Coronavirus Highlights: Kerala Reports 17,328 Covid-19 Cases, 209 Deaths

Australia's COVID-19 hotspot reports two new local cases

UK PM Boris Johnson calls on G7 to vaccinate world by end of 2022

Punjab adds 1,907 more COVID-19 infections, state's tally at 5,77,997

Madhya Pradesh reports 718 new COVID-19 infections, 38 deaths

Samajwadi leader booked for violating COVID-19 protocols shortly after release from prison
A case was lodged against Samajwadi Party Yuvjan Sabha chief of Auraiya Dharmendra Yadav and 200 others here on Saturday under the Disaster Management Act for flouting COVID-19 protocols and taking out a procession. Mr Yadav, who was released from prison on Friday evening, joined a procession on the Etawah-Auraiya highway with a number of vehicles in violation of COVID-19 protocols, Senior Superintendent of Police Brijesh Kumar Singh said.

Assam reports 3,781 new COVID-19 cases, 44 fresh fatalities

COVID-19: 100 ICU beds being set up in Bengaluru through CSR
A total of 100 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are being set up in Bengaluru through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

While 77 of these ICU beds with set at CV Raman General Hospital, the remaining 24 ICU beds will be set at Epidemic Diseases Hospital, Karnataka Health and Medical Minister K Sudhakar informed on Saturday after his visit to the hospitals.

A 1,000 LPM oxygen generator unit, allocated through PM Cares Fund, is also being installed at CV Raman General Hospital.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka, BS Yediyurappa will inaugurate the ICUs and oxygen generator unit on Monday (June 7), the minister added.

Centre Defends Vaccine Policy, Says Reports Of Inequities "Baseless"
The centre on Saturday defended its liberalised vaccine policy and said the media reports suggesting inequities in distribution of doses were "inaccurate and speculative in nature". It said the vaccine policy that came into effect from May 1 reduces the "operational stress" on state-run vaccination facilities.

"It is reiterated that the Liberalised Vaccine policy, which envisages a larger role for the private sector and the centre, is setting aside 25% of vaccines for the private sector. This mechanism facilitates better access and reduces the operational stress on Government Vaccination facilities in terms of those who could afford to pay and would prefer to go to a private hospital," it said in a statement. Read

Haryana First State To Get Foreign Firm's Reply For Direct Vaccine Sale
A company in Malta has expressed interest to supply up to 60 million doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V to Haryana directly, the state government said today. Haryana is the first state in the country to get a positive response for direct vaccine supply from a foreign company. Other states have been told by vaccine firms that they can only deal with the Union government.

Pharma Regulatory Services Ltd, whose headquarters is in the European nation, has given an "expression of Interest" but did not bid for a contract yet, the state government said in a statement.

The foreign company offered to sell the vaccine at ₹ 1,120 per dose.

"As per the offer made by the firm, the per dose cost of the vaccine will be nearly ₹ 1,120. The firm has further given a timeline of 30 days to supply the first batch of 5 lakh doses, followed by 1 million doses every 20 days till supply is completed against a letter of credit issued in their name," the state government said in the statement.

Kerala Reports 17,328 Covid-19 Cases, 209 Deaths
Kerala reported 17,328 new COVID-19 cases and 209 deaths on Saturday, taking the total caseload to 25,88,385 and the toll to 9,719.

Recoveries outnumbered the number of fresh cases with 24,003 people being discharged, taking the total to 24,40,642.

Among the districts, Thiruvananthapuram recorded the most number of cases--2,468, followed by Malappuram with 1,980 and Palakkad with 1,899.

"Out of those infected today, 112 reached the state from outside while 16,140 contracted the disease from their contacts. The source of infection of 1,007 people are yet to be traced. Sixty-nine health workers were also among the infected," health Minister Veena George said in a release.

She said 1,16,354 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 2,04,04,806.

13,800 New Covid Cases In Karnataka, 2,686 In Bengaluru
Karnataka on Friday registered 13,800 new coronavirus cases and 365 deaths, data released by the state health department said today. The total active Covid cases in the state now stand at 2,68,275, while the positivity rate and the death rate were reported at 9.69 per cent and 2.64 per cent, respectively. As many as 25,346 patients were discharged on Friday.

Chinese Virologist Says Dr Fauci Emails Prove Her Wuhan Lab Leak Claims
A trove of Fauci's emails covering the onset of the coronavirus outbreak was released this week to media under a freedom of information request.

In one email sent last April, an executive at a health charity thanked Fauci for publicly stating that scientific evidence does not support the lab-leak theory.

Dr Li-Meng Yan was one of the first to research the emerging coronavirus and previously revealed she was forced into hiding after accusing Beijing of a cover-up, New York Post reported.

"Hugely Discriminatory": India Opposes Vaccine Passports At G7 Meet
With little over 3 per cent of its population fully vaccinated, India has firmly opposed the adoption of COVID-19 vaccine passports at the G7 meeting of health ministers on Friday, saying that such an initiative could prove to be "hugely discriminatory".

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, addressing the meeting of his counterparts from seven wealthy nations - to which India was invited this year as a guest - raised concerns about the availability of vaccines and low rates of inoculation in developing nations.

"At this stage of [the] pandemic, it is pertinent to also discuss about India's concern over the idea of a vaccine passport. Considering the fact of lower levels of vaccination in developing countries in contrast to the developed countries and still unaddressed issues related to equitable and affordable access, supply and distribution of safe and effective vaccines, India would propose that implementation of vaccine passports will be hugely discriminatory and disadvantageous to the developing countries," he said.

Tamil Nadu Extends Covid Lockdown Till June 14, Identifies 11 Hotspots
The COVID-19 lockdown in Tamil Nadu has been extended for another week, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced on Saturday as the government announced two sets of relaxations for 11 hotspot districts and the rest of the state. The lockdown, set to end on Monday, will now be in place till June 14.

Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Karur, Namakkal, Tanjore, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai make up the hotspot districts where restriction will continue due to high rate of infection.

In the rest of the state, standalone grocery provision stores will be allowed to function from 6am to 5 pm. However, the fish markets and slaughter houses will be allowed only for wholesale and are to be shifted to open areas to ensure social distancing, a key facet in keeping the virus at bay.

Only 50% Seating Allowed, Take Extra Time: Delhi Metro To Commuters


The Delhi Metro department today advised commuters to take out extra time and strictly follow Covid appropriate behaviour when the rail services resume on Monday. In the guidelines issued today, Delhi government mandated that passengers will allowed to board the metro with only 50 per cent of the seating capacity.

Delhi Reports 414 Covid Cases, Lowest In Over 2 Months, 60 Deaths
Delhi today reported 414 new cases of COVID-19, the lowest since March 15. The national capital also reported 60 deaths due to the highly contagious virus. The total active Covid cases in Delhi are below 7,000, while the recovery rate and the death rate are 97.81 per cent and 1.72 per cent, respectively. The positivity rate in the city is 0.47 per cent, the lowest since March 10. As many as 1,683 patients have recovered in the past 24 hours.

India Overtakes US, Has More Number Of People With 1st Dose Of Covid Vaccine
Member Health NITI Aayog Dr VK Paul on Friday said India has overtaken the United States in terms of the number of people who have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Around 400 new COVID-19 cases in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal

Odisha's COVID-19 tally breaches 8-lakh mark, 40 fresh fatalities recorded
Odisha's COVID-19 tally on Saturday breached the eight-lakh mark after 7,395 more people