Coronavirus News Highlights: Delhi reports 337 new Covid-19 cases, 36 deaths

India's reported 92,596 new Covid cases, 2,219 deaths in the past 24 hours. As may as 37,01,93,563 samples have been tested for Covid up to 8th June 2021, of which 19,85,967 samples were tested yesterday, said the ICMR. As the second wave of Covid-19 recedes, states are beginning phased unlocking.

Rajasthan reports 520 new Covid-19 cases, 2,282 recoveries and 30 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Centre asks states not to share data on Covid-19 vaccine stocks, temperature of vaccine storage in public

The Centre has written to the states and Union territories, advising them not to share the data of the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) system on vaccine stocks and the temperature of vaccine storage at public forums, and stating that it is a "sensitive information and to be used only for programme improvement".

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Govt issues guidelines on Covid-19 in children; suggests rational use of CT scan; Remdesivir not recommended

The government has come out with comprehensive guidelines for the management of Covid-19 among children in which Remdesivir has not been recommended and rational use of HRCT imaging has been suggested.

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Rajasthan reports 520 new Covid-19 cases, 2,282 recoveries and 30 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Tamil Nadu reports 17,321 new Covid-19 cases, 405 deaths, and 31,253 discharges today; active cases at 2,04,258.

Punjab records 1,407 new Covid-19 cases, 66 deaths, and 2521 discharges in the last 24 hours; active cases are at 17,344.

Kerala man gives up decades-long drinking habit, thanks Covid-induced lockdown for the push

While scores of tipplers in Kerala are struggling as liquor shops remainshut for more than a month now due to lockdown, a 75-year old man is motivating them by putting a stop to his decades-long drinking habit.

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Karnataka reports 10,959 new Covid-19 cases, 192 deaths

Karnataka on Wednesday logged 10,959 new cases of Covid-19 and 192 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 27,28,248 and the death toll to 32,291.

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West Bengal reports 5,384 new Covid-19 cases, 10,512 recoveries, and 95 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Tamil Nadu's Covid-19 vaccine story: From 'hesitancy to shortage'

Just when the state was overcoming vaccine hesitancy among its populace, Tamil Nadu is now facing an acute shortage of Covid-19 vaccine doses though those between the age of 18-44 are ready to get inoculated.

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Covid-19 Delta variant believed to have 60% transmission advantage as per an epidemiologist in UK

The Delta coronavirus variant of concern, first identified in India, is believed to be 60 per centmore transmissible than the Alpha variant which was previously dominant in Britain, a prominent UK epidemiologist said on Wednesday.

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Maharashtra reports 10,989 new Covid-19 cases, 16,379 discharges, and 261 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Andhra Pradesh registers 8,766 new Covid-19 cases, 67 deaths, and 12,292 recoveries today; active cases at 1,03,995.

Delhi reports 337 new Covid-19 cases, 36 deaths and 752 recoveries in the last 24 hours. Positivity rate is at 0.46%. The number of active cases is at 4,511.

VHP opposes Karnataka govt's move to pay allowance to Imams

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has come out against the Karnataka governments move to pay allowances to Imams of 41 Mosques and Madrasas in Dakshina Kannada district as Covid lockdown compensation from the funds of Hindu religious endowment department.

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COVAXIN phase 3 full trial data will be made public in July: Bharat Biotech. (ANI)

Why India's second Covid-19 surge is so much worse than the first

India’s relatively mild first wave of Covid-19 last year intrigued scientists and led the country’s leadership to declare what turned out to be a very premature victory over the novel coronavirus. The current surge has been much more deadly.

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Coronavirus more likely to spread indoors through maskless interaction, as per a study

Speaking in indoor spaces without wearing a mask poses the greatest risk of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, to others, a study has found.

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Covid-19 vaccine FAQs: Know all about cost, dose gap, nearest centre, eligibility

As the country gradually recovers from the devastating second wave of Covid-19, the Centre is making all efforts to ensure that they can vaccinate as many people as possible.

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Goa CM makes a U-turn on use of ivermectin for Covid-19 prophylaxis treatment

Nearly a month after the Goa government announced free distribution of ivermectin tablets as a part of a new Covid-19 prophylaxis treatment protocol, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday claimed that the Health Ministry had not purchased a single tablet of the anti-parasitic drug so far.

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Arunachal Pradesh villagers lap up offer of free rice in return for Covid-19 jabs

The prospect turned out to be lucrative enough to dispel rumours around vaccination among villagers of an administrative circle in Arunachal Pradesh, as over 80 of them turned up on foot for the inoculation within days of the announcement of the sop.

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Covid-19 less severe for those on plant, fish-based diet: Study

Vegetarian and fish-based diets may be associated with lower odds of developing moderate to severe Covid-19 infection, suggest the findings of a six-country survey based on self-reported symptoms.

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States still have over 1.33 crore vaccine doses: Centre

More than1.33croreCovid-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and union territories and over3 lakh doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

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AirAsia says 90% of fleet grounded due to Covid-19 surge

AirAsia Group Bhd has grounded around 90 per centof its fleet of more than 200 planes across Asia due to the resurgence of Covid-19 outbreaks, an executive at its Malaysia unit said on Wednesday.

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Complete Covid lockdown from Saturday 5 pm till Monday 6 am in Jharkhand

3 killed in Russian Covid-19 ward blaze, official blames ventilator (Reuters)

Karnataka may go for unlock in 4 to 5 phases: Health Minister (PTI)

Jharkhand reports 603 new Covid-19 cases, 13 more deaths (PTI)

Spike in new Covid-19 cases in Puducherry for second consecutive day

For the second straight day, Puducherry registered an increase in number of daily cases of coronavirus with 642 infections reported on Wednesday, while the fresh deaths fell during the same period. In the last 24 hours, theCovid aggregate rose to 1,10,748 with 642 new cases. The new fatalities however fell to four, taking the toll to 1,648. Director of Health Department S Mohan Kumar noted that the number of active cases were 6,853. (PTI)

Singapore finds Delta most prevalent among virus variants locally (Reuters)

Russia's new Covid-19 cases reach three-month high

Russia on Wednesday reported 10,407 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, its highest number of daily infections since early March, taking the national tally to 5,156,250 since the pandemic began. (Reuters)

Errors on Covid-19 vaccine certificates can now be corrected online

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Malaysia says delivery of Thai-made AstraZeneca vaccines delayed (Reuters)

Problems at Serum Institute leaves world short on Covid-19 vaccines

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23 new cases push Andaman and Nicobar Islands Covid tally to 7,154 (PTI)

Singapore's death toll from Covid-19 tops casualties in SARS outbreak

Singapore has reported its 34th death due toCovid-19, taking its toll from the pandemic beyond the 33 casualties recorded during the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

The city-state was one of the worst-hit countries by SARS outside mainland China, based on numbers of infection and death, according to the World Health Organization's data. (Reuters)

Vaccination policy review likely to be taken up in 16 June PAC meet in Delhi

India's daily Covid-19 cases rise by 92,596, deaths rise by 2,219: Health Ministry

37,01,93,563 samples tested for Covid up to 8th June 2021 of which 19,85,967 samples were tested yesterday: ICMR

Covid curbs in Australia's Melbourne to ease after low cases

Melbourne will exit a Covid-19 hard lockdown as planned on Thursday night, authorities said on Wednesday, although some restrictions on travel and gatherings will remain.

Residents will have more freedom to step outside their homes but must stay within 25 kilometres (15 miles) and there will be a total ban on house gatherings, Victoria state Acting Premier James Merlino told reporters in Melbourne. (Reuters)

Microsoft to sell some products through experience stores

Microsoft Corp said on Tuesday it will use its experience centers in London, New York and Sydney to sell products to customers starting July 1.

Microsoft, which shut its retail stores last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has been using its experience centers to mainly host business customers.

Last month, Google-parent Alphabet Inc said it was opening its first physical retail store in New York City this summer. (PTI)