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Coronavirus India lockdown Day 135 updates | August 6, 2020

August 06, 2020 09:20 am | Updated 10:35 pm IST

The Centre will soon unveil a new Research & Development (R&D) policy to boost drug discovery and the manufacture of medical devices in the country.

Healthcare workers wearing protective gear wait to collect blood samples from people, in Mumbai. File

The Health Ministry on Wednesday said India has recorded the highest ever single-day recoveries in the last 24 hours.

“With a sharp increase of 51,706 coronavirus (

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COVID-19 ) patients recovering, the rate has reached a new high of 67.19% and continues to improve each day. The recoveries till now total up to 12,82,215, more than twice the active cases. With increasing number of patients recovering, there has been a 63.8% increase in recovered cases in the last 14 days,’’ it said.

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You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here . A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.

Here are the latest updates:

10.30 pm| New Delhi

ICMR seeks participation of hospitals to set up registry of hospitalised COVID-19 patients

The ICMR on Thursday sought participation of institutions and hospitals identified as dedicated coronavirus hospitals or health centres as part of its project to establish ‘National Clinical Registry of COVID-19’ to help improve treatment outcomes and analyse trends in the progression of the pandemic.

The aim is to develop a registry to collect data regarding clinical and laboratory features, treatments, and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in India.

The objective is also to study the frequency, clinical and laboratory features, treatments, and outcomes of COVID-19 related multisystem inflammatory disorder in children and adolescents by analyzing the national COVID-19 registry, the ICMR said.

10.10 pm| Punjab

26 more COVID-19 deaths in Punjab; highest single-day spike of 1,049 cases

Punjab on Thursday reported 26 more deaths due to COVID-19, pushing the toll to 517, while the highest single-day spike of 1,049 cases took the state’s infection tally to 20,891, according to a bulletin.

Thirteen fatalities were reported in Ludhiana, seven in Jalandhar and one each in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Sangrur and Tarn Taran, it said.

There total number of active COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 6,715, according to the bulletin.

10.00 pm| New Delhi

Virtual means cannot give flavour of classroom teaching: Naidu

Expressing concern over the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the normal academic schedule, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said virtual classes were a temporary arrangement and cannot replace a teacher. He also said that no virtual mechanism can give the flavour of real-time classroom learning, an official statement said.

Observing that India was on the move, Mr. Naidu said the setback caused by the pandemic was temporary and exuded confidence that the momentum would be back.

- PTI

9.40 pm| West Bengal

Biggest one-day spike of 2,954 COVID-19 cases in Bengal pushes tally to 86,854

West Bengal recorded the highest single-day spike of 2,954 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, which pushed the tally to 86,854, the health department said.

As many as 56 people succumbed to the infection since Wednesday evening, raising the death toll to 1,902, it said.

- PTI

9.25 pm| Andhra Pradesh

TTD priest dies of COVID-19 in AP

A 48-year-old priest of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) that manages the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala, succumbed to coronavirus here on Thursday.

After he tested positive for the contagion earlier this week, he was admitted to a state designated COVID care facility here, where he died this evening while undergoing treatment, a temple official told PTI.

9.15 pm| Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh reports 830 new cases

Madhya Pradesh on Thursday recorded 830 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 36,564. The number of active cases stands at 8,716. 

Seventeen patients died of the illness on the day, taking the State-wide death toll to 946. As for recoveries, 838 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 26,902 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services.

-Sidharth Yadav

9.00 pm| New Delhi

Plea in SC seeks postponement of JEE (Main), NEET-UG exams amid COVID-19

A plea in the Supreme Court on Thursday sought postponement of JEE (Main) April 2020 and NEET-Undergraduate examinations, which are scheduled to be conducted in September, amid spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

While referring to the coronavirus pandemic, the plea has sought quashing of July 3 notices issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA), by which it was decided to conduct Joint Entrance Examination (Main) April 2020 and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-Undergraduate exams in September.

The plea, filed by 11 students belonging to 11 states, said that the authorities be directed to conduct these exams only after the normalcy is restored.

As per the public notices issued by the NTA, JEE (Main) April 2020 is scheduled from September 1-6, while NEET UG 2020 exam is scheduled for September 13.

- PTI

8.40 pm| Gujarat

Gujarat’s COVID-19 fatality count rises to 2,584

Gujarat’s COVID-19 fatality count rises by 27 new deaths to reach 2,584 while 1,034 new infections take the caseload to 67,811. Number of active cases are 14,905 while discharges are 50,322.

- Mahesh Langa

8.30 pm | Tripura

Four COVID-19 patients, accused of spitting on Tripura doctor, surrender

Four COVID-19 patients, accused of spitting on a doctor at a medical facility in Tripura, surrendered before police on Thursday after their interim bail was cancelled by the high court, officials said.

The accused persons surrendered before the officer- in-charge of the New Capital Complex police station, they said.

Accordingly, they were produced before the chief judicial magistrate of West Tripura, pleading for test identification (TI) parade with seven days of police remand, a senior officer said.

- PTI

8.15 pm | Maharashtra

Maharashtra reports 11,514 new cases

Maharashtra reported its highest single-day case jump on Thursday, with an unprecedented surge of 11,514 new Covid-19 cases taking the State's total case tally to 4,79,779. A proportionately high fatality surge of 316 deaths saw the total death toll rise to 16,792.

However, the surge was offset by 10,854 recoveries, as the total number of patients discharged rose to 3,16,375. Of the total case tally, 1,46,375 are active ones. As per State health department figures, Pune district reported a massive surge of more than 3,000 new cases and 62 deaths taking the total case tally to 1,04,353 and its total death toll reached 2,496. In contrast, Mumbai reported only 910 new cases as its total case tally reached has 1,20,150 of whom only 20,546 are active. With 57 new deaths reported today, the city's death toll has risen to 6,648. Thane district reported 38 deaths while Solapur reported 15 fatalities.

8.00 pm | Karnataka

Recoveries continue to outnumber active cases in Karnataka

The total number of recoveries continued to outnumber  the total active cases in Karnataka on Thursday.

With 5,602 discharges on Thursday, the total recoveries now touched 80,281 as against 75,068 active cases. In fact, the State has been recording over 4,500 recoveries since Monday.

The State had maintained the trend of recoveries exceeding active cases till June 30. However, from July 1 when the daily caseload crossed 1,200, the number of active cases were higher than the recoveries. Now, after a gap of 36 days this trend has reversed which is a good sign, according to experts.

With 6,805 new cases on Thursday, the total number of positive cases touched 1,58,254. The total number of cases had crossed one lakh mark on July 27.

-Afshan Yasmeen

7.50 pm | West Bengal

Cord blood bank to be used for treating COVID-19 patients : Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said the cord blood bank in the city will be used for treating COVID-19 patients in addition to the plasma bank at the state-run Calcutta Medical College Hospital.

She announced that psychology students will be inducted for tele counselling of COVID-19 patients and their families.

She also cautioned that none should impersonate representatives from COVID-19 testing centres and said the people should get their samples tested only at government authorised laboratories.

7.30 pm | Kerala

1298 fresh COVID-19 cases in Kerala, death toll climbs to 97

In the highest single day surge, Kerala reported 1,298 fresh COVID-19 positive cases on Thursday, as the infection tally breached the 30,000 mark and the death toll climbed to 97.

Of the positive cases, 1,017 were infected through contact, while the source of infection of 76 people is not yet known, Health minister K K Shailaja said.

The fresh cases include 29 health workers.

7.20 pm | Telangana

Telangana govt. asks Centre to come out with guidelines on COVID-19 vaccine development

The Centre should formulate clear guidelines on the development of vaccines for COVID-19 besides decentralising the authority for fast-tracking testing and approvals, Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao said on Thursday.

In a letter to Union Health and Family Welfare MinisterHarsh Vardhan, he also said as the whole world waits for the first vaccine to get approved, a robust procurement policy should be formulated in consultation with the industry to ensure vaccine availability and its equitable distribution.

Mr. Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said there was a requirement for clear guidelines on the licensing of the COVID-19 vaccine.

7.05 pm | New Delhi

Delhi reports 1,299 new cases

1,299 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,41,531, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Thursday.

Also, 15 more deaths have been reported, taking the total number of deaths to 4,059.

Of the total cases, 1,27,124 people have recovered and there are 10,348 active cases.

- Nikhil M. Babu

6.50 pm | Andhra Pradesh

New 250-bed COVID-19 centre to come up in Andhra Pradesh's Machilipatnam

A new COVID-19 centre with 250 beds will be launched in the Krishna District Government Hospital here this week as part of efforts to ramp up the capacity, a top official said on Thursday.

Also, twenty beds would be earmarked for COVID-19 patients in the Andhra Hospital here from Friday, District Collector A.Md.Intiaz told reporters.

The new COVID centre in the GH would start functioning within three days, he said.

- PTI

6.40 pm |Haryana

Haryana CM urges COVID-19 survivors to motivate people to take precautions against disease

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday urged cured COVID-19 patients to motivate people to take precautions against catching infection rather than fearing the disease.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the cured COVID-19 patients to donate their plasma for treatment of others.

All COVID-19 survivors should encourage people to take proper precautions against the disease rather than fearing it, he said.

-PTI

6.25 pm | Himachal Pradesh

20 new COVID-19 cases detected in Himachal Pradesh; tally now 2,937

Twenty people tested positive for COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, taking the tally of cases in the state to 2,937, officials said here.

The death toll due to the disease stands at 13, they added.

Of the fresh cases, six were reported from Sirmaur, four each from Kangra, Hamirpur and Kullu and one each from Chamba and Shimla, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R. D. Dhiman said.

6.10 pm | Melbourne

Amid virus fears, Cricket Australia contemplates moving Boxing Day Test against India to Adelaide

Cricket Australia is contemplating moving the traditional Boxing Day Test against India from Melbourne to Adelaide due to rising COVID-19 cases in the state of Victoria.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Adelaide has emerged as a frontrunner to host the December 26-30 marquee fixture.

In this regard, CA chairman Earl Eddings has called for an urgent convening of the national cricket cabinet next week to discuss ways for smooth conduct of the series and avoid losing a staggering 300 million Australian dollars.

- PTI

5.55 pm | Nagaland

Home isolation for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in Nagaland

The Nagaland government has issued new standard operating procedure (SOP) for home isolation of asymptomatic coronavirus patients to decongest the designated COVID-19 hospitals in the state and resume other essential healthcare services in them.

The new SOPs were posted on the state government’s website on Wednesday night and came into immediate effect.

As on Wednesday, the total number of confirmed cases in the state was 2,498 of which 1,804 are active cases.

All the active cases are asymptomatic patients and are being taken care of in COVID-19 hospitals and care centres, officials said.

A total of 685 people affected by the pandemic have recovered, while seven died and two others have migrated to other states, they added.

- PTI

5.45 pm | New Delhi

Graded multi-level institutional response kept COVID-19 cases, deaths per million low: Vardhan

India’s proactive and graded multi-level institutional response to COVID-19 made it possible for the country to maintain “very low cases and deaths per million” population, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday.

This was achieved and maintained despite high population density, low fractional GDP spending and per capita doctor and hospital bed availability compared to developed nations, he said at a virtual meeting of the regional director of WHO for South-East Asia (SEA) with ministers of health of the member nations.

On the efficacy of the lockdown in curbing the spread of COVID-19, he explained that it was “effective in slowing down the rate of growth of cases and gave the government time to augment health infrastructure and testing facilities”.

“From one lab (for COVID-19 testing) in January, India has 1,370 laboratories at present. Indians anywhere can access a lab within three hours travel time and 33 of the 36 states and UTs exceed WHO’s recommendation of testing 140 people per million per day,” Mr. Vardhan was quoted as saying in the statement.

He also said containment strategy has been successful as is evident from the fact that 50% of the cases are from three states and 32% of the rest are from seven states.

The spread of the virus thus has been contained, Mr. Vardhan said.

“India was preparing to fight the pandemic as soon as China informed WHO about it on January 7," the health minister said.

He stressed that earlier viral outbreaks like avian influenza, H1N1, influenza, Zika and Nipah had provided institutional memory in “designing containment and management strategies using ‘whole of government’ approach".

“India’s proactive and graded multi-level institutional response to COVID-19 made it possible to have very low cases per million and deaths per million in spite of having a high population density and low fractional GDP spending and per capita doctor and hospital bed availability as compared to other developed countries,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Mr. Vardhan also said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) built make-shift hospitals capable of housing 1,000 patients, with an additional 100 ICU beds were built in a record 10 days.

Training of the trainers at the national level; states, district and facilities-level training, web-based training on ventilator management by AIIMS, mock drill for COVID-19 preparedness in hospitals, telemedicine facilities helped identify the root causes of mortality and made high-impact interventions possible that curbed fatality rate from 3.33% on June 18 to 2.11% on August 3, he said.

The Union health minister said as a strategy, India divided its facilities into COVID and non-COVID facilities.

“This helped in better management of the severe from the moderate and mild categories of patients and ensured that the hospital facilities were un-burdened to ensuring effective treatment of the hospitalised cases. This has helped to keep India’s Case Fatality rate below the global average. Today it has touched 2.07%,” Mr. Vardhan said.

The virtual meet was focused on maintaining essential health services and public health programmes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roderico Ofrin of WHO informed the ministers about the logistic support provided by the world health body during COVID-19 while Sunil Bahl apprised them of the organisation’s programme for vaccine development and policy of allocation, the health ministry statement stated.

In the meeting, Mr. Vardhan also mentioned about the other measures taken by India and stated that the best practices from the states and Union Territories were uploaded for cross-learning on the National Health Innovation Portal (NHInP).

- PTI

5.30 pm | New Delhi

No benefit of plasma therapy in reducing COVID-19 mortality risk, says AIIMS trial interim analysis

Convalescent plasma therapy did not show benefit in reducing mortality risk among COVID-19 patients, according to an interim analysis of a randomised controlled trial done at AIIMS here to assess the efficacy of this mode of treatment.

The therapy involves taking antibodies from the blood of a person who has recovered from COVID-19 and transfusing those into an active coronavirus infected patient to help kickstart the immune system to fight back the infection.

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria told PTI on Thursday no clear mortality benefit of convalescent plasma therapy was seen during a trial conducted among 30 COVID-19 patients.

- PTI

5.15 pm | Uttar Pradesh

UP records highest single-day spike of 4,586 COVID-19 cases, 61 deaths

Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest single-day spike of 4,586 COVID-19 cases and 61 deaths on Thursday, taking the state’s tally to 1,08,974, an official said.

The death toll due to the disease rose to 1,918, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said.

The number of active cases in the state has gone up to 43,654 and 63,402 have been discharged from hospitals after treatment, he said.

Over 27 lakh tests have been performed in the state so far, he said, adding that the network of 61,350 COVID help desks has helped identify over three lakh people who have symptoms and their samples have been sent for testing.

- PTI

4.30 pm | Tamil Nadu

DMK asks govt to cancel ‘e-pass’ system in TN

DMK President M.K. Stalin on Thursday asked the AIADMK government not to create an “artificial barrier” for travel by people and demanded immediate cancellation of the e-pass system for inter-district journey.

Applications seeking passes even for emergencies have been rejected many times though the government had said permission would be given for inter-district travel for medical emergencies, deaths and marriages, he alleged adding “the e-pass system in the AIADMK government is a big failure.”

Citing news reports on alleged corruption in issuance of e-pass in places including Chennai, he said, “extending the system and hasslingpeople is inhuman and counter-productive.”

Since March 25, people could not make inter-district journeys even for emergencies and they were being harassed, he alleged.

When the Central government itself has announced that e-pass is not compulsory, the “AIADMK government continuing to have it with an ulterior motive will not be a solution for the affected people,” he said.

While Chief Minister K. Palaniswami maintained that the government acted according to the Centre’s guidelines on COVID-19 management, “why did not he follow it on the e-pass system,” Mr. Stalin, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, asked in a statement.

“On the one hand you allow relaxations, say that people can go for work and companies could open and on the other hand you say that e-pass is mandatory for inter-district travel confining people to their homes. What kind of Coronavirus management is this?” he sought to know from Mr. Palaniswami.

Asserting that this question crossed the minds of all the people, he wanted the government to respect the public sentiment and immediately rescind the e-pass system for inter-district travel.

“I ask Palaniswami to not create an artificial barrier for people who want to travel.”

- PTI

4.00 pm | Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Two police personnel die of COVID-19 in Nagpur

Two personnel of Nagpur police died of COVID-19 on Thursday, becoming the first fatalities of the pandemic in the city police force, an official said.

A 50-year-old head constable and a 54-year-old assistant sub-inspector succumbed to COVID-19 infection at government-run hospitals in Nagpur city in the early hours of the day, a public relations officer of Nagpur police said.

The head constable was attached to the Dhantoli police station, while the ASI was posted at the police headquarters, the official said.

With these deaths, the Nagpur police has registered the first casualties of COVID-19, he added.

As on Wednesday, Nagpur district had recorded 6,752 COVID-19 cases, while the toll stood at 204.

- PTI

3.20 pm | West Bengal

Veteran CPI(M) leader Shyamal Chakraborty dies of COVID-19

Senior CPI(M) leader Shyamal Chakraborty died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Kolkata on Thursday, party sources said.

He was 76.

Chakraborty, the three-time transport minister of West Bengal from 1982 to 1996, was admitted to the hospital after he tested positive for COVID-19 on July 30.

He was also a two-time Rajya Sabha member and a veteran trade unionist.

“He died this afternoon. He was on ventilation for the last few days,” a party leader said.

He is survived by daughter Ushasi Chakraborty, an actor.

Chakraborty is the second notable politician from the state to die of COVID-19. Trinamool Congress MLA Tamonash Ghosh succumbed to the contagion in June.

On Wednesday, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation councillor Subhash Bose also died of COVID-19.

- PTI

2.45 pm | Time

Centre releases ₹890 crore in COVID health aid to 22 states

The Centre has released more than ₹890 crore as the second installment of COVID-19 aid to strengthen the health response in 22 states and union territories. The amount of financial assistance is based on their case load, according to an official statement from the Health Ministry.

This is part of the ₹15,000 crore package announced in March to support states' emergency response and the preparedness of their health systems. The money was meant to be for patient treatment, manpower training and medical infrastructure.

"The second installment will be used for strengthening of public health facilities infrastructure for testing including procurement and installation of RT-PCR machines, RNA extraction kits, TRUNAT & CBNAAT machines and BSL-II cabinets, strengthening of public health facilities infrastructure for treatment and development of ICU beds, and installation of oxygen generators, cryogenic oxygen tanks and medical gas pipelines in public health facilities and procurement of bed side oxygen concentrators," said the statement.

- reports Priscilla Jebaraj.

2.00 pm | Goa

IMA submits SOPs to Goa govt for home quarantined patients

The Indian Medical Association has submitted a proposal to the Goa government listing the special operating procedures to be followed for monitoring the health of home quarantined COVID-19 patients.

IMA Goa chief Dr. S. Samuel said they have urged the State government to take the services of private doctors, who are members of the IMA, to keep a tab on the health of such patients.

Health officers/medical officers concerned shall designate an Indian Medical Association (IMA) member doctor within their jurisdiction, as per the list made available by IMA Goa, said proposal submitted to the State government on Wednesday.

“The onboard IMA doctor shall be accessible via telephone to the patient and care giver at all times and shall pass on the relevant medical information in case of medical emergency to the health officer/medical officer concerned for further course of action, including shifting of the patient to the nearest COVID-19 care facility,” the proposal said.

- PTI

 

12.15 pm | Puducherry

Five more COVID-19 deaths reported in Puducherry

Five more COVID-19 deaths reported on Thursday took the toll to 70 in Puducherry. The patients were in the 55-80 age bracket.

Of the 195 new admissions, 176 were in Puducherry and 19 in Karaikal. The distribution of active cases were 1,013 in Puducherry, 97 in Karaikal, 119 in Yanam and four in Mahe. Besides, 510 patients are in home isolation.

The total tally is 70 deaths, 1,743 active cases (institutional care), a cumulative total of 4,621 cases and 2,808 patients are discharged.

- reports M. Dinesh Varma.

11.30 am

Over 56,000 COVID-19 cases in country in single day

India saw a single day increase of 56,282 COVID-19 cases taking the country’s virus tally to 19,64,536, while the recoveries have surged to 13,28,336, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 40,699 with 904 new fatalities being reported in 24-hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

There are 5,95,501 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country presently which contribute to 30.31% of the total cases.

The fatality rate has further dropped to 2.07%, the data stated.

This is the eighth consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 2,21,49,351 samples have been tested up to August 5 with 6,64,949 samples being tested on Wednesday.

Of the 904 fresh deaths reported, 334 are from Maharashtra, 112 from Tamil Nadu, 100 from Karnataka, 77 from Andhra Pradesh, 61 from West Bengal, 40 from Uttar Pradesh, 29 from Punjab, 23 from Gujarat, 17 from Madhya Pradesh, 13 each from Rajasthan and Telangana, 11 from Delhi and Nine each from Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha.

Eight fatalities each have been reported from Bihar and Jharkhand, seven each from Haryana, Kerala and Puducherry, six from Assam, four from Goa, three from Uttarakhand, two each from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Chhattisgarh, while Nagaland and Tripura have registered one fatality each.

Of the total 40,699 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum at 16,476 followed by 4,461 in Tamil Nadu, 4,044 in Delhi, 2,804 in Karnataka, 2,556 in Gujarat, 1,857 in Uttar Pradesh, 1,846 in West Bengal, 1,681 in Andhra Pradesh and 929 in Madhya Pradesh.

So far, 745 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 589 in Telangana, 491 in Punjab, 455 in Haryana, 426 in Jammu and Kashmir, 355 in Bihar, 225 in Odisha, 136 in Jharkhand, 121 in Assam, 98 in Uttarakhand, 94 in Kerala.

Chhattisgarh has registered 71 deaths, Puducherry 65, Goa 64, Tripura 31, Chandigarh 20, Himachal Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands 14 each, Ladakh and Manipur seven each, Nagaland six, Meghalaya five, Arunachal Pradesh three, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two and Sikkim one.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70% of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

- PTI

10.30 am | Telangana

Sudden spike in three districts

The Health department has been keeping a close watch on the COVID-19 situation in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits, Rangareddy and Medchal, which have reported the maximum number of cases in Telangana. But, now three other districts — Warangal Urban, Karimnagar and Sangareddy — have also come into focus following a sharp spike in cases in the past week.

 

10.00 am | Tamil Nadu

3,374 pregnant women have contracted infection: Health Minister

Health officials wearing protective gear collecting samples from Corporation conservancy workers to be tested for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Coimbatore on Wednesday August 05, 2020.
 

A total of 3,374 pregnant women have tested positive for COVID-19 so far and have been treated at COVID-19 maternity facilities, according to Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar.

“These pregnant women had normal deliveries and caesarean sections at exclusive COVID-19 facilities,” he said. The Minister was taking part in a programme at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital on Wednesday, during which the Rotary Club of Guindy donated a vehicle, a portable ECG and a cell counter.

 

9.30 am

Andhra Pradesh sees highest single-day spike in virus deaths

The State reported 77 new COVID-19 deaths, the highest single-day toll reported so far, and 10,128 new infections, during the past 24 hours as of Wednesday morning.

The death toll mounted to 1,681 and the overall tally increased to 1,86,461. The number of people undergoing treatment was 80,426.

 

9.00 am | Andhra Pradesh

Lockdown extended in Tirupati till August 14

DIG Kanthi Rana Tata (right) inspecting a containment zone in Tirupati
 

The State government has announced extension of lockdown up to August 14 in the purview of Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT).

The decision was taken in the wake of rise in COVID-19 cases, announced MCT Commissioner P.S. Gireesha here on Wednesday.

 

8.30 am | Telangana

SCCL steps up measures to check virus spread

With the COVID-19 tally in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)’s coal mines, departments and offices together mounting to a little over 460 so far, the management has initiated a slew of measures to check the infection spread in the coal belt.

 

8.00 am

Madhya Pradesh’s online classes not reaching majority of students

Representational image

Just 30% of secondary and senior secondary students in government schools of Madhya Pradesh have been regularly reached through a home-based learning programme which began after schools shut in view of COVID-19 pandemic, said the State Department of School Education.

 

7.30 am | Manipur

COVID patients protest poor quality of food

COVID-19 patients at the J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, on Wednesday broke the padlocks of their rooms and came out protesting against the inadequate and poor quality of food. However, officials said the inmates did not go out of the hospital complex.

 

7.00 am | Tamil Nadu

Case against holding govt. events with over 20 people closed

The Madras High Court on Wednesday closed a public interest litigation petition filed by activist ‘Traffic’ K.R. Ramaswamy to restrain the State government from conducting functions with the participation of more than 20 people until the threat of COVID-19 subsides.

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