4 years ago
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India has reported 75,760 cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, marking the biggest daily rise in the country, Union Health Ministry data shows. The fresh cases have pushed the country's coronavirus tally to over 33.1 lakh cases. 25,23,771 patients have recovered from the infection in the country, taking the recovery rate to 76.24 per cent.
Here are the Highlights Coronavirus Pandemic:
One more COVID-19 death in HP; case tally crosses 5,500-mark
Himachal Pradesh Thursday recorded 180 fresh COVID-19 cases, raising the infection tally to 5502, while the death toll from the disease climbed to 32 with one more fatality recorded in Una district.
The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 1,418, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said.
COVID-19: Odisha CM Patnaik inaugurates sixth plasma bank at Koraput Medical College
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has virtually inaugurated COVID Plasma Bank at Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital (SLN MCH), Koraput. This is the sixth plasma bank which has inaugurated by Mr Patnaik.
"Further strengthening preparedness against #COVID19, CM @Naveen_Odishahas inaugurated #PlasmaBank at SLN MCH, Koraput. CM said the plasma bank will not only set a new milestone but also strengthen the faith of tribal communities on advanced medical procedure," Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a tweet.
Mr Patnaik said plasma will be more easily available and accessible to all needy COVID-19 patients in Odisha.
Assam's COVID-19 tally mounts to 98,807
Assam reported 2,036 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, pushing the tally to 98,807, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The state's coronavirus deaths climbed to 278 with four fatalities since Wednesday, he said.
The deaths were reported from Baksa, Dibrugarh, Darrang and Kamrup Metropolitan districts. Of the new infections, 481 were recorded in Kamrup Metropolitan, 146 in Jorhat, 129 in Dibrugarh and 110 in Hailakandi, he said.
Assam now has 19,219 active cases, while 79,307 people have recovered from the disease so far. The state has conducted 21,06,836 tests thus far, the minister said.
Tamil Nadu reports 5,981 new COVID-19 cases
Tamil Nadu has reported 5,981 new COVID-19 cases, 5,870 recoveries and 109 deaths on Thursday, according to the state Health Department. The total number of coronavirus cases rises to 4,03,242 in the state.
Of which, there are 52,364 active cases, 3,43,930 recovered cases and 6,948 fatalities, added the Health Department.
According to the Union Health Ministry, India has 33,10,235 coronavirus cases, including 7,25,991 active cases, 25,23,772 cured/discharged/migrated as of August 27.
UP Minister tests positive for COVID-19
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Sidharth Nath Singh on Thursday tested positive for coronavirus. The Minister said on Twitter that he had initial symptoms for the virus following which he got himself tested.
"On getting the initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got the test done and the report came back positive. My health is fine and with the advice of doctors, I have isolated myself at home. I request that all of you, who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please get yourself checked," Singh said in a roughly translated tweeted.
Spain diagnoses 3,781 new coronavirus cases, some regions stabilise
Spain diagnosed 3,781 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, with the Madrid region most affected by the resurgence of the epidemic, health ministry data showed on Thursday.
Retroactively updated numbers from the previous day showed more than 6,000 new cases, nearly double the initially reported amount, but off Friday's highs of more than 9,000 that nearly equalled its late-March peak of new cases.
Spain has the highest prevalence of the virus in Western Europe.
14,718 more COVID-19 cases reported in Maharashtra
With 14,718 new COVID-19 cases reported in Maharashtra, the tally of coronavirus stands at 7,33,568 in the state, according to the state''s Health Department on Thursday. As many as 355 have died due to the virus during the same.
There are 1,78,234 active cases, 5,31,563 recoveries, and 23,444 deaths, said the Health Department in a daily bulletin. Currently, 13,243,232 people are in-home quarantine and 33,641 people are in institutional quarantine, added the bulletin.
Coronavirus News: Pune District Reports 3,703 New COVID-19 Cases, 69 Deaths
Pune district reported 3,703 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its case count to 1,56,844, a health official said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. The death count reached 3,873 with 69 patients dying due to the viral infection in this period, he added. "1,773 new cases were found in the Pune Municipal Corporation limits which now has 89,090 patients. However, 1,680 patients were also discharged from city hospitals," the official said. 1,105 new cases were found in Pimpri-Chinchwad area where the case count now stands at 45,510.
Pune district reported 3,703 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its case count to 1,56,844, a health official said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. The death count reached 3,873 with 69 patients dying due to the viral infection in this period, he added. "1,773 new cases were found in the Pune Municipal Corporation limits which now has 89,090 patients. However, 1,680 patients were also discharged from city hospitals," the official said. 1,105 new cases were found in Pimpri-Chinchwad area where the case count now stands at 45,510.
Coronavirus update: With 75,760 new cases, India's COVID-19 tally reaches 33,10,235
With 75,760 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 tally crossed 33-lakh mark on Thursday, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW).
With 1,023 new deaths, the cumulative death count has reached 60,472, ANI reported.
Coronavirus update: Gujarat records 1,190 coronavirus cases; 17 die, 1,193 recover
With 1,190 new coronavirus cases recorded in the last 24 hours, Gujarat's tally rose to 91,329 on Thursday, the state Health Department said. As many as 17 persons with the COVID-19 infection died across the state during the same period, taking the count to 2,964, said a release from the Health Department.
Coronavirus update: Ahmedabad records 163 new COVID-19 cases; 152 discharged
Gujarat's Ahmedabad district recorded 163 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its tally to 30,845 on Thursday, the state Health Department said.
Out of these 163 new cases, 143 were from Ahmedabad city and 20 from rural parts of the district, said a release by the Health Department.
Coronavirus update: Mumbai records 1,350 new COVID-19 cases; 30 die, 834 recover
The tally of COVID-19 cases in the financial capital increased to 1,40,882 on Thursday with 1,350 more persons testing positive, while the death count rose to 7,532 after 30 patients died due to the infection, the city civic body said.
Coronavirus update: Tamil Nadu COVID-19 case count tops 4 lakh mark, death count now 6,948
Tamil Nadu on Thursday crossed four lakh COVID-19 cases while the death count touched 6,948 with 109 more fatalities.
The addition of 5,981 new infections took the tally to 4,03,242 with the state capital accounting for 1,286 fresh cases, a health department bulletin said.
Coronavirus update: 140 new COVID-19 cases in Manipur; tally rises to 5,725
Manipur on Thursday reported 140 new COVID-19 cases, taking the coronavirus caseload in the northeastern state to 5,725, an official said.
At least 128 people recovered from COVID-19 in the state on Thursday, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,957, the official said.
Coronavirus update: 456 new positive coronavirus cases in Goa, six more die
With 456 people testing positive for COVID-19 in Goa on Thursday, the overall tally in the state mounted to 15,483, the health department said.
Six persons succumbed to the infection during the day, due to which the death count reached 171, it said.
A total of 356 patients were discharged from various hospitals across the state on Thursday, which pushed the recovery count further to 11,867, the department said.
Coronavirus update: Phase 6 of Vande Bharat Mission to begin from September 1, says Centre
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said the phase 6 of the Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians stranded abroad due to COVID-19 pandemic will begin on September 1.
Speaking on the Vande Bharat Mission's Phase 5, Anurag Srivastava, MEA Spokesperson, said the phase will culminate on August 31.
Containment zones likely to increase with doubling of COVID-19 tests, further relaxations, says Officials
The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi, which currently stand at 716, may be increased owing to further relaxations under "Unlock" and doubling of coronavirus tests, officials said on Thursday.
COVID-19 tests in Delhi will be doubled to 40,000 per day within a week as there has been a marginal increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said on Wednesday, asserting that aggressive testing and isolation will remain his government's strategy to fight the disease.
Coronavirus update: 76 more COVID-19 deaths, 5,463 new cases in UP
Uttar Pradesh on Thursday reported 76 COVID-19-related fatalities, taking the death count due to the disease to 3,217, while 5,463 new cases pushed the infection tally to 2,08,419.
Senior minister Siddharth Nath Singh too tested positive for the virus and is under home quarantine.
Coronavirus update: Nagaland Reports More Recoveries Than Fresh COVID-19 Cases
Nagaland on Thursday reported 124 patients recovering from COVID-19 while only six new coronavirus cases were detected in the state, a health department official said.
The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state has risen to 72.27 per cent, as 2,735 people out of total 3,784 COVID-19 patients have recovered from the disease, the official said.
Coronavirus update: 40 inmates of Jabalpur jail test positive for virus, isolated
Forty inmates who arrived recently at the central jail in Jabalpur have been quarantined after they tested positive for coronavirus, an official said on Thursday.
All of them were asymptomatic, said Gopal Tamrakar, Deputy Inspector General, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Central Jail.
Coronavirus update: Andhra Pradesh adds 10,621 more coronavirus cases
Andhra Pradesh adds 10,621 more coronavirus cases, pushing overall tally closer to the four-lakh mark. Count rises to 3,633 with 92 fresh deaths: Government bulletin
Coronavirus update: Congress stages protest against "disastrous" health system in Uttarakhand
To protest against the "disastrous" health system during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Uttarakhand, Indira Hridayesh, Leader of Opposition, staged a sit-in and a one-day fasting session on Wednesday in Haldwani's Buddha Park.
Speaking to ANI, Hridayesh said, "Corona warriors in the state are worried about their safety, they are not even getting proper food. The Chief Minister himself is looking after the Health Department in the state. Therefore it is his responsibility to handle the disastrous health system here."
Coronavirus update: Number of Covid recoveries goes past 25 lakh in India, says Health ministry
The number of COVID-19 recoveries has surpassed 25 lakh in the country while the case fatality rate has further declined to 1.83 per cent, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the country has reached nearly 3.9 crore, it added.
Coronavirus update: Maharashtra Police reports 106 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths
A total of 106 policemen tested positive for COVID-19, while two died due to the deadly virus in the last 24 hours in Maharashtra, according to a statement from the Maharashtra Police.
The state police have reported a total of 14,295 total cases, including 2,604 active cases and 11,545 recoveries.
So far, the novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of 146 police personnel, ANI reported.
Coronavirus news: NHRC writes to States, UTs seeking information on medical infrastructure, practices
National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) has written to State and Union Territories seeking information about the medical infrastructure and best practices followed in the view of COVID-19 pandemic to tackle the situation.
The Commission wrote letters to the Director General and Inspector General of prisons of each State and Union Territory, ANI reported.
Coronavirus update: Health Ministry advises COVID screening for all TB patients and vice versa
Covid screening for all diagnosed Tuberculosis (TB) patients and TB screening for all COVID-19 positive patients should be conducted, said the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued a guidance note on bi-directional TB-COVID screening and screening of TB among influenza like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases.
Both TB and COVID-19 primarily attack the lungs, and the prevalence of TB among COVID-19 patients has been found to be 0.37 - 4.47 percent in different studies, the note read.
It further added that there has been an overall decline in TB notification by 26 percent during January to June 2020 as compared to the previous year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ANI reported.
Coronavirus update: Health Ministry advises COVID screening for all TB patients and vice versa
Covid screening for all diagnosed Tuberculosis (TB) patients and TB screening for all COVID-19 positive patients should be conducted, said the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued a guidance note on bi-directional TB-COVID screening and screening of TB among influenza like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases.
Both TB and COVID-19 primarily attack the lungs, and the prevalence of TB among COVID-19 patients has been found to be 0.37 - 4.47 percent in different studies, the note read.
It further added that there has been an overall decline in TB notification by 26 percent during January to June 2020 as compared to the previous year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ANI reported.
Coronavirus update: EU chief warns on Covid-19 rules after Phil Hogan quits
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday warned top officials to take special care to comply with coronavirus rules after the shock resignation of EU trade boss Phil Hogan.
Her words of caution came just hours after Hogan stepped down after a week of pressure over a breach of coronavirus guidelines in his home country of Ireland, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: India provides COVID-19 support to St Lucia
India gifted medical supplies, protective gear to the government of St Lucia as a tool to assist in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, informed the Development Partnership Administration (DPA) of External Affairs Ministry of India on Thursday.
"Continuing its global support in fighting the pandemic, India gifted medical supplies, and protective gear to @SaintLuciaGov (Government of St Lucia) to assist in its fight against Covid-19," the DPA tweeted.
Saint Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean island nation.
Coronavirus update: Rajasthan reports 633 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths
Rajasthan's COVID-19 tally has reached 75,303 with the addition of 633 new cases on Thursday, the state health department said.
Services To Resume After Centre's Go Ahead: Kolkata Metro
The Kolkata Metro Rail services will begin after a go-ahead from the Union Home Ministry and the Railway Ministry. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Metro Railway authorities can resume services, maintaining all COVID-related safety protocols. "We will start the process of resuming services once we receive directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Railway Ministry," Metro Railway spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said.
The Kolkata Metro Rail services will begin after a go-ahead from the Union Home Ministry and the Railway Ministry. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Metro Railway authorities can resume services, maintaining all COVID-related safety protocols. "We will start the process of resuming services once we receive directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Railway Ministry," Metro Railway spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said.
Coronavirus Lockdown In West Bengal: Complete Lockdown In Kolkata
Kolkata saw normal life affected on Thursday as a complete shutdown was enforced across the state to stem the spread of COVID-19 cases, while violation of the lockdown restrictions was witnessed in some districts.
All public transport, government and private offices, banks and other commercial establishments, barring those dealing with essential services, were closed due to the lockdown.
Flight operations in and out of the Kolkata international airport were suspended for the day, while long-distance trains were rescheduled.
Ferry services through inland waterways were also suspended.
Kolkata saw normal life affected on Thursday as a complete shutdown was enforced across the state to stem the spread of COVID-19 cases, while violation of the lockdown restrictions was witnessed in some districts.
All public transport, government and private offices, banks and other commercial establishments, barring those dealing with essential services, were closed due to the lockdown.
Flight operations in and out of the Kolkata international airport were suspended for the day, while long-distance trains were rescheduled.
Ferry services through inland waterways were also suspended.
Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar today tweeted that he has tested positive for coronavirus, a disease that has affected over 33 lakh people across the country.
Mr Gurjar, Minister of State (MoS) for Social Justice and Empowerment, appealed people who came in contact with him to undergo a coronavirus test as a precautionary measure.
"Taking serious note of my health issues, I got a corona test done, that came positive. Treatment will now go on as per doctors' advice. Everyone who has come in contact with me, please take this seriously, and get your corona test done," he tweeted in Hindi.
The minister is the seventh person in the union council of ministers to be infected by the highly contagious virus.
Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar today tweeted that he has tested positive for coronavirus, a disease that has affected over 33 lakh people across the country.
Mr Gurjar, Minister of State (MoS) for Social Justice and Empowerment, appealed people who came in contact with him to undergo a coronavirus test as a precautionary measure.
"Taking serious note of my health issues, I got a corona test done, that came positive. Treatment will now go on as per doctors' advice. Everyone who has come in contact with me, please take this seriously, and get your corona test done," he tweeted in Hindi.
The minister is the seventh person in the union council of ministers to be infected by the highly contagious virus.
Humanoid Robot Dispenses Sanitiser At Tamil Nadu Store
A robot draped in a saree is greeting customers at the entrance of a garment store in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli these days. Named ''Zafira'', the robot equipped with artificial intelligence keeps tracks of the number of customers entering the store, at a time and monitors them to ensure they follow social distancing and wear masks. Read
A robot draped in a saree is greeting customers at the entrance of a garment store in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli these days. Named ''Zafira'', the robot equipped with artificial intelligence keeps tracks of the number of customers entering the store, at a time and monitors them to ensure they follow social distancing and wear masks. Read
Karnataka Crosses 3 Lakh Cases; Opinion Divided On Covid Relaxations
The government has said that the new relaxations were being introduced to remove the "fear among the people" and make things easier for travellers.
"It is the way forward. I think this is the time to unlock, understanding the challenges. The travellers should not face any inconvenience. There are check mechanisms also in place. We have ramped up the tests from earlier 10 or 20,000 to 75,000. There is a lot of screening happening, better understanding among the people, precautions being taken. Most people are aware - and any kind of unease among them can be understood by them. And they can go for a test," Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Ashwath Narayan, told NDTV. Read
Karnataka, among the states worst-affected by the coronavirus pandemic, has crossed the three-lakh mark in the latest figures released today. This is just days after the state government removed several regulations, including medical checks and compulsory quarantine for those entering the state, that were in place to control the spread of the pandemic.
"It is the way forward. I think this is the time to unlock, understanding the challenges. The travellers should not face any inconvenience. There are check mechanisms also in place. We have ramped up the tests from earlier 10 or 20,000 to 75,000. There is a lot of screening happening, better understanding among the people, precautions being taken. Most people are aware - and any kind of unease among them can be understood by them. And they can go for a test," Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Ashwath Narayan, told NDTV. Read
Coronavirus Update: Figures From Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday saw 5,958 fresh coronavirus cases that pushed the tally close to the four lakh-mark while 118 deaths took the death county to 6,839.
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday saw 5,958 fresh coronavirus cases that pushed the tally close to the four lakh-mark while 118 deaths took the death county to 6,839.
Coronavirus News: Phase 2 Trial Of Oxford Vaccine Begins
The Phase II human clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate, being manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), began at a medical college and hospital in the city on Wednesday. Two male volunteers were administered the vaccine at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital, a senior office-bearer of the hospital said.
The Phase II human clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate, being manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), began at a medical college and hospital in the city on Wednesday. Two male volunteers were administered the vaccine at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital, a senior office-bearer of the hospital said.
Over 75,000 COVID-19 Cases In Biggest One-Day Rise In India
India has reported 75,760 cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, marking the biggest daily rise in the country, Union Health Ministry data shows. The fresh cases have pushed the country's coronavirus tally to over 33.1 lakh cases. 25,23,771 patients have recovered from the infection in the country, taking the recovery rate to 76.24 per cent.
India has reported 75,760 cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, marking the biggest daily rise in the country, Union Health Ministry data shows. The fresh cases have pushed the country's coronavirus tally to over 33.1 lakh cases. 25,23,771 patients have recovered from the infection in the country, taking the recovery rate to 76.24 per cent.
Book Directly With Airlines: Aviation Ministry Tells International Passengers
Fliers seeking air tickets to overseas destinations need not apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and can directly book their tickets with the airlines, an official statement said today.
The MoCA today said on Twitter that it "has designated all the airlines operating under Vande Bharat Mission and air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose".
Fliers seeking air tickets to overseas destinations need not apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and can directly book their tickets with the airlines, an official statement said today.
A standard operating protocol issued by the Home Ministry on August 22 stated that those who are eligible to travel on outbound flights "will apply to MoCA or an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure and arrival".
The MoCA today said on Twitter that it "has designated all the airlines operating under Vande Bharat Mission and air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose".
Health Experts Fear Community Transmission Of COVID-19 In Tripura
Health experts in Tripura fear the state may be staring at community transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
This concern - that each new infection can no longer be traced back to its origin - was conveyed to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb at a high-level meeting on Tuesday. Following this meeting the Chief Minister instructed community-level screening, to check for the presence of Covid antibodies, from September 15.
Fears over community transmission of the highly infectious virus come amid an increase in the positivity rate.
"The state is recording, on average, nine to 10 per cent positive cases out of tests conducted daily. This is quite higher than normal," Dr Tapan Majumdar, an Assistant Professor at the Agartala Government Medical College, and head of microbiology at GBP Hospital, said.
Health experts in Tripura fear the state may be staring at community transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
This concern - that each new infection can no longer be traced back to its origin - was conveyed to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb at a high-level meeting on Tuesday. Following this meeting the Chief Minister instructed community-level screening, to check for the presence of Covid antibodies, from September 15.
Fears over community transmission of the highly infectious virus come amid an increase in the positivity rate.
"The state is recording, on average, nine to 10 per cent positive cases out of tests conducted daily. This is quite higher than normal," Dr Tapan Majumdar, an Assistant Professor at the Agartala Government Medical College, and head of microbiology at GBP Hospital, said.
Coronavirus Update: Maharashtra Reports 14,888 New COVID-19 Cases, 295 Deaths
Maharashtra reported 14,888 new COVID-19 cases and 295 deaths on Wednesday, state's health department said on Monday.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday informed that Mumbai reported 1,854 new COVID-19 cases, 776 recoveries and 28 deaths in the last 24 hours.
"The total number of positive cases increases to 1,39,532 in Mumbai, including 18,977 active cases, 1,12,743 recovered cases and 7,502 deaths," said BMC. Read
Maharashtra reported 14,888 new COVID-19 cases and 295 deaths on Wednesday, state's health department said on Monday.
The total count of cases in Maharashtra now stands at 7,18,711, including 5,22,427 recoveries and 1,72,873 active cases.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday informed that Mumbai reported 1,854 new COVID-19 cases, 776 recoveries and 28 deaths in the last 24 hours.
"The total number of positive cases increases to 1,39,532 in Mumbai, including 18,977 active cases, 1,12,743 recovered cases and 7,502 deaths," said BMC. Read
Congress's Pan-India Protest Tomorrow Over Holding NEET, JEE Amid Covid
After a day-long online meeting of chief ministers of opposition-ruled states, the Congress on Wednesday announced it will hold protests across the country on Friday against the centre's move to push ahead with all-India entrance exams for engineering and medical courses amid the coronavirus crisis.
"In line with concerted opposition to this mindless and dictatorial move of the central government, Congress will be holding protests on Friday at 11 am in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters. They will oppose the decision of the government to hold these exams during the pandemic," Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement.
"While holding exams during Covid crisis has put students in a state of extreme mental stress, the grim flood situation in states like Assam and Bihar will further put students from those states at a severe disadvantage," Mr Venugopal said. Read
After a day-long online meeting of chief ministers of opposition-ruled states, the Congress on Wednesday announced it will hold protests across the country on Friday against the centre's move to push ahead with all-India entrance exams for engineering and medical courses amid the coronavirus crisis.
"In line with concerted opposition to this mindless and dictatorial move of the central government, Congress will be holding protests on Friday at 11 am in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters. They will oppose the decision of the government to hold these exams during the pandemic," Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement.
"While holding exams during Covid crisis has put students in a state of extreme mental stress, the grim flood situation in states like Assam and Bihar will further put students from those states at a severe disadvantage," Mr Venugopal said. Read
3,371 fresh cases push Odisha's COVID-19 tally to 87,602
Odisha registered its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as 3,371 more people tested positive for the infection, taking the state's tally to 87,602, a health department official said. The coronavirus deaths mounted to 441 in the state with the maximum number of fatalities in a day at 13, he said.
The state also reported a record of 3,343 recoveries during the day, the official said.
"Odisha has achieved the highest ever recovery in a day with the discharge of 3,343 COVID patients on Wednesday," the official said.
The recovery rate in Odisha now stands at 71.70 per cent, he added.
Odisha Chief Minister approves package of Rs 200 crore for poor families affected due to COVID-19
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday approved a special assistance package of Rs 200 crore for the poor and extremely poor families in the State affected due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Patnaik approved the package while reviewing the COVID-19 situation and its management in the state with senior government officials and Collectors through Video Conferencing.
"Chief Minister Patnaik emphasizing upon the revival of the rural economy, approved a special assistance package of Rs 200 crore for the poor and extremely poor families in the State affected due to COVID-19 pandemic. The special package will help the development of livelihood activities of rural poor, very poor and the migrants," said an official release.
China reports eight new COVID-19 cases vs 15 a day earlier
China reported eight new COVID-19 cases in the mainland as of August 26, down from 15 a day earlier, the country's health authority said on Thursday
All of the new cases were imported infections, which involve travellers from overseas, marking the 11th consecutive day of no locally transmitted infections reported
China also reported 19 new asymptomatic infections, compared with 14 a day earlier
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections for mainland China now stands at 85,004, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.
Religious places for devotees to re-open from September 7 in Rajasthan
All religious places in Rajasthan that were closed for devotees in wake of COVID-19 pandemic, will be re-opened from Septemeber 7, said state government on Wednesday.
"All the religious places in the state, that were closed for common devotees in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, will re-open from September 7. All precautionary measures to ensure safety against the disease will have to be mandatorily followed," the government order reads.
Maharashtra reports 14,888 new COVID-19 cases, 295 deaths
Maharashtra, which is worst affected by the pandemic, reported 14,888 new COVID-19 cases and 295 deaths on Wednesday, informed the State Health Department.
As per the State Health Department, the total count of cases in Maharashtra now stands at 7,18,711, including 5,22,427 recoveries and 1,72,873 active cases.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday informed that Mumbai reported 1,854 new COVID-19 cases, 776 recoveries and 28 deaths in the last 24 hours.
