COVID-19 India Updates: The death count increased to 3,49,186 with 2,427 new fatalities.
India reported 1,00,636 fresh COVID-19 cases, the lowest in 61 days, taking the infection tally to 2,89,09,975, while the number of active cases dropped to 14,01,609, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Monday.
The death count due to coronavirus reached 3,49,186 with 2,427 new fatalities, the lowest in around 45 days, the data updated at 8 am showed.
A total of 96,982 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours on April 6.
Also, 15,87,589 tests were conducted on Sunday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 36,63,34,111, while the daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.34 per cent.
It has been less than 10 per cent for 14 consecutive days, the ministry said.
The weekly positivity rate has declined to 6.21 per cent.
Meanwhile, several parts of India have begun the process of cautiously resuming activities stopped two months ago when the coronavirus cases began its deadly surge in the second wave. The 'unlocking' comes as Covid cases have seen a steady fall in recent weeks.
In Delhi, shops in malls, markets, market complexes, standalone shops and neighborhood shops opened with the restrictions of odd-even and timings. Delhi Metro, which was suspended since May 10, resumed services with 50 per cent capacity. Private offices are allowed to function with 50 per cent staff.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus:
WHO chief says COVID-19 vaccine inequity creates "two-track pandemic"Glaring COVID-19 vaccine inequality has created a "two-track pandemic" with Western countries protected and poorer nations still exposed, World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday, renewing pleas for shot donations.
"Increasingly, we see a two-track pandemic," Tedros told reporters during a press conference from Geneva. "Six months since the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered, high-income countries have administered almost 44% of the world's doses. Low-income countries have administered just 0.4%. The most frustrating thing about this statistic is that it hasn't changed in months."
Tourists delight as Spain opens up to vaccinated travellersHordes of beaming tourists were flying into the sun-soaked resort of Malaga on Monday after Spain opened its borders to all vaccinated travellers from all over the world.
"We're thrilled, delighted. We love Spain, the sun, the food and everything about it," said Irish holidaymaker Gillian Ford, who flew in from rainy Dublin after being fully vaccinated. "You only live once so you need to get out and enjoy," she said before heading off to the beaches of Marbella with her husband Edward.
In throwing open its borders, Spain is hoping the influx of visitors will revitalise its all-important tourism sector that has been battered by the pandemic.
New York plans huge August concert to celebrate post-Covid "rebirth"New York is planning to host a major concert in Central Park in August as a way to celebrate the city's "rebirth" following the Covid-19 pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday. No program details were revealed, but De Blasio has asked veteran music producer Clive Davis -- who often draws A-listers to his events -- to organize the line-up.
"You can see the comeback happening," De Blasio told a press conference, announcing a "Homecoming Week" of events to celebrate the Big Apple's emergence from the pandemic, which hit the city especially hard in the early days.
Medicines Dry Up As Black Fungus Cases Rise, Bihar Says Wait For Tuesday
Black Fungus cases spiking in Bihar, the state government has not sent supplies of the anti-fungal injection for over 300 patients admitted in different hospitals of Patna for two straight days. With supplies for Saturday also being patchy, the hospitals in the state are running short of Liposomal Amphotericin B injection -- the most effective treatment for Black Fungus or Mucormycosis. The state government has assured that the supply will resume on Tuesday. Health Minister Mangal Pandey said all the hospitals will be provided the much-needed injections on Tuesday, "the Central Government assured us".
UK Expands Covid Vaccination Programme To All Above 25The UK's health service on Monday declared it had hit a new "exciting milestone" in its COVID-19 vaccination programme as it confirmed that all adults aged 25 and over will be offered their first dose of a vaccine from Tuesday.
The expansion of the vaccine drive coincided with the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock's statement to the House of Commons, where the minister revealed that vaccines have averted an estimated 39,000 hospitalisations and more than 13,000 deaths in the country.
He also said that of 12,386 cases of the Delta variant - or the B1.617.2 variant first detected in India - 126 people were admitted to hospital and of these, 83 were unvaccinated, 28 had one dose and three had two doses.
"Every day brings with it another exciting milestone in our vaccination programme - the largest and most successful in NHS history," said Hancock.
Cases Dropping, But Bengaluru Covid Fatality Rate Higher Than Karnataka's
With a lockdown in place and what is, hopefully, the slowing of the second wave, the number of new coronavirus cases in Bengaluru has been reducing. But the case fatality rate, or CFR, is high.
The number of deaths reported from Bengaluru have doubled in the last month and was at a cumulative total of 14,875 in data released on Sunday.
According to this data, the case fatality rate in Bengaluru was 7.71 per cent as compared to the overall 2.62 per cent in Karnataka.
Bengaluru's data on Sunday showed 187 Covid-linked deaths.
The chief of the city's civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has said deaths recorded on one day did not all happen on that day. This even though it is that figure that is used to calculate the case fatality rate.
Mumbai's Daily COVID-19 Tally Remains Below 1,000 For 8th Consecutive Day
Mumbai on Monday reported 728 fresh coronavirus positive cases and 28 fatalities, taking the tally to 7,12,329 and the toll to 15,066, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
Mumbai had recorded 794 cases and 20 deaths due to COVID-19 the previous day. Mumbai has been reporting less than 1,000 cases every day for the last seven days.
With 28,076 new tests, the number of samples tested so far in Mumbai rose to 64,53,499, as per the BMC data. Mumbai is now left with 15,786 active cases.
Passports Of Students, Athletes To Be Linked With Vaccination Proof
People going abroad for education, jobs or as part of Indian contingent for Tokyo Olympic, will have to get their CoWIN vaccination certificates linked to their passport. They can also take the second dose of vaccine after 28 days, the Centre said today as part of a new set of rules for vaccination. The facility shall be available to those who need to undertake international travel for the specified purposes till August 31, the government said.
The new rules also said that mention of vaccine type as "Covishield" is sufficient and "no other qualifying entries are required", the government added, setting off questions whether the Vaccine developed by the Oxford University and Astrazeneca is only acceptable abroad.
Kerala Extends Lockdown Till June 16, Essential Services Exempted
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has extended the lockdown in Kerala till June 16. The Chief Minister's office said on Twitter that the essential services will be exempted and there will be a "complete lockdown on June 12 and 13."
The selling of commodities like stationary, Jewelry, footwear, will be allowed to operate between 7 am to 7 pm till June 17. Banks in the state will be allowed to open on alternate days in this period.
From June 17, government offices, public sector units and local body offices will be allowed to function with 50 per cent staff.
PM Modi speech: Top Quotes
The whole country was talking about how we are going to save such a huge population. In a year, we launched 2 made-in-India vaccines. Over 23 crore people have been inoculated so far. We can achieve success only when we believe in ourselves. We had faith in our scientists, which is why when they were doing their research, we prepped the logistics... We constituted the vaccine taskforce last year, when there were only a few Covid cases.
PM Modi speech: Top Quotes
To produce vaccines at such a fast rate is a big achievement but it has its limitations. Vaccination first started only in a few developed countries. We started our vaccination drive based on the parameters set by the WHO. After taking recommendations, it was decided that the vulnerable population will be vaccinated first which is why frontline, health care and those above 45 were vaccinated first.
PM Modi speech: Top quotes
A lot of demands were raised that the states should get rights for their own Covid management, they started raising demands. We accepted their demands. States demanded vaccine decentralisation, questions were raised on age group, questions were raised on why senior citizens were vaccinated first. After giving it a lot of thought, we changed the way vaccinations were done. So, we gave 25 % of the work to states. Now they have started to realise the difficulty the work involves.
PM Modi speech: Top Quotes
Two weeks into the month of May, states began to say that the centralised system (of vaccine distribution) was better. We will take care of the 25% work given to states. It will be implemented in two weeks. From June 21, we will provide free vaccines to states for those above 18.
Free Vaccines For 18+ From June 21, Uniform Vaccine Policy: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that the Centre would take back control of vaccination from the states and provide free vaccines to all in the next two weeks.
"The Centre is taking back total control of vaccination now, will be implemented in next two weeks. The Centre will give free vaccines to states for all above 18. From June 21, the Centre will provide free vaccines to states," PM Modi announced in an address to the nation.
This means those who want to pay can go to private hospitals, who can still buy 25 per cent of the doses directly from manufacturers.
"75% of vaccination will be free and under the Centre, 25% will be paid and by private hospitals," he said.
Uddhav Thackeray Tells ASHA Workers To Build Rural Awareness
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday urged ASHA workers to create awareness about making villages coronavirus-free and said they had an important role to play to stop a possible third wave that could affect children.
Addressing a webinar of Accredited Social Health Activists along with paediatric task force members, Mr Thackeray said parents must not panic while taking care of children infected with COVID-19.
"ASHA workers should take charge of villages and guide residents. They must follow the advice of the paediatric task force and refer patients to the administrative machinery immediately," the Chief Minister said.
COVID-19: ISRO Develops 3 Types Of Ventilators, To Transfer TechnologyThe Indian Space Research Organisation has developed three types of ventilators, and has come forward to transfer the technology to industry for clinical usage as the country battles the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
A low-cost and portable critical care ventilator, ''PRANA'' ("Programmable Respiratory Assistance for the Needy Aid'') is based on the automated compression of an AMBU (Artificial Manual Breathing unit) bag.
The system has a sophisticated control system that includes airway pressure sensor, flow sensor, oxygen sensor, servo actuator as well as expiration and PEEP (Positive End Expiratory Pressure) control valves, according to an interest exploration note posted on the website of Bengaluru-headquartered space agency.
Ivermectin, HCQ, Doxycycline Dropped From Covid Treatment List By CentreThe Union Health Ministry has issued revised guidelines for management of Covid patients, dropping ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir - three widely-used drugs - from its list of approved treatment options.
All three - used for asymptomatic and mild cases - were removed after experts found they did not help patients infected with the coronavirus, according to officials.
However, the guidelines, issued by the ministry's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), differ from those provided by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which recommend both ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.
Coronavirus: 14 New Cases Push COVID-19 Tally Of Andamans To 7,119
The COVID-19 caseload in Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 7,119 as 14 more people tested positive for the disease in the Union Territory, a health department official said on Monday. Of the new patients, two have travel history and others were detected during contact tracing, he said. The death count remained at 122 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours. At least 18 people were cured of the disease during the period, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 6,894.
Delhi, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu Begin Easing Lockdown. What's Opening Today
Several parts of India have begun the process of cautiously resuming activities stopped two months ago when the coronavirus cases began its deadly surge in the second wave. The 'unlocking' comes as Covid cases have seen a steady fall in recent weeks.
Read Here Covishield Produced More Antibodies Than Covaxin In Early Study: Report
The Covishield vaccine produced more antibodies than Covaxin, according to a preliminary study by Coronavirus Vaccine-induced Antibody Titre (COVAT) involving healthcare workers (HCW) who have received both doses of either of the two vaccines.
Coronavirus News: India Reports 1,00,636 New COVID-19 Cases, 2,427 Deaths In 24 Hours
India's total tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 2,89,09,975 with 1,00,636 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have crossed 2.71 crores, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death count increased to 3,49,186 with 2,427 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Key Details Of Covaxin Trial On Children: AIIMS Patna Official To NDTV
Twenty children of 12-18 years have been vaccinated till now as part of the clinical trial of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for this age group, officials associated with the Covid project at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Patna have said. Over 100 minors have lined up for the trials till now, according to them.
Read Here Covid News: Haryana Cabinet To Take Final Decision On Malta Pharma Firm's Sputnik V Offer
The Haryana cabinet will take the final decision and is considering the offer the state government got from a pharmaceutical company in Malta for up to 60 million doses of Sputnik V Covid vaccine to Haryana at a cost of ₹ 1,120 per dose, Health Minister Anil Vij said Sunday. "We are considering the offer and it will be put up before the state cabinet, which will take a final decision," Anil Vij told reporters.
AIIMS Delhi To Screen Children For Covaxin Trials From Today: Sources
The screening of children for clinical trials of Covaxin will start at AIIMS in Delhi from today, days after similar trials started at AIIMS in Patna, sources have said. The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in the national capital will conduct clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Bharat Biotech to see if it is suitable for children between two and 18 years old.
Read Here Hundreds of former leaders urge G7 to vaccinate poor against COVID-19One hundred former presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers have urged the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations to pay for global coronavirus vaccinations to help stop the virus mutating and returning as a worldwide threat. The leaders made their appeal ahead of a G7 summit in England which begins on Friday, when US President Joe Biden will meet the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan.
In their letter to the G7, the former world leaders said global cooperation had failed in 2020, but that 2021 could usher in a new era. "Support from the G7 and G20 that makes vaccines readily accessible to low- and middle-income countries is not an act of charity, but rather is in every country's strategic interest," the letter said.
Brazil reports 39,637 new coronavirus cases, 873 deaths: MinistryBrazil has had 39,637 new cases of the novel coronavirus reported in the past 24 hours, and 873 deaths from COVID-19, the health ministry said on Sunday. The numbers reflect a weekend drop in registered cases and deaths. On a rolling seven-day average, Brazil is reporting more than 1,800 deaths a day.
The South American country has now registered 16,947,062 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 473,404, according to ministry data, in the world's third worst outbreak outside the United States and India, and its second-deadliest.
Over 9 million people facilitated under Vande Bharat Mission: Union MinisterUnion Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said that more than 9 million people have been facilitated under the Vande Bharat Mission so far. The Vande Bharat Mission was started in early May last year to evacuate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus-induced travel restrictions.
Taking on Twitter, Mr Puri said that the Vande Bharat Mission has been a learning experience. "World's largest repatriation mission, VBM has been a learning experience and has given us a template for managing missions of this magnitude in the future. More than 9 million people have been facilitated since May 6, 2020," the Union Minister tweeted.