While the national average for the first dose administration among the healthcare workers (HCWs) was 82%, the national average for second dose among HCWs was only 56%, according to the Health Ministry . Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Assam had a coverage below the national average in this aspect.
For frontline workers (FLWs), the national average of first dose coverage was 85% but the national average of second dose coverage was only 47%, and 19 States/UTs had reported second dose coverage of FLWs less than the national average.
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 :
31% decline in average daily new cases in last week: Health Ministry
Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while addressing the media during the Health Ministry's briefing said that there was 31% decline in average daily new cases in the last week.
"Active cases currently stand at— 11.21 lakh."
"Total 24.61 crore vaccination done so far. This is the second highest in the world," he adds.
Dr V.K. Paul, Member (health) at the NITI Aayog, said that ICMR will start its next sero survey. States will also be encouraged to start survey at their level.
"Vaccine availability has gone up this month and will further accelerate."
"The suggestion that those who have recovered from COVID need not be vaccinated is open to discussion. This is a dynamic situation and we will take a decision based on data and further understanding."
MD, manager of Sai Sudha hospital booked for violation of COVID-19 treatment guidelines in Kakinada
The Kakinada City police registered criminal cases against the managing director and manager of Sai Sudha hospital (Kakinada) for collecting ₹14 lakh for treatment from a COVID-19 patient and other violations of COVID-19 treatment guidelines.
The family members of O. Satyanarayana, who died of COVID-19 while undergoing treatment at the hospital, lodged a complaint regarding the hospitail’s exorbitant charges with Joint Collector Ch. Kirthi. The family also lodged a police complaint with the Kakinada city police.
According to the police complaint, the hospital collected ₹4 lakh as advance to begin the treatment of the deceased.
Annavaram temple opened for devotees, weddings in East Godavari
Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Vari Devasthanam authorities on Friday morning began allowing darshan of standing deity, Lord Sri Venkata Satyanarayana, at Annavaram in East Godavari district for the devotees.
In April-end, the Endowment Department has imposed a ban on the darshan for the devotees in the wake of the spread of COVID-19.
In an official release, Annavaram temple Executive Officer Vendra Trinadha Rao has said; "We have started allowing the devotees to have darshan of the deity from 6 a.m. on Friday. 6 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. is the daily darshan time for the devotees until further orders from the State government".
Several districts in Karnataka see significant decline in cases during lockdown
Many districts in Karnataka are seeing a dip in COVID-19 cases over the last four weeks. The decline is more significant in the last two weeks and the week-on-week change is above 80% in five districts.
Dakshina Kannada has seen the highest decline with a 89.6% week-on-week change followed by Mandya where the change is 83.6%. Kodagu and Vijayapura have a week-on-week change of 83% followed by Shivamogga with 82.2%, according to data from the State COVID-19 war room.
However, several urban areas in the districts are still seeing a rise in cases over the last one month. The top worst hit towns include Humnabad in Bidar district, Boragaon in Belagavi district, Heggada Devana Kote in Mysuru, Chadchan in Vijayapura and Mogalkhod in Belagavi district, data has revealed.
China’s children may be next in line for COVID-19 vaccines
If China is to meet its tentative goal of vaccinating 80% of its population against the coronavirus by the end of the year, tens of millions of children may have to start rolling up their sleeves .
Regulators took the first step last week by approving the use of the country’s Sinovac vaccine for children aged 3 to 17, though no announcement has been made about when the shots will start.
Children have been largely spared the worst of the pandemic, becoming infected less easily than adults and generally showing less severe symptoms when they do catch the virus.
Biophore applies to DCGI for emergency-use approval for COVID-19 treatment drug
Biophore India Pharmaceuticals on Friday said it has applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for obtaining emergency-use approval for Aviptadil, used in the treatment of moderate to severe cases of COVID-19.
The Hyderabad-based firm said it has developed the product which is backward integrated with its in-house Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).
The company plans to commence commercial production of the product immediately after the approval is received, it added.
All Bombay HC Benches will continue virtual hearings till July 9
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bombay High Court has said it will continue to hear all matters virtually till July 9 at Bombay, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Goa.
A Bench consisting of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta, justices A.A. Sayed, S.S. Shinde and P.V. Varale also extended all interim reliefs till July 9 or until further orders.
"The administrative committee of this court, upon perusal of the government order dated June 4, 2021 issued by the Chief Secretary to the Maharashtra government, has deemed it appropriate to continue with virtual hearings," the court said.
One lakh taxi, auto drivers have received ₹3,000 COVID-19 relief via DBT
Transport Commissioner N. Shivakumar told The Hindu that around 2.15 lakh drivers applied for aid. “One lakh applicants have received the money through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) so far,” he said . The Transport Department has estimated that close to 3 lakh taxi and auto drivers may apply.
The money, while providing some relief, will not help recover the losses drivers have incurred.
The State government on Friday had announced that auto and taxis will be allowed to ply with a maximum of two passengers. But drivers say that even with the relaxations, it will take them months to recover their losses.
Drivers have been demanding that the government instruct banks and private lenders not to force them to pay EMIs for vehicle loans for at least three to four months.
Covaxin’s launch in U.S. to be delayed after FDA requests additional data
In a setback to Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has “ recommended” Ocugen Inc , the U.S. partner of the Indian vaccine maker, to go for Biologics Licence Application (BLA) route with additional data, nixing hopes of Emergency Use Authorisation.
Ocugen in a statement on Thursday announced that as recommended by the FDA, it will pursue submission of a biologics licence application (BLA) for Covaxin. BLA is a “full approval” mechanism by the FDA for drugs and vaccines.
“The company will no longer pursue an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for Covaxin. The FDA provided feedback to Ocugen regarding the Master File. The company had previously submitted and recommended that Ocugen pursue a BLA submission instead of an EUA application for its vaccine candidate and requested additional information and data,” Ocugen said.
U.S. should do more in fight against COVID-19, says Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has said that donating 500 million doses of anti-coronavirus vaccine to the world, as promised by President Joe Biden , was not enough and the United States should do more in the global fight against the pandemic.
Before attending a G-7 summit in England, Mr. Biden on Thursday promised to donate 500 million doses of vaccine to bolster the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic across the world. Later, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the G7 nations are set to commit to providing at least 1 billion coronavirus shots to the rest of the world.
"While I'm glad the US will purchase 500 million doses to support global inoculation efforts with 200 million doses to be given by the end of 2021, that is not enough. This must be only the first step in a larger effort to expand and accelerate production and delivery of the billions of doses we need to end the pandemic," Krishnamoorthi said.
Daily COVID-19 count in country remains below one lakh for fourth consecutive day
The daily COVID-19 count in India remained below the one-lakh mark for the fourth consecutive day with the country reporting 91,702 fresh cases, while the daily positivity rate dropped to 4.49%, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on une 11.
With the fresh cases, the total tally of cases has climbed to 2,92,74,823.
The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,63,079 with 3,403 daily deaths, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed. The active cases further declined to 11,21,671 comprising 3.83% of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 94.93%. A net decline of 46,281 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
G7 to provide 1 billion vaccine doses ‘to world’: United Kingdom
G7 leaders will agree to expand global COVID vaccine manufacturing to provide at least one billion doses to the world through sharing and financing schemes, Britain said Thursday.
The announcement came after the United States said it would donate 500 million jabs to 92 poor and lower-middle-income nations.
The UK, which is hosting the big powers’ gathering in southwest England, added it would donate at least 100 million surplus doses within the next year, including five million beginning in the coming weeks.
The commitments follow growing calls for richer countries to step up their efforts to share COVID-19 shots with less developed nations, with charities warning the current situation is leading to “vaccine apartheid”.
After 75 days, Chennai’s test positivity drops below 5%
For the first time since the second wave of COVID-19 began, the test positivity rate (TPR) in Chennai on Wednesday dropped below the 5% mark . With 32,168 tests performed and 1,345 cases reported, the TPR was 4.2%.
The last time the TPR was below 5% was 75 days ago in the last week of March. The city was then reporting around 700 to 900 cases a day, while the tests performed were just around 15,000.
From the second week of April, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) gradually began to increase the tests even as cases shot up and the TPR went beyond 20%. Since the second week of May, the tests done daily continuously crossed the 30,000 mark.
COVID-19 outbreak closes hotel hosting G7 summit delegation
A hotel, which British media reported was being used by members of Germany’s delegation to a Group of Seven summit in England, has closed because members of staff tested positive for COVID-19, its owners said on Thursday.
The Pedn Olva hotel in St Ives, a seaside town adjacent to the location of the three-day G7 leaders’ meeting in Cornwall, southwest England, had shut temporarily on advice from health officials and the local authority, the owners said.
Among the guests were security staff for the German delegation and a media team working for a U.S. broadcaster, Sky News reported.
