India reported 1,32,788 new coronavirus infections taking the country's tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,83,07,832, while the daily positivity rate has further dropped to 6.57 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The COVID-19 death count climbed to 3,35,102 with 3,207 fresh deaths. The active cases were recorded below 20 lakh for the second consecutive day, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Also, 20,19,773 tests were conducted on Tuesday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 35,00,57,330, while the daily positivity was recorded at 6.57 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for nine consecutive days, the ministry said.
The weekly positivity rate has declined to 8.21 per cent. he active cases have reduced to 17,93,645 comprising 6.34 er cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 92.48 per cent.
A net decline of 1,01,875 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in a big move to clear the way for foreign vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna, the drug regulator has done away with the requirement of India-specific trials. Foreign vaccines approved by specific countries and WHO for emergency use will no longer need bridging trials in India, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has said in an attempt to fast-track the import of doses needed to bolster vaccinations.
Pfizer and Moderna were among the companies that had requested the government for waivers like indemnity and for post-approval local trials. The government has yet to take a decision on indemnity or liability from compensation for any severe side effects.
Here are the highlights on Covid-19 Cases in India:
The Maharashtra government plans to put most of the new COVID-19 patients in institutional isolation instead of home quarantine, officials said on Wednesday.
Four people were arrested today for allegedly disturbing and obstructing a team of healthcare workers while they were conducting Covid tests at a tea estate in Assam's Cachar district.
The Ministry of Railways on Wednesday informed that the top three contributors to Oxygen Express are Jharkhand, Orissa, and Gujarat, reported news agency ANI.
Oxygen Expresses has so far loaded 8,025 tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen from Jharkhand, 7,102 tonnes from Odisha, 6,384 tonnes from Gujarat, 1,360 tonnes from West Bengal, 488 tonnes from Maharashtra, 218 tonnes from Chhattisgarh, and 164 tonnes from Andhra Pradesh for delivery across the country, the Ministry informed in a statement.
Railways has delivered more than 2,3741 tonnes in more than 1,405 tankers to various states across the country.
344 Oxygen Expresses have completed their journey so far and brought relief to various States.
Prasar Bharati today announced that India has begun the clinical trial of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on children. The testing is being done at the AIIMS Patna, it said.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced that fixed deposits of Rs five lakh will be made in the name of orphaned children who have lost at least one parent to COVID-19.
Senior Jannayak Janata Party leader and former MLA Puran Singh Dabra died of COVID-19 on Wednesday at a private hospital in Gurgaon, according to news agency PTI. He was 75. Mr Dabra, JJP general secretary, breathed his last on Wednesday evening, a party statement said. Senior JJP leaders, including party president Ajay Singh Chautala, condoled the demise of Mr Dabra.
Gujarat reported 1,333 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the tally to 8,12,063, while 18 patients died and nearly 4,100 recovered from the infection, the state health department said, according to news agency PTI. As many as 4,098 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, pushing the number of recovered cases in the state to 7,75,958, it said. A total of 18 patients died, increasing the COVID-19 fatality count to 9,873, said the department in a release. The state's recovery rate has further improved to 95.55 per cent. The number of active cases in the state now stands at 26,232 with 452 patients being on ventilators, the release said.
Twenty-nine coronavirus patients, four of whom also had the Black Fungus infection, died on Wednesday, taking Himachal Pradesh's overall Covid death figures to 3,194, an official said, reported news agency PTI. The official said the state also reported 891 fresh Covid cases, pushing the total number to 1,92,142.
Of the four Black Fungus or Mucormycosis cases, two were reported from Kangra and one each from Solan and Hamirpur, the official said. The number of recoveries rose to 1,76,949, with 1,292 patients recuperating from the disease in a 24-hour period, the official said. According to the health department, the state currently has 11,975 active coronavirus cases.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Wednesday said collective efforts of people and the government are helping the state in overcoming the COVID-19 challenges despite lacking adequate manpower and facilities, reported news agency PTI.
Highlighting how the state is battling COVID-19, Mr Zoramthanga, in his 12-minute-long video-recorded speech, said the way the government and the people are collectively fighting the Covid-19 is quite interesting as all communities, organisations and people from all walks of life are involved in it.
The chief minister said that when the state fought against the first wave of COVID-19 it was relatively tolerable and "we could somehow manage to tackle it." "Then came the second wave, which is more problematic and burdensome," he said.
He also said that many organisations, churches and individuals came forward to assist the government by contributing towards the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for COVID-19. Even children contributed to the fund by opening their piggy banks, he said.
The Gujarat Chief Minister's Office said all shops in 36 cities of the state will reopen from June 4 (9 am to 6 pm), according to news agency ANI. Home delivery by restaurants will be allowed till 10 pm. Night curfew (9 pm to 6 am) will be imposed in these cities during June 4-11, it said.
Goa on Wednesday reported 706 new coronavirus positive cases and 22 fatalities, taking the tally to 1,57,275 and the death count to 2,693, a health official said, according to news agency PTI. A total of 1,711 patients were discharged during the day, taking the count of recoveries in Goa so far to 1,43,742, he said. Goa is now left with 10,840 active cases, the official said. With 3,715 new tests, the total number of samples tested so far in Goa has risen to 8,31,372, he added.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said that 594 doctors have died due to COVID-19 in the ongoing second wave, with Delhi recording the maximum 107 fatalities, according to news agency PTI. The IMA, which is the country's top medical body, said that 748 doctors died of the infection across India in the first wave of the pandemic.
Delhi recorded 107 deaths in the second wave, followed by Bihar 96, Uttar Pradesh 67, Rajasthan 43, Jharkhand 39 and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana 32 each, according to data compiled at the IMA's COVID-19 registry.
The West Bengal Higher Secondary Board has formed an expert committee to discuss whether the Class 12 examination can be conducted during the prevailing COVID crisis and if not, then how the evaluation will be done, according to news agency ANI. The report will be submitted within 72 hours, it said. The state authorities, meanwhile, cancelled Wednesday's press conference to announce the schedule of Class 10 and 12 board examinations, reported PTI. No reason was assigned for the cancellation.
After relaxation in timings amid Covid-induced lockdown in Telangana, fewer people were seen in the markets in Hyderabad on Wednesday, reported news agency ANI. This came as the relaxation timings in the state have been extended to 7 hours daily from 6 am to 1 pm instead of only four hours from 6 am to 10 am like before the new rules are implemented. The lockdown in Telangana, which was earlier scheduled to end on May 31, was extended by another 10 days on Sunday but some relaxations in the timings have been given by the state government.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday said that with over 21 crore of its people vaccinated against Covid, India ranks third globally in absolute number of COVID-19 doses administered till now among its citizens till date, reported news agency ANI.
Mr Reddy said that many as 21,85,00,000 people have been vaccinated across the country so far. "There is a large-scale vaccination drive going on. Compared to other countries of the world, India is the third country to inoculate so many people," he added.
The Union health ministry has termed as "factually incorrect and without any basis" media reports alleging that while the Centre has promised 120 million (12 crore) doses of anti-Covid vaccines in June, only around 58 million (5.8 crore) doses were administered of the 79 million (7.9 crore) doses available in May, reported news agency PTI.