Coronavirus News Highlights: Covid deaths in the country more than what Modi govt acknowledges, claims Asaduddin Owaisi

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has claimed that the number of deaths due to Covid-19 in the country is more than what the Modi govt acknowledges. Meanwhile, India reported 70,421 fresh Covid-19 cases, with this, the country's tally of cases has climbed to 2,95,10,410. The active cases further declined to 9,73,158, dropping below the 10-lakh mark after several weeks. Stay tuned for more updates.

Liquor shops open in Tamil Nadu after a month

After being shut for over a month, TASMAC liquor outlets in 27 districts in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, opened their shutters on Monday as lockdown relaxations announced by the state government came into effect on Monday.

Read more here

In Pics | Shopkeepers wait for customers at Nai Sarak after authorities eased Covid-induced restrictions, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Tamil Nadu reports 12,772 new Covid-19 cases, 254 deaths, and 25,561 discharges today; active cases at 1,36,884.

IIT-M research suggests greater govt investment in healthcare

Contending that the pandemic poses a greater risk of social isolation among the elderly, which may cause detrimental health impact, research undertaken by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) has pitched for “greater government investment” in public healthcare to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the elderly.

Read more here

Mumbai reports 529 fresh Covid-19 cases, 725 recoveries, and 19 deaths today; active cases at 15,550.

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has reached 25,87,13,321 as per the 7 pm provisional report today: Union Health Ministry (ANI)

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has claimed number of deaths due to Covid-19 in country more than what Modi govt acknowledges. Credit: PTI

Covid-19 vaccination: No door-to-door drive in national policy, Centre tells HC

The Union government on Monday told the Bombay High Court that its national guidelines do not at present allow a door-to-door drive to vaccinate people against Covid-19.

Read more here

Goa reports 253 new Covid-19 cases, 9 deaths; 720 recover

Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 253 and reached 1,62,721 on Monday, while 720 patients recovered from the infection, a health department official said. The death toll rose to 2,937 as nine more patients succumbed to the infection, he said.

The number of recovered cases in the state rose to 1,55,378 after 720 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, the official said. The number of active cases is now 4,406, the official said. "With 1,695 new tests, the number of tests conducted in the state has gone up to 8,69,830,” he added. Goa's Covid-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 1,62,721, new cases 253, death toll 2937, discharged 1,55,378, active cases 4406, samples tested till date 8,69,830.

In Pic | Barbers attend customers at a salon that opened after further ease in Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, at Khan Market in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Single dose of Covid-19 vaccine sufficient for already infected people: Study

A single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is sufficient for an infected person as there was a greater antibody response when compared with those who have had no prior infection, according to a study released by AIG Hospitals on Monday.

Read more here

Belgium change Russia travel plans over Covid fears

Belgium have changed their travel plans for the remainder of the European Championship group phase due to concerns about the Covid-19 situation in Russia, the country’s football association said on Monday.

Read more here

Madhya Pradesh registers 242 new Covid-19 cases, 36 deaths, and 516 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The case tally is at 7,88,425 and active cases are at 3,941.

Karnataka reports 6,835 new Covid-19 cases, 15,409 recoveries and 120 deaths

Karnataka reports 6,835 new Covid-19 cases, 15,409 recoveries and 120 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 27,71,969
Total recoveries 25,66,774
Death toll 33,033

Active cases 1,72,141

Kerala reported 7,719 new Covid-19 cases, 16,743 recoveries and 161 deaths

Kerala reported 7,719 new Covid-19 cases, 16,743 recoveries and 161 deaths today. With this, there are 1,13,817 active cases in the state. A total of 26,10,368 patients have recovered and 11,342 have died: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

Telangana reports 1,511 new Covid-19 cases, 2175 recoveries, and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours; case tally at 6,04,880.

New Covid-19 variant 'Delta plus' identified; is it a concern for India?

The highly transmissible Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has mutated further to form the ‘Delta plus’ or ‘AY.1’ variant but there is no immediate cause for concern in India as its incidence in the country is still low, scientists said.

Read more here

Iran approves first homegrown Covid-19 vaccine

Iran's state TV is reporting that the country has approved emergency use of its first domestically developed coronavirus vaccine that could bring the hardest-hit country in the Middle East closer to inoculating its citizens against Covid-19.

Read more here

Andhra Pradesh reports 4,549 new Covid-19 cases

Andhra Pradesh reports 4,549 new Covid-19 cases, 10,114 recoveries and 59 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 18,14,393
Total recoveries 17,22,381
Death toll 11,999

Active cases 80,013

Vaccines don't prevent Covid but help in keeping symptoms mild: Sangita Reddy

Vaccines don't prevent coronavirus infections but will help in keeping the symptoms mild, Apollo Hospitals Joint MD Sangita Reddy said on Monday.

Read more here

US company Novavax says its Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated a final efficacy of 90.4% against mild, moderate, and severe disease caused by original Covid-19 strain in a pivotal Phase 3 trial in UK. (ANI)

Covid curfew extended for another week in Uttarakhand, chardham yatra opened for locals

The Uttarakhand government on Monday extended the Covid curfew in the state till June 22 but announced some important relaxations such as opening the chardham yatra for locals on the condition of a negative RT-PCR test report.

Read more here

Covid-19: Restaurants, malls, govt offices to open from June 16 in Bengal; schools, spas to remain closed

West Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said government offices, restaurants and malls in the state will open from June 16. However, schools, spas and gymnasiums shall remain closed.

Read more here

AIIMS Delhi to recruit 6-12-year-olds for clinical trials of Covaxin

The recruitment for the clinical trial of the country's first indigenously-developed Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, among children in the age group of 6-12 years will begin at the AIIMS here from Tuesday.

Read more here

WTO head hopes for deal by July on Covid-19 vaccine-sharing

The head of the World Trade Organization said on Monday she hoped that members could reach an agreement by July on improving access to COVID-19 vaccines after months of talks on waiving drug firms' intellectual property rights.

Read more here

Mumbai's Dharavi records zero cases of Covid-19 today, as per Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai On April 8, Dharavi reported highest-ever single-day spike of 99 cases.

Delhi reports 131 new Covid-19 cases, 16 deaths

The active cases in the national capital currently stand at3,226.

Read more here

South Korea eases Covid-19 restrictions on concerts, sports games

South Korea began easing restrictions on large concerts and sports events on Monday after announcing last week it would loosen a series ofcoronaviruscurbs as the country pushes ahead with its vaccination drive. Up to 4,000 people will be allowed to attend K-Pop concerts and other cultural shows from Monday, up massively from a capacity limit of below 100 people since late last year, according to measures announced by health officials on Friday.

Watch DH's playlist of videos on Covid-19 here

Govt should practise in India what it preaches to world: Chidambaram on PM's G7 speech

"Ask yourself why? BecauseIndiais an outlier as far as the fight againstCovid19 is concerned. We are the most infected and least vaccinated country (as a proportion of the population)," the former Union minister said. The prime minister made a virtual address at an outreach session of a summit of the Group of Seven (G7) richest democracies held in Cornwall in Britain.

Centrally protected monuments, sites, museums under ASI to reopen from June 16

Delhi Government begins its special vaccination centre for citizens leaving for foreign nations for studies or jobs

Students leaving to study abroad, people who have taken up jobs in foreign nations and sportspersons for Tokyo Olympic Games can get themselves inoculated at Delhi’s special vaccination centre

UK PM expected to delay Covid-19 lockdown end by 4 weeks to July 19

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a four-week delay to an end to all legal lockdown restrictions in the country when he makes a statement later on Monday in relation to so-called “Freedom Day”, which was set for June 21.

The last and fourth stage of the lockdown roadmap is now expected around July 19 instead amid a worrying spike in cases of the Delta variant, which experts fear will result in greater hospitalisations in the coming weeks.

Arunachal Pradesh logs 134 new Covid-19 cases

Arunachal Pradesh witnessed a dip inCovid-19 cases as 134 people tested positive for the virus, pushing the coronavirus tally to 31,282, an official said on Monday.

The state had reported 298 cases on Sunday.

TheCovid-19 death toll in the state rose to 145 as two more persons succumbed to the disease in the past two days, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

Fact-check: Does Covid-19 vaccine make you 'magnetic'?

Amidst several posts/videos claiming that Covid-19 vaccines can make people magnetic being circulated on social media, the Government of India issued a clarification to clear the doubts and debunk the claim.

Read more

Last-mile coverage: Govt invites bids for delivery of Covid vaccines to remote areas by drones

The government has invited bids for the use of drones to deliverCovidvaccines and drugs to remote and difficult-to-reach areas to ensure last-mile coverage in select locations of the country.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a successful feasibility study in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and has developed a standard protocol for the delivery of vaccines using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), according to the bid document.

On behalf of the ICMR, the HLL Infra Tech Services Limited (Procurement Support Agency) has invited expression of interest (EOI) through the Central Public Procurement Portal from experienced Indian agencies for the delivery of medical supplies (vaccines/drugs) by UAVs.

As Covid-19-induced lockdown curbs ease, traffic jam returns in Bengaluru

The notorious traffic snarls returned to haunt Bengaluru as the lockdown curbs imposed more than a month ago to contain Covid-19 were eased on Monday.

Hundreds of vehicles coming from the neighbouring Hosur in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu were seen stuck in long queues at Attibele in Bengaluru.

The chaotic traffic extended up to Bommanahalli and Silk Board Junction.

Ex-head of Myanmar's Covid-19 vaccination programme arrested

The former head of Myanmar'sCovid-19 immunisation programme has been arrested and faces charges of high treason for colluding with opponents of the military authorities, state media reported on Monday.

Myanmar's healthcare system and coronavirus prevention measures have collapsed since the army seized power on Feb. 1 and overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose government had successfully stopped two waves of the virus.

Bengaluru's Town Hall witnesses a spike in traffic as Covid-19 curbs were eased today after the city's Covid-19 cases dropped. Credit: DH Photo/S K Dinesh

OPINION | Confusing the virus, Karnataka government style

The partial relaxation of the Covid lockdown announced by Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is unrealistic and will neither help break the chain of the virus nor will it kickstart the economy. The state would perhaps have been better off continuing the existing lockdown than adopting a piecemeal approach without a basic understanding that revival can begin only when the entire ecosystem of supply chain, production and markets are thrown open simultaneously.

Read more

Brazil opens Copa America with 3-0 win over Venezuela

Brazil kicked off a Copa America tournament that has been opposed by some members of its own team with a 3-0 win over Venezuela here.

Marquinhos, Neymar and Gabriel Barbosa scored in the opener at Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasilia on Sunday, less than a day after several Venezuelan players tested positive forCovid-19.

South American soccer's governing body, CONMEBOL, chose Brazil as host less than two weeks ago, despite its alarmingCovid-19 figures, after Argentina and Colombia were dropped as co-hosts.

18 new Covid-19 cases push Andamans tally to 7,261

Eighteen more people have tested positive forCovid-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, pushing the tally in the union territory to 7,261, a health official said on Monday.

TheCovid-19 death toll remained at 126 as no fresh fatality due to the disease was reported in the last 24 hours, he said.

Six of the newCovid-19 cases were detected during contact tracing while 12 were airport arrivals, the official said.

70,421 new Covid-19 cases, 3,921 deaths: Lowest spike in over two months, rise in fatalities

India reported 70,421 new Covid-19 cases on Monday. With this, the country's tally of infections has climbed to 2,95,10,410. This is India's lowest single-day spike since March-end.

Read more

Australia's Victoria state reports 2 local Covid-19 cases

Australia's Victoria state, which was a coronavirus hotspot until last week, reported two new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Monday.

The new infections follow low single-digit numbers over the weekend and pose little threat to the community as the people were already in isolation, health authorities said.

Bengaluru partially reopens today: What's allowed, what's not

As coronavirus cases see a decline, Karnataka decided to ease restrictions in some parts of the state while retaining the strict lockdown in other districts till the positivity rate falls.

Read more

Copa America: Messi confesses to worrying about contracting Covid-19

Argentina striker Lionel Messi confessed on Sunday that he worries about contracting Covid-19, a day before he kicks off another Copa America with the national side amid a spate of infections among rival teams.

Read more

Covid-19 toll row: ICMR report calls for death audits in districts

In the ongoing row on the undercounting of the Covid-19 deaths, government medical researchers have asked district administrations to audit every death in a district to identify the gaps in surveillance, testing and diagnosis of the infection and upload the data in a dashboard to watch out for future hotspots.

Read more

Celltrion says trial shows antibody Covid-19 treatment to be safe and effective

South Korean drugmaker Celltrion Inc on Monday announced positive results for its experimental antibody Covid-19 treatment that it said was safe and reduced the treatment period by nearly five days in Phase 3 global clinical trials.

The trials, which involved 1,315 participants, have taken place since January in 13 countries, including in South Korea, the United States, Spain and Romania, Celltrion said in a statement.

People wait in a queue to board a bus outside Thane railway station during relaxation hours of Covid-19 lockdown. Credit: PTI Photo

Covid-19: Monoclonal antibody study in Bengaluru yields heartening results

In what is one of the most sizable deployment of monoclonal antibodies in the city to date, 22 out of 30 Covid-19 patients who were administered the drug cocktail over the past four weeks, have recovered, doctors said.

Read More

One-third of Bengaluru population has received 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine: Data

A third ofBengaluru’s population has received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of Sunday, while the number of people who have received the second doseis significantly less,according to official data.

Read More

19 districts in Karnataka partially open today, 11 others to wait

After an eight-week lockdown, 19 districts in Karnataka will see some relaxations starting Monday while 11 districts with high positivity rate have to wait longer.

Read more here

Good Morning readers! Welcome to our live coverage of coronavirus news updates!