Karnataka reports 14,304 new cases and 464 deaths; positivity rate drops to 12.3%

[Rohan Tiwadi]

Coronavirus (Covid-19) India Lockdown and Cases News Live Updates: Meanwhile, the number of fresh infections in the last 24 hours are 623 in Delhi, 831 in Mumbai, 3,418 in Bengaluru, 1,032 in Kolkata and 2,467 in Chennai.

Coronavirus India Live Updates: Karnataka on Tuesday 14,304 new cases, 464 deaths, and 29,271 recoveries in the last 24 hours. Among the fresh infections, 3,418 were from Bengaluru. The positivity rate has dropped to 12.30%. Meanwhile, the number of fresh infections in the last 24 hours are 623 in Delhi, 831 in Mumbai, 1,032 in Kolkata and 2,467 in Chennai.

The Union Health Ministry Tuesday said the mixing of Covid vaccines is not the protocol till further updates. “The same vaccines (Covishield and Covaxin) will be administered for both doses. There’s international research underway on the mixing of vaccines as the possibility of a positive effect is also plausible but a harmful reaction cannot be ruled out either. It is an unresolved scientific question, science will settle it,” it said. Earlier, The Indian Express had reported that India might soon begin testing the feasibility of a regimen that mixes two different Covid-19 vaccines to see if it helps boost immune response to the virus.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, said, “Active cases are down by 50%, there is a 1.3 lakh decrease in active cases in a day. In 30 states/UTs, cases have been consistently declining for one week. This is a positive trend.” He added, “A total of 1,27,000 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. Since May 28, the country is reporting less than 2 lakh cases. There is a decline of infection in the country.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a consignment, comprising as many as three million doses of Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, the biggest tranche so far, landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is in a pact with Russian Direct Investment Fund to sell the first 125 million people doses (250 million vials) of Sputnik V in India. It has received approval from the Indian drug regulator for restricted emergency use of Sputnik V.

On Tuesday, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was admitted to AIIMS, most likely for post-Covid complications. He had tested positive for Covid a month ago.

India records 1.27 lakh new Covid-19 cases, 2,795 deaths in last 24 hours; active cases stand at 18.9 lakh; SC flags dual vaccine pricing; Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to 11 non-BJP CMs asking for Covid vaccines from Centre.