Coronavirus News Updates: Mumbai logs 733 fresh COVID-19 cases, 650 recoveries; doubling rate at 726 days

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Mumbai logs 733 COVID-19 cases, 650 recoveries

Mumbai on Sunday reported 733 fresh coronavirus positive cases and 19 fatalities, taking the tally to 7,21,370 and the toll to 15,298, the city civic body said. A total of 650 patients were discharged during the day, taking the count of recoveries in Mumbai so far to 6,88,990, it said, adding the city is now left with 14,809 active cases.

With 28,226 new tests, the number of samples tested so far in Mumbai reached 68,15,028, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The case recovery rate in the Mumbai district now stands at 95 percent while the overall growth rate of cases between June 13 to 19 stood at 0.09 percent. The case doubling rate for Mumbai stands at 726 days.

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Telangana seeks vaccine testing facility in Hyderabad

The Telangana government on Sunday urged the Centre to set up a vaccine testing facility here “on a war footing” basis. In a letter to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, state IT and industries Minister KT Rama Rao stated that Hyderabad has emerged as the vaccination capital of the world by producing one-third of the global vaccines. He noted that COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin was developed and also is being manufactured here.

He said there is an urgency to set up a second testing facility, and Hyderabad is an ideal location to host such a facility, as the city has a large number of vaccine manufacturers. “The testing of each batch of vaccine produced in the country is being carried out only in the Central Drug Laboratory in Kasauli. And for the entire process of sending the vaccination batch from Hyderabad to Kasauli takes approximately 30-45 days, which is time-consuming, and cost-intensive,” Rama Rao pointed out.

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Kerala reports 11,647 COVID-19 cases, 112 deaths

Kerala reported 11,647 fresh COVID-19 cases and 112 deaths on Sunday, taking the tally to 28.09 lakh and the toll to 12,060. Recoveries continued to outnumber fresh cases with 12,459 people being cured of the disease, taking the total number of those who have recuperated to 26,90,958. Among the districts, Thiruvananthapuram reported the highest number of cases–1,600, followed by Ernakulam with 1,461 and Kollam with 1,219.

“Among those found infected today, 54 reached the state from outside while 10,982 contracted the disease from their contacts. The sources of infection of 554 are yet to be traced. Fifty seven health workers are also among the infected,” health minister Veena George said in a release. She said 1,07,474 samples were tested on Sunday, taking the total number of specimens examined so far to 2,19,61,374. The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) stood at 10.84 percent. Currently, there are 1,05,936 people under treatment in the state.

There are 4,48,037 people under observation, of whom 26,906 are in isolation wards of various hospitals across the state. There are 16 Local Self Government bodies (LSGs) with more than 30 percent TPR, the release said. It said there are 208 LSGs with the Total Positivity Rate between 20-30 percent, 633 with the TPR between 8-20 percent and 178 with a TPR of less than eight percent.

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MP aims to vaccinate 10L on 21 June

The Madhya Pradesh government has set an ambitious target to administer anti-COVID 19 vaccines to 10 lakh people on Monday under a mega campaign which will be rolled out at 7,000 centres across the state, medical education Minister Vishvas Sarang said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters, Sarang said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will formally launch this campaign by offering prayers at the Peetambara Peeth, a prominent Hindu shrine located in Datia.

The chief minister will then visit a vaccination centre in Datia. “This drive will start at 10 am simultaneously at 7,000 centres across Madhya Pradesh. Prominent persons from society will also remain present as motivators at these spots. The MP government has set a target to administer jabs to 10 lakh people in one day and 19 lakh doses of the vaccines have already been distributed for this purpose,” he said. The minister said the vaccination camps will be inaugurated by lighting of lamps and offering garlands to portraits of great personalities who laid their lives for the country.

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‘All above 45 in J&K to be vaccinated by June end’

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said all people above 45 years in Jammu and Kashmir will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of this month. According to a Personnel Ministry statement, the minister has been informed that with the Centre’s ‘‘free vaccine for all’’ impetus to the countrywide vaccination drive from 21 June , over 30 percent of beneficiaries in the 18 to 45 years age group in Jammu and Kashmir would receive anti-coronavirus vaccines.

Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, reviewed the vaccination drive with the Jammu and Kashmir authorities at a nearly two-hour meeting held in the civil secretariat in Jammu. He evaluated the vaccination targets achieved in the Union Territory so far and discussed the roadmap planned for the countrywide ‘‘free vaccine for all’’ campaign beginning Monday.

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AP reports 5,646 COVID-19 cases, 50 deaths

Andhra Pradesh reported 5,646 fresh COVID-19 cases from one lakh tests, while 7,772 people recovered and another 50 succumbed to the virus in 24 hours ending 9 am on Sunday. The gross positives have now mounted to 18,50,563 and the recoveries increased to 17,75,176, a health department bulletin said. The cumulative toll was 12,319.

The active caseload in the state has now reduced to 63,068, the bulletin added. East Godavari district added 1,098, Chittoor 890, West Godavari 761 and Krishna 441 new cases in 24 hours. The remaining nine districts reported less than 400 new cases each, with Kurnool logging the lowest 127. Chittoor reported 11 fresh COVID-19 fatalities, West Godavari seven, Guntur six, East Godavari five, Srikakulam four, Anantapuramu, Kadapa, Krishna and Prakasam three each, Kurnool and Visakhapatnam two each. SPS Nellore had one death in a day.

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Lockdown extended for one week more in Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government on Sunday decided to extend the Covid lockdown in the state for another week from June 22 but allowed hotels, restaurants and bars to open at half their capacities. It also decided to open the chardham yatra for locals from 1 July and for people from the rest of the state from 11 July , Cabinet minister and state government’s official spokesperson Subodh Uniyal said.  Bringing a negative RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen test report, however, will be compulsory for the pilgrims, he said. 

PTI

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Jabs for students, those going abroad, Olympics-bound sportspersons in Bengaluru from June 22

Karnataka Deputy Chief  Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Sunday said vaccination for students, those going abroad for studies or work, and sportspersons bound for Tokyo Olympics would start in Bengaluru from 22 June at the city’s central college premises. East zone Health Officer has been identified as the
competent authority within the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits and the second dose of the vaccine for the above groups would be given to those who have completed 28 days after receiving the first dose, Narayan said.

PTI

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Weekend curfew lifted from eight districts in Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir State Executive Committee (SEC) on Sunday announced the lifting of weekend curfew from eight of the 20 districts, with further easing of restrictions owing to significant improvement in the COVID-19 situation. However, the night curfew would continue to remain in force in Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora in Kashmir and Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur in Jammu province, an official order said.

The SEC authorised the deputy commissioners to allow opening of paid and unpaid parks for the use of the public across the Union Territory, only after local assessment of the conditions and after due consideration, subject to COVID-appropriate measures.

PTI

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Odisha rolls out scheme for kids who lost one or both parents

 With several children having been orphaned since last year, after the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday

launched a scheme to provide financial aid to all kids who have lost one or both their parents, no matter what the cause. The beneficiaries of the ‘Ashirbad’ scheme — applicable from April, 2020 — have been divided into three categories — those who have been orphaned, ones who have to move to welfare homes for want of a caretaker, and children who have lost their earning parent, a statement issued by the chief minister’s office said.

Under the scheme, the government will be doling out Rs 2,500 per month for every kid who has been orphaned due to loss of one or both the parents. The amount will be transferred to the bank accounts of guardians or caretakers of the beneficiaries till they attain the age of 18 years.

PTI

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Haryana extends restrictions till 28 June but with relaxations

The Haryana government extended restrictions imposed to combat the spread of the coronavirus infections in the state till 5 am on 28 June but with further relaxations. According to an official order, shops are allowed to open between 9 am and 8 pm  and malls from 10 am to 8 pm. Restaurants and bars including those in hotels and malls, are allowed to operate from 10 am to 10 pm with adherence to social distancing norms and COVID- appropriate behaviour while home delivery is permitted up to 10 pm.

Religious places are allowed to open with 50 persons at a time, subject to social distancing norms, regular sanitisation and adherence to COVID- appropriate behaviour.

Haryana government extends COVID guidelines for another week till June 28; modifies guidelines pic.twitter.com/PqV1EPWlW1

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2021

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Delhi records 124 new cases, seven deaths

Delhi reports 124 new COVID-29 cases,  398 discharges, and seven more fatalities in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 14,32,292, toll to 24,914 and active cases to 2091, according to the state government’s bulletin. Positivity rate is 0.17 percent with 72,670 test to diagnose COVID-19 conducted in 24 hours. According to the bulletin,  86,131 beneficiaries were vaccinated in the last 24 hours.

Delhi reports 124 new COVID cases (positivity rate - 0.17%), 398 discharges, and 7 deaths in the past 24 hours

Active cases: 2,091
Total discharges: 14,05,287
Death toll: 24,914 pic.twitter.com/QyPNJXf4eu

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2021

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Update daily COVID-19 deaths on digital portal, Patna HC orders Bihar govt

The Patna High Court came down on the Bihar government for not maintaining records of births and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the state’s reluctance to publish the number of deaths was “uncalled for” and was “not protected by any law”, reports The Hindu. 

According to a report by India Today,  the high court ordered the state government to upload the number of deaths and births on its online portal under Digital India and National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy, 2012. “Government of Bihar is under an obligation to the citizens of India, more so the residents of the State, to provide information on the digital portal the number of deaths, be it for whatever reason, that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the court said in its order.

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Protests decry Brazil policies as COVID-19 toll tops 500K

Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets in cities across Brazil as the nation’s confirmed death toll from COVID-19 soared past half a million.It’s a tragedy many critics blame on President Jair Bolsonaro’s attempt to minimize the disease.

Thousands gathered Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, waving flags reading “Get out Bolsonaro.” Other marchers hoisted posters reading: “500 thousand deaths. It’s his fault.” Similar marches took place in at least 22 or Brazil’s 26 states. They were promoted by left-wing opposition parties who have been heartened by Bolsonaro’s declining poll ratings with next year’s presidential race looming.

AP

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Scale up health infra, speed up vaccination to prevent another COVID surge, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday called upon countries in its south-east Asia region to scale up public health infrastructure, rigorously implement social measures and make efforts to accelerate vaccination to prevent another COVID-19 surge.

This week, Maldives and Myanmar confirmed the transmission of coronavirus variants of concern. Earlier, variants of concern have been confirmed in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste, the global health body said. The coronavirus variants of concern along with the opening of economies and societies contributed to the recent surge in cases globally.

PTI

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Following precautions can stop COVID-19 waves: AIIMS doctor

Neeraj Nischal, Assistant Professor Department of Medicine at AIIMS Delhi on Sunday said that COVID-19 waves “will depend on two important factors, virus-related and human-related factors”.

Mutation of virus is beyond our control. Through COVID-19 appropriate behaviour one can stop these waves: Vaccination will help in preventing you from getting an infection even if you get infected then it will ensure that you don’t get a severe form of the disease," he added.

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Owners of bars, restaurants to be held responsible for adherence to COVID-19 protocol: Delhi govt

 The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in an order on Sunday stated that bars will be allowed to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity, from 12 pm to 10 pm, from next week.

The owners of restaurants and bars will be responsible for strict adherence to Covid safety measures and all official guidelines and norms, it said.

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Ex-Kerala health minister KK Shailaja wins award for COVID-19 management

Former Kerala health minister KK Shailaja has been awarded the prestigious Central European University (CEU) Open Society Prize in recognition of her commitment to public health services. The Open Society Prize, awarded annually to people of exceptional distinction who serve the ideals of an open society, was announced during the 30th graduation ceremony which was held online recently.

President and Rector of CEU, Michael Ignatieff, announced the award for “Shailaja Teacher” and said the prize is awarded this year to an “extraordinary public servant” from the developing world.

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Over 24 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses to be sent to states: Centre

More than 3.06 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and union territories and over 24.53 lakh doses will be received by them in the next three days, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. It said that 29,10,54,050 vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories (UTs) so far through the government of India’s free of cost channel and the direct state procurement category.

Of this, the total consumption, including wastage, is 26,04,19,412 doses, according to data available at 8 am on Sunday, the ministry said. It said that “3,06,34,638 COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered.”

“Furthermore, more than 24,53,080 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days,” the ministry said.

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Uttarakhand govt allows attendees from 3 cities to visit Badrinath, Kedarnath from 1 July

“People from Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi are allowed to visit Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri-Yamunotri respectively from 1 July. From 11 July, people across the state can visit Char Dham. Negative COVID-19 report is mandatory to visit,” said Uttarakhand Cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal on Sunday.

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Roll out of Sputnik V vaccine delayed in Delhi

The roll out of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V at Indraprastha Apollo and Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Delhi has been delayed for some days, officials said on Sunday. A spokesperson of Apollo Hospitals said the facility in Delhi will tentatively start administering the two-dose vaccine by 25 June.

An official had earlier said the hospital would start giving Sputnik V jabs by 20 June. According to an official of Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital, there is a delay on the part of the suppliers. “We are expecting (roll out) next week,” he said.

Fortis Healthcare, which had said it would make Sputnik V available at its Gurgaon and Mohali hospitals from Saturday, also has not started administering the Russian vaccine so far. “The roll out did not happen on Saturday. We expect there will be some clarity on Monday,” an official said.

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Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till 28 June

Lockdown in Tamil Nadu extended for one more week till 28 June with some relaxations, the state government said on Sunday.

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Uttarakhand govt to impose COVID-19 curfew till 29 June

“A decision has been taken to impose a COVID-19 curfew from 22 to 29 June with certain relaxations,” said Uttarakhand Cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal on Sunday.

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COVID-19 cases surge in Russia

Russia’s national coronavirus taskforce on Saturday reported 17,906 new infections, more than double the daily tally from early June. More than half of the new infections are in Moscow, where cases have tripled this month. The soaring case count has caused alarm among officials, who have increased measures to obstruct the spread. 

Moscow, its outlying area and two other Russian regions this week ordered mandatory vaccinations for workers in retail, education and other service sectors. Moscow has closed food courts in shopping centers and restricted restaurants and bars in the capital to takeout orders from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Russians are widely resistant to vaccinations and only about 12% of the population has received a shot. Nearly 5.3 million cases have been reported in the country of 146 million, with 128,911 deaths, but experts consider both numbers undercounts.

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Public bus services to begin services in 4 Tamil Nadu cities

Tamil Nadu allows government bus services in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram with 50% seat occupancy from Monday. No e-registration required for autos and taxis in these districts

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Delhi govt extends COVID-19 relaxations till 28 June

The relaxations in COVID restrictions in Delhi further extended till 5 am of 28th June. 

Restaurants and bars allowed up to 50% of the seating capacity from 8 am to 10 pm and 12 pm to 10 pm respectively.

The relaxations in COVID restrictions in Delhi further extended till 5 am of 28th June.

Restaurants and bars allowed up to 50% of the seating capacity from 8 am to 10 pm and 12 pm to 10 pm respectively. pic.twitter.com/81Vw5xr2Jr

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2021

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231 fresh cases push Arunachal’s COVID-19 tally to 32,923

Arunachal Pradesh’s COVID-19 tally rose to 32,923 on Sunday as 231 more people tested positive for the infection, a senior health official said. The coronavirus toll in the northeastern state remained unchanged at 159 as no fresh fatality was reported, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

The Capital Complex region registered the highest number of fresh cases at 56, followed by Changlang and East Siang (27 each) and West Kameng (26). The state now has 2,601 active cases, while 30,163 people have so far recovered from the disease, including 229 on Saturday, he said.

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West Bengal govt to allocate hospital beds for women

The West Bengal government is planning to allot more hospital beds for women as it prepares to deal with the possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior health official said on Sunday.

The state is planning to reverse the gender ratio in the 26,000 COVID beds at state-run and private hospitals, Director of Health Services Ajay Chakraborty told PTI.

“The gender ratio for COVID-19 beds in West Bengal at present is around 60:40 for males. We are planning to reverse this by reducing the number of beds for male patients and increasing those for the females and make it 40:60,” he said.

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Uttar Pradesh govt allows restaurants to open with 50% capacity, says report

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced more relaxations in its lockdown restrictions with the number of new COVID-19 cases reducing in the state, NDTV reported on Sunday.

“After nearly two months, the government said all malls and restaurants can open with 50 per cent capacity on weekdays till 9 pm,” the report said.

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Maharashtra’s Thane logs 204 new COVID-19 cases, 27 more deaths

With the addition of 204 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra’s Thane district has gone up to 5,27,604, an official said on Sunday. Besides these new cases reported on Saturday, the virus also claimed the lives of  27 more people, raising the death toll in the district to 10,489, he said. 

The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 1.98 per cent, he added. Details of recovered and under-treatment patients were not provided by the district administration.

In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 1,14,781, while the death toll has reached 2,474, another official said.

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Not able to give Rs 4 lakh compensation to kin of people who succumbed to COVID-19: Centre tells SC

The Centre on Sunday told the Supreme Court that it won’t be able to give Rs 4 lakh compensation to kin of each person who died of Covid 19.

Centre says Union and the state governments have spent huge amounts to combat pandemic raging for over a year and that their finances are over stretched. The government added that people who died due to COVID-19 will be classified as a ‘COVID-19 death’, irrespective of co-morbidities unless a clear alternative cause like poisoning, accidental trauma or acute myocardial infarction led to death.

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Naveen Patnaik inaugurates 200-bed COVID hospital in Odisha’s Kalahandi

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated a 200-bed COVID-19 hospital set up by aluminium major Vedanta Resources in Kalahandi district. The hospital with all the modern facilities was funded by the company but will be managed by the Odisha government.

Patnaik inaugurated the medical facility through a virtual programme in the presence of Vedanta Resources Chairman Anil Agarwal and other company officials.

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Weekend lockdown imposed in Thiruvananthapuram:

Kerala wears a deserted look at several places as the state observes complete lockdown on weekends, only essential services will remain open

Visuals from Thiruvananthapuram pic.twitter.com/w3NadjVbdC

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2021

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Over 3.06 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses available with states, says Centre

The Centre on Sunday said that more than 3.06 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states/UTs.

“Furthermore, more than 24,53,080 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the states/UTs within the next three days. Over 29.10 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states/UTs so far through Centre and through direct state procurement category. Of this, total consumption, including wastages is 26,04,19,412 doses,” the statement added.

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Around 2 lakh healthcare, frontline workers skipped inoculation, says Odisha govt

Though Odisha is all set to achieve the milestone of administering one crore COVID-19 vaccine doses in the next two days, around 2 lakh coronavirus warriors have skipped the inoculation procedure even after registering their names, official sources said Saturday.

As many as 61,047 health care workers and 1,26,170 front line workers have been found escaping inoculation despite getting their names registered with CoWIN portal. A total of 1,97,217 registered health care and frontline workers have not taken jabs so far in Odisha.

“Health workers and front line workers, who were registered but not vaccinated yet should be reached and inoculated by the districts by June 20, 2021,” Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare department PK Mohapatra wrote to the district collectors and the commissioners of municipal corporations.

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Active COVID-19 cases stand at 7.29 lakh currently

The number of active COVID-19 cases in the currently is 7,29,243, the Union Health Ministry said in its 8 am update on Sunday.

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ICMR says 18.11 lakh COVID-19 tests conducted yesterday

The ICMR on Sunday said that a total of 39,10,19,083 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up till 19 June 2021.

“Of these, 18,11,446 samples were tested yesterday,” the statement added.

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Daily positivity rate stands at 3.22%: Centre

In terms of the COVID-19 positivity rate in the country, the Union Health Ministry on Sunday said that the daily positivity rate stands at 3.22 percent while the weekly positivity rate remains below five percent. It is currently 3.43 percent.

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Recovery rate rises to 96.27% today

The national recovery rate rose to 96.27 percent on Sunday, with 87,619 patients getting discharged in the last 24 hours.

The total number of recoveries stands at 2,87,66,009.

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Centre says 1,576 new COVID-19 deaths recorded in last 24 hours

The country’s COVID-19 toll rose to 3,86,713 with 1,576 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday morning.

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India reports 58,419 new COVID-19 cases today

India reported 58,419 new COVID-19 cases, a single-day tally which fell below 60,000 after 81 days, on Sunday. The total caseload in the country rose to 2,98,81,965.

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Telangana govt to lift lockdown from today

The Telangana government has decided to lift the COVID-19 lockdown completely from Sunday in view of a decline in coronavirus cases and also reopen educational institutions from 1 July.

The decision was been taken by the state cabinet in a meeting chaired by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday afternoon.

Till Saturday, the lockdown was being implemented from 6 pm to 6 am in the state except in some parts.