Coronavirus News Highlights: Google delays workers' return to office, mandates vaccines

Google is postponing a return to the office for most workers until mid-October and rolling out a policy that will eventually require everyone to be vaccinated once its sprawling campuses are fully reopened in an attempt to fight the spreading Delta variant.

In a July 28 email sent to Google’s more than 130,000 employees, CEO Sundar Pichai said the company is now aiming to have most of its workforce back to its offices beginning October 18 instead of its previous target date of September 1. The decision also affects tens of thousands of contractors who Google intends to continue to pay while access to its campuses remains limited. (AP)

Mumbai reported 404 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, up 61 from a day ago, and six fresh fatalities, while 382 patients recovered from the infection, a civic official said.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official, with this, the tally of COVID-19 cases jumped to 7,35,165, while the death toll increased to 15,795.

Maharashtra reports 6,857 new COVID-19 cases, 286 deaths, and 6,105 recoveries on July 28

Gujarat govt announced on July 28 that 400 persons will be allowed at public ceremonies held in open spaces from July 31. Functions held in closed spaces will be allowed 50 percent of seating capacity. Installation of a maximum of 4 ft Ganesha statue in public permitted for the upcoming Ganeshotsav.

We need to focus on getting all schools reopened. ALL staff to get vaccinated on priority to facilitate this Reopening. Very simply, the country’s future is at stake, says Mahindra and Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra

Karnataka reports 1,531 new COVID-19 cases, 1,430 recoveries. and 19 deaths today. Active cases are 22,569. Total cases in Karnataka now stand at 28,99,195, total recoveries at 28,40,147, and the COVID-19 death toll is 36,456.

The Nainital High Court on July 28reprimanded the Uttarakhand government for not following COVID-19 SOPs at tourist spots and alsobannedthe Char Dham Yatra till August 18, in view of the coronavirus pandemic, news agencyANIreported.The Uttarakhand government had on June 28 moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order staying Char Dham Yatra, reversing the state’s decision to open it partially for residents of three districts -- Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag -- from July 1.

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Fully vaccinated people in the United States and European Union will be allowed to travel to England without having to quarantine on arrival, the UK government announced on Wednesday."We're helping reunite people living in the US and European countries with their family and friends," tweeted transport minister Grant Shapps, adding that the policy will come into force from 4:00 am (0300 GMT) August 2.

Active cases at 953

Total positive cases: 2,05,499

Death toll: 3,504

Active cases at 10,922

Total cases: 95,824

Death toll: 1,510

The Union Home Ministry Wednesday said there is no room for complacency in the approach to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic as the absolute number of positive cases is still significantly high.Extending the existing pandemic guidelines till August 31, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also said there should be continuous focus on the five-fold strategy of 'test, track, treat, vaccinate and adhere to COVID-appropriate behaviour' for effective management of COVID-19.He also said there is a need to ensure adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour (CAB) in all crowded places in view of the upcoming festivals.

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I'm proud to announce an additional $25 million from the US government, through US AID, to support India’s Covid-19 vaccination program, tweets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken