India reported its highest ever number of recoveries on a single day, with 28,472 COVID-19 patients having been cured or discharged from hospitals in 24 hours, according to a statement from the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.
“With this, the number of patients recovered stands at 7,53,049. This has strongly boosted the recovery rate to 63.13%,” said the Ministry. It said the constantly increasing number of recovered patients had further widened the difference with active cases.
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:
Calcutta HC to function regularly on restricted scale: Chief Justice
In order to strike a balance between access to justice and precautions to be taken owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered that the court may function regularly on a restricted scale till normalcy returns.
Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan, after considering the recommendations of the Covid Committee of the High Court, advised lawyers to file only extremely urgent matters till August 15.
Less utilisation of railways’ COVID care coaches good sign: Official
Terming the less utilisation of the railways’ COVID care coaches “a good sign”, a senior official on Thursday said this means the State governments have adequate facilities to deal with the pandemic.
The railways, which has so far converted around 5,000 non-airconditioned coaches into COVID care centres, has deployed 813 of those with 12,472 beds in Delhi (503), Uttar Pradesh (270) and Bihar (40).
Around 250 patients have been admitted to these centres so far and more than half of them discharged.
“Utilisation of these coaches is less as the health ministry SOP itself says these are to be used only when the state government facilities are exhausted. I believe it is a good sign that they are being used less as cases are reducing and the states have adequate facilities to control the coronavirus. The coaches are just supplementary COVID care centres,” Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav said.
All existing demand for Shramik trains met, last one operated on July 9: Railways
The Railways on Thursday said it has met all the existing demand of states for Shramik Special trains to ferry stranded migrant workers home, with the last service being operated on July 9.
Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav said a total of 4,615 Shramik Special trains have been run since May 1, taking over 63 lakh people home during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Railways started Shramik Specials on May 1 to transport stranded migrant workers to their native states after thousands tried to reach home on foot due to the lockdown.
Railways to have contactless ticketing
The railways will move towards contactless ticketing like at airports with QR code-enabled tickets, which will be scanned on handheld devices and mobile phones at the stations and on the trains, a senior official of the national transporter said on Thursday.
Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav said while 85 per cent train tickets are currently being booked online, a QR code will also be available for those buying tickets from counters.
India and Israel join hands to develop rapid testing for COVID-19 in under 30 seconds
Merging Israel’s technological expertise with India’s mass production capabilities, experts from the two countries have joined hands to develop rapid testing for COVID-19 in under 30 seconds.
Israel will soon send a high level research delegation to India to conduct a series of “final stages of testing” as part of the joint effort to develop the rapid testing kits for COVID-19 .
A high ranking team from the Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), in the Ministry of Defense, which has been working with India’s DRDO to develop rapid testing for COVID-19 in under 30 seconds, is to leave from Tel Aviv to New Delhi on a special flight in a few days, Israel’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Thursday.
Gujarat reports 1078 new cases
Gujarat’s COVID-19 tally rises by 1078 new infections and 28 new deaths. Fatality count has jumped to 2257 while number of infections surge to 52563. Active cases are 12348 including 89 on ventilator while total patients discharged are 37,958.
- Mahesh Langa
Government unlikely to achieve FY21 Budget targets due to COVID-19 crisis: DEA Secretary
The government is unlikely to meet the Budget targets for 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 crisis but contraction in economic growth may not be as severe as being pointed out by the outside world, Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj said.
He said the government on a regular basis is monitoring 14-15 parameters which can give early signs of where the economy is heading.
This includes E-way Bill, power consumptions, GST collections etc and every parameter is showing promising result, he said.
Maharashtra reports 9,895 new cases
Maharashtra reported another humungous surge of 9,895 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday - its second-highest single-day jump till date - taking the State's total case tally to 3,47,502. A record high fatality surge of 298 deaths saw the total death toll to 12,854.
Of the total case tally, 1,40,092 are active ones, said State Health Department officials. With 6,484 patients discharged today, the cumulative recoveries till date has gone up to 1,94,253.
Pune district reported another massive surge of more than 3,000 new cases and an all-time high fatality spike of 78 deaths as its total case tally surged to 66,538 while its death toll reached 1,592.
With 1,245 new cases reported today, Mumbai's total case tally reached has 1,05,923 of whom only 22,598 are active though. With 55 new deaths reported today, the city's death toll has risen to 5,930. Kalyan-Dombivli civic body reported 18 deaths while Vasai-Virar reported 23 fatalities.
Akali MLA, his son test positive for COVID-19
Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday, a health official said.
His samples were taken on Tuesday after the Batala legislator complained of fever and fatigue, an official said. Lodhinangal was admitted to a private hospital in Amritsar.
Over 7.88 lakh Indians have returned under Vande Bharat mission: MEA
Over 7.88 lakh Indians have returned from abroad after the government launched the “Vande Bharat” evacuation mission on May 7 in view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
Under the Phase 4 of the Vande Bharat mission, a total of 1,197 flights have been scheduled so far, including 945 international flights and 252 feeder flights, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at a media briefing.
Brinton Pharma gets DCGI nod to market Favipiravir for treatment of COVID-19 patients
Brinton Pharmaceuticals on Thursday said it has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to market antiviral drug Favipiravir under the brand name ‘Faviton’ for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
To be available in 200 mg tablets, the drug will be sold at a maximum retail price of Rs 59 per tablet, Brinton Pharmaceuticals said in a statement.
Over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for second day in Kerala
Kerala’s daily COVID-19 cases continued to witness a sharp rise with 1,078 people testing positive, a new single day high, on Thursday as the infection count soared past 16,000 while the toll mounted to 50 with five more deaths.
This is the second consecutive day that the fresh positive cases have crossed the 1,000 mark, taking the tally to 16,110.
-PTI
Goa Assembly session: no visitors, limited number of officials
No member of the general public would be allowed to attend the one-day session of the Goa Legislative Assembly next week and even the number of officials who can be present would be restricted.
In view of the coronavirus threat, the Legislature Department has drawn up a protocol for the session, to be held on July 27.
Speaker Rajesh Patnekar and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will be allowed to have only four personal staff each with them inside the Assembly building, the department’s advisory said.
Biggest single-day spike of over 5,000 COVID-19 cases in Karnataka
Karnataka on Thursday recorded a biggest single-day surge of over 5,000 cases and 97 related fatalities, taking the total number of people who tested positive for the virus to 80,863, the health department said.
The day also saw a record 2,071 patients getting discharged after recovery.
Out of 5,030 fresh cases reported, a whopping 2,207 cases were from Bengaluru urban alone.
Punjab announces fresh fines for violators of government rules
Coronavirus patients violating home isolation rules in Punjab will now have to pay a fine of ₹5,000 from the earlier ₹2,000, according to new guidelines issued by the State government.
At present, 951 patients are in home isolation across the state.
Gauhati HC registers suo motu PIL on COVID-19 cases in Assam jails
Gauhati HC registers suo motu PIL on large number of COVID-19 cases in Assam jails, directs state govt to provide best treatment.
— PTI
Fake news: Amitabh Bachchan denies reports of testing negative for COVID-19
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday dismissed reports that he has tested negative for coronavirus and called the piece of news “an incorrigible lie“.
The 77-year-old actor, who along with actor-son Abhishek, was admitted to the isolation ward of Nanavati Hospital here on July 11, was quick to rubbish stories that started swirling on social media.
— PTI
SC refuses to hear PIL for standard Yoga protocol to enhance COVID-19 resistance
The Supreme Court Thursday refused to entertain a PIL seeking directions to the Centre to develop “standard Yoga protocol” to enhance coronavirus resistance and its customisation to control common diseases as well. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan told lawyer petitioner and BJP leader Ashwini Updhyay that it was not willing to direct the government on the issues raised in the plea and allowed him to approach authorities with the representation.
— PTI
Bereaved families deprived of opportunities to bid dignified farewell in Odisha
Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday directed states to cover visually impaired people as beneficiaries under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and ensure supply of 35 kg subsidised foodgrains per family.
The directive has been issued after taking “serious note” of the Delhi High Court order that said visually impaired people are kept outside the ambit of AAY category under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
— PTI
Recovered Delhi cop tests positive again, raises question if coronavirus can reinfect
The case of a Delhi policeman having a relapse of the novel coronavirus has baffled experts and the doctors treating him and has raised the question whether a recovered patient can contract the infection again. The policeman, 50, had tested positive for the virus in May and was treated at the Indraprastha Apollo hospitals between May 15 and 22. Thereafter, he had tested negative and resumed duty.
— PTI
Total lockdown in Nagaland's Kohima for 7 days from July 25
The official account of Kohima police tweeted: Deputy Commissioner and Chairman District Task Force Kohima promulgates total Lockdown of Kohima Municipal Area with effect from July 25, 2020 till July 31, 2020.
Dharavi records six fresh COVID-19 cases
Mumbai’s slum sprawl Dharavi registered six new coronavirus cases, second single digit rise in two days, taking the tally to 2,513 on Thursday, the city civic body said.
A senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said the tally of COVID-19 cases in Dharavi rose to 2,513 with the addition of six new cases in the past 24 hours..
— PTI
Scientists develop safe, rapid COVID-19 antibody test
Scientists have developed a rapid test to detect antibodies in COVID-19 patients that specifically block the novel coronavirus, an advance that may lead to faster methods for estimating the population level infection rate of the disease.
According to the study, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, a rapid test to detect neutralising antibodies -- capable of blocking the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 — is urgently needed to facilitate monitoring of infection rates, as well as to determine vaccine efficacy during clinical trials.
— PTI
General households to cut and store waste masks, gloves for 72 hours before disposing of: CPCB
In its latest guidelines on disposal of COVID-19 waste, pollution watchdog CPCB has directed that masks and gloves used by everyone, whether infected or not, should be cut and kept in paper bags for minimum 72 hours before disposing of them.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also directed commercial establishments like malls and offices to follow the same procedure with discarded protective personal equipment (PPE) from general public.
— PTI
29,557 patients recuperate from COVID in 24 hours, highest single-day recovery so far
As many as 29,557 COVID-19 patients have recuperated in the past 24 hours, the highest recorded in a day so far, taking the recovery rate to 63.18%, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
According to data updated at 8 a.m., total recoveries have surged to 7,82,606 and exceeded the active cases of COVID-19 by 3,56,439 as on date.
Emirates will cover COVID-19 medical bills
Long-haul carrier Emirates now says it will cover the costs of passengers’ coronavirus-related medical expenses in an effort to encourage more travellers to fly on the airline.
In a statement Thursday, Emirates said passengers can claim medical expenses of up to 150,000 euros and quarantine costs of 100 euros per day for 14 days if they are diagnosed with COVID-19.
— AP
Hong Kong reports 1-day high of 118 new cases
Hong Kong’s coronavirus infections hit a record high on Thursday with 118 new cases. Of those, 111 were locally transmitted while authorities are unable to trace the source of others.
Hong Kong now has a total of 2,250 confirmed cases with 14 deaths.
— AP
366 new COVID-19 cases in Japan
Tokyo has confirmed a record 366 new coronavirus cases, as Japan started a four-day weekend with many people traveling on a tourism promotion campaign despite concerns it may further spread the virus.
Tokyo’s numbers had fallen to just several in late May after a pandemic state of emergency ended, but infections have since late June made a steady climb, with the number tripling in the first three weeks of July. Tokyo now has 10,420 confirmed cases with 327 deaths.
— PTI
Spike in daily COVID-19 cases in Czech Republic
The day-to-day increase of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Czech Republic has surpassed 200 for the second straight day.
One of the latest clusters appeared in Prague where 76 people have been infected in a nightclub.
The Health Ministry says the number of infected reached 247 on Wednesday, the biggest increase since June 28.
— AP
Himachal Pradesh doing much better in tackling pandemic, recent spike temporary: Health official
Himachal Pradesh is doing much better in handling the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other states, a top health official has claimed, terming the recent spike in its cases “temporary”.
The current situation arising out of the recent spike will stabilize soon, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman told reporters on Wednesday evening, seeking to assure people that the cases would reduce soon.
— PTI
Admission criteria for NITs relaxed; minimum 75% marks in Class 12 not required
The HRD Ministry on Thursday announced a relaxation in the admission criteria for NITs and centrally funded technical institutions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, doing away with the requirement of minimum 75% marks in Class 12 board exams.
“Due to prevailing circumstances, Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) has decided to relax the eligibility criterion for admissions to NITs and other centrally funded technical institutions,” Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ tweeted.
— PTI
Meghalaya to spend ₹75 crore to improve infrastructure of health centres
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday that the government will invest ₹75 crore to strengthen the infrastructure of 186 public health centres, amid rising coronavirus cases in the state.
The government will start renovating the public and community health centres at the earliest, he said.
— PTI
China reports 18 new cases in Xinjiang
China continues to see newly confirmed coronavirus cases in its northwestern region of Xinjiang, with 18 reported Thursday. More than 50 people have been infected in China’s latest outbreak focused on Xinjiang’s regional capital and largest city of Urumqi.
City leaders have restricted travel, locked down some communities and ordered widespread testing to contain the spread.
— A.P.
Telangana govt. asks medical authorities to provide treatment on 24X7 basis
The State government has exhorted medical authorities, superintendents of different hospitals where patients of novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) are being treated in particular, to be geared up to provide treatment on 24X7 basis and ensure those affected recover fast.
Health Minister Eatala Rajender accompanied by Health Secretary Murtaza Rizvi and other senior officials, conducted a video conference on Thursday with superintendents of hospitals to review the facilities and treatment that was being provided to patients suffering from Covid-19. He advised the doctors and other personnel concerned not to leave anything to chance and there was no scope for adopting negligent attitude in providing treatment to patients
— M. Rajeev
13 BSF personnel among 19 new COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya
Nineteen people, including 13 BSF personnel, tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya on Thursday, taking the state’s tally to 534, an official said.
The state now has 452 active coronavirus cases, Health Services Director said.
— PTI
Delhi-based Dr. Dangs selected as central lab for Covaxin human clinical trials
A Delhi-based private laboratory has claimed that it has been selected as the central lab for human clinical trials of Covaxin, India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
The vaccine is being developed and manufactured by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology.
— PTI
DRDO establishes COVID-19 testing facility in Leh
The DRDO has established a COVID-19 testing facility at the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) in Leh to augment the existing capacity for identification of coronavirus cases in the union territory of Ladakh, according to an official statement.
The testing facility, which was inaugurated by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur on Wednesday, is capable of screening 50 samples per day, said the statement by the Defence Ministry.
— PTI
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister to remain quarantined for 1 week
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, his family members and staffers at his residence and office will remain under home quarantine for a week despite testing negative for COVID-19, a senior official said on Thursday.
Thirty-six samples were taken from Thakur’s residence at Oakover here and 27 from the state secretariat on Wednesday after a deputy secretary at his office and a BJP leader from Mandi tested positive for COVID-19.
COVID-19: Conducting exams in varsities in MCQs format not feasible alternative, say academicians
Conducting exams in universities in Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) format in view of COVID-19 pandemic is not a feasible alternative as it cannot test students’ analytical skills and students pursuing subjects like literature will be at a disadvantage, academicians have pointed out.
The concerns by academicians come against the backdrop of the Delhi High Court asking the University Grants Commission (UGC) to clarify if final year examinations of the universities be conducted based on MCQs, open choices, assignments and presentations, instead of long form exams.
— PTI
Watch | Smart helmets for COVID-19 screening
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced smart helmets for COVID-19 screening. They were launched as part of the 'Mission zero' initiative to curb the spread of COVID-19.
— The Hindu Net Desk
Three die of COVID-19 in Puducherry, 123 new cases take
Three die of COVID-19 in Puducherry, 123 new cases take overall tally to 2,421 (Eds: Minor edit in second para) Puducherry, Jul 23 (PTI) Puducherry on Thursday reported three COVID-19 deaths, pushing the toll to 34 while 123 new cases were detected in the union territory.
The three dead were a 59-year old man, a 50-year old man and a 48-year old male patient.
— PTI
Iraq reopens airports even as cases rise
Iraq opened its airports to commercial flights following months of lockdown as part of the government’s plan to ease restrictions despite record numbers of coronavirus cases expected to exceed 100,000 this week.
Airports were shut in March along with full-day curfews. Cases have risen exponentially since then and in particular following the Eid holiday in June
— AP
Kerala defers decision on State-wide lockdown till July 27
A special meeting of the cabinet scheduled for July 27 will decide whether to impose a total State-wide lockdown in Kerala given the worrying spike in COVID-19 infections.
The cabinet, which met here on Thursday, also decided to defer the convening of the Legislative Assembly to pass the Finance Bill scheduled for Monday (July 27).
— Special Correspondent
Protests in COVID hospital in U.P.’s Shamli over power outage, unhyegenic conditions
Patients at a COVID-19 hospital in Jhinjhana town of Shamli district staged a protest when a senior official was inspecting the facility over complaints of power outage and unhyegenic living conditions.
A video had surfaced on social media in which patients at the facility were seen raising the complaints, following which Subdivisional Magistrate Mani Arora was conducting an inspection on Wednesday.
— PTI
84 people working in Tamil Nadu's Raj Bhawan test positive for COVID-19
A total of 84 persons, including security personnel living at the Raj Bhavan premises, the official residence of the Tamil Nadu Governor, have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to an official release, all these persons were working on the outer side of Raj Bhavan, in areas such as the main gate, and not in the main building. “None of these persons came in contact with the Governor or senior officials of the Raj Bhavan,” the statement said.
— Special Correspondent
Tamil Nadu shows political will to battle novel coronavirus
Early in the course of COVID-19 pandemic in India, the number of fresh novel coronavirus cases reported daily from Kerala was worrying. As cases kept rising, Tamil Nadu appeared to have the virus spread in full control. The first biggest spike from a single cluster came from the Tablighi Jamaat conference held in Nizamuddin, Delhi.
Attendees of the conference, which was held in mid-March, fanned out to different parts of the country after the event. Tamil Nadu alone traced and tested 1,350 cases linked to the congregation. In all, 631 index cases and 719 contacts tested positive for the virus. The excellent contact tracing adopted by Tamil Nadu helped in tracking up to 17 contacts for every single case detected.
— R. Prasad
Karnataka Congress seeks judicial probe into purchase of COVID-19 equipment
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah on Thursday demanded a judicial probe into alleged misappropriation of over ₹2000 crore in the purchase of equipment related to COVID-19 by the State government.
Mr Siddaramaiah said the government had spent Rs 4,167 crore since March this year and siphoned off more than ₹2000 crore in the purchase of COVID-19 equipment.
— Special Correspondent
In struggle against pandemic, populist leaders fare poorly
The countries that top the rankings of COVID-19 deaths globally are not the necessarily the poorest, the richest or even the most densely populated. But they do have one thing in common: They are led by populist, mold-breaking leaders.
Populism in politics means pushing policies that are popular with the people, not the elites and the experts.
— AP
Families losing multiple members as COVID-19 cases rising in Odisha, Jharkhand
Heartrending stories of people’s battle with coronavirus continues to come to fore with the COVID-19 cases witnessing sharp rise in the region.
A woman lost her husband along her mother and father in-laws in Odisha’s Ganjam district while a mother’s death is followed by demise of her five sons in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district.
— Satyasundar Barik
Hyderabad-based CR Foundation paves way for managing old-age home during pandemic
The measures taken by the Hyderabad-based CR Foundation (CRF) could as well show a way about how to manage a home for the aged during the time of lockdown and spread of Covid-19 .
CRF is a social service organisation established in 1994 in memory of one of the architects of the Communist party of India (CPI), Chandra Rajeswara Rao. It runs a home for the aged whose inmates include social workers, freedom fighters, former legislators, retired professors, chartered accountants, engineers, doctors, teachers, renowned writers and journalists. Majority of them were aged over 75 years.
— Prashanth Chintala
Shops shut, public transport off roads as lockdown in Kashmir enters second day
Strict restrictions were imposed in most parts of Kashmir on Thursday, a day after the union territory administration announced a complete lockdown across the Valley, except for Bandipora district, to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The six-day complete lockdown in the Valley came into effect on Wednesday evening following a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the last three weeks.
— PTI
Maharashtra permits online classes for pre-primary & standards I, II
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maharashtra government has permitted online classes for pre-primary students and for standards I and II with a daily 30-minute session five days a week.
Last month, the pre-primary students and standards I and II were left out in the government’s decision for starting online classes from June 15.
— PTI
Shops shut, transport off roads as lockdown enforced in West Bengal
Life came to a near standstill across West Bengal on Thursday as the state was put under a complete lockdown to break the chain of rapidly rising COVID-19 cases.
All shops were shut and all modes of transport went off the road as part of the state government’s plan to clamp restrictions two days a week. A similar lockdown will be in place on July 25 and 29.
— PTI
Pakistan reports 1,763 new COVID-19 cases
Pakistan recorded 1,763 news cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, taking the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 169,191.
The Ministry of National Health Services said the virus death toll is 5,709, including 32 fatalities in the last 24 hours, and that 213,175 people have recovered from it. Another 1,382 people are in critical condition.
— PTI
U.P. CM interested in hiding conditions of health facilities than improving them: Priyanka
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday attacked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the state of health facilities in Uttar Pradesh where COVID-19 patients are being treated, alleging that he is more interested in hiding their conditions than improving them.
— PTI
Rapid tests on JK Tyres employees show high rate of positivity
The outbreak of COVID-19 at JK Tyres and Industries in Mysuru appears to be taking a turn for the worse with rapid tests on the employees indicating a high rate of positivity.
Apart from the 54 employees who had tested positive during swab tests conducted last week, another 176 employees had tested positive during the rapid tests conducted for three days on the company premises beginning Sunday.
Cooperatives Minister tests positive
Arvind Singh Bhadoria. File
Madhya Pradesh Cooperatives Minister Arvind Singh Bhadoria tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a private hospital here early on Thursday, Bhopal district administration said.
The BJP legislator from Ater in Bhind district took part in a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. And a day before, he accompanied Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP State president V.D. Sharma in a special flight to Lucknow to pay respects to Governor Lalji Tandon who died there.
Delhi to hold sero-survey every month, next one from August 1
A health worker collects blood samples for a serological survey to analyse spread of COVID-19 in Delhi.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said the government will conduct a serological survey every month to know the percentage of people in the city who have developed antibodies against COVID-19.
The next survey will be conducted between August 1 and 5.
New data show fewer Delhiites tested for coronavirus
The actual number of Delhiites tested daily for COVID-19 using RT-PCR test is lesser than the city government’s official daily bulletin data by about 3,000 tests a day, at least in the first 10 days of July, a new set of data accessed by The Hindu shows.
When asked about the discrepancy, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said: “There is an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) website from where we take the data. They reconciled their data and we changed it accordingly.”
India’s COVID-19 tally crosses 12-lakh mark
With the highest-ever single-day spike of 45,720 cases, India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 12-lakh mark on Thursday, while the death-toll mounted to 29,861 with a record 1,129 fatalities in a day, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The country crossed the 12-lakh mark just three days after it crossed the 11-lakh milestone
- PTI
Manipur Cabinet extends curfew
A deserted area in Shangshak village, Manipur. File
The Manipur cabinet on Wednesday decided to extend the curfew and complete lockdown in sensitive areas in the State by another 14 days as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
The 14-day extension will be effective from 2 p.m. on July 23. M. Ramani, Assembly Secretary, has issued a notification stating that officials at all ranks and elected members from Thoubal district shall not be permitted to enter the Legislative office and other facilities till further notice.
Intense community transmission across all districts
The Alberquerk fish landing centre in Fort Kochi is closed down as part of efforts to contain Covid19.
With 1,038 new cases on Wednesday, the total caseload in Kerala has gone up to 15,032 in a matter of days. Approximately 80% of these cases — 839 out of the 1,038 cases — are locally acquired infections, indicating the intensity of community transmission across the State. In 57 of these cases, the source of infection could not be established.
Complete lockdown in West Bengal today
Shoppers crowd a Kolkata street on July 22, 2020, ahead of a two-day weekly lockdown to be imposed across West Bengal starting Thursday.
West Bengal on Wednesday yet again recorded a single-day spike in the COVID-19 fatalities with 39 deaths. . The State will observe a complete lockdown on Thursday. Civic bodies like Barrackpore, Baranagar and Bongaon, all located in the North 24 Parganas district, and Bardhaman town announced a lockdown for almost a week.
Pooled samples to be tested for infection in 21 districts
Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 24/06/2020 : COVID-19 : A health worker in a protective chamber collects samples for a swab test at a fever camp at Corporation school, Vyasarpadi residential area, Tonidarpet Zone, during the 92nd day of nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of deadly novel coronavirus pandemic. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu
Pooled samples will be tested for COVID-19 in 21 districts in Tamil Nadu where the positivity rate is less than 5%. The Director of Public and Preventive Medicine has written to all nodal officers of government and private RT-PCR laboratories on testing pooled samples for COVID-19. The guidelines were already communicated to Deputy Directors of Health Services, deans of medical college hospitals, Joint Director of Health Services and nodal officers of laboratories in the State.
Over 1,000 cases reported on second consecutive day in Gujarat
Gujarat saw 1,020 new infections and 28 fatalities on Wednesday. At least 2,229 fatalities and 51,485 cases have been reported in the State so far.
The State’s total number of active cases has jumped to 12,016, including 78 patients who are critical and have been put on ventilator support.
Anantapur GGH made exclusive COVID hospital
Keeping the virus at bay: A vendor selling sanitisers at IGMC stadium on M.G. Road in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on July 21, 2020.
With the available health infrastructure in Anantapur district falling short of the requirement in view of the of the spurt in the coronavirus cases, the government has converted the 500-bed Government General Hospital (GGH) into an exclusive COVID-19 facility.
