India’s COVID-19 death toll crossed the 9,000-mark on June 13 with a record daily increase making it the world’s ninth worst hit nation in terms of fatalities, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed steps to contain the pandemic in areas where large numbers of cases are being detected.
Karnataka governmnet is set to constitute a special task force that will oversee all activities in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts. A decision on this was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar on Friday.
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:
COVID-19 cases in Assam cross 4,000-mark
The number of coronavirus cases in Assam reached 4,118 after 218 more people tested positive for the pathogen on June 15, Health and Family Welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
“Alert ~ 69 new #COVID19+ cases reported. 16 Nagaon, 15 Dhubri, 12 Kamrup, 10 Jorhat, 6 Dhemaji, 4 Udalguri, 3 Kamrup (R), 3 Barpeta,” he said.
Earlier during the day, Mr. Sarma said in a series of tweets that 149 more people tested positive for novel coronavirus.
Out of these 149 cases, 54 are from Kamrup, 46 from Nagaon, 13 from Darrang, 10 each from Barpeta and Golaghat, three from Karimganj, two each from Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Jorhat, Baksa and Chirang, and one each from Cachar, Karbi Anglong and Bongaigaon districts, he added.
At present, there are 2,147 active cases in the State.
Mr. Sarma further said that 155 people recovered from COVID-19 and were discharged from various civil, district and model hospitals across the state.
So far, eight patients have died due to the disease, while 1,960 have been cured and discharged from hospitals, he added.
Train services for essential service workers from June 16
The Railways have decided to start local trains services for essential workers in Mumbai. The train services will start from June 16 morning.
Essential services workers include government staff, police, municipal workers and also private healthcare staff. — Ajeet Mahale
India to witness COVID-19 peak in mid-November, says ICMR study
The peak stage of COVID-19 in India has been delayed by the eight-week lockdown and has strengthened public health measures, and it may now arrive around mid-November when a paucity of isolation and ICU beds and ventilators can arise, a study says.
The study, conducted by researchers from an operations research group constituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said the lockdown shifted the peak by an estimated 34 days to 76 days and helped bring down the number of infections by between 69% and 97%, allowing time to shore up resources and health infrastructure.
161 new cases, 12 deaths in M.P
Madhya Pradesh on Sunday recorded 161 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 10,802. The number of active cases stands at 2,666. As many as 12 patients died of the illness on the day. Four patients died in Indore, three in Bhopal, while Burhanpur, Neemuch, Sagar, Dewas and Guna reported one death each.
The State-wide death toll climbed to 459. As for recoveries, 300 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 7,677 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services.
- Sidharth Yadav
2224 new cases and 56 deaths in Delhi
Delhi reported 2224 fresh positive cases and 56 deaths on Sunday, taking the total figures to 41,182 and 1327 respectively. This is the highest single day jump in number of cases. 878 patients were discharged today, taking the total to 15,823.
The Delhi government said that the meeting between Central government and Delhi government today was very productive. “All issues related to Delhi's fight against Covid-19 were discussed in detail and key decisions were jointly taken. Central Govt and Delhi Govt agreed on an immediate action plan to increase capacity of beds, increase testing and other important initiatives,” the government said in a statement.
It added that this pandemic was among the worst to have happened in the history of mankind and it is imperative for all of us to come together to fight it.
- Delhi bureau
U.P. reports 499 new cases and 14 deaths
Uttar Pradesh recorded 14 new deaths and 499 new cases on Sunday, taking the total death toll to 399 and total cases to 13,615, the State health department said.
Active cases now stand at 4948, while 8268 persons have recovered.
The new cases included 83 in Noida alone, while Ghaziabad reported 30, Lucknow 29, and Meerut and Jaunpur 27 each. Noida now has 480 active cases, while Kanpur is placed second with 288.
With six new deaths, the death toll in Meerut climbed to 58, placing it six behind Agra (64), which reported two new deaths in the last 24 hours.
- Omar Rashid
Bodies of suspected COVID-19 cases in Delhi be handed over to relatives immediately: Health Ministry
An MHA spokesperson tweeted that in compliance with the orders of Home Minister Amit Shah, the Union Health Ministry has directed that "bodies of suspected #COVID19 cases in Delhi be handed over to relatives immediately without waiting for laboratory confirmation; bodies to be treated with precaution as per Health Min guidelines dated 15.3.2020."
The tweet said that AIIMS Delhi has also set up a 24/7 COVID-19 helpline number - 9115444155 where "callers can take OPD appointments, talk to volunteers while doctors can talk to Consultants."
- Delhi bureau
Maharashtra reports 3390 fresh cases, 120 deaths
Maharashtra reported a third consecutive single-day surge of more than 3000 Covid-19 cases as 3,390 new cases took the State's total tally to 1,07,958. 120 new deaths pushed the total number of deaths to 3,950. Of the total cases, 53,030 are active ones. As many as 1,632 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of discharged till date to 50,978.
With 1,395 new cases, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 58,226. The city's death toll has risen to 2,182. As many as 69 of the new deaths reported today were from Mumbai city, 11 from Pune district and 11 from Jalgaon among other parts of the State.
- Shoumojit Banerjee
29 deaths, 511 new cases in Gujarat
Gujarat recorded 511 new infections and 29 deaths on Sunday, bringing the numbers to 1478 deaths and 23590 positive infections. So far, 16,333 patients have been discharged including 422 on Sunday.
- Mahesh Langa
COVID-19 may trigger new diabetes, experts say
COVID-19 may trigger the onset of diabetes in healthy people, and also cause severe complications in diabetic patients, according to an international group of 17 leading experts in the chronic condition.
Based on clinical observations made so far, the scientists, including Stephanie A. Amiel from King’s College London in the U.K., said there is a bi-directional relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes.
In a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine, they explained that diabetes, on the one hand, is associated with i ncreased risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality with 20 to 30% of patients who died with the infectious disease reported to have diabetes.
- PTI
China's Sinovac says its coronavirus vaccine showed positive results in trials
Chinese vaccine-maker Sinovac Biotech has announced "positive preliminary" results of phase I and II clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CoronaVac, saying it can induce a positive immune response.
The phase I/II clinical trials was designed as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled studies. In total, 743 healthy volunteers, aged from 18 to 59 years old, enrolled in the trials.
Of those, 143 volunteers are in phase I and 600 volunteers are in phase II, the Beijing-based company said in a statement.
The vaccine induced neutralising antibodies in above 90 per cent of people who were tested 14 days after receiving two injections, two weeks apart. There were no severe side effects reported, the company said in a statement.
The company expects to submit a phase II clinical study report and a phase III clinical study protocol to China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) soon and commence application of phase III clinical trials outside of China.
Sinovac's development of a vaccine against COVID-19 began in January 2020 in partnership with leading academic research institutes in China.
- PTI
BJP slams Puducherry govt for COVID-19 spread
The BJP in Puducherry on Sunday alleged the rise in COVID-19 cases in the union territory was due to 'slackness' in implementing measures to curb the virus and demanded that the government convene an-all party meet to discuss the situation.
There was no checking of vehicles coming into the UT from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and more particularly from `hotspots` and this was contributing to the spread of the disease, local party unit President V. Saminathan said in a statement here.
He said the government should convene immediate a joint meeting of leaders of political parties to enlist their views on measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Puducherry has reported four deaths due to COVID-19.
- PTI
Scientists break down three stages of infection, suggest individualised treatment for patients
Scientists have described three distinct phases of COVID-19 disease progression in patients, urging medical professionals to consider an individualised treatment approach for patients based on their symptoms corresponding to these stages of infection.
According to the scientists, including those from the University of Florence in Italy, three distinct phases of COVID-19 infection, with variable degrees of symptoms have been observed in people who test positive for the deadly disease.
- PTI
Nizamabad Rural MLA tests positive for COVID-19
Nizamabad Rural MLA Bajireddy Govardhan, tested positive for COVID-19 and left for Hyderabad to get himself admitted in a private hospital for treatment on Sunday.
As soon as he got the information that Jangoan MLA Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy had tested the positive Mr. Govardhan gave his samples for testing as both had spent some time together in a private meeting two days ago, according to sources close to the MLA.
Remdesivir, convalescent plasma use based on limited available evidence, says Health ministry
A day after allowing the use of antiviral drug remdesivir and off-label application of tocilizumab and convalescent plasma in moderate cases of COVID-19 , the Union health ministry on Sunday said the “use of these therapies is based on limited available evidence at present”.
The Ministry clarified that remdesivir has been included as an “investigational therapy” only for the purpose of restricted emergency use following certain news reports regarding the use of the drug as part of the clinical management protocols for COVID-19 and its availability in the country.
Karnataka's positive cases at 7000, 5 more deaths
176 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Karnataka today. With this, the total number of positive cases in the State stand at 7000. Five new deaths reported and with this the total number of deaths stand at 86. 312 recovered today, taking the total recoveries to 3955.
- Karnataka Bureau
T.N reports 1974 new cases, 38 deaths
Tamil Nadu reported 1974 positive cases today and 38 deaths. 1138 people were discharged on Sunday, taking the active cases to 19,679. Total positive cases - 44,661, total deaths - 435, total discharged - 24,547.
- TN Bureau
BJP-ruled States yet to share details on changes to labour laws
More than a month after the Parliamentary Committee on Labour wrote to eight State governments seeking explanation on the changes brought to the labour laws during the extended lockdown, three BJP-ruled States — Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh — have not responded, despite two reminders from the Committee.
The three States have effected the most significant changes, suspending the majority of the labour laws for a period up to three years.
Odisha's Ganjam district repeals Unlock-1 relaxations, orders lockdown till June 30
To prevent community spread of COVID-19, Odisha’s Ganjam district administration on Sunday repealed all relaxations of Unlock-1 and ordered the strict imposition of complete lockdown in the district till June 30. The total weekend shutdown declared by the State government on Saturdays and Sundays will also be enforced in the district.
Ganjam is the worst COVID-19 affected district in Odisha. Till Sunday morning, it had recorded six COVID-19 deaths and 682 positive cases. District Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said there had been no community spread of COVID-19 in Ganjam till now.
Amit Shah calls meeting of all Delhi-based parties tomorrow to review COVID-19 situation in national capital
Home Minister Amit Shah has called a meeting of all Delhi-based parties tomorrow to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the national capital.
PTI adds:
Mr. Shah held a meeting with top functionaries of Delhi’s three municipal bodies along with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in the national capital.
This was the second high-level meeting held during the day in the wake of rising cases of the novel coronavirus. The key objectives of the second meeting were to review the steps taken by the municipal bodies and how to check the further spread of the virus, a government official said.
Apart from Mr. Shah, Mr. Baijal, Mr. Kejriwal and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Mayors of Delhi’s North and East municipal corporations - Avtar Singh and Anju Kamalkant respectively - attended the meeting. A representative of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation was present.
Commissioners of the three municipal corporations also attended the meeting.
Centre has ‘let down’ Pondy without sanctioning funds to battle COVID-19: CM
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy charged the Centre with “letting down” the Union Territory and also to several other states by turning a deaf ear to their repeated pleas for allocation of funds to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing reporters, the Chief Minister said, “The Puducherry government for instance has been sincerely taking steps to keep the spread of the pandemic at bay.
"But the Centre is not listening to our repeated pleas for financial assistance so that our performance would be still better," he said.
“We are concerned with the lives of the people and hence persuade the Centre to extend grants to strengthen facilities in the hospital,” he contended.
- PTI
Parents want CBSE, CICSE pending board exams scrapped due to spike in COVID-19 cases
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, most parents say they are worried about the pending class 10 and 12 board exams by CBSE and CICSE scheduled from July 1, and demand that they be scrapped and the result be declared by either calculating the average of tests already conducted or based on an internal assessment.
Several parents have launched an online campaign hashtagged “studentlivesmatter”, “livesoverexams” and “cancelboardexams".
Meghalaya extends night curfew till June 22
The Meghalaya government has extended the night curfew till June 22 to contain the coronavirus outbreak, officials said.
Restrictions on inter-state movement of people will also continue, exempting only those having permission for medical purposes, they said.
“In view of the prevailing situation regarding COVID-19 in the state, district authorities have promulgated night curfew with effect from June 15 up to June 22 between 9 pm and 5 am each day,” a senior government official told PTI .
- PTI
Chargesheet against over 2,000 people for defying lockdown norms in Muzaffarnagar
Over 2,000 people who were booked during lockdown in 374 cases in the district have been chargesheeted, police said. Police had booked 2,052 people for defying lockdown norms in different police station areas in the district.
All of them have been chargesheeted, the police said.
- PTI
Long-distance bus operators to run vehicles on Kolkata routes
With several Kolkata-based private bus operators demanding an increase in fares to resume services, the West Bengal transport department has roped in long-distance private bus operators to run their fleets in the city to meet the demand in the eastern metropolis, officials said.
Though some local private bus operators have recommenced services in Kolkata since last week, the number of vehicles on the roads is less than normal, causing trouble to commuters, they said.
- PTI
COVID-19 cases in Thane police reach 269, Palghar at 50
The number of police personnel who have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Palghar in Maharashtra reached 50 after two men from the force were detected with the infection on Sunday, an official said.
The two are attached to the police control room, where four personnel were detected with the infection four days ago, he added.
“Of the 50 who have tested positive so far, 17 have been discharged after recovery,” the official said.
In Thane city, as on Saturday evening, there were 269 COVID-19 cases in the police force, and two have died of the infection.
“So far, 187 Thane police personnel have been discharged. The active cases are 80,” an official informed.
- PTI
Amit Shah transfers 4 IAS officers to Delhi govt. to assist COVID-19 fight
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday ordered the immediate transfer of four IAS officers to the Delhi government and attachment of another two from the Centre to help the national capital fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The order was issued within hours of a high-level meeting Mr. Shah held with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
No question of reimposition of lockdown: Karnataka minister
Karnataka Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said there was no question of re-imposition of the lockdown amid speculation that it would be done.
“The question of lockdown is not in front of us.
"There is such speculation as the Prime Minister is holding a video conference with all Chief Ministers on June 16 and 17.
"On June 17 our State will be taking part in it at around 3 p.m.,” Mr. Sudhakar said in response to a question.
- PTI
Mysuru hotel visitors told to self-quarantine
Those who had food at a restaurant in Mysuru on June 6 evening have been asked to go into self quarantine after a COVID-19 infected couple, who had a travel history to Tamil Nadu, had food at the hotel.
The restaurant at Indiranagar in Ittigegud had been shut after the couple, who had returned to Mysuru recently, was tested positive.
According to the health authorities, the couple ate food at the restaurant between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on June 6. “If anyone had food at the hotel at the specified time, they are requested to go for self quarantine at their homes for 14 days in the interest of public besides informing the district surveillance unit,” they added.
Adyar police create Whatsapp group to help quarantined persons
To help residents who have been placed under quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, police personnel in Adyar (district) have now started a Whatsapp group. Monitoring apart, the police also use it to find out what residents need, and deliver grocery essentials to the doorsteps of those under home quarantine.
There are approximately 290 persons in 182 houses under home quarantine under the Adyar police limits. Apart from the persons under quarantine, their family members too, have been asked not to step out of their homes.
South Korea, Egypt report rise in virus cases as curbs ease
The coronavirus infections in South Korea and Egypt has risen, showing how the disease can come back as curbs on business and travel are lifted.
Egypt reported its biggest daily increase on Saturday. Infections were rising in some U.S. states as President Donald Trump pushed for businesses to reopen despite warnings by public health experts.
Testing to be increased two-fold in Delhi in the next two days: Amit Shah
Amid exponential rise in number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that testing would be ramped up in the next two days and polling booths would be used to test patients in containment zones. A house-to-house survey in containment zones was also planned.
As on Saturday, there are 241 containment zones in Delhi, and more than 1,000 deaths due to the infection have been reported so far.
Mr. Shah met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, and Union Health Minister Harshvardhan on Sunday to discuss the COVID-19 strategy in Delhi.
Soon after the meeting , Mr. Shah posted a series of tweets about the outcome.
Case against AIADMK MLA for violating lockdown norms in Puducherry
The Grand Bazaar police have booked a case against an AIADMK MLA and seven others for violating prohibitory orders and staging a demonstration here.
According to police, AIADMK legislature party leader and Uppalam MLA, A. Anbalagan, along with party cadres had staged a demonstration near the Chambre De Commerce building on Saturday, demanding the immediate release of fishing ban relief assistance to fishermen in the Union Territory.
AIADMK MLA tests positive for COVID-19; hospitalised
AIADMK MLA K. Palani, elected from Sriperumbudur constituency, has tested positive for COVID-19 and has since been hospitalised.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami spoke to the MLA over the phone this morning and advised him to undertake all necessary medical treatment, an official release stated.
Beds for COVID-19 patients in Delhi to increase by 5,000: Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the bed strength in the national capital for treating COVID-19 patients will increase by 5,000 after the city government decided to declare small and medium multi-speciality nursing homes as “COVID nursing homes“.
Small and medium multi-speciality nursing homes in the city having 10 to 49 beds have been declared as “COVID nursing homes” by the Delhi government to increase the bed capacity for coronavirus patients, according to an official order issued on Saturday.
Shah holds meeting with Delhi LG, CM on COVID-19 situation
Amid rising concern over the rapid growth of the novel coronavirus cases, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday held a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others to discuss the situation in Delhi.
The meeting comes in the wake of increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi, where the tally has reached nearly 39,000 cases and the death toll rose to over 1,200.
Highest single-day spike
India saw the highest single-day spike of 11,929 novel coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the number of infections to over 3.20 lakh on Sunday, while the toll crossed the 9,000 mark with 311 more deaths, the Health Ministry said.
This is the third day in a row there were more than 10,000 cases of the coronavirus disease.
- PTI
HC junks plea seeking COVID-19 medical trials on jail inmates
The Bombay High Court has refused to pass an order directing the government to conduct trials of possible COVID-19 drugs or treatment on inmates of jails or correctional homes who have contracted the novel coronavirus.
On whom medical trials should be conducted is a matter of government policy and the court would not interfere in that, said a Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice S.S. Shinde on Friday.
Chartered flight brings 180 from Dubai
The first of several chartered repatriation flights for Indians in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), organised by the Maharashtrian community, brought back 180 people to Mumbai on Saturday evening. A second flight is scheduled to arrive in Pune on Sunday.
Three PG students of Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital test positive
Three postgraduate students of Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.
Two postgraduate students attached to the Department of Anaesthesia and another one belonging to the Department of Surgery tested positive for the viral infection after they were part of the team of doctors who performed surgery on a patient admitted to the Emergency and Trauma Care ward.
Despite odds, India Post ensures essential services during lockdown
Since March 25, 2020 when crores of Indians have been staying indoors due to lockdown, around 4 lakh postal department employees on the ground worked day in and out to deliver parcels, letters and even cash thus maintaining the essential service when regular flights and passenger train services remained suspended.
