There has been a "marginal increase" in coronavirus cases in Delhi over the past few days, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Wednesday afternoon, adding that testing rates in the national capital would be doubled as a precautionary measure. Insisting that his government's primary strategy to contain the Covid outbreak - to test and isolate - had not changed, the Chief Minister also declared that the Covid situation in the city - once the worst-affected in the country - is "fully under control".
67,151 new coronavirus cases and 1,059 new deaths were recorded in India in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said. The fresh numbers have pushed the national total since the start of the pandemic to 32,34,474 cases, including 59,449 deaths. 24,67,758 patients have recovered from the infection in the country, pushing the recovery rate to 76.29 per cent.
Maharashtra remains the hardest-hit in the pandemic, accounting for 7,03,823 cases.
In a worrying indication that the COVID crisis in Delhi is far from over, the capital on Tuesday saw the highest spike in cases in the last 40 days, with 1,544 fresh cases. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a high-level meeting today to discuss the situation.
Here are the Highlights Coronavirus Pandemic:
Early identification of the COVID-19 infections through timely and aggressive testing has played a pivotal role in India's strategy to fight the pandemic, the Union Health Ministry said today as the cumulative testing reached 3,76,51,512. Read more
Bengal has extended the ongoing general coronavirus lockdown in the state to September 20, with "hard lockdowns" scheduled for September 7, 11 and 12. However, in a significant relaxation of existing restrictions to fight the virus, the Mamata Banerjee government has partially eased its July 6 ban on flights to Kolkata from six metros, including Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Read more
A COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by Australia's University of Queensland has shown "positive" results against the novel coronavirus in preclinical tests, raising hopes for its potential effectiveness and manufacturability, the varsity said on Wednesday. Read more
Number of #COVID19 cases reaches 5,206 in Himachal Pradesh; active cases stand at 1,352: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/SEYLiuqJ4U
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2020
There has been an increase in #COVID19 cases in last few days. Recovery rate is more than 90% in the national capital. We are fully prepared. I have directed that number of tests will be doubled in coming days: Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM pic.twitter.com/yW4CMK7bh9
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2020
I have been tested Covid 19 positive yesterday. People who came in contact with me during Last few days they should go for Covid test immediately.
- Tarun Gogoi (@tarun_gogoi) August 26, 2020
Delhi: Health Minister and other officials arrived at the residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal to attend the meeting over the increase in number of #COVID19 cases in the national capital. The meeting has started. https://t.co/o7MiuglzS2 pic.twitter.com/ZZopNkttHk
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2020
Kerala: In wake of advisory not to purchase imported flowers during Onam celebrations, children in Kuttiady, Kozhikode search for flowers in their neighbourhood to make Pookkalam (floral decoration).
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2020
Ayana says, "Due to #COVID19, we are picking flowers from our surroundings." pic.twitter.com/ovEiVpzyys
Thiruvananthapuram: Padmanabhaswamy temple opens for devotees from today since it was closed in March due to #COVID19 induced lockdown.
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2020
Devotees will be allowed inside the temple from 8 am to 11 am in the morning & from 5 pm till the time of Deep Aradhana in the evening. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/GmMdc6G35h
Bihar: People make purchases at a crowded market in Patna, amid #COVID19 pandemic. Social distancing norms flouted. (25.08.2020) pic.twitter.com/FIzV7zFeHV
- ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2020
14 new #COVID19 cases reported in Mizoram taking the total cases in the state to 967, including 464 cured/discharged. Active cases stand at 503: Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Mizoram pic.twitter.com/esJj4bnyt4
- ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2020
There has been a steady decline in the positivity rate of COVID-19 despite an exponential increase in testing, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday, underlining that the number of active cases of the infection have reduced by 6,423 in a day for the first time.
Presenting a mortality analysis on the basis of age and gender, Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said COVID-19 fatalities include 69% male and 31% female.