COVID-19 Updates: Delta Variant Behind 2nd Wave, No More Captcha On CoWIN, Maharashtra Unlock

In the past 24 hours, more than 1.2 lakh new covid-19 cases were reported in India, with Tamil Nadu recording over 22,000 new infections, the highest in the country.

Highly Infectious Delta Variant Behind 2nd Wave, Says Study

The Delta variant or B.1.617.2 strain, which was first detected in India, is more infectious than the Alpha variant or B.1.1.7, first detected in the United Kingdom, and is also the reason behind the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, reveals a study conducted by a team of scientists from different Indian institutions.

AFP

¡°Our data indicates B.1.617.2 shows high transmissibility and surges without any increase in case fatality rate (CFR). We estimate the transmissibility to be as much as 50% greater than B.1.1.7. Viral load of B.1.617.2 appears to be higher than B.1.1.7,¡± said their study in its conclusion.

Delhi University To Provide Full Fee-Waiver To Students Who Lost Parents To Covid

The Delhi University will provide full fee waiver to students who lost one or both parents to the coronavirus infection, officials said on Friday.

AP

The university has written to its colleges to conduct a survey and prepare a list of such students.

In U-turn, Maharashtra Govt Says No Relaxation Of Lockdown-like Curbs Anywhere Yet

The Maharashtra government on Thursday evening clarified that the existing restrictions on account of COVID-19 have not been lifted anywhere, contrary to the announcement made by minister Vijay Wadettiwar.

BCCL

Relaxation of restrictions as per the situation in different areas is only under consideration and no decision has been taken, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

CoWin Portal Does Away With Captcha Check

The CoWin platform used to run India's vaccination programme and register beneficiaries has done away with the Captcha check for registering for a shot.

BCCL

The process of registration has become quicker without the Captcha and the decision seems to have followed the introduction of a four-digit code that beneficiaries need to produce at their vaccination site.

COVID-19 Recoveries Breach 19-Lakh Mark In Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has registered 22,651 new COVID-19 infections and 463 deaths, pushing the total infected so far to 21,95,402 and the fatalities to 26,128, said the Health Department on Friday.

BCCL

Recoveries remained high with 33,646 people walking out of health care institutions totalling 19,00,306 till date, leaving 2,68,968 active infections, a medical bulletin said.

Facing Flak, Punjab Withdraws Vaccines From Private Hospitals

After facing criticism, Punjab government on Friday issued an order for taking back Covid vaccine doses from private hospitals.

BCCL

State Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the instruction to provide one-time limited vaccine doses to the private hospitals has been withdrawn by the state and all these vaccines will be administered free of cost to those in the 18-44 age group at the government vaccination centres.