Coronavirus live updates: Sputnik V vaccine soft launch scaled up in Delhi, Mumbai, other cities, says Dr Reddy's

Owing to the number of Covid-19 cases in the state, the Odisha government has decided to continue partial lockdown in the state till 5am on July 1. Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra informed that shops selling essential goods will be allowed to open from 6 am to 5 pm in 17 districts of the southern and western part of the state where the positivity rate is 5 per cent or less.

The Centre has provided more than 27 crores Covid vaccine doses to the states and Union Territories so far, the ministry of health and family welfare informed on Wednesday. According to the Union health ministry, 1,82,86,208 Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered.

The Nagaland government on Wednesday further extended the ongoing statewide lockdown till June 30, a senior official said. The restrictions were scheduled to end on June 18.

Discussions are underway whether India should revert to four or eight weeks interval for Covishield vaccine and the emerging evidence regarding efficacy of partial versus full immunisation is also being considered, chairman of India's Covid-19 working group of NTAGI, Dr NK, Arora said.

Exposure to the rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of the common cold, can protect against infection by the virus which causes Covid-19, researchers have found. ​The study by Yale researchers found that the common respiratory virus jump-starts the activity of interferon-stimulated genes, early-response molecules in the immune system which can halt replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within airway tissues infected with the cold.

The government on Wednesday said that a total of 26.19 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far in India, under the nationwide vaccination drive.

The government on Wednesday said that testing capacity in the country has been substantially ramped up, with a total of 38.33 crore tests having been conducted.