Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Delhi reports 24 fresh COVID cases and 56 recoveries today

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Curfew extended in Goa till August 30

The coronavirus-induced curfew in Goa was on Sunday extended till August 30, officials said.

As per a notification issued in the evening, restrictions on the opening of auditoriums, community halls as well as ban on operation of river cruises, spas, massage parlours and casinos will continue as earlier.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 

Telangana adds 231 new cases to COVID-19 tally, two deaths reported

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Israel launches Covid antibody tests for children as young as 3

Israel on Sunday launched antibody testing for children aged as young as three, seeking information on the number of unvaccinated youths who have developed protection against coronavirus ahead of the new school year.Despite surging daily infections caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant, Israel's government insists it wants to avoid the hardships and developmental setbacks caused by school closures.Israel has already begun vaccinating children aged 12 and above.The national serological survey is focused on pupils between the ages of three and 12 who are not yet eligible for the jab, nearly 1.5 million children.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 24 fresh COVID cases and 56 recoveries today

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Iran Reports New Record for Daily COVID Deaths

Iran has reported its highest single-day COVID-19 death toll of the pandemic, according to state media.The official IRNA news agency said Sunday that 684 people had died of the disease since Saturday, while more than 36,400 new cases were confirmed over the same 24-hour period.Iran's previous daily record for COVID-19 deaths was recorded Aug. 16. The country reported its highest number of daily cases the next day, with more than 50,000.A five-day lockdown in the country ended on Saturday.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy gets first dose of coronavirus vaccine

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Sunday received the first of dose of COVID-19 vaccine at his residence.A team of officials and para medical staff of the Department of Health were present during the vaccination, a release from his office said.Rangasamy had undergone treatment at a private hospital in Chennai for Covid in May, a few days after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister to head AINRC-BJP coalition government.The territorial Assembly has been convened to begin its budget session 2021-2022 on August 26.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | UK rolls out new antibody test programme for COVID positives

The UK government on Sunday announced the rollout of a new nationwide antibody surveillance programme, which will make free home antibody tests available for up to 8,000 COVID-positive people a day.The UK Health Security Agency will offer these finger-prick tests to help improve the understanding of immunity against COVID-19 from vaccination and infection.Under the scheme, from Tuesday, anyone aged over 18 will be able to opt in to take part when booking a PCR COVID-19 test through NHS Test and Trace system.“Our new national antibody testing will be quick and easy to take part in, and by doing so you’ll be helping strengthen our understanding of COVID-19 as we cautiously return to a more normal life,” said UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid.“I’m proud to see all parts of the UK uniting around this new initiative and working together to arm ourselves with even more valuable insights into how COVID-19 vaccines are protecting people up and down the UK,” he said.The UK Health Security Agency said it will work alongside NHS Test and Trace testing services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to monitor levels of antibodies in positive cases across the UK.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu govt extends COVID-19 lockdown till September 6 with relaxations

The Tamil Nadu state government has extended COVID-19 curbs till September 9 with additional relaxations. The existing relaxations were scheduled to end by August 23.Chief Minister M K Stalin chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials on August 21 and decided to reopen educational institutions from September 1 along with theatres from August 23."The members of the public should utilise the relaxations being extended by the government in a responsible manner. I appeal to the people to utilise the relaxations properly as the decisions have been made taking into consideration people’s livelihoods, besides students’ education and future,” Stalin said.

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Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 721 children in child care institutions contracted Covid since outbreak: RTI

Over 720 children in child care institutions in 11 states and Union Territories have contracted COVID-19 till now and no fatalities have been reported, according to data from the country's apex child rights body.The data, which was shared by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in response to an RTI query from PTI, also stated that 686 children living in child care institutions (CCIs) have been infected with COVID-19 so far this year.Last year, Uttar Pradesh was the only state out of the 11 states and Union Territories (UTs) to report coronavirus cases among children in CCIs. It had reported 35 cases, according to the data.This year, no coronavirus case has been reported yet from such institutions in Uttar Pradesh, it stated.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Russia confirms 20,564 new COVID-19 cases over past 24 hours

Russia registered 20,564 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, down from 21,000 the day before, taking the overall tally to 6,747,087, the federal response center said on Sunday."Over the past day, 20,564 COVID-19 cases were confirmed across 85 Russian regions, including 1,555 cases (7.6 per cent) without clinical symptoms," the center said, adding that the rate of increase grew to 0.31 per cent.Moscow has the highest number of new cases with 1,661 daily infections, down from 1,852 the day before. The Russian capital was followed by St. Petersburg with 1,481 new cases, down from 1,665 and the Moscow Region with 1,184 cases, up from 1,119.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Tokyo reports 4,392 new coronavirus cases, highest for Sunday

The Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed on Sunday that 4,392 new coronavirus cases, marking the highest figure ever reported for that day of the week.The number, which surpasses the 4,295 cases reported last Sunday, was down from the 5,074 new cases the previous day, when they topped the 5,000 level for the fourth straight day.The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 infections stands at 4,732.9 per day, up 11 percent from the previous week, according to the capital's government.The number of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms increased by one from Saturday to 271.Despite anti-virus measures taken under the state of emergency and quasi-emergency status in hard-hit areas including Tokyo, Japan is grappling with its largest wave of infections yet, with the strain on the medial system showing no signs of abating.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar: 

BJP's Jan Ashirwad Yatra is nothing but a yatra of deceit. People are witnessing what they're doing. They will give their 'aashirwad' in due time. If they really want to work, then they should provide COVID vaccines for people.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates |Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar ties rakhis to COVID frontline workers

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar ties rakhis to COVID frontline workersincluding doctors, nurses and police personnel on the occasion of Rakshabandhan

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Tokyo Paralympics to open under shadow of pandemic

The Tokyo Paralympics open Tuesday after a year-long pandemic delay and with the virus continuing to cast a long shadow as Japan battles a record surge in cases.As at the Olympics, the event will be marked by strict virus rules, with almost all spectators banned and tough restrictions on athletes and other participants.While a swell of domestic support emerged during the Olympics after months of negative polls, there is deep concern in Japan as the Paralympics approach with the country going through a fifth virus wave.More than 25,000 new cases were recorded on Thursday, and medics across the country have warned hospitals are at breaking point with serious cases also at record highs.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Over 52.23 lakh doses administered in India on August 21

More than 52.23 lakh vaccine doses were administered in India on August 21, the Union Health Ministry's latest provisional report suggested. With that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 58.14 crore.On the 218th day of the vaccination drive on August 21,33.79 lakh beneficiaries received their first shot and18.43 lakh people were given their second dose.

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Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Odisha logs 853 new COVID-19 cases, 69 more fatalities

Odisha’s COVID-19 caseload on Sunday rose to 10,00,937 as 853 more people, including 100 children, tested positive for the infection, a health department official said.Sixty-nine fresh fatalities raised the coronavirus death toll to 7,358, he said.At least 100 children are among the new patients, and the infection rate among people below 18 years of age remained at around 12 per cent, the official said.The new cases were detected from 67,834 sample tests conducted on Saturday, and the daily positivity ratio was at 1.26 per cent.Of the fresh cases, 496 were reported from quarantine centres and 357 detected during contact tracing.Khurda district, which comprises the state capital Bhubaneswar, recorded the highest number of new cases at 286, followed by Cuttack at 140.Boudh, Nabarangpur and Nuapada did not report any fresh COVID-19 case on Saturday, while the new patients were detected in the remaining 27 districts of the state.Of the fresh fatalities, 13 each were reported from Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur, 11 from Dhenkanal, eight each from Angul and Kendrapara and five from Jajpur.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Pakistan to allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib amid COVID wave

Pakistan has decided to allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur from next month amidst efforts to contain the fourth wave of the coronavirus.The decision to open Kartarpur shrine was taken by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday due to the approaching death anniversary of Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak Dev on September 22.Fully vaccinated persons with certificates will be allowed to enter Pakistan provided they show real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test reports which should not be more than 72 hours old.Apart from this, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) will also be conducted at airports and in case of a positive result, the individual will not be allowed to enter Pakistan.Besides, as per non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), a maximum of 300 people will be permitted to assemble at a time at the darbar.According to an official of the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), Pakistan had introduced three categories to deal with the coronavirus spread.“Countries in category A are exempted from the mandatory COVID-19 test, travellers from areas falling in category B are required to present a negative PCR test that must be taken within 72 hours of the travel date, while visitors from nations in category C are restricted and can travel only under specific NCOC guidelines,” the official said.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 121 new COVID-19 cases push Arunachal Pradesh's tally to 52,165

Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 52,165 as 121 more people tested positive for the virus, a senior health department official said here on Sunday.The COVID-19 death toll in the frontier state remained at 257, as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the past 24 hours, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.The Capital Complex Region recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 34, followed by West Kameng (28), Lower Subansiri (9), Upper Subansiri (7), Tawang (6).Fresh cases were also reported from Changlang, Kamle, Leparada, East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Shi-Yomi, Upper Siang, West Siang, Lower Siang, Papumpare, Dibang Valley, Lohit, Pakke Kessang and Namsai districts, the official said.Of the fresh cases, 114 were detected through rapid antigen tests, 5 through RT-PCR and 2 through TrueNAT method, the SSO said, adding that 52 people have developed symptoms of COVID-19.Arunachal Pradesh currently has 1,382 active COVID-19 cases, while 50,526 people have recovered from the disease, including 209 patients on Saturday, Jampa said.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 60 COVID-19 cases in Puducherry, no fresh fatalities

Puducherry logged 60 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 1,22,892, while the toll remained at 1,808 with no fresh fatalities being reported. Recoveries outnumbered fresh cases, with 121 people being discharged, taking the total number of those cured to 1,20,237. The new cases were identified after the examination of 3,566 samples, the Director of the Health Department G Sriramulu said. Puducherry region accounted for the most number of cases (34), followed by Karaikal (18), Mahe (7) and Yanam (1). Active cases stood at 847.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Madhya Pradesh CM says 60% people in state have been administered 1st dose

We have administered 1st dose to 60% people in state. Only 12% people have been administered 2nd dose. A mega vaccination campaign will be run on Aug 25-26. Both doses will be administered on the first day. On Aug 26, only 2nd doses will be administered: MP CM Shivraj S Chouhan.With the support of people, COVID infections are in control. However, COVID-19 has not been eradicated. We shouldn't panic, but it's important to maintain precautions. I appeal to all persons to maintain COVID-appropriate behaviour, says CM

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 

Uttarakhand Assembly session to commence from tomorrow. MLAs will be seated in two groups - out of the 71 MLAs, 40 will sit in the main area of the Assembly while 31 will sit in room 107, to ensure social distancing amid COVIDpandemic.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Ladakh records 8 fresh COVID-19 cases

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Ladakh climbed to 20,491 as eight more people tested positive for the disease, officials said on Sunday.As many as 12 more patients recovered from COVID-19, they said, adding the number of active cases dropped to 68.So far, Ladakh has recorded 207 coronavirus-related deaths -- 149 in Leh and 58 in Kargil.The officials said over 3,282 people were tested for COVID-19 in Leh and Kargil on Saturday. Of these, seven tested positive in Leh and one in Kargil.Ten patients were discharged after successful treatment for COVID-19 in Leh and two others in Kargil, bringing down the active cases in Ladakh to 68 -- 62 in Leh and six in Kargil, they said.So far, 20,216 patients have recovered from the disease in Ladakh.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Veteran US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson hospitalized with Covid

Veteran American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson was hospitalized after testing positive for Covid-19, despite having been vaccinated, representatives said Saturday.Jackson, 79, and his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, 77, were in treatment at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, the reverend's Rainbow PUSH Coalition organization said in a statement on Facebook. "Doctors are currently monitoring the condition of both. Anyone who has been around either of them for the last five or six days should follow" the guidelines of the government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the brief statement added.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Active COVID-19 cases in India lowest in 152 days

India logged30,948new coronavirus infections,while the active cases declined to 3,53,398 comprising 1.09 per cent of the total infections, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.Thetotaltally ofCOVID-19 cases has increased to3,24,24,234. The death toll has climbed to 4,34,367 with 403 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.The active caseshave declined to3,53,398,the lowest in 152 days, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 97.57 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the health ministry said.A reduction of 7,942cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.As many as 15,85,681 tests were conducted on Saturday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to50,62,56,239. The dailypositivity rate was recorded at1.95per cent. It has been less than three per cent for the last 27 days.The weekly positivity rate was recorded attwo per cent. It has been below three per centfor the last 58 days, according to the ministry.Thenumber of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,16,36,469, while the case fatality ratestands at 1.34 per cent, the data stated.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | One new case takes COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 7,557

Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported just one new COVID-19 case, which took the tally in the Union Territory to 7,557, a health department official said on Sunday.The new patient has a travel history, he said.The death toll remained at 129 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours, the official said.No one was cured of the disease during the period, and the total number of recoveries in the archipelago remained at 7,419.The Union Territory now has nine active cases.The local administration has been strict to contain the spread of the disease and has adopted an approach of tracking, testing and treating, he said, adding that people arriving here from the mainland are mandatorily required to undergo COVID test.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | India reports 30,948 new COVID-19 cases, 38,487 recoveries and 403 deaths in the last 24 hrs

A single-day rise of 30,948 COVID-19 cases pushed India's tally to 3,24,24,234 on Sunday, while the number of active cases declined to 3,53,398, the lowest in 152 days, according to Union health ministry data.The death toll in the country climbed to 4,34,367 with 403 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.The 3,53,398 active cases comprise 1.09% of the total infections, the lowest since March last year. The national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 97.57 per cent, the highest since March last year, the ministry said.A reduction of 7,942 cases has been recorded in the active caseload in a span of 24 hours.The daily positivity rate stands at 2 per cent. It has been less than 3 per cent for the last 26 days, according to the ministry.The weekly positivity rate stands at 1.98 per cent.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | South Africa hopeful of herd immunity as Covid vaccination opens for all above 18

South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla is hopeful the country would achieve herd immunity against coronavirus if 70 per cent of its 18 to 35 population is vaccinated.According to 2019 mid-year estimates by Statistics South Africa, this age group makes up about a third of the country’s population of 17.84 million people.Phaahla was speaking after the country Friday further opened up its age group-based vaccination drive to vaccinate young adults, who excitedly queued up in their thousands across the country to get the jab.Phaahla said the government had decided to bring forward the vaccination date for its final phase from September 1 as suggested by a panel of advisory experts amid a renewed rise in the number of infections and deaths.In its latest update, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases said 289 more people had died in the preceding 24 hours, with 14, 312 new COVID-19 cases recorded.“We can now cut out administrative and bureaucratic red tape. Vaccination at workplaces can take place without differentiation of age differences,” the minister said.Phaahla also said travelers for business or educational purposes would no longer require approval for vaccination in advance. About 700,000 registered students at tertiary institutions would now also have the opportunity to be protected against the virus with vaccination, he added.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | New Zealand queries virus approach as Delta outbreak grows

New Zealand conceded its ambitious "Covid zero" elimination strategy may no longer be viable Sunday, as an outbreak of the virulent Delta variant continued to spread.Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins reported a further 21 cases in a virus cluster that emerged in Auckland last week, ending a six-month run of no local cases and sparking a national lockdown.Hipkins said Delta's highly transmissible nature was making this outbreak more difficult to contain than others, raising "big questions" about the elimination strategy."The scale of infectiousness and the speed at which the virus has spread is something that, despite all the best preparations in the world, has put our system under strain," he told TVNZ.New Zealand's widely praised Covid-19 response -- which has resulted in just 26 deaths in a population of five million -- centres on eliminating the virus from the community.

Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | West Bengal reports 678 new COVID-19 cases, 10 more fatalities

West Bengal reported 10 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, which took the toll to 18,356, a health department bulletin said. The coronavirus caseload in the state mounted to 15,42,425 as 678 more people tested positive for the infection, it said. At least 709 people were cured of the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 15,14,475. The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state currently stands at 98.19 per cent. West Bengal now has 9,594 active cases, the bulletin said. (PTI)

Coronavirus in Assam LIVE Updates | Entire Guwahati population to be vaccinated by August 31: Health minister

The Assam government has set a target to vaccinate the entire population of Kamrup Metropolitan district, under which the state's largest city Guwahati falls, by end of this month, Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta said yesterday. The vaccination drive on a mission mode will be conducted at the polling booth level of the district, with field teams already starting work on collection of data on non-vaccinated people, he said. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Mahanta said though the rate of new infection of COVID-19 was decreasing in the state, Kamrup Metropolitan district remained an area of concern. The district continued to report highest incidence of new COVID-19 cases. (PTI)

Coronavirus in United States LIVE Updates | Radio host who regretted vaccine skepticism dies of COVID-19

A conservative talk radio host from Tennessee who had been a vaccine skeptic until he was hospitalized from COVID-19 has died. He was 61. Nashville radio station Super Talk 99.7 WTN confirmed Phil Valentine's death in a tweet yesterday. Valentine had been a skeptic of coronavirus vaccines. But after he tested positive for COVID-19, and prior to his hospitalization, he told his listeners to consider, If I get this COVID thing, do I have a chance of dying from it? If so, he advised them to get vaccinated. He said he chose not to get vaccinated because he thought he probably wouldnt die.
After Valentine was moved into a critical care unit, Mark Valentine said his brother regretted that he wasn't a more vocal advocate of the vaccination. (AP)

Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu sees 1,652 new COVID-19 cases, 23 fatalities

Tamil Nadu saw 1,652 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 fatalities yesterday, the Health Department said.With these, the total number of the infected were 25,99,255 and deaths 34,686 till date, the department said. Recoveries were more than the fresh infections with 1,859 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 25,45,178 leaving 19,391 active infections, a bulletin said. (PTI)

Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Assam reports 640 new COVID-19 cases, 15 fresh fatalities

Assam's COVID-19 tally rose to 5,84,098 yesterday as 640 more people tested positive for the infection, while 15 fresh fatalities pushed the toll to 5,566, according to a bulletin issued by the National Health Mission in Guwahati. At least 1,347 COVID-19 patients in the state have died due to other causes, the bulletin stated. A total of 5,70,308 patients have recovered from the infection, including 658 on the day. Assam currently has 6,877 active cases. The death rate stands at 0.94 percent and the recovery rate at 97.64 percent, the bulletin said. (PTI)

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The COVID-19 outbreak has spread in most of the countries and territories across the world, infecting over 21.13 crore people.

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