Coronavirus News Highlights: Karnataka reports 1,806 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2748 discharges, and 42 deaths

India on Friday reported 38,949 new Covid-19 cases and 542 fresh fatalities over the past 24 hours. The active cases have declined to 4,30,422 and comprise 1.39 per cent of the total infections, while the national recovery rate stands at 97.28 per cent.

Delta now dominant Covid-19 variant worldwide: Fauci

The Delta variant of Covid-19 is now the dominant strain worldwide, accompanied by a surge of deaths around the United States almost entirely among unvaccinated people, USofficials said Friday.

Read more here

Impossible to wear mask all the time: Ganguly defends Pant

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly says that it is "physically impossible" to wear the mask all the time since health protocols in the United Kingdom have been relaxed as he backed the Indian contingent after Rishabh Pant contracted infection during team's 20-day break.

Read more here

Covid-19: Rajasthan bans Kawad Yatra, other religious gatherings

The Rajasthan government hasbannedall religious programmes andcongregations including Kawad Yatra.

Read more here

India administers more than 38.79 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses today, taking the cumulative vaccination coverage to 40 crores: Union Health Ministry.

Covid pandemic exposed chinks in political system: Chidambaram

Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Friday said the coronavirus pandemic has exposed gaping loopholes in the political system, charging that in a corroded diminished democracy, rulers find diverse ways to evade responsibility.

Read more here

Next 100 days crucial to ward off threats of Covid-19 third wave, warns Centre

Six months into Covid-19 vaccination and nearly half of India's 45 plus population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, a top government official said on Friday, asserting that the next 100 days are crucial for India to ward off the threats of a severe third wave.

Read more here

2 vaccine doses given to police personnel successful in preventing 95% Covid deaths: ICMR study

Two doses of Covid-19 vaccine administered to high-risk police personnel were successful in preventing 95 per cent deaths due to coronavirus in the Delta variant-driven second wave, according to an ICMR study.

Read more here

Uttarakhand reports 39 new Covid-19 cases, 32 recoveries, and one death today.

Five or more symptoms in first week of infection linked to long Covid, as per a study

People who exhibit over five symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first week are more likely to develop long Covid, irrespective of their age or gender, according to a review of studies.

Read more here

Tamil Nadu government extends lockdown till July 31 with few more relaxations.

There have been some media reports alleging that lakhs of Indian children may have missed their routine vaccinations due to disruptions caused by Covid-19 leading to an increased risk of future outbreaks and deaths. These reports are not based on facts and don't reflect true picture: Centre

We are moving towards a set target to administer 50 crore doses before July. Govt has ordered 66 crore doses of Covishield & Covaxin. Additionally, 22 crore doses will go to the private sector: Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog. (ANI)

Gujarat govt managed the Covid-19 crisis well. Treatment, tracking, and testing need to be in place to contain the spread. Likewise, it's important to speed up vaccination as well. Soon, the state will reach 3 crore vaccination target: PM Modi.

Delhi reports 66 new Covid-19 cases, 79 recoveries, and one death

47 districts report over 10% Covid positivity rate for the week ending July 15, says Health Ministry

Forty-seven districts across 12 states and UTs reported over 10 per cent Covid-19 positivity rate for the week ending July 15, the government said on Friday.

Read more here

Fully-vaccinated? You still need to undergo Covid-19 test to enter Assam

The Assam government has withdrawn its earlier order exempting mandatory Covid-19 testing for air and train passengers who have received both doses of the vaccine, an official order said.

Read more here

One dose of vaccine was able to reduce the mortality rate by 82%. Two doses of vaccine were successful in preventing 95% of deaths due to COVID-19 during the second wave: Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog. (ANI)

Frame national policy to avoid crowding: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to PM Narendra Modi

With the Covid-19 pandemic’s third wave looming large and people lowering their guard, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday underscored the need for a national policy to stop crowing at social, political and religious events.

Read more here

IISc's 'warm' Covid vaccine effective against all major variants of concern: Study

A heat-tolerant Covid-19 vaccine formulation developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru has proven effective against all current SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, according to a study in animals.

Read more here

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray urges PM Modi to frame national policy to stop crowding at religious, social and political events.

Clinical trial for Covid vaccines for children on verge of completion: Centre to Delhi HC

The Centre on Friday told the Delhi High Court that clinical trials for Covid-19 vaccines for children under 18 years of age are going on and on the verge of completion.

Read more here

Karnataka needs 1.5 crore vaccine doses monthly, CM B S Yediyurappa tells PM Modi

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “at least 1.5 crore” Covid-19 vaccine doses every month, underlining the severe shortage of jabs against the high demand.

Read more here

Clinical trial for Covid vaccines for children under 18 years on verge of completion: Centre to Delhi HC

(PTI)

Apprehensions about third wave of coronavirus being expressed; number of cases in some states remain matter of concern: Prime Minister Modi

(PTI)

80% new Covid cases last week, 84% deaths in these states: PM at meeting with CMs of AP, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha

(PTI)

Rise in Covid cases in Maharashtra, Kerala matter of grave concern for country: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

(PTI)

PM stresses 'Test-Track-Treat- Vaccinate' approach in meeting with CMs

The states reporting high new cases need to take proactive measures to stop the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19.
We need to move ahead with a focus on 'Test-Track-Treat- Vaccinate' approach: PM Modi to CMs of 6 states with high positivity rate

Supreme Court asks Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision to allow Kawad Yatra

Read more

State govts must make 'Ganga Jal' available via tankers for Kawadiyas, Centre files affidavit in SC

Centre files affidavit in SC - State govts mustn't permit movement of Kawadiyas for bringing 'Ganga Jal' from Haridwar in view of Covid-19. However, considering religious sentiments, State govts must develop system to make 'Ganga Jal' available via tankers at designated locations.

(ANI)

Active Covid cases in India decline to 4,30,422

With 40,026 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the recovery tally reached 3,01,83,876.

India logs 38,949 new Covid-19 cases, 542 deaths in the last 24 hours.

PM Modi to interact with Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala via video conferencing today to discuss the Covid-19 related situation in these states.

(ANI)

WHO experts warn of 'strong likelihood' of more dangerous Covid-19 variants

The World Health Organization's emergency committee warned Thursday that new concerning variants of Covid-19 were expected to spread around the world, potentially making it even harder to halt the pandemic.

Read more

With the wide prevalence of the Delta variant, Manipur Government announced a total curfew for 10 days, starting from July 18.

(ANI)

Primary health officials being escorted and facilitated by Indian Army jawans for door-to-door vaccination against Covid-19, in the remotest forward villages near LoC in Jammu.

Credit: PTI Photo

Lockdown in Puducherry extended till July 31

The territorial government has extended the lockdown triggered by Covid-19 till the midnight of this month. The lockdown was to end tonight at 12. But, the coronavirus curfew would continue to be in force from 10 pm to 5 am on all days, said an official press release here. Socio-political celebrations and entertainment- related gatherings are prohibited.

Read more

WHO chief says it was 'premature' to rule out Covid lab leak

The head of the World Health Organisation acknowledged it was premature to rule out a potential link between the Covid-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak, and he said Thursday he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus.

Read more

Covid is especially risky for people with HIV, as per a large study

People living with HIV are more likely to become severely ill with Covid-19 and more likely to die if hospitalised than others infected with the coronavirus, according to a large new study. Nearly half of HIV-infected men older than 65 who are hospitalised for Covid-19 may die, the study found.

Read more

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