Coronavirus India LIVE Updates: New Covid Strain Detected By Pune Virologists, Not Found In Indian Cases

Naveen Patnaik Emphasises On Preparatory Measures Gor Possible Third Covid Wave
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday reviewed the COVID-19 situation and its management in the state and emphasised on the advance preparatory measures for the possible third wave of the pandemic, reported news agency ANI.

During the review meeting with senior government officials and district collectors, Mr Patnaik said, "Even though the situation has improved in the state, we are still not completely free from the effects of the second wave, so with the advent of various festivals, we need to be more vigilant."

Telangana Extends Covid Lockdown Till June 19 With Relaxations
Keeping in view the number of Covid cases in some districts of the state, Telangana has extended the lockdown for another 10 days, starting June 10, reported news agency ANI.

"The spread of Covid is not under control in Satthupalli, Madhira, Nalgonda, Nagarjuna Sagar, Munugode, Devarakonda, Miryalguda Assembly segments. Therefore, it has been decided to extend the existing lockdown," the state cabinet said.

The cabinet has also decided to ease restrictions between 6 am to 5 pm during the lockdown and also granted an additional one hour, till 6 pm, for people to reach home from their offices.

US' Washington State Offers Free Marijuana To Encourage Covid Vaccination
US' Washington is offering "joints for jabs," in the latest innovative bid to get more Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 as inoculation rates continue to slow.

Two elderly Covid patients, who got antibody therapy on Jun 1, test negative

US state offers 'joints for jabs' to boost Covid vaccine use

Covishield At 780, Covaxin At 1,410: Maximum Price For Private Hospitals

Update| Telangana government extends COVID-19 restrictions for 10 more days from June 10; night curfew (6 pm-6am) to continue.

445 Film Artists, Technicians Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Altogether 450 people, including artistes and technicians, were vaccinated on Tuesday as the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India began a free COVID-19 inoculation drive in the city.

FCTWEI President Swaroop Biswas said the drive was conducted at the ''Chalachchitra Satabarsha Bhaban'' in south Kolkata evoking a huge response.

"We aim to vaccinate 6,000 people in the industry in the coming days as part of our initiative to ensure vaccination for all in the entertainment sector. We call upon all stakeholders to come forward so that we can make our shooting zones free from the threat of coronavirus," Mr Biswas said.

797 Fresh COVID-19 Cases In UP, 94 More Deaths
Uttar Pradesh's COVID-19 caseload surged to 16,99,787 on Tuesday with 797 fresh infections while the death count climbed to 21,425 as 94 more people died due to the disease.

Lucknow reported the highest number of fresh cases at 50, followed by 33 from Pilibhit, 31 from Gorakhpur, 29 from Varanasi, 27 from Kanpur Nagar, 25 from Meerut, 24 from Siddharthnagar, 23 from Kushinagar, 22 from Allahabad, 21 from Ghaziabad and 20 each from Muzaffarnagar and Gautam Buddh Nagar, according to a health department bulletin.

UP Trader Welfare Body Urges PM Modi To Provide Help To Overcome Pandemic Crisis
Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for relief given to COVID-19-hit 80 crore people, Uttar Pradesh Vyapaari Kalyan Board Chairman Ravi Kant Garg has requested PM Modi to offer a similar facility to middle class and small traders.

"Over 30 crore middle class and small traders are suffering from first and second waves of the pandemic. They need government assistance as they also have reached hand-to-mouth stage, and are under heavy debt," Ravi Kant Garg, chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Vyapaari Kalyan Board, said in a virtual interaction with the reporters on Tuesday.

He said the electricity department's existing minimum bill system is a "curse for small traders and the middle class", as they used the least amount of power.

Jammu And Kashmir's Bandipora Achieves 100% Vaccination Of 45-Plus Age Group In 20 Villages
Bandipora in Jammu and Kashmir has achieved 100 percent vaccination of eligible persons in 45-plus age group in 20 villages while the overall percentage of vaccinated persons in the targeted age group was 85 percent in the district, an official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Owais Ahmad said the district administration has been able to administer one lakh doses and vaccinate the 100 percent population of the eligible age group in 20 villages of the district.

Goa To Open Up Vaccination For 18-44 Age Group Heading Abroad
The Goa government on Tuesday said it will open up COVID-19 vaccination for persons in the 18 to 44 age group, who need to travel abroad, from Wednesday onwards.

Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the state will administer the first dose of vaccines to people in 18-44 age category, who need to travel abroad for work, education and sporting events, as per the centre's guidelines.

INS Tarkash Brings Medical Supplies To Mumbai From Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
Indian Naval Ship Tarkash on Tuesday brought in critical medical supplies from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to Mumbai harbour in its third trip as part of operation Samudra Setu II, an official said.

As per a release issued by the Navy, INS Tarkash had first entered Al Shuwaikh Harbour in Kuwait on May 31 and took in 785 oxygen cylinders.

The ship then took in 300 oxygen cylinders from Ad Dammam Port in Saudi Arabia on June 1 and entered Mumbai harbour with the medical consignment on Tuesday morning, the release stated.

Chandigarh Allows Opening Of Shops Till 6 PM, Restaurants, Bars With 50% Capacity
As COVID-19 cases show a declining trend in the Union Territory, the Chandigarh administration on Tuesday eased restrictions, allowing all shops to remain open till 6 pm and reducing the night curfew timing, news agency PTI reported.

The administration also allowed all restaurants, bars, gyms, clubs and spas to open with 50 per cent capacity.

However, the cinema halls and theatres will continue to remain closed.

The city is witnessing a consistent drop in daily number of infections. On Monday, Chandigarh had registered 48 new cases, taking the infection tally to 60,707.

Mumbai's Dharavi Records Six New COVID-19 Cases
A day after the civic authorities relaxed certain curbs, the daily count of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai's Dharavi rose to six on Tuesday, a senior official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

With the addition of six new cases in the last 24-hours, the tally of infection in the slum-dominated area has reached 6,844, the official said.

At least 6,465 patients have recovered from the infection so far, leaving the area with 20 active cases, he said.

Jharkhand Reports 6 Fresh COVID-19 Deaths, Lowest In Over A Month
Jharkhand reported six fresh COVID-19 fatalities, the lowest in a single day in May and June so far, raising the death count to 5,060, a health department bulletin said on Tuesday.

The state reported 358 new infections, which took the tally to 3,41,576, it said.

Jharkhand now has 5,312 active cases, while a total of 3,31,204 patients have recovered from the disease, including 726 during the last 24 hours.