Coronavirus news highlights: The number of Covid-19 cases is decreasing in Kerala, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan

India reported 91,702 fresh Covid-19 infections and 3,403 deaths in the past 24 hours. The country recorded under one lakh cases for the fourth straight day on Friday. Meanwhile, Sinopharm unit's Covid vaccine secured approval for use on minors in China. Stay tuned to DH for more updates.

Covaxin US launch delayed as USFDA recommends Biologics License Applications route

The launch of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin in the US market will be delayed as the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has asked Ocugen Inc to apply for the Biologics License Applications (BLA) instead of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

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No need to panic on need for immediate change in dosage interval of Covishield: Govt

The government Friday said there is no need to panic on the need for an immediate change in the dosage interval of the Covishield vaccine, underlining that reducing the time gap requires proper scientific study in the Indian scenario.

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Maharashtra's Covid-19 death toll mounts by 2,619

Maharashtra reported2,619more Covid-19 deaths on Friday with the state reconciling and updating figures in the Covid-19 portal.

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Karnataka reports 8,249 new Covid-19 cases and 159 deaths; positivity rate at less than 5%

Karnataka recorded less than five per cent Covid-19 positivity rate on Friday, as the state reported 8,249 new cases and 159 fatalities, taking the tally to 27.47 lakh and the toll to 32,644.

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Centre seeks suggestions from experts on Covid-19

The Centre on Friday welcomed recommendations by a group of experts that mass, indiscriminate and incomplete vaccination can trigger emergence of mutant strains and that there is no need to inoculate those who had documented coronavirus infection, saying the suggestions will be deliberated upon.

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Reliance Jio brings Covid-19 vaccine slot finder chatbot on WhatsApp

Recently, Reliance Jio incorporated a new tool in the MyJio app to help users find the availability of Covid-19 vaccine slots in the nearby area. Now, the company has launched a interactive chatbot on WhatsApp to offer a similar servicein addition to currency recharge and more.

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FDA tells Johnson & Johnson to throw out 60 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from Baltimore plant

After weeks of review of a troubled Baltimore factory, federal regulators have decided that about 60 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine produced there must be discarded because of possible contamination, according to people familiar with the situation.

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Punjab reports 1,230 new Covid-19 cases, 2,071 recoveries and 59 deaths in the last 24 hours.

How Kerala attained overutilisation of Covid vaccine

Kerala's health care sector made another remarkable achievement in Covid management by not only avoiding vaccines wastage but also achieving overutilisation. This was possible due to the expertise of nurses who administerthe jabs and meticulous planning and coordination at the grassroot level.

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Covid-19 crisis: How the vaccination drive is progressing in Karnataka districts

Karnataka is all set to ease lockdown measures in 19 out of 30 districts starting next week as Covid-19 numbers decline in the state. However, with the state’s overall test positivity rate still slightly above the 5 per cent mark, lockdown measures will remain in place in 11 districts and the focus will be on vaccination.

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Tamil Nadu Covid-19 lockdown extended till June 21 with more relaxations; government-run Tasmac shops allowed operate between 10 am and 5pm in 27 districts of the state.

Goa reports 423 new Covid-19 cases, 8 deaths and 819 recoveries today; the recovery rate in the state is at 94.99%.

The number of Covid-19 cases is decreasing: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

The number of Covid-19 cases is decreasing and also the rate of the spread of the infection. Lockdown implemented is showing results. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a complete lockdown in the state and people should cooperate. Only essential services allowed: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kerala reports 14,233 fresh Covid-19 news cases, 173 deaths and 15,355 recoveries.

Workplace jabs account for significant share of city vaccination: Report

Describing it as a “crucial step”, the Centre allowed corporates to vaccinate at the workplace on April 7. Later, on May 22, the Centre announced that family members and dependents of the employees can also avail of the workplace vaccination service.

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Andhra Pradesh reports 8,239 new Covid-19 positive cases, 61 deaths, and 11,135 recoveries.

Delhi reports 238 new Covid-19 cases, 504 recoveries and 24 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Covid-19 crisis: Five states with the slowest vaccination rates in the country

The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is on the wane, but fresh cases still hover just below the peak of the first wave. Policymakers are now turning their attention to preventing a possible third wave, with vaccinations being the armour of choice.

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ICMR to conduct national sero-surveys to assess Covid-19 spread: MoFHW

The ICMR will start national-level sero-surveys to assess the spread of Covid-19 and all states/UTs should also be encouraged to conduct them so that information from all geographies can be collected, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

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Brazil approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children over 12 years.

Essential shops, marriages allowed during weekend curfews

Shopping for essentials and marriages at home will be permitted during the weekend curfews till June 21, the BS Yediyurappa administration said on Friday in its latest guidelines on containing the spread of Covid-19.

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What makes Delta coronavirus variant so worrisome?

As nations race to roll out vaccines in the global effort to contain Covid-19 and allow for a return to normal, the rise of dangerous virus variants threatens to prolong the pandemic.

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BookMyShow lays off 200 employees as Covid-19 cloud hangs over theatres

With movie theatres shuttered and slim chances of cinema-going revival on the horizon, online ticketing portal BookMyShow has laid off as many as 200 employees, the company's chief executive announced on Twitter, as Covid-19 takes a sizable bite out of the film business.

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Total UK cases of Delta Covid variant spike to 42,323 (Reuters)

So far Uttarakhand has reported 356 mucormycosis cases, including 56 deaths: State Health Department

Sinopharm unit's Covid vaccine secures approval for use on minors in China (Reuters)

No EUA to Covaxin in USA: FDA recommends Biologics Licence Application route for approval

In setback that could potentially delay the launch of Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccineCovaxinin USA, the Food and Drug Administration there has "recommended" Ocugen Inc, the US partner of the Indian vaccine maker, to go for Biologics Licence Application (BLA) route with additional data, nixing hopes of Emergency Use Authorisation.

Ocugen in a statement on Thursday announced that as recommended by the FDA, it will pursue submission of a biologics licence application (BLA) forCovaxin.

BLA is a "full approval" mechanism by the FDA for drugs and vaccines.

The development may delay theCovaxinlaunch in the US, Ocugen said. (PTI)

Uttarakhand cancels Class 12 state board exams in view of Covid situation (ANI)

Taiwan says Thailand prioritising AstraZeneca shots for itself

Thailand is prioritising AstraZenecaCovid-19 vaccines produced in the country for itself due to the severity of the pandemic there, which has delayed deliveries to Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday.

Taiwan is dealing with a spike in domestic infections and only 3% of its people have received at least one shot of a vaccination so far, with millions of doses on order that have yet to arrive. (Reuters)

Uttarakhand orders inquiry against all private labs conducting rapid antigen tests after discrepancies found in Covid testing during Mahakumbh (ANI)

Jharkhand reports 293 new Covid-19 cases, 5 fresh fatalities (PTI)

Arunachal reports 245 new Covid-19 cases, 5 fresh fatalities (PTI)

Taiwan reports 286 new domestic Covid-19 cases (Reuters)

Biophore applies to DCGI for emergency-use approval for Covid treatment drug

Biophore India Pharmaceuticals on Friday said it has applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for obtaining emergency-use approval for Aviptadil, used in the treatment of moderate to severe cases ofCovid-19.

The Hyderabad-based firm said it has developed the product which is backward integrated with its in-house API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient). (PTI)

#JabWellDone: Have you gotten the vaccine yet?

Odisha reported 5,235 new Covid cases, 8,299 recoveries, 43 deaths in last 24 hours: State Health Department

Japan mulling downgraded emergency state until Olympic Games start: Report

The Japanese government is considering ending a state of emergency in Tokyo and several other prefectures as scheduled on June 20, but keeping a downgraded "quasi-emergency" state until the Olympics start in July.

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Thane district's Covid-19 death toll crosses 10,000-mark; 498 new cases reported (PTI)

29 fresh cases take Covid-19 tally of Andamans to 7,197

TheCovid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 7,197 on Friday as 29 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

Twenty-one more people have been cured of the disease, he said.

The total death toll in the archipelago remained unchanged at 125 as no fresh fatality was reported, the official said. (PTI)

India reports 91,702 new Covid-19 cases, 3,403 deaths in 24 hours

There are currently 11,21,671 active cases of Covid-19 in the country.

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Covid curbs to be eased in Bengaluru: What's allowed, what's not

Night curfew will remain from 7pm to 5 am daily.

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G7 to provide 1 billion Covid vaccine doses 'to world': UK

G7 leaders will agree to expand global Covid vaccine manufacturing to provide at least one billion doses to the world through sharing and financing schemes, Britain said Thursday.

The announcement came after the United States said it would donate 500 million jabs to 92 poor and lower-middle-income nations. (AFP)

Phased unlock likely to restore 67% non-farm jobs lost since May: CMIE

The gradual unlocking process across India is likely to restore about two-thirds of the 2.5 crore non-farm jobs lost following the lockdown in May, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

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US to procure 500 million Covid-19 vaccine doses for lower-income nations: Joe Biden

The United States will purchase half a billion Covid-19 vaccine doses for lower-income countries with no strings attached, USPresident Joe Biden said on Thursday.

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Centre asks states to prioritise young patients for mucormycosis treatment

The Centre has asked state governments to prioritise young patients while treatingmucormycosiswith Amphotericin B, the drug of choice, which is in short supply.

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