Delhi govt asks Centre to remove GST on medical equipment
The Delhi government on Saturday suggested to the Centre to remove the GST on face masks, sanitisers, oximeters and thermometers, saying these items have become a part of regular expenditure of the people during Covid-19 pandemic.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was speaking during a meeting of the GST Council.
He said the central government and BJP-ruled states opposed the idea of making these items tax-free and stressed that the decision to not do away with the tax was against the interest of citizens.
Copa America: 12 Covid cases among Venezuela players, staff
Punjab sees less than 1,000 cases of infection
Punjab on Saturday registered less than 1,000 cases of coronavirus infections after almost three months. The state reported 979 cases, taking the total count of infections to 5,86,947, while 56 more fatalities pushed the toll to 15,503, said a medical bulletin. The number of active cases dropped to 14,064 from 15,306 on Friday.
The G7 group agrees a "Carbis Bay Declaration" to battle future pandemics.
The statement comprises a series of health policy commitments, including slashing the time taken to develop and license vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for any future disease to under 100 days, and reinforcement of global surveillance networks.
What are G7 countries pledging on vaccine doses?
UNITED KINGDOM
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that "the G7 will pledge to distribute vaccines to inoculate the world by the end of next year, with millions coming from surplus UK stocks."
Britain says that G7 leaders are expected to agree to provide 1 billion doses via dose sharing and financing to end the pandemic in 2022.
Johnson has pledged to donate at least 100 million surplus coronavirus vaccine doses within the next year, including 5 million beginning in the coming weeks.
EUROPEAN UNION, GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the European Union aims to export 700 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to lower-income countries by the end of 2021.
What are G7 countries pledging on vaccine doses?
US President Joe Biden plans to buy and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer Inc coronavirus vaccine to more than 90 countries. He has also called on the world's democracies to do their part to help end the pandemic.
US drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech , will provide 200 million doses in 2021 and 300 million doses in the first half of 2022, which the United States will then distribute to 92 lower-income countries and the African Union.
Covid-sniffing dogs are accurate, but face hurdles for widespread use
Dog noses are great Covid-19 detectors, according to numerous laboratory studies, and Covid-19 sniffing dogs have already started working in airports in other countries and at a few events in the United States, like a Miami Heat basketball game.
But some experts in public health and in training scent dogs say that more information and planning are needed to be certain they are accurate in real-life situations.
Read more
Karnataka's active Covid cases fall below 2 lakh; state reports 9,785 cases
Active Covid-19 cases in Karnataka fell below two lakh, as the state on Saturday reported 9,785 new infections and 144 fatalities, taking the caseload to 27.57 lakh and toll to 32,788.
The day also saw 21,614 discharges, continuing to outnumber the fresh cases. Out of 9,785 new cases reported on Saturday, 2,454 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 5,398 discharges and 21 deaths.
India crosses 25 crore-mark in Covid-19 vaccination
India on Saturday crossed the 25-crore mark in administering Covid-19 vaccines with more than 20 crore persons receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.
According to provisional data, 25,28,78,702 doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered till 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, the 148th day of the vaccination drive.
Read more
I've never seen the FM cut off anyone during GST Council discussions. Today, it seemed as if West Bengal FM's didn't have a stable VC connection. FM never stifled dissent in GST Council. It's unbecoming of senior member to suggest that this happened: MoS
Tamil Nadu reports 15,108 new cases, 374 deaths and 27,463 recoveries today; active cases at 1,62,073
Russia tests Covid vaccine as nasal spray for children
Russia has tested a nasal spray form of its Covid-19 vaccine that is suitable for children aged 8-12, and plans to launch the new product in September, the scientist who led the development of the Sputnik V vaccine said on Saturday.
Read more here
PM Modi behaved like a coward during Covid crisis: Priyanka Gandhi
Stepping up attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Covid-19 response, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused him of being a “coward” and retreating in the background till the second wave began to ebb away.
Read more here
Maharashtra reports 10,697 new Covid-19 cases, 360 deaths and 14,910 discharges today; Recovery rate in the state is 95.48%.
Mumbai reports 733 new Covid-19 cases
Mumbai reports 733 new Covid-19 cases, 732 discharges and 18 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total cases: 7,15,879
Total recoveries: 6,82,678
Death toll: 15,164
Active cases: 15,798
Karnataka to have geofencing system in all hospitals: Health minister K Sudhakar
Karnataka Medical Education and Health Minister K Sudhakar said that the government intends to implement a geofencing system to record attendance of staff serving in general hospitals across the state.
Read more here
In Pics | Rajkumar Haryani who painted his body to create awareness about vaccination, receives a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, in Ahmedabad. Credit: PTI Photo
Congress accuses BJP of hiding coronavirus deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, demands the resignation of the states' CMs as well as a judicial inquiry to ascertain actual Covid-19 figures of the country. (PTI)
Telangana reports 1,771 new Covid-19 cases, 2384 recoveries and 13 deaths in the last 24 hours. (ANI)
Uttarakhand reports 463 new Covid-19 cases, 19 deaths and 695 recoveries in the last 24 hours; active cases at 5,021.
Vietnam approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use
Vietnam has approved the Covid-19 vaccine jointly made by Pfizer and BioNTech for domestic emergency use, making it the fourth vaccine to be endorsed in the Southeast Asian country that is tackling a new outbreak, the government said on Saturday.
Read more here
No substantial evidence to suggest children will be more affected in Covid-19 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.
Read more here
Covaxin's scientific standards and commitment are transparent: Bharat Biotech
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.
Read more here
In Pics | Covid-19 in India
People throng a market that opened after two months as restrictions of Covid-19 lockdown eased in Bhopal. Credit: PTI
In Pics | Covid-19 in India
A volunteer feeds stray dogs during Covid-19 lockdown, in Chennai. Credit: PTI
Goa reports 472 cases, 15 deaths and 601 recoveries today; active cases at 5057
Kerala reports 13,832 new infections, 18,172 recoveries & 171 deaths today.
Active cases 1,29,488
Death toll 10,975
Manipur reports more than twice as many new Covid cases than Delhi in the last 24 hours
Manipur reports 554 new Covid-19 cases, 751 recoveries and 15 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total cases 59,322
Total recoveries 49,653
Death toll 959
Active cases 8710
Ludhiana's Bhikhi village vaccinates 100% population in 18+ age group, says ADC Sandeep Kumar
"Target was achieved due to coordinated efforts of officials, who are now all out to get 100% vaccinated status for more villages," says SDM Payal Mankanwal Singh Chahal
At 213, Delhi's new Covid cases lowest in 3 months
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
213 new cases, 28 deaths and 497 recoveries reported in Delhi today; Positivity rate down to 0.30%
GST Council cuts tax rates on Covid-19 essentials: What got cheaper?
The GST Council on Saturday decided to cut tax rates on a number of items crucial in the fight against Covid-19. These include essential medicines, oxygen generation equipment, pulse oximeters and diagnostic and testing machine kits.
Read more here
Extending vaccine intervals may leave you vulnerable to variants: Dr Fauci
Vaccination against Covid-19 is the key to fight the infection and extending jab intervals could leave the population vulnerable to one of the Covid-19 variants, according to Dr Anthony Fauci, medical advisor to the US President.
Read more here
GST council cuts rates on Covid-19 essentials to 5%
The GST Council Saturday waived tax rates on medicines to treat black fungus and reduced levies on a host of Covid-19 essentials such as ventilators, ambulances, test kits and hand sanitisers, in a move that is expected to give much needed relief to the common man fighting the second wave of the pandemic.
Read more here
Rajasthan government announces compensation for children who have lost their parents to Covid-19
Rajasthan government announces to pay lump sum Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2,500 per month to children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19 till they turn 18 years old under 'Mukhyamantri Corona Bal Kalyan Yojana'. Rs 5 lakh will be given once they become 18 years old: State government
Looks like 80-90% of cases in most countries are due to Delta variant: CCMB's Dr Rakesh Mishra
Looks like 80-90% of cases in most countries are due to Delta variant. But it will change in say two months with newer versions of the variant. Some reports in the UK suggested that Delta is acquiring some nutritions but that doesn't mean it will be more harmful: Dr Rakesh Mishra
CCMB advisor Dr Rakesh Misra says unlikely that coronavirus came from Wuhan lab
It's very unlikely that something of this kind has come from a lab. More likely it's a zoonotic origin from bat that spread in people, stayed there for some time and then acquired Covid-19 status. It could also be that from the bat, it infected some other animal. Bat (as the origin point) because it's the closest relative of this virus with 96% similarity in terms of genetic material.
Bharat Biotech will be carrying out clinical trials in the United States to support the marketing application for COVAXIN: Bharat Biotech
In Uttar Pradesh, villagers pray to 'Corona Mata' to banish Covid-19
In Uttar Pradesh, villagers have erected a shrine to "goddess corona" and are offering her prayers in the hope that divine intervention can banish the deadly Covid-19.
Devotees in Shuklapur village in the state have been offering prayers, holy water, and flowers at the bright yellow shrine where they have placed their idol of "Corona Mata" since they erected it this week.
Read more
Himachal Pradesh Police warns people against spreading rumours regarding health of former CM Virbhadra Singh, who has been admitted to hospital after testing Covid-19 positive for second time in two months
Centre rubbishes reports "alleging inconsistency from GoI response in providing adequate healthcare infrastructure and services and ‘scaling of the tragedy’ in rural areas, terming it as ‘invisibilisation of rural India’ during the pandemic"
The Centre will buy the 75% vaccine as announced and will pay its GST too. But 70% of income from GST will be shared with States: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
GST Council has approved a reduction in rate for Remdesivir from 12% to 5%. No tax on Tocilizumab, Amphotericin B medicines.
5% GST on vaccines will stay. The Centre will buy the 75% vaccine as announced and will pay its GST too. But 70% of income from GST will be shared with States: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces
GST rates have been decided for 4 categories of products- medicines, oxygen, oxygen-generation equipment, testing kits and other machines and other COVID19 related relief material. Rates to be announced soon: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
The GST Council on Friday agreed to cut rates on many Covid essential supplies from 18% and 12% to 5%.
It agreed to stick to 5% tax rate on vaccines.
GST on ambulances has bene brough down to to 12% (from 28% currently) and on electric furnaces and temperature-checking equipment to 5% and . These rates will be valid till September as against August end recommended by the Group of Ministers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on the outcome of 44th GST Council meet.
Read more
Claims of Co-WIN system hacking, data leak 'baseless': Centre
IMA to lead a protest of healthcare workers on June 18
Over 1,200 people in Delhi fined for flouting Covid guidelines
Russia reports 13,510 new Covid-19 cases in sharp uptick
Russia reported 13,510 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the fifth day of a sharp rise that has taken the daily infection tally to a three-month high.
The announcement came a day after Moscow's mayor said he was expecting to see a peak in infections in the capital in June or July.
The new cases reported in the last 24 hours brought the national tally to 5,193,964. The government's coronavirus task force said 399 more people had died, pushing the national death toll to 126,073. (Reuters)
Over 25.87 crore Covid vaccine doses provided to states so far: Centre
HCL provides 17 imported ready-to-use oxygen plants to Delhi govt (PTI)
China administered 863.51 million doses of covid vaccines as of June 11 (Reuters)
Mizoram logs 178 new Covid-19 cases, 1 more death (PTI)
Puducherry logs 442 new Covid cases, 9 deaths (PTI)
Chances of third wave of Covid hitting us are quite real: Delhi CM
To strengthen preparations to fight Covid, 22 new PSA oxygen plants at 9 hospitals across Delhi being added today: Kejriwal
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 67Covid-related deaths since April, pushing the overall death toll in the region to 197 -- 143 in Leh and 54 in Kargil. (PTI)
36 new Covid-19 cases push Andaman & Nicobar Islands tally to 7,223
Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported 36 newCovid-19 cases, pushing the coronavirus tally in the union territory to 7,233, a health official said on Saturday.
Of the 36 new cases, 30 were detected during contact tracing and six have travel history.
TheCovid-19 death toll remained at 125 as no fresh fatality was reported in the last 24 hours, the official said. (PTI)
Active Covid-19 cases in India decline to 10,80,690: Health Ministry
Palghar now falls under level-II of unlock plan as Covid-19 situation improves (PTI)
Unlock everything or nothing at all: 'Non-essential' businesses upset over being left out of unlock 1.0
Thane district adds 413 Covid-19 cases, death toll rises by 42 (PTI)
India reports 84,332 new Covid-19 cases and 4,002 deaths in 24 hours
US tells J&J millions of Covid vaccine doses from troubled plant can't be used (Reuters)
719 doctors died in the country during the second wave of Covid-19: IMA
Australia's Victoria state reports 1 new Covid case
Australia's Victoria state, which emerged from a strict lockdown earlier this week, recorded one new community case ofCovid-19 on Saturday, the government said via Twitter.
Investigations are underway as to how the person contracted the infection, authorities said.
The outbreak, which triggered the two-week snap lockdown late last month, has now seen 91 cases since May 24. (Reuters)
Mexico reports 3,282 new coronavirus cases, 243 more deaths (Reuters)
Kerala CM Vijayan announces 100-day plan to help tide over Covid-triggered economic slowdown
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday announced a 100-day action plan to help the state tide over the economic slowdown triggered by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
G7 leaders convene summit drive for billion Covid-19 vaccines
G7 leaders Friday opened their first in-person talks in nearly two years, touting an expected pledge to donate one billion Covid vaccine doses to poor countries in a show of revived Western democratic unity.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks