India Coronavirus Cases Highlights: Over 60,000 Patients In India In 24 Hours

Cambridge University Aims For Autumn Trials Of COVID Vaccine After UK Funding Boost
The University of Cambridge is aiming to start clinical trials of its possible coronavirus vaccine in the autumn after it received 1.9 million pounds in funding from the British government, the university said on Wednesday.

Coronavirus News: Yogi Adityanath Directs Officials To Take Necessary Measures For Upcoming Festivals
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday directed police and administration officials to take all necessary security measures for upcoming festivals such as Ganesh Utsav, Anant Chaturdashi and Muharram, reported news agency PTI. "If anyone is found violating protocol, strict action should be taken against them," the chief minister said, emphasising on strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol. During a video conference with senior police and administrative officials, the chief minister reviewed the security arrangements in view of the upcoming festivals.

Coronavirus News: Odisha Caps Price Of RT-PCR Test In Private Labs At Rs 1,200
Odisha on Tuesday reduced the maximum price for the RT-PCR (Real-time polymerase chain reaction) COVID-19 tests by private laboratories to Rs 1,200 from Rs 2,200, reported news agency ANI. "The government, after careful consideration, has been pleased to refix the maximum price of RT-PCR COVID-19 test at Rs 1,200 by ICMR approved Private Laboratories for private individuals desirous of testing," a notification from the Health and Family Welfare Department of the state said. Earlier on July 3, the government had fixed the maximum price of the RT-PCR COVID-19 test at Rs 2,200.

Coronavirus News: Two Test Positive For Coronavirus Fo Second Time In Telangana
Two persons have tested positive for coronavirus for the second time in Telangana, according to the Health Ministry on Tuesday, reported news agency ANI. These are the first two such cases in Telangana. A source in Health Ministry told ANI, "The total number of coronavirus cases stands at 1,08,670 in the state. Of these two persons have contracted the deadly virus for the second time." "Public should follow COVID-19 guidelines and prevent themselves from getting infected," the source added.

Coronavirus News: Yogi Adityanath Instructs "COVID-19 Management Team-11" To Test At Full Capacity
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday held a meeting with the officers of 'COVID-19 management Team-11' and directed them to conduct COVID-19 testing in the state at full capacity, reported news agency ANI. Team-11 has been tasked with tackling COVID-19 in the state. He also asked the officials to keep a special vigilance in Kanpur, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Ballia, and increase the COVID-19 testing to its maximum capacity in the areas.

"More than 85,000 rapid antigen tests and more than 45,000 RT-PCR tests must be done in Uttar Pradesh daily. Regular monitoring of integrated command and control center works should be done in all districts. The technical staff required for the treatment should be increased as required," the chief minister said.

He also said that the 'e-Sanjeevani' service should be widely publicized so that more and more people can get the benefit of the online OPD service.

41 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Andaman and Nicobar Islands today, taking total cases to 2,945 including 2,231 recoveries and 37 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 677: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration

1,973 out of 34307 samples found positive for COVID-19 in Assam in the last 24 hours. With this, total number of cases rises to 94,592 including 73,090 recovered patients and 260 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 21,239: State Health Department

Punjab reports 1,293 new COVID-19 cases and 49 deaths, taking total cases to 44,577 including 29,145 discharges and 1,178 deaths: State Health Department

Himachal Pradesh records 23 new positive COVID-19 cases, taking total cases to 5,154 out of which 1,324 patients are undergoing treatment. 28 patients have died due to the disease so far: State Health Department

Coronavirus update: Two European Patients Re-Infected With Coronavirus
Two European patients are confirmed to have been re-infected with the coronavirus, raising concerns about people's immunity to the virus as the world struggles to tame the pandemic.

Coronavirus update: Gaza in lockdown to try to contain its first COVID-19 outbreak
A lockdown took hold in Gaza on Tuesday after confirmation of the first cases of COVID-19 in the general population of the Palestinian enclave, whose restricted borders have spared it from wide infection. Health authorities in the Hamas Islamist-run territory of two million people are concerned over the potentially disastrous combination of poverty, densely populated refugee camps and limited hospital facilities in dealing with an outbreak, Reuters reported. 

On basis of 7-day rolling average, COVID-19 positivity rate was 11 per cent in first week of August, has come down to 8 per cent today: Health Ministry

COVID testing improved from 363 tests per million per day on August 1 to more than 600 tests per million per day at present: Health Ministry

COVID Negative Report Must For Flights To UAE: Air India Express
The Air India Express on Tuesday rolled out new guidelines for the passengers aged 12 years and above travelling to UAE, making it mandatory for them to submit a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test on the website prior to their flight. It has also stated that the travellers are required to take coronavirus screening test "not more than 96 hours before departure." Read

Vande Bharat Mission & Air Transport Bubble Flights: All You Need To Know
The central government has announced Standard Operating Procedures or SOPs for travel on Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble flights for people wanting to come to India or travel outside the country. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry's guidelines, the cost of travel will have to be borne by the travellers. As many as 11,23,000 Indians stranded abroad have been repatriated under the Vande Bharat Mission till August 19, the Ministry of External Affairs told news agency ANI. Read

COVID-19 Cases In Maharashtra's Thane Cross 1.15 Lakh
As many as 860 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Thane on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 1,15,625, a senior district official said.

He said 33 deaths were also reported on Monday, taking the total number of fatalities in the district to 3,301.

The civic limits of Bhiwandi, Ambernath and Badlapur did not report any death due to COVID-19 Monday, he said.

Coronavirus Updade: Karnataka Scraps Compulsory Quarantine, Covid Test For Interstate Travel
It will now be easier for people to travel to or via Karnataka as the state government has done away with a string of checks that were earlier in place for interstate travellers in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases.

The coronavirus travel restrictions have been lifted as per the Unlock-3 guidelines issued at the end of July by the central government, the Karnataka government has said.

According to a state government circular, it is no longer compulsory for travellers to register their contact details on the Seva Sindhu portal; quarantine; get a Covid test; there would be no more medical checks at the state borders, bus stations, railway stations and airports; screening at district receiving centres; passenger categorisation or hand stamping. Read

Coronavirus News: Centre May Allow Metro Trains In Unlock4, Final Call With States: Sources
Metro rail services are likely to be allowed in the fourth phase of unlocking the country from the coronavirus-linked restrictions that is expected to be rolled out by next month, government sources said. But schools and colleges will still remain shut and restrictions will remain on crowded places like cinema halls, the sources added. The final call to resume metro services will, however, depend on the state governments. Delhi Metro is likely to start services from September 1, but with extensive restrictions, sources said.

The talk of opening the Delhi Metro gained momentum after a request from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who contended that the coronavirus situation in the national capital has improved.

"I have requested the Centre that Delhi should be treated differently," Mr Kejriwal said yesterday at an online meet with traders, entrepreneurs and businessmen. Read

"Missing" Covid Patient Found Dead Outside Varanasi Hospital Building
The body of a COVID-19 patient, who had gone missing from the prestigious Sunderlal Hospital at the Varanasi's Banaras Hindu University on Sunday, was found last night near a duct of the hospital's main building leading to protests from the man's family, who have accused the hospital of foul play.

The man was admitted to the BHU's trauma centre a week ago, but was shifted to the covid ward after he tested positive for the novel coronavirus. On Sunday, he went missing from the ward and the police was informed. The patient's body was found on Monday night.

Angry relatives of the man raised slogans at the hospital, which also reported arson, and the police had to be called in. A close relative of the dead man has alleged that there were unexplained cuts on the body.

In a statement, the BHU administration said the patient could have been trying to escape, leading to his death. Read

Coronavirus Update: 60,975 Coronavirus Cases In India In 24 Hours
A fresh surge of 60,975 new infections registered in the last 24 hours has taken India's coronavirus tally to 31,67,323, the Union Health Ministry said this morning.

The number of fatalities linked to the outbreak rose to 58,390 after 848 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.  

A total of 66,550 patients have recovered since yesterday - the  highest in a day - taking the total number of recoveries to 24,05, 585. The recovery rate stood at 75.91 per cent this morning. Read

Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin, Others Call For Entrance Tests To Be Put Off
Key opposition leaders from across the country, including Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin and Aditya Thakeray today joined the growing chorus against holding the NEET medical entrance exam and JEE for admission to the IITs in September. All three leaders wrote to the central government today, urging that the exams are deferred.

"It is our duty to ensure a safe environment for all our students," West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee tweeted this morning. Later in the day, she wrote to the Prime Minister stating that she had opposed the holding of the exams when first proposed by the Union Grant Commission (UGC) and that she still felt they should be deferred. Read

Coronavirus Update: Phase 2 Trial Of Oxford COVID-19 By Pune Institute To Begin Today
The phase 2 human clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate in India, to be conducted by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), is set to begin today.

"We have got all approvals from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). We are going to start the human clinical trial process at the Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Medical College and Hospital from August 25.

"We are sure that in line with the philosophy of our group, we are going to make available a world class COVID-19 vaccine for people of our country and make our country 'AatmaNirbhar'," Prakash Kumar Singh, Additional Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Serum Institute of India (SII) said.

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar, COVID+, Admitted To Hospital In Gurgaon
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been admitted to Gurgaon's Medanta Hospital, a day after he tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. In a tweet, Mr Khattar had informed that he had tested positive for the illness.

"I was tested for Novel Corona Virus today. My test report has returned positive. I appeal to all colleagues and associates who came in my contact over the last week to get themselves tested. I request my close contacts to move into strict quarantine immediately," he tweeted. Read

US Took Cue From "Delhi Model", Adopted Plasma Therapy: AAP Government
What Delhi did yesterday, America does today, said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday as his government claimed that the US adopted the model of convalescent plasma therapy for treatment of critically-ill coronavirus patients, taking a cue from the "Delhi Model" of battling COVID-19.The Delhi government's statement comes after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave emergency authorisation for the use of blood plasma to treat coronavirus patients, saying the benefits of the treatment outweighed any potential risks.

The Delhi government was "the first to seek permission for trials" of plasma therapy in April and the first to open a plasma bank in India in July, a Delhi government statement said.

"Taking a cue from the Delhi Model of battling coronavirus, the federal government of the United States of America has also adopted the model of convalescent plasma therapy for the treatment of critically COVID-19 patients in the US. Read

WHO Cautious On COVID-19 Plasma As US Issues Emergency Authorization
The World Health Organization on Monday was cautious about endorsing the use of recovered COVID-19 patients' plasma to treat those who are ill, saying evidence it works remains "low quality" even as the United States issued emergency authorization for such therapies.