Coronavirus live updates: Maharashtra reports 2,682 new coronavirus cases, 116 deaths

Organizers canceled the Boston Marathon on Thursday for the first time in its history, bowing to the social distancing requirements of the coronavirus outbreak and ending a 124-year run that had persisted through two World Wars, a volcanic eruption and even another pandemic.The race, which draws a field of 30,000 and already had been postponed from April 20 to Sept. 14, will be replaced by a virtual event in which participants who verify that they ran 26.2 miles (42.2 km) on their own will receive their finisher’s medal.“It became clear as this crisis developed that Sept. 14 was less and less plausible,” Mayor Marty Walsh said at a news conference outside City Hall, where runners traditionally gather for a pre-race pasta dinner.“This is a challenge, but meeting tough challenges is what the Boston Marathon is all about,” Walsh said, invoking the response to the finish line bombings seven years ago. “It’s a symbol of our city’s and our commonwealth’s resilience. So it’s incumbent upon all of us to dig deep, like a marathon runner, like we did in 2013, and keep that spirit alive.”

India has identified at least six local vaccine candidates with 30 groups trying to develop a vaccine for Covid-19. Besides, around 10 drugs are being re-purposed for use in treatment of the disease and are under different stages of trials, the government said while also highlighting that it was working on guidelines to prioritise distribution of the vaccine once it is available. Read full story

At least 18 flyers who flew on different domestic routes of two airlines in the last three days have tested positive for coronavirus, airlines confirmed on Thursday. All crew members of these airlines are currently in quarantine. Of the 18, 12 passengers who tested positive for Covid-19 were on IndiGo flights that flew on May 26 and 27. The passengers were asymptomatic and the operating crew of three flights have now been quarantined for a period of 14 days, according to the airline. At least six passengers on a TruJet flight from Chennai to Salem in Tamil Nadu have also tested positive on Thursday, say officials. Read full story

The surge in Covid-19 infections in the city continues. A day after recording a high of 792 cases, the number of infections crossed 1,000 in a single day, with 13 deaths also being reported on Thursday. Read full story

Union human resource development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Thursday interacted with heads of more than 45,000 Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) across the country through a webinar hosted by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bengaluru.An official release said he asked all universities to constitute special cells which will be empowered to address the issues of students related to academic calendar and examinations arising out of special circumstances due to Covid-19. He said that a task force has been created in UGC and NCERT to resolve the different issues of students.

Besides, around 10 drugs are being re-purposed for use in treatment of the disease and are under different stages of trials, the government said while also highlighting that it was working on guidelines to prioritise distribution of the vaccine once it is available. Read more