COVID-19 Cases in India: Kerala has been reporting a surge in Covid cases (File)
India on Friday reported 43,393 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to data from the health ministry. The country's active caseload stands at 4,58,727. The daily positivity rate - the number of positive cases identified per 100 - is 2.42 per cent, less than 3 per cent for 18 straight days. The recovery rate is at 97.19 per cent. 36.89 crore vaccine doses have been administered since the nationwide vaccination drive began.
Meanwhile, vaccination for children will start by September with the Zydus vaccine for 12 to 18-year-olds, Dr NK Arora, who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration, has told NDTV in an exclusive interview. The emergency use authorisation for the Zydus vaccine will come within weeks, he added.
This, he said, will be followed up with Covaxin.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus cases:
With 50 per cent students, Gujarat to reopen schools for Class 12 from July 15
The Gujarat government on Friday decided to reopen schools for Class 12 students and colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate students from July 15.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that nearly 50 per cent of the students will be allowed to attend campuses, however, the attendance of students in such institutions is optional.
"Gujarat to reopen schools for class 12 students and colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate students from July 15. 50 per cent of students will be allowed to attend campuses. Students can attend physical classes on a voluntary basis. Attendance will not be mandatory," said Mr Rupani.
Odisha Chief Minister grants Rs 352 crore special Covid assistance for 32 lakh MGNREGA workers
As part of the Odisha government's special COVID-19 package of Rs 1,690 crore for the poor, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday disbursed Rs 352 crore to 32 lakh workers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the state from April to June.
Each worker was given an extra amount of Rs 50 per day along with his or her wages, given under the MGNREGA, as a result of which an additional amount of up to Rs 4,500 for three months was paid.
Addressing the function through video conferencing Mr Patnaik said, "There is always a special place in my heart for the poor and working for their welfare gives me satisfaction, I hope this financial assistance will help the workers."
COVID-19: 124 transgenders vaccinated in Navi Mumbai
A total of 124 transgenders were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Friday as part of a special drive by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to cover what an official said were "potential super spreaders".
In addition, 103 workers in a quarry in Turbhe were also vaccinated, NMMC PRO Mahendra Konde said.
West Bengal logs 990 new COVID-19 cases, 19 fresh fatalities
West Bengal's COVID-19 tally rose to 15,10,208 on Friday as 990 more people tested positive for the infection, while 19 fresh fatalities pushed the state's deaths to 17,886, a health bulletin said.
A total of 1,424 more people were cured of the disease in the last 24 hours, it said.
Darjeeling district registered the highest number of new cases at 95, followed by North 24 Parganas (94), and Coochbehar and Kolkata (73 each). North 24 Parganas recorded the highest number of fresh fatalities at four.
Assam logs 2,493 new COVID-19 new cases, 24 fresh fatalities
Assam's COVID-19 tally rose to 5,29,693 on Friday as 2,493 more people tested positive for the infection, while 24 fresh fatalities pushed the states coronavirus deaths to 4,788, a health bulletin said.
Kamrup Metro registered the highest number of new cases at 247, followed by Golaghat (209), Jorhat (176), and Lakhimpur (173).
Dibrugarh and Kamrup Metro districts reported the highest number of fresh fatalities at three each, followed by two each in Goalpara, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, and Tinsukia.
Barpeta, Biswanath, Cachar, Dima Hasao, Hojai, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, and Sivasagar reported one death each.
Maharashtra reports 8,992 COVID-19 cases, 200 deaths; 10,458 recover
Maharashtra reported 8,992 new coronavirus cases and 200 fatalities on Friday while 10,458 patients recovered from the infection, a state health department official said.
The official said with this, the tally of COVID-19 cases in the state surged to 61,40,968, while the total fatalities rose to 1,25,034.
The state reported a decrease in the daily COVID-19 cases, but the fatalities rose as compared to Thursday, when it had reported 9,114 new infections and 121 deaths. The official said as many as 10,458 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered cases to 59,00,440. The state now has 1,12,231 active cases.
Maharashtra's recovery rate of COVID-19 cases is 96.08 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.03 per cent, the official said.
Foreign students' return to China uncertain as Beijing says "cannot relax pandemic controls"China has said it "cannot relax pandemic controls" to facilitate foreign travel, signalling that there are no immediate plans to permit over four lakh foreign students, including more than 23,000 Indians, mostly studying medicine in Chinese universities.
Li Bin, vice-minister of the National Health Commission, said authorities would continue to focus on preventing imported infections from spreading locally and strengthen inspection of imported goods. "Some cities have recently seen local clusters caused by imported cases of the Delta variant, including in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Ruili," he said.
Basis for international travel should be Covid testing: S Jaishankar in RussiaExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that people who are tested for Covid before and after international travel is a good enough basis but some countries have now introduced the issue of vaccination, stressing on the need to reach some understanding.
Mr Jaishankar, addressing a joint press interaction following a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, said that he believes that the basis for travel should be testing.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Mumbai Reports 600 New COVID-19 Cases, Active Cases At 7,731Mumbai recorded 600 new COVID-19 cases on Friday and 13 related fatalities. The active cases stood at 7,731 while 566 patients were discharged after recovering from the viral infection, the bulletin showed.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Chandigarh Reports 8 New COVID-19 Cases, Positivity Rate At 0.48%
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Manipur Reports 852 New COVID-19 Cases, 9 DeathsManipur logged 852 COVID-19 cases on Friday and 10 related fatalities. The active cases stood at 6,610 while 959 patients were discharged from the hospitals after recovering from the viral infection, the bulletin showed.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: COVID-19 Recoveries Outnumber New Cases In Tamil Nadu
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Maharashtra Reports 8,992 New COVID-19 Cases; 200 Related Fatalities Maharashtra recorded 8,992 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 200 related fatalities. The active cases in the state stood at 1,12,231 while 10,458 patients were discharged from the hospitals after recovering from the viral infection. The daily positivity rate in the state stood at 4.18 per cent while the recovery rate in the state stood at 96.08 per cent, the bulletin showed.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Himachal Pradesh Reports 180 New COVID-19 Cases, 1 Related Death
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: UK Reports Biggest COVID-19 Spike Since January
UK reported 35,707 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase since January. Additionally the country reported 29 related deaths. The Delta variant is considered to be the reason behind the spike in cases in the UK.
"Punjab Has Run Out Of Covidshield And...": Amarinder Singh's Appeal To Centre
Explained: What Is Covid's Kappa Variant And Should You Be WorriedIndia today reported two cases of the Kappa variant. Both the cases are in Uttar Pradesh. Know more about the Kappa variant of COVID-19 and how virulent it is, here.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Kerala Reports 13,563 New COVID-19 Cases, 130 Deaths
Watch: "Follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour", Says Health Ministry
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Weekend, Night Curfew Removed In Punjab
Watch: 36.9 Crore Vaccine Doses Administered Across The Country, Says Health Ministry
Decline Of 8% In Average Daily COVID-19 Cases In The Last Week: Health Ministry
Watch: PM Modi Chairs Oxygen Supply Revamp Meet As Over 1,500 Plants Come Up
Reduces Hospitalisation, Says Merck Of COVID-19 Drug, Seeks India's Ok India's Hetero Labs said on Friday it sought emergency use nod from the local regulator for Merck's COVID-19 drug molnupiravir, after interim data from a late-stage trial showed it helped reduce hospitalisations and speed up recovery in mild cases.
Read more Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Thailand Imposes Stricter COVID-19 curbs, Bangkok To Be Under Curfew Thailand announced a seven-hour night curfew across the capital Bangkok and nine provinces on Friday, along with tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, news agency AFP reported. The announcement affects more than 10 million people in the country. Thailand recorded 9,276 new cases and 72 fatalities on Friday amid a severe third wave of infections which began in April.
Why Does COVID-19 Hit Some People So Much Worse Than Others?Throughout the pandemic, one crucial question has perplexed scientists worldwide: Why do some people become so sick from Covid-19 while others show no symptoms at all? Read more
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: PM Modi Chairs Oxygen Supply Revamp Meet As Over 1,500 Plants Come Up Amid the construction of over 1,500 oxygen plants across India that could support more than four lakh hospital beds, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed the progress of augmentation and availability of the gas across the country. The facilities are coming up in all states and districts with contributions from various sources such as ministries and public sector units, apart from PM CARES. Read here
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India administers over 36.89 crore COVID-19 vaccines doses so far
India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 36,89,91,222, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Friday.
40,23,173 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours, as per the Ministry of Health.
On day-174 of the vaccination drive on July 8, out of the total 40,23,173 vaccine doses that were given, 27,01,200 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 13,21,973 beneficiaries received second dose of vaccine, ANI reported.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: UK Readies Plan To Allow In Vaccinated Foreigners
The UK government said Friday it expected to announce a plan in the next fortnight allowing entry to double-vaccinated foreigners and British expatriates, as it eliminates most coronavirus curbs.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also defended the government's decision to allow in 1,000 football fans from Italy for Sunday's European Championship final against England, to join some 60,000 other supporters.
Read Here.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Taiwan receives 1.13 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Japan
Taiwan has received a shipment of 1.13 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by Japan on Thursday.
The vaccine doses were developed by the British-Swedish biotech company AstraZeneca and manufactured under license in Japan, Focus Taiwan reported.
Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, at a press briefing, thanked Japan for the donation and said inspection of the vaccine shipment will be expedited to allow for faster distribution.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Puducherry reports 126 new coronavirus cases, tally touches 1,18,697
Puducherry recorded 126 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Friday raising the tally to 1,18,697.
The new cases were identified at the end of examination of 6,048 samples with Puducherry region accounting for 103 cases followed by Karaikal 6 and Mahe region 17.
One more person died due to the deadly virus raising the toll to 1,768.
While 192 patients recovered and were discharged during last twenty-four hours, the overall recoveries were 1,15,234, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services S Mohan Kumar said.
The active cases were 1695 of whom 230 were in hospitals and remaining 1,465 in home isolation.
399 new COVID-19 cases push Arunachal Pradesh's tally to 38,682
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 38,682 as 399 more people tested positive for the infection, a senior health official said here on Friday.
The COVID-19 death toll in the frontier state increased to 185 with one more person succumbing to the disease in the past two days, he said.
A 52-year-old woman from the Capital Complex Region died at her home in Lower Subansiri district on Wednesday due to acute respiratory distress syndrome with Covid Pneumonia, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
The Capital Complex Region remained at the top of the list in terms of fresh cases with 109, followed by East Siang (42), Changlang (29), West Kameng (28), Upper Subansiri (27), Lohit (24), Longding (19), Papumpare (17), Namsai and Lower Subansiri with 13 cases each.
The Big Vaccine Update: Pfizer Wants Clearance For Third "Booster" Shot Pfizer Inc. plans to request U.S. emergency authorization in August for a third booster dose of its Covid-19 vaccine, based on early data showing that it can sharply increase immune protection against the coronavirus.
At the same time, however, federal health officials signaled that they would take a cautious approach to potential booster shots, and underlined that the currently available vaccines are effective at keeping people from being sickened by the coronavirus.
Read Here.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: PM Modi To Review Availability Of Medical Oxygen In Meeting Today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting on Friday to review the augmentation and availability of medical oxygen across the country, government sources said.
With many places complaining of oxygen shortage in hospitals during the peak of the second COVID-19 wave in April-May, the Union government has been taking measures in coordination with states to boost its production and supply.
Read Here.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Tourism picks up in Sikkim with easing of COVID-19 restrictions
Efforts are underway to restore tourism industry business in Sikkim. The Sikkim government has started efforts to revive the tourism industry by effectively controlling the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, ANI reported.
According to Kapil Meena, Additional Secretary of the Tourism Department in the state, Sikkim has started inter-state tourists operations by adhering to COVID protocols under its ''unlock process'' from last Monday with special instructions."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: South Korea reports 1,316 more COVID-19 cases, 165,344 in total
South Korea reported 1,316 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Thursday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 165,344.
It was slightly up from the record daily high of 1,275 tallied in the previous day, continuing to break records for the second consecutive day, ANI reported.
Update| 42,70,16,605 samples tested for #COVID19 up to 8th July 2021. Of these, 17,90,708 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Update| Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a joint statement.
Sydney tightens lockdown as Delta outbreak intensifiesA lockdown in Australia's largest city was tightened Friday, as new Covid-19 infections hit a record and authorities warned an outbreak of the Delta variant was spinning out of control.
"Do not leave your home unless you absolutely have to," state premier Gladys Berejiklian told Sydney's five million residents, as the city recorded 44 new cases in 24 hours.
Sydney is now in its third week of lockdown, but continues to post record new infections among a population that is overwhelmingly unvaccinated.
Berejiklian tried to shock New South Wales residents into compliance, warning they were facing the greatest threat to their safety "since the pandemic started", following a lack of adherence to stay-at-home rules.
Sydney has seen 439 new infections since mid-June.
South Korea to raise COVID-19 curbs to highest level in Seoul, says PM
South Korea will raise coronavirus restrictions to the highest level in capital Seoul and some neighbouring regions from Monday, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on Friday.
The announcement comes after South Korea reported on Thursday its biggest daily rise in new COVID-19 cases, and a top health official warned the numbers may nearly double by the end of July.
Under the new curbs, people are advised to stay home as much as possible, schools are closed, public meetings are restricted to two people after 6.00 p.m. and rallies or other events are banned. Nightclubs and bars would be shut, while restaurants and cafes would be allowed limited seating and only take-out services after 10.00 p.m.
Bangladesh logs 199 COVID-19 fatalities in 24 hours, daily caseload rises to 11,651
Bangladesh coronavirus situation continues to worsen as the daily caseload hit a new high again on Thursday in 24 hours with 11,651 infections and 119 COVID-19 fatalities.
As per Dhaka Tribune, the daily infection rate climbed to 31.62 per cent, the government ordered local administrations across the country to ramp up oxygen supply and increase hospital capacity.
The health authorities reported 11,651 new infections in the 24 hours to Thursday morning surpassing the previous peak of 11,525 on Tuesday. The total caseload now stands at 966,406.