India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 3,04,11,634 with 48,786 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have crossed 2.94 crores, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death count increased to 3,99,459 with 1,005 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Meanwhile, Indian drugmaker Zydus Cadila said on Thursday it has applied to the country's drug regulator for emergency use approval of its COVID-19 vaccine and that it plans to manufacture up to 120 million doses of the shot annually.
Coronavirus cases in India dropped from a devastating peak in April and May, however, experts have warned of a third wave and reiterated that widespread vaccination remains one of the best defences against the pandemic.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus (COVID-19) cases:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned its citizens from traveling to several countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
This comes after the UAE last month extended the travel ban on passengers from 14 countries until July 21 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first case of the Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 has been found in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, officials said on Thursday.
A 19-year-old woman from Gopalpur in Palampur sub-division of Kangra had tested positive for COVID-19 on May 25. Her sample has come back positive for the Delta Plus variant of COVID-19, they said.
However, the officials said, her sample that was sent for genome sequencing was collected on May 26, when the state was under a lockdown.
Malaysia reported another 6,988 new COVID-19 infections taking the national total to 758,967, the Health Ministry said Thursday.
Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that five of the new cases are imported and 6,983 are local transmissions.
Telangana reports 869 new #COVID cases, 1,197 recoveries, and 8 deaths in the last 24 hours
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021
Active cases: 13,052
Total recoveries: 6,07,658
Death toll: 3,669 pic.twitter.com/0Pz0by2IyV

Though Gerry Casida is on the priority list for a free Covid-19 vaccine in the Philippines because of his asthma, he's isn't planning to get the shot any time soon.

The Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, Dr Randeep Guleria on Thursday said that there is not much data available on the Delta plus variant to suggest that it is more infective or has a higher rate of mortality.

Russia on Thursday reported 672 coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours, according to a government tally, setting a pandemic high of fatalities for the third day in a row.

A survey done by the All India Institute of Medical Science in Patna has found abnormal rise in blood sugar level in people who were infected with coronavirus during the second wave of the pandemic this year.
Recognising the crucial role played by the ground level health workers during COVID pandemic, the Jharkhand government is imparting special training to a band of 90 women as part of preparation against the anticipated third wave. During the training, information related to anatomy, infection control, epidemiology, vaccination, oxygen administration, injection, disinfection, nursing laboratory technology, first aid, physiotherapy will be given.

Himachal Pradesh reported its first case of Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 on Thursday.

Maharashtra reported 9,195 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday which took its infection tally to 60,70,599, the health department said.
Mumbai logged 661 new coronavirus infections and 21 fresh fatalities on Thursday, while 489 patients recovered from the infection. With the addition of the new infections, the tally of COVID-19 cases jumped to 7,22,879, while the death count increased to 15,472 after 21 more patients succumbed to the infection.

After much delay, a private hospital in Delhi on Thursday started the administration of the Sputnik V Covid vaccine for the general public in a staged manner.
India's cumulative COVID vaccination coverage reaches nearly 34 crore (33,96,28,356), till 7 pm today including more than 38.17 lakh doses administered today. More than 9.61 cr vaccine doses administered in the age group 18-44, so far: Government of India pic.twitter.com/6JGll3v4vn
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021
Uttar Pradesh reports 147 new #COVID19 cases, 260 discharges and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 1, 2021
Total recoveries 16,80,980
Death toll 22,601
Active cases 2671 pic.twitter.com/EFdDv92Km9

A government expert panel has said that Sputnik Light can submit Phase 3 trial data for the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine in India, its India-partner Dr Reddy's said on Thursday, hours after reports said they had been denied approval.
A 47-year-old-man died of Mucormycosis or Black Fungus in Dibrugarh becoming the second fatality due to the infection in Assam. The patient died at the Assam Medical College Hospital on Wednesday, doctors said.

The decision on emergency approval for Covaxin -- the indigenous vaccine being manufactured by Bharat Biotech -- will be made next month, World Health Organisation's Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan told NDTV.
Karnataka reported 3,203 new cases of COVID-19 and 94 deaths, pushing the infection count to 28,47,013 and death count to 35,134 on Thursday. The day also saw 14,302 discharges,taking the total number of recoveries to 27,46,544.
At least 127 inmates of an orphanage-cum-rehabilitation centre in the Mizoram state capital were among the 417 people who tested positive for COVID-19 in the north-eastern state in the last 24 hours.

Delta+ not presently a "Variant of Concern" for WHO, numbers still low: Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan to NDTV
COVID19 | Goa reports 231 cases, 6 deaths and 221 recoveries; active caseload at 2,278 pic.twitter.com/j3s5c6v3cl
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021

Two doses of Covid vaccine appear to provide protection against the rapidly spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus, the European Medicines Agency said on Thursday.

An EU-wide Covid certificate for easier travel came into force on Thursday, just in time for Europe's busy summer vacation period -- but the highly infectious Delta variant is already threatening to curtail its use.

The UK is preparing to offer millions of vulnerable Britons, who have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, a booster jab from September to ensure that the protection is maintained against new variants of the coronavirus before winter comes.
DMRC-MD Dr. Mangu Singh & Chief Medical Officer, Gurugram Dr Virender Yadav today inaugurated a vaccination centre at HUDA City Centre station. The centre has been opened to facilitate citizens to get their vaccination done for free without any registration or slot booking. pic.twitter.com/riABRTpN4R
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation I कृपया मास्क पहनें😷 (@OfficialDMRC) July 1, 2021
As of 21 June 2021, vaccination certificates issued by the Government of India are recognised by Estonia as proof of vaccination against COVID-19. At the moment, persons fully vaccinated and holding required travel documents can enter Estonia: Embassy of Estonia in Delhi
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021

Germany's CureVac announced Wednesday that final trial results showed its coronavirus vaccine had an efficacy rate of just 48 percent, far lower than those developed by mRNA rivals BioNTech and Moderna.
Delhi reports 93 new #COVID19 cases, 111 recoveries and 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021
Total cases 14,34,281
Total recoveries 14,07,943
Death toll 24,981
Active cases 1357 pic.twitter.com/ewGTvNWz8B

Indian drugmaker Zydus Cadila said on Thursday it has applied for emergency use approval of its three-dose COVID-19 vaccine that showed efficacy of 66.6% in an interim study and could become the second home-grown shot if regulators consent.
The Government is coming up with a Rs 50,000 crore Credit Guarantee Scheme to strengthen the health infrastructure in areas, where there is a lack of health facilities
- PIB India (@PIB_India) July 1, 2021
We have allocated Rs 22,000 crore for strengthening Pediatric care: PM @narendramodi #DoctorsDay2021 pic.twitter.com/McpC2YZgCU
Every state gets allocation as per the density of the population/number of the vulnerable population. Centre supplies vaccines well in advance to the states. All states will be taken care of. I wish to assure that everybody will be vaccinated: FM Nirmala Sitharaman, in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/Cibxfb6iTV
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021

The World Health Organization on Thursday said over two months of declining Covid cases in Europe had come to an end, warning a new wave would come "unless we remain disciplined.
Jharkhand: Vaccination drive underway in Ranchi after state govt allotted 5,400 Covaxin doses for the district yesterday.
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021
200 doses are available for July 1&2. Don't think there'll be a shortage. Covishield doses are expected to arrive soon: In-charge, Vaccination Centre pic.twitter.com/hVuZ6Js5DI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the medical fraternity on the occasion of National Doctors' Day.

Seven European Union countries - Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain - and Switzerland have cleared the Serum Institute of India's Covishield amid travel pass row, sources have said.
Indonesia will impose "emergency" coronavirus restrictions this week to battle an alarming surge in infections, President Joko Widodo said Thursday, as the country scrambles to avoid a collapse of its overwhelmed healthcare system.
Widodo said the new restrictions, starting Friday, would last more than two weeks in the capital Jakarta and across hard-hit Java, as well as on the holiday island Bali, after infections surged to record levels, AFP reported.
The government has said the South Asian nation of 168 million people is seeing an "alarming and dangerous" rise in cases, blamed largely on the highly infectious Delta variant, AFP reported.
Russia on Thursday reported 672 coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours, according to a government tally, setting a pandemic high of fatalities for the third day in a row, AFP reported.
The country is battling a surging outbreak driven by the highly infectious Delta variant and worsened by a lagging jab drive, with President Vladimir Putin urging Russians to get vaccinated on national television Wednesday.
Japan's capital and three neighbouring prefectures are among areas under a 'quasi' state of emergency set to run through July 11, but a recent uptick in infections has officials leaning towards keeping restrictions in place - a move that could affect the number of spectators allowed into Olympic venues, Reuters reported.
During a broadcast interview, the head of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said he's "quite concerned" about the Delta variant in the US, ANI reported.
Mumbaikars expressed unhappiness over the suspension of the COVID-19 vaccination drive at civic and government-run centres on Thursday due to shortage of vaccines doses, and raised questions over the management of the inoculation programme.
Tourism makes up almost a fifth of the Thai economy, and the Covid-19 pandemic has led to its worst performance since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, AFP reported.
Mizoram reported 417 new #COVID19 cases on Wednesday, taking the case tally to 20,492 in the state.
- ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021
Active cases: 4,211
Total recoveries: 16,188
Death toll: 93 pic.twitter.com/tMTkDOYfsc