Australia reported new 633 coronavirus cases on August 18, as concerns grew about the delta variant’s spread beyond Sydney.
Australia reported new 633 coronavirus cases on August 18, as concerns grew about the delta variant’s spread beyond Sydney.
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:
INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand orders mask use as new cases found
New Zealand’s first coronavirus outbreak in six months has grown to seven people.
The announcement Wednesday came a day after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposed a strict lockdown after the first case was reported. The lockdown is for at least three days for the country and at least a week for the cities of Auckland and Coromandel. -PTI
Centre announces Rs 1,353 crore package for Northeast to tackle pandemic
The Centre will provide a financial package of Rs. 1,353 crore to the Northeastern States to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Tuesday.
Reviewing the COVID-19 situation with the health ministers and senior officials of all the Northeastern States here, Mandaviya said the fund is being provided to purchase medicines, enhance oxygen supply, increase the number of beds at local and district-level hospitals. -PTI
Demand for resumption of chartered flights to Goa to be taken up with Centre: Sawant
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said his government will put forth before the Centre the demand of industry bodies here to resume international chartered flights to the coastal state from October this year.
The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) submitted a memorandum to the CM on Tuesday, seeking the resumption of chartered flights to provide a boost to the tourism sector, which is reeling under the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent curbs.
While domestic tourists can visit Goa with COVID-19 negative report or fully vaccinated certificate, international travellers are not being allowed in the State since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 when a nationwide lockdown was imposed and flights from overseas were suspended. -PTI
Permit entry of people with emergent medical needs, death in family: Kerala HC to Karnataka govt
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to permit entry from here to that state of people in dire emergent situations, like death in the family or medical treatment, on the production of necessary documents in support of their respective claims and irrespective of the nature of vehicles used by them.
A vacation bench of Justices Shaji P Chaly and A Badharudeen issued the direction while hearing two PILs, one by A K M Ashraf the IUML MLA from Manjeshwar, which have opposed Karnataka government’s decision to blockade borders of Kasargod and Mangalore, within that State. -PTI
FIR for COVID-19 norms violation at event during Union minister’s ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’
Police have registered an FIR against the organisers of an event during the ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ of Union minister Kapil Patil for alleged violation of COVID-19 norms, an official said on Wednesday.
As part of tours by some newly-inducted Union ministers in different parts of Maharashtra to reach out to people, MoS for Panchayati Raj and Bhiwandi MP Kapil Patil on Monday joined the yatra in Thane where hundreds of BJP activists welcomed him, while members of the Agri and Koli communities danced and sang songs.
In one of the events during the yatra, the organisers put up a stage where BJP activists allegedly gathered in a large number without wearing masks or maintaining social distance, an official from Kopri police station in Thane said. -PTI
Britain OKs Moderna vaccine for ages 12 and up
Britain’s medical agency has approved the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for use in children ages 12 and over.
It is the second COVID-19 shot authorized in the U.K. for those between ages 12 to 17, after the Pfizer vaccine.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said Tuesday that it is up to the government’s vaccination advisers whether children in this age group should be given the Moderna shot. -PTI
India logs 35,178 new cases, 440 fatalities
India added 35,178 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,22,85,857, while the national recovery rate improved to 97.52%, the highest since March 2020, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death toll climbed to 4,32,519 with 440 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The active cases declined to 3,67,415, the lowest in 148 days, and comprise 1.14% of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, the ministry said. –PTI
Australia outbreak grows, spreads to New Zealand
Australia’s most populous state reported a record 633 new coronavirus infections on August 18, as concerns grew about the delta variant’s spread beyond Sydney.
The previous record in New South Wales, which includes Sydney, was 466 on August 14. Three people died on August 17, bringing the death toll from the outbreak first detected in Sydney in mid-June to 60.
Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26 and the entire state has been locked down since August 14. – PTI
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