A chief medical officer of Wenlock hospital who was treating Covid-19 patients for the last two months tested positive for coronavirus and several other doctors and nurses were quarantined. Nine doctors from three private hospitals in Mangaluru too have tested positive and 60 staff from their hospitals have been quarantined. (READ MORE)

Disappointed to find staff unavailable when needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration made it mandatory for officials to go on leave only with permission of the district magistrate, according to an order issued on Tuesday.

Admitting lapses in the clinical management of COVID-19 patients in state-run as well as private hospitals in Kolkata, the state health department on Tuesday isued an advisory, including careful triaging of patients as per their symptoms.

The Railways will expand its suburban services in Mumbai from Wednesday and run 350 trains each in the Central and Western Railway Zones, Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

The Punjab government on Tuesday issued fresh guidelines for the next phase of the coronavirus lockdown from July 1 to 31, saying there will be no restriction on interstate and intrastate movement of persons and goods.

With a surge in COVID-19 fatalities and infections in Odisha in June, the state government Tuesday announced weekend shutdown in 10 districts with high active caseloads, to prevent crowding during the easing of lockdown.

Punjab
Total Positive Cases: 5568
Recovered:  3867
Deaths:  138

Haryana
Total Positive Cases: 14,548
Recovered:  9972
Deaths:  236

Himachal Pradesh
Total Positive Cases: 953
Recovered:  575
Deaths:  8

Chandigarh
Total Positive Cases: 440
Recovered: 364
Deaths:  6

Loading and unloading of cargo and travel of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes are exempted from night curfew. (READ MORE)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conversation with four Indian nurses working in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and India will be aired on Wednesday during which they will share their experience of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. (READ MORE)

Addressing deputy commissioners and police officials through video conferencing from Shimla, CM Jairam Thakur said curfew would remain in force in the state from 9 pm to 5 am till further orders. (READ MORE)

The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to consider the sufferings of parents and private educational institutions and formulate a scheme on collection of fees during the COVID-19 pandemic. (READ MORE)

A 47-year-old trader from Punnam Chathiram became the first person to succumb to COVID-19 in Karur district, after initially having his fever treated by a quack. (READ MORE)

Yet another member of the state legislature has tested positive in Bihar where at least three prominent politicians have been infected by coronavirus in the past fortnight, an official said here on Tuesday. (READ MORE)

Food, free of cost would be home delivered for the elderly, sick and destitute in Chennai and nearby areas where the intense lockdown will be in force till July 5, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said here on Tuesday. (READ MORE)

The three teams of medical experts constituted by the Union health ministry will conduct regular and surprise inspections at various COVID hospitals in the national capital, officials said.

The toll due to COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir crossed the 100-mark on Tuesday as six more patients succumbed to the disease, while the union territory's tally rose to 7,497 after 260 fresh cases were detected, officials said.

Six more persons succumbed to coronavirus in Punjab on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 144 while 150 new cases pushed the state's tally to 5,568. Three fatalities were reported in Amritsar and one each in Patiala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, according to a medical bulletin.

Eighty-eight more Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the overall infections in the country's largest paramilitary force to over 1,200, officials said on Tuesday.

Nine more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh, taking the total number of cases in the Union territory to 973, officials said on Tuesday. All the nine new cases were detected in Leh district, the health department officials said.

Gujarat on Tuesday reported 620 new COVID-19 cases, taking the overall count to 32,446 in the state, Health department said. With 20 more people succumbing to the infection, the toll has risen to 1,848, it said. A total of 422 patients were discharged in the day, taking the number of the recovered cases to 23,670.

West Bengal on Tuesday registered its highest single-day spike of 652 COVID-19 cases, which pushed the total tally in the state to 18,559, the health department said. Fifteen coronavirus patients died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 668, the department said in its bulletin. Of the 15 people, 14 succumbed to comorbidities, where COVID-19 was "incidental", the bulletin said.

Maharashtra's coronavirus case tally rose to 1,74,761 on Tuesday with addition of 4,878 new patients while the death toll mounted by 245, including 57 fatalities in Mumbai, to 7,855. (READ MORE)

Total positive case till date: 18,559
Positive at present: 5,761
Death: 668
Discharged: 12,130
Total tests: 4,88,038

Fresh case: 260
Deaths: 5
Total cases rise to: 7497
Active cases: 2674
Recovered: 4722
Total deaths: 101

As per the officials of Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration, the low positivity rate indicated that the inflictions were high in number only in containment and densely populated areas of the district. (READ MORE)

#Alert : June 30th, #Telangana crosses 16k mark with 945 new #COVID cases
Reported COVID deaths 260,with 7 more deaths#TelanganaFightsCorona #TNIEupdatesOnCovid19 #MaskUpTelangana@NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/q1rj5jyeCL

— TNIE Telangana (@XpressHyderabad) June 30, 2020

In a curious case of the use of the epidemic act against her in-laws, a homemaker in Kanpur lodged a police complaint against her mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, her husband and her two children accusing all of assault, insult and criminal intimidation on Tuesday. (READ MORE)

Lockdown measures in containment zones stand extended up to July 31. Schools, colleges, cinema halls, swimming pools, gyms, entertainment parks, social, political religious and other large congregation shall remain prohibited till July 31: West Bengal Govt #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/TjZZ46RxzJ

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020

Punjab reports 150 new COVID-19 positive cases and 6 deaths today. Total number of cases rise to 5568 and death toll is at 144: State Health Department

Karnataka reports 947 new #COVID19 positive cases including 503 cases from Bengaluru Urban, taking the total number of cases to 15242. Death toll rises to 246 after 20 deaths were reported today: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/qAu9EyGsGU

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020

Like in the case of testing humans, the expert team clad in PPEs visited the animals at Jakkanahalli near Tiptur and also others that grazed alongside them at Gollarahatti hamlet in Godekere village of Chikkanayakanahalli taluk. The samples will be sent through courier to the Animal Disease Investigation Laboratory in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Until the reports arrive in 10-15 days, the sheep will be under 'quarantine'.

FULL REPORT HERE 

Number of COVID-19 cases rises to 948 in Himachal Pradesh, of which 358 cases are active. The death toll is at 8. 569 patients have recovered till date: State Health Department 

• Enforcement against wearing masks, social distancing at public places, in commercial spaces will be stronger in July in Odisha.
• Ten districts bracketed in Zone 1 to have weekend shutdowns, dist admn authorised to restrict public transport, shops, Govt, Pvt offices and assembly.
• The 10 dists include Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jharsuguda.
• Night curfew to be in force from 9 pm to 5 pm, earlier it was from 6 pm. Decision on opening shopping malls on local authorities.
• Social distancing protocol not just for Govt offices, Pvt institutions will have to abide by it. 

#Odisha Govt issues guidelines on preventive measures to contain spread of #COVID19 in workplace settings. @XpressOdisha @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/utCwDmURwx

— Hemant Kumar Rout #StayHomeStaySafe (@TheHemantRout) June 30, 2020

A total of 32 employees at @BMTC_BENGALURU have tested positive for COVID-19. However, of these 12 have been discharged. 4 cases were reported on Tuesday alone in Bengaluru. @XpressBengaluru @santwana99 @NSNandiesha @BBPVedike @NewIndianXpress

— PREEJA PRASAD (@preejap13) June 30, 2020

Lockdown will be implemented in a stricter manner in Nashik from 7 pm to 5 am; it will be a curfew-like situation during this time: District Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal  

The altercation broke out at @mybmc N ward Ghatkopar office between assistant commissioner and @mnsadhikrut workers over providing food and other services at Covid centre. @NewIndianXpress @Sunday_Standard pic.twitter.com/O6wwNnVDgu

— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) June 30, 2020

The Delhi Metro has been closed since March 22 when the 'Janata Curfew' was observed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Subsequently, the nationwide lockdown was announced which came into effect from March 25. "Delhi Metro services will remain closed for commuters until further notice, in view of the guidelines issued by the government," a senior official said. The DMRC also tweeted to announce that services will remain closed. 

9 CISF jawans test covid positive in Kerala. Among 131 fresh cases, 65 people arrived from abroad while 46 came from other states. 10 people got infected through local contact. 75 people recovered from the disease. State has 127 hotspots. @NewIndianXpress @xpresskerala

— Manoj Viswanathan (@Manojexpress) June 30, 2020

• New cases: 3,943
• Total: 90,167
• Discharged: 50,074
• Active cases: 38,889
• Samples tested: 30,242
• Deaths:1,201
• New cases in Chennai: 2,393
• Total : 58,327

Rajiva Sinha, West Bengal Chief Secretary writes to Ajay Bhalla, Home Secretary stating, "kindly give MHA's consent for relaxing norms for Kolkata to run a bare minimum number of Metro train to carry people associated with essential services as a very special case".  

Kerala #COVID19 cases

New cases-131
Recoveries-75

Malappuram-32
Kannur-26
Palakkad-17
Kollam-12
Ernakulam-10
Alappuzha-9
Kasaragod-8
TVM-5
Thrissur-4
Kozhikode-4
Kottayam-3
Pathanamthitta-1

Active cases-2112
Total quarantine1,84,657@NewIndianXpress @xpresskerala

— Raam Das (@PRamdas_TNIE) June 30, 2020

 READ FULL REPORT HERE

Higher Education Minister KP Anbazhagan tests positive for Corona ! @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/D3IwaSfFgw

— T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) June 30, 2020

• We are allowing morning walks from 5:30 am to 8:30 am but social distancing should be maintained. 50 people to be allowed at weddings and 'sraddha' instead of 25: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
•  I am extending free ration for poor till June 2021
• Today Chief Secy has written letters to Central Home Secy regarding metro&flight services. Like international flights have been stopped till July 15 we requested restriction of domestic flights from hotspots & to start metro for people engaged in essential services.

@INCIndia chief Sonia Gandhi wrote to @PMOIndia on June 22 urging extenstion of Antyodaya Anna Yojana till Sep 2020 as thousands of people have slipped into poverty dur to lockdown @NewIndianXpress

— richa sharma (@richa_TNIE) June 30, 2020

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana extended till November end: PM  

The rules were followed very seriously during the lockdown. Now governments, local body entities, citizens of the country need to show the same vigilance again. In particular, we have to pay a lot of attention to Containment Jones. Those who are not following the rules, we have to interrupt and stop them: PM  

Ever since Unlock-One has happened in the country, negligence in personal and social behavior is also increasing. Earlier we were very cautious about masking, taking two yards, washing hands several times a day for 20 seconds: PM 

We are entering Unlock-2.

India is in a better position than many countries of the world. Timely lockdown and other decisions have saved the lives of millions of people in India: PM 

Prevention is better than cure, which in case of #COVID19, there's no cure too. But, we still don't seem to understand it. People continue to venture out without masks. Scenes near Chennai's Tambaram railway station.
Express photos | @ashwinacharya05.@xpresstn pic.twitter.com/X5b1CCqc3x

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) June 30, 2020

In the last 24 hours, 672 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the state. There are 6711 active cases, 16084 patients have been discharged so far and 697 patients have succumbed to the infection: Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad  

The ICMR study on plasma therapy (PLACID Trial) is still ongoing. Sample size is 452. An interim analysis of 300 patients has not been conducted. The results will be shared on completion of the study from a scientific perspective: Indian Council of Medical Research  

#Kerala News Update

SSLC results announced. 98.82% of students became eligible for higher education; One more #Covid19 death in the state; and much more.
@kuruvilla2507 brings the details.@MSKiranPrakash @NewIndianXpress #keralafightsCorona #KeralaCongress @Oommen_Chandy pic.twitter.com/CwZVrkls6O

— TNIE Kerala (@xpresskerala) June 30, 2020

READ FULL REPORT HERE

Taking stock of the rising number of consumer complaints related to exorbitant electricity bills, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has directed power companies to show transparency in its billing procedures and redress the consumer complaints immediately.

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 30, 2020

Notification issued for extension of lockdown till July 31 PART ONE @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/1WM9Eu6cmu

— T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) June 30, 2020

• Odisha allows counter sale of liquor from tomorrow
• 29 more BSF jawans test positive for #COVID19 in Odisha's Malkangiri district 

Johnson & Johnson preparing ground for entry of COVID-19 vaccine, expanding its manufacturing capacity to supply over 1 billion doses through 2021 in not-for-profit project aimed at common person; human trials to begin in fortnight, says its top scientist  

#TNIEupdatesOnCovid19
Throwing norms into air (social distance) @BJP4Karnataka legislators & karyakarta’s staged protest against its own party members for switching the side during the election of president post of Zilla Panachayt in #Vijayapura @XpressBengaluru @VIJAYAPURPOLICE pic.twitter.com/hDyHJnXPxv

— Mahesh M Goudar (@MahiPEN_TNIE) June 30, 2020

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparations being undertaken for vaccination against COVID-19, as and when a vaccine is available.
• PM directed officials to evaluate various technology tools to ensure efficient and timely vaccination in due course of time. Prime Minister also directed that detailed planning for such large scale vaccination should be undertaken immediately.
• The current status of Indian and global vaccine development efforts was also reviewed at the meeting. Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s responsibility and commitment to the global community to play an enabling role in global vaccination efforts against COVID-19. 

ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಶ್ರೀ @BSYBJP ಅವರು, ಕೋವಿಡ್19 ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಖಾಸಗಿ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕಾಲೇಜುಗಳ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಸಿದರು.1/2 pic.twitter.com/qtDoJbvnfH

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 30, 2020

67 police personnel found positive for COVID-19 in the state in last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 1,097 and death toll to 59 in the force: Maharashtra Police.

State Government has requested Railways to allow employees of various Central Government Offices/Establishments, High Courts and Public Sector Banks to travel by local trains. The final decision in this regard will be taken by Railways.

Last week, the Indian Council of Medical Research had asked states to allow coronavirus testing for symptomatic persons in any part of the country. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

The deceased has been identified as 76-year-old Thankappan, a resident of Nettayam in Vattiyoorkavu, in the capital district. According to the health department, Thankappan who died on last Saturday due to comorbidities including high blood pressure and diabetes was tested positive on Monday. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

7 more #COVID19 deaths and 704 cases (648 AP + 51 other states + 5 foreign returnees) in #AndhraPradesh.

Death toll: 187

Cases breached the 14000-mark

AP tally: 1,2202 (6,770 active)
Others: 1,997 (830 active)
FR: 396 (297 active)
--
Overall: 14,595 (7,897 active) https://t.co/xFMeGSg8Ad pic.twitter.com/hzlNjA6O46

— Jayanth P (@Jayanth_TNIE) June 30, 2020

FULL REPORT HERE

The actor also assured that the "rest of us", which includes him, "have all been tested and found negative". He also mentioned he was taking his mother for testing since she "is the last person in the loop". (READ FULL STORY HERE)

What is the new vaccine candidate from #Hyderabad - COVAXIN all about? Watch this video to know more#India #COVAXIN #COVIDVACCINE #IndiaFightsCorona @DonitaJose @NewIndianXpress @BharatBiotech @ICMRDELHI pic.twitter.com/S0k36RGp5U

— TNIE Telangana (@XpressHyderabad) June 30, 2020

Odisha government allows across the counter sale of IMFL liquor along with home delivery from July 1 @XpressOdisha @NewIndianXpress

— Bijay Chaki (@bijay_TNIE) June 30, 2020

WATCH | A brief news bulletin from the Tamil Nadu bureau of The New Indian Express.

Open thread for detailed stories.@NewIndianXpress @SushmithaRam pic.twitter.com/fFjhK454mM

— TNIE Tamil Nadu (@xpresstn) June 30, 2020

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa holds 2nd round of meeting with representatives of private hospitals at Vidhana Soudha, over #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/BUQVtlKKd2

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020

With 206 new #COVID19 cases, the tally crosses 7000 mark in #Odisha

192 from quarantine centres
14 local cases

Total cases: 7065
2 more die, total: 25

Malkangiri 36
Jajpur 28
Koraput 18
Cuttack 17
Jagatsinghpur 17
Balangir 16
Deogarh 15
Khurda 7@XpressOdisha @NewIndianXpress

— Hemant Kumar Rout #StayHomeStaySafe (@TheHemantRout) June 30, 2020

67 more Maharashtra Police personnel tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours; taking the total number of cases to 4810 and death toll to 59 in the force.

94 #COVID19 cases, 27 recovered & 4 deaths reported in Rajasthan today, as of 10:30 am. Total number of cases in the state is now at 17,754, including 3,397 active cases & 409 deaths: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/phLPSx4xU8

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020

The researchers then carried out various experiments including on ferrets, which are widely used in flu studies because they experience similar symptoms to humans -- principally fever, coughing and sneezing. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

The shop owner and the employees tested positive on Sunday. According to a revenue department official, the showroom had been closed just earlier that week, on June 24, citing violation of physical distancing rules. In the meanwhile, a senior staff of the shop with travel history tested positive for Covid-19. Despite this and in defiance of the rules, the shop owner allegedly reopened the showroom the very next day. The shop was again closed by the Coimbatore Corporation officials on June 26, officials said. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

AstraZeneca director Jorge Mazzei told reporters on Monday that if the vaccine works he believes the hard-hit South American nation will get it at the end of the year. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

Guwahati: Complete lockdown has been imposed in the entire Kamrup Metropolitan district till July 12, to check the spread of Coronavirus. #Assam pic.twitter.com/nWQvDf1YcD

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020

The total number of samples tested up to 29 June is 86,08,654 of which 2,10,292 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research.

Telangana: Central team constituted by Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and led by Joint Secy Lav Agarwal visited Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences, Gandhi Hospital & the containment zone in Himayatnagar of Hyderabad yesterday to take stock of #COVID19 situation. pic.twitter.com/azjlJBvyOC

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Karnataka: Police checked vehicles in Bengaluru last night.

The timing of night curfew has been revised to 8 pm-5 am with effect from 29th June. pic.twitter.com/x7lljEvphR

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

No new COVID-19 positive case reported in Mizoram on 29th June. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 151, cured/discharged 61, active cases 90: Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Mizoram.

Judicial, non-judicial, and administrative functions of the High Court of Karnataka, Principal Bench, Bengaluru suspended for today, for sanitization of the entire court complex due to 'unavoidable circumstances'.

West Bengal recorded the highest single-day spike of 624 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the state's tally to 17,907, while 14 more people succumbed to the disease raising the death toll to 653, a health bulletin said. (READ MORE)

A woman neighbour was allegedly intimidated by the police and was abused by an IPS officer's wife, after she reportedly requested the officer's son to not make noise while playing. (READ MORE)

Figuring at the fifth position among the states in the country by contributing 4 per cent to the national tally of COVID-19 patients, the recovery rate in Uttar Pradesh has notched up to nearly 70 per cent on Monday. (READ MORE)

In a unique initiative, the West Bengal government has set up a 'COVID warrior club' in Murshidabad district, comprising people who have recovered from the disease and willing to aid the administration and health workers in containing the pandemic. (READ MORE)

The Meghalaya government on Monday announced the extension of night curfew till July 6 across the state and total lockdown in areas bordering Guwahati in Assam to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (READ MORE)

For travel within a district, e-pass will not be needed though it was necessary for inter-district and inter-state travel. (READ MORE)

India welcomed France's joining of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and France welcomed India's participation in the UN Security Council in 2021-22. (READ MORE)

More grim news. After Home Minister Mahmood Ali, #Telangana Deputy Speaker Padma Rao tests positive for #COVID19 @NewIndianXpress @XpressHyderabad

— Madhavi Tata (@madhavitata) June 29, 2020

The ministry said that domestic flights and passenger trains have already been allowed in a limited manner and their operations will be further expanded slowly. (READ MORE)

After a teacher deputed on Secondary School Leaving Certificate board examination duty tested positive for COVID-19, at least 50 people are at risk of the virus including 20 teachers and 20 students in Bagalkot. (READ MORE)

#Unlock2

International air travel of passengers, which has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission, to be further opened up in a calibrated manner. @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard

— Sana Shakil (@sanashakil_TNIE) June 29, 2020

Prime Minister @narendramodi will address the nation at 4 PM tomorrow.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 29, 2020

Govt of India announces guidelines for #Unlock2, which will be in force till July 31st. #Lockdown will continue to remain in force in containment zones till July 31st. #lockdownextension @gsvasu_TNIE @PrabhuChawla @Kalyan_TNIE @khogensingh1 @santwana99 @MSKiranPrakash pic.twitter.com/kaSyPD4rG0

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) June 29, 2020

The Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, has been accorded permission by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to initiate Phase I & II human clinical trials for India's first vaccine candidate against COVID-19. (READ MORE)

Several companies in the manufacturing, industrial goods and real estate sector have even chartered aircraft to bring back their skilled and semi-skilled employees. (READ MORE)

Punjab

Total Positive Cases: 5418

Recovered: 3764

Deaths: 138

Haryana

Total Positive Cases: 14,210

Recovered: 9502

Deaths: 232

Himachal Pradesh

Total Positive Cases: 942

Recovered: 556

Deaths: 7

Chandigarh

Total Positive Cases: 434

Recovered: 349

Deaths: 6

At a press conference, railway spokespersons said no Shramik Special ran on Sunday and none is scheduled for Tuesday either. (READ MORE)

#TNIEupdatesOnCovid19
With 1105 new cases, tally shoots up, 14295. 19 new deaths. #Bengaluru highest cases 738, #Ballari 76, #DakshinKannada 32, #Bidar 28.@NewIndianXpress @XpressBengaluru @santwana99 @DHFWKA @MoHFW_INDIA @CMofKarnataka @sriramulubjp @mla_sudhakar @RAshokaBJP pic.twitter.com/uS7YQYfCwT

— Bosky Khanna (@BoskyKhanna) June 29, 2020

After 11 consecutive days of 100+ cases, the #Kerala govt has decided to implement a special cluster management strategy in containment zones to deal with the rising #COVID19 threat. @likhithanair92 brings the details. @MSKiranPrakash @NewIndianXpress #COVID19India #XpressKerala pic.twitter.com/2pa9TVoKVX

— TNIE Kerala (@xpresskerala) June 29, 2020

Himachal Pradesh Government extends till August 31, 2020, the tenure of its medical officers, faculty members, and paramedical staff who are due to retire on June 30, 2020.

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

The metro authorities held a meeting with state government officials on Monday after responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s request to resume services for commuters from July 1. (READ MORE)

Vociferously defending the testing being done in Telangana and dismissing the criticisms levelled against Government COVID hospitals, Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender on Monday stated that people with vested interests are finding ways to tarnish the government's efforts in controlling COVID. (READ MORE)

Lockdown extended in Tamil Nadu ...detailed release Part One @xpress @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/8aPRZ42C1g

— T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) June 29, 2020

Update on fever camps data in Chennai:

6.39 lakh people have attended the 9790 camls held so far. 26k ILI symptoms recorded and 22k samples lifted. @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/JNWX945vUV

— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) June 29, 2020

Sharing coronavirus data of the four metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, Karnataka CM Yediyurappa said Bengaluru was better placed due to the efforts of the state government. (READ MORE)

The Nagaland government on Monday extended the lockdown in the state till July 15 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a government spokesperson said. (READ MORE)

Lucknow District Court to remain closed for two days after detection of a COVID-19 case today. The Court will reopen after sanitization activities are undertaken. 

Teenage daughter of a mason, stricken by poverty due to Covid-inducted lockdown, sought help from the local police in East Midnapore district and derailed her father’s plan to get her married off at the age of 15. The Class-X board examinee wrote a letter to the cops disclosing her parents’ intention and her aim to study further. The police intervened and got her parents to sign a written declaration that the teenager would not be married off before she turned 18. 

FULL REPORT HERE

Hundrends of two-wheelers seized during the #lockdown parked at Sri Kanyakaparameswari Arts and Science College for Women in Chennai. @xpresstn

Express Photos | P Jawahar pic.twitter.com/yX1t3RlTtd

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) June 29, 2020

The West Bengal government is preparing a mobile app to store detailed information about migrant labourers who have returned to the state during the lockdown period, as well as their families, officials said on Monday. The labour department is collecting data on nearly 11 lakh workers who have come back from other states.

FULL REPORT HERE

Private Hospitals & nursing homes in #Bhubaneswar will have to maintain a database of employees residing in slums, engage them in 14-day shifts & make accommodation arrangements for them inside hospital/nursing home premises. #Odisha @XpressOdisha @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/zQboiUMOLk

— Hemant Kumar Rout #StayHomeStaySafe (@TheHemantRout) June 29, 2020

As per the state government's order, people coming from other states in Odisha are receiving Rs 2,000 as an incentive for completing the quarantine period. Jajpur District Magistrate Ranjan Kumar Das informed that more than 1,300 temporary quarantine centres are operational in the district. "The Government of Odisha issued an order that those coming from outside will be placed in institutional quarantine or home quarantine according to the case. To encourage people to register for (institutional) quarantine an incentive of Rs 2,000 is being given to them," Das told ANI. 

With very few trains plying, migrant workers flood palace grounds for help.@XpressBengaluru @NewIndianXpress @santwana99 #bengaluru #migrantlivesmatter #covid19 #lockdownindia pic.twitter.com/UPfZG9cVHW

— Meghana Sastry (@MeghanaSastry) June 29, 2020

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on June 29, 2020, released Rs 512.35 crore in the second tranche of industrial incentives to MSMEs as part of the Rs 1,168 crore ReSTART package that includes Rs 827.5 crore incentives kept pending by the previous TDP government since 2014-15.  

#Kerala #June29 #CoronaUpdatesInIndia

Upward trajectory of active #COVID19 cases continues @ the southernmost state.

121 cases on #Mon. 78 from abroad, 26 from other states & 5 due to close contact.

79 recovered on the day. @xpresskerala @NewIndianXpress

— Dileep V Kumar (@dileepvk_TNIE) June 29, 2020

Use of TrueNat machines should be promoted in private hospitals, Uttar Pradesh CM said while addressing an unlock review meeting with senior officers and ministers. 

#COVID19 update June 29 (Monday):

First time daily positive cases crosses 2k in #Chennai.

Today’s positive cases 3,949 (Total 86,224)

Chennai 2,167 (Total 55,929)

Discharged 2,212 (Total 47,749)

Death 62 (Total 1,141)@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress

— S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) June 29, 2020

Over 500 cases of child marriage were reported in West Bengal since mid-March when the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown was imposed, officials said, claiming that in most cases, underage girls were married off by families who lost their earnings due to the shutdown.

Alarmed by the spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases in Guwahati, the Assam government has enforced a 14-day “total lockdown” in the city since Sunday midnight. All government and private offices, commercial establishments, shops, industrial establishments, places of worship etc remained closed on Monday. Only pharmacies and hospitals were allowed to operate. 

#Karnataka

97.93 percent of the 7,91,102 SSLC candidates were present for today's exams.
Today, 2942 students from containment zones and 491 students who had COVID like symptoms wrote the exam : Minister @nimmasuresh

@NewIndianXpress @XpressBengaluru pic.twitter.com/RilQXJVX0A

— Pearl Dsouza (@pearl_tnie) June 29, 2020

As part of its national protest against the fuel price hike, the Karnataka unit of the Congress took out a bicycle rally on Monday. Senior leaders of the party hopped on to bicycles and led hundreds of party workers in Bengaluru as they pedalled towards the party headquarters. In the process, the Congress ended up violating all social distancing norms as hundreds of party workers cycled together and crowded outside the party office before moving towards the income tax office without masks, shouting slogans and waving flags.

FULL REPORT HERE

Haryana to start Plasma Therapy for treatment of Covid-19 Patients in all its medical colleges after approval from ICMR

— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) June 29, 2020

Revenue minister R Ashoka, who has temporarily been handed change of COVID-19 management for Bengaluru, on Monday said that the state and city will see a further steep spike in cases in July-August according to the experts' committee report. While spelling out the contingency plan for Bengaluru, Ashoka admitted that not just increased testing but increased spread of infection too is causing the spike. 

The 36-year-old legislator, who hails from the erstwhile royal family, tested positive on Sunday night, a day after his samples were sent for testing, health department sources confirmed to The New Indian Express . 

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa holds a meeting with representatives of private hospitals over #COVID19 treatment, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/l60SAJku0z

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

In the last 24 hours, 685 new COVID19 positive cases have been reported in the state. There are 6650 active cases, 15506 patients have been discharged so far and 672 patients have succumbed to the infection: Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad 

Delhi: CRPF personnel perform last rites of a jawan who died due to #COVID19 in Punjabi Bagh area, as per government guidelines. pic.twitter.com/64K6n3nNYO

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Concerned District Collector and Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations in the state may enforce certain measures and necessary restrictions in specified local areas on the permitted non-essential activities and movement of persons to control COVID19.

All Govt offices with certain exceptions like emergency, health&medical, treasuries, disaster management, police to function with 15% strength or 15 persons whichever is higher. All private offices can operate up to 10% strength or 10 people whichever is more: Maharashtra Govt pic.twitter.com/lsN00HVWLz

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

77 police personnel found positive for COVID-19 & two others died in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 1,030 and death toll to 59 in the force: Maharashtra Police 

The Health Experts Committee which held a two-hour-long discussion with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at the Secretariat on Monday did not recommend an extension of lockdown but urged the government to increase the restrictions in areas where the health indicators are not satisfactory. This is the seventh meeting the committee had with the Chief Minister since March. Dr Sowmya Swaminathan joined the meeting via video conferencing from Geneva. 

Odisha: People who are placed under institutional quarantine in the state are given Rs 2000 on completion of their quarantine term. A person quarantined in Jajpur says, "State govt has given all facilities here. Rs 2000 was credited in my account after I stayed here for 10 days." pic.twitter.com/zpBGBCv360

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

A 56-year-old COVID-19 patient, who attempted suicide by jumping from the 1st floor of a COVID care centre, succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning. The deceased was a daily wager from East Street of Palanganatham in Madurai. Sources said he was living on the first floor of a house in Palanganatham with his wife, daughter-in-law and grandson. His son is working abroad. 

Himachal Pradesh detects 3 new positive cases of #COVID19, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 919 including 365 active cases, 534 recoveries and 7 deaths: State Health Department  

The first COVID-19 case was reported at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) with one of its employees testing positive for the virus on Monday. The employee returned from his hometown in Rajasthan via Delhi on June 4 by a flight and was under institutional quarantine at GITAM Hospital from June 4 to 12. 

AIMIM floor leader @imAkbarOwaisi
submitted a representation to @TelanganaHealth
@Eatala_Rajender seeking extensive #COVID19 testing in Hyderabad. Owaisi requested that at least 20,000 tests be done in Hyderabad PC & another 2k in Nampally assembly. @asadowaisi pic.twitter.com/RTQbDtw41j

— TNIE Telangana (@XpressHyderabad) June 29, 2020

As soon as the test results were received, officials of the Vellore City Municipal Corporation sanitized the residences of the judicial officers at Sathuvachari and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar off Anna Salai 

Delhi High Court extends the suspension of the functioning of High Court and subordinate courts till July 15, in view of the COVID19 pandemic. All pending matters listed before the Court in this period stand adjourned. Hearing in urgent matters to be held via video-conferencing. 

Pakistan govt has offered to reopen Kartarpur Corridor from today. We also want that the corridor reopens but the final decision has to be taken by the Centre keeping in view COVID-19 situation: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Chief Secretary Dr Roop Singh in Amritsar  

"We have controlled the coronavirus situation in Madhya Pradesh. Our growth rate is 78 per cent. So far, the number of active cases stands at around 2,500 whereas we are prepared with 25,000 beds," Narottam Mishra said.

Twenty five more test positive for #coronavirus in #Bhubaneswar in the last 24 hours. Twenty three out of these cases are local. Covid tally 314. @NewIndianXpress @XpressOdisha pic.twitter.com/lQ0PTZxIj0

— Sudarsan Maharana (@Sud_TNIE) June 29, 2020

The sample of the labourer, who is working with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), was taken at the Keylong regional hospital, they said. With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh has risen to 918.

Sixty-three fishermen, including 44 from Tamil Nadu, are still stranded in Iran after they could not board the Indian Navy vessel INS Jalashwa at Bandar Abbas in Iran due to lack of space.
(READ FULL REPORT HERE)

In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, authorities have decided that 'wari' (pilgrimage) will be held this year with the padukas (foot prints) of Saint Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram and others being taken to Pandharpur by air or road, and not on foot as is done traditionally.

11 more #COVID19 deaths and 793 cases (706 AP + 81 other states + 6 foreign returnees) in #AndhraPradesh.

Death toll: 180

30,216 samples tested in the last 24 hrs

AP tally: 11,554 (6,387 active)
Others: 1,946 (798 active)
FR: 391 (294 active)
--
Overall: 13,891 (7,479 active) https://t.co/4FZWkehcle pic.twitter.com/ybetLEsGBS

— Jayanth P (@Jayanth_TNIE) June 29, 2020

Maharahtra govt's launched project PLATINA, the worlds largest convalescent plasma therapy trial cum project in treatment of severe covid 19 patients today. @CMOMaharashtra has allocated Rs. 16.85 crore for this project through CM Cares Fund. @NewIndianXpress @Sunday_Standard

— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) June 29, 2020

FULL REPORT HERE

If there will be any chance of the spread of COVID-19 infection in my state, I will act firmly. I will not let this disease spread in my state. I have to do my best: Captain Amarinder Singh.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday informed that within two days the 'Plasma Bank' will be started at Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) to help out the public. As per the procedure, all hospitals will be able to get the plasma from the storage but only after a doctor's recommendation, the doctor will request ILBS for plasma only then it will be provided for the concerned patient. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

We have got arrangements for 4,246 beds out of which 2,014 are ready, another 949 beds have been kept reserved in private sector. A total of 52 government and 195 private hospitals have been booked for COVID-19 cases. We'll have over 600 ventilators soon.

#LIVE : Key points from Health Minister, @Eatala_Rajender press conference
1. Swab Collections to begin from Tuesday
2. Extensive testing in GHMC South and West Zone
3. Reinforced Containment Zones
4. 255 government. 31 pvt health staff tested positive, 1 death of head nurse

— TNIE Telangana (@XpressHyderabad) June 29, 2020

Lockdown not found error 404! Large number of vehicles continue to ply on the roads amid intensified lockdown, in Chennai.
Express video | @haisat2005. @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/DhNxwCcY4b

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) June 29, 2020

For classes 1-10, Centre had laid down guidelines. Based on the guidelines and what we have done in the past, we have formed an expert committee. Once the committee submits its recommendations, we will decide the next course of action: Karnataka Education Minister https://t.co/IF9mYGDNCK

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

• Delhi government has decided to start a 'Plasma Bank' in Delhi for treatment of COVID-19 patients. The 'Plasma Bank' will start operation in the next two days.
• I appeal to COVID-19 recovered patients to donate their plasma.
• This 'Plasma Bank' will be set-up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Delhi.
• Anyone who needs plasma will need a recommendation from a doctor.

The varsity had received numerous representations from students and parents seeking postponement of the exams. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

WATCH | A brief news bulletin from the Tamil Nadu bureau of The New Indian Express.

Open thread for detailed stories.@NewIndianXpress @kv_navya pic.twitter.com/LSyJMx9Cmb

— TNIE Tamil Nadu (@xpresstn) June 29, 2020

There're over 2500 active cases in the state now but we have 25,000 beds.There was an outbreak of #COVID19 cases in Indore, Mumbai & Delhi at the same time, but if we compare now,we've been able to contain the situation in Indore: Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Dr Narottam Mishra pic.twitter.com/UytXQ9IRnx

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Rajasthan reports 121 new #COVID19 positive cases and 3 deaths till 10:30 AM today. Total number of positive cases rise to 17392, including 402 deaths and 13618 recoveries: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/rLd1hXIrar

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Odisha detects 245 new COVID-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases to 6859 including 4743 recoveries, 2086 active case and 21 deaths: State Health Department

Uttarakhand government to begin Chardham Yatra for Uttarakhand residents only from July 1, following SOPs issued by govt in view of COVID-19. People from containment zones, quarantine centres and other states won't be allowed to take part in Yatra:Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Board CEO.

Harjeet Singh, a resident of Dilshad Garden, arrived in Delhi on flight number AI 1916 from Almaty in Kazakhstan on Saturday and went missing from the entry gate of the screening hall at Terminal-3 of the IGI airport. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

According to sources, a medical team took swabs for testing three days ago after he began showing symptoms of coronavirus infection. The result came positive on Sunday. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

TN CM EPS holds discussions with health experts committee to take a decision on whether lockdown should be extended in the State; the current phase of lockdown coming to an end tomorrow @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress

— T Muruganandham (@muruga_TNIE) June 29, 2020

A meat stall at #sathuvachari in #vellore was sealed by municipal corporation officials for violation of #TNLockdown @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/D32qczxtbg

— Sivakumar_TNIE (@sivakumarie) June 29, 2020

Karnataka: Students being screened at schools in Shivamogga before appearing in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) board exams, amid #COVID19 outbreak. pic.twitter.com/WvB0PKg9Ma

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

A team from Central government will visit Telanagana today to gauge the ongoing efforts to tackle #COVID19
Visit to Gandhi Hospital, TIMS, containment areas on itinerary#TNIEupdatesOnCovid19 #TelanganaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/mbwIiMIAZB

— TNIE Telangana (@XpressHyderabad) June 29, 2020

Bengaluru had 1556 COVID-19 cases as on June 23 which has doubled to 3419 cases as on June 28. Bengaluru now constitutes 25.92% of total cases in Karnataka. State Government is taking all measures to ensure that every COVID patient gets best treatment: Dr Sudhakar K, Karnataka Minister.

380 deaths and 19,459 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours. Positive cases in India stand at 5,48,318 including 2,10,120 active cases, 3,21,723 cured/discharged/migrated & 16,475 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

On Saturday, the DU postponed the OBE, which was scheduled to begin from July 1, by 10 days “in view of the prevailing situation of COVID-19 pandemic”. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

In the first phase of lockdown amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Rinky, 30 relied on food being distributed by the Delhi government in a school near her accommodation in the capital’s Bhanwar Singh Camp. Despite the need to take care of her three-year-old daughter who is suffering from malnourishment, she could do little. The condition has not improved much since. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

Sources at the Max Hospital said the doctor died in the ICU of Max Smart, a dedicated COVID-19 facility in Saket. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

No artificial flavours would be added to the sweetmeat which will be available in the department's outlets in the city and neighbouring districts. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

Religious places in rural areas of the state where limited number of devotees visit are allowed to open from July 1: Rajasthan Chief Minister's Office.

327 new COVID-19 positive cases detected in Assam on Sunday. Out of these, 195 cases were reported in Guwahati city in last 24 hours. Total cases 7492, recovered 5088, active cases 2390 and deaths 11: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

It will take 2 minutes to collect samples. Currently, swab is collected manually. It is dangerous and can spread COVID. The robot can be operated using an app, so social distancing is maintained. It is fully automated. It can be used in hospitals & mobile vans: Karthi Velayutham https://t.co/ooL7FOqtOT pic.twitter.com/0vtLmyxMLd

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2020

Disinfecting properties of chlorine is built in our fabric & is active on its surface for two weeks. On washing, chlorine is absorbed again by fabric giving it antimicrobial facility. Property available in the fabric in first wash is available even after 80 wash:Managing Director https://t.co/wUePpr67YB pic.twitter.com/gdQAcPBVXk

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Delhi: Cyclists, joggers and morning walkers exercise near Vijay Chowk. pic.twitter.com/nKwhjjEo8X

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Assam: Streets in Guwahati wear a deserted look as 14-day complete lockdown has been imposed in entire Kamrup Metropolitan since yesterday. pic.twitter.com/UBYtY10yU9

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

A record single-day spike in COVID-19 cases was reported in several states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal as the country-wide tally rose by nearly 20,000 on Sunday. (FOLLOW THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE)