Covid update: ‘Frightening’ crowd; Sputnik V production; ‘Pfizer less effective’

• From Sputnik V production in India to Centre warning of overcrowding in hill stations, here are the top updates on coronavirus. Domestic drug manufacturer Morepen Laboratories began production of the first test batch of Russia's Sputnik V in Himachal Pradesh. Germany has begun easing strict Covid-related curbs on travellers from five nations including India. Israel has said that Pfizer’s Covid vaccine was less effective in checking the spread of the Delta variant. ICMR and the Union Health Ministry warned against complacency amid the waning second wave. Domestic air passenger traffic was back on growth trajectory in June amid declining trend in Covid cases.