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Coronavirus Live Updates: India's coronavirus case count crossed the nine-lakh mark as 29,429 new cases were reported between Tuesday and Wednesday, heath ministry data showed. While 24,309 people have died of the infection, over 5.71 lakh people have recovered, the government data showed. As per the Health Ministry, there are a total of 9,36,181 coronavirus cases in the country.
The Centre said that India's recovery rate stands at 63.23 per cent.
The health ministry said that 86 per cent of the total active cases are confined to 10 affected states with Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu accounting for 50 per cent of them.
Despite being the second-most populous country of the world, the daily growth rate of new COVID-19 cases in India has been coming down continuously from around 38.2 per cent in March to 3.24 per cent on July 12, Rajesh Bhushan, the officer on special duty in the Health Ministry, told a press briefing.
Data from the home ministry shows 31.58 lakh people are in quarantine in different states and Union Territories. States that are showing positive trends in terms of controlling virus are Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Concern though, lies thick over the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases In India:
11 deaths, 1,597 new COVID-19 cases in Telangana
Telangana on Wednesday reported 1,597 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths, taking the tally to 39,342 and the toll to 386. The number of samples tested in the state crossed the two lakh mark while the active cases stood at 12,958 with a total of 25,999 people having been discharged so far.
Jodhpur admin, police launch campaigns to curb COVID-19 spike
The Jodhpur administration and police have launched two separate campaigns to contain the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases in the city, an official said on Wednesday.
While the district administration has launched the ''Jeevan Raksha Abhiyan'' for the elderly and people with comorbidities to keep a check on the death rate, the police has launched ''Har Ghar Dastak Abhiyan'' to ensure that positive cases remain isolated at their homes.
"For this campaign, we have roped in government departments... We also expect active cooperation from the citizens and social organisations in the city," said Jodhpur district magistrate Indrajeet Singh.
5 more BSF staffers test COVID-19 positive in Mizoram; tally rises to 238
Five more Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Mizoram, taking the states COVID-19 tally to 238, officials said on Wednesday.
The five jawans, aged between 42 and 53 years, recently came from Maharashtra, Jharkhand and West Bengal. They are posted at Folkland area in Aizawl and have been placed under quarantine since they arrived in the state, officials said. All of them are asymptomatic.
COVID-19: NIMHANS releases guidelines for health workers'' mental health needs
The NIMHANS has come out with guidelines that define a framework to address the mental health needs of healthcare personnel in COVID-19 treatment settings.
The guidelines also aim to provide technical inputs to guide healthcare personnel to help themselves and their colleagues in distress.
The guidelines identify the source of anxiety and the indicators that healthcare professionals are facing mental health difficulties at the workplace.
"This guidance prepared by the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) defines the framework for administrators and healthcare supervisors to address the mental health needs of healthcare personnel in COVID-19 treatment settings," it said.
Kerala: A #COVID19 treatment centre with over 1000 beds has been set up at Calicut University in Malappuram. K Gopalakrishnan, District Collector, Malappuram says, "Patients who have tested positive but don't have any symptom will be treated here." (15.07.2020) pic.twitter.com/VWV2DGNwci
- ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2020
Coronavirus: 1,510 new COVID-19 cases take Pune district tally to 42,836
As many as 1,510 new coronavirus positive cases were reported in Maharashtra's Pune on Wednesday, which took the count of patients in the district to 42,836, a health official said.
The number of deaths in the district reached 1,176 with 35 persons succumbing to the infection in the last 24 hours, he said.
Uttar Pradesh reports 1,685 new COVID-19 cases
As many as 1,685 coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours, Additional Chief Secretary of Medical and Health Amit Mohan Prasad said on Wednesday.
There are 14,628 active coronavirus cases in the state and 25,743 patients have been discharged to date, he said. At least 1,012 people in the state have succumbed to the coronavirus so far.
Telangana Minister Satyavathi Rathod reviews coronavirus situation in Mahabubabad
Telangana Woman and Child Welfare Minister Satyavathi Rathod has ordered Mahabubabad district officials to contain coronavirus spread and provide better medicare to the people, as the number of positive cases are increasing in the district.
Rathod, who is also the state Tribal Welfare Minister, held a review meeting on the coronavirus situation in the district with District Medical Health Officer (DMHO) Dr Sriram, Area Hospital Superintendant Bhim Sagar and Nodal Officer Dr Satish Rathod.
The minister said that coronavirus patients should be provided with quality treatment.
"The government is ready to provide any requirements. PPEs and other amenities are being given to doctors and other medical staff. The government is supplying isolation kits for those in home isolation," Rathod said.
COVID-19: Tamil Nadu Health Secretary inaugurates 30 mobile dispensaries
Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation Commissioner G Prakash flagged off 30 mobile dispensaries offering free COVID-19 tests and medicines in the hotspots.
The mobile dispensaries have been arranged by some social organisations.
Appreciating the government's effort, Mr Radhakrishnan said, "Central health team has always been supportive, both medically or non medically." "They have been showering with daily COVID-19 updates," state Health Secretary added.
He also informed, "More than 90 percent of the testing kits have been bought by the state government."
136 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Madhya Pradesh's Indore today, taking the total number of positive cases in the district to 5,632. Death count in the district stands at 280: Chief Medical and Health Officer, Indore district
Jharkhand on Wednesday reported its highest single-day spike of 316 COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 4,562 while the death count rose to 38, a government bulletin said.
Of the total 4,562 COVID-19 cases, 2,039 are active cases as 2,485 people have recovered from the disease, it said.
The number of migrants infected with COVID-19 is 2,245, it said.
The recovery rate is 54.47 per cent while the mortality rate is 0.83 per cent in the state, the bulletin said.
1,597 COVID-19 positive cases, 1,159 discharged and 11 deaths in Telangana today. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 39,342 including 25,999 discharged and 386 deaths: Government of Telangana
Record 20,572 Patients Recover From COVID-19 In Last 24 Hours: Centre
India's COVID-19 recovery rate rose to 63.24 per cent with 20,572 patients recuperating from the disease in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, the highest so far, even as the country saw yet another record daily jump of 29,429 cases, according to Union health ministry data.
Aggressive testing, timely diagnosis and effective management of patients either through supervised home isolation or active medical attention in hospitals have led to a surge in recovered cases which exceed active COVID-19 cases by 2,72,191 as on date, the ministry said.
The country's total COVID-19 tally surged to 9,36,181 on Wednesday, while the death count climbed to 24,309 with 582 new fatalities. This was the fourth consecutive day that coronavirus cases have increased by more than 28,000.
The number of recoveries stood at 5,92,031, while there are 3,19,840 active cases of the coronavirus infection at present in the country, the health ministry data updated at 8 am showed. All the active cases are under medical supervision.
866 new positive cases reported in the state today till 8.30pm, taking the total number of cases in the state to 26,437 including 19,502 recovered cases, 6,405 active cases and 530 deaths: Rajasthan Health Department
Nagpur district in Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded 66 new coronavirus positive cases, taking the total count to 2,571, a district official said.
The overall death count stood at 40, including 25 fatalities in Nagpur city and 15 outside the city limits, he said.
The number of the recovered patients stood at 1,620, news agency PTI reported.
638 New Cases In Madhya Pradesh, Total Count Rises To 19,643
With the single-day spike of 638 new COVID-19 cases, the number of patients in Madhya Pradesh rose to 19,643 on Wednesday, officials said. As the virus claimed nine more lives, the death count in the state went up to 682, they said.
Of the nine deaths, five were reported from Indore, two from Bhopal and one each patient died in Gwalior and Sehore, the officials said.
From Wednesday's COVID-19 tally, the highest number of 93 cases were reported from Indore, followed by 89 from Bhopal, 68 from Morena, 38 from Gwalior and 37 from Jabalpur.
Meanwhile, a total of 333 persons were discharged from hospitals after recovery during the day, they said.
The number of cases in Indore, the worst-hit district in the state, rose by 93 to 5,496 and death count to 278 in the district, the state health bulletin said, news agency PTI reported.
198 new COVID-19 positive cases and 67 recoveries have been reported in Goa. Total number of cases rise to 2,951 including 1,259 active cases, 1,674 recoveries and 18 deaths: State Government
In the last late 24 hours, 28 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Manipur, taking the total number of cases to 1,700 including 620 active cases and 1,080 recovered cases: Manipur Government
11 Fresh COVID-19 Positive Cases Reported In Sikkim
Eleven persons on Wednesday tested positive for novel coronavirus in Sikkim to take the state's tally to 209, a health official said.
The fresh infections have been reported from East Sikkim district, Director General-cum-Secretary, Health Dr Pema T Bhutia said.
All of them have been admitted to the isolation ward of STNM hospital here, he said.
As many as 87 patients have been cured of the disease while the number of active cases stands at 12, the official said.
Of the total 209 cases in the state, East Sikkim district has reported 142 cases followed by 44 in South Sikkim district, 22 in West Sikkim district and one in North Sikkim district, news agency PTI reported.
COVID-19: Rs 500 Fine For People Without Masks In Surat
In the wake of rise in COVID-19 cases in Gujarat's Surat city, the civic body here on Wednesday said people found without masks in public places will have to shell out Rs 500 as fine.
The Surat Municipal Corporation had earlier imposed a penalty of Rs 200 on people who stepped out of their homes without the protective gear.
Action will be taken against violators under relevant section of the IPC and Epidemic Diseases Act, municipal commissioner BN Pani said in an order.
Till Tuesday, Surat had recorded 8,950 COVID-19 cases, while the count in the district stood at 350, news agency PTI reported.
One More Chandigarh Resident Dies Of COVID-19, 19 Fresh Cases Take Tally To 619
Chandigarh reported another death due to COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the union territory's coronavirus death count to 11 while 19 fresh cases pushed the tally to 619, according to a medical bulletin.
A 78-year-old man died due to the virus at a hospital in Panchkula, the bulletin said. A resident of sector 19, the man was a patient of chronic heart disease, it said, news agency PTI reported.
COVID-19: Kerala High Court Bans All Political Protests In Public Places Till July 31
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday banned all political protests in public places until July 31 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and noted that the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) will be held responsible for any such protests.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly issued the order after considering two petitions highlighting the ongoing protests in violation of the restrictions imposed in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
"In view of the directive issued by the Centre as well as the state governments, and the decisions referred to above, we deem it fit to direct all political parties and associations, including respondents 5 to 10, to strictly abide by the same," the bench said in its order.
Political parties including CPI-M, Congress, BJP, LDF, UDF, and NDA were named as respondents 5 to 10 in the petition respectively filed by advocate John Numpeli Junior.
"The government is also directed to take preventive measures to ensure that no political party or association shall violate the directives issued by the Governments and the judgments of the apex court. If any protests will stage by violating this, the chief secretary and DGP will be responsible," the order said, news agency ANI reported.
233 deaths and 7,975 new COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra state today, taking total number of positive cases in the state to 2,75,640. 3,606 patients discharged today; 1,52,613 COVID-19 patients discharged after full recovery until today; Recovery rate in the state is 55.37%: State Health Department
Many Senior Bureaucrats Test Positive For COVID-19 In Assam
Several senior bureaucrats, including the Commissioner and Secretary to Assam Governor, have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Wednesday.
At least five senior officials have tested positive for novel coronavirus in the last 2-3 days, an official told PTI.
Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor of Assam, SS Meenakshi Sundaram, his wife and mother have tested positive for COVID-19 and they are being treated at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Guwahati.
Senior IAS officer Oinam Sarankumar Singh, the Commissioner of Industries Department and also the MD of Assam Industrial Development Corporation, has also tested positive for COVID-19, he said.
Pabitra Ram Khaund, the secretary of the Transport, Industries and Commerce Departments is undergoing treatment at hospital after he tested positive for COVID-19.
The PS to the Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister, Rajibuddin Ahmed has tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to a hospital for treatment, the official said.
Additional Secretary of the Industries Department Isaan Bardalai has also tested positive.
Additional Chief Secretary and the Chairman of the Board of Revenue, VS Bhaskar's cook has also tested positive for COVID-19, the source said.
Meanwhile, 608 police personnel have tested COVID-19 positive across the state, of whom one has died and 272 have recovered, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) GP Singh said on Twitter, news agency PTI reported.
4,496 new COVID-19 positive cases and 68 deaths have been reported in Tamil Nadu today. Total number of cases rise to 1,51,820 including 47,340 active cases, 1,02,310 discharged cases and 2,167 deaths: State Health Department
Odisha: 7,000 Unemployed Health Workers To Be Engaged At COVID-19 Care Homes
The Odisha government on Tuesday said it will engage around 7,000 trained unemployed healthcare workers at the COVID-19 Care Homes (CCHs), which are proposed to be established in all 6,798 Gram Panchayats in view of rise in COVID-19 cases in the state.
The state government will be employing Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), staff nurses and pharmacists at the CCHs.
However, according to the official order issued by the state's Health and Family Welfare Department, these engagements will be temporary, for a period of three months only or till CCHs are functional, keeping in view the emergency situation arising due to the pandemic.
The remuneration will be on a daily wage basis as per the labour and ESI department notification, Rs 850 for ANM, Rs 1,000 for staff nurse and Rs 1,000 for pharmacists has been fixed as daily remuneration.
Anticipating the burden on hospitals, the state government has established these CCHs in each panchayat, where patients with suspected symptoms for coronavirus will be admitted till they are not tested for the virus and anyone found positive, will be sent to a COVID dedicated hospital, news agency ANI reported.
Delhi To Get Third Plasma Bank At GTB Hospital
With the Delhi government backing plasma therapy to reduce the COVID-19 death rate, the state-run Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital is soon going to launch a plasma bank which will be the third such facility in the national capital.
Binay Bhushan, the nodal officer of GTB Hospital, said the the largest medical facility in East Delhi has got the equipment, know-how and staff to start a plasma bank.
"The hospital has already got a blood bank which caters to the demand in the East Delhi region. This facility can be used to collect and store plasma," Mr Bhushan said.
Last week, the hospital said it has made all arrangements, including procuring an apheresis machine, to provide plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients who need it.
Mr Bhushan said the competent authority has allowed the hospital to start collecting plasma from recovered patients.
"We have prepared a list of COVID-19 patients who were treated at the hospital and have fully recovered. They have expressed willingness to donate plasma," he said.
On July 2, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched Delhi's first plasma bank at the city government-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences. This week, he inaugurated the second plasma bank at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, news agency PTI reported.
Mumbai slum colony Dharavi's COVID-19 tally rises to 2,415 with addition of 23 new cases, news agency PTI reported quoting Civic Body
IIT Delhi Launches "Corosure" Claimed To Be World's Most Affordable Diagnostic Kit For Coronavirus
Claimed to be the world's most affordable diagnostic kit for coronavirus, a low-cost test kit developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in New Delhi was launched on Wednesday.
According to IIT officials, the base price of the the RT-PCR assay developed by IIT Delhi is Rs 399. Even after adding the RNA isolation and laboratory charges, the cost per test will go upto Rs 650 and will be considerably cheaper compared to currently available kits in the market. It can deliver results within three hours.
HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" launched the test kit named "Corosure" which will now be available for use at authorised testing labs.
"The Corosure Kit has been developed indigenously and is much cheaper than other kits. The country requires cheap and reliable testing for the country which can help control the pandemic. The kit has received ICMR approval with the highest score and DCGI approved with a very high sensitivity and specificity," he said at the launch.
Referring it to as world's most affordable COVID-19 diagnostic kit, the HRD Minister said the innovation is a step towards "Make in India", news agency PTI reported.
Tripura Registers 90 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Count Rises To 2,184
At least 90 fresh COVID-19 cases have been reported in Tripura on Tuesday raising the state's virus count to 2,184, officials said.
Altogether 1,538 persons have recovered from the disease and at present there are 630 active cases, they said.
Of the 90 patients, 29 were detected from West Tripura district, 9 from Khowai district, 16 from North Tripura district, 7 from Gomati district, 12 from Dhalai district, 7 from South Tripura district, 6 from Sepahijala district and 4 from Unakoti district.
Two coronavirus deaths have been reported in the state while 14 persons have migrated.
The state government has set a target of testing over two lakh samples for COVID-19 in the next one month and seven thousand tests would be conducted daily, senior minister and cabinet spokesperson, Ratan Lal Nath said.
"Tripura has 116 Primary Health Centres(PHC) and 22 Community Health Centres (CHC) besides sub-divisional and district hospitals. In each PHC and CHC, 25 persons will be tested through rapid antigen kits, while 5 samples will be collected for RT-PCR test. More than 4,000 tests will be done each day in these PHCs and CHCs located across the state," Mr Nath told reporters at the state secretariat on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.
68 new COVID-19 positive cases and 48 recoveries have been reported in Border Security Force (BSF) in the last 24 hours. The total number of positive cases in BSF stands at 2,093, including 1,060 recovered cases and 1,024 active cases, news agency ANI reported quoting Border Security Force (BSF)
Goa Announces 3-Day Lockdown From Friday, "Janata Curfew" From Today
A three-day lockdown with stricter provisions will be enforced in Goa from Friday in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday.
Besides, there will also be a "Janata Curfew" in the state from 8 pm to 6 am every day with effect from Wednesday till August 10, he told reporters.
Only people associated with essential services and those having medical emergencies will be allowed to move out during the curfew and lockdown, he said.
Mr Sawant said COVID-19 cases are rising in the state, and noted that people are not wearing masks and not following the social distancing guidelines.
He said more than 40,000 people in the state have so far been fined for not wearing mask.
"Somewhere, we need to be more strict. There should be awareness and discipline among people, he said. The chief minister said COVID-19 cases in the state are expected to peak in next few days due to continued rains. We are expecting a spike between July 15 and July
20," he said.
Mr Sawant also said that COVID care facilities will be set up in all talukas of the coastal state.
On Tuesday, Goa reported 170 new COVID-19 cases, its highest single-day spike, taking the tally to 2,753. The state has so far reported 18 deaths due to the disease, news agency PTI reported.
Andhra Government Announces Rs 15,000 For Final Rites Of COVID-19 Victims
The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday announced financial aid of Rs 15,000 for the final rites of people who died due to COVID-19.
Katamaneni Bhaskar, Commissioner of the state Health and Family Welfare Department, informed that this decision has been made in the wake of unpleasant incidents reported while performing rites of COVID-19 victims.
"Many times family members also do not come forward to perform the last rites of the COVID victims. In that case, it has to be done by the municipal and panchayat staff. Under the guidance of the Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, we have taken the decision that an amount of Rs 15,000 will be given from the state. This will go a long way to ensure that everyone''s dignity is maintained," Mr Bhaskar told ANI.
He added, "The amount will either be given to the family if they come to claim the body or the municipal staff who conducts the last rites."
As per data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a total of 33,019 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state so far, news agency ANI reported.
Jobs To Family Of West Bengal Government Employees Who Died Due To COVID-19: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her government will provide jobs to the family members of state employees who died while leading the fight against COVID-19.
At least 12 state government employees have died due to coronavirus infection, she said.
Ms Banerjee said that the state government will also honour the deceased employees -- doctors, policemen and health workers -- with medals and certificates, news agency PTI reported.
Bengaluru Is Lockdown City Once Again
After state authorities were earlier praised for the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, Bengaluru has now turned into one of the cities where COVID-19 cases are spiking the fastest. Another lockdown is in place as a result - and this is stricter than earlier ones.
Perhaps it is awareness of these rapidly rising numbers - over a thousand new cases every day - that has increased compliance with the lockdown regulations. Many citizens feel the week-long lockdown is basically a good idea when it comes to their safety.
"The lockdown is a good thing. Coronavirus cases are increasing. Every day we see in the papers - another 1500 cases. The lockdown will make the cases less as people won't come out so much," a resident told NDTV.
Another citizen said, "It is a good thing. It will make the cases less."
The lockdown is stricter this time around. Even shops selling essential items must shut by 12 noon. Only medical shops can stay open. Online and food deliveries, however, are being allowed.
Why Cheaper COVID-19 Medicines Are Not Being Promoted, Parliament Panel Asks Government Officials
A parliamentary panel told senior government officials on Wednesday to promote cheaper and easily available domestic-made medicines for COVID-19, and check recommendation and cap prices of expensive medicines pushed by pharma companies, sources said.
During a meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, members also demanded that the maximum price of COVID-19 medicines be capped, they said.
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Joint Secretary in Health Ministry Lav Agarwal and other officials were present in the meeting of the standing committee on home affairs chaired by Congress leader Anand Sharma.
Cutting across party lines, the committee members questioned why expensive medicines were often being recommended for COVID-19 treatment, sources in the panel said.
The committee members expressed concern over black marketing of medicines.
Naming three cheaper and easily available medicines, the committee members questioned why are they not being promoted despite they being equally effective, news agency PTI reported.
Uttar Pradesh COVID-19 Count: 29 Deaths, 1,659 Fresh Cases
Twenty-nine persons died of COVID-19 while 1,659 more tested positive for the disease in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, raising the fatalities to 1,012 and number of infected cases to 41,383 in the state.
"In the past 24 hours, 1,659 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 29 deaths were reported," Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.
The state now has 14,628 active cases as while 25,743 patients have recovered, he added.
Till Tuesday the maximum 95 deaths in the state were reported from Agra, followed by Meerut and Kanpur, which witnessed 93 and 90 deaths respectively.
Mr Prasad said over 12.77 lakh samples have been tested in the state so far while a record 45,203 samples were tested on Tuesday.
He said in UP "first 6 lakh tests were done in four months with total 6,03,390 tests till June 24 while the next 6.28 lakh tests were conducted over the next 20 days from June till date".
After Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, UP now is at third place in testing for COVID-19, he said, adding the state has a lesser number of Corona cases per million population.
The testing facility will soon be increased to 50,000 per day, he said, news agency PTI reported.
Puducherry reports 67 new COVID-19 positive cases today, taking the total number of cases to 1,596 including 686 active cases and 21 deaths: Puducherry Health Department
Pune: Police Maintain Strict Vigil During Complete Lockdown
Police personnel were seen doing the rounds on the streets of Pune on Wednesday to ensure that the norms of the complete COVID-19 lockdown imposed in the district were being followed.
"A complete lockdown and strict vigilance have been in place since yesterday. All the commuters have been showing their identity proofs and permission slips to travel across the city," Shabbir Sayyed, Police Inspector, Swargate Police Station, Pune told ANI.
He added, "Those who have valid permissions are moving on the roads. All the citizens are leaving their homes for essential reasons only."
A 10-day complete lockdown was announced for Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and some parts of rural Pune from Monday in two phases due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Pune Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar said, news agency ANI reported.
Combatting COVID-19: Jodpur Cops Launch "Har Ghar Dastak" Drive
In view of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan, the police have launched a campaign named Har Ghar Dastak in Jodhpur to control the spread of infections.
The operation was launched on Tuesday by Jodhpur Commissioner of Police Jose Mohan and DCP Dharmendra Kumar at Mahamandir in Jodhpur.
"Under this campaign, policemen will visit the residences of infected citizens and check whether quarantine norms are being followed. COVID-19 patients have been placed under home isolation but many are complaining that they don't adhere to the prescribed rules. This new campaign will ensure that the infection does not get worse than it already is," Mr Mohan told ANI.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan on July 15 was 25,571. The number of recovered cases was 19,161, news agency ANI reported.
Maharashtra: 82 Cops Have Died Of COVID-19 Since March, Says Official
A total of 82 Maharashtra police personnel, including six officers, have died due to COVID-19 infection since the outbreak in March this year, a senior official said on Wednesday.
A total of 6,400 personnel have been infected so far, of whom 5,100 have recovered while 1,213 others, including 150 officers, have been undergoing treatment at various hospitals, the official said.
With 48 deaths of its personnel, including three officers, the Mumbai police accounts for the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities in the state.
Since the lockdown was enforced in March, there have been 313 incidents of assault on policemen and 54 incidents of attack on health workers, the official said.
As many as 879 persons have been arrested in connection with these attacks, he said.
Police have registered 1,77,491 cases under relevant section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and arrested 30,452 persons.
91,805 vehicles have been impounded, the official said, news agency PTI reported.
A fine of Rs 13.40 crore has been collected for various offences during the lockdown.
With Over 45,000 Samples, Highest Single-Day COVID-19 Tests Conducted In UP
More than 45,000 samples were tested for COVID-19 by the Uttar Pradesh Government on Tuesday, the highest single-day tests conducted by any state, said Alok Kumar, Secretary to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
"Yesterday we tested more than 45,000 samples for COVID-19. This is the highest test conducted by any state in a single day. Our positivity still lies below 4 per cent," informed Mr Kumar in a tweet.
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state is 39,724, including 13,758 active cases.
While 24,983 have cured/recovered/migrated, the death count stands at 983, news agency ANI reported.
235 More COVID-19 Cases In Rajasthan
235 more COVID-19 cases have been reported from Rajasthan, the State Health Department informed on Wednesday.
Rajasthan now has a total of 25,806 COVID cases, including 6,080 active cases.
So far, 527 lives have been claimed by the disease in the state, news agency ANI reported.
Record Number Of Samples Tested For COVID-19 On Tuesday: ICMR Officials
More than 3.2 lakh samples were tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the highest so far on a day, taking the cumulative number of tests conducted in the country till July 14 to 1,24,12,664, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) officials said.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the testing per million for India is consistently rising and has touched 8994.7 on Wednesday.
"A cumulative total of 1,24,12,664 samples have been tested up to July 14. A total of 3,20,161 samples were tested on Tuesday, the highest so far conducted in a day," Scientist and media coordinator at the ICMR, Dr Lokesh Sharma, said.
The per day testing capacity, which was around 1.5 lakh on May 25, is nearly four lakh per day now, Mr Sharma informed.
India registered a record single day jump of 29,429 COVID-19 cases pushing its tally to 9,36,181 on Wednesday, while the death toll climbed to 24,309 with 582 new fatalities, according to Health Ministry data.
The WHO in its Guidance Note on "Public Health Criteria to Adjust Public Health and Social Measures in the Context of COVID-19" has advised comprehensive surveillance and testing for suspected cases, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: All Punjab Ministers To Undergo Coronavirus Test
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has advised all the members of his cabinet to undergo test for coronavirus after one of the ministers tested positive for the infection, news agency PTI reported.
"All the cabinet ministers will give their samples for testing (coronavirus) today. Their results will come by today evening or tomorrow," Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu told reporters here on Wednesday.
Officials said the Amarinder Singh has advised his ministers to get themselves tested as a precautionary measure.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has advised all the members of his cabinet to undergo test for coronavirus after one of the ministers tested positive for the infection, news agency PTI reported.
"All the cabinet ministers will give their samples for testing (coronavirus) today. Their results will come by today evening or tomorrow," Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu told reporters here on Wednesday.
Officials said the Amarinder Singh has advised his ministers to get themselves tested as a precautionary measure.
Coronavirus News: Actress Shrenu Parikh Tests Postive For COVID-19
TV actor Shrenu Parikh, best known for featuring on the hit show "Ishqbaaz", on Wednesday tweeted that she has tweeted positive for coronavirus.
The 30-year-old actor, who is in her hometown Vadodara, Gujarat, took to Instagram to share the news.
"Was found COVID positive a few days ago, and I'm now recovering in the hospital! Keep me and my family in your prayers," Ms Parikh posted.
TV actor Shrenu Parikh, best known for featuring on the hit show "Ishqbaaz", on Wednesday tweeted that she has tweeted positive for coronavirus.
The 30-year-old actor, who is in her hometown Vadodara, Gujarat, took to Instagram to share the news.
"Was found COVID positive a few days ago, and I'm now recovering in the hospital! Keep me and my family in your prayers," Ms Parikh posted.
Coronavirus News: COVID-19 Situation In Delhi Better Than In June, Says Arvind Kejriwal
Addressing an online media briefing, he said, "The COVID-19 situation in Delhi is under control but we do not have to be complacent. We will continue our preparations."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said the coronavirus situation in the national capital has improved in comparison to June.
Addressing an online media briefing, he said, "The COVID-19 situation in Delhi is under control but we do not have to be complacent. We will continue our preparations."
Mr Kejriwal said his government's first principle of combating the disease is that the COVID-19 fight cannot be won alone, that is why, the AAP dispensation sought cooperation from everyone, be it the Centre, hotels and other organisations. Read
Coronavirus News: US COVID-19 Vaccine Enters Final Stage Trial This Month
The Phase 3 trial will recruit 30,000 participants in the US, with half to receive the vaccine at 100 microgram dose levels, and the other half to receive a placebo.
It is designed to show whether the vaccine is safe and can prevent infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, or -- if people still get infected -- whether it can prevent the infection progressing toward symptoms.
If they do get symptoms, the vaccine can still be considered a success if it stops severe cases of COVID-19.
The US biotech firm Moderna said Tuesday it would enter the final stage of human trials for its COVID-19 vaccine on July 27, after promising early results were published in an influential journal.
It is designed to show whether the vaccine is safe and can prevent infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, or -- if people still get infected -- whether it can prevent the infection progressing toward symptoms.
If they do get symptoms, the vaccine can still be considered a success if it stops severe cases of COVID-19.
Amitabh Bachchan, COVID-19 Positive, Shares A Note For Healthcare Workers
Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently being treated for COVID-19 in Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital, shared a note for healthcare workers on his social media handles on Tuesday.
The actor tweeted: "Pristine white their layered dress, dedicated to serve they be, god like incarnations they, companions of the sufferer they, erased they their ego have, to us they have embraced in care, they be the divine destination, they fly the flags of humanity." Amitabh Bachchan along with his actor son Abhishek Bachchan, tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday and they were hospitalised. The actor has been keeping his fans updated through Twitter.
Over 29,000 New COVID-19 Cases In A Day Takes India's Total To 9.36 Lakh Cases
A record 29,429 new coronavirus infections were reported in the last 24 hours, taking India's total to 9.36 lakh cases, the Union Health Ministry said this morning. This is the first time that India has reported more than 29,000 new patients in a single day.
A total of 24,309 patients have died so far; 582 deaths linked to the highly contagious illness were reported in the last 24 hours. Nearly 6 lakh patients have recovered; the recovery rate stood at 62.23 per cent this morning.
The positivity rate - percentage of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus - stood at 9.19 per cent.
A record 29,429 new coronavirus infections were reported in the last 24 hours, taking India's total to 9.36 lakh cases, the Union Health Ministry said this morning. This is the first time that India has reported more than 29,000 new patients in a single day.
A total of 24,309 patients have died so far; 582 deaths linked to the highly contagious illness were reported in the last 24 hours. Nearly 6 lakh patients have recovered; the recovery rate stood at 62.23 per cent this morning.
The positivity rate - percentage of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus - stood at 9.19 per cent.
Coronavirus News: More 29,000 Cases Reported In 24 Hours
In biggest single-day spike, India reported a rise of 29,429 cases in 24 hours between Tuesday to Wednesday, health ministry data showed. This took the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 9,36,6181.
There have been 59,2032 recoveries till date, while 24,309 people have died due to the virus.
The recovery rate currently stands at 9.19 per cent.
Daily Growth Rate Of COVID-19 Cases Declined To 3.24%: Health Ministry
The daily growth rate of novel coronavirus cases in India has declined continuously from around 31 per cent in March to 3.24 per cent on July 12, as per the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press briefing, Rajesh Bhushan, officer on special duty in the ministry, said, "There has been a progressive decline in the daily growth rate of new cases."
The daily growth rate of novel coronavirus cases in India has declined continuously from around 31 per cent in March to 3.24 per cent on July 12, as per the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press briefing, Rajesh Bhushan, officer on special duty in the ministry, said, "There has been a progressive decline in the daily growth rate of new cases."
"If you see, the daily growth rate in of COVID-19 cases in March was around 31.28 per cent, it declined to around 9 per cent in May and reduced further to 4.82 per cent by the end of May. If you look at the figures as on July 12, it has come down to 3.24 per cent," Mr Bhushan said.
Coronavirus News: No Slowing Down Coronavirus In Country, Quarantine Figures Indicate
India is not likely to show any sign of a downward coronavirus curve in the days to come. More than 9 lakh people have tested positive for the disease, but for the Centre, the bigger worry is the number of people in precautionary quarantine, especially in the vast and thickly populated state of Uttar Pradesh.
Data from the home ministry shows 31.58 lakh people are in quarantine in different states and Union Territories.
States that are showing positive trends in terms of controlling virus are Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Concern though, lies thick over the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka.
In terms of positives, Maharashtra tops the list with 2.60 lakh cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1.42 lakh. Read
India is not likely to show any sign of a downward coronavirus curve in the days to come. More than 9 lakh people have tested positive for the disease, but for the Centre, the bigger worry is the number of people in precautionary quarantine, especially in the vast and thickly populated state of Uttar Pradesh.
Data from the home ministry shows 31.58 lakh people are in quarantine in different states and Union Territories.
States that are showing positive trends in terms of controlling virus are Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Concern though, lies thick over the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka.
In terms of positives, Maharashtra tops the list with 2.60 lakh cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1.42 lakh. Read
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee starts free ambulance service for COVID-19 patients
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has started a free ambulance service for COVID-19 patients on Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji's Prakash Purab.
DSGMC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa told media persons here that a total of 12 ambulances will be stationed in various parts of the national capital.
"We will provide more ambulance in coming days. The 12 ambulances available now are equipped with all the facilities. It will remain available till we win the battle against COVID-19," he said.
Over 11,000 beds available for COVID-19 patients in Delhi hospitals: State government
Delhi hospitals have over 11,000 beds available for coronavirus patients, according to the city government''s health bulletin issued on Tuesday.
According to the bulletin, Delhi has a total of 15,300 beds and out of these 11,106 are lying vacant. In view of the COVID-19 situation in the national capital, the Delhi government has also made arrangement of beds in hotels and banquet halls which are linked to hospitals.
Coronavirus: Haryana May Seal Borders Of Worst-Affected Districts, Says Minister
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday said the state government may impose a curfew or seal borders of its worst-hit four districts, including Gurgaon and Faridabad.
"We can think of sealing the boundaries of these four districts; we can think of imposing a curfew in these four districts," he was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
