Coronavirus India lockdown Day 104 live updates | July 6, 2020

Disease transmission was steadily on the rise in the urban areas as well as the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram

July 06, 2020 09:18 am | Updated July 07, 2020 08:33 am IST

Municipal health workers look at angry residents of Ambujwadi slum at Malvani who denied them entry to their area for screening on Monday, July 6, 2020.  Malvani in Malad comes in ‘P’ North ward of Mumbai which has the highest cases of COVID-19.

Municipal health workers look at angry residents of Ambujwadi slum at Malvani who denied them entry to their area for screening on Monday, July 6, 2020. Malvani in Malad comes in ‘P’ North ward of Mumbai which has the highest cases of COVID-19.

A day after India overtook Russia to become the third-highest country in the world in terms of coronavirus cases, the Indian Council of Medical Research said that the country has tested over one crore samples till date.

“The per day testing capacity which was around 1.5 lakh on May 25 is more than three lakh per day now,” said the institution's scientist and media coordinator Dr. Lokesh Sharma.

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:

9.00 p.m. | Punjab

Five more deaths in Punjab

Punjab on Monday recorded 208 fresh COVID-19 cases and reported five deaths, taking the total fatalities to 169, according to an official statement.

The number of positive cases has reached 6,491. Those who died were from Ludhiana, Sangrur and Muktsar districts. The major chunk of new cases, 84 and 25, were reported from Jalandhar and Ludhiana districts respectively. The Health department said active cases were 1,828 and 4,494 patients had so far been cured.

 

8.30 p.m. | Karnataka

Karnataka reports 1843 new cases

As many as 1843 COVID-19 cases and 30 deaths were reported in Karnataka on Monday. With this, the total number of cases in the State stands at 25,317 and deaths due to COVID-19 stand at 401, said the media bulletin issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

981 positive cases reported in the State on Monday were from Bengaluru Urban. With this the total number of cases reported in the city is 10,561. Of these, 8860 cases are active cases.

Out of the 30 deaths reported in the State, 10 of them are from Bengaluru Urban, while Bidar has reported 8 deaths. The media bulletin issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare state that three deaths in Mysuru. Districts which include Kodagu, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Ballari, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura, Bagalkote have reported one death each.

- Bengaluru bureau

7.45 p.m. | Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh's positive case tally passes 15,000

Madhya Pradesh on Monday registered 354 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 15,284. The number of active cases stands at 3,088.

Nine patients died of the illness on the day, taking the State-wide death toll to 617. As for recoveries, 168 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 11,579 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services.

- Sidharth Yadav

7.40 p.m. | Maharashtra

Maharashtra reports 5,368 new cases, 204 deaths

​Maharashtra recorded another big spike of 5,368 fresh Covid-19 cases on Monday, taking the State's total case tally to 2,11,987. A sharp fatality surge of 204 deaths pushed the total death toll to 9,026.

As many as 3,522 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of recoveries till date to 1,15,262.

With 1,200 new cases reported today, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 85,724. The city's death toll has risen to 4,938. As many as 39 of the new deaths today were from Mumbai city.

Significant fatality surges were reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), with Navi Mumbai reporting 28 deaths, Thane reporting 16, Vasai-Virar 13 fatalities. 17 deaths were reported from Pune district among other parts of the State.

- Shoumojit Banerjee

7.35 p.m. | Gujarat

Gujarat reports 735 new cases

Gujarat recorded its highest increase in COVID-19 cases with 735 new infections and 17 deaths on Monday. The State’s cumulative numbers are: 1962 deaths and 36858 infections. So far, 26323 patients have been discharged and 8573 are active cases.

- Mahesh Langa

7.30 p.m. | Delhi

Delhi's positive case tally exceeds 1 lakh

As many as 1,379 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,00,823, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Monday.

Also, 48 more deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths to 3,115.

Of the total cases, 72,088 people have recovered and there are 25,620 active cases.

- Nikhil Babu

6.45 p.m. | Karnataka

Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh tests posiitive

Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh has tested positive for COVID-19.

The MP, who underwent a test for COVID-19 on Saturday after experiencing a mild headache and throat pain, said the results that came out on Monday had shown positive for coronavirus.

In a statement, Ms. Sumalatha said she had been regularly participating in various programmes in her Lok Sabha constituency, besides visiting areas affected by coronavirus. “I am on medical treatment as per the doctor’s advice and will remain quarantined at home”, she added.

The MP also expressed optimism of recovering soon on the “strength of her immunity and people’s blessings”. Health officials had already been provided with the details of the people whom she had met. However, she called upon people who were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms after coming in contact with her to immediately undergo a test.

- Laiqh A Khan

6.30 p.m. | Delhi

HC seeks Delhi govt reply on helpline for nurses to complain lack of PPE kits, masks

The Delhi High Court on July 6 sought the AAP government’s reply on suggestions for setting up a helpline for nurses to complain against private hospitals for failing to providing N-95 masks and PPE kits as also considering ex-gratia to those who die attending to COVID-19 patients.

A Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan asked the Delhi government to also respond to the suggestion that private hospitals and nursing homes must file an undertaking before the concerned authorities for providing PPE kits, N95 masks to the nurses.

- PTI

6:00 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

3,827 persons test positive in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu recorded 3,827 cases of coronavirus today taking the total tally to 1,14,978. There were 61 deaths in the State with the death toll now reaching 1,571. Meanwhile 3,793 patients were discharged today taking the total recoveries to 66,571.

5:45 p.m. | Maharashtra

Hotels outside containment zones can operate from July 8

Further easing coronavirus-induced lockdown, the Maharashtra government on Monday decided to allow hotels and other entities providing accommodation services, like lodges and guest houses outside containment zones to operate from July 8 at 33% of their capacity.

The permission has been granted on conditions of these entities adhering to social distancing norms and other protocols.

5:15 p.m. | Delhi

COVID-19 positivity rate has declined from 30% to 10% in Delhi: Centre

The average number of samples being tested per day for COVID-19 has gone up in Delhi from 5,481 to 18,766 in about a month and in spite of increased testing, the positivity rate has declined from around 30% to 10% in the last three weeks, the central government said.

The government also said that the national positivity rate, percentage of samples testing coronavirus positive from the total number of samples, has also reduced and now stands at 6.73%. - PTI

5:00 p.m. | Punjab

E-registration mandatory for those travelling to Punjab from Monday midnight

People travelling to Punjab from other States will have to compulsorily register themselves on the State government’s web portal or ‘COVA Punjab’ mobile application from Monday midnight. Besides, the travellers will have to undergo 14-day home quarantine.

The process of e-registration for all travellers to the State has been made mandatory from midnight today. Travellers can self-register online from the comfort of their homes, as per the guidelines issued by the government, and ensure hassle-free travel for themselves.

The State government has advised people entering or transiting through Punjab to self-register either through COVA Punjab application or a weblink before embarking on the journey. -PTI

4:30 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

Guidelines for online classes being prepared, Centre tells Madras High Court

The Centre on Monday informed the Madras High Court that guidelines are being prepared for the conduct of online classes, a mode of teaching used widely during the COVID-19 lockdown, by schools and colleges. The guidelines would be notified by July 15.

Justices M.M. Sundresh and R. Hemalatha recorded the submission made by Additional Solicitor General R. Shankaranarayanan and adjourned to July 20 a batch of public interest litigation petitions filed against the conduct of online classes without any regulations.

 

4:00 p.m. | Tamil Nadu

A 'Smart Swab Robot' to help collect COVID-19 test samples

A Coimbaore-based robotics engineer has developed a COVID-19 'Smart Swab Robot' to collect test samples. This device is attached to a smartphone which can be operated using another smartphone from a safe distance. It eliminates the need for any human interference, thus reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

 

3:15 p.m. | Gujarat

Surat diamond polishing units shut till July 13

Diamond polishing units in Surat in Gujarat will remain shut till July 13 while diamond trading markets will be non-operational till July 9 in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

An order to this effect was issued on Monday by Surat Municipal Corporation Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani.

Mr. Pani said permission for resumption of operations would be given to these units if they follow the civic body’s COVID-19 guidelines and standard operating procedures. - PTI

2:45 p.m. | Karnataka

Karnataka government revises quarantine norms again

The Karnataka government has revised the quarantine norms for persons coming from other States, including Maharashtra, and said 14 days of home quarantine is mandatory.

In the revised guidelines issued on Monday, the State government permitted re-opening of more activities in a calibrated manner, in areas outside the containment zones, and to extend lockdown in containment zones till July 31.

The guidelines also permit unrestricted inter-State movement of persons and goods adhering to the standard operating procedures issued by the department of Health and Family Welfare and Revenue.

2:30 p.m. | Madhya Pradesh

Not wearing mask? Work as volunteer at hospital

Citizens found without mask or not following COVID-19 prevention guidelines at public places in Gwalior will have to work as volunteers at hospitals and police check-posts for three days, an official said.

Fines would also be imposed on those violating the COVID-19 protocols, he said.

An order of this effect was issued by the district administration in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. - PTI

2:15 p.m. | Delhi

Three hotels serving as COVID-19 facilities delinked from hospitals over low-occupancy

District authorities in South West Delhi have delinked three hotels from the hospitals they were attached to to serve as COVID-19 care facilities due to low-occupancy, and some other districts may follow suit, officials have said.

Four hotels - Piccadilly at Janakpuri district Centre, Taj Vivanta in Dwarka, Pride Plaza in Aerocity, and Welcome in Dwarka Sector 10 - were attached to hospitals closest to them, in mid-June, to serve as facilities for coronavirus patients with moderate symptoms.

However, only 25 of the total 900 rooms of the four hotels were occupied over the past fortnight, the officials said. - PTI

2:00 p.m. | Delhi

Pune reports highest overnight spike of 300 new cases

With a spike of 300 new COVID-19 cases over a 12-hour span, Pune district on July 6 reported its highest overnight surge as its case tally went up to 28,899.

However, only 10,679 (around 35%) of these are active cases. With 16 fatalities being reported on July 5, the district’s death toll has reached 869.

The district has witnessed as many as 17,329 recoveries thus far.

 

1.20 pm

With lockdown restrictions relaxed, Chennai limps back to normalcy

Life and business were back on track after lockdown restrictions were relaxed in Chennai and adjoining districts, on Monday.

As the police permitted free movement of vehicles such as two-wheelers, autorickshaws, call taxis and other private vehicles, a large number of vehicles were seen on all roads, including Anna Salai, Kamarajar Road and EVR Salai.

Iron barricades, which were installed on roads previously, were removed to allow the free flow of vehicle movement. Flyovers including the major ones — Anna Flyover, Alwarpet flyover, the grade separator in Guindy, and Padi flyover — were opened for traffic.

 

12.45 pm

COVID-19 tests in India cross one-crore mark

The total number of tests for detection of COVID-19 crossed the one-crore mark in India on Monday, an ICMR official said.

“A cumulative total of 1,00,04,101 samples have been tested till 11 a.m. on Monday with 1,80,596 samples being tested on July 5,” scientist and media coordinator at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr. Lokesh Sharma said.

There are now 1,105 testing labs in the country comprising 788 in the public sector and 317 private labs.

“The per day testing capacity which was around 1.5 lakh on May 25 is more than three lakh per day now,” Dr. Sharma said. - PTI

12.30 pm

Questions will be raised if T20 World is postponed but IPL happens, warns Inzamam

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has said that questions will be raised if Indian Premier League is slotted in the window allotted to ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, which in all likelihood will be cancelled in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

The ICC is yet to decide the fate of the T20 World Cup in Australia which is scheduled to take place from October 18 to November 15.

“There are rumors that the World Cup was clashing with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Australia-India series, therefore, it (T20 World Cup) won’t take place,” Inzamam said in his YouTube channel on Sunday.

“The Indian board is strong and has control in the International Cricket Council (ICC). If Australia says that we cannot hold the World Cup because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then their stance will be easily accepted, but if any such kind event happens during the same time, then questions will be raised,” he said.

 

12.15 pm

Step forward and donate plasma, Delhi CM appeals to COVID-recovered

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed all hospitals to counsel their recovered COVID-19 recovered patients to donate plasma after 14 days of getting cured.

Pointing out that the demand exceeds supply in Delhi's ILBS Hospital (which houses the country's first plasma bank), the Delhi CM said that if things continue like this, the existing stock of plasma will be depleted soon.

"I want to request at people to step forward and donate plasma. Everyone stepping forward to donate plasma should be publicly felicitated," he said.

"There are many who are coming forward to donate plasma whom I have spoke to — these people symbolise my hope, the hope of Delhi and the hope of the country," he added.

12 pm

Will take safety measure before reopening Koyambedu market, TN govt tells HC

The Tamil Nadu government, on Monday, told the Madras High Court that all safety measures, including establishment of disinfection tunnels, will be taken into consideration before reopening Koyambedu wholesale market complex, which was as a major COVID-19 cluster in Chennai.

 

11.30 am

India’s response to COVID-19 will be new case study in Harvard on failures: Rahul Gandhi

As India reached the third spot in terms of countries having the highest number of novel coronavirus cases, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a fresh offensive against the Narendra Modi government.

In a tweet, Mr. Gandhi said India’s fight against COVID-19 would be a new case study in Harvard Business School (HBS) on failures and put up a video in which Mr. Modi had expressed the confidence of winning the battle against the pandemic in 21 days.

 

11.00 am

Start-ups bear the brunt of COVID-19 impact, finds survey

Around 70% of India’s start-ups have been adversely impacted by COVID-19, and 12 have closed down operations since the outbreak, according to a nation-wide survey. The survey, which had a sample size of 250, was conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), jointly with the Indian Angel Network (IAN).

While 12% of the start-ups have shut operations, 60% said they are operating with disruptions.

 

10.30 am | Telangana

Entomology workers under the shadow of disease

Disease prevention is an onerous task fulfilled by the GHMC Entomology field workers under testing circumstances, putting their own safety in peril. They are on the forefront, be it control of vector-borne diseases or COVID-19 spread.

However, allegations are that they are not being provided enough safety gear by the corporation, even while being expected to disinfect areas where COVID-19 positive cases have been detected.

 

10.00 am | Karnataka

10,100-bed capacity care centre set up at exhibition centre in Bengaluru

Facilities at the COVID Care Centre established at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.

Facilities at the COVID Care Centre established at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.

 

A COVID Care Centre with a bed capacity of 10,100 has been set up at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on Tumakuru Road in the city. It is said to be the largest COVID Care Centre in India. A press release issued on Sunday stated that asymptomatic persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 would be housed here.

 

9.40 am

Hundreds of scientists say coronavirus is airborne, ask WHO to revise recommendations: media report

Hundreds of scientists say there is evidence that novel coronavirus in smaller particles in the air can infect people and are calling for the World Health Organization to revise recommendations, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

The WHO has said the coronavirus disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or speaks.

 

9.20 am

As cases mount, Thiruvananthapuram placed under 7-day triple lockdown

The Kerala government has imposed a stringent triple lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram city Corporation area for a week from Monday, in view of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases through contact. State Police Chief Loknath Behera said all roads leading to the city would be closed from 6 a.m. on Monday. Vehicular traffic would not be allowed in any of the city roads.

 

9.00 am

Social vaccine is only remedy for now, says CCMB director

CSIR - Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) Director Rakesh Mishra. File

CSIR - Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) Director Rakesh Mishra

 

Scientists of CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), after studying 940 COVID-19 sample genome sequencing, reiterated that the ‘A2a’ is the most prevalent virus strain in the country from March to June. Most of the samples came from nine States — Gujarat, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Delhi, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

That 90% of the virus strain in the country conforms to those prevalent in rest of the world “means mutations are not happening as much and the research process on finding new drugs and vaccines can go on more sound lines”, said CCMB director Rakesh Mishra on Sunday. Though hectic efforts are being made to treat COVID-19 patients with available repurposed anti-viral drugs, he asserted that since vaccine development is a lengthy process, the only option left is a ‘social vaccine’.

 

8.30 am

People coming to city from Tamil Nadu have a tough time

People coming from Tamil Nadu with Seva Sindhu e-pass had a tough time entering the city on Sunday. Owing to the lockdown, the police had denied entry for vehicles coming from Tamil Nadu at Attibele check-post. It was only after the higher-ups intervened that people with passes were allowed into the State.

 

8.00 am

Testing in A.P. crosses 10-lakh mark

The mortality rate in the State stands at 1.24%, when compared to 2.86% of the country.

The mortality rate in the State stands at 1.24%, when compared to 2.86% of the country.

 

The State which has been on the forefront in detecting the coronavirus cases has tested 10 lakh samples by Sunday.

Having tested 10,17,140 samples by 9 a.m. on Sunday, the authorities put the positivity rate is 1.84%, which means only less than two persons in every 100 suspects tested have confirmed positive for the virus.

 

7.30 am

Govt. decides to go for pool testing in low prevalence areas

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to go in for pool testing of COVID-19 samples. The protocols are expected to be ready in a few days.

Pool testing is a method by which multiple samples, up to a total of five, are tested together, in one single RT-PCR test. In mid-April, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) put out an advisory, recommending pool testing as the number of positive cases began to rise rapidly.

 

7.00 am

Delhi govt orders compulsory rapid antigen detection test for high-risk individuals

A health worker takes a swab from a woman for a COVID-19 rapid antigen test at a testing centre in Karol Bagh in New Delhi on June 22, 2020.

A health worker takes a swab from a woman for a COVID-19 rapid antigen test at a testing centre in Karol Bagh in New Delhi on June 22, 2020.

 

The Delhi government on Sunday instructed all health care facilities to carry out compulsory rapid antigen detection testing of patients with ILI symptoms, patients admitted with SARI and other high-risk individuals who visit their facilities.

An order issued by the Delhi Health department directed all medical directors, medical superintendent and directors of all Delhi government-run hospitals to ensure that “rapid antigen detection testing” of all individuals/patients falling in the categories listed, who visit their hospital, is mandatorily done.

6.30 am

₹1 lakh COVID-19 bill for a day’s treatment

Ever since COVID-19 treatment was left to select private hospitals, there were complaints galore that the patients were fleeced for heavy tariff.

The latest one such was by none other than a COVID warrior at Fever Hospital who was slapped a bill of over ₹1 lakh just for a day’s treatment. The management of the private hospital was said to have refused her discharge until she cleared the bill. The patient, a top official at the Fever Hospital, narrated her saga in a video that caught the attention of Health Minister Eatala Rajender.

On her discharge, Mr. Rajender immediately issued instructions for her treatment at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences free of cost. These incidents have come to light at a time when private labs came under scanner for bungling in reports of people who tested themselves for virus. They take us to initial claims of government that it will not permit any kind of testing or treatment in private sector.

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