Coronavirus News Updates: Mumbai records 696 new COVID-19 cases, 24 fatalities in 24 hours

Coronavirus LATEST News Updates

Mumbai records 696 new COVID-19 cases, 24 deaths

Mumbai reported 696 new coronavirus infections and 24 fatalities on Friday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The financial capital of the country recorded fewer than 1,000 cases for the 12th day in a row, though the daily spike and death figure rose slightly compared to Thursday. The tally of COVID-19 cases in the city thus rose to 7,15,146, while the toll reached 15,146.   

There are 15,819 active COVID-19 cases now, after 658 patients were discharged from hospitals.  So far 6,81,946 patients have recovered in the city, taking the recovery rate to 95 percent.

PTI

J&J says expiration date of its COVID-19 vaccines extended

Johnson & Johnson says US health officials have extended the expiration date for millions of doses of its coronavirus vaccine by an extra six weeks. The drug maker says the FDA approved a longer shelf-life for the one-dose shots. State officials recently warned that many unused doses would reach their original three-month expiration by the end of June. 

The extension comes as the rate of new US vaccinations continues to slip. The USaveraged about 800,000 injections per day last week. That’s down from a high of nearly 2 million per day two months ago. 

AP

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Meghalaya extends lockdown in East Khasi Hills district till 21 June

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad  K Sangma on Friday announced an extension of the lockdown in East Khasi Hills district for another week till 21 June in

view of the spurt in COVID-19 cases in the region. The decision was taken as the positivity rate for the coronavirus infection continues to be over 10 percent in the district, a health department official said.

“In other districts, DCs have been empowered to decide as per local situation and in consultation with the COVID care management committees. Up to 20 percent of non-essential shops may be opened in certain areas in the state,” the chief minister said. “DCs may also permit up to 20 per cent of commercial
vehicles to operate,” he said.

PTI

Few relaxations will be allowed as deemed fit by respective DCs. Up to 20% of non essential shops may be opened in certain areas in the State. DCs may also permit up to 20% of commercial vehicles to operate.

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 11, 2021

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SC refuses to pass direction on plea to redress hardship of borrowers amid COVID-19 wave

The Supreme Court Friday refused to pass direction on a plea seeking remedial measures to redress the financial hardship faced by borrowers during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, saying it is in the realm of policy decision. Government has many things to do. They have to spend money on vaccine, they have to spend money on migrant labourers. We cannot do it like this, the apex court said, adding that it is for the Centre and the RBI to consider the issue.

These are all in the realm of policy decision. These are issues having financial implications and we are not the experts, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah told advocate Vishal Tiwari, who has filed the petition. The top court was hearing the plea which sought directions to the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to take effective and remedial measures, including in the form of fresh loan moratorium, to redress and overcome the financial stress and hardship faced by borrowers during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown.

PTI

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Manipur govt extends curfew in 7 districts till 30 June 

 Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Manipur government on Friday decided to extend the ongoing curfew in seven districts till 30 June. On account of the high positivity rate, curfew was first imposed on 8 May in the districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, Ukhrul, Churachandpur, and Bishnupur,

and later extended till 11 June.

The Home department order on Friday said, “the number of Covid-19 infections and deaths remain high in the state and there is a need to continue with the restrictions till it shows a considerable decline.” However, additional activities other than ones already permitted will now be allowed.

PTI

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Himachal Pradesh does away with RT-PCR negative reports for entering state

It was also decided that the offices in Himachal Pradesh will function with 50 percent of staff from Monday, said an official spokesperson. All the medical colleges, ayurvedic colleges and dental colleges will open from 23 June . Pharmacy and nursing schools will open from  28 June . Now there will be no requirement of RT-PCR negative tests for entering in the state, the spokesperson added.

Coronavirus LATEST News Updates

Himachal Pradesh extends curfew but eases restrictions

The Covid curfew in Himachal Pradesh has been extended with several more relaxations till further orders, an official spokesperson said on Friday. The buses

within the state will ply with 50 percent occupancy and shops will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm from 14 June, he added.  However, the shops except those of essential commodities will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The curfew will continue from 5 pm to 5 am in the state till further orders, the spokesperson added.  

PTI

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Free vaccination drive for street vendors in Noida from 14 June

A special campaign for free anti-coronavirus vaccination for street-side vendors would begin in Noida from 14 June, officials said.

In Noida, officials said the inoculation would be done for registered vendors and will take place at the Indira Gandhi Kala Kendra. “Currently there are around 3,700 registered street vendors in Noida,” Noida Authority’’s officer on special duty Indu Prakash Singh told PTI.

Vendors can register themselves through the Cowin app but in case they are unable to do it, they may come directly to the venue with their Aadhaar card and mobile phone for on-spot registration, he added.

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Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till 21 June

The Tamil Nadu government extended the lockdown till 21 June but with more relaxations.

Government-run Tasmac shops will be allowed operate between 10 am and 5 pm in 27 of the state’s 38 districts. Meanwhile, industries will be allowed to operate with 33 percent workforce.

State health minister Ma Subramanian said Tamil Nadu is working to contain the spread in 11 districts, while the pandemic has been brought under control in 25 districts

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Padma Shri recipient Dr Ashok Panagariya dies of post-Covid complications

Prominent neurologist and Padma Shri recipient Dr Ashok Panagariya died of post-Covid complications in Jaipur on Friday. He was 71.   Dr Panagariya was on ventilator support for the past several days at a private hospital. His condition deteriorated in the past two days and he died on Friday, hospital sources said. He said Dr Panagariya held important posts and played an important role in the state as a medical expert during the coronavirus pandemic.

PTI

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Delhi records 238 new cases, 24 deaths

Delhi records 238 new cases, 24 deaths, taking total number of cases recorded so far to 14,30,671 and toll to 24,772. The positivity rate further dipped to 0.31%. According to the Delhi government’s bulletin, a total of 77,112 testes (including rapid antigen tests) were done in the last 24 hours. 

Delhi reports 238 new #COVID19 cases, 504 recoveries and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 14,30,671
Total recoveries 14,01,977
Death toll 24,772

Active cases 3922 pic.twitter.com/Wfh9NHYFes

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2021

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Pregnant woman moves Delhi HC for inclusion in COVID-19 vaccination drive on priority

A pregnant woman Friday approached the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Centre to include pregnant women in COVID-19 vaccination drive on priority basis. The high court was informed by the Centre’s counsel that the government is seized of the issue and will take a decision on the same. Noting the statement made by the Centre’s counsel, Justice Amit Bansal said no further orders are required and disposed of the woman’s petition.

PTI

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Delta variant 60 percent more transmissible, reduces vaccine effect: UK experts

The Delta variant of COVID-19, or the B1.617.2 variant of concern (VOC) first identified in India, is about 60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha strain identified in the UK and also reduces the effectiveness of vaccines to some extent, UK health experts report on Friday. Public Health England (PHE), which has been tracking VOCs on a weekly basis, said that the cases of the Delta VOC have risen by 29,892 to hit 42,323 in the country, an increase of around 70 percent. 

The latest data also indicates that over 90 percent of new COVID-19 cases in the UK are now the Delta variant, which continues to show a significantly higher rate of growth compared to the Alpha VOC  which was first identified in the region of Kent in England and was the dominant variant in the country so far.

PTI

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G7 Summit: Boris Johnson pledges to donate 100 mn COVID vaccine doses

The UK will donate 100 million surplus coronavirus vaccine doses to the world within the next year, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday at the start of the G7 Summit in Cornwall. Ahead of the formal sessions of the summit — bringing together leaders of the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan as well the European Union and guest nations India, South Africa, Australia and South Korea— Johnson as the host vowed to “take a massive step towards beating this pandemic for good”.

At the Summit, to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually, world leaders are expected to announce they will provide at least 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses to the world through dose sharing and financing and set out a plan to expand vaccine manufacturing in order to achieve that goal.

PTI

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FM to chair GST Council meet tomorrow; tax cut on COVID essentials, black fungus medicine on agenda

 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Saturday chair the meeting of the GST Council, which is expected to decide on tax relief for COVID-19 essentials and black fungus medicine. The 44th GST Council meeting will be attended by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, besides finance ministers of states and Union territories and senior officers from Union government and states, the Union finance ministry tweeted on Friday.

The Council will discuss the report of the Group of Ministers, headed by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, on GST concessions on COVID-19 relief items like medical grade oxygen, pulse oximeters, hand sanitisers and ventilators, among others. Besides, GoM also looked into vaccines, drugs and medicines for COVID-19 treatment and testing kits for its detection.

PTI

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Bombay HC asks Centre to look at Kerala, J&K pattern for door-to-door vaccination

The Bombay High Court on Friday said the Union government should look at the door-to-door vaccination programme carried out successfully by Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir, and take a sound decision on its present policy that states door-to-door vaccination was not possible.  A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni noted that it was unable to understand what the Centre’s problem was in starting door-to-door vaccination when states such as Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir were already carrying out such drives.

PTI

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Covaxin phase-3 data likely to be published in next 7-8 days, says VK Paul

" I am being told that Covaxin phase 3 data will be published in next 7-8 days", reports quote VK Paul as saying during the health ministry briefing.

Coronavirus LATEST News Updates

Kolhapur’s positivity rate, oxygen bed occupancy highest in Maharashtra, shows health department data

Maharashtra health department on Friday released the figures related to the weekly COVID-19 positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy of the administrative units in the state, and directed the local administrations to decide on the level of restrictions to be imposed in those areas. As per the data, the positivity rate of Kolhapur is 15.85 percent and its oxygen bed occupancy is 67.41 percent. Both these figures are the highest in the state.  Gondia recorded the lowest positivity rate of 0.83 per cent, while Wardha recorded the lowest bed occupancy level of 1.57 percent. 

PTI

Working closely with states to address vaccine hesitancy: Govt

Amid media reports alleging ‘vaccine hesitancy’ among health workers in rural areas, the Union Health Ministry on Friday said it is working closely with states and Union Territories to address the issue.  The government of India has been supporting the efforts of states and UTs for an effective vaccination drive under the ‘Whole of Government’ approach since 16 January this year, it said. There have been certain media reports alleging ‘vaccine hesitancy’ in rural areas among health workers, the ministry stated.

“It is informed that vaccine hesitancy is a globally accepted phenomenon and should be addressed by scientifically studying and addressing the issue at the community level,” it said in a statement. Keeping this in mind, a ‘COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Strategy’ covering details on vaccine hesitancy was shared with all states and UTs at the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

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Centre appeals to those who have taken first vaccine dose to to take second dose

VK Paul says availability of vaccine doses has increased this month and will further improve. He appeals to those who have taken the first dose to take their second doses.

National sero-survey expected to begin this month, says Centre

Cases are decreasing but we have to prevent them from increasing again and hence it is important to make COVID appropriate behaviour a part of our lives. Situation appears to be stabilising says NITI Aayog member (health) VK Paul but warns against irresponsible behaviours and letting down guard. National Sero-survey by ICMR is expected to begin this month, all preparations have been done for this, he said. But we can’t deepened only on one national sero-sruvey and states also have to be encouraged to carry out such surveys, he says.

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Sharp decline seen in weekly positivity, says health ministry

Sharp decline line weekly positivity, says Union Health Ministry, “74% decrease since highest reported weekly positivity,” says Lav Agarwal. The weekly positivity is less than 5% in 15 states, he says.

24.61 crore vaccine doses administered so far, says health ministry

A total of 19.85 crore first doses given so far, 4.75 crore second doses and cumulative total of  24.61 crore vaccine doses administered so far in the country which is the second highest in the world, Agarwal says.

Coronavirus LATEST News Updates

Decline of 31% in average daily new cases seen in last week, says health ministry

A decline of 31% in average daily new cases seen in the last week, says health ministry. Active cases have also been fallen. Close to 70% fall in active cases since peak on 10 May and now stand at  3.83% of total caseload.  29 states  have been reporting more recoveries than new cases in last few days, says Lav Agarwal.

Coronavirus LATEST News Updates

All open vaccines need to be used/discarded in 4 hrs, says health ministry

The vaccinator is advised to mark date & time of opening each vial and all open vaccine vials need to be used/discarded within 4 hours of opening. Hence, expectation that vaccine wastage should be 1% or less is not at all unreasonable. It is reasonable & achievable: GoI pic.twitter.com/6eF42CHSoH

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2021

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COVID-19 curbs likely to be relaxed in Pune city, as positivity rate sees dip

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said the administration in Pune will consider introducing some relaxations if the COVID-19 positivity rate in the city continues to be below 5 percent in the next two days. Last week, Pune city had come under the state government’s level 3 category. However, with the positivity rate dropping a little below 5 per cent, the city has now moved to level 2.
 
Under relaxations in level 2, shops are permitted to operate till 7 pm, while hotels, restaurants, and eateries can function till 10 pm for dine-in with 50 per cent seating capacity and malls can operate by adhering to social-distancing norms.  Pune mayor Murlidhar Mohol said the positivity rate in the civic limits of Pune has been at 4.95 per cent for one week.

PTI

Could have procured vaccines for all with money collected in taxes on fuel: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slams Centre

Attacking the Centre, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said a lot could have been done, including procuring vaccines for all, with the money collected in taxes on petrol and diesel during the COVID-19 pandemic, but nothing was done.   Congress leaders and party workers on Friday held symbolic protests at petrol pumps in several parts of the city, demanding a complete rollback of fuel price hike.

In a tweet, Priyanka Gandhi said, “During the pandemic, Modi government collected taxes on petrol-diesel: Rs 2.74 lakh crore.” “What all could have been done with this money: Vaccines for the whole country (Rs 67,000 crore)+ oxygen plants in 718 districts+ AIIMS hospital in 29 states + Rs 6,000 as help to 25 crore poor people. But nothing was done,” the Congress general secretary tweeted in Hindi using the hashtag ‘BJPLootingIndia’. 

PTI

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Ladakh records 90 new COVID-19 cases
 

Ladakh reported 90 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 19,475, while 160 people were discharged after getting recovered, bringing down the number of active cases to 853, officials said on Friday.  Ladakh has so far recorded 197 coronavirus-related deaths —143 in Leh district and 54 in Kargil district. A total of 18,425 patients have recovered from the disease so far, they said.
A total of 90 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday. Out of these, 77 were in Leh and 13 in Kargil, they said. The union territory reported 853 active Covid cases, out of which 696 are in Leh and 152 in Kargil, they said.

Coronavirus LATEST News Updates

Over 1.17 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses available with states, claims health ministry

 More than 1.17 crore ( 1,17,56,91) COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs, while 38,21,170 doses will be received by them within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday. 

Over 25.60 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far through the Government of India (free of cost channel) and direct state procurement categories. Of this, the total consumption, including wastage is 24,44,06,096 doses, the ministry said. A total of1 COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered.

PTI

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Restrictions to continue in 11 Karnataka districts, relaxations in other districts from 14 June

The Karnataka government issued revised guidelines easing curbs in all except 11 districts in the state, from 6 am on 14 June to 6 am on 21 June. Shops selling essentials and animal fodder, ODS shops and street vendors will be allowed to operate from  6 am to 2 pm. Parkas have been permitted to open from 5 am to 10 am for walking and jogging with adherence to COVID-19 protocol but group activities will not be permitted.Night curfew will continue between 7 pm to 5 am and weekend curfew will continue from 7 pm on Friday to 5 on Monday, The government also laid out the guidelines for the weekend nad night curfew.

Relaxations permitted in remaining districts w.e.f. 6 am on June 14 to 6 am on June 21: Karnataka Government pic.twitter.com/AONjDTgsTF

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2021

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Biophore applies to DCGI for emergency-use approval for COVID treatment drug

Biophore India Pharmaceuticals on Friday said it has applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for obtaining emergency-use approval for Aviptadil, used in the treatment of moderate to severe cases of COVID-19. The Hyderabad-based firm said it has developed the product which is backward integrated with its in-house API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient). The company plans to commence commercial production of the product immediately after the approval is received, it added.

Aviptadil is a synthetic form of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) that, when administered, results in rapid clinical recovery in patients with severe SARS-COV-2 infection. These observations are based on results of multiple trials of Aviptadil against COVID-19 globally in patients with respiratory failure and the same have been submitted to DCGI for their review.

PTI

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Uttarakhand cancels Class 12 board exams

Uttarakhand government cancels Class 12 state board examinations, in view of COVID-19 situation, reports news agency ANI.

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SC directs postponement of INI CET 2021 by a month

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to postpone the INI CET 2021 exam for at least a month, in view of the COVID-19 situation, reports LiveLaw.  

“Considering that many of the candidates intending to appear in the exam are in covid duty and in remote areas, we are of the opinion that June 16 date is arbitrary. We direct the exam to be postponed by one month, Needless to say exam can be held anytime after the expiry of one month,” Bar&Bench quotes the top court as saying. 

The exam was scheduled to be held on 16 June. The INI CET Exam is conducted for admissions to higher studies in the field of medicine/post graduate studies.

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US FDA had earlier communicated that no new EUAs will be given for COVID vaccines, says Bharat Biotech

On US FDA rejecting Ocugen’s EUA application for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, the Hyderabad-based firm said the FDA Had earlier communicated that no new EUAs will be approved for COVID-19 vaccines. “With good herd immunity and significant percentage of the population vaccinated, the pandemic is reducing in the United States. The US FDA had earlier communicated that no new EUA’s will be approved for covid vaccines.  All applications have to follow the biological license application process, with is the standard process for vaccines. Data from an additional clinical trial will be required to support the marketing application submission for Covaxin,” Bharat Biotech said.

The company also claimed that no vaccine manufactured or developed from India has ever received EUA or full licensure from US FDA.  It added that Covaxin has received EUA’s from 14 countries with more than 50 countries in process. “When approved, it will be a Great Leap Forward for vaccines Innovation and manufacturing from India,” Bharat Biotech said.

Coronavirus live updates

US FDA rejects EUA for Covaxin, ‘suggests’ Biologics Licence Application route for approval 

 In a setback to Bharat  Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, the US Food and Drug Administration has “recommended” Ocugen Inc, the US partner of the Indian vaccine maker, to go for Biologics Licence Application (BLA) route with additional data, nixing hopes of Emergency Use Authorisation.

Ocugen in a statement on Thursday announced that as recommended by the FDA,it will pursue submission of a biologics licence application (BLA) for Covaxin. BLA is a “full approval” mechanism by the FDA for drugs and vaccines.

PTI

Coronavirus live updates

India records 91,702 new COVID-19 cases, 3,403 fresh fatalities

The daily COVID-19 count in India remained below the one-lakh mark for the fourth consecutive day with the country reporting 91,702 fresh cases, while the daily positivity rate dropped to 4.49 percent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. With the fresh cases, the total tally of cases has climbed to 2,92,74,823. The COVID-19 toll climbed to 3,63,079 with 3,403 fresh deaths, the data updated at 8 am showed

The active cases further declined to 11,21,671 comprising 3.83 percent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 94.93 percent. A net decline of 46,281 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

PTI