According to data from Johns Hopkins University, India is now the fifth worst-hit nation by the COVID-19 pandemic after the U.S., Brazil, Russia and the U.K.
A research article published in Current Science says the probable source of origin of Indian SARS-CoV-2 viruses is countries from Europe and Oceania regions, besides Middle East and South Asian regions.
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:
20 deaths, 277 new cases recorded in U.P.
With 20 new deaths, including 5 in Basti, 3 in Ghaziabad and 2 in Jhansi, the toll owing to COVID-19 in U.P. rose to 321, according to the State Health Department. With 277 new cases, including 52 in Jaunpur alone, total cases stand at 11,610, while active cases are at 4,318. As many as 6,971 people have recovered.
UP has till date identified 1.34 lakh "symptomatic persons" across the State. U.P. has tested 4.04 lakh samples so far. 98,078 migrant workers have been tested, of which 3,185 were found positive.
- Omar Rashid
COVID-19 patient ends life in ward after escape episode
A COVID-19 patient, brought back after escaping quarantine from the medical college hospital here, was found hanging in his isolation ward on Wednesday, police said.
The personhad hanged himself in the ward when the nurse went to give him medicines. He was taken to the ICU immediately but could not be saved, the police said.
The 33-year-old patient was to be discharged on Tuesday after being tested negative twice, but he escaped from the hospital on the same day and was caught near his house, the they said.
28 CRPF personnel posted in Kashmir test COVID positive
As many as 28 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel posted in Kashmir tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, officials said.
They said the personnel were found infected during a contact-tracing exercise after the death of a 44-year-old constable on June 6 when he succumbed to the disease.
Twenty-eight personnel in Kashmir have tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, the officials said, adding they belong to the 90th battalion of the force where the deceased constable, a nursing assistant, was posted.
Madhya Pradesh reports 200 new cases
Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday recorded 200 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 10,049. The number of active cases stands at 2,730. Seven deaths owing to the illness were reported on the day. Two patients died in Indore, while Bhopal, Sagar, Barwani, Rewa and Shajapur reported one death each. The State-wide death toll climbed to 427. As for recoveries, 163 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 6,892 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services.
- Sidharth Yadav
Delhi reports 1,501 new cases
1,501 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 32,810, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Wednesday.
This is the second-highest number of cases reported in a single day in the city so far.
Also, 79 more deaths have been reported taking the total number of deaths to 984. But all the deaths did not happen in the past 24 hours. Of the total cases, 12,245 people have recovered and there are 19,581 active cases.
Maharashtra reports new single day high of 3,254 COVID-19 cases
Maharashtra recorded its highest single-day case surge as well as its highest fatality spike on Wednesday, reporting 3,254 new Covid-19 cases and 149 deaths as its total case tally soared to 94,041 and its total death toll rose to 3,438. However, only 46,074 cases of Maharashtra's total case tally are active ones. As many as 1,879 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of discharged till date to 44,517. With 1,567 new cases reported today, Mumbai's total case tally has now reached 52,667 while its death toll has risen to 1,857. As many as 97 of the new deaths were from Mumbai city, 15 from Thane, ten from Pune district and eight from Aurangabad among other parts of the state.
Patnaik urges health workers to follow COVID protocol
“Distressed” at the news that several doctors and nurses have got infected with coronavirus, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said breach of safety protocol could be the reason for this, and appealed to everyone engaged in COVID-19 health care service to meticulously follow it.
Patnaik said this while attending a technical workshop for health personnel through video conference, held in the backdrop of at least 106 health workers, including 58 doctors and nurses, across the state testing positive to the virus.
A senior health official said the development has created panic among health service providers in as many as 35 COVID-19 hospitals in different parts of Odisha.
COVID-19 patient booked for escaping from facility
A case was registered against a COVID-19 patient, who had allegedly escaped from a facility in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city, and brought back after nearly 24 hours, an official said on Wednesday.
A 30-year-old patient admitted at a COVID-19 Care Centre at Samras Hostel gave a slip to the medical staff and managed to escape on Tuesday, sub-inspector Kamlesh Choudhary of University police station said.
“The patient was admitted to the facility on June 3 and escaped on Tuesday evening. A doctor from the centre lodged an FIR against him last night,” the official said.
Tamil Nadu reports new single day high of nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday reported an all-time single day high of 1,927 new coronavirus cases while 19 people died, taking the infection count to 36,841 and the toll to 326, the government said.
A total of 17,675 samples were tested, taking the total number of specimens examined so far to 6,38,846.
Of the fresh infections, Chennai accounted for 1,392 cases as its tally alone touched 25,937.
No bail for accused who claimed to be infected by coronavirus
A court here has refused to grant interim bail to a murder accused, who claimed that he had been infected by coronavirus last month.
The court on June 7 heard the bail plea of an undertrial, who has been in jail since 2017, and had tested positive for the deadly virus on May 6.
The undertrial’s lawyer cited a Supreme Court order that allowed interim bail plea of an accused if he or she tests positive for COVID-19, without considering the merits of case.
85% of people tested positive for coronavirus in Nepal are those who returned from India: PM Oli
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Wednesday claimed that 85 per cent of the people tested positive for coronavirus in the country are those who returned from India.
His claim comes in midst of a raging boundary row between the two countries with India sternly asking Nepal not to resort to any “artificial enlargement” of territorial claims after the Kathmandu released a new political map laying claim over Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.
Nepal has recorded 279 new cases of the coronavirus infection on Wednesday, taking the country’s COVID-19 tally to 4,364. At least 15 people have died due to the disease, according to the health ministry. Province No. 2 situated in southern Nepal bordering India has highest number of cases.
The Oli government is facing criticism from various quarters over its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Display bed availability, Delhi L-G tells hospitals
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday directed Chief Secretary Vijay Dev to ensure installation of LED boards at all major health facilities to display bed availability, charges and details of persons to be contacted for admission.
In his letter, the lieutenant governor said the health department may be advised to ensure that data displayed on these LED boards reconciles with that available on the Delhi government’s app.
The move is aimed at increasing transparency in allocation of hospital beds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In order to increase transparency and to facilitate public, all major hospitals/clinics/nursing homes of Delhi should be directed to display on LED boards in large letters outside their establishments, at the entry point itself, the availability of beds, (both COVID and non-COVID, wherever applicable), along with charges including for rooms/beds and details of contact persons for admission,” Mr. Baijal said in the letter.
Mamata rejects Shah’s charge, says never called ‘Shramik’ trains ‘Corona Express’
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday denied having called ‘Shramik Special’ trains, ferrying migrant labourers back home, .
“Corona Express” as alleged by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, insisting it was the people who gave that name to crammed-to- capacity trains.
Her comments came a day after Shah, addressing a virtual rally for West Bengal, accused Banerjee of “insulting” migrant workers returning to the state on Shramik Special trains by calling the trains ‘Corona Express’, and asserted that migrant workers will ensure the “exit” of her government in the 2021 assembly polls.
For Dabbawalas of Mumbai, future is uncertain
When lockdown was announced, the famous Dabbawalas or lunch box carriers of Mumbai returned to their villages.
Some of them had their agricultural farms to fall back on, but then came Cyclone Nisarga, which laid waste to their houses as well as crops in the fields.
Like others in the unorganised sector, they too need help from the government, said Subhash Talekar, spokesperson of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, on Wednesday.
Dabbawalas stopped their service on March 19 after the coronavirus scare began to spread. The government is now allowing offices and businesses in Mumbai to reopen, but there is uncertainty about when Dabbawalas would be able to resume their service.
KMC relaxes norms on disposal of bodies of victims
Ashes of those who die of COVID-19 in the area under the city’s civic body and are cremated as per their religious practices will henceforth be handed over to their kin keeping in mind the emotions of their families, a top KMC official said on Wednesday.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has also decided to allow the family members and kin of the victims who are buried to pay their last respect from a distance, he said.
However, KMC will not hand over the ashes of the patients’ navel after cremation for fear of transmission of the contagion, he said.
So far, the civic body was not informing the families of coronavirus victims where their bodies were cremated or buried.
After a month, Andaman and Nicobar reports two new cases
A month after staying infection- free, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has reported two fresh coronavirus positive cases, both flying back here from outside, health officials said on Wednesday.
One male passenger flying back home from Chennai on June 7 tested positive, while a female arriving from Delhi on the same date was found infected, Deputy Director of Health department, Avijeet Roy, said.
Metropolitan Magistrate at Saket District Court tests positive
A Judge of Saket District Court Complex here has tested Covid-19 positive.
According to the circular issued by District Judge Poonam A Bamba, Metropolitan Magistrate Mayuri Singh tested positive for Covid-19 contagion on June 9.
The judicial officer had last attended the court on June 3.
Goa govt allows people to skip COVID-19 test on arrival
Starting Thursday, those entering Goa will have the option of skipping the COVID-19 test, provided no symptoms were found in them during the screening at the entry points.
However, those who choose not to undergo the test will have to remain home-quarantined for 14 day.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government has brought a change in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to execute this new plan considering the strain on the testing facilities in Goa in view of the rising number of people arriving in the state..
BSF jawan succumbs to COVID-19; 14th death in CAPFs
A 35-year-old BSF jawan has succumbed to the coronavirus, taking the number of fatalities in the force from the pandemic to three.
This is the 14th COVID-19 death in the paramilitary or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
UP CM asks officials to make available COVID-19 testing machines in all districts
To ensure quick COVID-19 test results, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday asked officials to make TrueNat machines available in all 75 districts of the state by June 15.
As part of its efforts to ramp up the testing capacity, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had approved the use of TrueNat system for conducting coronavirus tests.
“TrueNat machines should be made available in all 75 districts by June 15 and made active. The state government has made these machines available and their number is being increased for speedy testing of COVID-19 cases,” the CM said during a review meeting, according to an official statement.
Over 2,000 Goans repatriated amid COVID-19 pandemic
Over 2,000 Goans stranded on ships and in foreign countries have been brought back to the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official here said on Wednesday.
State NRI commissioner Narendra Sawaikar said till date, 2,304 Goans employed on ships and 260 stranded in 31 countries have reached the coastal state.
A flight from Dubai under Vande Bharat Mission and 11 chartered flights with people employed on ships had landed in Goa since the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown.
Two doctors among 19 hospital staff test positive for COVID-19 in J-K’s Udhampur
Nineteen staffers, including two doctors, at Udhampur district hospital in Jammu and Kashmir tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.
The staff had come in contact with a pregnant woman who recently underwent a cesarean section at the hospital and were placed under quarantine after her report for COVID-19 came positive.
Udhampur District Development Commissioner Piyush Singla, in a tweet, said, “With more than 1000 negative reports in the last 4 days we wake up with a report of 19 positives today, mostly the staff of district hospital (sic).”
“These were high risk contacts who attended to the delivery of a pregnant positive lady and were already quarantined,” he tweeted.
Number of recoveries exceed active cases for first time
The number of recovered COVID-19 patients has exceeded the total active cases in India for the first time on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The number of active cases in the country stands at 1,33,632, while 1,35,205 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.
“Thus, 48.99 per cent of the patients have recovered so far,” an official said.
All CGHS hospitals notified as COVID-hospitals to provide treatment to beneficiaries
The Union Health Ministry said that all Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) empanelled hospitals, notified as COVID-hospitals by State governments, will provide treatment facilities to CGHS beneficiaries.
The Ministry issued an order on June 10 to all Health Care Organizations (HCOs) empanelled under CGHS, after reviewing the representations from CGHS beneficiaries regarding difficulties in availing treatment facilities at private hospitals/diagnostic centres empanelled under CGHS.
AAP govt not to challenge L-G's orders on opening Delhi hospitals for all
The AAP government will not challenge the Lieutinent Governor's order to reverse the government's stand that Delhi's hospitals will be reserved only for Delhiites, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.
"I just want to say, that the Centre has decided; the LG has passed the order. This is not the time to bicker about this; what has been done has been done. The decision of the Centre, the LG, has to be followed and implemented in letter and spirit," Mr. Kejriwal, who tested negative for the pandemic, told mediapersons.
Stating that 81,000 beds might be needed by July, Mr. Kejriwal said he would personally monitor setting up temporary COVID-19 centres in places such as stadiums. "If we keep fighting among ourselves, Corona will win," he added.
Over the last 8 days, 1900 people got beds but 150-200 also had to run from pillar to list for beds. When such stories are shown in the media, we make sure to follow each one, he said. - Jatin Anand
Man who died in Puducherry found to be COVID-19 positive
Puducherry recorded a COVID-19 fatality after an elderly patient from Villupuram who died at the government general hospital on Monday night testing positive for the infection.
The 82-year-old patient temporarily staying in Arumbarthapuram had been admitted to the Indira Gandhi GH with multiple complications on June 4. He died on June 8. The results of a sample test that came in on Tuesday showed positive for COVID-19, officials said.
Meanwhile, 12 new cases were reported on Wednesday.
Apart from one death the active cases are 84, cumulative total 145 and discharged cases 60. - Dinesh Verma
Pune’s case tally breaches 10,000-mark
More than 50 new COVID-19 cases were reported across Pune district over a 12-hour span as the district’s case tally breached the 10,000-mark on Wednesday to touch 10,012. The total number of deaths in the district currently stands at 442.
Of the total cases, authorities said that only 3,237 were active with as many as 6,235 persons recovering till date. The district’s recovery rate currently stands at 63.29%. - Shoumojit Banerjee
Jama Masjid may have to be closed again
Devotees stand in queue to offer prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. They were advised to bring their own mats in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Jama Masjid may have to be closed again in view of the “deteriorating” situation in Delhi due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mosque’s Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari said on Wednesday.
The development comes after the Shahi Imam’s secretary Amanullah died due to the novel coronavirus at the Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday night.
Delhi recorded 1,366 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the tally to 31,309, while the death toll mounted to 905.
Rajasthan seals borders with other states in view of surge in coronavirus cases
The Rajasthan government sealed all state borders on Wednesday in view of a surge in COVID-19 cases. The arrangements would be in place for the next seven days.
All movement to and from the state will be regulated. No person can enter Rajasthan without a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the state or leave without a pass, Director General Of Police, Law and Order, M L Lather said in an order.
Apart from inter-state routes, check posts will be put up at railway stations and airports as well, the order said. - PTI
Mumbai Police chief meets Ganesh mandal representatives
Finishing touches being given to Ganesh idols in Anantapur.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh held a meeting with representatives of various Ganesh mandals from the city and sought their views on how they plan to organise the Ganpati festival celebration this year in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.
The 10-day festival begins on ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’, which falls on August 22 this year.
“During the over 30-minute meeting, the commissioner sought our views about the forthcoming Ganeshotsav. We said we will follow whatever is the decision of the state government,” Ganesh Galli Mandal secretary Swapnil Parab said, adding that people’s health was top priority at this time.
Testing of dead bodies with history of ILI or SARI symptoms to continue
A day after removing the clause pertaining to testing of dead bodies with history of ILI or SARI symptoms, the State Health Department has said that it has been restored.
“We are continuing to do COVID-19 tests among deaths with history of ILI or SARI symptoms. The clause was restored on Tuesday following directions from the Government of India. Swabs will be taken within 6 hours of death for testing,” Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) told The Hindu on Wednesday.
If test result comes positive for COVID-19, all close contacts will be tested as primary contacts, he said.
Film shooting in A.P. to resume from June 15
Actors Chiranjeevi , Nagarjuna and other film industry personalities with Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday.
A delegation of senior actors, directors and producers representing the Telugu film industry met Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at his camp office, near, here, on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media later, actor K. Chiranjeevi said that Mr. Jagan had in-principle agreed to allow shooting of films and serials from June 15 and guidelines for it would be issued soon.
COVID spreads to remote villages in Prakasam
Three more persons tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours in Prakasam district, coinciding with the Unlock 2.0, when major curbs on movement of people had been done away with.
The virus has now spread to remote villages in the district as a 32-year-old man from Pandirapalli village got infected as also a 80-year-old man and a 51-year-old man, both from Podili village, COVID-19 Nodal Officer John Richards said.
Both the persons from Podili were primary contacts of an infected person undergoing treatment at the COVID-19 Isolation Ward at the Government General Hospital.
Anbazhagan succumbs to COVID-19
Three-time DMK MLA, J. Anbazhagan, died on Wednesday, days after he tested positive for COVID-19 at a private hospital in Chennai, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced on his Twitter account on Wednesday morning.
DMK president M.K. Stalin confirmed the news in a statement and expressed his sadness and condolences. An official bulletin from Rela Institute and Medical Centre, where he was admitted, said the MLA was fighting for his life with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and his condition deteriorated rapidly early this morning and succumbed to his illness. “He was declared dead at 8.05 a.m,” the hospital said.
Anbazhagan was 61 and is the first legislator to succumb to COVID-19 in the State.
Containment zones are a closely guarded secret in Hyderabad
On Monday, a family in Malkajgiri learnt about a COVID-19 case in their neighbourhood apartment. “Police officials came. Then the area was sanitised and the gate of the apartment complex where the person lived was barricaded with a banner about containment. We learnt from others that a medical professional in the complex was under treatment forthe virus,” says Beenoy, a resident of New Mirjalguda in the eastern part of Hyderabad. A month earlier, the area itself would have been cordoned off and marked as containment zone limiting movement of people.
“We are not giving out information about Containment Zones so as to prevent panic among general public,” says an official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation when asked about the number of containment zones in the city.
Luxury hotels all set to welcome guests back
Bengaluru’s five-star hotels are once again rolling out the red carpet. The hospitality sector had gone into a state of suspended animation in the last couple of months with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), the operator of the Taj Group of hotels, and the ITC Group, that operates a chain of hotels, will see the curtains go up first on their Bengaluru properties after the lockdown.
IHCL’s ‘The Dream, Drive, Discover, Delight’ gives guests the perfect opportunity to drive with families and friends to discover, unwind, and be one with nature once again.
Ten child deaths recorded in Maharashtra
Ten minors have succumbed to COVID-19 in Maharashtra since the outbreak hit the State on March 9. The youngest fatality is a 13 month old baby girl from Pune, who had megaloblastic anaemia and acute malnutrition. In resemblance to the global trend, children in the State have shown more resilience against the SARS CoV-2 than adults but experts warn that malnutrition and pre-existing illnesses may cause a high risk.
The State had reported 2,722 positive cases in the age group of below 10 years and the case fatality rate was merely 0.1%. While the State has not segregated data of positive cases in the 11-18 years age group, there were a total of 5,338 cases between 11-20 years and the case fatality in this group was equally low. - Jyoti Shelar
Punjab allows distribution of prasad, langar at religious places
Devotees take a dip in the sarovar at the Golden Temple as lockdown restrictions were eased, in Amritsar on Monday.
The Punjab government has allowed langar and the distribution of prasad at religious places, revising its earlier lockdown guidelines.
On Monday, the Golden Temple had restarted its ‘langar’ and distributed ‘prasad’ among devotees, defying the Punjab government’s guidelines.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too appeared to defend the practice, saying his government had ‘never believed in interfering with the customs and practices of any religion’.
On Tuesday, an order issued by the Punjab’s Home Department said, It has now been decided to allow community kitchens (langar) and serving of prasad at religious places, subject to the condition that physical distancing norms and all COVID hygiene precautions while preparing and distributing food shall be strictly followed.
It also said the standard operating procedure of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for religious places should be meticulously complied with by managements of religious institutions. - PTI
WHO calls for intermittent lockdowns in Pakistan
The World Health Organization has recommended Pakistani authorities reimpose ”intermittent lockdowns” of targeted areas to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, stating the country did not meet the global body's conditions for lifting restrictions.
Four resident doctors of AIIMS Bhubaneswar test positive
Four resident doctors of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, belonging to different departments, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. This comes after 10 other doctors and at least nine nurses tested positive in hospitals in Odisha.
Over 66% of Bengal COVID- 19 deaths due to co-morbidities
West Bengal’s Health Department, which is coming out with the daily update on COVID-19 infections and fatalities, has indicated that over 66% of those who have died of the infection had co-morbidities.
Ten more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours. The number of deaths as on Tuesday went up to 415. And 275 of them, or 66.3%, had co-morbidities, the Health Department said in a bulletin. As many as 140 of the deceased had no co-morbidities.
Section 144 invoked in 6 panchayats in Thrissur
Owing to the spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases in Thrissur, the District Collector has declared six panchayats as containment zones by invoking Section 144.
Avanur, Adat, Thrikkur, Vadakkekadu, Porathissery, and Cherpu are the panchayats where Section 144 has been declared. People should venture out only in emergency cases. Gatherings of more than three persons are prohibited in these panchayats.
Now, home packages on offer for ‘mild’ patients
With home isolation for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients becoming the new norm, healthcare providers are innovating with special packages that offer medical care kits, video consultations with doctors and nurses and even diet plans during the quarantine period.
