Covid-19 Cases in India: Kerala with 15,637 cases leads states in most number of Covid cases in a day
India reported on Thursday 41,806 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed, with deaths rising by 581.
Maharashtra, which has the highest number of cases in the country, added 8,602 cases over a 24-hour period. The fresh cases took the number of infections to over 61.81 lakh and 170 deaths took the cumulative death count to 1,26,390.
Kerala with 15,637 cases leads the states in most number of Covid cases in a day. It is followed by Maharashtra (8,602), Tamil Nadu (2,458) and Karnataka (1,990).
Meanwhile, Singapore reported its highest number of local coronavirus cases in 10 months on Wednesday, after the discovery of a cluster among hostesses and customers of KTV karaoke lounges.
Of the 56 new community infections, 42 were linked to the KTV outbreak, the health ministry said.
The ministry has been investigating infections among what it said were Vietnamese hostesses who frequented KTV lounges or clubs and has offered free COVID-19 testing to anyone potentially exposed.
Here are the LIVE Updates on coronavirus cases in India:
"Strong Likelihood" Of More Dangerous COVID-19 Variants: WHO Experts Warn
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday that "more dangerous" variants of Covid-19 could tear across the world as global infections soared to half a million daily, largely driven by the virulent Delta strain.
An AFP tally of official sources found that after an initial dip, cases have been rising again worldwide since the end of June, topping 540,000 on Tuesday and again on Wednesday.
"The pandemic is nowhere near finished," the WHO's emergency committee said in a statement.
It highlighted "the strong likelihood for the emergence and global spread of new and possibly more dangerous variants of concern that may be even more challenging to control".
Have Lost 10 In Family To Covid: US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy, an Indian American, on Thursday said he lost as many as 10 family members both in US and in India to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Murthy, who is occupying the position for the second time, said this at a White House briefing making a strong case for people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the deadly virus.
"On a personal note, it's painful for me to know that nearly every death we are seeing now from COVID-19 could have been prevented. I say that as someone who has lost 10 family members to COVID-19 and who wishes each and every day that they had had the opportunity to get vaccinated," Dr Murthy said.
Those With Covid Vaccine Certificate For 2 Doses Don't Need RTPCR Report To Enter Maharashtra
Jharkhand Clocks 54 New Covid Cases, Active Cases 336
Assam Reports 1,992 new Covid cases, 27 deaths
Centre Asks States To Review Covid Infra Requirements
The Union Health Ministry today asked states and Union Territories to conduct a quick gap analysis for various infrastructure components under the "India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package: Phase II" and stressed on effective advance preparations for efficient clinical management of the infection, PTI reported.
Telangana Clocks 710 New Covid Cases, 4 Deaths In 24 Hours
Maharashtra Records 8,010 New Covid Cases, 170 Deaths
Interns At Ahmedabad Hospital On Strike Over Not Getting Covid Allowance
Interns at Ahmedabad's Sola Civil Hospital have gone on a strike over "non-payment of Covid allowance", ANI reported. "During the peak of the second COVID-19 wave, the Gujarat government announced Rs 5,000 as COVID allowance over and above the stipend for the months of March till June for COVID-19 duty. We haven't received it yet. Hence, we decided to go on a strike," Dr Rutvij Kanani, an intern at the hospital told ANI.
Odisha Extends Lockdown, Eases Some CurbsThe Odisha government today allowed the movement of passenger buses and gave a go-ahead to barber shops and beauty parlours to resume business while extending the partial lockdown in the state till 6 am on August 1, PTI reported. Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra said, the partial lockdown was extended as the pandemic situation has not yet come under "complete control". The lockdown, which was to end on Friday, was imposed in the coastal state on May 5.
Centre Writes To States, Stresses Need To Stick To Covid Protocols
Delhi Reports 72 Covid Cases, 1 Death In Past 24 Hours
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Puducherry records 103 new COVID-19 cases
Puducherry logged 103 new cases of coronavirus during the last 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday, pushing the overall tally to 1,19,405.
The death count rose to 1,773 with a 73-year-old woman died due to the infection. The deceased had co-morbidities including diabetes, PTI reported.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Puducherry records 103 new COVID-19 cases
Puducherry logged 103 new cases of coronavirus during the last 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday, pushing the overall tally to 1,19,405.
The death count rose to 1,773 with a 73-year-old woman died due to the infection. The deceased had co-morbidities including diabetes, PTI reported.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Mizoram logs 581 new COVID-19 cases, one more death
Mizoram continued to register a surge in COVID-19 cases as 581 more people tested positive for the infection, pushing the state's tally to 25,751, a health department official said on Thursday.
The death count climbed to 116 after a 74-year-old woman from Aizawl district succumbed to the infection, PTI reported.
COVID-19 News Updates: Desperate Search For Oxygen In Myanmar As Latest Covid Wave Hits Residents across Myanmar's biggest city are defying a military curfew in a desperate search for oxygen to keep their loved ones breathing as a new coronavirus wave crashes over the coup-wracked country.
The spike in cases is the latest blow to Myanmar, already suffering from a February coup and a bloody crackdown on dissent that has killed over 900 people and gutted the economy.
Read Here.
COVID-19 News Updates: Over 40.31 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses so far provided to states, Says Centre
Over 40.31 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have so far been provided to states/UTs in the country and more than 1.92 crore balance and unutilised jabs are still available with them and private hospitals, the health ministry said on Thursday.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: China Threatens To Ban Unvaccinated Adults From Schools, Hospitals
Millions of Chinese people face bans from public spaces including schools, hospitals and shopping malls unless they get a Covid-19 vaccine, under new edicts covering nearly two dozen cities and counties.
The coronavirus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, but since then the country has largely brought it under control -- and Beijing is determined to keep it that way.
Read Here.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Australia's Melbourne Ordered Into Fifth Lockdown, Says State Premier Australia's bid to quash a fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak will see the country's second city of Melbourne return to lockdown late Thursday.
State premier Dan Andrews said Melbourne -- and surrounding Victoria -- will join Sydney in locking down, bringing the total number of Australians under stay-at-home orders to around 12 million.
Read Here.
Coronavirus Live Updates: 21 COVID vaccination centres to remain shut in south Delhi today following shortage of vaccines
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country, as many as 21 vaccination centres in south Delhi will remain shut on Thursday following the shortage of vaccines, ANI reported.
The latest health bulletin by the Delhi government has mentioned that "only 20 per cent of Covaxin stock can be used for the first dose since the stock of the vaccine is limited and have irregular delivery cycles."
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Three more Thai islands open to vaccinated travellers
Three more Thai islands opened to vaccinated foreign tourists on Thursday despite a nationwide surge in Covid-19 cases propelled by the Delta variant.
The islands -- Samui, Tao and Phangan -- welcomed visitors as part of the kingdom's push to revive its battered tourism industry, AFP reported.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Thailand says AstraZeneca asked to delay delivery of 61 million vaccine doses
AstraZeneca has asked Thailand to extend the timeline for the delivery of 61 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine by five months, a deputy minister said on Thursday, a move likely to disrupt further the country's sluggish vaccine rollout, Reuters reported.
COVID-19 News Updates: Covid Impact Sees Even Middle Class Indians Queuing For Rations
Chanchal Devi's three children haven't tasted milk for almost a year.
The staple was among items the 35-year-old and her husband could no longer afford after they both first lost work when India's capital New Delhi went into lockdown in March last year. Their distress deepened after this April due to a surge in Covid-19 infections. They're now borrowing money to buy food and must watch their school-aged kids eat less, often going to bed on empty stomachs.
Read Here.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Indonesia bracing for worsening COVID-19 outbreak
Indonesia is bracing for its COVID-19 outbreak to get worse after a near vertical climb in cases, a senior minister said on Thursday, warning that infections had spread faster than anticipated due to the more virulent Delta variant.
The world's fourth most populous country is struggling to slow virus transmission even after imposing its toughest mobility curbs so far, reuters reported.
Thane adds 489 COVID-19 cases; death count rises by nine
With the addition of 489 coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 5,38,960, an official said on Thursday.
These cases were reported on Wednesday, he said.
The death count in the district rose to 10,873 as the virus claimed the lives of nine persons during the day.
Thane's COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.01 per cent, he added.
In neighbouring Palghar district, the number of infections has gone up to 1,18,563, while the death toll stands at 2,648, he said.
PTI
Sydney Covid Cases Stabilise, Southern Australia On AlertAustralian authorities reported a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases in Sydney on Thursday, as the country's largest city endures an extended lockdown to suppress the country's worst outbreak of this year of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Over 90 Lakh COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered In Delhi So FarMore than 90 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to people in Delhi till date, according to official figures shared by authorities on Wednesday.
The latest vaccination bulletin released by the city health department said, less than a day of vaccine stock was left.
Till date, 90,88,718 doses have been administered to people in Delhi till date, it said.
Over 90 Lakh COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered In Delhi So Far
More than 90 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to people in Delhi till date, according to official figures shared by authorities on Wednesday. The latest vaccination bulletin released by the city health department said, less than a day of vaccine stock was left.
Till date, 90,88,718 doses have been administered to people in Delhi till date, it said.
On Tuesday, 1,29,054 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered, which included 92,547 first doses and 36,507 second doses. The figures for Wednesday were still awaited.
Delta Plus Covid Variant Unlikely To Be More Transmissible Than Delta: Government Panel
Sub-lineages of Delta variant -- AY.1, which is commonly known as the Delta Plus, and AY.2 -- are unlikely to be more transmissible than the parent, said INSACOG, a consortium of government panel involved in genome sequencing of coronavirus.
These two sub-lineages are also below 1 per cent in the genome samples sequenced in the country in June, it said in a recent bulletin.
INSACOG also said AY.3 has been identified as a new Delta sub-lineage and it is defined by ORF1a: I3731V common AY.1 mutations except for S: K417.