New Delhi: The easing of Covid-related lockdown norms has led to crowding in some markets and other places, the centre said today, as it urged states to ensure the "extremely important" five-fold strategy of Covid-appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is critical to break the chain of transmission, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said in a communication to all states.
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 2,98,23,546 with 60,753 new infections, while the recoveries have surged to 2,86,78,390, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
Meanwhile, a third Covid wave in India is "inevitable", and it may hit the country in the next six-eight weeks, AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria told NDTV this morning amid unlocking in various states after weeks of strict restrictions.
Here are the Live Updates on India Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases:
Jun 20, 2021 01:12 (IST)
Nagaland Records 94 New Cases; Covid Tally Rises To 24,191
Nagaland on Saturday reported 94 new COVID-19 cases, which pushed the tally in the state to 24,191, a health department official said, according to news agency PTI. At least 171 people were cured of the disease during the day, taking the total number of recoveries to 21,058, said State Nodal Officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Project Dr Nyanthung Kikon in a bulletin.
The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state stands at 87.05 per cent, he said. One more fatality due to the infection was reported in Kiphire district, raising the death toll to 468, the official said. Nagaland currently has 1,979 active cases, and 686 COVID-19 patients have migrated to other states so far.
Jun 19, 2021 22:08 (IST)
Third Wave Of COVID-19 Definitely Underway In UK, Says Vaccine Expert
The UK is undergoing a third wave of coronavirus infections as a result of the highly transmissible Delta variant, an expert who advises the government on its vaccination programme said on Saturday.
Professor Adam Finn, who advises on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told the BBC that the country is now in a firm race between the vaccines and the Delta variant - first identified in India.
"It's going up, perhaps we can be a little bit optimistic it's not going up any faster, but nevertheless it's going up, so this third wave is definitely underway," said Prof. Finn.
"We can conclude that the race is firmly on between the vaccine programme, particularly getting older people's second doses done, and the Delta variant third wave," he said.
Jun 19, 2021 20:47 (IST)
Covid Delta Variant Found For First Time In 2 North-East States: Sources
The Delta variant of coronavirus has been detected for the first time in two states in the north-east - Manipur and Mizoram, sources have said.
After testing 20 samples from Manipur in a laboratory in Hyderabad, 18 were found to be of Delta variant, sources said.
Mizoram reported four cases of the highly infectious variant, also known as B.1.617.2. The Delta variant has been detected in four COVID-19 patients in Aizawl district. Their samples were sent along with others to the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics in West Bengal.
Jun 19, 2021 18:44 (IST)
7 Covid Deaths In Delhi, Lowest In Over 2 Months
Delhi registered seven deaths due to COVID-19 on Saturday, the lowest in over two months (since April 1). The national capital also saw 135 fresh cases of coronavirus infection as the positivity rate dipped to 0.18 per cent, data released by the state government said.
The death count dipped to single digit for the first time since April 1, taking the number of total fatalities to 24,907.
Delhi has been witnessing a fall in Covid numbers for the past few days. The city, on Friday, recorded 165 cases with a positivity rate of 0.22 per cent, while the death count had stood at 14.
On Thursday, 158 cases with a positivity rate of 0.20 per cent, and 10 deaths were reported, indicating a significant fall in the count of daily fatalities due to the virus.
Jun 19, 2021 18:21 (IST)
Assam To Launch "Enhanced Covid Vaccination" Campaign From Monday
Coinciding with the centre's rollout of COVID-19 vaccines free of cost to all the states from Monday, the Assam government will launch an "Enhanced Covid Vaccination" drive that targets to inoculate 3 lakh people daily.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the drive will go on for 10 days starting June 21 and the target age group has been merged into all adults -- those between 18 to 44 years-old and above.
"Over 2,000 vaccination centres has been set up keeping in mind the remote locations and the backward areas," Mr Sarma said.
"Every tea garden will have a centre," he added.
Jun 19, 2021 17:10 (IST)
Nashik Falls Under Level-2 Of ''Unlock''
With Nashik district in Maharashtra falling under the level-2 category of the five-level ''unlock'' plan of the Maharashtra government, the local administration has decided to allow the reopening of malls with a 50 per cent capacity on weekdays from June 21, district guardian minister Chhagan Bhujbal said on Saturday.
However, the administration has decided to continue with the level-3 restrictions considering the previous experience of crowding and various other factors.
The malls will be allowed to operate from 7 am to 4 pm on Monday to Friday.
Jun 19, 2021 16:27 (IST)
Telangana Removes Covid Lockdown, Ends All Restrictions
The Telangana government has decided to reopen the state completely as the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic showed strong signs of receding. The government has ordered "all branches to lift all types of regulations imposed during the lockdown in full extent."
"The state cabinet has decided to lift the lockdown completely. The decision has been taken to lift the lockdown by examining the reports given by medical authorities that the number of corona cases, positivity percentage has decreased significantly, corona have come into full control," the Chief Minister's Office posted on Facebook.
Telangana, one of the worst-hit states in the country, on Friday reported a case positivity of just 1.14 per cent. The number of daily cases was just over 1,400 in 24 hours, whereas the number of Covid-linked deaths was 12.
Jun 19, 2021 12:35 (IST)
New Software To Identify Patients Who Require Ventilator Support
A new software Covid Severity Score (CSS) can now identify patients likely to require ventilator support in an ICU and referral in time, the Ministry of Science and Technology informed today.
The software consists of an algorithm that measures a set of parameters and scores against a pre-set dynamic algorithm multiple times for each patient and allocates a Covid Severity Score (CSS) mapping in a graphical trend.
Jun 19, 2021 11:07 (IST)
Assam To Vaccinate 3-Lakh People Daily From June 21
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state is looking to inoculate 3-lakh people daily against Covid from June 21, reported news agency PTI.
Jun 19, 2021 10:51 (IST)
India's Test Positivity Rate Stands At 2.98%
The daily positivity rate stands at 2.98 per cent. It has been less than five per cent for 12 straight days, the Health Ministry said, adding that the weekly positivity rate has declined to 3.58 per cent.
Recoveries outnumbered daily cases for the 37th consecutive day and the number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 2,86,78,390. The case fatality rate stands at 1.29 per cent, the data said.
