Coronavirus news LIVE Updates: Maharashtra records 10,607 new cases, 733 in Mumbai; state's tally reaches 58,98,550

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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.

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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.

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Maharashtra records 10,697 new cases, 360 deaths

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.”

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.”

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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‘Cannot afford to sit idle’ with fear of third COVID-19 wave, says Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said, “Indications are coming from the UK on the fear of the third wave. Cases are rising there, despite 45 percent of vaccination. So, we cannot afford to sit idle.”

Kejriwal was speaking at an online event during which he jointly inaugurated 22 new PSA oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi.

“These new oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi being added today to strengthen our preparations to fight Covid,” he said.

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Centre to send ten lakh vaccine doses to states, UTs in three days

The Union Health Minsitry on Saturday said that 1,12,41,187 COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs.

“Furthermore, more than 10 lakh (10,81,300) vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the states and UTs within the next 3 days,” the statement added.

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DRDO says 500-bed COVID-19 hospital now open in Srinagar

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Saturday said that a 500-bed COVID-19 hospital has been made operational in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar.

“The hospital has been set-up with PM-CARES funds in 17 days only. This facility includes 125 ICU beds with ventilators, out of which 25 are reserved for children,” the statement added.

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Delhi govt working ‘on war footing’ to prepare for possible third wave

The Delhi government on Saturday said that preparations to tackle and combat a possible third COVID-19 wave are being undertaken on “war footing”.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated oxygen plants at nine hospitals in the National Capital on Saturday morning, The Times of India reported.

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Palghar included in level-II of ‘unlock’ plan as COVID-19 situation improves 

With the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra’s Palghar improving in terms of the positivity rate and its oxygen bed occupancy, the district now falls under level-II of the state’s unlock plan. The district is currently under level-III and the revised easing of curbs under level-II will come into effect from Monday.
The state government on Friday announced the weekly positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy figures all the administrative units in the state. It had last week fixed the five levels of restrictions based on these two parameters.
 

Palghar collector Manik Gursal on Friday notified that the entire district, including the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) limits, improved to level-II from the existing level-III in terms of the restrictions.

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COVID-19 recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases

The number of COVID-19 recoveries on Saturday outnumbered daily new cases, which is a trend being observed for 30 consecutive days, the Union Health Minsitry said.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,79,11,384, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.25 percent, the ministry’s data stated.

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Arunachal Pradesh reports 358 new COVID-19 cases, five more deaths

Arunachal Pradesh’s COVID-19 tally rose to 30,850 as 358 more people tested positive for the infection while five new fatalities pushed the coronavirus death toll to 138, a senior health official said on Saturday. The fresh coronavirus deaths were reported from Changlang, Namsai, Tawang and East Siang districts and all the patients were undergoing treatment at various health facilities, State Surveillance officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

Kurung Kumey district recorded the highest number of fresh infections at 59 followed by the Capital Complex region (54), Changlang (43), Namsai (30), West Kameng (24), Longding (23), East Kameng (22), Lohit (19) and Papumpare at 14.

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Single-day new COVID-19 cases remain under one lakh for fifth straight day

The daily COVID-19 count in India remained below the one-lakh mark for the fifth consecutive day with the country reporting 84,332 fresh cases, its lowest in 70 days, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

With the fresh cases, the infection tally has climbed to 2,93,59,155. The COVID-19 toll climbed to 3,67,081 with 4,002 daily deaths, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of active cases further declined to 10,80,690, accounting for 3.68 percent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 95.07 percent.

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Level-3 curbs to continue in Mumbai

Mumbai will continue to remain in the level-3 category of the Maharashtra government’s plan to ease coronavirus-induced restrictions till further orders, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Friday night. 

Considering the possible difficulties in the implementation of COVID-19 control measures, the guidelines issued on June 5, 2021, will continue as of now, it said.

The infection positivity rate in Mumbai has dipped to 4.40 per cent and oxygen bed occupancy is 27.12 per cent. Therefore, as per the state government’s criteria, Mumbai can shift to the less rigorous level-2 restrictions. 

But the BMC said it decided to continue with level-3 restrictions considering the city’s size and population density, daily arrival of a huge number of commuters from other parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and the India Meteorological Department’s warning of very heavy rainfall in the next few days.

Active cases dropped; recovery rate reaches 95%

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 reports its lowest rise in cases in 70 days

India on Saturday morning reported 84,332 new COVID-19 cases, lowest in 70 days, and 4,002 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

The total active cases have dropped by 40,981 and now stands at 10,80,690. The country saw 1,21,311 recoveries during past one-day period with 2,79,11,384 people having recovered in total. India’s test positivity rate (positive cases identified for every 100 tests) is on the decline. It stood at 4.48 per cent, below the 5 per cent-mark for the fourth straight day Friday.