Coronavirus News Highlights: Ensure adequate supply of Covid-19 vaccines, Gehlot asks PM

A single-day rise of 50,040 fresh Covid-19 infections took India's tally to 3,02,33,183 while the number of active cases reduced to 5,86,403, according to Union Health Ministry data on Sunday. While the national Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 96.75 per cent, the weekly case positivity rate has come down to 2.91 per cent. Stay tuned for updates.

Karnataka reports first case of rare Covid-19 complication affecting brain in 13-year-old

In a first in Karnataka, a rare Covid-19 complication affecting the brain has been detected in a 13-year-old child, the SS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre here said on Sunday. Called acute necrotising encephalopathy of childhood (ANEC), the complication was found in the child belonging to Hoovinahadagali.

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Karnataka logs 3,604 new Covid-19 cases, 89 deaths push toll to 34,743

After over four months, Covid-19 related fatalities in Karnataka dipped below the hundred mark with 89 being reported on Sunday while 3,604 fresh cases took the overall tally to 28,34,630, the Health department said.

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Ensure adequate supply of Covid-19 vaccines: Gehlot to PM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure an adequate supply of Covid-19 vaccines, contending that it has been receiving fewer doses than since the beginning of the new phase of vaccination drive on June 21.

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Sri Lanka series to go ahead despite referee's Covid case

England's one-day international against Sri Lanka on Tuesday will go ahead as planned despite a Covid-19 alert caused by a positive test for match referee Phil Whitticase.

Whitticase served for the three-match T20 series between the sides, which concluded on Saturday, but was found to be carrying the virus during a PCR test completed on Friday.

People, flouting Covid-19 norms, visit a crowded market area in Jalandhar. Credit: PTI Photo

Punjab on Saturday registered 308 fresh Covid cases, which took the tally to 5,94,586, while 15 more fatalities pushed the toll to 15,979 in the state,according to a medical bulletin.

AstraZeneca tests booster vaccine dose against Covid variant

AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford on Sunday began new trials to test a modified vaccine against the Covid-19 Beta variant, which first emerged in South Africa.

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India has capacity to store Covid vaccines requiring low temperatures, Centre tells Supreme Court

India has the capacity to store vaccines that may require a lower temperature in the range of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius and there are over 29,000 cold chain points (CCPs) across the country where vaccines are stored at the recommended temperatures, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.

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Be cautious, don’t panic against Covid’s Delta-plus variant: Doctors

Delta-plus variant of coronavirus is highly infectious but there is no need to panic, former ICMR chief, Dr Raman Gangakhedkar said on Sunday. With ICMR data showing over 70 per cent of people having developed immunity against coronavirus, the country appears to be heading towards herd immunity but the Delta-plus variant has created a frightening environment, said another doctor in a webinar on Covid.

Serum Institute of India produces over 10 crore doses of Covishield in June

Fulfilling its commitment, Serum Institute of India has produced over 10 crore doses of its Covid-19 vaccine Covishield in June so far as India ramps up the pace of its vaccination drive in the face of a possible third wave of the viral infection.

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Delhi unlock: Gymnasiums gear up to open; many yoga institutes prefer to stay online for now

Apprehensive about a possible third Covid wave, owners of many yoga institutes in the national capital said they prefer to continue conducting their classes in the online mode for some more time despite the Delhi government allowing them to operate in-person from Monday.

Gymnasiums, on the other hand, have geared up to reopen with 50 per cent capacity with several of them starting the sanitization process at their facilities and even offering special discounts for customers vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Delhi government on Saturday allowed weddings at banquet, marriage halls and hotels with 50 people in attendance, and reopening of gyms and yoga centres at 50 per cent capacity under the phased unlock process initiated with an improvement in the city's Covid-19 situation.

Cancer care, research takes back seat amid Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on clinical care and research for cancer, with screeing down 85 per cent since March last year – which could possibly see 10,000 deaths over the next 10 years, according toa report by The Indian Express.

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Covid-19 vaccine for kids will pave way for school reopening, says AIIMS chief

Making Covid-19 vaccine available for children will be a milestone achievement and pave the way for reopening of schools and resumption of outdoor activities for them, AIIMS Chief Dr Randeep Guleria has said.

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Doctors and nurses pose for a group photographs outside the newly constructed Child Friendly Dedicated Pediatric Ward, set up as part of preparations for the predicted third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, in Koderma district. Credit: PTI Photo

No lessons learnt from first wave: UP BJP leader criticises Covid-19 handling

Criticising the handling of the Covid-19 crisis in Uttar Pradesh, a ruling party leader has claimed that at least 10 people died in every village during the second wave as no lessons were learnt from the first one.

State BJP working committee member Ram Iqbal Singh, who made the remarks on Saturday, is the latest among the party’s own leaders who have questioned the management of the novel coronavirus infection in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Singh rued that the health department did not learn any lessons from the first wave of Covid-19 which led to a large number of deaths due to the disease in the second wave.

Indo-Japanese partnership during Covid-19 more relevant for global stability: PM Modi

The Indo-Japanese friendship and partnership during the Covid-19 crisis is more relevant for global stability and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday and called for further strengthening of the ties between the two countries.

The PM was speaking after virtually inaugurating a Japanese Zen garden and Kaizen Academy set up at the premises of the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) here. In his address via video conference, Modi said the opening of the Zen garden and the Kaizen Academy here "is a symbol of the spontaneity and modernity of relations between India and Japan".

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Haryana extends lockdown till July 5, some rules relaxed

Moscow Covid deaths spike as Asia-Pacific countries lock down

Moscow on Sunday recorded the worst daily coronavirus death toll so far for a Russian city, as countries across the Asia-Pacific region extended or reimposed restrictions to tackle fresh waves of infections.

The pandemic has now killed close to four million people across the world but vaccination drives have brought down infection numbers in many wealthy countries, though the Delta strain of the virus remains a concern.

The variant is now in 85 countries and is the most contagious of any Covid-19 strain identified, according to the World Health Organization.

After chat with PM Modi, MP resident gets himself vaccinated against Covid-19

Encouraged after a chat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who urged people to shed hesitancy against Covid-19 vaccine, a villager from Madhya Pradesh got inoculated along with his family members.

Seeking to make people shed their reservations about vaccines against coronavirus, Modi spoke to residents of Dulariya village in MP's Betul district. The chat was aired on the PM's monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast on Sunday. (PTI)

Moscow posts record daily virus deaths

Moscow on Sunday recorded 144 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, the worst toll in a Russian city since the start of the pandemic, news reports said quoting official data.

Moscow's record comes a day after one set by Euro host Saint Petersburg, where a quarter-final is to be held on Friday in front of thousands of fans. Covid-19 infections have been surging in Russia for weeks, blamed on the highly transmissible Delta variant. (AFP)

Delta plus has more affinity for lung tissues in comparison to other Covid-19 strains: NTAGI chief

The Delta plus variant of Covid-19 has greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains but it does not mean that it will cause severe disease or is more transmissible, head of coronavirus working group NTAGI Dr N K Arora said.

A new viral variant of the coronavirus, Delta Plus, was identified on June 11. It was recently classified as a variant of concern.

Till now, 51 cases of Delta Plus have been detected across 12 states, with Maharashtra reporting the maximum cases of this variant. (PTI)

China's tally of administered vaccine doses reached 1.165 bn by June 26

China had administered about 1.165 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by June 26, data from the National Health Commission showed on Sunday.

Puducherry added 231 fresh Covid-19 cases on Sunday, taking the tally to 1,16,645, while three more fatalities pushed the toll to 1,744. Recoveries outnumbered fresh cases with 331 people being discharged from hospitals, taking the active cases to 2,672. In all, 1,12,229 people have recovered from the disease so far. (PTI)

Shed vaccine hesitancy, do not believe in rumours: PM Modi to people

Cautioning people that the threat of Covid-19 remains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged them to shed vaccine hesitancy and get themselves inoculated soon.

In his monthly Mann ki Baat broadcast, Modi hailed the feat of most vaccination doses administered in a single day on June 21 at the start of the new phase of inoculation under which all adults are being given free jabs. (PTI)

Delhi saw 1,53,644Covid-19 violations since the imposition of lockdown on April19. Those not wearing masks were over 1.3 lakh

While 1,550 were held responsible for holding large public gatherings etc.

While the national Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 96.75 per cent, the weekly case positivity rate has come down to 2.91 per cent.

According to the ministry data, the daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.82 per cent. It has been less than 5 per cent for 20 consecutive days.

India administered 64.25 lakh vaccine doses in a day, taking the cumulative number of jabs given so far under the nationwide inoculation drive to 32.17 crore, according to immunisation data published at 7 am.

Malaysia's Covid-19 lockdown to be extended - PM

Malaysia will extend a national lockdown beyond Monday to curb the spread of Covid-19, state news agency Bernama reported on Sunday, citing Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Lockdown measures were set to end on Monday. But Muhyiddin said they will not be eased until daily cases fell below 4,000, Bernama said.

Japan to ask athletes from India, others for more Covid-19 tests

Japan plans to ask Olympic athletes from India and five other countries hit hard by the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus to have daily virus tests for seven days before leaving for the Games, a Japanese newspaper said on Sunday.

Currently, all overseas athletes are being asked to have coronavirus tests twice during the four-day period before their departure for the Tokyo Olympics, which are set to start on July 23 after a year's delay due to the pandemic. (PTI)

As per an affidavit submitted by the Centrein Supreme Court, the projected availability of Covid-19 vaccines from August 2021 to December 2021 is:

Covishield- 50 crore

Covaxin- 40 crore

Bio E sub unit vaccine- 30 crore,

Zydus Cadila DNA vaccine- 5 crore,

Sputnik V- 10 crore

Total: 135 crore

Millions in Sydney wake to coronavirus lockdown

Millions of Sydney residents woke Sunday to the first full day of a two-week coronavirus lockdown, as Australia tried to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Restaurants, bars and cafes were shuttered after stay-at-home orders for central neighbourhoods were extended across Sydney and to the coastal and mountainous regions surrounding the sprawling city. (AFP)

Oxygen report seemed to have been sent to Centre without required changes: Delhi Principal Secretary

The interim report of a Supreme Court-appointed panel that led to a controversy over Delhi's oxygen demand during the second Covid wave seemed to have been sent to the Centre without required changes and formal approval of the sub-group, Delhi govt's principal secretary (Home) B S Bhalla has said.

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Over 58.1 lakh Covid vaccine doses administered on Saturday, India's cumulative vaccination coverage crosses 32 crore: Union Health Ministry

Poor as well as multi-millionaire of 18 years and above to get free Covid vaccine: Centre to SC

A poor person and a multi-millionaire in the age group of 18 years and above are equally entitled to get the Covid vaccine free of cost and every effort is being made to ensure access of "safe and effective" ones at the earliest in the country, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Saturday.

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40,000 missing Covid-19 patients worry Bengaluru

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which did a good job of stabilising the daily Covid-19 caseload during the lockdown, now faces a daunting task of tracing close to 40,000 patients.

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