Highlights: DDMA fixes rates of Covid-19 RT-PCR test in Delhi at ₹2400

The secretary of the Union Heath Ministry has written to the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories directing them to ensure salaries of doctors & health workers doing Covid-19 related duty is released on time, reports ANI.

Preeti Sudan, Secretary Union Health Ministry writes to Chief Secretaries of all States & UTs, directing them to ensure salaries of doctors & health workers doing #COVID19 related duty is released on time. pic.twitter.com/Hlif8gvFTd

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2020

Iran on Thursday announced 87 new deaths from the novel coronavirus as authorities moved to tighten measures to stop its spread in some of the country's worst-hit provinces. Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in a televised interview that the fatalities in the past 24 hours had taken the overall toll in Iran's outbreak to 9,272, reports AFP.

Uttar Pradesh recorded its highest single-day spike in Coronavirus cases on with 604 people testing positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, officials said as the total number of cases rose to 15,785 in the state. The death toll from the novel virus also increased to 488 after 23 fresh fatalities were reported from different districts of Uttar Pradesh, they said, reports PTI.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her media address also mentioned that migrant workers returned in large numbers to 116 districts, spread over six states which were Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan, reports ANI.

We have found that migrant workers returned in large numbers to 116 districts, spread over six states - Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman https://t.co/pdrLTYwmrj

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2020

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her address ahead of the launch of 'Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 20 said that workers across India wanted to go back to villages a little while after the Covid-19 lockdown began, central and state governments made some arrangements to ensure they have gone back, reports ANI.

Workers from all over the country wanted to go back to villages a little while after the lockdown began,& central & state govts made some arrangements,& they have gone back. We have looked at the districts to which they have largely returned: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pic.twitter.com/OP6Rm0Bhuo

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2020

Coronavirus patients who do not show any symptoms of the disease may have a weaker immune response to the virus, according to a new study which highlights the risks of using 'immunity passports' to certify that a person has recovered from Covid-19, and is fit for travel and work, reports PTI.

The peak of Beijing’s new coronavirus outbreak has already passed and further infections should be “sporadic,” said the country’s chief epidemiologist, as China seeks to project confidence over a resurgence of cases that’s plunged its capital into a partial lockdown, reports Bloomberg.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said that centre plans to conduct six lakh rapid antigen Covid-19 tests in Delhi at 169 new facilities, where 50,000 kits have already been supplied. He also mentioned that centre will provide 500 additional ventilators and 650 ambulances to hospitals in the national capital, which has seen a spike in number of Covid-19 cases over the past few days, reports PTI.

82 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Assam, taking the total number of infections in the state to 4,777. The death toll is at nine and 2,654 have recovered from the virus so far, reports ANI.

Assam reports 82 new #COVID19 positive cases taking the total number of cases to 4777. Number of active cases stand at 2111: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pic.twitter.com/vgk7INo1pM

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2020

Jammu and Kashmir reported seven deaths due to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 71, officials said. While five of the deaths took place in the Kashmir valley, two people died in the Jammu region, they added, reports PTI.

As the race for a vaccine against the new coronavirus intensifies, rich countries are rushing to place advance orders for the inevitably limited supply to guarantee their citizens get immunized first — leaving significant questions about whether developing countries will get any vaccine before the pandemic ends, reports AP.

Singapore confirmed 257 new Covid-19 infections among foreign workers, taking the total number of cases in the country to 41,473. The new patients include four community cases, including one permanent resident (foreigner), the health ministry said, reports PTI.

The state of Himachal Pradesh has reported 600 infections and six deaths due to the novel Coronavirus. 368 people in the state have recovered from the infection, reports ANI.

586 #COVID19 positive cases reported in Himachal Pradesh so far, including 6 deaths and 368 recovered: State health department pic.twitter.com/LJfVPMCoMj

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2020

Ex-president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev (79) has tested positive for coronavirus.

As South Africa eases the coronavirus lockdown, casinos, theatres, cinemas, salons and non-contact sports will be allowed.