India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 3,10,64,908 with 38,079 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have crossed 3.02 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.
The death count increased to 4,13,091 with 560 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has not received any application from the Serum Institute of India for authorisation of Covishield, a COVID-19 vaccine, almost a fortnight after the EU introduced the EU Digital Covid Certificate that makes intra-EU travel possible.
"For the COVID19-vaccine Covishield to be evaluated for use in the EU, the developer needs to submit a formal marketing authorisation application to EMA, which to date has not been received," the EMA said at a press meeting.
The EMA had earlier said minor differences in manufacturing processes could result in differences in the final product, and the EU law required assessments as part of the authorisation process.
So far, the EMA has approved only those vaccinated by either of the four vaccines - Comirnaty of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna's Spikevax, Vaxzervria by AstraZeneca-Oxford and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen - for restriction-free travel within the EU during the pandemic.
Here are the LIVE Updates on coronavirus cases in India:
Jharkhand reports 61 new #COVID19 cases and 64 recoveries in the last 24 hours
- ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2021
Active cases: 337
Total recoveries: 3,41,192
Death toll: 5,120 pic.twitter.com/RBdw8zbhdD
A special Covid vaccination drive will be undertaken for bed-ridden persons in the state, the Maharashtra health department announced on Saturday, reported news agency PTI.
People who are bed-ridden and who are likely to remain in that condition for the next six months will be considered for this drive, it said.
The Uttar Pradesh government has cancelled this year's Kanwar Yatra amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a day after the Supreme Court gave the Yogi Adityanath government time till Monday to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the religious event.
Nagaland today said that it will not allow employees posted in the civil secretariat and directorate offices to join duty and that their salaries will be stopped if they are not vaccinated or fail to provide Covid negative certificates every 15 days.
Tamil Nadu reported 43 deaths and 2,205 new cases of coronavirus, the Health Department said today, reported news agency PTI. The new cases pushed the state's tally to 25,33,323 and the number of fatalities to 33,695.
Thousands thronged the Lord Saneeswara temple at Tirunallarin Saturday as Puducherry and Tamil Nadu announced several relaxations of Covid curbs, reported news agency PTI.
The civic authorities in Navi Mumbai held a special coronavirus vaccination camp for pregnant women today and raised awareness among them about the benefits of vaccination, an official said, reported news agency PTI.
At least 27 pregnant women took the jab at the special camp, where civic officials also informed 232 women, who attended the programme, about the benefits of taking the vaccine, said Mahendra Konde, the public relations officer of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).
The active coronavirus caseload went up slightly over 25,000 on Saturday, after dropping down the mark on Friday, as fresh cases outnumbered the recoveries in a day in Andhra Pradesh, reported news agency PTI.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today recommended Tuberculosis (TB) screening for all COVID-19 positive patients and COVID-19 screening for all diagnosed TB patients, reported news agency ANI.
According to a release by the Union Health Ministry, there have been some media reports alleging that a sudden rise in cases of Tuberculosis (TB) has been noticed among patients who were infected with COVID-19 recently, leaving the doctors worried on receiving around a dozen similar cases every day.
Delhi records 59 fresh cases of coronavirus in 24 hours with four related deaths, authorities said. The positivity rate has furthered dropped to 0.08 per cent.
Delhi reports 59 new #COVID19 cases, 91 recoveries, and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.
- NDTV (@ndtv) July 17, 2021
Active cases: 621
Total recoveries: 14,09,830
Death toll: 25,027 pic.twitter.com/bGMnfJzdCI
Assam needs at least 75 lakh doses of anti-Covid vaccines every month to inoculate all eligible adults by December this year.
Over 41.69 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have so far been provided to states and Union Territories, and more than 2.74 crore jabs are available with them and private hospitals, the health ministry said today.
Delhi Airport's Terminal 2 or T2 will resume operations from July 22, two months after it was shut due to significant drop in domestic air traffic owing to the COVID-19 pandemic's second wave, a statement said today.
Sabarimala temple reopens for a period of five days, from July 17 to July 21 to conduct the monthly rituals
- ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2021
People wishing to visit the Sabarimala temple will have to provide a complete Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR report issued within 48 hours pic.twitter.com/5jZMzQ2iVr
University Grants Commission has issued guidelines on examinations& academic calendar in view of COVID to all universities&colleges
- ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2021
Guidelines state that admissions to first-year courses for 2021-22 to be completed by no later than Sept 30& academic session to commence by Oct 1 pic.twitter.com/aAQrS9xWfq
The next 100-125 days are critical in the fight against COVID-19, the government has said . The fall in Covid cases after the peak of the second deadly wave two months ago has slowed down, and this should be taken as a warning sign, NITI Aayog member on health Dr VK Paul told reporters today.
"Fall in cases has slowed down. It's a warning signal. Next 100 to 125 days are critical for fight against Covid in India," said Dr Paul, who is also a member of the centre's task force on fighting Covid.
Several states have been cautiously easing restrictions after the second wave appeared to have waned. The country is, however, preparing for the possibility of a third wave.