Coronavirus News highlights: Karnataka reports 1,632 fresh Covid-19 cases, 25 deaths

India reported 38,667 new Covid-19 cases and 35,743 recoveries in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry. Over 55.01 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories so far, and 59,16,920 more are in the pipeline, the Union Health Ministry said. Stay tuned for updates

AIIMS Director points out why children will be 'more susceptible' if third Covid wave strikes

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said on Saturday that the country might not see a third wave of coronavirus disease but it largely depended on people following Covid appropriate behaviour. He, however, also stressed that children will be more vulnerable if at all the third wave strikes.

Read more here

Manipur reports 439 new Covid-19 cases, 573 recoveries and 9 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Second wave of Covid-19 pandemic brought our public healthcare infrastructure under stress: President Kovind.

We shall not let our guard down, vaccines are best possible protection that science offers to us: President Kovind on Covid-19 pandemic

Kerala reports 19,451 fresh Covid-19 cases, 19,104 recoveries, and 105 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Active cases: 1,80,240
Death toll: 18,499

Covid-19 tests in UK to now cost lesser for Indians, countries in 'amber' list

The UK on Saturday reduced the cost of Covid-19 tests for international travellers from Amber list countries like India from £88 to £68 ($122 to $94), after many representations over the high charges of the mandatory testing.

Read more here

Karnataka reports 1,632 fresh Covid-19 cases, 25 deaths and 1,612 recoveries today; active cases 22,698: State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar.

Maharashtra: No new case of Covid-19 reported in Mumbai's Dharavi today; active cases in the area stand at 11, says Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Weekend curfew in Bengaluru? CM Basavaraj Bommai to hold meeting today evening

Planning stringent measures to stem the possible surge of the Covid-19 third wave in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will hold a high-level meeting with experts and health officials on Saturday evening.

Read more here

Egypt gets new AstraZeneca vaccine batch via Covax

Egypt received a new batch of about 1.7 million AstraZenecaCovid-19 vaccine doses through the global Covaxinitiative, the health ministry said late on Friday.

The new shipment, the third of its kind, brings the total number of AstraZeneca shots received by Egypt via Covaxto about 4.3 million doses.

(Reuters)

Mizoram's Covid graph shows declining trend, daily infection rate dips to 3.48 pc: Official

Mizoram'sCovidgraph and infection rate are showing a declining trend in the last few days as the northeastern state registered one of its lowest single-day positivity rate of 3.48 per cent on Saturday, a senior health official said.

The state'sCovid-19 tally rose to 47,995 as 524 more people, including 103 children and 4 BSF personnel, tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed its coronavirus death toll to 177, he said.

(PTI)

Odisha logs 1,132 new Covid-19 cases, 66 fresh fatalities (PTI)

Philippines reports second-biggest daily rise in Covid-19 infections

The Philippine health ministry on Saturday recorded 14,249 new coronavirus cases, the new second-largest daily increase in infections.

In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed infections in the Philippines have increased to 1.727 million, while deaths have reached 30,070, after reporting 233 additional casualties.

Active cases, at 98,847, was at a near four-month high, government data showed.

(Reuters)

Guatemala declares state of emergency over Delta Covid surge

Guatemala has declared a new state of emergency and will impose an overnight curfew from Sunday to contain a surge inCovidinfections due to the Delta variant, President Alejandro Giammattei said.

(AFP)

Limca Book of Records Pays Tribute to India's Covid-19 Warriors, Celebrates 30 Years of Inspiration

This year’s edition honors and celebrates the undefeated spirit ofCovid-19 frontline warriors who have courageously led the battle against the pandemic, with a spotlight on their selfless acts of kindness along with showcasing the extraordinary talent and achievers across the country as always.

This year’s Limca Book of Records is a combined edition of two challenging years and celebrates stellar victories and accomplishments in human endeavor, structures, education, defense, government, science and technology, adventure, business, cinema, the natural world, literature, and the arts

(PTI)

Ladakh reports 9 new coronavirus cases (PTI)

Mandatory full Covid vaccination or negative RTPCR to enter Punjab from August 16

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh orders mandatory full Covid vaccination or negative RTPCR report for all those entering the state from Monday, with strict monitoring particularly of those coming from Himachal Pradesh & Jammu, which are showing increased positivity.

Arunachal Pradesh logs 166 new Covid-19 cases, 1 fresh fatality (PTI)

Puducherry adds 101 more cases to Covid-19 tally (PTI)

No new Covid-19 case in Andaman & Nicobar Islands in last three days (PTI)

Sydney lockdown fines raised as Australia faces 'worst' Covid-19 situation

Australia will increase fines to people breaching lockdown rules in the state of New South Wales as it battles a record jump in localCovid-19 infections and Sydney, the state capital, heads into its eighth week of lockdown, officials said on Saturday.

Locally transmitted infections jumped by 466 over the previous 24 hours in the country's most populous state, where police will fine people up to A$5,000 ($3,700) "on the spot" for breaching stay-at-home orders or for lying to contract-tracing officials, said state Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

"We have to accept that this is the worst situation New South Wales has been in since day one. And it's also regrettably, because of that, the worst situation Australia's been in," Berejiklian said.

(Reuters)

Canada to mandate Covid vaccine for government workers

The Canadian government announced Friday it will require all federal workers and most commercial rail, air and ship passengers to get vaccinated againstCovid-19, amid a surge in virus cases due to the Delta variant.

"We know that vaccines are the best way to end this pandemic," said Dominic LeBlanc, a government minister in charge of Canada's federal bureaucracy.

"We expect federal public servants to want to comply with this mandatory requirement," he added.

(AFP)

Covaxin shortage hits 70,000 eligible for second dose in Bengaluru

Getting a Covaxin shot is becoming increasingly difficult for the public, with shortage forcing officials to reserve the available jabs for second-dose beneficiaries.

The BBMP had an opening balance of 39,000 Covaxin doses on Friday morning but it had 70,000 people eligible for the second dose as on Thursday. The number will keep increasing as thosewho wait four weeks after the first dose start lining up for the second jab.

Read more

India sees 38,667 new Covid-19 cases, 478 deaths

India saw a single-day rise of 38,667 coronavirus infections, taking the tally of Covid cases to 3,21,56,493,according to the Union Health Ministry data updated Saturday.

Read more

China's new locally transmitted Covid cases down for the 4th straight day

China on Saturday reported 30 new locally transmittedCovid-19 cases for Aug. 13, down for the fourth consecutive day, offering fresh signs that a month-long outbreak may be waning.

The country reported 66 coronavirus infections in the mainland, down from 99 a day earlier, according to the National Health Commission. There were 36 imported cases.

The number of locally transmitted cases fell from 47 a day earlier to the lowest since July 30.

China reported 19 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases, which it does not classify as confirmed infections, compared with 34 a day earlier.

No new deaths were reported.

(Reuters)

Australia's New South Wales reports record spike in Covid-19 cases to 466

New South Wales reported a record 466 new locally acquired cases ofCovid-19 on Saturday, officials said as Australia's most populous state remained in tight lockdown.

"This is the largest jump we have seen in a night," state Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney. "It's fair to say that we are extremely concerned about the situation that we're in, in New South Wales."

(Reuters)

IBM to allow only fully vaccinated to return to US offices from Sept. 7

International Business Machines Corp said on Friday that it would allow only fully vaccinated USemployees to return to offices, which are set to open from Sept. 7, given the rapid spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.

"We will still open many of our USsites, where local clinical conditions allow, the week of Sept. 7. However, the reopenings will only be for fully vaccinated employees who choose to come into the office," Chief Human Resources Officer Nickle LaMoreaux said in a memo sent to employees. (Reuters)

Goa CM asks for Covid-appropriate behaviour amid festivals

Canada enters supply deal with Moderna for Covid-19 vaccine beyond 2021

The Canadian government said on Friday it had signed an agreement with Moderna Inc for additional supply of its Covid-19 vaccine for 2022 and 2023, with an option to extend into 2024.

Canada will receive 40 million doses, as per the deal, with an option for an additional 65 million doses. The agreement will allow access to new Covid-19 vaccine adaptations. (Reuters)