Covid-19 Vaccine Registration in India Highlights, Coronavirus Cases in India Tracker, Covid-19 India June 24 Update: The ongoing vaccination drive, touted as one of the largest and fastest in the world, has picked up the pace. On Day 3 of the new vaccination policy, as many as 64.89 lakh doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were administered on Wednesday. Madhya Pradesh administered 11.2 lakh doses, followed by Uttar Pradesh (7.42 lakh), Maharashtra (6.11 lakh), and Gujarat (4.27 lakh).
According to Union Health Ministry’s data, India has so far administered over 30,16 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines since the launch of the mega vaccination drive on January 16. As many as 25 crore people have received at least one dose, while over 5 crore have taken both doses. Under the new vaccination policy, which came into play from June 21, India inoculated over 88 lakh doses on day 1 and over 53 lakh on day 2. India is looking to vaccinate all above 18 years by the year-end.
In the meanwhile, the health ministry has categorized Delta Plus as a variant of concern. So far, 40 cases of the Delta Plus variant have been found in India; most of these cases are from Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh. While the Delta Plus variant’s virulence and transmissibility are being investigated, the government has asked these states to immediately take up containment measures.
India has been reporting below 1 lakh new cases for the past few weeks. India reported 54,069 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 3,00,82,778, according to Union Health Ministry data. The covid-19 death toll also increased to 3,91,981 with 1,321 fatalities linked to Coronavirus infections reported in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said. The recovery rate has improved to 96.61%, while the weekly positivity rate remains below 5%, currently at 3.04%, and the daily positivity rate at 2.91%. The active caseload in the country also dropped to 6,27,057.
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Chhattisgarh’s COVID-19 count rose to 9,92,391 on Thursday with addition of 317 cases, while the death toll mounted by eight to 13,415, an official said. The number of recoveries reached 9,71,662 after a total of 81 people were discharged from various hospitals, while 524 others completed their home isolation during the day. The number of active cases in the state stands at 7,314, the official said.
Raipur district reported 18 new cases, taking the caseload to 1,57,087, including 3,128 deaths. Bijapur recorded 38 new cases, Janjgir-Champa 37 and Dantewada 26, among other districts, he said. With 24,274 samples tested on Thursday, the overall test count went up to 1,01,21,646.
Chhattisgarh’s coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 9,92,391, new cases 317, death toll 13,415, recovered 9,71,662, active cases 7,314, tests conducted today 24,274, total number of tests 1,01,21,646. (PTI)
Manipur reports 549 new COVID cases, 655 recoveries and 11 deaths
Active cases: 9,174
Total recoveries: 55,912
Death toll: 1,085 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Chandigarh reports 19 new cases, 42 discharges today; the total number of active cases in the UT is 247 (ANI)
COVID-19 | 102 new cases, 19 deaths and 253 discharges reported in Haryana today; the number of active cases in the State is 1,990 (ANI)
Punjab reports 382 new cases of COVID-19, 20 deaths and 715 discharges; active cases in the state are 5,274 (ANI)
Telangana reports 1088 new COVID cases, 1511 recoveries and 9 deaths today.
Active cases: 16,030
Total recoveries: 5,98,139
Death toll: 3,607 (ANI)
India’s cumulative COVID vaccination coverage exceeded 30.72-crore mark. Over 54.07 lakh vaccine doses administered today: Union Health Ministry (ANI)
Delhi reports 109 new COVID19 cases, 131 recoveries, and 8 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Total cases 14,33,475
Total recoveries 14,06,760
Death toll 24,948
Active cases 1,767 (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh reports 161 new COVID-19 cases, 322 recoveries, and 2 deaths in the last 24 hours; active cases at 2,123 (ANI)
Tamil Nadu reports 6,162 new COVID cases, 9,046 recoveries, and 155 deaths today.
Active cases: 49,845
Total recoveries: 23,67,831
Death toll: 31,901 (ANI)
Goa reports 229 new COVID cases, 258 recoveries and 9 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Active cases: 2727
Total recoveries: 1,59,677
Death toll: 3022 (ANI)
COVID-19 | Karnataka reports 3979 new cases, 9768 discharges and 138 deaths today.
Active cases: 1,10,523
Total recoveries: 26,78,473
Death toll: 34,425 (ANI)
Sikkim’s COVID-19 tally rose to 19,681 on Thursday as 92 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the Himalayan state’s coronavirus death toll to 298, a health bulletin said.
East Sikkim district registered the highest number of new cases at 52, followed by West Sikkim (25), South Sikkim (14) and North Sikkim (1). The Himalayan state now has 2,282 active cases, while 16,850 people have recovered from the disease, and 251 patients have migrated to other states so far.
The state’s positivity rate stands at 14.1 per cent, while the recovery rate among the coronavirus patients has increased to 85.6 per cent, it said.
Sikkim has tested over 1.58 lakh samples for COVID-19 thus far, including 652 in the last 24 hours. (PTI)
Mysuru in Karnataka has become the sole district to be under lockdown as the rest of the state exited restrictions with overall positivity dipping to 2.87 percent. Mysuru, however, recorded an 8.4 percent total positivity rate (TPR). There was only a marginal dip in TPR in the last three days. On weekend it was even more at 10 percent.
Mysuru so far has recorded 1.65 lakh Covid-19 cases and 2, 046 official deaths. One lakh new infections and 963 fatalities were witnessed officially in the second wave. A huge public clamour is rising, asking for relaxation. | Read More
Jharkhand’s COVID-19 tally soared to 3,44,914 on Thursday as 139 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the state’s coronavirus death toll to 5,104, a health bulletin said.
East Singhbum district recorded the highest number of new cases at 25, followed by Dhanbad (14) and Latehar (12), it said. The fresh fatalities were reported in Dumka and Simdega.
The state now has 1,364 active cases, while 3,38,446 people have recovered from the disease thus far, including 190 in the last 24 hours, the bulletin said.
The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state has improved to 98.12 per cent, while the mortality rate stands at 1.47 per cent. (PTI)
4,981 fresh COVID-19 cases take Andhra Pradesh’s caseload to 18,67,017; 38 more fatalities push death toll to 12,490: Official bulletin (PTI)
Kerala reports 12,078 new COVID19 cases, 136 deaths and 11,469 recoveries in the last 24 hours. (ANI)
We will do anything to effectively deal with the third wave. I am also preparing the CM residence to accommodate Covid patients during the third wave: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat (PTI)
A day after arresting three persons for allegedly being involved in the fake Covid-19 medicine trade, the Odisha Police captured the prime accused in the case on Thursday, an official said. The managing director of Medilloyd Medicament Private Limited, which stored above 17,400 fake medicines, was arrested in Cuttack.
He had moved the Orissa High Court praying for anticipatory bail in the case and his application is pending, the official said. (PTI)
At present, schools & colleges are closed. Based on vaccination drive for people above 18 years it will be decided on how to go ahead… However, govt hasn’t decided anything on it, we will look into it after discussion: Karnataka Deputy CM Dr. CN Ashwathnarayan (ANI)
229 fresh COVID-19 cases take Uttar Pradesh’s tally to 17,05,012 while 32 more fatalities push death toll to 22,368: Official (PTI)
The COVID-19 death toll in Uttar Pradesh rose to 22,368 on Thursday with 32 more fatalities, while 229 new cases pushed the infection tally to 17,05,012, an official said. “In the past 24 hours, 229 fresh cases were reported in the state while 308 people recovered from the infection and have been discharged, taking the overall recoveries to 16,79,092,” Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters. The count of active COVID-19 cases stands at 3,552, he said, adding that the recovery rate currently is 98.5 per cent. Of the 3,552 active cases, 2,149 are in home isolation, he said. In the past 24 hours, over 2.38 lakh samples were tested, while more than 5.62 crore tests have been conducted so far in the state, the officer said. (PTI)
Jharkhand’s COVID-19 tally soared to 3,44,914 on Thursday as 139 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the state’s coronavirus death toll to 5,104, a health bulletin said. East Singhbum district recorded the highest number of new cases at 25, followed by Dhanbad (14) and Latehar (12), it said. The fresh fatalities were reported in Dumka and Simdega. The state now has 1,364 active cases, while 3,38,446 people have recovered from the disease thus far, including 190 in the last 24 hours, the bulletin said. (PTI)
Maharashtra CM directs Health Dept to make plans to for all districts to tackle the possible third wave of COVID. CM was talking to collectors of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur & Hingoli districts. Health Min Rajesh Tope was also present: CM Secretariat (ANI)
Maharashtra CM directs Health Dept to make plans to for all districts to tackle the possible third wave of COVID. CM was talking to collectors of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur & Hingoli districts. Health Min Rajesh Tope was also present: CM Secretariat (ANI)
We have to wait till July & let number of cases go to zero. We’ll reopen Goa for tourists with proper screening. Both doses of vaccines & -ve RT-PCR report will be made mandatory for tourists for first three months after reopening of tourism in state: Goa Ports Min Michael Lobo (ANI)
Sikkim’s COVID-19 tally rose to 19,681 on Thursday as 92 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the Himalayan state’s coronavirus death toll to 298, a health bulletin said. East Sikkim district registered the highest number of new cases at 52, followed by West Sikkim (25), South Sikkim (14) and North Sikkim (1). The Himalayan state now has 2,282 active cases, while 16,850 people have recovered from the disease, and 251 patients have migrated to other states so far. The state’s positivity rate stands at 14.1 per cent, while the recovery rate among the coronavirus patients has increased to 85.6 per cent, it said. (PTI)
Delta variant is a version of the coronavirus that has been found in more than 80 countries since it was first detected in India. It got its name from the World Health Organisation, which names notable variants after letters of the Greek alphabet. Viruses constantly mutate, and most changes aren’t concerning. But there is a worry that some variants might evolve enough to be more contagious, cause more severe illness or evade the protection that vaccines provide. Experts say the delta variant spreads more easily because of mutations that make it better at latching onto cells in our bodies. In the United Kingdom, the variant is now responsible for 90% of all new infections. In the US, it represents 20% of infections, and health officials say it could become the country’s dominant type as well. It’s not clear yet whether the variant makes people sicker since more data needs to be collected, said Dr Jacob John, who studies viruses at the Christian Medical College at Vellore in southern India. Studies have shown that the available vaccines work against variants, including the delta variant. Researchers in England studied how effective the two-dose AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were against it, compared with the alpha variant that was first detected in the UK. The vaccines were protective for those who got both doses but were less so among those who got one dose. It’s why experts say it’s important to be fully vaccinated. And it’s why they say making vaccines accessible globally is so critical. (AP)
Coronavirus infections continue to soar in Russia, with the authorities reporting 20,182 new cases on Thursday and 568 further deaths. Both tallies are the highest since late January. A surge in infections that hit Russia earlier this month comes as the authorities struggle to overcome widespread vaccine hesitancy and immunize its 146 million people. As of Wednesday, only 20.7 million or just 14 per cent of the the population have received at least one shot of the vaccine, while 16.7 million. 11 per cent, have been fully immunised. In response to the soaring contagions, authorities in 14 Russian regions have made vaccinations mandatory for certain groups of people, such as state officials, those employed in retail, healthcare, education, restaurants and other service-providing businesses. In most of those regions, eligible companies are required to ensure vaccination of at least 60% of their staff in the coming months. (PTI)
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation to resume bus operations from Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Mangaluru and other places of the State to Mumbai, Pune, Miraj, Solapur, Pandharapur and Tuljapur in Maharashtra from 25 June with 50% seating capacity (ANI)
4,981 new COVID19 cases, 38 deaths and 6,464 recoveries reported in Andhra Pradesh in the past 24 hours (ANI)
4,981 new COVID19 cases, 38 deaths and 6,464 recoveries reported in Andhra Pradesh in the past 24 hours (ANI)
Cuba and its scientists are celebrating in the midst of the country’s battle against the Covid-19 pandemic as its Abdala vaccine candidate showed 92.28 per cent efficacy in the final results of a phase III trial using a three-dose vaccination schedule. The Caribbean island is the first Latin American country to present its own vaccine against the coronavirus, with five projects at different stages of research. READ FULL STORY
Researchers have developed a non-invasive and low-cost method that can accurately and rapidly detect COVID-19 using samples taken from the screens of smartphones. The researchers from University College London (UCL) in the UK analysed swabs from mobile screens rather than directly from people using the method known as Phone Screen Testing (PoST). They found that people who tested positive by the regular nasal swabbing PCR test were also positive when samples were taken from smartphone screens. The new method, described in the journal eLife on Tuesday, detected the COVID-19 virus on the phones of 81 to 100 per cent of contagious people with a high viral load, suggesting it is as accurate as antigen tests. The researchers noted that globally active screening for COVID-19 is still a priority as new variants keep emerging and the vaccination rollout is not guaranteed in many countries. However, testing is expensive and can be physically unpleasant, both of which are significant hurdles on the road to an effective test and trace system, they said. As PoST is an environmental test, rather than a clinical test, it is both non-invasive and less expensive than a traditional nasal swabbing PCR, according to the researchers. This means not only is it suitable for rollout in lower-income countries, but it also removes the discomfort of current COVID-19 testing options, potentially increasing take-up of regular testing among the general population, they explained. The team noted that PoST sampling takes less than a minute and does not require medical personnel, which eases mass adoption in big facilities and large-scale applications. (PTI)
Allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to a state is done based on its population, caseload, utilisation efficiency and wastage factors, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday said and dismissed media reports alleging non-transparent distribution of the jabs. The ministry said the allegations of non-transparent distribution of vaccines among states are “completely without any basis, and not fully informed”. It clarified that the Government of India continues to allocate COVID-19 vaccines to states and union territories in a transparent manner based on the population of a state, caseload, its utilisation efficiency and wastage factors. In a statement, the ministry said India’s National COVID Vaccination Programme is built on scientific and epidemiological evidence, WHO guidelines and global best practices. (PTI)
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences here is imparting special training to its nursing staff and creating a separate 100-bed Covid ward for children in view of the possibility of the third wave of coronavirus. “With experts warning that the third wave may affect children more than others, we are leaving nothing to chance,” AIIMS Director Ravi Kant said on Thursday. The focus is on increasing the number of beds, equipment and trained manpower especially for children, he said. An additional 100-bed Covid ward with 50 oxygen supported and 50 ICU beds is being created at the hospital exclusively for children, Dean, Hospital Affairs, U B Mishra, said. A team of 55 trained resident doctors and 50 trained nursing staff has been kept ready for the treatment of children alone, he said. (PTI)
The Meghalaya High Court has asked all shops, business houses and commercial vehicles in the state to put on display the COVID-19 vaccination status of their employees at a “conspicuous” place to allow people make a conscious decision before using their services. The court, which filed a suo moto PIL in the interest of common people, also warned of stern action against anyone involved in spreading misinformation on the vaccination drive. A division bench of the high court, headed by Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder, said in its order on Wednesday, “At the outset, it must be stated clearly and unequivocally that vaccination is need of the hour – nay, an absolute necessity – in order to overcome this global pandemic which is engulfing our world.” It directed shops and business establishments to display “vaccinated” prominently at a conspicuous place only if the employees have taken the jab. (PTI)
The Union Territory of Ladakh recorded 10 new coronavirus cases, the lowest daily rise this year, taking the infection tally to 19,881, officials said on Thursday. The twin districts of Leh and Kargil have so far recorded 16,405 and 3,476 positive cases respectively and 202 Covid-related deaths. However, the number of new infections started declining from June 6 onwards. On June 11, Ladakh recorded 31 cases. Out of the 10 new cases, the officials said, eight persons tested positive in Leh and two in Kargil, they said. No death from COVID-19 was reported in UT Ladakh yesterday, they said. Thirty-two patients — 23 in Leh and 9 in Kargil — were discharged after recovery, (PTI)
A single dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine offers around 60 per cent protection against infection from SARS-CoV-2 in adults aged 65 years and above, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. To obtain real-world data on the effectiveness of these vaccines in care homes, the researchers from the University College London (UCL) in the UK used data from the VIVALDI study. That research investigated SARS-CoV-2 transmission, infection outcomes, and immunity in residents and staff in long-term care facilities in England for adults aged 65 years and older since June 2020. READ FULL STORY
Mid-sized motorcycle maker Royal Enfield on Thursday said it has earmarked Rs 20 crore to support relief and rehabilitation efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Rs 20-crore amount is in addition to Rs 50 crore committed last year by Eicher Group to support relief efforts. Royal Enfield, which is a part of Eicher Motors, noted that in addition to working with state governments and NGOs across Delhi-NCR and Tamil Nadu, the earmarked amount is being distributed under various areas, including building sustainable medical support. The company in association with Ekam Foundation has commissioned an Oxygen Manifold plant at Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNATC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, the niche bike maker said in a statement. Royal Enfield is also enabling access to oxygen generators for six government hospitals in Tamil Nadu, it added. The company is also procuring and supplying critical care equipment to six government and two charitable hospitals and 30 public healthcare centres in Tamil Nadu, the company said. (PTI)