Coronavirus News highlights: Cases declining in Kerala but situation not completely satisfactory, says CM

India reported 2.08 lakh cases 4,157 deaths in 24 hours. The country's recovery rate increased, and daily positivity rate was at 9.42%, under 10% for second consecutive day. States like Tamil Nadu are seeing a decline in fresh Covid-19 cases with over 28,000 patients discharged after treatment. As the Covid pandemic rages across the world, calls have risen for another investigation into its origins. Stay tuned to DH for more updates.

Karnataka logs 26,811 new Covid-19 cases, 530 deaths

Karnataka on Wednesday reported 26,811 new cases of Covid-19 and 530 more deaths, taking the total number of infections to 24,99,784 and toll to 26,929, the health department said.

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CM Pinarayi Vijayan says Covid-19 spread in Kerala is 'declining', asks people to exercise caution as "situation is still not completely satisfactory"

(PTI)

Assam reports 5,699 new cases, 90 deaths today; active cases 52,884

(ANI)

Madhya Pradesh reports 2,182 new cases and 72 deaths and 7,479 recoveries today; active cases 43,265

Credit: AFP Photo

Punjab reports 4,124 fresh Covid cases, 6,397 patient discharges, and 186 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Active cases: 50,549
Total discharges: 4,87,859
Death toll: 13,827

(ANI)

China silent on independent probe on charges of Covid-19 leak from Wuhan lab

China on Wednesday parried a question on whether it would allow an independent probe into allegations that the Covid-19 virus may have been leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, while its researchers claimed that the coronavirus may have been transmitted to humans from pangolins.

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The Government of Assam classifies mucormycosis as a notified disease.

(ANI)

Amid rising cases of 'black fungus' in Karnataka, state Health Minister K Sudhakar appeals to doctors not to give steroids to patients in first week of contracting Covid-19.

(PTI)

BJP slams Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for criticising Modi govt over vaccination programme, charges him with doing "politics of self-promotion" and asks him to desist from "abuse and accuse" tactics.

(ANI)

Telangana reports 3,762 new Covid cases, 3,816 patient recoveries, and 20 deaths in the past 24 hours

Active cases: 38,632
Total recoveries: 5,22,082
Death toll: 3,189

(ANI)

A watermelon vendor pushes his handcart at Singhu Border during a Covid-19 lockdown in New Delhi, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Kerala reports 28,798 new Covid cases and 151 deaths in the past 24 hours

Active cases: 2,48,526
Death toll: 7,882

(ANI)

Only way to decrease variants of Covid-19 is by increasing vaccination: Noted clinical scientist Gagandeep Kang

(PTI)

Night curfew timing has been changed in 36 cities of Gujarat. Now, the curfew will remain in force between 9 pm and 6 am (instead of 8 pm to 6 am): Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

(ANI)

34 children at Chamarajanagar's Deenabandhu Trust test positive for Covid

A total of 34 children, housed at the Deenabandhu Seva Trust have tested positive for Covid 19 and are recovering.

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Why isn’t this country buying vaccines? We can’t leave it on states. Our country is at war against Covid19. If Pakistan attacks India, will we leave states on their own? Will UP buy its own tanks or Delhi its own arms?: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

(ANI)

No state govt has been able to procure a single dose of vaccine till now. Vaccine companies have denied speaking to the state governments: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

There's no vaccine in Delhi; for 4 days vaccination centres for the 18-44 age group are shut & not just here but across India, several centres are shut. Today when we should have opened new centres, but now we are also shutting the existing ones, which is not good: Delhi CM

(ANI)

A policeman inhales steam coming out from a device installed at the station premises as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus at Sihani Gate police station in Ghaziabad on May 26, 2021.

Credit: AFP Photo

India becomes second country after the US to cross 20 crore cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage; 42% population above 60 years have received their first dose of the vaccine: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

(ANI)

Delhi's positivity rate below 2% (1.93%), total active cases at 19,148.

Delhi reports 1,491 new positive cases, 3,952 recoveries and 130 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total positive cases: 14,21,477
Active cases: 19,148

(ANI)

Current vaccine wastage in the state at 4.65%, says Jharkhand CMO

Manipur CM N Biren Singh says Urukhul has low mortality rates with only 8 death reported

Arvind Kejriwal says will get Sputnik V vaccines, quantity to be decided

Arvind Kejriwal flags shortage of injections in Delhi to treat black fungus

Delhi gets first drive-in Covid vaccination center

Bodoland Peoples' Front leader and four-time Gossaigaon MLA Majendra Narzary succumbs to Covid-19

Puducherry got to give Rs 3,000 to all ration cardholders to alleviate problems faced by people in the lockdown

Around 600 cases of black fungus in Delhi, says Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Punjab positivity rate drops to 3 per cent in villages, says Virendra Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana

B.1.167 Covid-19 variant found in at least 53 territories: WHO

The coronavirus variant first detected in India has now been officially recorded in 53 territories, a World Health Organization report showed Wednesday.

The WHO has received information from unofficial sources that the B.1.617 variant has been found in seven further territories, figures in the UN health agency's weekly epidemiological update showed, taking the total number to 60.

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Defamation notice of Rs 1000 crore sent to Baba Ramdev by IMA Uttarakhand

Better understanding of the pandemic has strengthened our strategy to fight it, says PM Modi

India's daily Covid-19 infections cross 2.08L; 4,157 fatalities recorded

India on Wednesday recorded 2.08 lakh single-day Covid-19 cases as the dip in infections continues even though it saw 4,157 fatalities over 24 hours.

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Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat have administered highest number of Covid-19 vaccines

ICMR says 33,48,11,496 samples tested for Covid-19 up to 25th May 2021

BBMP software may have leaked patients' Covid data

Weak security in a critical BBMP software being used for Covid-19 data may have helped private firms and third-party individuals to access the information of patients and their test reports.

The municipal body’s Public Health Activities, Surveillance and Tracking (Phast) software is used for a variety of activities. But earlier this week, open source groups found that Covid-19 testing data of individuals could be accessed by simply inputting phone numbers.

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Tamil Nadu witnesses decline in Covid-19 cases with over 28,000 patients discharged

IAF aircraft is airlifting 4 oxygen supply system trucks from Germany

MP surgeons remove part of jaws to save lives of 4 'black fungus' patients

Surgeons in Indore had to remove half of the upper jaws of four patients infected by mucormycosis or 'black fungus' over the last one week to save their lives, a senior surgeon said on Tuesday.

"A team of surgeons from our college operated on 50 patients of 'black fungus' during the last one week. For the prevention of the infection, we had to surgically remove half of the upper jaws of four patients,” said Dr Amit Rawat, Associate Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Government Autonomous College of Dentistry.

'Publicise Covid info like hum do hamare do campaign'

The Delhi High Court Tuesday stressed on the need to spread awareness among public about the Covid-19 pandemic through advertisements more frequently saying it could be done on the lines of “hum do hamare do” campaign for family planning as it worked very well.

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Tokyo Olympics partner calls for cancellation of Games

Japan's Asahi Shimbun, an official partner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, called for the Summer Games to be cancelled in an editorial on Wednesday, citing risks to public safety and strains on the medical system from the Covid-19 pandemic.

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'Ending divide on Covid vaccines moral imperative'

Ending the divide between rich and poor nations in the provision of Covid-19 vaccines is a moral imperative, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told the World Health Assembly on Monday.

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Countries urge deeper probe of Covid-19 origins at WHO meet

The United States and other countries called Tuesday for a more in-depth investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic's origins, after an international mission to China earlier this year proved inconclusive.

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WHO expert says new research mission to China would be helpful

A leading scientist on the WHO's Covid-19 mission to China said on Tuesday that a follow-up trip could be helpful to gather additional research on the origins of the disease, but should be separate from any audit of information provided by Beijing.

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