Coronavirus India lockdown Day 118 updates | July 20, 2020

India stands at the third position in number of coronavirus cases, with the U.S. leading the table followed by Brazil.

July 20, 2020 08:52 am | Updated July 21, 2020 08:23 am IST

Women queueing up for COVID-19 testing at a government school in Adarsh Nagar area in North Delhi on Monday, July 20, 2020.

Women queueing up for COVID-19 testing at a government school in Adarsh Nagar area in North Delhi on Monday, July 20, 2020.

India saw a record single-day jump of 40,425 COVID-19 cases, pushing its tally past the 11-lakh mark on Monday, while the total number of recoveries crossed 7 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The death toll due to the disease rose to 27,497 with 681 fatalities reported in one day.

Here is a list of State Helpline numbers . You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here .

Here are the latest updates:

9.30 p.m. | Maharashtra

Family demands official health updates on Varavara Rao

The family of poet-activist P. Varavara Rao, arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad case, said they were not being provided with any official health updates on his condition, which is illegal and unconstitutional given that he is in judicial custody, and that this spreads rumours and speculation.

A press release from the family says, “While he was shifted from Taloja Jail to JJ Hospital to St. George Hospital to Nanavati Hospital during the last one week the family got an official information only when he was tested Covid positive.

 

9.00 p.m. | Telangana

Slight drop in COVID cases in Telangana

Another phase of gradual drop in COVID-19 cases was witnessed in Telangana as only 1,198 swab samples tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. Seven more COVID-19 patients died taking the toll to 422.

After consistent spike in cases till July 8, drop in cases were recorded from July 9-12. While highest of 1,924 cases was detected on July 8, 1,269 cases were detected on July 12.

Positive cases spiked again from July 13-16 and started to drop gradually . On Monday 1,198 cases were detected, which is third lowest this month.

 

8.00 p.m. | Maharashtra

Maharashtra reports 8,240 new cases, 176 deaths

Maharashtra reported yet another spike of more than 8,000 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, adding 8,240 cases to take its total case tally to 3,18,695. Of these, 1,31,334 are active cases. With 176 new deaths, the State's total death toll has risen to 12,030.

With 5,460 patients discharged today, the cumulative recoveries till date has gone up to 1,75,029. As per State health department figures, Pune district reported a staggering surge of more than 2,000 new cases and 42 fatalities as its total case tally surged to 57,024 while its death toll reached 1,401. With 1,035 new cases reported today, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 1,02,423 of whom only 23,728 are active.

With 41 new deaths reported today, the city's death toll has risen to 5,755. High fatality surges were reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) as well, with Navi Mumbai and Kalyan-Dombivli reporting 11 fatalities each. Jalgaon district in North Maharashtra reported 21 deaths.

- Shumojit Banerjee

 

UK coronavirus vaccine prompts immune response in early test

Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot.

British researchers first began testing the vaccine in April in about 1,000 people, half of whom got the experimental vaccine. Such early trials are usually designed only to evaluate safety, but in this case experts were also looking to see what kind of immune response was provoked.

In research published on Monday in the journal Lancet , scientists said that they found their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55.

 

7.10 p.m. | Madhya Pradesh

M.P. reports 710 new cases

Madhya Pradesh on Monday recorded 710 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 23,310. The number of active cases stands at 6,888.

Seventeen patients died of the illness on the day, taking the State-wide death toll to 738. As for recoveries, 373 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 15,684 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services.

- Sidharth Yadav

7.05 p.m. | Gujarat

Gujarat reports nearly 1000 new cases

Gujarat added 998 COVID-19 infections and 20 deaths on Monday, taking its numbers to 2167 fatalities and 49,439 infection cases. So far 35,659 patients have been discharged while the active cases are 11613 including 78 on ventilator.

- Mahesh Langa

6.30 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

COVID-19 ward nurses in Virudhunagar working without pay for 70 days

Thirty-six nurses, who were recruited on temporary basis for the COVID-19 ward in Virudhunagar Government Medical College hospital, are working without pay for 70 days.

The nurses, who had earlier cleared Medical Services Recruitment Board examination in 2019, were taken on contract basis for six months. The candidates, who had undergone B.Sc. in Nursing or Diploma in Nursing courses, joined duty on May 11.

“We have completed 70 days of work and not received even the first month’s salary till date,” one of the nurses complained.

 

6.05 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

T.N. reports 4,985 new cases

4985 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Monday, 3861 were discharged and there were 70 deaths. Total positive is now 1,75,678, the total discharges 121776  and the death toll is 2551.

6 p.m. | New Delhi

Over 7 lakh cured, recovery rate at 62.6%, says Health Ministry

More than 7 lakh persons have been cured of COVID-19 and discharged till now and the case fatality rate in the country continues to register a steady drop, according to a statement issued by the Health Ministry on Monday. The Ministry said India’s case fatality rate now stands at 2.46%.

“India has one of the lowest case fatality rate in the world and medical attention is being provided to all the 3,90,459 active cases in hospitals and home isolation currently. 22,664 COVID patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and this has further expanded the difference between those who are active COVID patients and the recovered persons and the recovery rate as of now is at 62.62%,” said the Ministry statement.

 

6 p.m. | Delhi

954 fresh COVID-19 cases take Delhi tally to 1,23,747; death toll climbs to 3,663

Delhi recorded 954 fresh coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the tally in the city to over 1.23 lakh, while the death toll from the disease rose to 3,663, authorities said.

For the last nine days, fresh cases were being reported in the range of 1,000-2,000 consecutively.

On Monday, the cases dipped to three-figure count.

Thirty-five fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the Delhi health department bulletin.

On Friday, the city had reported 26 deaths, the lowest single-day COVID-19 fatality count since June 9. The number of fresh cases on Friday stood at 1,462.

The active cases tally on Monday was 15,166, down from 16,031, the previous day. - PTI

5.30 p.m. | West Bengal

West Bengal govt planning to set up COVID-19 units at all hospitals: Official

The West Bengal government is planning to set up COVID-19 units at every private and state-run hospital, amid the relentless surge in the number of coronavirus cases, a senior official said on Monday.

A directive to improve infrastructure and accommodate separate units for COVID-19 patients has already been issued to all the state-run hospitals, he said.

The government is also planning to procure at least 19 more Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test kits as it wants to ensure that at least 25,000 tests are carried out every day.

“The manner in which COVID-19 cases are increasing in West Bengal is quite concerning. To counter the spread, the best way is to conduct more tests and improve the infrastructure...We have planned to set up COVID-19 units at all the state-run and private hospitals in Bengal,” the official said.

In the first phase, the units will be set up in the state general hospitals of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Purba and Paschim Medinipore districts, he said.

“Increasing the number of beds in the hospitals in the districts is the only option we have. It will also ease the pressure on city hospitals,” the official said. - PTI

5.15 p.m. | Assam

Second policeman dies of COVID-19 in Assam

Another policeman succumbed to COVID-19 in Assam on Monday, taking the death toll due to the disease in the state to 58, according to the State police.

NK Rajesh Narzary is the second person in the force to die of coronavirus infection after Hareswar Nath who lost his life on July 10.

“We are saddened to inform that NK Rajesh Narzary, 9th APBn, who was battling #Covid19, made the supreme sacrifice today. Our deepest condolences are with the family and colleagues of NK Rajesh Narzary,” Assam Police tweeted.

“We stand in solidarity with all the brave #CoronaWarriors of Assam Police,” it added. - PTI

5 p.m. | Uttar Pradesh

Record 46 fatalities push COVID-19 death toll in Uttar Pradesh to 1,192

The death toll due to COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh reached 1,192 on Monday with a record 46 fatalities in a day, while the infection tally mounted to 51,160 as 1,913 fresh cases were reported, officials said.

There are 19,137 active cases in the state, while a total of 30,831 people have been discharged from hospitals so far after recovering from the disease, Additional Chief Secretary, (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.

On Sunday, the COVID-19 tally in the state had reached 49,247. With 1,913 fresh infections, the total number of cases has now risen to 51,160. - PTI

4.45 p.m. | Uttar Pradesh

Priyanka slams U.P. govt.’s COVID response, says press meets playing like tape recorder will not work

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over its handling of the COVID-19 crisis, saying the state government’s press conferences that “play like a tape recorder” will not work anymore and attention will have to be paid to the prevailing situation.

The Congress general secretary has been criticising the state government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, alleging that it is indulging in propaganda, instead of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. - PTI

4.30 p.m. | Maharashtra

Market volunteers to monitor COVID-19 outbreak norms

Around 180 trade associations under the Nagpur Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce have appointed volunteers to ensure social distancing norms are being followed in markets and shops are being sanitised regularly, a senior functionary said on Monday.

NVCC president Ashvin Mehadia said the proposal was first mooted at a meeting on Saturday with Nagpur municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe who liked the idea.

“Volunteers will check if social distancing is being followed, shop attendants are wearing masks and premises are being sanitised as per norms,” he said.

BC Bhartia, national president of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) told PTI the group will create public awareness through social media to contain the outbreak. - PTI

3.50 p.m. | Uttar Pradesh

Allow home quarantine only if coronavirus protocols followed: UP CM to officials

Stressing that a large number of asymptomatic coronavirus patients are still hiding their infection, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday asked officials to allow home quarantine only if all protocols related to the disease are followed.

At a meeting with senior officials, the CM directed that home quarantine permission should be given only on compliance of the already set protocol for it, an official release said.

Fearing that there may be a spurt in cases as a large number of asymptomatic people are hiding their infection, the CM said it will be essential that the patient and his family complies with the protocol.

Besides, he said people should be apprised of the necessary precautions for which an awareness campaign should also be launched with the help of the print, electronic and social media.

He said the use of masks and social distancing norms should be strictly followed. - PTI

3.30 p.m. | Tripura

Over hundred BSF personnel among 223 new COVID-19 cases in Tripura

Tripura has detected 223 new cases of COVID-19, taking the state’s tally to 2,892, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said.

Of the new cases, 101 were detected among BSF personnel, he said.

There are 1,114 active cases in the state at present, while 1,759 people have recovered.

Five people have so far died and 14 patients have migrated to other states.

Among the new cases are six people who returned to the state on flights, Deb said on Sunday night.

Thirty of them tested positive after coming in contact with COVID-19 patients and 179 were found positive in antigen tests, he said.

Only eight of the new patients have symptoms, he added.

The Chief Minister said to tackle the pandemic the government is focusing on testing, tracing and treatment. - PTI

3.15 p.m. | London

U.K. firm declares positive results from COVID-19 protein treatment

A U.K.-based biotech company on Monday declared positive “breakthrough” results from a clinical trial of a protein-based treatment for COVID-19, which “greatly” reduced patients requiring intensive care.

Synairgen said its SNG001 formulation uses a protein called interferon beta, which the body produces when it gets a viral infection, and is inhaled directly into the lungs of patients with coronavirus, using a nebuliser, in the hope that it will stimulate an immune response.

“This assessment of SNG001 in COVID-19 patients could signal a major breakthrough in the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, said Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, a respiratory drug discovery and development company which originated from research at the University of Southampton.

We are all delighted with the trial results announced today, which showed that SNG001 greatly reduced the number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients who progressed from ‘requiring oxygen’ to ‘requiring ventilation’ It also showed that patients who received SNG001 were at least twice as likely to recover to the point where their everyday activities were not compromised through having been infected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), he said.

In addition, SNG001 significantly reduced breathlessness, one of the main symptoms of severe COVID-19, the company said, which is now focused on working with the regulators and other key groups to progress the potential COVID-19 treatment as rapidly as possible.

The trials showed that the average time coronavirus patients spent in hospital was reduced by a third, for those receiving the new drug — down from an average of nine days to six days. - PTI

3.00 pm

Mylan launches generic version of Remdesivir in India for COVID-19 patients

Pharma major Mylan on Monday said it has commercially launched the generic version of Remdesivir drug under the brand name ‘Desrem’ in India. It is priced at ₹4,800 per 100 mg vial.

Mylan will manufacture Desrem in its injectable facility in Bengaluru, which will work to service the demand in India and other export markets where Mylan has received a licence from Gilead for the commercialisation of Remdesivir

Hetero and Cipla have already launched their generic versions of Remdesivir in India.

2.30 p.m. | Bihar

In a first, 2 private hospitals in Patna get nod for COVID treatment as cases surge

Two private hospitals in Patna were given the approval on Monday to treat COVID-19 patients amid the rising number of cases in the city.

Earlier, only government hospitals were allowed to treat COVID-19 cases here.

Patna District Magistrate Kumar Ravi has allowed Ruban Hospital and Paras Hospital to set up corona wards with 25 beds each to treat COVID-19 patients, an official statement said.

Applications have been received from several other private hospitals seeking approval for treating patients and a decision will be taken after proper review and verification, it said.

The corona wards at the two hospitals are likely to start functioning in a day or two, sources said.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is the local MP, had on Sunday urged state health minister Mangal Pandey to allow COVID-19 treatment at private hospitals to ease the pressure on government facilities.

There are four dedicated hospitals in the state for treating COVID-19 patients, including two in Patna. - PTI

2.15 p.m. | Kerala

Second plasma bank in Kerala set up in Wayanad

Kerala’s second plasma bank has been set up at the Wayanad district hospital at nearby Mananthavady, close on the heels of a similar facility being launched at Manjeri in Malappuram.

The District Medical Officer DrR Renuka, who inaugurated the plasma bank on Sunday, said the convalescent plasma therapy has been found effective for treating the critical COVID-19 patients.

Health authorities said the donors of plasma should have tested negative for the virus twice and the donation should be within 14-120 days of the final test result.

The donor should be between 14-50 years of age, and be healthy with a minimum weight of 55 kgs. - PTI

2.00 p.m. | Telangana

Human trials for COVAXIN begins in NIMS, Hyderabad

Phase 1 of the human clinical trails for COVAXIN begins at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad.

Two volunteers were administered the first dose of the vaccine candidate in the morning. More volunteers will be administered doses in the coming days.

Three volunteers were administered COVAXIN, the corona vaccine of Bharat Biotech, at Post-Graduate Institute (PGI) of Medical Sciences in Rohtak on July 17. All three tolerated it well without any initial adverse effects.

1.55 p.m. | Delhi

Health Minister Satyendar Jain back to work after recovering from COVID-19

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain resumed work on Monday after recovering from COVID-19, officials said.

The Minister, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on June 17, was back to his office at around 11:40 am. Mr. Jain has meetings scheduled with officials to review measures being taken to arrest the spread of COVID-19, the officials said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said on Twitter that Mr. Jain has recovered and would be joining work.

 

1.50 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

18 prison inmates test positive in Cuddalore

As many as 18 inmates, including three life convicts, who were transferred from various sub-jails in Villupuram and Cuddalore districts to the Cuddalore Central Prison, have tested positive for COVID-19. The inmates have been accommodated in a hostel facility in Devanampattinam.

 

1.45 p.m. | Maharashtra

Securities Appellate Tribunal to remain closed till Aug. 5

The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has said it will remain closed till August 5 amid coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, the tribunal had said it would remain closed till July 17.

Considering the present scenario in Mumbai as well as in the other parts of the country, the tribunal will further remain closed for physical hearing of cases till August 5, it said in a notification.

- PTI

1.45 p.m. | Uttar Pradesh

Premises of Lucknow civil courts remains closed

The entire civil courts premises in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow remained closed after a lawyer and an employee tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said.

They said the direction was issued by District Judge A.K. Ojha after the principal judge of the family court located on the premises told him that an employee of theirs had tested positive for the virus on Saturday.

The Lucknow Bar Association informed the district judge that one of its former office-bearers had contracted the infection. It demanded that the entire campus be closed and sanitised.

- PTI

1.30 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

135 more contract COVID-19 in Coimbatore

A total of 477 cases were reported in the district, so far. While 297 persons were discharged after treatment, 172 continue to undergo treatment.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Coimbatore district increased to 1,193 with 135 more persons tested positive on Sunday.

 

1.30 p.m. | West Bengal

Lockdown extended for 2 days in Malda's Englishbazar

The Malda district authorities on Sunday extended the ongoing total lockdown in Englishbazar, the district headquarter town, for two more days till Tuesday, District Magistrate Rajasrhi Mitra said.

Markets will be opened for two hours from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. during this period and all other shops, including groceries, will be closed, he said.

The complete lockdown began in the town on July 17 after a spike in COVID-19 cases.

- PTI

1.15 p.m. | Kerala

Aluva Siva temple wears a deserted look on the occasion of ‘bali tharpanam’

The Aluva ‘Sivarathri Manapuram’ on the banks of Periyar River in Kerala, which used to teem with hundreds on the occasion of ‘Karkita Vavu Bali’, wore a deserted look on Monday as the   COVID-19 restrictions forced them to pay obeisance to their ancestors by offering the rituals in the comfort of their homes.

The Ernakulam district administration and the Rural Police wing had issued stringent directives against the conduct of rituals at the Aluva Siva Temple in view of the worsening pandemic crisis.

 

1.15 p.m. | Puducherry

Woman succumbs to COVID-19 in Puducherry

A 75-year old woman succumbed to COVID-19 in Puducherry while 93 fresh cases were reported, taking the overall tally in the Union Territory to 2,092, the Health department said.

The elderly woman, who had comorbidities, succumbed to the virus at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College Hospital in neighbouring Kadirkamam, taking the death toll to 29.

- PTI

1.00 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

Give sufficient time to perform rituals: Madras HC

Madras High Court directs the Tamil Nadu government to give sufficient time to family members of  those who die due to COVID-19 to perform rituals subject to all safety protocols.

The court says local police should also be informed to prevent violence at burial/cremation grounds.

- Mohamed Imranullah

12.45 p.m. | Maharashtra

BMC urges mandals to follow ‘one ward-one Ganpati’ concept

The Mumbai civic body has urged Ganesh mandals in prominent areas like Andheri, Juhu and Versova to follow the concept of ‘one ward-one Ganpati’ during the festival this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vishwas Mote, the Assistant Municipal Commissioner of K-West ward, which covers Andheri-West, Juhu, Versova and other areas, made this appeal in a letter to the Ganpati mandals last week.

The 10-day festival begins on ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’, which falls on August 22 this year.

- PTI

12.45 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

People seen offering ‘tharpanam’ and paying obeisance to their forefathers outside the Padi Sivan temple in Chennai, since temples are closed due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic situation, on the occasion of Aadi Ammavasai.

People seen offering ‘tharpanam’ and paying obeisance to their forefathers outside the Padi Sivan temple in Chennai, since temples are closed due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic situation, on the occasion of Aadi Ammavasai.

 

12.30 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

AIADMK IT Wing takes mimicry route to spread COVID-19 message

The AIADMK’s IT Wing is taking to various social media platforms to drive home the need for people to observe physical distancing, wear a mask and sanitise hands to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Recently, the IT Wing reached out to comedian Abhishek Kumar, who has been posting videos during the lockdown under the character ‘Mrs. Janaki’ that has become a big hit. In the video released a few days ago, ‘Mrs. Janaki’, in her now familiar modulation, asks people to follow ‘SMS’ — social distancing, proper wearing of masks, and sanitising one’s hands.

 

12.30 p.m. | Chhattisgarh

Seven-day lockdown declared in Raipur from July 22

A seven-day lockdown will be enforced in municipal limits of Raipur and Birgaon beginning July 22 in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases, an official said on Sunday.

The entire area under Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) and Birgaon Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Raipur district has been declared as containment zones, collector S. Bharathi Dasan said in an order.

Chhattisgarh has so far recorded 5,407 COVID-19 cases and the number is increasing day by day, he said.

 

12.15 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

An SSI succumbs to COVID-19 in Madurai

A Special Sub-Inspector of Police, M. Pandi (51), of the Madurai Rural Police district, who was admitted to the Government Rajaji hospital for COVID-19 treatment, died on Monday morning.

Police sources said that the 1989-batch constable, was last posted at Chekkanoorani police station.

 

12.10 p.m. | Karnataka

No takers for coaches converted into COVID care centres

The South Western Railways’ (SWR) efforts to treat patients in coaches converted into care centres have no takers. The converted coaches have remained unused for over three months despite a sharp surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in cities like Bengaluru.

In April, the SWR had converted 320 coaches into COVID-19 centres at a cost of ₹30,000 per coach. They were converted as per the prototype guidelines of Railway Board with the installation of oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment. The SWR had maintained that the coaches are clean, sanitised regularly and were hygienic.

 

12.00 p.m. | Arunachal Pradesh

Record 90 fresh cases take Arunachal’s tally to 740

Arunachal Pradesh on Monday recorded its biggest single-day jump of 90 COVID-19 cases, taking the State’s tally to 740, a senior Health Department official said.

Capital Complex reported the maximum number of the new cases at 56, followed by 14 in Papum Pare district.

- PTI

11.45 a.m. | Maharashtra

Week-long lockdown in Kolhapur

Kolhapur on Sunday reported a surge of 281 COVID-19 cases, taking the district’s total case tally to 2,141, ahead of a week-long lockdown starting Monday.

Last week, Kolhapur Guardian Minister and senior Congress leader Satej Patil said there were no plans for a lockdown as it would severely affect economic activity in the district. He said, “The drastic surge in cases, especially a 200-plus case spike in the past two days, has forced us to enforce a stern lockdown to break the virus chain. There are 1,753 beds available in the district and the medical infrastructure is ready to cope with the crisis.”

11.30 a.m. | Delhi

People stand in a queue at a government school in Adarsh Nagar area in North Delhi for COVID-19 test in New Delhi on Monday, July 20, 2020.

People stand in a queue at a government school in Adarsh Nagar area in North Delhi for COVID-19 test in New Delhi on Monday, July 20, 2020.

 

11.30 a.m. | West Bengal

West Bengal sees highest single-day surge in cases, deaths

West Bengal on Sunday recorded 2,278 fresh COVID-19 cases, its highest single-day surge so far, taking the total cases to 42,487. The number of active cases is 16,492.

With a new single-day high of 36 deaths, the State’s fatality toll has reached 1,112. Of the 36 deaths, 15 were reported from Kolkata, nine from North 24 Parganas, four from Hooghly, and three each from South 24 Parganas and Howrah district.

 

11.15 a.m. | Kerala

Testing times for Kochi as backlog of samples mounts

An increase in the collection of swabs for Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing in the past two weeks in the district has not been matched by an increase in sample processing facilities, resulting in a mounting backlog of samples waiting to be processed.

While only a little over 200 swabs were being collected daily at the beginning of the month, the spiralling number of cases has recently taken the collection to over 700 per day. The number had gone up to 839 swabs being sent for testing on July 14, going by figures available in daily press releases.

 

11.00 a.m. | Odisha

Ganjam accounts for over 60% of Odisha's deaths

Odisha’s total COVID-19 positive cases increased to 18,110 following addition of 673 new cases. While 12452 patients recovered from the disease, active cases stood at 5,533.

Six persons died of COVID-19 on Monday.

With five new deaths, Ganjam district’s death-toll rose to 59 accounting 60.82% of State’s tally.

- Satyasundar Barik

10.45 a.m. | Andhra Pradesh

Former chief priest of Tirumala temple passes away

Former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chief priest P. Srinivasa Murthy Dikshitulu, 75, breathed his last at the SVIMS hospital early on Monday.

He developed severe respiratory congestion on Saturday night and was rushed to the hospital where he was reportedly diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on admission.

 

10.15 a.m.

681 new fatalities in the country

Record single-day spike of 40,425 COVID-19 cases pushes India’s tally to 11,18,043. Death toll rises to 27,497 with 681 new fatalities, according to the Health bulletin.

Active COVID-19 cases stand at 3,90,459; 7,00,086 people have recovered so far in the country, the Union Health Ministry said.

- PTI

10.00 a.m. | Maharashtra

Maharashtra Minister of Fishing and Textile tests positive

Congress leader and Minister of Fishing and Textile, Aslam Shaikh confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was in isolation.

He is the fourth Minister in Maharashtra to test positive for the virus. Earlier, Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, Public Works Department Minister Ashok Chavan, and Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde had tested positive. All have recovered.

- Alok Deshpande

10.00 a.m. | Maharashtra

Lockdown in Mumbai extended

A day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed officials not to buckle under pressure and refrain from taking firm measures to tackle COVID-19, municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have decided to extend the lockdown in hotspots till July 31.

Due to mounting economic losses, traders and shopkeepers have been demanding a roll back of the lockdown. With cases continuing to rise in MMR despite the lockdown, the government has decided to extend the lockdown in areas reporting new COVID-19 cases.

 

9.30 a.m. | Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu reports new single-day high of 4,979 cases

The number of fresh COVID-19 cases being reported on a single day touched a new high on Sunday, with 4,979 persons testing positive. Among them were 77 who had returned to the State from abroad or from other States.

The total number of active cases as on date is 50,294 (including those under isolation).

With 4,059 patients being discharged on a single day, the number of those discharged following treatment so far stands at 1,17,915.

 

9.00 a.m.

States, U.T.s differ on date for reopening schools

More than half the States and Union Territories, including COVID-19 hotspots Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, have not yet decided on a date for reopening schools, the Centre was told at a meeting this week.

The remaining States are split between those willing to reopen in August, which includes Delhi and Bihar, and others who will not open until September, such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has also asked the States to gauge parents’ opinions on the issue and submit it by Monday, offering options of reopening in August, September or October.

 

8.30 a.m. | Karnataka

Karnataka’s COVID-19 recovery rate plummets to 36.5%

With consistent increase in number of COVID-19 positive cases in the State, the recovery rate in Karnataka has now dipped to 36.5%.

Data analysed by the State COVID-19 war room as on Saturday, shows that 21,775 of the total 59,652 patients who tested positive have been discharged.

As of June 18, the recovery rate was 62.72 %.

 

8.00 a.m. | Kerala

Lockdown extended till July 28 in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation region

The lockdown in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation region has been extended up to the midnight of July 28, given the COVID-19 scenario in the State capital.

The order issued by District Collector Navjot Khosa on Sunday is applicable to the Corporation wards which are outside the Critical Containment Zones declared in the coastal areas.

Following a spike in COVID-19 cases, the district administration had issued orders on July 12 declaring a lockdown in the Corporation area from July 13 for seven days, a period which ended on Sunday.

 

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