Covid LIVE: Maharashtra scraps RT-PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers

Coronavirus live updates: Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya denies vaccine shortage in states as Delhi is said to be running low in its reserves.

11:41 AM

UP has fought back second wave: Modi

"Kashi (Varanasi) has shown that it doesn’t stop in troubled times. Coronavirus attacked Kasi and Uttar Pradesh but the state fought back,", says Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his constituency.

11:15 AM

Tokyo games opening gala might be attended by less than 1000 VIPs

The Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony is likely to be attended by less than 1000 VIPs and foreign dignitaries in person, a sharp reduction from the previously decided figure of 10,000 amid rise in COVID-19 cases here, PTI reported quoting Japanese media. US first lady Jill Biden is also expected to be among the international guests for the ceremony.

10:41 AM

India’s daily positivity rate at 2.21%

India’s daily positivity rate—the number of positive cases identified per hundred--stands at 2.15 per cent, less than 3 per cent for 24 consecutive days. The weekly positivity rate stands at 2.21 per cent, said the country’s health ministry on Thursday. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,01,43,850, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.39 per cent, the data stated.

10:01 AM

Covid-19 deaths, cases on the rise again globally

Covid-19 deaths and cases are on the rise again globally in a dispiriting setback that is triggering another round of restrictions and dampening hopes for a return to normal life. The World Health Organization reported Wednesday that deaths climbed last week after nine straight weeks of decline. It recorded more than 55,000 lives lost, a 3 per cent increase from the week before, the Associated Press reported.

9:22 AM

Global Covid-19 cases top 188.2 million

Global Covid-19 cases topped 188.2 million as the deaths have surged to more than 4.05 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases (33,946,217) and deaths (608,104).

8:59 AM

Police ask Kanwar Yatra pilgrims not to come to Haridwar

8:37 AM

Indian cricketer reportedly infected with Delta variant

The Indian cricketer who has tested positive in England was not named but it is understood that he has been afflicted by the Delta variant, reports PTI.

 

8:21 AM

Indian cricketer tests postive in England: Report

One of the 23 Indian cricketers on tour to England has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not be travelling with the team to Durham on Thursday, PTI reported. The Indian side is to assemble at Durham in a bio-bubble ahead of the Test series against England next month.

7:49 AM

Indonesia's nervy traders recall India stock rebound

Indonesian investors are understandably worried about the potential impact of the spreading pandemic on their holdings. If the experience of India is any guide, they should have some reason for confidence. India’s bonds, currency and stocks were all beaten down earlier this year as the outbreak raged across the nation -- but rebounded once an inflection point in cases was reached. 

7:47 AM

Pandemic changing industries: Wipro's Rishad Premji

The pandemic has resulted in structural changes across almost all industries, and challenged established ways of working, said Rishad Premji, chairman Wipro, at the company's 75th Annual General Meeting. “Work from home is becoming a new reality. We will likely never have all of our employees, all the time in the office and will learn to work in the hybrid model,” he said.

 

7:45 AM

Argentina logs 1,00,000 virus deaths as Delta variant looms

Argentina on Wednesday reported more than 1,00,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, a heavy blow to a country that intermittently imposed some of the most severe lockdowns in the world, only to see erratic compliance by many people. Some 614 people died from the disease in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 1,00,250, the Health Ministry said, according to the Associated Press.

7:31 AM

Half of vaccination centres in Delhi close for Wed: Report

Nearly half the vaccination centres in Delhi were closed on Wednesday and new vaccinations dropped nearly 50% compared to the previous day, as the state government ran short of supplies again. Officials warned that the pace was likely to drop further on Thursday, Hindustan Times reported.