Coronavirus news highlights: PM Modi underlines need to remain vigilant, cites resurgence of Covid in various countries

India reported 30,093 new Covid cases and 374 deaths in the last 24 hours. WHO is currently reviewing Bharat Biotech's application for an EUL of Covaxin. Meanwhile, Mexican baseball authorities announced Monday that two players had tested positive days before leaving for the Olympics. PM Modi underlined the need to remain vigilant, cites resurgence of Covid in various countries in an all-party meet today.

Maharashtra has reported 6,910 new Covid-19 cases, 7,510 patient discharges, and 147 deaths in the past 24 hours

Covid-19 restrictions extended by one more week: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the Covid-19 restrictions already in place would continue for another week as the average test positive rate was still above 10 per cent. The Chief Minister's statement comes hours after the Supreme Court termed as "wholly uncalled for", the Left government's relaxation of lockdown restrictions in areas with high Covid-19 positivity rate, ahead of Bakrid festival. (PTI)

Karnataka has reported 1,464 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2,706 discharges, and 29 deaths in the past 24 hours.

All-party meeting on Covid-19 |Sources told PTI that some parties sought an expediting process for getting international recognition to Covaxin

PM Modi said at all-party meeting that Centre, states should work together as a team to combat Covid pandemic, rise above politics, sources told PTI.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 88 fresh Covid-19 cases on Monday, taking the tally to 3,20,112 while six new deaths pushed the death toll to 4,371, officials said.

Out of the fresh cases, 35 were from the Jammu Division and 53 from the Kashmir Division of the union territory, they said.

The officials said Srinagar district recorded the highest of 16 cases, followed by 11 cases in Jammu district. (PTI)

"The big issue is the disastrous position we are seeing due to the second Covidwave. I request parties, political leaders to concentrate on how the Centre failed to solve our problems. Why waste time unnecessarily by taking up phone tapping issue?"Former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on the Pegasus row

MP reports 19 new Covid-19 cases; active infections at 190

Madhya Pradesh saw 19 fresh cases of coronavirus that took its tally of infections to 7,91,689 on Tuesday, an official from the state health department said. With no new casualties, the toll stood at 10,512, while the count of recoveries reached 7,80,987, the official said, adding that the central state is now left with 190 active cases. (PTI)

Ladakh reports 7 Covid-19 cases, 11 recoveries

The Union Territory of Ladakh recorded seven Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, taking its infection tally to 20,264, while 11 more patients were cured of the disease, pushing the number of recoveries to 19,959, officials said.

All seven new cases are in Leh, they said.

Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Dev said the Pegasus issue is aimed at misleading people. "Reports of phone tapping came a day before Monsoon session. You (Opposition) are not letting the session run. We should talk about tackling Covid. Instead, we're talking of adjournment notices," he said. (ANI)

Opposition members in RS say oxygen shortage matter of shame, suggest better coordination with state govts

Opposition members criticised the handling of the Covid pandemic by the government and the vaccination programme while debating in Rajya Sabha and said people were dying on the streets due to lack of oxygen, which is a matter of shame in the 21st century.

While participating in a short duration discussion on the management of the pandemic, implementation of vaccination policy and challenges of a likely third wave, the Opposition members of the Upper House questioned the government's preparedness and suggested for a better coordination with the state governments.

188 crore Covid vaccine doses required to inoculate 18-plus population: Govt

The projected 18-plus population in the country is 94 crore and therefore, the total requirement of Covid-19 vaccine doses for the beneficiaries in this age group is 188 crore, but the number may reduce if in the future, single-dose vaccines are approved and used, the government told Parliament on Tuesday.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on whether the present Covid vaccine manufacturing firms have the capacity to produce the required quantity, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said it is estimated that around 1.87 billion (187 crore) doses will be available between January and December 2021. (PTI)

Andhra Pradesh has reported 2,498 fresh Covidcases, 2,201 recoveriesand 24 deaths in the past 24 hours.

"Implications of 4th serosurvey clearly show that there is a ray of hope but there is no room for complacency. We must maintain Covid appropriate behaviour and community engagement. National level serosurvey is not a substitute of state/district level serosurveys,"ICMR DG said.

Negative Covid report must for people entering UP from states with high positivity rate

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday made a negative coronavirus report or vaccination certificate mandatory for those entering the state from areas having more than three per cent weekly positivity rate.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters said it would be applicable for all those coming by air, rail or road routes from such states. (PTI)

More importantly, a third of the population did not have antibodies i.e. 40 crore of the population of the country is still vulnerable: ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava on Fourth National Serosurvey for Covid-19

Covid: Punjab allows reopening of schools for Classes 10 to 12 from Jul 26

The Punjab government on Tuesday ordered reopening of schools for Classes 10 to 12 from July 26 as it further relaxed Covid curbs.

Besides, the state government also announced to increase the number of people for indoor events to 150 and outdoor programmes to 300, subject to an upper limit of 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue, a statement said.

Earlier, the gathering of 100 persons for indoor and 200 for outdoor events was allowed. (PTI)

Overall seroprevalence is 67.6% in the entire population: ICMR

The 4th round of national serosurvey was conducted in 70 districts in June-July and included children of 6-17 years of age.

Overall seroprevalence is 67.6% in the entire population. In people of 6-9 years age group, it was 57.2%; in 10-17 years, it was 61.6%; in 18-44 years, it was 66.7%; in 45-60 years, it was 77.6%,ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava has said.

Singapore goes on heightened alert to fight Covid-19 following spike in local cases

Singapore has gone back to heightened alert measures to control people’s movement in its fight against the spread of Covid-19 as the heath authorities reported 195 new infections on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Health said 182 of Tuesday's cases were locally transmitted infection, 135 of which are linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster and 12 are linked to Karaoke TV cluster. The port receives fish from regional fishing network operators.

There were 13 imported cases on Tuesday. (PTI)

4 Covid vaccine candidates in human trial stage, 1 in pre-clinical stage, govt tells Rajya Sabha

Four Covid-19 vaccine candidates are at different stages of human trials while one, developed by Genique Life Sciences, is in the advanced pre-clinical stage, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said Cadila Healthcare Ltd's DNA-based vaccine candidate is in phase three clinical trial. It has also submitted the interim data for emergency use authorisation.

Biological E Ltd's vaccine candidate is also in phase three clinical trial. (PTI)

On SC pulling up the Kerala government over relaxation of Covid lockdown during Bakrid celebrations, Dr J A Jayalal of the IMA said, "We're not saying entire lockdown has to be imposed. It should be done in a uniform manner. Crowding should be controlled. We're awaiting response of SC on this issue."

Odisha reports 2,085 cases as Covid-19 graph plateaus

Odisha on Tuesday reported 2,085 newCovid-19 cases and 56 more deaths, a Health Department official said.

The new cases were detected after testing 70,476 samples, taking the positivity rate to 2.95 per cent, he said.

Cuttack reported the highest positivity rate at 6.95 per cent, followed by Nayagarh (5 per cent) and Kendrapara (4.55 per cent), he added.

Odisha has so far reported 9,58,059Covid-19 cases and 5,172 deaths.

(PTI)

Taiwan's Medigen to start late-stage clinical trial for Covid-19 vaccine in Paraguay

Taiwan's Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp said on Tuesday it will start a late-stage clinical trial this year in Paraguay for itsCovid-19 vaccine, part of the island's push to make its own shots against the coronavirus.

Taiwan's government on Monday approved the emergency use and production of Medigen's vaccine despite criticism from opposition parties the vaccine has yet to finish final clinical trials and with no efficacy data available.

(Reuters)

Olympic Organisers warn participants against eating out over Covid-19 risks

Organisers of the Tokyo Olympics have warned accredited participants against visiting restaurants that open after 8 p.m. or serve alcohol, citing a "grave reputational risk", according to the note they sent out.

Japan has declared a state of emergency for Tokyo that will run through its hosting of the Olympics. Public concern has grown that staging an event with tens of thousands of overseas athletes, officials and journalists could accelerate infection rates in Japan's capital and introduce variants that are more infectious or deadlier.

Japanese media reported cases where those accredited for the Games were seen drinking in Tokyo's downtown areas or violating quarantines.

(Reuters)

Senegal's Covid-19 surge forces difficult Eid al-Adha decisions

On the whole, the West African country has been spared the levels of death and infection seen in other parts of the world, recording just 52,671 cases and 1,227 deaths during the pandemic, according to health ministry figures.

But cases have soared in the past week, threatening to overwhelm health services just as Senegalese prepare to gather in extended families for the year's most anticipated feast.

(Reuters)

Govt breaking their own Covid norms by having elections in different states: Mallikarjun Kharge

Over 150 children found Covid-positive as Mizoram reports highest daily cases

Mizoram on Tuesday reported the highest single-day spike of Covid-19 cases as 807 people tested positive, taking the tally to 28,295, a Health Department official said.

More than 150 children were among the newly-infected people, he said.

The state also reported two more deaths, which pushed the toll to 125.

(PTI)

Heed to citizens' right to life: SC pulls up Kerala over Bakrid relaxations

The Supreme Court on Tuesday termed as "wholly uncalled for" the relaxations granted by the Kerala government for the Bakrid festival in areas having the highest Covid-19 positivity rate and warned that it will take action if the easing of curbs leads to further spread of the virus.

The apex court pulled up the state government for giving in to traders' pressure by granting relaxations ahead of Bakrid and said it disclosed a "sorry state of affairs".

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Covid recovery to drive carbon emissions to all-time high: International Energy Agency

Carbon emissions are set to hit an all-time high by 2023 as just two per cent of pandemic recovery finance is being spent on clean energy, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday.

Countries have allocated more than $16 trillion (€14 trillion) in fiscal support throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, mostly in the form of emergency financial help for workers and businesses.

The IEA's Sustainable Recovery Tracker found that just $380 billion of this had been provided for clean energy projects.

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Rajya Sabha to discuss Covid-19 situation from 1 pm

Canada has extended the ban on flights from India till August 21, the Government of Canada announced

States/UTs have been provided with more than 42.15 cr vaccine doses

More than 42.15 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs. Of that, more than 2.11 crore balance and unutilised doses still available with States/UTs and private hospitals to be administered

Indonesians celebrate Eid al-Adha festival under Covid-19 curbs

Millions of Muslims in Indonesia on Tuesday celebrated Eid al-Adha, one of the most important Islamic festivals, as President Joko Widodo pledged that tighter coronavirus restrictions would remain in place until infections dropped.

Covid-19 cases in Indonesia are currently among the highest in the world due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant, despite the imposition since early this month of the strictest mobility restrictions so far during the pandemic.

(Reuters)

India offered 7.5 mn Moderna vaccine doses; no consensus on indemnity clause: Sources

India has been offered 7.5 million doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine through the COVAX global vaccine sharing programme, but it is not clear when the jabs will arrive in the country as a consensus on the indemnity clause is yet to be reached, sources said.

The government last week said that it is working actively with vaccine manufacturer Moderna to see how its vaccine can be made available in the country.

Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine was granted emergency use authorisation by India's drug regulator last month.

(PTI)

India reports 30,093 new Covid-19 cases, 374 deaths

India on Tuesday reported30,093new Covid-19 cases, lowest in 125 days, taking the tally to3,11,74,322cases, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data. The country also saw374new Covid-19 deaths, the lowest in nearly 4 months.

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Two Mexico Olympic baseball players test positive for Covid-19

Mexican baseball authorities announced Monday that two players had tested positive for Covid-19 just days before they were due to leave for the Tokyo Olympics.

"At the beginning of the gathering of the Mexican baseball selection two asymptomatic positive cases of Covid-19 were detected," the Mexican Baseball Federation and the Mexican Baseball League said, adding that the players were Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis.

The two pitchers, who play for the Acereros de Monclova, were placed in solitary confinement "immediately in their hotel rooms where the national team gathers."

All members of the national team were tested again Monday morning with PCR tests. The training scheduled for the evening in the Alfredo Harp Helu stadium in Mexico City was canceled.

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Adelaide becomes latest Australian city to lock down

Adelaide will on Tuesday become the latest in a string of Australian cities to lock down, as the largely unvaccinated nation struggles to contain a rapidly spreadingcoronavirusoutbreak.

The state of South Australia, of which Adelaide is the capital, said it would join Sydney and Melbourne in locking down after five local cases were detected.

The decision means more than 14 million Australians are now under orders to stay at home.

Over $157 billion deployed in last 15 months to fight Covid pandemic: World Bank

In its largest-ever crisis response, the World Bank has deployed over $157 billion to fight the impact of theCovid-19 pandemic on health, economic and social fronts over the last 15 months.

This represents an increase of more than 60 per cent over the 15-month period prior to the pandemic, the bank said on Monday.

"Since the start of the pandemic, the World Bank Group has committed or mobilised a record $157 billion in new financing, an unprecedented level of support for an unprecedented crisis," World Bank Group President David Malpass said.

(PTI)

Vietnam agrees to tech transfers on Russian, US Covid-19 vaccines

Vietnam has reached agreements on technology transfers for Russian and UScoronavirus vaccines, the government said in a statement, without elaborating.

The Southeast Asian country is keen to boost its vaccine capacity and the World Health Organization said in May it was reviewing a proposal by an unidentified manufacturer in Vietnam to become an mRNA-basedCovid-19 vaccine technology hub.

Vietnam's health ministry was also in talks with Russia to produce the Sputnik VCovid-19 vaccine, media has reported.

(Reuters)

Australia's Victoria extends Covid-19 lockdown by seven days

Australia's Victoria state extended itsCovid-19 lockdown by seven days until July 27 as officials sought more time to quell an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant that has now reached more than 80 cases in a week.

Canada Says It Will Reopen US Border

Canada is poised to welcome back fully vaccinated travelers, including Americans, after moret than a year of strict controls at the border.

Beginning Aug. 9, citizens and permanent residents of the United States, who have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days before travel, will be allowed to enter Canada, federal government officials said Monday.

Then, if all goes well, Canada hopes to allow visitors from other countries beginning Sept. 7, a date that could change depending on conditions.

(NYT)

China reports spike in new coronavirus cases on border with Myanmar

China on Tuesday reported the highest daily tally of new confirmedCovid-19 cases since January, driven by a surge in imported infections in southwestern Yunnan province, which shares a border with Myanmar.

Mainland China recorded 65 new confirmed cases for July 19, compared with 31 a day earlier, the National Health Commission said in a statement. That was the most since Jan. 30, when 92 new cases were reported.

Imported infections accounted for most of the new cases reported for July 19, with Yunnan reporting 41 new cases originating from abroad, all of whom were Chinese nationals who recently returned from Myanmar.

(Reuters)

New variant to drive next Covid-19 wave: Govt health advisor

Over 80 per cent of the new cases of Covid-19 in India have been caused due to the Delta variant which has now spread to 80 countries and the next wave will be driven by a variant to which a significant proportion of the population is susceptible, one of the government’s top health advisors has said.

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