Coronavirus news updates: India will be able to achieve vaccination for all by December, says CEA Subramanian

India recorded 1,34,154 new Covid-19 cases, 2,11,499 discharges, and 2,887 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to Health Ministry data. As many as 35,37,82,648 samples have been tested in the country for Covid up to June 2. Delhi logged 1,044 'black fungus' cases.

PM speaks to US V-P Kamala Harris, appreciates efforts for vaccine supply to India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to the US Vice President Kamala Harris and expressed his appreciation for assurance of vaccine supplies to India as part of the US Strategy for Global Vaccine Sharing, under which India is expected to get the first batch of doses by the month-end. (PTI)

Biden announces international Covid-19 vaccine sharing plan

The White House on Thursday unveiled President Joe Biden's plans to share Covid-19 vaccines with the world, including its intent to direct 75 per centof excess doses through the UN-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing program.

The White House has previously stated its intent to share 80 million vaccine doses with the world by the end of June. The administration says 25 per centof doses will be kept in reserve for emergencies and for the USto share directly with allies and partners. (Reuters)

Madhya Pradesh has reported 846 new Covid-19 cases, 50 fatalities and 3,746 recoveries. Infection tally has risen to 7,82,945 and death toll is at 8,207 (PTI)

Not right time to talk about vaccine supply abroad: India

As the demand for Covid-19 vaccines rises globally, India on Thursday said it would not be right to talk about the supply of jabs to other countries at the moment as it is currently ramping up domestic production for its own inoculation programme.

Elaborating the steps taken by the government to augment vaccine supply for domestic use, Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi said India remains engaged with US vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna as part of this effort. (PTI)

Chief Economic Advisor KV Subramaniansaid India will be able to achieve vaccination for all by December. "If we vaccinate people in three shifts each day,thenwe can vaccinate 1 crore people in a day. This is definitely ambitious, but not impossible," he said.

Africa not ready for imminent third coronavius wave: WHO

Hit by a fresh surge of infections and with vaccine deliveries at a near standstill, Africa is not ready to face a third wave of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) waned Thursday.

"Many African hospitals and clinics are still far from ready to cope with a huge rise in critically-ill patients," warned WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti.

"The threat of a third wave in Africa is real and rising," he added in a virtual briefing.

Hunger relief organisation to feed over 5 lakh amid second Covid-19 wave

Rise Against Hunger India, an international hunger relief organisationplans to reach over 5 lakh people impacted by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of its overall drive, through grants made by Salesforce, the organisation is providing 5 lakhs meals and 9,500 kits of ration to families economically impacted by the pandemic.

They are also providing ready-to-eat food and drinking water to essential workers, hospital staff, crematorium and burial ground staff, attendants of patients and others. Activities are currently underway in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Nabarangpur in Odisha.

Chief Economic Advisor KV Subramanian has said that the second wave of Covid-19 has affected the momentum of economic recovery. "We expect a recovery in the economy from July. Now, States have started removing restrictions and if we speedup vaccination our economy will start recovering," he toldANI.

Uttar Pradesh has reported 1,268 new Covid-19 cases, 4,260 recoveries, and 108 deaths in the last 24 hours

Lockdown extended in the state till June 14 to break the Covid-19 chain: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa

Superstition draws crowd in MP village to seek protection against Covid-19

Defying Covid-19 norms, a large number of people gathered at a village here in Madhya Pradesh under the belief that a woman, supposedly blessed by a Goddess, can protect them from the viral infection, police said on Thursday.

Following the gathering of over 150 people on Tuesday at Chatukheda village in Rajgarh, police registered a case against the woman and three other persons under the IPC and the Disaster Management Act, Khujner police station in-charge Umesh Yadav said. (PTI)

Odisha has reported 8,839 new Covid-19 cases and42 fatalities. The state's infection tally has risen to 7,90,970 and the death toll is at 2,873. (PTI)

Delhi has recorded 487 fresh cases, 45 deaths and 1,058 recoveries in the last 24 hours.The positivity rate has dropped to 0.61%.

Cong leaders to from seek Prez free universal vaccination against Covid

All Congress MLAs and prominent leaders of the party in Rajasthan will on Friday make representations to President Ram Nath Kovind to demand free universal vaccination against Covid-19.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra on Thursday said all Congress MLAs besides the party’s district presidents, districts in-charges and other prominent leaders will submit representations to various district collectors on June 4. (PTI)

Covid vaccine trials on children are being done at AIIMS Patna: Dr. CM Singh, Principal Investigator, Covid Vaccine Trial

M K Stalin launches Covid-19 relief hamper distribution, second payout

The distribution ofCovid-19 relief hampers, containing 14 essential commodities including wheat and sugar to beneficiaries was launched here on Thursday by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin.

He also inaugurated the disbursal of the second instalment, under the Rs 4,000 cash assistance plan to help people whose livelihoods were affected due to the pandemic and the resultant curbs. (PTI)

As of June 2, 2021, 624 doctors died in the second wave of Covid-19: IMA

Hong Kong authorises Covid-19 vaccine for over 12-year-olds (Reuters)

Jharkhand reports 532 new Covid-19 cases, 11 deaths (PTI)

Kolkata gets vaccine bus that will travel to markets to inoculate priority groups

A bus was turned into aCovid vaccination centre, which will travel to different markets of Kolkata to vaccinate priority groups, including vegetable and fish sellers, who cannot go for inoculation leaving their businesses for hours.

The 'vaccination on wheels' initiative was launched by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Thursday in cooperation with the Health and Transport departments of the West Bengal government, minister Firhad Hakim said. (PTI)

Mumbai likely to get 87,000 Covishield doses on June 4: Mayor (PTI)

We may need booster shots for Covid-19 in the future

Read more

Globally, we have recorded the fastest vaccination drive: Amit Shah

Serum Institute of India applies to DCGI to manufacture Covid vaccine Sputnik V (PTI)

Delhi Medical Association has filed a suit in Delhi HC against Ramdev

Delhi Medical Association has filed a suit in Delhi HC against Yoga guru Ramdev. Petition seeks restraining Ramdev from disseminating false statement & information about Patanjali's Coronil tablet. (ANI)

1,044 'black fungus' cases in Delhi, 92 people have recovered and 89 deaths so far: Satyendar Jain

Malaysia enters its third nationwide lockdown amid a surging third wave of Covid-19 (ANI)

35,37,82,648 samples have been tested in the country for Covid up to June 2, including 21,59,873 tested yesterday: ICMR

India reports 1,34,154 new Covid-19 cases, 2,11,499 discharges, and 2,887 deaths in last 24 hours: Health Ministry

We received used surgical gloves and faulty needles: Pithoragarh District Magistrate

We received used surgical gloves and faulty needles in the new stock that came in. Strong disciplinary action will be taken against the supplier. We will register a complaint to file an FIR: Pithoragarh District Magistrate Anand Swaroop (ANI)

Not just SII, all the vaccine companies should get indemnity protection against liabilities if foreign companies are granted the same: Sources (ANI)

China's Stemirna raises about $200 million to fund Covid vaccine development (Reuters)

Serum Institute of India (SII) seeks indemnity protection against liabilities: Sources (ANI)

Corona-free village competitions will be held in Maharashtra to encourage steps to curb the spread of Covid-19

Three village panchayats will be awarded for doing good work in COVID-19 management in each revenue division.The first prize will be Rs 50 lakhs, second Rs 25 lakhs and third Rs 15 lakhs: Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Hasan Mushrif

Ladakh reported 91 Covid-19 cases, 140 discharges, and 1 death on Wednesday

Clinical trial of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on children begins at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna

(ANI)

BBMP struggles to meet daily Covid-19 vaccine target due to poor supply

Despite having administered more than 30.98 lakh doses in the city till June 2, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is unable to meet its daily target of inoculating one lakh citizens, as vaccine supply from the state health department is meagre.

Read more

Social worker volunteer Ashok Kurmi, dressed as a clown interacts with children while he sanitises an area and spread awareness to follow the Covid-19 coronavirus safety protocols inside a slum area in Mumbai on June 2, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Karnataka faces 'ramping up nightmare' for possible third Covid-19 wave

Karnataka’s paediatric infrastructure, as it stands now, could tolerate as much as a bump in children's Covid-19 cases, but would not be enough to sustain a major influx of cases, data shows.

Read more

Good morning, readers. Welcome to your live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.