COVID-19 India Updates: India is the third worst-hit country by the virus after the US and Brazil
India recorded 48,513 fresh coronavirus infections and 768 deaths linked to the highly contagious illness in the last 24 hours, which takes the country's tally to 15,31,669 cases, the Union Health Ministry said this morning. A total of 9,88,029 patients in the country have recovered so far and 34,193 have died since the beginning of the pandemic, government data shows. Today's spike in cases comes a day after India crossed 15 lakh cases.
Meanwhile, a medical survey of nearly 7,000 people in Mumbai has found that one in six or about 16 per cent of residents in the city had contracted the coronavirus. In slum areas, where lakhs of people live in cramped spaces usually sharing toilets, the number was a whopping 57 per cent. Mumbai recorded 717 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, its lowest one-day rise in more than two months, taking the tally to 1,10,846, while 55 more patients died taking the total to 6,184, authorities said.
The United States on Tuesday registered 1,592 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the highest number of daily fatalities in 2.5 months, Johns Hopkins University reported in its real-time tally. The country also recorded more than 60,000 new coronavirus cases in one day, news agency AFP reported.
India is the third worst-hit country by the virus after the US and Brazil.
Here are the Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases:
Coronavirus news: Muslims begin downsized, socially distanced hajj amid pandemic Mask-clad Muslims began the hajj on Wednesday, circling Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths in the smallest pilgrimage in modern history as the Saudi hosts strive to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.
The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, is usually one of the world's largest religious gatherings.
But only up to 10,000 people already residing in the kingdom will participate in this year's ritual, compared with 2019's gathering of some 2.5 million from around the world.
Pilgrims walked into Mecca's Grand Mosque to begin the ritual with their first "tawaf", the circumambulation of the Kaaba, a large cubic structure draped in gold-embroidered black cloth, towards which Muslims around the world pray.
They were brought in small batches, walking along paths marked on the floor, in sharp contrast to the normal sea of humanity that swirls around the Kaaba during hajj, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: Over 2,000 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Bihar; death count mounts to 273Over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Bihar on Wednesday, raising the tally to 45,919 as the death count in the state mounted to 273 with four more fatalities, the Health department said.
According to the department's bulletin, the latest deaths were reported from the districts of Gaya (two), Araria (one) and East Champaran (one).
Patna accounts for the highest number of 41 fatalities, followed by Bhagalpur (26), Gaya (19), Nalanda (15), Rohtas (13) and Munger and Muzaffarpur (11 each), PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: COVID-19: Over 16,000 prisoners released on parole in Odisha to decongest prisonsAs many as 16,789 inmates of different jails in Odisha have been released on parole to decongest prisons in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, an official said on Wednesday.
Director General of Prisons S K Upadhay made the announcement while reviewing progress of implementation of a Supreme Court's order in this regard.
Of the prisoners set free on parole by Tuesday, 16,639 are undertrial inmates and 150 convicts, Upadhay said.
The highest 5,231 inmates were released under Berhampur circle, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Karnataka modifies classes 1-10 syllabus amid COVID-19The Karnataka education department modified the syllabus of all subjects from classes one to 10 amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to S Suresh Kumar, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education.
"In the wake of COVID-19, the Education Department has modified the syllabus of all subjects from class one to ten. The finalized version hasn't been completed as the academic year has not been fixed yet. Subsequent syllabus modifications will be done scientifically. There will be no chance for confusion," the statement quoted the Education Minister.
Coronavirus news: Lebanon virus cases peak ahead of new lockdown
Lebanon on Wednesday reported 182 new coronavirus cases, its highest single-day infection tally since the country's outbreak began in February, ahead of fresh lockdown measures that go into effect at midnight.
The new cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Lebanon to 4,202, including 55 deaths, according to health ministry figures cited by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
New nationwide lockdown measures were announced this week following a rise in cases after previous restrictions were gradually lifted.
To stem a larger outbreak, the government ordered a lockdown from July 30 through August 3, coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, AFP reported.
COVID 19: Naveen Patnaik says Odisha govt will utilise all resources to save human livesOdisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said his government will make available to the people the best possible treatment, available anywhere in the world, free of cost to cure them of COVID-19.
Mr Patnaik gave this assurance to the state legislators while addressing them in a video conference workshop on sensitisation of MLAs on COVID-19, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Five more COVID-19 fatalities push Jharkhand death count to 99Jharkhand reported five more COVID-19 fatalities on Wednesday, pushing the death count in the state to 99, a health department bulletin said.
A total of 226 fresh cases increased the coronavirus tally in Jharkhand to 9,894, including 5,734 active cases, according to the bulletin.
The deaths were reported from Ranchi (three), Hazaribag (one) and Deoghar (one) districts.
Altogether 4,061 people have recovered from the disease so far, the bulletin said.
The state's mortality rate is one per cent, while the recovery rate is 41.04 per cent, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: With 314 new COVID-19 positive cases in Chhattisgarh, total count reaches 8600Chhattisgarh reported 314 new COVID-19 positive cases and four deaths on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 8,600, said State Health Department.
The total number of COVID-19 cases include 2914 active cases, 5636 discharges and 50 deaths, according to the State Health Department, ANI reported.
Coronavirus news: Xavi says recovered from coronavirusFormer Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez said on Wednesday that he had recovered from the coronavirus, returned home and resumed his duties as Qatari side Al-Sadd's head coach.
"Thank you so much for all the caring messages that I've received during these days," he wrote on his verified Instagram page alongside an image of him holding his daughter.
"I want to share with you that I'm recovered and back home with my family and the Al-Sadd team."
Xavi, 40, announced on Saturday that he had tested positive following routine screening of players and staff in Qatar's top-flight, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: Italy warns of migrant strain as virus repercussions felt
Italy's interior ministry on Wednesday said it was finding the migrant situation "much more complex" than in previous years, and was upping returns to Tunisia as it struggled to house new arrivals.
"The coronavirus emergency and the consequent very serious economic crisis that has hit not only the countries of North Africa hard, (is) feeding an exceptional flow of economic migrants" across the Mediterranean, it said.
Many land on the holiday destination of Lampedusa island, as sunbathers paddling in crystal waters look on, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: Maharashtra reports 9,211 new cases of COVID-19Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 9,211 new COVID-19 cases taking the total number of cases to 4,00,651 in the state.
298 deaths and 9,211 new COVID-19 cases reported in the state today. The total number of cases is now at 4,00,651 including 2,39,755 recovered cases, 1,46,129 active cases and 14,463 deaths. The recovery rate in the state is at 59.84 per cent, as per the Maharashtra Health Department.
Mumbai completed five lakh COVID tests till today. The metropolitan reported 1,118 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. 916 patients recovered or discharged and 60 deaths were reported in Mumbai today.
The total number of cases in the city is now at 1,11,964, including 85,327 recovered/discharged, 20,123 active cases and 6,244 deaths, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Coronavirus news: 2,613 new cases of coronavirus in Pune districtThe Pune district reported 2,613 new coronavirus cases since previous evening, taking its case tally to 78,013, a health official said on Wednesday.
The death count in the district reached 1,858 with another 66 patients dying, PTI reported
Coronavirus news: Eight members of family among 73 new COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh; tally crosses 2,400-markHimachal Pradesh reported 73 new COVID-19 cases, including eight members of a family, on Wednesday, taking the tally to 2,404 in the state.
Among the fresh cases, 26 were reported from Solan, 13 from Kangra, nine from Kullu, eight from Shimla, seven from Mandi, five from Sirmaur, three from Kinnaur and two Hamirpur, Special Secretary (Health) Nipun Jindal said.
The number of active cases stands at 1,042, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Assam records four more COVID-19 deaths, 1,348 new casesAssam recorded four more COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, taking the count to 92 as 1,348 new cases of the infection pushed the tally in the state to 36,295, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
An 85-year-old doctor and a 40-year-old woman in Jorhat, a 77-year-old woman in Tinsukia and a 78-year-old man in Cachar died during the day.
"Very sad to share that four more #COVID patients have lost their battle against pandemic today. May God help their families to bear this pain," the minister tweeted.
The new cases include 348 from Kamrup Metropolitan district and 127 from Kamrup Rural, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Satyendar Jain holds video conference meet to review COVID-19 mortality status
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday held a meeting via video conference to review and analyse the status of deaths due to COVID-19 at hospitals, authorities said.
The meeting came a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that COVID-dedicated LNJP Hospital had reported no death on July 27.
Mr Kejriwal took a meeting to review the status of containment zones, bed capacity in COVID-19 facilities, status of hotels and banquet hall attached with hospitals and status of RTPCR and rapid antigen testing, according to the Wednesday health bulletin.
Delhi recorded 1,035 fresh coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the tally in the city to over 1.33 lakh, while the death count from the disease climbed to 3,907, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Over 4,500 arrested, shops shut, transport off the roads in Bengal The normal life across West Bengal was crippled on Wednesday amid the 24-hour complete lockdown, the third within a week, which saw over 4,500 people being arrested for breaching anti-COVID-19 guidelines.
Officials said a total of 4,664 people were arrested from across the state, including 1,094 in Kolkata alone, for violating the anti-COVID guidelines and precautions aimed at breaking the transmission chain of the surging infection.
Wednesday's lockdown is the part of state government's plan to implement two lockdowns every week and similar exercises were carried out in the state on July 23 and 25, PTI reported.
Assam government reduces quarantine period for returnees to 10 days
The Assam government has decided to reduce the quarantine period for passengers arriving from outside the state to 10 days from the existing span of two weeks, officials said on Wednesday. The period will be inclusive of the days spent in institutional, hotel or home quarantine, an order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department said.
"If a passenger spends initial two days in a hotel or institutional quarantine, then he/she will spend the remaining eight days in home quarantine. Similarly, if any passenger directly proceeds for home quarantine, then he/she shall spend 10 days in home quarantine," it said.
Train passengers stranded at Bhubaneshwar after lockdown declared in West Bengal
Hundreds of passengers from across the country who were headed towards West Bengal by train were stranded in Bhubaneswar after the Falaknuma Express terminated here, following the lockdown in West Bengal.
According to Kazi Muzaffar, a stranded passenger from Visakhapatnam, no information about the termination of the train at Bhubaneswar was given to the passengers beforehand.
"I had booked my ticket over a month ago. I got on the train from Visakhapatnam last night but was not informed that the train would not go beyond Bhubaneswar. At 5 am in the morning they woke us up and told us to deboard the train. We waited at the station for a while but the cops came and kicked us out of the station also. Now we are stranded here with no food, no water and nowhere to go," Muzaffar told ANI.
"We tried asking the station administration about the next train but they told us tickets were unavailable. They seem just as clueless as we are. I am trying to book a bus ticket but I heard it costs around 1200 rupees. Many of us will not be able to afford it," he added.
Manipur records highest single-day spike of 141 new COVID-19 cases; total rises to 2,458
Manipur recorded its highest single-day spike of 141 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the state''s tally to 2,458, officials said here.
They said 38 people have been discharged from hospitals since Tuesday, taking the number of patients recovered from the disease in the state to 1,653.
A 56-year-old man, who had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier, "died of multiple diseases" at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
The Medical Superintendent of RIMS, Prof Ch Arunkumar Singh, in a statement said that the man died due to multiple diseases, including chronic kidney disease, lower respiratory tract infection, COVID-19 and diabetes.
5,503 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, 92 deaths
Karnataka on Wednesday reported 5,503 new cases of COVID-19 and 92 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 1,12,504 and the deaths to 2,147, the health department said.
The day also saw 2,397 patients getting discharged after recovery. Out of 5,503 fresh cases reported today, a whopping 2,270 cases were from Bengaluru urban alone. This is the sixth consecutive day that the state is reporting over 5,000 fresh cases.
Andhra Pradesh reports highest single-day COVID-19 cases with 10,000 cases
Andhra Pradesh witnessed its worst single day spike of coronavirus on Wednesday, 10,000 plus cases, as the other southern states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also reported high daily numbers, although they saw a dip in the infections.
The cumulative tally of southern states -- AP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry was 24,855 on Wednesday.
Kerala too saw a minor dip in the positive cases, while Telangana and Puducherry saw spikes, with the the union territory recording its highest single-day increase. Andhra Pradesh, whose COVID-19 numbers have been travelling north in a quick pace for the past few days, registering not less than 7,000 infections, reported 10,093 cases as a result of a record sample size of 70,584.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar directs setting up of nine new COVID-19 testing labs
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar directed officials to set up nine new COVID-19 testing laboratories in the state in next 10 days.
The chief minister also asked the officials to motivate people to wear face masks by running a special campaign.
Mr Khattar was presiding over the meeting of the disaster management committee with various departments to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in the state, a statement said.
The CM also issued directions to the police department to strictly enforce the wearing of masks and issue challans to the offenders on- the-spot while giving them at least five masks.
Additional chief secretary, Health Department, Rajeev Arora apprised the Chief Minister about the COVID situation in the state and also informed that a tender had been floated for procuring three lakh antigen kits, out of which two lakh kits have been received.
1,118 new coronavirus cases in Mumbai, 60 deaths
The number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai rose to 1,11,964 with addition of 1,118 new cases on Wednesday while death toll went up to 6,244 with 60 deaths being reported, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The number of coronavirus tests carried out in the city crossed five lakh. The civic body also said the average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases has improved to 72 days and the average growth rate has dropped down below 1 per cent.
A record 11,643 coronavirus tests were carried out in Mumbai on Wednesday, which took the total number of tests to 5,05,982.
No large congregations allowed in Assam Independence Day programmes
The Assam government on Wednesday barred large congregations during Independence Day celebrations this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said students will not take part in the ceremonial march past.
At the state level, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will unfurl the national flag at 9 am on August 15. It will be followed by the playing of the national anthem and his speech, an order issued by the Commissioner and Secretary of General Administration department M Angamuthu said.
There will be a presentation of guard of honour and march past by the personnel of the police, para-military forces and home guards. However, participation of school and college students and members of National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Scouts and Guides will not be allowed in the ceremonial march past, according to the order.
Railways' COVID-19 care coaches surpass 500 admissions
The Railways' coaches for isolation of COVID-19 patients at different railway stations in three states have admitted more than 500 patients, with 12 fresh admissions on Wednesday, according to data compiled by the national transporter.
The Railways has so far admitted 508 patients out of which 406 have already been discharged.
As of now, 503 coaches have been stationed at 10 railway stations in Delhi, 270 coaches at 10 stations in Uttar Pradesh and 40 coaches at one station in Bihar.
- These modified railway coaches can be used for admitting very mild cases that can be clinically assigned to the COVID care centres, according to the guidelines released by the ministry of health and family welfare
- These are the first of the 5,321 coaches which have been converted to isolation wards by the railways for the treatment of coronavirus patients
- The train coaches have all the necessary medical equipment such as oxygen cylinders, blankets, medical supplies, sterilized berths for the safety and convenience of the individuals placed in isolation
- They are equipped with mosquito nets, charging points for laptop and phones. The toilets have also been modified into bathrooms.
Over 1,000 arrested in Kolkata for defying total lockdown
Over 1,000 people were arrested in Kolkata on Wednesday for defying the total lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus, police said.
Of them, 721 were booked till 6 pm for violating the restrictions under IPC section 188 that relates to disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant, a senior officer said. Another 352 were arrested for not wearing masks, he said.
At least 21 persons were held for spitting in the public, he said. Besides, police also seized 33 vehicles, he added.
The West Bengal government has decided to impose complete lockdown twice a week till August 31.
Arvind Kejriwal asks AAP UP unit to help people in fight against COVID-19: Sanjay Singh
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked members of AAP's Uttar Pradesh unit to reach out to each and every village in the state and help the people in their fight against COVID-19, senior party leader Sanjay Singh said.
In a video conference, Kejriwal asked all party district presidents and state executive members to distribute oximeters in villages and provide all possible help to people in their fight against COVID, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Singh said.
"During coronavirus crisis, Kejriwal has asked AAP's UP unit to provide all possible help to the people in their fight against the infection," he said in a statement.
Let medical experts handle COVID-19 situation in Goa: GFP to CM
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday demanded the state BJP government rope in medical experts from the field to contain the coronavirus transmission instead of relying on bureaucrats.
GFP chief and former deputy chief minister Vijai Sardesai alleged chief minister Pramod Sawant, state chief secretary, health secretary have "messed up" handling of the COVID-19 situation, along with a doctor based in Margao.
"Several scams have happened during the COVID-19 crisis. There is ''quarantine-gate''," he alleged.
COVID-19: Noida records a death after 8 days, recovery rate 85.48 pc
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded one fatality linked to COVID-19 on Wednesday after a gap of eight days, pushing the deaths in the district to 41, official data showed.
Sixty-five more people have tested positive for the infection, while 97 patients got discharged since Tuesday, according to the data released by the Uttar Pradesh Health Department for a 24-hour period.
So far, 4,962 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar. The number of active cases, however, stands at 679, while 4,242 patients have got discharged after recovery till date, the data showed.
BEST unions demand compensation for COVID-19 victims
The BEST Workers' Joint Action Committee has launched an online petition seeking compensation for the kin of the employees of the city bus service Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) who died due to COVID-19.
Over 1,350 BEST employees have tested positive for coronavirus and 107 employees have died due to the viral infection, the petition addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray claimed.
The committee, a joint forum of BEST unions, demanded immediate payment of a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each to the families of dead employees.
Gujarat's COVID-19 situation better than other states: Vijay Rupani
With a healthy 74 per cent recovery rate and just 4 per cent mortality rate, the current coronavirus situation in Gujarat is better than several other states, said Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday.
Referring to the new COVID-19 cases registered on Tuesday in the state, which saw more than 1,100 cases, Mr Rupani said Gujarat was on the 12th spot in terms of fresh infections.
"Around 50,000 fresh cases of coronavirus cases are emerging every day in India. As against 1,108 new cases in Gujarat on Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh's tally was 7,948, followed by 7,717 cases in Maharashtra, 6,972 in Tamil Nadu and 5,536 in Karnataka," Mr Rupani told reporters in Rajkot, around 200km from here.
Gangotri Dham shrine closed till August 15 amid COVID-19 crisis
The famous Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand will remain closed till August 15 in view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the country.
The decision to prohibit the entry of pilgrims and tourists was taken by the management, including priests of the holy shrine.
"After due deliberation, we have decided that all pilgrims will be allowed only till the gate which is 2 kilometre away from the sanctum sanctorum here," Suresh Somwal, a priest in the Gangotri Dham Mandir told ANI.
UP reports 3,383 new COVID-19 cases, tally crosses 77,000-mark
Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday reported 3,383 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally to more than 77,000, while 33 more fatalities pushed the deaths to 1,530.
"There are 29,997 active COVID-19 cases in the state and 45,807 patients have been discharged after treatment," additional chief secretary, medical and health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.
"The deaths due to the disease has reached 1,530," he said. The total number of coronavirus cases reported in the state is 77,334. The figure was 73,951 on Monday.
COVID-19 fatality rate declining progressively, total recoveries 9.88 lakh: Health ministry
The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 is fast approaching the 10-lakh mark, while the case fatality rate has been falling progressively due to coordinated implementation of the ''test track treat'' strategy by the Centre, states and Union Territories, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
India's COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR) is lower than what it is globally. On Wednesday, the CFR stood at 2.23 per cent, the lowest since April 1, the health ministry said in a statement.
"Not only has the CFR been kept low, but successful implementation of effective containment strategy, aggressive testing and standardised clinical management protocols based on a holistic standard of care approach have in tandem resulted in a consistent trend of more than 30,000 recoveries per day for the sixth consecutive day," it said.
Tamil Nadu's COVID-19 fatality rate is 1.6%: Chief Minister K Palaniswami
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday said that the COVID-19 fatality rate in the state is 1.6 per cent.
"So far, the state has recorded 3,659 deaths. The fatality rate in the state at 1.6%," said Mr Palaniswami during a virtual meeting with the district collectors of state.
The chief minister held the meeting to discuss the COVID-19 situation in Tamil Nadu with the senior administrative officers.
China reports 101 new COVID-19 cases, highest in three months
China has registered 101 fresh cases of COVID-19, the highest since mid-April, according to the National Health Commission.
Of the new cases, 89 of them were reported in Xinjiang, where mass testing in the autonomous region is underway, the Al Jazeera reported.
29,175 COVID-19 cases in Odisha
Odisha, in the last 24 hours, reported 1,068 more COVID-19 cases taking the state's coronavirus cases to 29,175. As per the data released by the state health department, there are 10,919 active cases in the state and 18,061 patients have recovered from the disease.
159 patients have died to COVID-19 in the state. 36 patients have died due to other reasons.
222 fresh cases take Tripura's COVID-19 tally to 4,288; 21 deaths in state
Tripura has reported 222 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the state's tally to 4,288, while the deaths reached 21 as four more patients have died to the disease, officials said on Wednesday.
Four men died of COVID-19 while undergoing treatment at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC), they said.
"An 80-year-old man from Belonia in South Tripura district, who was suffering from tuberculosis, has succumbed to COVID-19, while a 53-year old man from Bodhjumgnagar in West Tripura also died. He was a diabetes patient and had kidney-related problems," the officials said.
Amid Surging COVID-19 Cases, Lockdown Continues In Kerala
Amid rising COVID-19 cases, the district administration has decided to continue with the lockdown but decided to ease certain curbs implemented in the city corporation to ensure livelihood and revive normal day-to-day activities.
After High Court Questions Delhi's Covid Testing, Arvind Kejriwal Responds
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responded Wednesday afternoon after the Delhi High Court pulled up his government for making Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) the primary test to detect the novel coronavirus despite its high rate of false-negative results.
Read Here Telangana Clocks 1,764 New COVID-19 Cases, 12 Deaths
Telangana continued to witness a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases with 1,764 additions and 12 deaths being reported, taking the tally of those who tested positive to the virus to 58,906.
236 more Maharashtra Police personnel test positive for COVID-19 while 1 died in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 98.
COVID-19 In Raj Bhavan: Tamil Nadu Governor Isolates Himself For A Week
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit isolated himself for a week based on doctor's advise, as three more people in the Raj Bhavan here have tested positive for COVID-19.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal orders delinking of hotels attached with hospitals, in view of improving COVID-19 situation in the national capital.
Coronavirus: Manipur Reports First COVID-19 Death
Manipur reported its first COVID-19 death as a 56-year-old man succumbed to the disease at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here on Wednesday, an official said, reports PTI.
Coronavirus Update: 91 New COVID-19 Cases In Arunachal Pradesh
Ninety-one people, including 19 security personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the northeastern state''s caseload to 1,330 on Wednesday, a senior health department official said, reports PTI.
Coronavirus: Mumbai Survey Finds 57% Have Had COVID-19 In Slums, 16% In Other Areas
A medical survey of nearly 7,000 people in Mumbai has found that one in six or about 16 per cent of residents in the city had contracted the coronavirus. In slum areas, where lakhs of people live in cramped spaces usually sharing toilets, the number was a whopping 57 per cent.
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Coronavirus News: Over 15 Lakh COVID-19 Cases In India; 768 Deaths In 24 Hours
India recorded 48,513 fresh coronavirus infections and 768 deaths linked to the highly contagious illness in the last 24 hours, which takes the country's tally to 15,31,669 cases, the Union Health Ministry said this morning. A total of 9,88,029 patients in the country have recovered so far and 34,193 have died since the beginning of the pandemic, government data shows. Today's spike in cases comes a day after India crossed 15 lakh cases.
Drop In 3 States Keeps India's Daily Coronavirus Tally Below 50,000
Three of the hardest hit states in India reported significantly fewer coronavirus cases on Monday in a brief moment of relief that helped the country pare down a daily tally creeping towards 50,000 over the last week.
Read Here 4 Crore Masks, 20 Lakh Medical Goggles: "Restriction-Free" Export Allowed
The government on Wednesday said it has allowed the export of four crore surgical masks and 20 lakh medical goggles every month, weeks after giving a nod to the monthly export of 50 lakh units of PPE (personal protection equipment) medical coveralls, reports ANI.
11 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Mizoram in last 24 hours. The total number of coronavirus positive cases is 395 including 198 cured/discharged cases and 197 active cases: Department of Information and Public Relations, State Government.
Coronavirus Cases Shrinking In Delhi, Court Questions Testing Methods
The Arvind Kejriwal government was pulled up by the Delhi High Court today for making Rapid Antigen Test the primary test for coronavirus despite its high rate of false negative results. The court's tough questions brought Delhi's suddenly reducing number of positives under scrutiny. From several thousands daily a few weeks ago, the number of positives in Delhi has dropped below 1,000 -- a situation the Delhi government has flagged as a turnaround.
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Coronavirus news: Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine worked well in monkeysUS biotech firm Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine induced a robust immune response and prevented the coronavirus from replicating in the noses and lungs of monkeys, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine said Tuesday.
The fact that the vaccine prevented the virus from replicating in the nose is seen as particularly crucial in preventing it from being transmitted onward to others.
The same outcome did not occur when the University of Oxford's vaccine was tested on monkeys, though that vaccine did prevent the virus from entering the animals' lungs and making them very sick.
In the Moderna animal study, three groups of eight rhesus macaques received either a placebo or the vaccine at two different dose levels -- 10 micrograms and 100 micrograms.
All vaccinated macaques produced high levels of neutralizing antibodies that attack a part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus used to invade cells, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: With 1,592 new deaths, US daily virus count at highest in 2.5 months
The United States Tuesday recorded 1,592 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the highest number of daily fatalities in 2.5 months, Johns Hopkins University reported in its real-time tally.
The country also notched more than 60,000 new coronavirus cases in one day, the Baltimore-based university showed at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Wednesday).
Coronavirus news: Four US states see record COVID-19 deaths, Latinos hit hard in California
Four US states in the South and West reported one-day records for coronavirus deaths on Tuesday and cases in Texas passed the 400,000 mark as California health officials said Latinos made up more than half of its cases.
Arkansas, Florida, Montana and Oregon each reported record spikes in fatalities. California had recorded 133 deaths by mid-afternoon, shy of its one-day peak of 159 with hours to go.
California health officials said Latinos, who make up just over a third of the most populous US state, account for 56% of COVID-19 infections and 46% of deaths. Cases are soaring in the Central Valley agricultural region, with its heavily Latino population, overwhelming hospitals.
Florida saw 191 coronavirus deaths in the prior 24 hours, its highest single-day rise yet, Reuters reported.
Coronavirus news: Assam reports 1,371 new COVID-19 cases; two more deaths
Assam recorded 1,371 more COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total to 34,947 as two more people died due to the disease in the state, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The state now has 8,238 active case of the infection, he tweeted.