Coronavirus News Highlights: Himachal Pradesh extends Covid-19 restrictions till June 7

India reported over 1.86 lakh new cases in 24 hours, the lowest in 44 days, and the positivity rate remained under 10 per cent for the fourth consecutive day. The Central government has said that India is witnessing a downswing in Covid-19 cases, as several states enforce and extend restrictions to stem the spread of the deadly disease which has taken more than 3.15 lakh lives so far.

WHO convened global study on origin of Covid-19 is an important first step. It stressed the need for next phase studies as also for further data & studies to reach robust conclusions. The follow up of WHO report & further studies deserve understanding & cooperation of all: MEA

(ANI)

Himachal Pradesh government extends Covid-19 restrictions in the state to 6 am of June 7.

(ANI)

Nagaland extends Covid-19 lockdown till June 11

The decision to further extend the lockdown till June 11 was taken by the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19, headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

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It's living hell, we are helpless: HC on 'black fungus' drug shortage

“We are living this hell. Everyone is living this hell. It’s a situation where we want to help but we are helpless,” the Delhi High Court lamented on Friday while hearing pleas on the shortage of 'black fungus' medicine and the problems being faced by the patients.

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Tamil Nadu extends Covid-19 lockdown till June 7; CM says ration card holders to receive 13 grocery items

The state-wide lockdown without relaxations to help break the chain of Covid-19 transmission has been extended till June 7 by one more week, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced here on Friday. He said the move was done considering public good to rein in the pandemic spread and appealed to the people to cooperate with the government and stay indoors.

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Karnataka has reported 22,823 new positive cases, 52,253 recoveries, and 401 deaths today.

Total positive cases: 25,46,821
Active cases: 3,72,373

(ANI)

Manipur | Curfew extended in the Districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur and Ukhrul with permitted activities and guidelines including restriction on inter-district movements till June 11.

(ANI)

I've decided & announced in Council that a Group of Ministers quickly formed who will submit their report within 10 days -- on or before June 8, so that if there are any further reductions which need to be done will be done, in the sense, that rates will be decided by them: FM

Adhoc exemptions have been given for Covid-related equipment. The council has decided to exempt the import of many of these items with exemption extended to August 31, 2021: FM Nirmala Sitharaman after 43rd GST Council meet

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Due to rising cases of 'black fungus', Amphotericin B has also been included in the exemptions list: FM Nirmala Sitharaman after 43rd GST Council meet

Seven decisions taken at GST council meeting: Nirmala Sitharaman

Issues of Covid-related equipment was one of the items on the agenda that had a very detailed discussion. Many issues were raised & discussed...The Council has decided to exempt the import of relief items till August 31, 2021: FM Nirmala Sitharaman after 43rd GST Council meet

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefs media post GST council meeting

Gujarat reports 2,521 new Covid-19 cases, 7,965 recoveries and 27 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 8,03,387
Total recoveries 7,50,015
Death toll 9761

Active cases 43,611

(ANI)

Mumbai reports 929 new Covid-19 cases, 1,239 recoveries and 30 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 7,03,461
Total recoveries 6,58,540
Death toll 14,808

Active cases 27,958

(ANI)

Himachal Pradesh reports 1,523 new Covid-19 positive cases, 3,148 recoveries, and 64 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Active cases: 18,495
Total positive cases: 1,87,342

(ANI)

Madhya Pradesh reports 1,854 new Covid-19 cases, 5,796 recoveries and 63 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 7,75,709
Total recoveries 7,33,496
Death toll 7891

Active cases 34,322

(ANI)

Restrictions on scheduled international passenger flights to/from India extended till June 30, 2021: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

(ANI)

Covaxin manufacturing to vaccination takes 4 months, says Bharat Biotech

Manufacturing to the supply of Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin involves four months of lag time depending on technology and regulatory approvals, Bharat Biotech said on Friday.

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Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Narendra Modi requesting him to take "measures for a continuous supply of vaccines so that the balance vaccines can be supplied matching with the pace of Kerala's vaccination potential."

(ANI)

No tie-up with anyone to supply Sputnik V in India, Dr Reddy's clarifies

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Why deadly 'black fungus' is ravaging Covid patients in India

The hospital of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, a medical school in Sevagram, Maharashtra, has been taking in patients afflicted with Covid since May 2020. But in the middle of last month, something changed.

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UK approves Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine for use

Britain's medicine regulator has approved Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine for use, the health ministry said in a statement on Friday, making it the fourth Covid-19 shot available for use in the country.

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Andhra Pradesh reports 14,429 new Covid-19 cases, 20,746 recoveries and 103 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 16,57,986
Total recoveries 14,66,990
Death toll 10,634

Active cases 1,80,362

(ANI)

Delhi records 1,141 fresh cases of Covid-19 at positivity rate of 1.59 per cent; 139 new fatalities: Authorities

(PTI)

There shall be a weekend Corona curfew in Chandigarh from 5 am on Saturday, May 29 till 5 am on Monday, May 31: Chandigarh Administration

(ANI)

'Tsunami of bodies' in Surat suggests official Covid death toll is too low

At least seven crematoriums and graveyards in Gujarat's Surat saw a more than three-fold rise in the number of cremations and burials last month compared with a year ago, suggesting many more Covid-19 fatalities than an official tally.

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Everyone will be vaccinated for Covid-19 by December, says Prakash Javadekar

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said that the vaccination exercise for Covid-19 in India will be completed by December.

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A medic inoculates a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to a man during a vaccination programme by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), in Hyderabad, Friday, May 28, 2021. (PTI Photo)

Centre has created artificial vaccine scarcity to favour Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech: AAP spokesperson Atishi

(PTI)

SC takes note of children getting orphaned due to Covid-19 pandemic, directs states to provide immediate relief to them

(PTI)

Defending lack of technology in rural areas, National Health Authority says that they have launched a call center for those who want to book a vaccination slot

National Health Authority on CoWIN says that the system to book a slot for vaccination is transparent, no prioritisation

Maharashtra Education Department announces financial help to students for Class 1st to 12th who have lost parents due to Covid-19

Positivity rate of Covid-19 in Delhi has come down to 1.5%, says Arvind Kejriwal

Construction activities and factories will reopen from Monday in Delhi, says Arvind Kejriwal

Lockdown will be eased in Delhi gradually, says Arvind Kejriwal

S Jaishankar moots India-US vaccine partnership in talks with US NSA; MEA to meet Blinken

The partnership between India and the United States on Covid-19 vaccines will “make a real difference”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said after a meeting with President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan in Washington D.C.

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How rare are blood clots after the AstraZeneca vaccine? What should you look out for? And how are they treated?

With Covid-19 community transmission on the rise once again, those aged over 50 are weighing up the benefits of being vaccinated against the virus with the very rare risk of blood clotting induced by the AstraZeneca vaccine.

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Rahul Gandhi blames PM Modi for secondwave of Covid-19

Uttarakhand receives 15,000 injections of Amphotericin-B used for the treatment of patients with black fungus

Delhi HC issues notice to Center on petition seeking to vaccinate kids 12 and under

Delhi High Courtissued a notice to Centre on a petition seeking direction to immediately vaccinate children between ages of 12-17yrs, in Delhi as well as to prioritise vaccination amongst parents having children up to 17 yrs of age–especially newborns to 12 yrs of age

MEA responds to media queries on WHO convened global study on the origin of Covid-19

India's women cricket team gets first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, will receive second jab in UK

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu thanks PM Modi, Dr Harsh Vardhan for help in combating Covid-19

India reports 1.86 lakh new Covid cases, lowest in 44 days

India reports further dip in daily Covid-19 cases with 1,86,364 new cases, the lowest in the last 44 days. Active caseload further declines to 23,43,152 in the last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry.

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Centre denies report on Covid-19 death estimates

The Centre on Thursday trashed aThe New York Timesreport on India's higher Covid-19 mortality by pointing out that the experts quoted in the report used elevated "infection fatality rate" (IFR), without any basis giving rise to such high mortality figures.

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Japan to consider sharing Covid-19 vaccines amid calls to help Taiwan

Japan said on Friday it would consider sharing its Covid-19 vaccines with other countries as a ruling party committee urged it to provide a portion of its AstraZeneca Plc vaccine stock to Taiwan.

Taiwan is battling a spike in domestic infections and has vaccinated only about 1 per centof its population, while Japan has secured more than 400 million doses, double what it needs for its adult population.

(Reuters)

Why India should buy Chinese Covid vaccines

India’s vaccine strategy has flopped. A dismissive attitude toward the second Covid-19 outbreak that has raged uncontrolled, and a mistaken belief that indigenously made shots would be equal to the task of inoculating a billion adults, have left the nation scrambling. Efforts are under way to procure supplies from Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. But their order books are full.

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Mizoram reported 239 new Covid-19 cases yesterday

Ladakh reported 141 new cases, four deaths and 145 recoveries yesterday

Meerut reports 147 cases of black fungus, while Covid situation improves in the city with 187 cases being reported in 24 hours

What we know about the origins of Covid-19

The two prevailing competing theories are that the virus jumped from animals, possibly originating with bats, to humans, or that it escaped from a virology laboratory in Wuhan, China. The following is what is known about the virus’ origins.

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Time to relook at India's Covid-19 vaccination strategy: Medical professionals body

With the second wave of Covid-19 on the wane, India needs strategies to weaken the third wave and have another lookat the vaccination drive to increase penetration, says Organized Medicine Academic Guild (OMAG), a federation of professional medical organisations of India.

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Kerala govt offers support to children orphaned by Covid-19

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that a financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh each would be given to all children who lost theirparents. Apart from that a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 would be given to all up to the age of 18 and the government would also take care of the education of such children till graduation.

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