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Coronavirus news latest update: Maharashtra on Saturday reported 10,697 new coronavirus infections, taking the case tally to 58,98,550, the health department said. As many as 360 deaths were recorded during the day, taking the death toll to 1,08,333. The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of hiding coronavirus deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat and demanded the resignation of the states’ chief ministers as well as a judicial inquiry to ascertain the actual Covid figures of the country. There appears to be no substantial evidence to suggest that children will be more affected or have greater illness severity due to COVID-19 in the anticipated third wave, according to a new report. The Lancet COVID-19 Commission India Task Force prepared the report after convening an experts group comprising leading paediatricians from the country to examine the issue of paediatric COVID-19 in India. Delhi recorded 213 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in over three months, and 28 more fatalities on Saturday, while the positivity rate dipped to 0.30 percent, according to data shared by the health department. As per the latest health bulletin, these new fatalities pushed the death toll from COVID-19 here to 24,800. **"**It is noted that a renowned international magazine in its article has speculated that ‘India has suffered perhaps five-to-seven times “excess deaths” than the official number of COVID-19 fatalities’. It is a speculative article, which is without any basis and seems to be misinformed," said the Union health ministry on Saturday. The GST Council on Saturday slashed the tax rate on COVID-19 medicines such as Remdesivir and equipment like oxygen concentrators and medical grade oxygen. While GST on Tocilizumab and Amphotericin B is slashed to nil from 5 percent, the rate on Remdesivir and anti-coagulants like Heparin is lowered from 12 to 5 percent. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to the CSIR and Laxai Life Sciences Private Limited to conduct clinical trials of Colchicine on COVID-19 patients, according to a statement on Saturday. Ram Vishwakarma, the advisor to the CSIR Director General, said Colchicine in combination with standard care will be an important therapeutic intervention for COVID-19 patients with cardiac co-morbidities and also for reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to faster recovery. A number of global studies have confirmed that cardiac complications during course of COVID-19 infections and post-Covid syndrome are leading to loss of many lives, and it is essential to look for new or repurposed drugs, he said. Indian Medical Association president Dr JA Jayalal on Saturday said that the organisation will “lead a protest of healthcare workers” on 18 June over the violence against healthcare professionals with the ‘Save the Saviour’ slogan. “No hospitals will be closed. Doctors will bear black badge, black mask, or black shirt. Doctors serving in Covid wards have been beaten and brutally assaulted in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. It is responsibility of the government to ensure the safety and security of frontline workers who are working in a pandemic. “We demand that government brings a central protection law with provisions under CrPC and IPC and also ensure that all government and private hospital have a mandatory security structure,” Jayalal. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated 22 oxygen plants in nine of Delhi’s hospitals in a bid to bolster the city’s healthcare infrastructure with the likelihood of a third COVID-19 wave. “To strengthen preparations to fight COVID-19, 22 new PSA oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi being added today,” he said. The Indian Medical Association, which has been keeping track of the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers, on Saturday said that a total of 719 doctors have succumbed to COVID-19 in the second wave so far. With 111 deaths, Bihar was the worst affected, followed by Delhi (109), Uttar Pradesh (79), West Bengal (63), and Rajasthan (43). The number of active cases further declined to 10,80,690 accounting for 3.68 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 95.07 per cent. India’s active caseload declined to less than 11 lakh after 63 days while 84,332 new cases reported in 24 hours are the lowest in 70 days, the ministry said. Also, 20,44,131 coronavirus tests were conducted on Friday taking the total number to 37,42,42,384. India on Saturday morning reported 84,332 new COVID-19 cases, lowest in 70 days, and 4,002 deaths in the last 24 hours A decrease in the number of Covid cases should never inculcate a sense of complacency among the public, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday, underlining that the behavioural pattern of putting masks on and off intermittently, the improper wearing of masks and not following Covid-appropriate behaviour contributed to the second wave of the viral disease. Vardhan said this after inaugurating the newly-revamped Hardayal Municipal Heritage Public Library at Chandni Chowk here, according to a statement issued by the health ministry. He dedicated the library, which has an enormous collection of rare books, to the nation. The library has been renovated with a public investment of more than Rs 3 crore. The MP from Chandni Chowk said the steadily declining number of active coronavirus cases in the country, a trend sustained for 28 days, and less than one lakh fresh cases for the fourth consecutive day have allowed a sliver of opportunity to him to be with the people of his constituency physically, according to the statement. He expressed his admiration for the rare collection of books in the library such as the Persian Mahabharata, translated by Abul Fazl and composed in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar, a copy of “The History of World” from 1677 AD, handwritten Bhagavata Purana of 1810 AD, Bhrigu Samhita, an old copy of the Quran in Hindi, the first book ever written in “Braj Bhasha”, the native language of the Yamuna plains. Started in 1862, the library has archived copies of the Delhi Gazette from 1917 to 1988 and has many rare gems in its collection, including 350 manuscripts and 8,000 old books that were in need of proper archiving and storage before the reconstruction, the statement said. The minister was apprised that several court cases, including one involving the fate of a village on the eve of the country’s partition, was settled in court in favour of India sourcing evidence from the library, it added. Strongly advising adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour to everyone present on the occasion, Vardhan said the decrease in the number of active cases of the infection should never inculcate a sense of complacency among people. “This behavioural pattern of putting masks on and off intermittently, improper wearing of masks and not following Covid-appropriate behaviour contributed to the second wave of Covid. When many of our doctors, nurses became corona warriors in an act of self-sacrifice to protect us, with many of them eventually succumbing to Covid, it is our moral duty to do the maximum to support them…,” he was quoted as saying in the statement. Speaking on the government’s digitisation drive in the context of digitalisation of library archives, Vardhan said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has relentlessly pursued the mission of a Digital India. In the entire lockdown, people could get government benefits directly transferred to their accounts. The JAM trinity has enabled the Direct Benefit Transfer to the account of 10 crore farmers at the push of a button. Similarly, the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) currently being implemented in the Union territories will bring speed, transparency and accountability in our health system. Such digital interventions in other areas have vastly improved the lives of Indians.” He observed that these interventions have shattered the popular saying of the 1980s that for Re 1 allocated by the Union government, only 15 paisa actually reach the intended beneficiaries. Vardhan also said the Centre would soon have enough Covid vaccines at its disposal to fully vaccinate every person aged 18 years and above in the country. “With the increase in the production capacity, we have more vaccines in June compared to May. As the capacity improves, the supply would ease and soon, there will be enough vaccines to immunise every citizen,” he said. North Delhi Mayor Jai Prakash said the library would be reopened to the readers, in accordance with the directions of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The single-storey structure is one of the heritage buildings of the national capital and its restoration work was completed in a year. Prakash said over Rs 2.83 crore were spent on the restoration work of the library. He said the digitisation and conservation work of the rare books of the library was done by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. A reading area, a news-reading area, a computer room, a staff-seating area and a book-keeping space have been made on the ground floor and a reading area, a conference room and a book-keeping space have been made on the mezzanine level, he added. There are nearly 1.25 lakh books in the library, including 8,000 rare texts and 350 handwritten manuscripts, the mayor said. The library comes under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. Former Union minister Vijay Goel, senior BJP leader Shyam Jaju, South Delhi Mayor Anamika and East Delhi Mayor Nirmal Jain were present on the occasion among others. With inputs from PTI
Coronavirus news LIVE Updates: Maharashtra records 10,607 new cases, 733 in Mumbai; state's tally reaches 58,98,550
Coronavirus news LIVE Updates: Mumbai reported 733 new cases, taking the total number of infections to 7,15,879 while the toll 15,164 reached with 18 more deaths
 "Coronavirus news LIVE Updates: Maharashtra records 10,607 new cases, 733 in Mumbai; state's tally reaches 58,98,550")
Coronavirus news LATEST Update
AIIMS nurses write to Kejriwal, seek vaccination for kin of healthcare workers
Citing difficulties in scheduling vaccine appointments, nurses union in the AIIMS Delhi wrote to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking immediate vaccination for the family members of healthcare workers.
“This is a matter of great concern as almost all healthcare workers stay with their families. Many front liners have expressed their concerns about delay in vaccinating their near ones as poor vaccination may end up in exacerbation of infection as the threat of the third wave looms ahead,” the letter signed by AIIMS Nurses Union Harish Kumar Kajla said.
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Gujarat adds 490 new cases, six casualties
With the addition of 490 new cases of COVID-19, the overall count in Gujarat rose to 8,19,866 on Saturday, an official from the state health department said.
At least 1,278 patients were discharged from hospitals, while six died of the infection, taking the recoveries to 7.9 lakh and toll to 9,991, the official said. With this, the recovery rate has risen to 97.46 percent, leaving the state with 10,863 active cases, of which 272 patients are in a critical condition, he said.
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
PGIMER Chandigarh to conduct sero survey of people below 18 years
A sero survey of people below 18 years of age will be conducted in Chandigarh to determine the number of children infected by COVID-19, PGIMER director Jagat Ram said on Saturday. Sero surveys or sero prevalence studies are based on analysis of antibodies collected through blood samples. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) has decided to take a sample size of 2,500 Chandigarh-based people below 18 years of age for the survey and the sampling will be done from the city, rural and slum areas,he said.
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Maharashtra records 10,697 new cases, 360 deaths
COVID19 | Maharashtra reports 10,697 new cases, 360 deaths and 14,910 discharges today; Recovery rate in the State is 95.48% pic.twitter.com/XVtKUAe9s5
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2021
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Mumbai records 733 new cases, 18 deaths
Mumbai records 733 new coronavirus cases and 18 fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 7,15,879 and toll to 15,164. With the recovery of 732 patients,, total recoveries reach 6,82,678 and the city has 15,798 active cases, according to the BMC.
#CoronavirusUpdates
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) June 12, 2021
12th June, 6:00pm#NaToCorona pic.twitter.com/l1FlLnUnKD
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Chinese researchers find batch of new coronaviruses in bats: Report
Amid renewed calls to probe into the origins of COVID-19, Chinese researchers said they had found a batch of new coronaviruses in bats. The newly found viruses in the bats include one that may be the second-closest yet (genetically) to the COVID-19 virus, CNN reported.
The researchers say that their discoveries in southwestern China show just how many coronaviruses are there in bats and how many have the potential to spread to people. In a report published in the journal Cell, the Chinese researchers from Shandong University said, “In total, we assembled 24 novel coronavirus genomes from different bat species, including four SARS-CoV-2 like coronaviruses.” According to the Chinese researchers, one of the viruses was very similar, genetically to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that’s causing the ongoing pandemic.
ANI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Tamil Nadu records 15,108 new cases, 374 deaths
Tamil Nadu records 15,108 new cases, 374 deaths and 27,463 recoveries, taking total number of infections to 23,39,705 and toll to 29,280. Active cases number 1,62,073, according to the state health department.
COVID19 | Tamil Nadu reports 15,108 new cases, 374 deaths and 27,463 recoveries today; active cases at 1,62,073 pic.twitter.com/qAjq5Y5dma
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2021
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Kerala records 13,832 new cases, 171 deaths
Kerala recorded 13,832 new COVID-19 cases and 171 deaths on Saturday, taking the caseload to 26,86,630 and the toll to 10,975. A total of 18,172 people recuperated from the disease, pushing the tally of those cured to 25,75,769. Currently, there are 1,29,488 people under treatment. Health Minister Veena George said 1,08,734 samples were tested in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 12.72 percent.
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
G7 Summit: UK to set up new vaccine centre as world leaders pledge to quash future pandemics
Britain will set up a new animal vaccine development centre that will aim to stop viruses jumping into the human population as part of a landmark global health declaration to be agreed by G7 world leaders at Carbis Bay in Cornwall on Saturday. The so-called Carbis Bay Declaration will see the world’s leading democracies commit to a series of measures that are designed to quash future pandemics within the crucial period of the first 100 days.
It comes as the G7 leaders from the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan as well the European Union are joined in their discussions on global health by their counterparts from South Korea, South Africa, Australia and India participating virtually.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Congress says UP, MP, Gujrat hiding Covid death data, seeks resignation of CMs
The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of hiding coronavirus deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat and demanded the resignation of the states’ chief ministers as well as a judicial inquiry to ascertain the actual Covid figures of the country. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have been found to be hiding data and the chief ministers of these states have no moral right to continue in their positions. His remarks came after media reports claimed that over 1.7 lakh deaths had taken place in Madhya Pradesh in May, but the state government data reported much less.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “Only in May, 1,70,000 deaths in Madhya Pradesh. What was never heard and not seen, and now the truth is before us.”
170000 मौत- अकेले मई माह में- सिर्फ़ म.प्र में!
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 12, 2021
जो न सोचा, न सुना, वो सत्य सामने है ।
मध्यप्रदेश में अकेले मई माह में छह महीने के बराबर मौतें हो गईं।
इंसान की जान सबसे सस्ती कैसे हो गई?
क्यों आत्मा मर गई?
कैसे शासन पर बैठे हैं ‘शिवराज’?
PM-CM सामने आएँ, बताएँ, कौन जुम्मेवार? pic.twitter.com/jyLpfcyRTQ
Extend GST exemption on Covid-related materials till March 2022, demands Rajasthan minister
Rajasthan Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal on Saturday demanded the exemption of all Covid-related goods and services, including its test kits, from the GST for fiscal 2021-22 (till 31 March 2022). The minister raised the demand in a meeting of the GST Council chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In the meeting, he also asked the Centre to release the GST compensation amount to Rajasthan at the earliest.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
J&K chief secy oversees preparations for tackling possible third Covid wave
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Saturday chaired a meeting to oversee the preparation of an action plan for tackling a possible third wave of COVID-19 in the Union Territory based on the recommendations of an expert advisory committee. The committee is headed by Professor Mohammad Sultan Khuroo. The chief secretary complimented the efforts of the Health and Medical Education Department in combating the COVID-19 pandemic by maintaining high-level testing and vaccination rates, and ramping up Covid-dedicated medical facilities, an official spokesman said.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
No substantial evidence to suggest children will be more affected in Covid third wave: Report
There appears to be no substantial evidence to suggest that children will be more affected or have greater illness severity due to COVID-19 in the anticipated third wave, according to a new report. The Lancet COVID-19 Commission India Task Force prepared the report after convening an experts group comprising leading paediatricians from the country to examine the issue of paediatric COVID-19 in India.
It said the infection’s symptomatology in children in India appears to be globally comparable. “Most children with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and amongst those symptomatic mild infections are predominant. Most children have fever with respiratory symptoms, and often present with gastrointestinal symptoms (such as diarrhea, vomiting, pain in abdomen) and atypical manifestation compared to adults. The proportion of symptomatic children increases as age increases as does the severity in such age groups,” the report stated.
PTI
‘Corona mata’ temple built at UP village, demolished
People at Juhi Shukulpur village in Pratapgarh built a “corona mata” temple, seeking divine grace to stay clear of the infection. However, the temple built on 7 June was demolished on Friday night. Villagers alleged that it was demolished by police, which denied the charge, saying it was constructed on a disputed site and one of the parties involved in the dispute razed it.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Covaxin’s scientific standards an commitment is transparent: Bharat Biotech JMD
Bharat Biotech on Saturday said scientific standards and commitment of the indigenously-developed COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin are transparent, and the company has so far published nine research studies on its safety and efficacy. “Covaxin’s scientific standards+commitment is transparent. Academic journals, peer reviewers, NIV-ICMR-BB researchers -scientists,9 studys and data published,” BharatBiotech co-founder and joint MD Suchitra Ella said in a tweet.
The complete data for Phase I and II, and partial data for Phase III trials of Covaxin have been thoroughly scrutinised by the regulators in India, Bharat Biotech said in a statement.
PTI
Covaxin’s scientific standards+commitment is transparent. 🙏🏼academic journals , peer reviewers,NIV-ICMR-BB researchers -scientists,9study’s & data published🦠🧬💉🇮🇳😷@narendramodi @PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @nsitharaman @DrSJaishankar @CimGOI @SectyMoHFW @ProfBhargava @icmr_niv pic.twitter.com/GbXLV3mkAz
— Suchitra Ella (@SuchitraElla) June 12, 2021
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Union and BJP finance ministers didn’t accept proposal to exempt maks, sanitisers from GST, alleges Manish Sisodia
Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday alleged that the Centre’s and BJP’s finance ministers did not accept the proposal to make items such as masks, sanitisers and oximeters tax-free.
“Masks, sanitisers, oximeters, thermometers, etc. are the need of every family today and now they have become part of the budget of the month. The government should not fall into the temptation of earning tax through these items. In the GST meeting today, the Finance Ministers of the Center and the BJP did not accept the proposal to make them tax free,” Sisodia claimed on Twitter.
मास्क, सैनिटाइजर, ऑक्सीमिटर, थर्मामीटर आदि आज हर परिवार की जरूरत है और अब ये महीने के बजट का हिस्सा भी बन गए है। सरकार को इनके ज़रिए टैक्स कमाने के लालच में नहीं पड़ना चाहिए.
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) June 12, 2021
GST मीटिंग में आज केंद्र और भाजपा के वित्त मंत्रियों ने इन्हें टैक्स फ्री करने का प्रस्ताव नहीं माना.
Congress alleges Centre’s ‘incompetence’ responsible for India’s woes during second COVID-19 wave
The Congress on Saturday alleged that the country paid the price for the Modi government’s “incompetence” during the second wave of COVID-19. “When the Modi government should have finalised public health policy to take on the coronavirus on a war footing, it was busy saving the illusory image of the prime minister,” it alleged on its Twitter handle.
“We lost our brothers and sisters due to this government’s incompetence, we will never forget,” the Congress tweeted as the opposition party and its leaders targeted the Centre over the handling of the pandemic with the hashtag “ZimmedarKaun” (who is responsible) and raised the issue of shortage of beds, oxygen and medicines when India was at the crest of the second wave.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Bharat Biotech to carry out clinical trials in US
Bharat Biotech will be carrying out clinical trials in the United States to support the marketing application for COVAXIN, news agency ANI quotes the company as saying. “Currently, data from both efficacy and safety follow-up of COVAXIN’s Phase III trial is being analysed and compiled. The company will make Phase III trials data from the final analysis public soon,” Bharat Biotech said.
Currently, data from both efficacy and safety follow-up of COVAXIN’s Phase III trial is being analysed and compiled. The company will make Phase III trials data from the final analysis public soon: Bharat Biotech
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2021
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Delhi records 213 new cases, 28 deaths
Delhi records 213 new cases, 28 deaths and 497 recoveries, taking total number of cases to 14,30,884, toll to 24,800 and active cases to 3,610. A total of 71,513 tests were conducted in 24 hours and the positivity rate is 0.30%, according to the state government’s COVID-19 bulletin.As many as 78,936 beneficiaries were vaccinated in the last 24 hours (including dose 1 and 2) and the total number of vaccination doses administered in the national has reached 59,89,286 , says the bulletin.
COVID19 | 213 new cases, 28 deaths and 497 recoveries reported in Delhi today; Positivity rate down to 0.30% pic.twitter.com/BIgBBsqf3F
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2021
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Hajj to be limited to 60,000 people from kingdom, says Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday this year’s hajj pilgrimage will be limited to no more than 60,000 people, all of them from within the kingdom, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted the kingdom’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry making the announcement. It said this year’s hajj, which will begin in mid-July, will be limited to those ages 18 to 65. Those taking part must be vaccinated as well, the ministry said.
AP
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Andhra Pradesh reports 6,952 new cases, 58 deaths
Andhra Pradesh registered a COVID-19 positivity rate of 6.4 percent, the lowest in close to two months, as the state recorded 6,952 new cases in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Saturday. The latest bulletin said 11,577 persons recovered from the infection while 58 more succumbed in 24 hours. The state Covid-19 chart now showed 18,03,074 positives, 16,99,775 recoveries and 11,882 deaths. The number of active cases came down further to 91,417.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Rajasthan announces financial package for children orphaned by COVID-19
The Rajasthan government on Saturday announced a financial package for the children orphaned by Covid and the women who lost their husband to the infection. Under the initiative, the children whose parents died from the disease will be given Rs 1 lakh as immediate grant, an official statement said, adding that they will be provided Rs 2,500 a month till they attain 18 years of age. Such children will be provided Rs 5 lakh assistance on the completion of 18 years, free higher secondary education besides other benefits proposed under the Mukhyamantri Corona Bal Kalyan Yojna.
An ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh and a pension of Rs 1,500 a month will be given to the women whose husband succumbed to the infection, according to the official statement. For the children of the widows, Rs 1,000 a month per child and Rs 2,500 a month for school books and dress will also be given, it said.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Six officers deployed to check COVID-19 violations at Patnitop hill resort in J&K
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district have deployed six officers at the Patnitop hill resort to impose fines on visitors found violating Covid guidelines. The six officers have given powers of executive magistrate Class-1, officials said, adding that the move comes amid complaints of violation of Covid-appropriate behaviour by the visitors there.
The hill resort and adjoining tourist locations have been witnessing a good turnout of visitors, especially on the weekends, as people in the plains of Jammu escape the blistering summer heat amid gradual easing of coronavirus-driven lockdown restrictions.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Ganga Dussehra celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 in UP’s Muzaffarnagar
The Muzaffarnagar district will not hold Ganga Dussehra celebrations this year in view of COVID-19 norms, authorities said on Saturday. Hundreds of devotees participate every year in the festival that involves taking a holy dip in Ganga river. The daylong festivities and the fair were scheduled for 20 June at Shukartal, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jayendra Kumar said.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Probe ordered into allegations of fake Covid results issued by pvt labs during Kumbh
The Haridwar district administration has ordered a probe into allegations that fake COVID reports were issued by private laboratories engaged by the Uttarakhand government to conduct tests during the Kumbh Mela. One of the world’s largest religious gatherings, the Kumbh was held in the state from 1 to 30 April, and the notified Kumbh area covered various places in Haridwar, Dehradun and Tehri districts. A committee headed by Chief Development Officer Saurabh Gaharwar has been constituted to look into the allegations and submit a report within 15 days, Haridwar District Magistrate C Ravishankar said on Saturday. Payment to all labs which had been assigned the responsibility of conducting tests — RT-PCR and rapid antigen — during the Kumbh has been withheld for the time being due to the ongoing investigation, he said.
A detailed probe was ordered by the Haridwar administration after preliminary investigations revealed that many private labs roped in by the district health department issued fake Covid test reports in the name of random people on the basis of their identity cards and phone numbers.
PTI
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
GST on Remdesivir slashed to 5%, no GST on Tocilizumab and Amphotericin B
The GST Council has approved a reduction in GST rate for Remdesivir, medical grade oxygen, ventilators, BiPAP machines among others, from 12% to 5%. No GST will be applicable for Tocilizumab, Amphotericin-B medicines. The GST rates on ambulances have been slashed from 28 to 12 percent and on hand sanitizers from 18 to five percent. According to an official statement, the rate reductions or exemptions will remain valid till 30 Septemeber.
According to news agency ANI, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the five percent GST on vaccines will continue. “The Centre will buy 75 percent vaccine as announced and will pay its GST too. But 70 percent of income from GST will be shared with states,” she said.
GST Council has approved a reduction in rate for Remdesivir from 12% to 5%. No tax on Tocilizumab, Amphotericin B medicines. GST rates on the specified items being used in COVID19 relief and management till 30th September 2021 pic.twitter.com/uP8DPqrooI
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2021
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Centre refutes article claiming India’s COVID-19 deaths figures are underreported
The Union Health Ministry on Satruday addressed, without naming the publication, an article claiming that the real numbers of COVID-19 deaths in India was possibly 5-7 times the reported figure. The ministry labelled it as an “unsound analysis”.
“States/UTs have to record COVID-19 deaths as per the ‘Guidance for appropriate recording of COVID-19 deaths in India issued by ICMR. We have regularly emphasised the need for a robust reporting mechanism for monitoring district wise cases and deaths on a daily basis.
“A renowned international magazine in an article speculated that India suffered perhaps 5-7 times excess deaths than official COVID-19 deaths. Studies used by magazine as estimate of excess mortality aren’t validated tools to determine mortality rate of a country/region,” the statement said, adding, “It is a speculative article, which is without any basis and seems to be misinformed. The unsound analysis of the said article is based on the extrapolation of data without any epidemiological evidence.”
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Smriti Irani inaugurates oxygen production plant in Amethi
Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani on Saturday inaugurated an oxygen production plant at the district hospital in Uttar Pradesh
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Puducherry logs 442 new COVID cases, 9 deaths
Puducherry clocked 442 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Saturday, raising the aggregate to 1,12,126. Nine more people succumbed to the deadly disease taking the toll to 1677.
The 442 new cases were identified after collecting samples from 9,030 people and they were spread over Puducherry 321, Karaikal 97, Yanam 10 and Mahe 14. The deceased were in the age groups of 35 and 88 years and two of them had no no co-morbidities.
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
Received regulatory nod for conducting clinical trials of Colchicine on COVID-19 patients: CSIR
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to the CSIR and Laxai Life Sciences Private Limited to conduct clinical trials of Colchicine on COVID-19 patients, according to a statement on Saturday.
Ram Vishwakarma, the advisor to the CSIR Director General, said Colchicine in combination with standard care will be an important therapeutic intervention for COVID-19 patients with cardiac co-morbidities and also for reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to faster recovery.
A number of global studies have confirmed that cardiac complications during course of COVID-19 infections and post-Covid syndrome are leading to loss of many lives, and it is essential to look for new or repurposed drugs, he said.
Coronavirus news LATEST Updates
IMA will hold protest on 18 June over violence against healthcare workers
Indian Medical Association president Dr JA Jayalal on Saturday said that the organisation will “lead a protest of healthcare workers” on 18 June over the violence against healthcare professionals with the ‘Save the Saviour’ slogan.
“No hospitals will be closed. Doctors will bear black badge, black mask, or black shirt. Doctors serving in Covid wards have been beaten and brutally assaulted in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Praesh, and Karnataka. It is responsibility of the government to ensure the safety and security of frontline workers who are working in a pandemic.
“We demand that governemnt brings a central protection law with provisions under CrPC and IPC and also ensure that all government and private hospital have a mandatory security structure,” Jayalal.
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Over 25.87 crore COVID-19 vaccines given to states so far: Centre
More than 25.87 crore COVID19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories so far through the Centre and direct state procurement category, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.
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Ladakh reports lowest daily rise in COVID-19 cases in over two months
The Union Territory of Ladakh recorded 31 new coronavirus cases, the lowest daily rise in over two months, taking the infection tally to 19,506, officials said on Saturday. The twin districts of Leh and Kargil had recorded over 9,000 positive cases and 67 Covid-related deaths since April, pushing the overall death toll in the region to 197 — 143 in Leh and 54 in Kargil.
However, the number of new infections started declining from June 6 when the figure came down to double figures.
Out of the 31 new cases, the officials said, 20 persons tested positive in Leh taking the infection tally in the district to 16,113, while 11 cases were detected in Kargil pushing the district tally of infections to 3,393 since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.
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‘Congratualte people who faced OCVID-19 with discipline’: Kejriwal
After inaugurating 22 oxygen plants in nine hospitals, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “We congratulate people of Delhi who have together faced Covid second wave with struggle and discipline and succeeded in controlling it.”
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Kejriwal inaugurates 22 oxygen plants in Delhi
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated 22 oxygen plants in nine of Delhi’s hospitals in a bid to bolster the city’s healthcare infrastructure with the likelihood of a third COVID-19 wave.
“To strengthen preparations to fight COVID-19, 22 new PSA oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi being added today,” he said.
भविष्य की चुनौतियों से लड़ने के लिए दिल्ली अपनी तैयारियों में जुटी है। दिल्ली के 9 अलग-अलग अस्पतालों में आज 22 PSA ऑक्सीजन प्लांट्स की शुरुआत की, इनसे कुल 17.3 MT ऑक्सीजन का उत्पादन किया जा सकेगा, जुलाई महीने तक 17 प्लांट्स और शुरु कर देंगे, दिल्ली युद्ध स्तर पर काम कर रही है। pic.twitter.com/f4EVkkpZMw
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 12, 2021
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Madhya Pradesh’s Mahakaleshwar temple to reopen on 28 June
With the coronavirus situation steadily improving, the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh will reopen for devotees on June 28, after a gap of 80 days, a member of its management committee said. The temple was shut for public on April 9 this year. It had to be closed for the second time during the pandemic that broke out last year.
“The decision to reopen the temple was taken by the District Crisis Management Committee on Friday. The final SOPs shall be decided by the temple management committee within a week. All safety measures like physical distancing, wearing of mask will have to be followed,” he said.
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Amid COVID-19 pandemic, Congress ‘playing politics’, claims Scindia
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday hit out at the Madhya Pradesh Congress for holding a protest against rise in fuel prices during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the Congress was indulging in “low level politics” across the country, first on the issue of COVID-19 vaccines and now on inflation.
“Earlier, the Congress ran down vaccines and are now demanding that they be given quickly to everyone. Nations across the world, including India, have faced economic problems during this time. However, the situation in India is improving and inflation too will come down soon,” Scindia, who quit the Congress early last year, said.
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UN chief extends support to India, South Africa’s initiative of waiving TRIPS for COVID products
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has extended support to India and South Africa’s initiative at the WTO to waive intellectual property protection for COVID-19 vaccines and products, though he cautioned that “technology transfer” must be backed up by “technical support”.
India has worked with South Africa and other partners at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to seek a relaxation in the norms of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement to ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for developing countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Well, my belief is that we need to have a comprehensive programme. One is, of course, to address the problems of intellectual property and I support the initiative that was taken by South Africa and by India in relation to TRIPS, waving TRIPS regulations in the context of the World Trade Organization, Guterres said during a press conference at the G7 Summit in London on Friday.
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IMA says 719 doctors succumbed to COVID-19 in second wave so far
The Indian Medical Association, which has been keeping track of the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers, on Saturday said that a total of 719 doctors have succumbed to COVID-19 in the second wave so far.
With 111 deaths, Bihar was the worst affected, followed by Delhi (109), Uttar Pradesh (79), West Bengal (63), and Rajasthan (43).
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Mizoram logs 178 new COVID-19 cases, one more death
Mizoram reported 178 new COVID-19 cases and one fatality in the last 24 hours, which took the tally in the state to 14,921 and death toll to 62, an official said on Saturday. A 75-year-old man from Aizawl succumbed to the infection at Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on Friday night, he said.
Of the 178 fresh cases, Aizawl district reported (118), Lunglei (16), Siaha (5), Lawngtlai (18), Kolasib (12), Champhai (7), Mamit and Saitual districts reported 1 case each.
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