 "Supreme Court clears Vantara elephant project, rejects PIL: Top 5 things to know")
 "Focus back to India-US trade deal: Trump’s negotiators landing in New Delhi tonight")
Coronavirus LATEST Updates: The Bihar government’s announcement of ‘additional restrictions’ came a day after the state government dismissed reports that said that the lockdown had been extended in the state as ‘fake’. India is currently conducting around five lakh COVID-19 tests every day and the plan is to double the number in the next one-two months, Union minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday. During the launch of a compendium on ‘Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Technologies for COVID-19 Mitigation’, Vardhan, who is also the Union health minister, said that the country’s recovery rate of over 64 percent is the best in the world while the fatality rate is nearly 2.2 percent, PTI reported. “In April, we used to conduct 6,000 tests daily. Today, we are conducting over five lakh tests every day. Our plan is to take it to 10 lakh tests daily in 1-2 months and we are working towards it,” Vardhan said. The health ministry, in a briefing on COVID-19 situation in India, said that herd immunity could be possible in the future, but for now, precaution guidelines must be followed. Disease expert Fauci made the comment at ICMR’s international symposium on COVID19 vaccine science and ethics, while referring to ‘human challenge studies’, a method of vaccine research which involves intentionally infecting volunteers with the COVID-19 virus In a briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country on Thursday, the Union health ministry said that the recovery rate has “shown positive trends”. “It was 7.85 percent in April and today it is 64.4 percent, said Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health. He added, “16 states of the country have a recovery rate that is more than the national average. Of these, Delhi has recovery rate of 88 percent, Ladakh 80 percent, Haryana 78 percent, Assam 76 percent, Telangana 74 percent, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat 73 percent, Rajasthan 70 percent, MP 69 percent, and Goa 68 percent.” The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday extended the lockdown in the state till 31 August. Here is a list of the activities that are allowed and prohibited in that duration: Grocery shops to remain open till 7 pm. Public transport, trains and metro will remain suspended until August 31 Private industries can function with 75 per cent workforce. Eateries in Chennai can begin dine-in services with 50 percent capacity. Online delivery of essential commodities to be permitted. Food delivery services to be allowed till 9 pm. Independence Day celebrations to be observed with social distancing and other measures. No relaxation will be given to containment zones in the state. Existing ban on religious congregations will continue. Shopping malls, theatres and bars will remain shut. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy on Thursday extended the lockdown till 31 August. An intense lockdown will be in force on Sundays. An e-pass is mandatory for inter-district travel. E Palaniswami has been chairing a two-day meeting on Wednesday and Thursday with district collectors and health experts to discuss the containment measures in Tamil Nadu and extension of the lockdown. With as many as 10,20,582 COVID-19 patients cured and discharged so far, India’s COVID-19 recovery rate now stands at 64.4 percent. India on Thursday reports 52,123 new cases. With this, India’s tally climbed up to 15,83,792. The toll has also risen to 34,968 with 775 new deaths. The number of recoveries in India has crossed the 10-lakh mark, according to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Coronavirus cases in India rose by 48,513 on Wednesday, taking the total tally beyond 15 lakh, while the toll rose to 34,193 with 768 new deaths, the Union health ministry said. The Centre also issued guidelines for ‘Unlock 3’, which is set to be effective from 1 August. A total of 15,31,669 cases have been recorded so far, which includes 5,09,447 active cases and 9,88,030 patients who have been cured/discharged/migrated. Yoga centres, gyms to open as part of Unlock 3 guidelines The Ministry of Home Affairs issued ‘ Unlock 3' guidelines easing some restrictions on the movement of individuals during the night (night curfew) and allowing yoga institutes and gyms to open from 5 August while schools, metro and cinema halls will continue to remain closed. The ministry said that lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till 31 August. According to the new guidelines, metro rail, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls, social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/religious functions and other large congregations will continue to remain prohibited. The MHA added that state governments and Union Territories, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain activities outside the containment zones or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary. The ministry said that the new guidelines are based on feedback received from states and UTs and extensive consultations held with related central ministries and departments. Independence Day functions will be allowed with social distancing and by following other health protocols like wearing masks, the release said. However, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods and no “separate permission/ approval/ e-permit” will be required for such movements. “Shops will need to maintain adequate physical distancing among customers. MHA will monitor the effective implementation of national directives. Vulnerable persons, i.e., persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, are advised to stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes,” it said. It said international air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission. “Further opening-up will take place in a calibrated manner,” it said. Lockdown extended in Maharashtra till 31 Aug The Maharashtra government extended the lockdown in the state till 31 August in view of rising coronavirus cases. A notification issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar said the decision has been taken as an “emergency step to prevent and contain” the spread of COVID-19. As part of the ‘Mission Begin Again’ initiative, malls and market complexes without theatres, food courts and restaurants will be operational between 9 am and 7 pm from 5 August, the notification said. The state government had last month extended the lockdown till 31 July amid a steady growth in the COVID-19 cases in the state. Meanwhile, the Tripura government also extended the “complete lockdown” in the state till 4 August as COVID-19 cases continued to rise. “We are going through a phase when only social distancing and masks can protect us. Twenty-one people have regrettably died till now, most of them veterans. The ongoing lockdown that was supposed to continue till Thursday morning would now continue till 5 am on 4 August. All guidelines from the ongoing lockdown would be in force,” Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb said while making the announcement. India’s CFR is lowest since 1 April, says Centre The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 is fast approaching the 10-lakh mark, while the case fatality rate has been falling progressively due to coordinated implementation of the ’test track treat’ strategy by the Centre, states and Union Territories, the health ministry said on Wednesday. India’s COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR) is lower than what it is globally. On Wednesday, the CFR stood at 2.23 percent, the lowest since 1 April, the health ministry said in a statement. “Not only has the CFR been kept low, but successful implementation of effective containment strategy, aggressive testing and standardised clinical management protocols based on a holistic standard of care approach have in tandem resulted in a consistent trend of more than 30,000 recoveries per day for the sixth consecutive day,” it said. ‘Baahubali’ director SS Rajamouli tests COVID-19 positive Filmmaker SS Rajamouli on Wednesday said he and his family members have tested positive for coronavirus and are currently quarantined at home. The director, best known for his epic fantasy hit “Baahubali” series, said they got tested after they developed mild fever recently which subsided by itself. “My family members and I developed a slight fever few days ago. It subsided by itself but we got tested nevertheless. The result has shown a mild COVID positive today. We have home quarantined as prescribed by the doctors (sic)” he said. In a subsequent tweet, Rajamouli said he and his kin are asymptomatic and “feeling better”. They are, however, following all the precautions and instructions. “Just waiting to develop antibodies so that we can donate our plasma,” he added. State-wise cases and deaths Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 9,211 new COVID19 cases 298 deaths. The total number of cases is now at 4,00,651, including 2,39,755 recovered cases, 1,46,129 active cases and 14,463 deaths. The recovery rate in the state is at 59.84 percent, as per the state health department. Two new COVID-19 cases were reported in the city’s Dharavi area, taking the total number of cases in the area to 2,545 including 83 active cases, according to the BMC. Tamil Nadu reported 6,426 new cases and 82 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 2,34,114. A total of 5,927 patients were discharged, while 57,490 are active cases, according to the state’s health department. Delhi reported 1,035 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The number of patients recovered/discharged in the last 24 hours are 1,126 while 26 deaths were reported in the national capital in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the National Capital is now at 1,33,310, including 1,18,633 recovered/discharged, 10,770 active cases and the death toll is at 3,907, according to state government. In Delhi, 5,074 RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 12,318 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Wednesday. Andhra Pradesh reported 10,093 COVID-19 cases, 2,784 discharged and 65 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state is now at 1,20,390, including 55,406 discharged, 63,771 active cases, according to the state’s COVID Control Room. The toll is at 1,213 in the state. In Jammu and Kashmir, 540 COVID-19 cases have been reported on Wednesday, 151 from Jammu division and 389 Kashmir division. The total number of cases in the Union Territory is now at 19,419, including 7,749 active cases, 11,322 recovered. The toll is at 348. Manipur reported 141 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,458. The number of active and recovered cases are 805 and 1,653 respectively, as per the state government. Goa’s COVID-19 tally reached 5,489 with 202 new cases reported. The number of active and recovered cases in the state is 1,666 and 3,784 respectively. The death toll is at 39, according to the state government. US is expected to report a record-breaking economic plunge Having endured what was surely a record-shattering slump last quarter, the US economy faces a dim outlook as a resurgent coronavirus intensifies doubts about any sustained recovery the rest of the year, AP reported. A huge plunge in consumer spending, as people stayed home and avoided shopping, travelling or gathering in crowds as the virus raged, is estimated to have sent the economy sinking at a roughly 32 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter. That would be more than triple the previous worst quarterly economic fall, a 10 percent drop set in 1958. Depressed activity in such areas as business investment, home construction and government spending also likely contributed to the worst quarterly contraction on records dating to 1947. On Thursday, the government will issue its first of three estimates of economic activity, as measured by the gross domestic product, for the April-June quarter. Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine induced robust immune response in monkeys US biotechnology company Moderna’s experimental vaccine to prevent COVID-19 induced robust immune response and rapidly controlled the novel coronavirus in the upper and lower airways of monkeys exposed to SARS-CoV-2, according to a study published on Tuesday. The candidate vaccine, mRNA-1273, was co-developed by scientists at Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the US. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, complements recently reported interim results from an NIAID-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial of mRNA-1273. On Monday clinics around the US began a Phase 3 trial of the vaccine candidate, with the aim of enrolling 30,000 people to test for safety and effectiveness. In the latest study, three groups of eight rhesus macaques received two injections of 10 or 100 microgrammes ( g) of mRNA-1273 or a placebo. Injections were spaced 28 days apart. Vaccinated macaques produced high levels of neutralising antibodies directed at the surface spike protein used by SARS-CoV-2 to attach to and enter cells, the researchers said. With inputs from agencies
Coronavirus Updates: Bengal extends suspension of flights to Kolkata from Mumbai, five other COVID-19-affected cities till 15 Aug
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: The Bihar government’s announcement of ‘additional restrictions’ came a day after the state government dismissed reports that said that the lockdown had been extended in the state as ‘fake’.
 "Coronavirus Updates: Bengal extends suspension of flights to Kolkata from Mumbai, five other COVID-19-affected cities till 15 Aug")
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
No Sunday lockdown and night curfew in Karnataka
Announcing further easing of curbs, the Karnataka government on Thursday said there will be no lockdowns on Sundays in the State from August 2, as it issued Unlock 3.0 guidelines in line with the Centre’s norms.
In view of the rising coronavirus cases, the government had imposed total lockdown on Sundays starting from July 5. Also restrictions on the movement of individuals during the night (night curfew from 9 pm-5 am) have been removed under unlock 3.0.
For the first time since the coronavirus lockdown came into force on March 25, the government has allowed the opening of yoga institutes and gymnasiums from August 5. The order said, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for this will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare (MoHFW) and Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka.
(PTI)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Assam Latest Updates
2,112 new COVID-19 cases in Assam
2,112 new COVID-19 cases detected in Assam out of 41,028 tests in the last 24 hrs. The total number of cases in the State stands at 38,407 including 27,832 recovered, 10,478 active cases and 94 deaths, said state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates
Delhi HC extends suspension of all courts till 14 Aug
Delhi High Court extends the suspension of the functioning of High Court and subordinate courts till 14th August, in view of the #COVID19 pandemic.
The Court order states that Courts of Registrars & Joint Registrars of the Court to take up matters listed before them through video-conferencing. However, evidence to be recorded only in ex-parte & uncontested matters where the same is required to be tendered by way of affidavit
Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates
Bihar announces ‘additional restrictions’ from 1-16 AUg
The Bihar government on Thursday imposed “additional restrictions”, in “state headquarters, district headquarters, sub-divisional headquarters, block headquarters and all municipal areas in the state from 1 to 16 August,” an official release said.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Harsh Vardhan says around 5 lakh COVID-19 tests conducted every day
India is currently conducting around five lakh COVID-19 tests every day and the plan is to double the number in the next one-two months, Union minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.
During the launch of a compendium on ‘Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Technologies for COVID-19 Mitigation’, Vardhan, who is also the Union health minister, said that the country’s recovery rate of over 64 percent is the best in the world while the fatality rate is nearly 2.2 percent, PTI reported.
“In April, we used to conduct 6,000 tests daily. Today, we are conducting over five lakh tests every day. Our plan is to take it to 10 lakh tests daily in 1-2 months and we are working towards it,” Vardhan said.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Andhra Pradesh Latest Updates
10,167 new COVID-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh reported 10,167 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours, taking the total cases in the state to 1,30,557, including 1,281 deaths and 60,024 cases of discharge.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Scientific methods of vaccine research ‘cannot be accelerated’, says prof Peter Piot
“We can accelerate the funding and the bureaucratic elements of COVID-19 vaccine trials, but the scientific methods and randomized controlled trials cannot be accelerated, said Prof Peter Piot at the ICMR’s international conference on vaccine research on Thursday. Piot had identified Ebola in 1976 and later helped lead the fight against HIV.
Meanwhile, prof Walter Orenstein said, “There are bound to be incidents that come up after COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out.”
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
ICMR’s international COVID-19 symposium
The ICMR’s international symposium on COVID19 vaccine science and ethics is got underway on Thursday, where experts will discuss speed, safety and fairness around the development and deployment of potential vaccines amid the pandemic.
Disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said, “Human challenge studies are not necessary at this point. The full impact of SARSCoV2 infection are not very well understood, and so infecting healthy people with COVID-19 is not ethically or scientifically required at this point in time.”
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
2 Indian vaccine candidates are in phase 1 & 2 trials, says Centre
The Union health ministry on Thursday said that two indigenously developed vaccine candidates are in the phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.
The ministry said, “Three vaccine candidates are in phase 3 clinical trial. These three are in US, UK, and China. In India, two indigenously developed vaccine candidates are in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Trial of 1st vaccine involves 1150 subjects at 8 sites, 2nd on 1000 subjects at 5 sites.”
“There are multiple stakeholders within and outside government and Ministry of Health has started actively engaging with such stakeholders: Health Ministry on ‘has there been a discussion of prioritising how a vaccine would be distributed or administered if and when it becomes available,” the statement added.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Over 1 million people have recovered from COVID-19, says Centre
The Union health ministry said, “More than 1 million people have recovered from COVID-19 in the country. This landmark recovery has been achieved because of the selfless work and dedication of our doctors, nurses and frontline workers.”
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Centre says herd immunity can’t be a strategic option for country like India
The Union health ministry said that the case fatality rate in India is 2.21 percent and it’s among the lowest in the world. 24 States and Union Territories have lesser fatality rate than that of the country.
When asked about herd immunity, the ministry said, “Herd immunity in a country of the size and population of India can’t be a strategic option. It can only be achieved through immunisation. Health Ministry thinks it’s possible in future but for now we’ve to follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.”
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Recovery rate rose to 64.4% from 7.85% in April, says Centre
In a briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country on Thursday, the Union health ministry said that the recovery rate has “shown positive trends”.
“It was 7.85 percent in April and today it is 64.4 percent, said Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health.
He added, “16 states of the country have a recovery rate that is more than the national average. Of these, Delhi has recovery rate of 88 percent, Ladakh 80 percent, Haryana 78 percent, Assam 76 percent, Telangana 74 percent, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat 73 percent, Rajasthan 70 percent, MP 69 percent, and Goa 68 percent.”
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LATEST Update
What is allowed and what’s not in lockdown 3.0 in Tamil Nadu
- Grocery shops to remain open till 7 pm.
- Public transport, trains and metro will remain suspended until August 31
- Private industries can function with 75 per cent workforce.
- Eateries in Chennai can begin dine-in services with 50 percent capacity.
- Online delivery of essential commodities to be permitted.
- Food delivery services to be allowed till 9 pm.
- Independence Day celebrations to be observed with social distancing and other measures.
- No relaxation will be given to containment zones in the state.
- Existing ban on religious congregations will continue.
- Shopping malls, theatres and bars will remain shut.
Coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh LATEST Update
2 COVID-19 patients give birth to healthy babies in Arunachal
Two COVID-19 patients have given birth to two healthy babies at a state-run hospital in Arunachal Pradesh, a senior doctor of the medical establishment said on Thursday. Both the babies, a boy and a girl, have tested negative for COVID-19, he said.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Update
Uddhav Thackeray visits Pune to check COVID-19 sitution in city
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray visited Pune on Thursday to oversee the COVID-19 response in the state, amid spiking cases in the city.
Pune: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray conducts review meeting with elected representatives on the measures taken to tackle the spread of #COVID19. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also present. pic.twitter.com/IPIgKHQDuo
— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2020
Coronavirus in India LATEST Update
Govt to increase COVID-19 tests to 10 lakh per day in 1-2 months: Harsh Vardhan
India is currently conducting around five lakh COVID-19 tests every day and the plan is to double the number in the next one-two months, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.
During the launch of a compendium on ‘Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Technologies for COVID-19 Mitigation’, Vardhan, who is also the Union health minister, said the country’s recovery rate of over 64 per cent is the best in the world while the fatality rate is nearly 2.2 per cent.
He also hailed the scientific community for fighting alongside the medical community in the battle against the virus.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LATEST Update
Public transport, theaters, bars to remain shut till 31 Aug in TN
Extending the total shutdown imposed across the state on Sundays in July to August, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said intense curbs will be in place on August 2,9,16,23 and 30.
The Independence Day celebrations will be held across the state as per Central government guidelines on precautions like social distancing and use of masks, he said in a statement.
Existing ban on religious congregations, operation of public transport, shopping malls, theatres and bars and all kinds of political and sporting activities, inter-state public and private transport will continue, he added.
Coronavirus in Delhi LATEST Update
Delhi announces major cut in VAT on diesel to fire up economy
The Delhi government reduced the Value-Added Tax on diesel by almost half on Thursday, which will result in a relief of Rs 8.36 a litre to consumers, saying the move will help the city’s economy recover from the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the reduction in VAT from 30 per cent to 16.75 per cent during a virtual press briefing and said traders and industrialists had demanded it. The diesel price will now come down from Rs 82 to Rs 73.64 in Delhi, he added.
Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia LATEST Update
Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus
Masked pilgrims arrived Thursday at Mount Arafat, a desert hill near Islam’s holiest site, to pray and repent on the most important day of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage in Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
This year, a very limited number of pilgrims were allowed to take part in the hajj amid numerous restrictions to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Update
Ayodhya temple priest, 16 police personnel test positive, say reports
The Ram temple priest in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya city, who was supposed to take part in the foundation stone-laying ceremony next week, has tested positive for the coronavirus along with 16 police personnel on duty, reports NDTV.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LATEST Update
Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till 31 August
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy on Thursday extended the lockdown till 31 August. An intense lockdown will be in force on Sundays. An e-pass is mandatory for inter-district travel, reports Indian Express. Parks, beaches, cinema halls, and educational institutions will also continue to remain closed. The ban on inter-state transport will remain in place.
Restaurants will be open for dine-in with 50% capacity, reports Times of India.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Update
Indoor gyms, fitness centres to remain shut, says Maharashtra govt
The Maharashtra government says indoor gyms and fitness centres will stay shut in “Unlock 3”, ANI reports. Outdoor fitness spaces will be allowed to open from 5 August.
Coronavirus in Russia LATEST Update
Russian COVID-19 vaccine to be ready by 12 August: Report
The Russian candidate vaccine for the novel coronavirus is back in the news again. According to a report by Bloomberg, Russia was planning to ‘register’ its novel Coronavirus vaccine by 10-12 August.
Coronavirus in Manipur LATEST Update
Manipur registers second COVID-19 death
Manipur registered its second COVID-19 death on Thursday as a 48-year-old patient succumbed to the infection at a state-run hospital here, a senior doctor of the medical establishment said.
The fresh fatality comes a day after the state registered its first COVID-19 death as a 56-year-old patient succumbed to the disease early on Wednesday. Meanwhile, two resident doctors at RIMS have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the count of infected hospital staff to 22, sources said.
The state has registered 2,458 COVID-19 cases till Wednesday.
Coronavirus in Telangana LATEST Updates
Telangana records over 60,000 coronavirus cases, 505 deaths
Telangana registered 1,811 fresh COVID-19 infections taking the overall count to 60,717 on Thursday. With 13 more patients succumbing to the viral disease, the toll in the state jumped to 505.
Of the total cases, there are 44,572 recoveries, said the state government.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LATEST Updates
E Palaniswami to decide on extension of lockdown in Tamil Nadu today
Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will take a decision on the extension of the ongoing lockdown in the state on Thursday. The chief minister has been chairing a two-day meeting on Wednesday and Thursday with district collectors and health experts to discuss the containment measures in Tamil Nadu and extension of the lockdown.
“The expeditious measures taken by the Tamil Nadu government to contain the spread of coronavirus has helped reduce the COVID-19 fatality rate to 1.6 percent and enhance the recovery rate to 73 percent,” Palaniswami said on Wednesday.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Sonia Gandhi holds COVID-19 review meet
Congress President Sonia Gandhi held a meeting via video conferencing with Rajya Sabha MPs over the coronavirus and the political situation in the country on Thursday.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Update
Mumbai’s containment zones now at 622
The total number of containment zones in Mumbai stands at 622, says the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, reports ANI.
Coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh LATEST Update
Himachal reports 73 new cases in past 24 hours
Himachal Pradesh registers 73 new cases, taking the tally to 2,404, says Special Secretary (Health) Nipun Jindal.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Update
India’s recovery rate now at 64.4%
As many as 10,20,582 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the reported active COVID-19 cases in India now stand at 5,28,242, according to the Union Health Ministry. India’s COVID-19 recovery rate now stands at 64.4 percent.
Coronavirus in Odisha LATEST Update
Odisha reports 1,203 new cases in past 24 hrs
Odisha on Thursday registered 1,203 new cases. With this, the total number of cases in the state is now at 30,378.
Coronavirus in West Bengal LATEST Update
Flight operations suspended bi-weekly at Kolkata Airport
Flight operations at Kolkata airport will remain suspended on 5, 8,16,17, 23, 24 and 31 August, reports ANI citing the authorities. “Passengers are requested to contact concerned airlines for changes in flight schedule,” they said.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Update
India reports over 52,000 new cases, 775 new deaths
India on Thursday reports 52,123 new cases. With this, India’s tally climbed up to 15,83,792. The toll has also risen to 34,968 with 775 fresh deaths.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Update
India tested over 4.4 lakh samples yesterday
India on Wednesday tested 4,46,642 samples, says the Indian Council of Medical Research
Coronavirus in Australia LATEST Update
Masks now required for all of Australian state
Australia’s coronavirus hot spot of Victoria state is making mask wearing compulsory statewide after reporting a new daily high of 723 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Masks have been compulsory in the state capital of Melbourne and a neighboring semi-rural district for the past week. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said Thursday that masks or other face coverings will be compulsory for the whole state beginning late Sunday.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Update
DCGI asks Serum to revise protocol for phase 2, 3 trials of Oxford vaccine
A CDSCO expert panel has sought clarifications from Serum Institute of India (SII) over its application to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) seeking permission for conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the Oxford vaccine candidate for COVID-19, reports PTI.
The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 which held its meeting on Tuesday deliberated on the application by SII and asked the Pune-based firm to revise its protocol for the phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, besides seeking some additional information.
Coronavirus in US LATEST Updates
US Attorney General to be tested for COVID-19
US Attorney General William Barr will be tested for COVID-19, after coming in close contact with Texas Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert on Tuesday when Barr testified before the House Judiciary Committee, a Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed.
Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec added that Barr already faces routine testing for COVID-19 at the White House, reports Reuters
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
India’s recoveries cross 10-lakh mark
The number of recoveries in India crosses the 10-lakh mark, reports ANI citing the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Coronavirus in Odisha LATEST Updates
Over 16,000 prisoners released on parole in Odisha to decongest prisons
As many as 16,789 inmates of different jails in Odisha have been released on parole to decongest prisons in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, reports PTI. Director-General of Prisons SK Upadhay made the announcement while reviewing the progress of implementation of a Supreme Court’s order in this regard.
Coronavirus in Assam LATEST Updates
Assam reports 4 deaths, over 1,300 new cases
Assam recorded four more COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, taking the toll to 92 as 1,348 new cases of the infection pushed the tally in the state to 36,295, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building
At News18 SheShakti 2025 Delhi, women from sports, cinema, and music discussed breaking barriers. Kriti Sanon and Sanya Malhotra focused on equity in cinema, Mira Erda and Ashalata Devi on sports challenges, and Kavita Krishnamurti stressed humility and perseverance for lasting success.
More Impact Shorts "Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment")
 "From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal")
 "Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?")
 "Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike")
 "Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment")
 "From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal")
 "Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?")
 "Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike")
Top Shows
