Coronavirus news highlights: Karnataka reports 1,386 new Covid-19 cases, 3,204 discharges and 61 deaths

India on Monday recorded 37,154 new Covid-19 cases and 39,649 recoveries, data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed. Over 3 crore people have reportedly recovered from the virus. Stay tuned for updates.

Covid-19 third wave may have set in on July 4, says Hyderabad scientist

A senior physicist, who was pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Hyderabad and has thoroughly analysed the Covid-19 pattern in India, said on Monday that the third wave appeared to have set in on July 4.

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Study suspects link between irrational use of steroids, post-Covid-19 complications

As many as 41 per cent of patients recovered fromCovid-19are still showing post-Covid-19 symptoms, according to a pan-India online sample survey conducted by the Hyderabad-based AIG Hospitals.

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Maharashtra forms dedicated Covid-19 task force for industries

With the third wave of theCovid-19pandemic expected to wreak havoc, the Maharashtra government has decided to set up a dedicated task force on industries, the third such high-level advisory group.

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Covid-19 triggered biggest increase in hunger in decades: UN

The Covid-19 pandemic caused an estimated 18 per cent increase in the number of people facing hunger, a UN report released on Monday found, dealing a massive setback to efforts to ensure everyone has access to food.

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In Pic | People flout social distancing norms as they visit a crowded annual fair after authorities eased Covid-induced lockdown, in Agra. Credit: PTI Photo

Explained | How will the virus emergency affect the Tokyo Olympics?

A virus state of emergency began Monday in Japan's capital, as the number of new cases is climbing fast and hospital beds are starting to fill just 11 days ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

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Third Covid wave imminent: IMA says pilgrimage, tourist travel can wait

The IMA expressed concern on Monday over governments and people being complacent and engaging in mass gatherings without following Covid-19 protocols, saying these events are potential super spreaders for a third wave of the pandemic.

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Kerala reports 7,798 new Covid-19 cases, 11,447 recoveries and 100 deaths today.

Bitter times for Agra’s ‘petha’ industry due to Covid-19

Agra's famous petha industry has seen a drastic decline in business due to the second wave of Covid-19 impact, according to the traders.

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Sputnik V 2nd dose shortage to delay full India rollout, says Dr Reddy's

India's full rollout of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine will have to be put on hold until the Russian producer provides equal quantities of its two differing doses, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd said on Monday.

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Rising Myanmar Covid caseload hits Suu Kyi trial

Myanmar's spiralling coronavirus count struck the trial of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday, her lawyers said, with a witness for the prosecution failing to testify after becoming infected.

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Pfizer-BioNTech bid for Covid-19 booster vaccine doses premature, more data needed, say experts

Pfizer Inc's push for health regulators to authorise a third dose of its Covid-19 shot is not yet backed by evidence, despite the fast-spreading Delta variant, vaccine experts said.

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Karnataka High Court cancel the PIL against the decision of the State Government to hold SSLC exams in physical form for students of Class 10th from July 19. (ANI)

Over 47,000 private schools suspend online classes in MP

More than 47,000 private schools in Madhya Pradesh suspended online classes indefinitely on Monday to press for their various demands, including waiving off their recognition fee in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and resumption of physical sessions for Classes 9 to 12.

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Flu jab protects against severe effects of Covid-19, study suggests

People who are vaccinated against influenza may be partially protected against many severe effects of Covid-19, and are less likely to need emergency care, according to a large-scale study.

An analysis of nearly 75,000 Covid-19 patients from around the world strongly suggests that the annual flu shot reduces the risk of stroke, sepsis and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with Covid-19.

Patients with Covid-19 who had been vaccinated against flu were also less likely to visit the emergency department and be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), the researchers said.

"This finding is particularly significant because the pandemic is straining resources in many parts of the world," said Devinder Singh, a professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in the US.

Abbott launches Covid-19 home test kit in India

Healthcare major Abbott on Monday said it has launched Covid-19 home test kit in India for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in adults and children with or without symptoms at a price of Rs 325 for a single test kit pack.

The company will deliver millions of Panbio Covid-19 rapid antigen tests, available for self-use, to ease the burden on healthcare systems in urban and rural India, Abbott said in a statement.

Dip in average daily vaccination against Covid-19 since June 21: Govt data

A decline in average daily vaccination against the coronavirus has been seen since June 21, when the new phase of universalisation of Covid-19 vaccination commenced, government data showed.

According to data available on CoWIN platform, an average of 61.14 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered daily in the week from June 21-27 which dropped to 41.92 lakh doses daily in the subsequent week from June 28-July 4.

In the week from July 5 to July 11, the daily average vaccine doses number further dipped to 34.32 lakh doses.

Among states, however, a mixed trend has emerged with some states and UTs reporting a sinusoidal trend of vaccination while others a dip.

States such as Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh showed a decline in average daily vaccinations since the week of June 21-27 while a sinusoidal trend in administration of daily doses of Covid-19 was seen in states and UTs like Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Jammu and Kashmir, according to CoWIN data.

Janpath market to remain closed till further orders for not following Covid-19 protocols

Russia reports 25,140 new Covid-19 cases, 710 deaths

Russia reported 25,140 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, including 5,403 in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to 5,808,473.

The government coronavirus task force said 710 people had died of coronavirus-linked causes in the past 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 143,712.

Arunachal logs 254 new Covid-19 cases, 1 fresh fatality

Arunachal Pradesh's Covid-19 tally soared to 39,817 on Monday as 254 more people tested positive for the infection, while one fresh fatality pushed the northeastern state's coronavirus death toll to 189, a senior health official said.

The Capital Complex region recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 106, followed by Longding (21) and West Kameng (17).

China administered total of 1.382 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by July 11

China administered around 8.32 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine on July 11, taking the total to 1.382 billion doses, data from the National Health Commission showed on Monday.

Pfizer to discuss Covid-19 vaccine booster dose with US officials on Monday

Pfizer says it plans to meet with top US health officials Monday to discuss the drugmaker's request for federal authorisation of a third dose of its Covid-19 vaccine as President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser acknowledged that "it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely” that booster shots will be needed.

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Thailand sees tougher Covid-19 curbs bite, including Bangkok curfew

Over ten million people were placed under fresh Covid-19 restrictions and a curfew in the Thai capital Monday, as the kingdom battles a surge of cases worsened by the highly infectious Alpha and Delta variants.

Thailand has so far recorded more than 326,300 cases and 2,711 deaths -- with the bulk of them coming in this latest wave that kicked off in April.

First detected in clubs frequented by the Thai elite and politicians at an upscale Bangkok nightlife district, the surge in infections has been exacerbated by a slow vaccine rollout and limited testing capacity.

Odisha reports 1,993 new Covid cases, 63 deaths

Odisha reports 1,993 new Covid cases, 63 deaths and 2,824 recoveries yesterday; active cases 24,567.

India's daily Covid-19 cases fall below 40K

India on Monday recorded 37,154new Covid-19 cases and 39,649 recoveries,data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed.

Lord Jagannath rath yatra commences with curfew enroute amid Covid-19 concerns

The 144th annual rath yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city on Monday morning, but it was devoid of the usual festive fervour and crowds due to the curfew imposed on its route to bar people from taking part in it in view of the Covid-19 pandemic

Number of ministers have increased, but not Covid-19 vaccines: Rahul Gandhi slams Modi government

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a swipe at the central government, saying the number of ministers has increased but not the Covid vaccines.

He also shared a chart of the average vaccinations per day, which are falling short of the target to vaccinate all adults by December 2021.

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Karnataka sees 79% fall in Covid numbers over 4 weeks

Over the last four weeks, the state’s Covid-19 numbers fell by 79 per cent, although the number of daily cases being found have not yet reached pre-second wave figures.

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Australia's Covid-19 outbreak grows despite Sydney lockdown

Australia on Monday reported its biggest daily rise in COVID-19 cases this year, fuelled by a fast-growing outbreak of the Delta variant in Sydney despite the country's biggest city entering its third week of lockdown.

New South Wales state reported 112 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, almost all of them in Sydney, marking the fifth consecutive day of record case numbers.

Delhi adds 53 Covid-19 cases, lowest since April 15 last year

Delhi on Sunday reported 53 Covid-19 cases, the lowest since April 15 last year, and three more deaths while the positivity rate dropped to 0.07 per cent, according to data shared by the health department here.

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Surveillance of sewage water with genome sequencing tools can help identify genetic changes in Covid-19

Regular surveillance of sewage water with genome sequencing tools can help identify troublesome genetic changes in SARS-CoV-2 weeks in advance, Indian scientists said after discovering the Delta variant in Ahmedabad wastewater one month before the first clinical case was reported in the Gujarat capital.

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Haryana extends lockdown till July 19, but allows slew of relaxations including for students

The Haryana government on Sunday extended till July 19 the lockdown in the state to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but allowed a slew of relaxations, including for students.

According to an order issued by Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan, in exercise of powers under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, "the Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana is extended for another week, that is from July 12 (5 am onwards) to July 19 (till 5 am) in the state of Haryana." (PTI)

S Africa extends Covid-19 restrictions with certain relaxations

South Africa on Sunday extended Covid-19 restrictions for a fortnight with certain relaxations amid rising infections.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening that restrictions under Level 4 of the country's five-level lockdown strategy would continue for another fortnight. (Reuters)

Sydney braces for extended lockdown amid Covid-19 outbreak

Australia's largest city, Sydney, is bracing for a prolonged Covid-19 lockdown as officials warn new daily cases are likely to top 100 on Monday amid a fast-growing outbreak of the Delta virus variant.

New infections have been rising daily despite the city, home to a fifth of Australia's 25 million population, entering lockdown more than two weeks ago. (Reuters)