Coronavirus News Highlights: India’s cumulative vaccination coverage reaches 43 crores; Kerala reports 18,531 new COVID-19 cases

Delhi Unlock Guidelines: Delhi Metro, buses to operate with 100% capacity from July 26; cinema halls, multiplexes to open (PTI Photo/File image)

Coronavirus Third Wave India News Highlights, Coronavirus Statistics India News July 24, Covid Vaccination Highlights: Delhi Unlock Guidelines from July 26 — The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) announced further relaxation of lockdown guidelines in the capital from Monday, July 26. In the latest order, DDMA has ordered reopening of cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes with 50 percent seating capacity. From July 26, Delhi Metro will operate with 100 per cent seating capacity, but no standing passenger will be allowed. Also, business-to-business (B2B) exhibitions will be allowed in Delhi from July 26, but only with business visitors. Number of people allowed at marriage functions, last rites in Delhi has been raised to 100 from Monday. Spas in Delhi will reopen from July 26 after a long hiatus, but as a precaution, all employees will have to be fully vaccinated or undergo RT-PCR test fortnightly. Further, public buses for intrastate movement have been allowed to operate in Delhi at 100 per cent seating capacity from Monday.

Earlier on Saturday, with a single-day rise of 39,097 cases, India’s Covid-19 count has climbed to 3,13,32,159. According to the data shared by Union Health Ministry, 546 deaths in the last 24 hours pushed the death toll due to the highly infectious disease to 4,20,016. The number of active Covid-19 cases now stands at 4,08,977 while the national recovery rate stands at 97.35 per cent. The data shows that the active caseload has increased by 3,464 in a day. Also, a total of 16,31,266 tests were conducted in a day. The number of people who so far recuperated from the coronavirus has now increased to 3,05,03,166, while the fatality rate stands at 1.34 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Centre told the Lok Sabha that it can give a deadline by which all the people in the country would have received vaccine shots. The Centre said that this is because of the dynamic and evolving nature of the coronavirus pandemic. However, it told the Lower House that all beneficiaries aged 18 years and above are expected to be inoculated by December this year.

At the same time, the government is asserting that the pace of vaccination in India is amongst the fastest in the world.

Here are the latest coronavirus-related news from India and around the globe: