Giving rise to fresh worries about the COVID-19 pandemic rearing its head again, the R-factor, which indicates the speed at which the infection is spreading in the country, has risen recently leading to a sluggish pace in the decline of active cases while Kerala and northeast states have emerged as regions of concern.
This is despite the nationwide tally of new cases remaining low, revealed an analysis by researchers at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here . A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates :
Dip in average daily vaccination against COVID-19 since June 21: Govt data
A decline in average daily vaccination against the coronavirus has been seen since June 21, when the new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced, government data showed.
According to data available on the CoWIN platform, an average of 61.14 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered daily in the week from June 21-27 which dropped to 41.92 lakh doses daily in the subsequent week from June 28-July 4.
In the week from July 5 to July 11, the daily average vaccine doses number further dipped to 34.32 lakh doses.
States such as Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh showed a decline.
Nepal receives 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from US
Nepal on Monday received over 1.5 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the US at the time when the country is facing a severe shortage of the jabs.
This is the first consignment of the single-shot vaccine Nepal has received. The US provided 1,534,850 doses to Nepal through the COVAX scheme, the global COVID vaccine equity scheme.
US Ambassador Randy Berry handed over the vaccines to Health Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha on Monday. - PTI
Country working in spirit of Lok-Bhagidari: Mansukh Mandaviya
The Cabinet has recently approved ₹23,000 crore package for COVID-19 emergency response said Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday while virtually inaugurating two PSA plants at Sir Takhtasinhji Hospital, Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
The Minister in his address said that the Government has made adequate provisions for paediatric care in all hospitals to provide the most effective healthcare for children.
“We are also developing a system of buffer stock at State and centre level that can be used in case of any health crisis. Thus, a comprehensive plan and capacity building in next 6 months is being taken up through this COVID package,” said the Minister.
Abbott launches COVID-19 home test kit
Healthcare major Abbott on Monday said it has launched COVID-19 home test kit in India for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in adults and children with or without symptoms at a price of Rs 325 for a single test kit pack.
The company will deliver millions of Panbio COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, available for self-use, to ease the burden on healthcare systems in urban and rural India, Abbott said in a statement. - PTI
Delhi's Janpath Market shut for Covid norm violation
The Delhi government Monday ordered the closure of Janpath Market here for the violation of Covid protocols and for not following the guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), according to an order.
"The Janpath market is, hereby, closed till further orders for violation of DDMA order and for not following COVID appropriate behaviour norms. The Director (Enforcement), NDMC and SHO, Connaught Place are hereby directed to enforce the order with immediate effect and submit a compliance report," the Delhi government said in the order. - PTI
COVID-19 vaccination drive halts in 80% of Odisha districts
The COVID-19 vaccination drive came to grinding halt in 24 out of 30 districts of Odisha after vaccine stocks depleted on July 12.
Except the six districts of Cuttack, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj and Nabarangpur, not even a single vaccination centre was operational in the rest of the districts.
Only 220 vaccination sites were operational on July 12. The State had in the past inoculated more than 4 lakh people in a single day by setting up 1,730 vaccination centres.
As vaccine stocks were not replenished against utilisation, the number of doses came down fast. On July 12, there were only 40,460 Covishield doses and 3,53,630 Covaxin doses available in the State. Covaxin is administered only in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur Municipal Corporation areas.
Bihar educational institutions open, CM to resume ‘janata durbar’ from today
Educational institutions in Bihar opened on July 12 and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too is all set to resume ‘janata durbar’ (people’s court) after five years, adhering to COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.
All necessary arrangements for opening colleges, universities and schools for Class XI and XII were made on July 11 across the State with 50% strength.
Earlier on July 6, the State Education Department allowed the reopening of educational institutions phase-wise from July 12 following COVID-19 guidelines and safety protocols.
India records 37,154 new cases
With 37,154 new coronavirus infections, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,08,74,376, while the total recoveries crossed three crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The death toll climbed to 4,08,764 with 724 fresh fatalities.
The active cases have declined to 4,50,899 and comprise 1.46% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 97.22%, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed.
A decrease of 3,219 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. - PTI
Over 1.54 crore unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses available with States, private hospitals, says Centre
More than 1.54 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the States, UTs and private hospitals to be administered, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.
Over 38.86 crore vaccine doses have been provided to States and UTs so far through all sources and a further 63,84,230 doses are in the pipeline, it said.
Of this, the total consumption including wastage is 37,31,88,834 doses, according to the data available at 8 a.m.
The new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from June 21. - PTI
Delhi adds 53 COVID-19 cases, lowest since April 15 last year
Delhi on Sunday reported 53 COVID-19 cases, the lowest since April 15 last year, and three more deaths as the positivity rate dropped to 0.07%, according to data shared by the health department.
According to covid19India.org, a crowd-sourced initiative that collects data on COVID-19 and vaccination in India, Delhi had recorded 17 cases on April 15 last year.
The national capital has recorded 14,35,083 coronavirus cases since the pandemic started last year. Over 14.09 lakh patients have recovered so far. The death toll stands at 25,015. - PTI
Lord Jagannath rath yatra commences with curfew enroute amid COVID-19 concerns
The 144th annual rath yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city on Monday morning, but it was devoid of the usual festive fervour and crowds due to the curfew imposed on its route to bar people from taking part in it in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of the usual cavalcade of around 100 trucks, decked up elephants, akhadas and singing troupes, this year's procession consisted of only three chariots, pulled by nearly 100 youths from the Khalasi community, and four to five other vehicles.
To prevent people from gathering on roads for a glimpse of the deities, a curfew has been imposed on the entire 19-km route of the procession from early morning till afternoon, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja told reporters.
