Covid Live News Updates: Centre’s service charge cap on COVID-19 vaccines leads to price rejig for private hospitals; Covaxin most expensive at Rs 1410

Haryana: 635 new COVID-19 cases, 38 deaths

Haryana on Tuesday reported 635 fresh COVID-19 cases that took its tally to 7,63,566 while 38 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 8,789. Palwal reported 75 fresh cases, Bhiwani 56 and Hisar 50, according the state health department’s daily bulletin.

Washington offers ‘joints for jabs’ to boost vaccine use

Cannabis dispensaries in the northwestern state – where recreational marijuana sales were legalized in 2012 – will be allowed to offer one free, pre-rolled joint to anyone aged 21 or above who gets vaccinated at an in-store clinic.

Noida’s active cases down to 324, Ghaziabad’s at 471

The number of active coronavirus cases reached 471 in Ghaziabad and came down to 324 in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Tuesday, official data showed. No death linked to Covid was reported in Ghaziabad while one more person succumbed in Gautam Buddh Nagar, according to Uttar Pradesh’s Health Department data for a 24-hour period.

Report on COVID-19 origins finds lab leak theory ‘plausible’

Amid widespread calls for a fresh probe into the origins of the coronavirus in China’s Wuhan, a report on the origins of COVID-19 by a US government national laboratory concluded that the hypothesis claiming that the virus leaked from a lab in Wuhan is “plausible” and deserves further investigation. According to the people familiar with the classified document, the study was prepared in May 2020 by the Lawrence Livermore National National Laboratory in California and was drawn on by the State Department when it conducted an inquiry into the pandemic’s origins last year, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Centre places orders for 44 crore doses of Covishield, Covaxin

The Centre on Tuesday said it has placed fresh orders for 44 crore doses of Covishield and Covaxin after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would take over the state procurement quota and provide free jabs to state governments for inoculation of all above the age of 18.

Cumulative COVID-19 vaccine coverage reaches 23.88 crore

Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have administered more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years for the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the ministry said.

Telangana extends COVID-19 restrictions by 10 days

Night curfew to continue in the state, with timings extended by four hours to 6PM-6AM, instead of 2PM-6AM.

TN: Police action against those who attack doctors, nurses

Tamil Nadu Health Minister M Subramanian on Tuesday warned of ‘strict police action’ against individuals who attacked doctors, nurses if a COVID-19 patient succumbed to the virus at a hospital. He noted that doctors, nurses and the government were working on a ‘war-footing’ to save the lives of people amid the COVID-19 pandemic and said even doctors tried their best to save a life even at critical moments.

Vaccine pricing, revised

Mumbai reports single digit death count

The city reported seven deaths in the last 24 hours

Gurugram hospitals told to reserve 50% ICU beds for COVID-19

In view of decline in Covid-19 cases in Gurugram, District Magistrate Yash Garg on Tuesday ordered all private and public hospitals to reserve 30% of their total beds capacity in general category and 50% beds in ICU/Ventilator for Covid-19 patients. However, the administration also ordered that hospitals may take admission of patients to their maximum capacity of 75% ICU/Ventilator if needed.

Pfizer to test vaccine in larger group of children below 12

The study will enroll up to 4,500 children at more than 90 clinical sites in the United States, Finland, Poland and Spain, the company said. Based on safety, tolerability and the immune response generated by 144 children in a phase I study of the two-dose shot, Pfizer said it will test a dose of 10 micrograms in children between 5 and 11 years of age and 3 micrograms for the age group of 6 months to 5 years.

DDA approves key proposals, including one for O2 plants at hosps

After detailed deliberations, many key proposals were approved by the Delhi Development Authority, including to allow the DDA to undertake the development of and sanction building plans for its in situ slum rehabilitation projects under the Pradhan Mantri was Yojana (PMAY) falling in the denotified areas.

Efficacies of India’s vaccines

Coronavirus variant causing increased disease severity identified

Scientists at Pune’s National Institute of Virology have isolated and characterised a coronavirus variant from two travellers — one who returned from the UK and the other from Brail — that exhibits increased disease severity in hamsters but doesn’t pose a public health problem at the moment. The two samples of the B.1.1.28.2 variant are the only ones of its kind isolated by Indian labs so far.

Maharashtra: 10,891 new COVID-19 cases and 295 deaths

Bharat Biotech campus in Hyderabad gets CISF cover

The Centre has accorded a security cover of armed CISF commandos for the Hyderabad premises of Bharat Biotech, one of the major COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers in the country, official sources said on Tuesday. They said the registered office and plant of the company located at Genome Valley in the Shameerpet area of Telangana’s capital city will be secured by a team of 64 armed personnel of the paramilitary force.

We had also started it but the supply was inadequate. Yesterday, the PM again gave the responsibility to the Centre. We are thankful to him and hope that all obstacles will be cleared and all citizens will be vaccinated at the earliest. Getting a free vaccine is both a right and a necessity

– Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on free vaccination

Chandigarh relaxes COVID-19 restrictions

All shops to open from 10 am to 6 pm, restaurants/bars from 10 am to 9 pm with 50% capacity. Night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am. Total closure on Sunday, only essential shops, incl barber shops, allowed. Shopping malls allowed from 10 am to 6 pm, eating outlets till 8 pm

Tamil Nadu: 18,023 new COVID-19 cases and 409 deaths

Kerala: 15,567 new cases, 124 deaths

Bihar to unlock from June 9

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Tuesday announced that over a month-long COVID-induced lockdown will be lifted from Wednesday though night curfew, restrictions on public gatherings and curtailed business timings will remain in place. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the high-powered crisis management group chaired by the Chief Minister, in view of the let up that has been seen in the recent past in spread of the contagion.

Some people are felling trees due to fears of black fungus. This disease has no connection with trees. This fungus is in environment. Continuously taking steam, use of the same face mask for a long time & steroids are major reasons

– Pankaj Garg, Deputy Forest Conservator, Nashik

Andhra Pradesh: 7796 new COVID-19 cases

14,641 recoveries and 77 deaths in the last 24 hours

Aspirin does not improve survival in COVID-19 patients

“Although aspirin was associated with a small increase in the likelihood of being discharged alive, this does not seem to be sufficient to justify its widespread use for patients hospitalised with COVID-19,” said Peter Horby, co-chief investigator of the trial.

We respect Supreme Court’s concern, but Centre was evaluating implementation of decentralized model since May 1. Such decisions are taken over a period of time, based on analysis and consultations

– Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog Member (Health)

BJP wants Punjab CM to quit over COVID-19 kit fraud allegations

Stepping up attack on the Congress government in Punjab, the BJP on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and state health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu over alleged corruption in the award of contract for COVID kits to private firms. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed the state government first gave a tender for ‘Fateh’ kits for coronavirus patients to a firm for Rs 837 for a single unit and then awarded two more tenders in the next few weeks for Rs 1,226 and Rs 1,338 per unit during April.

Vaccine cost for private sector [hospitals] will be decided by manufacturers; states will be responsible for aggregating demand — which means they’ll oversee how many facilities they have, and how many doses are required and other needs

– Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog Member (Health)

Centre has placed an order to purchase 25 crore doses of Covishield and 19 crore doses of Covaxin. Also placed an order to purchase 30 crore doses of Biological E’s vaccine, which will be available by September

– Dr V K Paul, Niti Aayog Member (Health)

India sees 252 deaths per million, lowest in the world

India reports 86,498 cases in the last 24 hours

There’s almost a 79% decline in cases, since highest reported peak in daily new cases. Last week, 33% decline was seen in overall reported cases. 322 districts have seen decline in daily cases in last one month,” says Lav Agrawal, JS, Health Ministry

India’s overall recovery increases to 94.3%

The numbers include patients both in home isolation and in hospitals; 6.3% overall decrease in positivity from June 1-7, says Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry

Delhi: 316 new COVID-19 cases, 41 more deaths

Positivity rate dips to 0.44%

Assam extends COVID-19 curfews till June 16

Movement is banned in the state between the hours of 1pm and 5am everyday.

Free vaccine, foodgrains to cost govt up to Rs 1.45 lakh cr: PTI Report

Kerala High Court asks central government to spell out its new vaccine policy

Odisha logs record 45 COVID-19 fatalities, 5,896 new cases

Kerala Govt includes ‘practicing lawyers & lawyer clerks’ in priority group for Covid vaccination in age group of 18-45 yrs

Kerala to vaccinate the bedridden and debilitated patients, who can’t be moved out and those for whom mobilizing might worsen their present health condition, at their residence

We’d require 12 cr doses to inoculate 6 cr people twice, in 18-44 years group. We tried but couldn’t do it as there wasn’t adequate & steady supply. Thankful to PM for centralising vaccine procurement. I hope everyone in India is vaccinated soon

– Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Many states moved SC, seeking directions to Centre & Court posed questions to it. When pressure increased everywhere in nation, PM made the announcement. Better late than never…If we get vaccines in bulk, we’ll be able to do time-bound vaccination for al

– Rajasthan Health Minister

PM announced yesterday that the vaccination for this age group will also be done by the Centre, from 21st June. But our drive is going on since May & when we receive more vaccines on 9th June, we will continue this till 21st June

– Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma

We gave advance of over Rs 100 cr to SII & Bharat Biotech. We received both vaccines but one batch will arrive on 9th June. Vaccination in Rajasthan has stopped from May 31. When we receive on 9th, we would’ve bought 30.57 lakh vaccines for this age group

– Rajasthan Health Minister

Union Cabinet to meet tomorrow, through video conferencing.

Pilots’ body moves HC; seeks compensation for COVID-19 death

The petition, filed by the ‘Federation of Indian Pilots’ on June 7, said pilots are providing essential services, and sought a direction to the Union government to provide an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 crore to the families of pilots who died due to COVID-19. As per the public interest litigation (PIL), since February 2021, 13 pilots have succumbed to COVID-19.

I welcome the Central government’s decision for free vaccines to the States. A proper policy/strategy will help vaccinate people against COVID19

– Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned Rs 26.29 crores for livelihood support to Street Vendors in urban areas adversely affected by the COVID19 pandemic. This will benefit the 87,657 street vendors in the State: Chief Minister’s Office

Kerala govt informs Kerala HC that it has cancelled the order for 1 cr doses of vaccine after vaccine companies informed the State that they can’t provide these many doses under limits set by the Centre. Court directs the Central to respond on new vaccination policy by tomorrow

To promote the spirit of “Lok Kalyal”, use of non-transferable Electronic vouchers which can be redeemed at private vaccination centres, will be encouraged. This could enable people to financially support vaccination of Economically Weaker Sections at private vaccination centres.

GoI

Price of vaccine doses for private hospitals to be declared by each vaccine manufacturer; within population group of citizens over 18 years of age, States/UTs may decide their own prioritization factoring in vaccine supply schedule, as per the guidelines

GoI

Government of India will procure 75% of the vaccines being produced by the manufacturers in the country. The vaccines will continue to be provided to the States/UT for free

GoI

Guidelines for vaccine drive

Bihar relaxes Covid curfew

Lockdown ends, night curfew to continue from 7 pm to 5 am. Govt & pvt offices to function till 4 pm with 50% strength. Shops will open till 5 pm. Pvt vehicles permitted

MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a cabinet meeting with his ministers, in Bhopal today.

The ongoing ‘corona curfew’ in the state has been extended till June 15 with certain relaxations.

Ladakh records 61 new cases

Ladakh has registered a total of 195 Covid-related deaths since last year with the worst-hit Leh accounting for 141 fatalities followed by 54 in Kargil district.

Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari arrives at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reaches at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence

UP lifts curfew

Uttar Pradesh lifts COVID-imposed curfew from all districts. Night curfew (7pm to 7am) will continue. Active caseload in the state stands at 14,000 with less than 600 active cases in each district: Chief Minister’s Office

Meeting between the PM Modi, Maharastra CM Uddhav Thackeray, deputy CM Ajit Pawar and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan commences

Array of issues to be discussed including Maratha & OBC reservation, relief to the state in the aftermath of Tauktae cyclone, GST and Covid 19 vaccines.This is probably the first time NCP leader Ajit Pawar is meeting the PM.

Pondy govt extends lockdown till June 14, eases several curbs

The Puducherry administration has extended its ongoing lockdown by another week from June 7 midnight to June 14 and announced easing of several restrictions. The announcement comes following a decline in coronavirus cases in the union territory.