Coronavirus News Highlights: India is witnessing a second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. So far, the country has recorded over 2.85 crore confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 3,40,702 deaths. A total of 2,65,97,655 people have recuperated from COVID-19 so far. There are 16,35,993 active COVID-19 cases in the country as of date, which comprises 5.73 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's recovery rate now stands at 93.08 percent. Globally, more than 17.2 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 36.98 lakh have died so far. India has begun the third phase of the vaccination drive in which everyone above 18 years of age will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. India's drug regulator has granted restricted emergency use approval for three vaccines - Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 22.41 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry.
No decision on granting indemnity to any foreign or Indian Covid vaccine-manufactures has been taken yet, the government said Friday, underlining these decisions are to be taken "in the interest of nation and people". NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul's statement came over the issue of offering indemnity to Indian COVID-19 vaccine-manufacturers.
The Delta variant of COVID-19, or the B1.617.2 highly transmissible variant of concern (VOC) first identified in India, has now become the dominant VOC in the UK and may also come with an increased risk of hospitalisation, health officials in Britain have warned. According to Public Health England (PHE), which monitors all COVID variants in the country, Delta variant infections rose by 5,472 in a week to hit a total of 12,431 on Thursday. The latest statistics have led experts to conclude that Delta is now closing in to overtake Alpha the VOC first detected in the Kent region of England.
Assam reports 4,548 new cases, 54 deaths and 4,263 discharges today; active cases at 50,765. The recovery rate in the state is 87.02%
Madhya Pradesh reports 798 new COVID19 cases, 50 deaths, and 2045 recoveries in the last 24 hours; active cases at 12,889
Himachal Pradesh reports 787 new COVID19 cases, 2030 recoveries, and 27 deaths in the past 24 hours; active cases at 9787
COVID19 induced curfew in Assam to be implemented from 1pm to 5am of June 6 till June 16. All shops and commercial establishments to shut at 12 noon on all days. All govt & non-govt offices to remain closed till June 15: Assam govt
Chandigarh reports 88 new cases, 3 deaths today; case tally reaches 60,487 including 1005 active cases
Karnataka reports 16,068 new COVID19 cases, 364 deaths and 22,316 recoveries in the last 24 hours; active cases at 2,80,186
Drug Controller General of India grants Serum Institute of India the permission to manufacture SPUTNIK V for examination test and analysis at its licensed facility at Hadapsar, said sources to ANI.
PM was briefed about the current availability of vaccines & the roadmap for ramping it up. He was also apprised about the efforts undertaken to help various vaccine manufacturers ramp up the production of vaccines. He reviewed the status of vaccination coverage in healthcare workers & front-line workers. He took stock of vaccination coverage in the above 45 & 18-44 age group. PM instructed that vaccine wastage numbers are still on the higher side & steps need to be taken to bring them down.PM was briefed on various measures being taken on the tech front to make the process of vaccination more people-friendly. He was also briefed on advance visibility being provided to states on vaccine availability.
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Friday thanked US President Joe Biden and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for a policy change that will boost the production of COVID-19 vaccines in India and globally. Confident of the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the US, the Biden administration has removed Defense Production Act priority ratings on AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sanofi vaccines.While the firms will continue to make these three vaccines, this action will allow US-based companies that supply these vaccine manufacturers to make their own decisions on which orders to fulfil first. Sharing the link of a press briefing by White House COVID-19 response team and public health officials, Poonawalla said, "Thanks to the efforts of @POTUS, @WhiteHouse, & @DrSJaishankar, this policy change will hopefully increase the supply of raw materials globally and to India; boosting our vaccine production capacity and strengthening our united fight against this pandemic." (PTI)
973 new cases, 24 deaths and 1,207 recoveries reported in Mumbai today; active cases at 16,347
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 22.75 cr (22,75,67,873) including more than 33 lakh doses administered today. More than 2.59 cr people of age group 18-44 vaccinated: Ministry of Health
