Coronavirus News highlights: India witnessing downswing in second wave of Covid-19 cases

India reported 2.11 lakh cases and 3,847 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was under 10% for the third consecutive day. Asia's largest slum Dharavi combatted the second wave of Covid, reporting less than 100 cases everyday for the past week. Delhi sees return of migrant labourers as Covid cases dip. French President Macron assured PM Modi on a phone call today that they would stand by India in its fight against Covid-19. Meanwhile, Pfizer told the Govt of India that its vaccines were safe for children aged 12 and above. Meanwhile, the Centre said that India is witnessing a downswing in second wave of Covid-19 cases

India witnessing downswing in second wave of Covid-19 cases

Indiais witnessing a downswing in the second wave ofCovid-19 and hopefully it will be sustained even when restrictions are gently, systematically and cautiously relaxed, the government said on Thursday. (PTI)

Govt expects speedy India launch of single-dose Sputnik Light to boost Covid-19 vaccination drive

The government is hopeful of a speedy launch of single-doseCovid-19 vaccine Sputnik Light inIndiaand all stakeholders, including the Russian manufacturer and its Indian partners, have been directed to fast-track the application and regulatory approval procedures for the jab to boost the country's vaccination drive, sources said on Thursday. (PTI)

Mumbai reported 1,266 fresh cases, 36 deaths and 855 recoveries today; active cases now stands at 28,310

No adverse effect if second dose of different Covid-19 vaccine taken, but it needs scrutiny: Centre

Any significant adverse effect is unlikely if the second dose of a differentCovid-19 vaccine is administered, but reaching a firm opinion on this will need more scrutiny and understanding, the Centre said on Thursday. It, however, clarified that both doses administered to an individual should be of the same vaccine as per the existing protocol.

Punjab govt extends curbs till June 10

The Punjab government on Thursday extended the coronavirus restrictions till June 10 but removed the limit on the number of passengers in personal vehicles and allowed the resumption of elective surgeries and OPD in hospitals. (PTI)

HUL donates ventilators

Hindustan Unilever Limited has donated a total of 34 ventilators worth Rs 4 croreto the Government of Maharashtra. This includes ventilators worth Rs 1.5 croredonated to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and ventilators worth over Rs 1 crore to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).The rest have been sent to civil hospitals in Chiplun (Ratnagiri) and Nashik where the company has its factories.

Union Health ministry says 18,006 Oxygen Concentrators; 19,085 Oxygen Cylinders; 19 Oxygen Generation Plants; 14,514 ventilators/ BiPAP; 7 lakhRemdesivir vials, 12 lakhFavipiravir tablets have been delivered/ dispatched through road and air, from 27th April to 26th May

Centre doing politics: Chhattisgarh CM Baghel on Covid-19 vaccine wastage reports

Manish Sisodia inaugurates drive-in Covid facility at Select Citywalk Mall, Saket

Delhi police recover 848 kgs of used gloves from two godowns, arrest the perpetrator

Delhi HC asks Center to consider complete waiver of import duties on Amphotericin B

NITI Aayog busts some myths on India's Covid vaccination programme

Dr Reddys and DRDO produce 2-DG, 10,000 sachets to be released today, says Rajnath Singh

MK Stalin inaugurates new Covid care center and starts Covid vaccination programme at Don Bosco School, Chennai

Genetic Life Sciences, Wardha manufactures Amphorericin B, distribution to begin from Monday

Gilead Sciences will supply 1 million doses of AmBisome to India through Mylan

GoI is trying to increase availability of Liposomal Amphotericin B injections used to treat mucormycosis

Zydus Cadila seeks human trial approval for Covid-19 antibody cocktail in India

India's Zydus Cadila has sought regulatory approval for clinical trials of its antibody cocktail to treat mild Covid-19, as the country grapples with a shortage of medicines and vaccines needed to effectively tackle a devastating second wave of the pandemic.

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Recovery rate increasedto 90.01%. The weekly positivity rate is currently at 10.93%, daily positivity rate at 9.79%, less than 10% for 3 consecutive days, theUnion Health Ministry said

Active caseload declined to 24,19,907 after active cases decreased by 75,684 in last 24 hours, says Union Health Ministry

With 3,847 deaths, India's daily fatalities dip; tally rises by 2.11 lakh cases

India on Thursday reported 2,11,298 Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours while 3,847 people succumbed to the deadly virus in that time, Union Health Ministry data showed.

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Dharavi, Asia's largest slum cluster, successfully battled the second wave of Covid-19

A total of 33,69,69,352 Covid-19 samples have been tested up to May 26

French President Macron assures support to India amid the Covid pandemic in a phone call with PM Modi

BBMP hospital beds to be allotted through queue system

Any Covid patient who calls the BBMP war room or helpline for booking the hospital bed will be given an auto-generated queue number, the number of people on the wait list and the number of patients in hospitals.

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Death in the Himalayas: Poverty, fear, stretched resources propel India's Covid-19 crisis

Devi's death on Sunday is a sign of how poverty, fear and a lack of facilities are adding to Covid-19 fatalities in remote villages, where many shun tests for fear of testing positive and being forced to go to hospital far from home.

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Houses of home-isolation patients red-taped, sanitised

As part of its revision of home-isolation rules for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients, the BBMP has revived its micro-containment and sanitisation methods.

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Joe Biden asks US intelligence community to probe origin of Covid-19

President Joe Biden on Wednesday asked US intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese lab.

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Concern as Covid deaths mount amid drop in cases in Bengaluru

Covid’s second surge in the city is being described as an epidemic of contradictions. This is because there have been large death disclosures in recent days though discharges are at an all-time high and new case numbers are plummeting.

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Seeking a pill to cure Covid-19: Drugmakers eye alternative to vaccines

The hunt is on for a coronavirus treatment that can be taken as a pill soon after a confirmed positive, halting the disease in its tracks so that cases that might have been severe end up being nothing more than a bad cold.

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German researchers tie cold viruses used to deliver Covid-19 vaccine to rare blood clot risk

German researchers on Wednesday said that based on laboratory research, they believed they have found the cause of the rare but serious blood clotting events among some people who received Covid-19 vaccines made by AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson.

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Pfizer informs Govt of India that its Covid vaccine is suitable for all aged 12 & above and can be storied at 2-8 degrees for over a month