitpur, and 158 in Kamrup Metro.
 

Of the 35 fatalities, six deaths were reported from Tinsukia, four from Kamrup Metro, three each from Cachar, Nagaon, and Dibrugarh, and two each from Dhubri, Goalpara, Hojai, and Morigaon.
 

Barpeta, Bishwanath, Golaghat, Kamrup Rural, Karbi Anglong Karimganj, Nalbari, and Sivasagar reported one death each.
 

The current death rate is 0.87 per cent and the number of Covid-19 positive patients dying due to other causes is 1,347.
 

With the detection of 2,805 patients against the testing of 1,70,856 samples for Covid-19 on Monday, Assam has reported a positivity rate of 1.64 per cent during the day, the bulletin said.
 

The state now has 31,278 active cases, while 4,48,442 people have recovered from the disease thus far, including 4,699 patients on Monday.
 

The recovery rate among Covid-19 patients is 92.40 per cent.
 

The state has vaccinated Covid-19 vaccines to 56,89, 544 people, of whom 10,84,626 have received both the doses.
 

9:43 PM

Covid-19: Record 1.5 million people vaccinated in MP on Monday

Madhya Pradesh set a new record for itself by vaccinating 15 lakh people against Covid-19 on Monday as part of a mega campaign to coincide with International Yoga Day, with officials saying the target set was 10 lakh.
 

They said MP's feat during the day accounted for almost 20 per cent of all inoculations conducted against the coronavirus infection in the country during the day.
 

An elated Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the vaccination drive was such a success on Monday due to the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his decision to give free vaccines to the states.
 

"Madhya Pradesh has topped other states in terms of vaccination. Thanks to all," the CM said, adding that the campaign to inoculate as many people as possible in quick time to ward off a possible third wave would continue beyond June 21.
 

Officials said over one lakh 'corona volunteers' are playing an active role in creating awareness about the pandemic and ways to tackle it, while 7,000 centres have been set up to administer doses, which are manned by 35,000 staff.
 

They added that the chief minister had ensured over 19 lakh vaccine doses were made available in the state.
 

9:42 PM

Maharashtra reports 6,270 Covid-19 cases - a 4-month low; 94 die, 13,758 recover

Maharashtra on Monday reported 6,270 new coronavirus cases, a four-month low daily count, taking its Covid-19 tally to 59,79,051, while 94 deaths pushed the toll to 1,18,313, the state health department said.
 

The infection count was the lowest since February 23 when 6218 cases were reported. Maharashtra had recorded 6,971 cases on February 21.
 

As many as 13,758 patients were discharged during the day, taking the number of recovered cases to 57,33,215, a statement from the health department said.
 

There are now 1,24,398 active cases in the state, where the coronavirus recovery rate is 95.89 per cent, while the fatality rate is 1.98 per cent, the statement said.
 

The health department said 1,54,835 people were tested for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, it said, adding so far, 3,96,69,693 tests have been conducted in the state.
 

According to the statement, Mumbai city reported 518 new cases and seven deaths, taking its infection tally to 7,20,531 and the toll to 15,305.
 

9:34 PM

India to have 257 crore Covid vaccine doses by Dec for double dose vaccination of people: Nadda

India will have 257 crore Covid vaccine doses by December to take up double dose vaccination of people in full swing, BJP national president JP Nadda said on Monday.
 

Nadda, while visiting a vaccination centre at RML hospital in the national capital, said that 130 crore people in the country have come forward to take vaccines on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite the opposition trying to mislead them and create obstructions.

 

He said India's ongoing vaccination programme was the "largest and fastest" in the world and added that two indigenous Covid vaccines were produced in India within 9 months under the leadership of Modi.
 

Accompanied by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta, Nadda said that according to the roadmap of vaccine production, there will be 10 crore doses available in June, 17 crore in July, 19 crore in August, 42 crore in September, 46 crore in October, 56 crore in November and 59 crore in December.
 

"India is ready in full swing for double dose vaccination of people with a roadmap to have 257 crore Covid vaccine doses by December. It is important to understand," the BJP national president said.
 

8:57 PM

Maharashtra reports 6,270 new Covid cases and 94 deaths in past 24 hours

8:36 PM

Kerala reports 7,499 new Covid cases, 94 deaths

Kerala on Monday logged 7,499 fresh COVID-19 cases and 94 deaths, taking the tally to 28,16,893 and the toll to 12,154, the state government said.

 

Recoveries continued to outnumber fresh cases with 13,596 people being cured of the disease, taking the total number of those who have recuperated to 27,04,554.

 

Among the districts, Thiruvananthapuram reported the highest number of cases--963, followed by Ernakulam with 926 and Thrissur with 820. Currently, there are 99,693 people under treatment in the state.

8:20 PM

Covid LIVE: PM Modi lauds record breaking vaccination numbers today

8:16 PM

Jammu and Kashmir reports 362 new Covid cases, 10 more deaths

Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded 362 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the infection tally to 3,12,156, while 10 more deaths pushed the death toll to 4,262, officials said. Of the new cases, 101 were from Jammu division and 261 from Kashmir division of the union territory, they said.

 

Srinagar district recorded the highest of 79 cases, followed by 44 in Anantnag district.

 

According to officials, the number of active cases has dropped to 7,759 in the union territory, while 3,00,135 patients have recovered so far. Meanwhile, there were 25 confirmed cases of Mucormycosis (black fungus) in the union territory as one fresh case was reported since last evening, they said.

8:03 PM

92 Indian factory workers in Sri Lanka test coronavirus positive

Ninety two Indian workers at an iron works factory in Sri Lanka tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, health officials said.

 

The Indians were among the 128 workers at the factory in Colombo north suburb of Wattala who were found to have contracted the virus. They have been put under quarantine. The factory, which has a total of 194 workers, has been closed temporarily, a report in the Newscenter.lk said. Those who have tested negative have been put under quarantine in the factory premises, the report said. READ MORE...

7:59 PM

Covid LIVE: 4,867 new cases in Karnataka in a day

7:53 PM

Tamil Nadu reports 7,427 new Covid cases, 15,281 recoveries and 189 deaths in a day

7:53 PM

Will consider insurance cover to workers performing last rites of Covid victims, Centre tells SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that it would consider granting insurance cover on the lines of other frontline workers to those working in crematoriums and helping conduct last rites of COVID victims, terming the issue a "valid concern".

 

A special vacation bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah, which reserved verdict on two pleas seeking ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the dependents of those who died of COVID, was told by lawyer Gaurav Kumar Bansal that the people working in crematoriums have been left without any insurance cover.

 

Bansal, who has filed one of the PILs on the issue, said the crematorium workers are getting infected and succumbing to the deadly disease. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, agreed to the enormity of the issue and said it was a valid concern.

7:47 PM

Covid-infected bodies reaching West Bengal from UP, floating in the river: CM Mamata Banerjee

7:37 PM

No scientific evidence of vaccination causing infertility: Health Ministry

The Union health ministry on Monday reiterated there is no scientific evidence of COVID-19 vaccination causing infertility in men and women and asserted the jabs are safe and effective.

 

There have been media reports expressing concern regarding infertility due to COVID-19 vaccination among people of reproductive age, the ministry said in a statement.

 

Over the last few days, certain media reports have highlighted the prevalence of various superstitions and myths in a section of healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) including the nurses, it said. READ MORE...