Adults below the age of 40 years should not get the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine pending safety data for this age group, the federal health ministry has said. It added that the vaccine is not recommended for people under the age of 18 for now. Following are the ministry's updated interim guidelines for the AstraZeneca shot:

Who should receive the vaccine

• All adults over the age of 40 years
• Eligible adults with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other stable chronic disorders
• Those with mild Covid-19 can receive the vaccine once the isolation period is complete
• Those with severe Covid-19 can receive the vaccine once they become stable
• Those chronically immunosuppressed may receive the vaccine, though efficacy may be lower

Who should NOT receive the vaccine

• Adults below 40 years of age (pending safety data)
• People with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component (e.g polysorbate) of the vaccine formulation
• The vaccine is not recommended for people younger than 18 years of age pending the results of further studies
• People who developed clotting disorder with the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine
• Individuals running a fever at the time of coming for vaccination (can be rescheduled after the illness is settled)
• Individuals on short-term immunosuppressive medication should wait for 28 days after the medication ends
• Those with active GI bleeding disorder or seizures
• Those with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT or HIT type 2)
• Those with a history of major blood clot occurring at the same time as having low levels of platelets after receiving any Covid-19 vaccine

The number of patients in French hospitals with Covid-19 has fallen further, health ministry data showed.

The ministry reported a total of 4,743 people in intensive care units with Covid-19, down by 127 and the eighth consecutive fall. The overall number of people in hospital with the virus also fell for eight consecutive day and was down by 638 to 25,028.

The number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals increased by 236 to 80,628, compared to an increase of 243 a week ago and 325 two weeks ago.

Authorities in Nepal have extended lockdown in the capital Kathmandu and surrounding districts by another 15 days as the Himalayan nation recorded the highest daily new cases and highest daily deaths from coronavirus.

The last lockdown was scheduled to end on Wednesday but now has been extended until May 27, AP reported.

According to the Ministry of Health, there were 9,483 new cases today while 225 died because of Covid-19.

Antibodies against coronavirus remained in the blood of patients with Covid-19 for at least eight months after they were infected, Italian researchers have said.

They were present “regardless of the severity of the illness, the age of the patients or the presence of other pathologies,” according to a statement from the San Raffaele hospital in Milan.

“The presence of neutralising antibodies, while reducing over time, was very persistent — eight months after diagnosis, there were only three patients who no longer showed positivity to the test,” said the statement, issued jointly with the ISS national health institute.

Sindh has reported 812 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, up from 782 a day earlier, taking the provincial tally of infections to 294,238, according to an update shared by the Chief Minister's Office.

The province also confirmed 12 additional fatalities from the virus bringing the death toll to 4,765.

According to the update, 871 people recovered in the province while 12,675 tests were conducted.

India's coronavirus crisis has shown scant signs of easing, with a seven-day average of new cases at a record high and international health authorities warning the country's variant of the virus poses a global concern.

India's daily coronavirus cases rose by 329,942, while deaths from the disease rose by 3,876, according to the health ministry. India's total coronavirus infections are now at 22.9 million, while total fatalities rose to 249,992.

India leads the world in the daily average number of new deaths reported, accounting for one in every three deaths reported worldwide each day, according to a Reuters tally.

The seven-day average of new cases is at a record high of 390,995.

Bars, restaurants, cinemas and fitness centers will be allowed to welcome guests indoors from June 9, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported.

The Belgian government is meeting on Tuesday to discuss further easing of restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including allowing Belgians to meet more people inside, attend large festivals in the summer, and travel abroad.