Coronavirus Updates: India Reports 38,949 New Cases, 542 Deaths In Last 24 Hours

Three COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Better Than Two? Debate Over Third Booster Shot
As the Delta variant spreads rapidly throughout the world, the prospect of a third "booster" shot is gaining interest even in nations where a large proportion of people are vaccinated.

Experts say it is too soon to know for sure if countries will need to organise a third vaccine round later in the year. Some suggest that priority should be given to hundreds of millions in the global south who have not even gotten their first jab yet. Read

Assam Reports 1,782 New Covid cases, 24 deaths

Jharkhand Reports 55 New Covid Cases

Odisha Announces Rs 453 Crore Assistance For Women Self-Help Groups

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a special package of Rs 453.50 crore as Covid assistance to women members of self-help groups under the State Mission Shakti. Attending a meeting on a virtual platform, Mr Patnaik also said a Mission Shakti Bhawan will be constructed in each of the 338 block-level Mission Shakti associations. These Bhawans will be used as training centres/business centres by the women members of the Mission Shakti, he said.

Prohibitory Orders Enforced At Pune Tourist Spots

Prohibitory orders have been imposed at several tourist spots in Pune district in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said today. These spots include Bhushi dam, various points in Lonavala and Khandala, Sinhgad Fort, Panshet, Varasgaon dam among others, they said, according to a PTI report.

Manipur Imposes Curfew For 10 Days To Control Covid Situation
To prevent a spike in Covid cases, the Manipur government today announced curfew in the state from Sunday to July 27 with exemption to some essential services. An order was issued by the chief secretary in this connection, stating that the situation warrants stricter measures to bring down the spread of the infection.

Gujarat Extends Night Curfew In 8 Cities Till July 31

Maharashtra Reports 7,761 New Cases, 167 Deaths

Karnataka Logs 1,806 New Cases, 42 Deaths

Karnataka today reported 1,806 new Covid infections and 42 deaths, pushing the caseload to 28,80,370 and death toll to 36,079, the health department said, according to a PTI report. The number of active cases in the state currently stands at 31,399. As many as 2,748 patients recovered today, taking the total recoveries to 28,12,869.

Over 38 Lakh Shots Today, India Crosses 40 Crore Milestone In Vaccination

38 Cops Test Positive For Covid At Chhattisgarh Training Centre

At least 38 policemen have tested positive for Covid at the Police Training School in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district since Thursday, an official said today, the PTI reported. The facility located on GE Road in Rajnandgaon town has been declared a containment zone, the official said.

Tripura Imposes Weekend Curfew, Other Curbs As Covid Cases Rise
The Tripura government has imposed a weekend curfew and a day curfew in Agartala Municipal Corporation and 11 other urban local body areas from July 19 to July 23 after reviewing the Covid-19 situation, PTI reported. The weekend curfew will be in force from 6 am on July 17 to 6 am on July 19.

Tripura Imposes Weekend Curfew, Other Curbs As Covid Cases Rise
The Tripura government has imposed a weekend curfew and a day curfew in Agartala Municipal Corporation and 11 other urban local body areas from July 19 to July 23 after reviewing the Covid-19 situation, PTI reported. The weekend curfew will be in force from 6 am on July 17 to 6 am on July 19.

Ensure Economic Activities, Maharashtra Chief Minister Tells Officials
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today asked district collectors to be in touch with the industrial sector to ensure the state's economic cycle and livelihood of citizens does not get disturbed due to a possible third wave of COVID-19, PTI reported.

UP To Pay Rs 30 Lakh To Families Of 2,000 Dead Of Covid After Poll Duty
The Uttar Pradesh government will give Rs 30 lakh as compensation to the family of each of its over 2,000 employees, half of them teachers, who died due to Covid during the panchayat polls duty, PTI reported. A senior official said of the Rs 600 crore sanctioned for paying compensation, the Department of Panchayati Raj had released Rs 300 crore to the State Election Commission for disbursement.

Odisha Starts Vaccination Of Pregnant Women
The vaccination of pregnant women against Covid began in Odisha today and the on-the-spot registration was facilitated by ASHA and Anganwadi workers, ANI reported. After vaccination, women were observed for at least 30 minutes for any adverse effect.

Analysis Shows Projected Decline In Use Of Face Masks, Says Health Ministry Official

COVID-19 India News: Assam Withdraws Exemption Of Testing For Vaccinated People
The Assam government has withdrawn its earlier order exempting mandatory COVID-19 testing for air and train passengers who have received both doses of the vaccine, an official order said, reported news agency PTI. The decision to withdraw the exemption was taken after cases of persons testing positive for COVID-19 even after having taken both doses of the vaccine were detected in the state. The notification issued on Thursday by the Health and Family Welfare department said the earlier order of June 25, 2021, stands withdrawn with immediate effect.

PM Modi Urges CMs Of Six States With High Covid Positivity Rate To Strengthen Health Infrastructure
Interacting with the chief ninisters of six states with high COVID-19 positivity rate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the Centre recently announced a Rs 23,000 crore emergency response package to combat coronavirus and advised these states to utilise funds from the package to strengthen health infrastructure, reported news agency ANI. He also laid emphasis on the need to focus on rural areas.