Coronavirus News Highlights: We are concerned about the number of tourists coming to Himachal Pradesh, says Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur

India on Friday reported 43,393 new Covid-19 cases as the daily infections in the country continued to remain above 40,000. Except for three instances when single-day infections dropped below the 40,000-mark, daily cases have mostly remained between the 40,000 and 50,000 level since the third week of June.

Delhi passes colour-coded Covid-19 response action plan

Hotels and lodges will stay open, while cinema and banquet halls will remain closed during all the four-level of alerts as part of the colour-coded response action plan passed by the DDMA to deal with a possible third wave of Covid-19, officials said on Friday.

Read more here

India's series against Sri Lanka rescheduled due to Covid-19 scare

The Indian limited-overs team's six-match series against Sri Lanka was on Friday rescheduled owing to Covid-19 positive cases in the home team camp, with the first ODI now starting on July 17 instead of July 13.

Read more here

We are concerned about the number of tourists coming to Himachal Pradesh, says Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur

Delhi Metro, intrastate buses to run at 50% seating capacity during yellow alert: GRAP

The Delhi Metro and intrastate buses will run at 50 per cent seating capacity when yellow alert is sounded in the city, recommends a graded response action plan approved by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Friday in anticipation of third wave of coronavirus.

Read more here

More than 2.5 crore Covid jabs administered so far in Karnataka: Health Minister

In a "milestone", more than 2.5 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Karnataka so far, Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Friday.

Read more here

Kerala's Covid tally rises to 30,39,029 with 13,563 fresh cases, 130 more fatalities push death toll to 14,380; recoveries surge to 2,41,76,318: State Health Minister Veena George.

Covid-19 death toll in Uttar Pradesh reaches 22,689 with 13 more fatalities, 90 fresh cases take infection count to 17,07,127; recoveries surge to 16,82,741: Official statement.

India’s cumulative vaccination coverage has crossed the 37 crore mark with more than 27.86 lakh vaccines administered today: Government of India.

Gujarat govt allows opening schools, colleges from July 15

With daily coronavirus cases significantly decreasing, the Gujarat government on Friday announced the reopening of schools for class 12, polytechnic institutes and colleges from July 15 with 50% of their capacity.

Read more here

180 new Covid-19 cases,127 recoveries and one death reported in Himachal Pradesh in the last 24 hours.

Delhi's Gaffar, Naiwala markets to close for two days for violation of Covid norms

The Delhi government on Friday ordered the closure of the popular Gaffar Market and Naiwala market in Karol Bagh here for two days over violation of Covid protocols.

Read more here

Vaccine Matters: Delta mars preparations for third wave

As India prepares for the third wave of coronavirus, head of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration said the Zydus Cadila vaccine will be available to inoculate teens from ages 12 to 18 by September.

Read more here

MSN Labs enters into licence agreement with DRDE for Covid drug 2-DG

Drug firmMSN Laboratories on Friday saidit has entered into a licence agreement with the Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE)for the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG), used for the treatment of Covid-19.

Read more here

Tokyo 2020, a closed-door Games with few exceptions

Domestic and overseas fans will be barred from all Olympic venues in Tokyo and three surrounding regions over virus risks, putting most of the Games behind closed doors.

Read more here

Punjab lifts weekend and night curfew, allows gatherings of 100 indoors and 200 outdoors. Bars, gyms, cinema halls, restaurants, spas to re-open with staff and visitors having taken at least 1 dose each of Covid-19 vaccine. (ANI)

Russia's RDIF says gap between two Sputnik V shots could be widened to 180 days

A gap between injecting first and second Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine shots could be extended to 180 days, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Friday, citing the vaccine developer, and adding that the longer interval is securing a better immune response.

Read more here

Ratha Yatra celebrations begin in Puri without devotees; strict restrictions imposed

The celebrations for Lord Jagannath's annual RathaYatra began in Puri on Friday with the 'Naba Jauban Darshan' of the sibling deities, during which they are worshipped in their youthful appearances after spending 14 days in 'Anasara Ghara' or quarantine.

Read more here

We cannot lower our guard. A new risk is being seen at tourist spots where a gathering of crowds being seen, social distancing and mask protocol is not being followed. This is a serious cause of concern: Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog. (ANI)

Risks of severe illness, death due to Covid-19 in children very low, UK study finds

The risk of severe illness and death from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, is extremely low in children and teenagers, according to a comprehensive analyses of public health data in the UK.

Read more here

Countries using Sinopharm, AstraZeneca Covid vaccine shots increasingly eye boosters

Growing concern that Covid-19 vaccines being deployed across much of the developing world aren’t capable of thwarting the delta variant is prompting some countries to look at offering third doses to bolster immunity against more infectious virus strains.

Read more here

Two cases of Kappa variant of Covid-19 detected in Uttar Pradesh

Two cases of Kappa variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

Genome sequencing of 109 samples was done at King George's medical college here in the past few days.

The Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 was found in 107 samples, while the Kappa variant was found in two samples, the statement issued after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's routine review meeting said.

Explained: What is driving the spike in Kerala's Covid-19 cases?

While most of the states of India are showing a significant drop in the number of positive Covid-19 cases, Kerala has been reporting 11,000 to 13,000 cases daily.

Kerala has accounted for more than one-third of the country’s total Covid-19 cases in the past three days -- 14,373 on July 6, 15,600 on July 7, and 13,772 on July 8. Its contribution to the total numbers started increasing when the overall numbers started to drop.

Read more

DDMA nod to Delhi's Graded Response Action Plan to deal with possible third Covid wave

A 'Graded Response Action Plan' prepared to deal with a possible third wave of coronavirus was passed in the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting on Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

Read more

Clear early signs of fourth Covid-19 wave starting in Pakistan: Minister

There are "clear early signs" of a fourth Covid-19 wave starting in Pakistan due to poor compliance with the standard operating procedures and the spread of the Delta variant, Minister for Planning Asad Umar said on Friday.

Umar, who is also the head of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) to combat COVID-19, said field reports were showing a complete disregard for the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and warned that the government would be forced to shut down wedding halls, indoor restaurants and gyms if they ignored the rules.

PM CARES-funded oxygen plants would support more than 4 lakh oxygenated beds: PMO

Ensure oxygen plants are made functional at the earliest, PM Modi tells officials at the review meeting.

Credit: PMO

Ensure training of hospital staff on operation, maintenance of oxygen plants; each district should have trained personnel: PM Modi tellsofficials

Australia PM cheers Melbourne pub's beers-for-vaccine offer

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday approved of a Melbourne pub that found itself in hot water for offering complimentary alcohol to Covid-19 vaccinated patrons, saying the "good hearted" initiative was in the national interest.

Melbourne's Prince Alfred Hotel last week launched a complimentary offer of a pint of beer, or glass of wine or spirits to anyone who showed their Covid-19 vaccination card.

People register themselves for vaccination against Covid-19, at a centre in Guwahati, Friday

Credit: PTI Photo

Covid-19 vaccine coverage exceeds 36.89 crore: Centre

India's cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 36.89 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

Cumulatively, more than 11.18 crore doses have been administered in the age group of 18-44 years, it said.

The ministry said over 40 lakh vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

On Day-174 of the vaccination drive (July 8), out of the total 40,23,173 vaccine doses that were given, 27,01,200 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 13,21,973 beneficiaries received the second dose of vaccine.

We should treat Covid like norovirus – not the flu

Because Covid symptoms – fever, cough, aches – are similar to flu symptoms, it is tempting to compare the two. Indeed, the UK’s new health secretary, Sajid Javid, recently said: “We are going to have to learn to accept the existence of Covid and find ways to cope with it – just as we already do with flu.”

Read more

Zydus Covid-19 vaccine for 12 to 18-year-olds from September: Expert Panel head

In a significant step towards vaccinating children against Covid-19 in India Dr NK Arora, head of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration, said that the Zydus Cadila vaccine will be available to vaccinate children between ages 12 and 18 years by September.

Read more

India's Hetero says Covid-19 drug reduces hospitalisations in late-stage trial

Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero Labs said on Friday a late-stage trial of COVID-19 drug molnupiravir showed it helped reduce hospitalisation and resulted in faster recovery among patients with mild cases.

Molnupiravir is an antiviral therapy Merck & Co is developing with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics for the treatment of non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The trial was conducted at COVID-19 dedicated hospital sites across India.

Covaxin Phase 3 trial data looks good: WHO chief scientist

As Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine awaits World Health Organisation’s (WHO) approval, chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan on Thursday said the Phase-3 trial data of Covaxin`looks good.

Read more

Maharashtra's Covid-19 tally grows by 9,114, death toll by 121

Maharashtra has reported 9,114 new Covid-19 cases and 121 fatalities, which took its overall infection count to 61,31,976 and death toll to 1,24,296, a health department official said on Friday. These cases and deaths were reported on Thursday.

Read more

Sri Lanka cricket coach tests positive for Covid

Sri Lanka batting coach Grant Flower is in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 ahead of a home series against India, the cricket board in Colombo said Friday.

Flower, 50, had returned from England where Sri Lanka played a one-day and Twenty20 international series and was preparing for next week's India games when he showed coronavirus symptoms.

Vietnam's biggest city enters two-week coronavirus lockdown

Vietnam's economic hub Ho Chi Minh City began a two-week lockdown Friday in the hope to contain the country's worst Covid-19 virus outbreak.

The city of nine million had previously been subjected to travel restrictions for a month but infection rates were steadily rising -- with more than 9,400 cases registered.

Before the outbreak kicked off in late April, Vietnam had recorded fewer than 3,000 cases across the entire country.

Vietnamese authorities are not using the term lockdown but are calling the measures "social isolation orders".

PM to chair meeting to review availability of oxygen across country

PM Modi to chair a high-level meeting to review augmentation andavailability of oxygen across the country at 11:30 am.

Caseloads climb as Southeast Asia feels force of Delta variant

Having escaped the worst when the coronavirus pandemic erupted last year, Southeast Asia is now suffering record rises in deaths and cases, while vaccination shortfalls and highly contagious variants have derailed containment efforts.

As countries like Britain, Germany and France prepare to remove most remaining restrictions after devastating outbreaks, governments in Southeast Asia have been tightening measures, hoping targeted lockdowns will act as circuit-breakers in arresting dramatic spikes after cases started rising in May.

Indonesia, the region's hardest hit and most populous country, recorded 38,391 cases on Thursday, six times the number a month earlier, in a week when it's daily death toll as much as doubled from the start of July.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting today to review the availability of oxygen across India, according to ANI.

India reports 43,393 new Covid-19 cases

India on Friday reported 43,393 new Covid-19 cases as the daily infections in the country continued to remain above 40,000. The active cases stood at 4,58,727, according to Union Health Ministry statement.

Read more

Pfizer pushes for 3rd shot as Delta variant drives global outbreaks

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday they would seek authorization for a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine to boost its efficacy, as the Delta variant drove devastating outbreaks in Asia and Africa and cases rose again in Europe and the United States.

With the pandemic once again regaining intensity, Japan banned fans from most Olympic events and placed Tokyo under a virus state of emergency throughout the Games.

The decision comes just two weeks before the opening ceremony.

Bengaluru has 294 paediatric Covid beds, may need 4,000 in 3rd wave

Bengaluru currently has less than 300 paediatric Covid beds, far lower than the estimation made by the Dr Devi Shetty committee that the city may require 1,838 to 3,677 beds during the third wave, which is expected in August-September this year.

Read more

S Korea to raise Covid-19 restrictions to highest level in capital

South Korea will raise coronavirus curbs to their highest level in the Seoul metropolitan area, the country's prime minister said Friday, warning a record spike in new cases had reached "maximum crisis level".

The country had previously been held up as a model of how to combat the pandemic, with the public largely following social distancing and other rules, but it was slow to start its vaccine rollout due to supply shortages.

Cuba says second Covid-19 vaccine Soberana 2 boasts 91.2% efficacy

Cuba said on Thursday its two-shot Soberana 2 Covid-19 vaccine, delivered with a booster called Soberana Plus, had proven 91.2% effective in late stage clinical trials against the coronavirus, following similar news about its Abdala vaccine.

Read more

Sydney to face prolonged Covid-19 lockdown amid record cases

The leader of Australia's New South Wales (NSW) on Friday said lockdown restrictions in state capital Sydney would have to be extended beyond July 16 unless there is a "dramatic change", as the state reported its biggest rise in local cases for the year.

"New South Wales is facing the biggest challenge we have faced since the pandemic started," state Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.

Fourty-four locally acquired cases were reported in NSW on Friday, eclipsing 38 a day earlier, with 29 of those having spent time in the community while infected.

Centre announces Rs 23,123 cr package to fight Covid-19

The UnionCabineton Thursday approved aRs23,123-croreCovid-19packageto improve health infrastructure over the next nine months with a special focus on upgrading the medical facilities at 736 districts as the government gears up to tackle the third wave of the pandemic as and when it comes.

Read more

Bouquets and brickbats for Kerala on Covid management

While the Kerala High Court on Thursday expressed serious concerns over the crowding of people in front of liquor outlets in the state even as the Covid cases in Kerala remained high, a central team that reviewed the situations in Kerala reportedly expressed satisfaction over the treatment and vaccination measures.

Read more

Opinion | Organisational structures need to be strengthened to help Covid-hit children

June 1, 2021, marked one year of the Unlock 1.0 of Covid-19 lockdown in India. The second most populous country in the world is reeling under death and disease with no respite in sight. The second wave busted the myth that Covid-19 is an urban phenomena as 533 out of 741 districts were reportedly affected by the current wave.

Read more

Pfizer-BioNTech to seek authorisation for 3rd Covid shot: Statement

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday they would seek regulatory authorization for a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine.

Read more

Covid-19 threat far from over, warns PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there was no scope for complacency in the fight against Covid-19 as the threat from the pandemic was far from over.

Addressing a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, Modi said pictures and videos of crowded places and tourists roaming about without masks or social distancing were worrisome as a single mistake could weaken the fight against Covid-19.

Read more