Coronavirus News Highlights: Karnataka reports 5,983 new Covid-19 cases, 138 deaths

The total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has gone past 26.53 crore, including more than 4.81 crore doses administered to people in the 18-44 age group. Meanwhile, the possible third wave of Covid-19 unlikely to affect children much, as per the WHO-AIIMS survey. Sputnik V said it will soon offer a booster shot, adjusted to work against the Delta variant of coronavirus to other vaccine manufacturers, Stay tuned for more updates.

'Delta Plus' variant of Covid-19 found in Madhya Pradesh

A 65-year-old woman has tested positive for the new “Delta Plus” variant of coronavirus here, official sources said on Thursday. The development came even as the second wave of the pandemic is waning in Madhya Pradesh and restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the infection are being eased.

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No patient died due to oxygen shortage in Gujarat in second wave: CM Rupani

Unlike other states, not a single coronavirus patient died in Gujarat due to lack of oxygen during the second wave of the pandemic, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed on Thursday.

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Maharashtra prepares for Covid-19 third wave; Uddhav asks agencies to work together

As the second wave of Covid-19 eases gradually across the country and a systematic unlocking process ensues, Maharashtra is simultaneously gearing up to face the third wave which is expected to hit earlier than projected.

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Mumbai reports 666 new Covid-19 cases, 741 recoveries and 20 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 14,807.

Chandigarh reports 32 new Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths and 96 discharges today; the total number of active cases in the Union Territory is 432.

Punjab reports 726 new Covid-19 cases, 32 deaths and 1,255 discharges today; case tally at 5,90,556.

Karnataka reports 5,983 new Covid-19 cases, 138 deaths and 10,685 recoveries today; active case tally at 1,46,726.

1,492 new Covid-19 cases, 13 deaths and 1,933 recoveries reported in Telangana today; case tally reaches 6,09,417.

Tamil Nadu reports 9,118 new Covid-19 cases, 22,720 recoveries, and 210 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 1,00,523.

Sputnik V says it will soon offer a booster shot, adjusted to work against the Delta variant of coronavirus to other vaccine manufacturers. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch ‘Customized Crash Course programme for Covid-19 frontline workers’ on June 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch ‘Customized Crash Course programme for Covid-19 frontline workers’ on June 18 at 11 am via video conferencing. The launch will commence the programme in 111 training centres spread over 26 states: PMO.

Google India pledges Rs 109 crore grant for Covid-19 relief works

In late April 2021, India was struck with the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. It left a devastating effect on lakhs of people. The major reason was the country's public health centres were just not good enough in handling the Covid-19 cases.

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Delhi currently has sufficient stock of coronavirus vaccines for inoculation of beneficiaries in 45-plus as well as 18-44 age groups for over a week: AAP MLA Atishi.

COVAXIN maker Bharat Biotech says 'news reports on Bharat Biotech submitting Phase-3 data to WHO is incorrect and lacks any evidence'. (ANI)

The SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate among children was high compared to the adult population in the survey, which was conducted in five selected states with a total sample size of 10,000 by WHO-AIIMS. (ANI)

Uttarakhand reports 264 Covid-19 new cases, 7 deaths and 345 recoveries today. The recovery percentage in the state is 95.19%.

The possible third wave of Covid-19 unlikely to affect children much, as per WHO-AIIMS survey.

In Pic | People visit a crowded Chandni Chowk market that reopened after the Delhi government eased Covid-induced restrictions, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Plea in SC seeks ex-gratia compensation to kin of those succumbing to Covid-19 side effects

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Centre and states to provide ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of those who have succumbed to the side effects or post Covid-19 diseases, including mucormycosis.

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Kerala reports 12,469 new Covid-19 cases, 13, 614 recoveries and 88 deaths today.

In Pic | People wait to get inoculated with a dose of the coronavirus vaccine at a school in Chennai. Credit: AFP Photo

Delhi reports 158 new Covid-19 cases, 10 deaths and 343 recoveries in the last 24 hours; positivity rate at 0.20%.

Delta variant infections doubling every 11 days in England, study finds

The number of people infected with the coronavirus is increasing rapidly in England, doubling every 11 days, which coincides with the Delta variant of Covid-19 becoming dominant in the country, a new study reports on Thursday.

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Serum Institute of India plans to start clinical trials of the Novavax shot for children in July: Sources (ANI)

Can you mix and match Covid-19 vaccines?

Can you mix and match two-dose Covid-19 vaccines? It's likely safe and effective, but researchers are still gathering data to be sure.

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Karnataka studying gene variations in Covid-19-hit children: Report

In a bid to prepare for a possible third wave of Covid-19, scientists in Karnataka are studying the genomic sequences of the Covid-19 virus in children infected in the second wave.

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Tokyo virus emergency to end June 20, month before Olympics: Yoshihide Suga - AFP

In a report by NCDC's (National Centre for Disease Control), a new variant has been detected in a positive case in Bhopal. We are investigating & conducting contact tracing to minimise the infection spread: Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang. - ANI

Sputnik V vaccine will be available in 9 more cities across India, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Baddi, Kolhapur and Miryalaguda

PM should acknowledge his mistakes, seek expert help to rebuild India: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said rebuilding India will begin once Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledges his mistakes and seeks help from experts as living in denial will not solve anything.

He said this while citing a report quoting World Bank's data on poverty where India has a share of 57.3 per cent in rise in global poverty during the Covid pandemic. - PTI.

Govt extends validity of motor vehicle documents till Sept 30

New Delhi, June 17 (PTI) The government on Thursday extended the validity of motor vehicle documents like driving licence (DL), registration certificate (RC) and permits till September 30, 2021, in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said it has advised the enforcement authorities that the validity of fitness, permit (all types), licence, registration or any other concerned document(s) may be treated to be valid till September 30, 2021. - PTI.

Railways to restore services of 50 trains as demand increases

With many states easing lockdown restrictions, the Indian Railways on Thursday announced restoration of services of 50 trains from June 21.

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Anti-inflammation drug may effectively treat Covid-19 complications in children: Study

Corticosteroids, a class of drugs that lowers inflammation, may be an effective treatment for children who develop a rare but serious condition after Covid-19 infection, according to a study.

All the 614 children in the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, developed a serious disorder following Covid-19 infection.

The disorder, called multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), is thought to affect one in 50,000 children infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. - PTI.

Travel for the vaccinated? We're looking at all options, UK minister says

Britain is looking at all the options on a possible easing of Covid-19 international travel restrictions, including allowing those with both vaccinations to go abroad, Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman said on Thursday.

"We are trying to move cautiously and progressively in the right direction so I wouldn't write anything off at this point," Norman told Sky.

"But then, you know, we are in a situation where the... virus is not something we control and we have seen this new Delta variant and therefore, it would be imprudent to make any carte blanche or, as it were, firm statement now." - Reuters.

Jharkhand is on top of the list in benefitting Covid-19 patients under Ayushman Bharat Scheme: Banna Gupta - ANI

Jharkhand is on top of the list in benefitting Covid-19 patients under Ayushman Bharat Scheme. Total 1419 patients have been benefitted. Whereas, only 19 people in Bihar, country's biggest state UP has benefited 875 people. The Gujarat model is highly talked about and other states are often suggested to adopt it, but it has given benefit to zero people under this scheme. How sensitive are they towards public can be easily guessed.

Over 27.28 crore (27,28,31,900) vaccine doses provided to States/UTs so far: MoHFW - ANI

Over 27.28 crore (27,28,31,900) vaccine doses provided to States/UTs so far. Over 2.18 crore (2,18,28,483) doses still available with them. More than 56,70,350 doses in the pipeline & will be received by States/UTs within next 3 days: Union Health Ministry

Japan to issue vaccine passport for overseas travel

Japan said on Thursday it will make a vaccinepassportavailable from next month for Japanese travellers, as governments around the world experiment with ways to relaunch tourism and business trips.

"We are preparing to issue a certificate of vaccination for those who need one... when they visit foreign countries," top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters. - AFP

26 new cases push Covid-19 tally of Andamans to 7,306

The Covid-19 caseload in Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 7,306 as 26 more people tested positive for the disease in the Union Territory, a health department official said on Thursday.

All the new patients were detected during contact tracing, he said.

One more fatality due to the infection in the last 24 hours pushed the death toll to 127, the official said.

At least 30 more people were cured of the disease during the period, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 7,079.

The Union Territory now has 100 active cases. - PTI.

Brazil detects 53 with Covid in relation to Copa America

Brazil's health ministry raised the number of Covid-19 cases related to the Copa America to 53, one more than the previous day, after a total of 5,082 tests.

It also adjusted the figures of infected players or staffers from 33 to 27.

The ministry also said on Wednesday that 26 workers hired for the tournament had tested positive. - AP.

India reports 67,208 new Covid-19 cases, 2,330 deaths

India on Thursday reported 67,208 new Covid-19 cases, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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Bharat Biotech and World Health Organization's (WHO) pre-submission meeting on June 23rd, says a WHO document - ANI

Telangana Minister Ch Malla Reddy’s brother Narsimha Reddy booked for organising card games at a pvt property in Bowenpally, & violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Police Task Force conducted raids & handed him over, along with others, to Bowenpally police for further action. - ANI.

China disease expert says Covid-19 origins probe should shift to US

A senior Chinese expert said the United States should be the priority in the next phase of investigations into the origin of Covid-19 after a study showed the disease could have been circulating there as early as December 2019, state media said on Thursday.

The study, published this week by the US National Institutes for Health (NIH), showed that at least seven people in five different US states were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, weeks before the first official cases were reported. - Reuters.

Japan to ease state of emergency, focus on Games spectators

Japan is set outline how it will lift its "state of emergency" curbs while keeping some restrictions, including spectator numbers at big events, amid fears that next month's Olympics could trigger a new wave of coronavirus infections.

Media reports say the government is considering allowing up to 10,000 spectators into stadiums during the Games, in line with a plan endorsed by health experts on Wednesday for local events.

Later on Thursday, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is due to announce a decision on the state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and seven other prefectures, which expires on June 20. - Reuters

Australia panel to AstraZeneca vaccines only for above 60s-media

Australia's expert immunisation panel would recommend restricting the use of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine only to people over 60, Australian media reported on Thursday.

Australia's state and territory leaders have been informed about the recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and an emergency national cabinet meeting could be held on Thursday to discuss whether to alter the vaccine rollout, Nine News reported. - Reuters

Delta variant fuelled 50% rise in English Covid prevalence: Study

The rapid spread of the Delta coronavirus variant has driven a 50 per cent rise in infections in England since May, a large prevalence study led by Imperial College London found on Thursday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson delayed the end of restrictions.

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CureVac fails in pivotal Covid-19 vaccine trial with 47% efficacy

German biotech CureVac NV said on Wednesday its Covid-19 vaccine was only 47 per cent effective in a late-stage trial, missing the study's main goal and throwing in doubt the potential delivery of hundreds of millions of doses to the European Union.

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'Delta plus' variant may trigger third Covid-19 wave in Maharashtra: Health Department

The highly virulent "Delta plus" variant of the novel coronavirus could stoke a third wave in Maharashtra, according to a presentation made at a meeting attended by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday.

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