Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked States to make full use of the expanded COVID-19 testing capacity and saving lives a top priority as India recorded the highest ever spike of 2,003 coronavirus deaths after Maharashtra and Delhi added earlier fatalities not attributed to the disease.
Modi also called for fighting the stigma associated with coronavirus and that people should be assured there is no need to panic if somebody has contracted the infection as the number of recovered patients has also been rising. The COVID-19 recovery rate for the country currently stood at around 53 per cent.
The COVID-19 death toll stood at 11,903 while the number of cases jumped by over 10,000 for the sixth day to cross another grim milestone of over 3.5 lakh cases, according to Union Health ministry data. The COVID-19 caseload climbed to 3,54,065 with 10,974 new infections being reported in the last 24 hours.
According to State Health Departments, there were 13,191 new COVID-19 cases and 341 fatalities.
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:
WHO says more understanding needed on steroid
The emergencies chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the news this week that dexamethasone, a cheap steroid, was shown in a British trial to reduce deaths among patients critically ill with the coronavirus, but said it was too soon to change how patients are treated. It’s one of the breakthroughs we’re going to need to effectively deal with COVID-19, but it’s still preliminary data, said Dr. Michael Ryan at a press briefing on Wednesday. We will pull together the necessary expert group... and come to a decision around our clinical advice to countries. Dr. Ryan said that this is not the time to rush to change clinical practice and that it was crucial to understand issues like what dose should be used on patients, how patients would be assessed and if there were adequate supplies of the drug. On Tuesday, when the British researchers announced their findings, the department of health said the dexamethasone had been approved to treat all hospitalized COVID-19 patients, effectively immediately. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that in the last two months, more than 6 million coronavirus cases have been logged and said cases were still accelerating globally. In the first two months, only 85,000 cases were reported, mostly from China. - AP
2,414 fresh cases reported in Delhi
The Capital reported 2,414 Covid-19 positive cases on June 17 taking the total number of cases up to 47,102, according to a heath bulletin issued by the Delhi government.
67 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours with the total number of deaths being revised to 1,904.
510 people recovered taking to total number of recoveries to 17,457. There are 27,741 of active cases in the city and 242 containment zones. — Jaideep
Madhya Pradesh tally at 11,244
Madhya Pradesh on June 17 recorded 161 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 11,244. The number of active cases stands at 2,374.
Four patients died of the illness in Indore on the day, while two in Sagar. The State-wide death toll climbed to 482.
As for recoveries, 236 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 8,388 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services. — Sidharth Yadav
CRPF official succumbs to COVID-19
A CRPF official has succumbed to COVID-19, taking the death toll from the disease in the country’s largest paramilitary force to five, officials said on Wednesday.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also reported 35 fresh cases of the infection in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus-affected personnel to 783 out of which 338 are active while 440 patients have recovered.
Continue to restrict train and air travel to Odisha till June-end: Patnaik to PM
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to continue with the restrictions on train and air travel to Odisha at least till the end of June to contain the spread of COVID-19.
He made this request during the second phase of the Prime Minister’s video-conference with Chief Ministers.
“June is the toughest month for Odisha because a large number of migrants have returned and the monsoon has also started. Hence, Government of India should continue with the restrictions on train and air travel to Odisha,” Mr. Patnaik said.
COVID-19 testing rate in Delhi fixed at ₹2,400: MHA
Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s decision to double COVID-19 tests in Delhi, 16,618 samples have been collected on June 15 and 16, compared to 4,000 to 4,500 daily till June 14, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Wednesday.
The Ministry also announced that the price for COVID-19 test in Delhi has been fixed at ₹2,400 as suggested by a high-level committee set up by the Home Minister on Sunday and now tests will be done via Rapid Antigen methodology.
Maharashtra reports 3,307 new cases
Maharashtra reported another massive surge of 3,307 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday taking State's total tally to 1,16,752. 114 new deaths pushed the total death toll to 5,651.
Of the total cases, 51,921 are active ones. As many as 1,315 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of discharged till date to 59,166.
With 1,359 new cases, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 61,587. The city's death toll has risen to 3,244. As many as 77 of the new deaths reported today were from Mumbai city, 22 from Pune district and seven from Jalgaon district among other parts of the State.
Karnataka govt. to conduct random tests on slum dwellers, vendors and bill collectors
The Karnataka government on Wednesday decided to conduct random testing on slum dwellers, vendors and bill collectors at markets, delivery and courier boys among others, aimed at effective surveillance following the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the state.
“In view of the recent increase of COVID-19 cases and to ensure effective surveillance, it is hereby directed that random testing using RT-PCR pooled sample technique be done for certain category of persons,” the circular issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, (Health and Family Welfare Department) Jawaid Akhtar said.
Delhi Heath Minister Satyendar Jain tests COVID-19 positive
Delhi Heath Minister Satyendar Jain tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to a hospital here following high fever, a senior official said.
The 55-year-old Minister was brought to the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) in the early hours of Tuesday and was administered a test for the novel coronavirus infection that morning, for which he tested negative.
“He still has fever. The Minister was tested again today after 24 hours of the first test,” a senior official said.
This time, he tested positive, the official said.
Five accused in Palghar lynching case infected by coronavirus
Five more accused in the Palghar lynching case in Maharashtra, who were lodged in a lock-up at Wada police station, have tested positive for coronavirus, police said on Wednesday.
Earlier, 17 accused in the case underwent swab tests, of which 11 tested positive for the deadly infection on Tuesday, an official said.
Modi asks CMs to make full use of COVID testing capacity, expand health infra
Noting that the spread of COVID-19 is more in a few big states and cities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked chief ministers to make full use of their state’s existing testing capacity and also work to augment health infrastructure.
Speaking to Chief Ministers and representatives of 14 states and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Modi said big crowds, lack of physical-distancing, daily movement of large number of people and small houses in some cities have made the battle against the coronavirus “more challenging“.
This was the second day of Mr. Modi’s sixth round of consultations with Chief Ministers on fighting COVID-19 pandemic.
Saving lives should be the top priority, he said, and called for expanding health infrastructure, according to a statement.
Tamil Nadu COVID-19 cases cross 50,000 mark
As many as 2,174 persons test positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. Total tally of cases climbs to 50,193.
Death toll in the State rises to 576 after 48 deaths were reported today.
Steroid dexamethasone approved for use in COVID-19 treatment in U.K.
The U.K. government on Wednesday authorised the State-funded National Health Service (NHS) to use steroid , the world’s first coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death among severely ill patients.
The Department of Health said the cheap and widely available anti-inflammatory steroid has been immediately approved to treat all hospitalised COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen, including those on ventilators, after an Oxford University trial confirmed positive results on Tuesday
30 COVID deaths, 583 new cases in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday reported 30 COVID-19 deaths and 583 new cases of infection, registering the highest single-day spikes on both counts, said an official.
With the two-pronged spike, the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the state rose to 465 and infected cases to 15,181.
Odisha to set up COVID Care Homes in all the 6,798 gram panchayats
The Odisha government on Wednesday announced that COVID Care Homes (CCHs) and Ward Level Committees will be set up across the state to monitor the coronavirus situation.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“We have decided to set up COVID Care Home facilities in all the 6,798 gram panchayats across the state. About 10 to 20 people can stay in each home,” Mr. Patnaik said in a statement.
Residents of contained streets in Chennai worry as complete lockdown looms large
Residents of Motilal Street, in T. Nagar, are worried as the complete lockdown nears. They have not been able to go out for the past three days. The street was barricaded seven days ago. For four days they were asked to sign a register before leaving the street. But three days ago, the restrictions were tightened. Though essentials like milk and water tankers have been allowed, residents are wondering if even these will be stopped.
“A young man near my house used to drop his father at the T. Nagar terminus. He was asked to sign the register while entering and exiting the street. But three days ago they would not allow him,” said Vanjula Narasimhan, a resident. The senior citizen said she used an app to get her medicines delivered at her doorstep. “I may need medicines in 10 days’ time. I don’t know if they will permit the supplier to deliver,” she said.
Maharashtra demands COVID-19 drugs, ventilators from Centre
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday demanded from the Centre COVID-19 treatment drugs remdesivir and tocilizumab “in large quantity and at reasonable rate“.
Talking to reporters, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the state also wants the Centre to provide additional 500 ventilators for the treatment of coronavirus positive patients.
E-pass, quarantine now mandatory for those flying into Chennai
On an average, every day, about 3,500 passengers fly down into Chennai from different parts of the country. While all of them are required to have the Tamil Nadu e-pass, they will now also have to undergo home quarantine, even if found asymptomatic.
"If they don’t have a house in Chennai, they will be sent to an institutional quarantine centre. If they are from nearby districts, they can travel after obtaining the e-pass,” said an official.
AAP MLA Atishi tests positive for COVID-19
AAP MLA and national spokesperson Atishi has tested positive for COVID-19.
"Atishi ji has played an important role in the fight against corona. I hope that she will get healthy soon and again get involved in serving the people,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
She is presently under home quarantine, the sources said.
Meanwhile, one person from the CM’s Media team and one person working in Deputy CMs office have also tested positive.
Our biggest priority is to expand health infrastructure: PM Modi
The Prime Minister condoled the deaths of 20 soldiers in Ladakh during a face-off with the Chinese Army.
In his opening remarks on COVID19 meet, Mr. Modi pointed out how the country is in a better position when it comes to supplies like PPEs and manpower compared to three months ago.
"Our biggest priority is to expand health infrastructure, that will only happen when every COVID19 can get treated properly," he said.
We must test intensively and create more quarantine and treatment centres. Telemedicine has also assumed importance here, he said.
Mr. Modi also reminded the chief ministers about monsoon related health issues.
"We must tell people that the people who have recovered corona is far more than those who succumbed to it," he added. - Nistula Hebbar
PM interacts with 14 CMs on Day 2 of consultations
Continuing with his consultations with state governments on ways to check the spread of coronavirus during ‘unlock 1.0’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding interaction with chief ministers and representatives of 14 states and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
His virtual interaction on day two of his consultations with states is attended by the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujara, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar among others, and assumes importance as some of these states account for a majority of the cases in the country.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not participating in the meet as her name was reportedly missing from the list of speakers.
Uttarakhand Tourism Minister, wife discharged
Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj and his wife Amrita Rawat who tested positive for COVID-19 on May 31 have been discharged from AIIMS, Rishikesh after 17 days of treatment.
About 24 people along with Mr. Maharaj, his wife, their two sons, two daughters-in-law and a grandson were admitted at the facility on May 31 after testing positive for COVID-19. While rest of the family members were discharged on June 10, Mr. Maharaj and Ms. Rawat were discharged on Tuesday evening.
Delhi health minister tested again for COVID-19
Delhi Heath Minister Satyendra Jain, who has been admitted to a hospital here after running high-grade fever, was tested again for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
“He is still running fever. The minister was tested again today after 24 hours of the first test. The results are expected by evening,” a senior official said.
Control centre formed at Tamil Nadu police headquarters
With a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 infections among police personnel and their family members, the Tamil Nadu Police have established a round-the-clock ‘Health Care Control Centre’ for uniformed personnel, ministerial staff and their family members at the police headquarters in Chennai.
A software www.ppts.tncovid19.org has been created to update details online.
BMC stops labs from sharing ‘positive’ reports with patients
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has changed its testing protocols yet again, prohibiting laboratories from sharing COVID-19-positive reports directly with patients. Reports will now have to be shared with the corporation, which in turn will notify patients. However, a COVID-19 negative report can be shared with the patient.
Tamil Nadu govt. eases rules for inter-State movement of workers
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday decided to allow the inter-State movement of workers and executives engaged in industrial and other economic activities in neighbouring States without insisting on COVID-19 testing and quarantine, provided they return to their respective areas within 48 hours.
Supreme Court says Centre should direct states to pay salaries to doctors
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to issue directions to states for payment of salaries and providing necessary quarantine facilities to doctors and healthcare workers engaged in treating COVID-19 patients.
A bench of justices Ashok Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah said that doctors and healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients should not be denied quarantine facilities.
Hundreds of COVID-19 patients untraceable in Mumbai, admits BMC
It is not just the dead who are missing in the city. While the government reconciles anomalies in deaths recorded in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) COVID-19 data, as many as 1,000-2,000 of the city’s reported coronavirus patients are currently untraceable.
These patients are neither admitted to hospitals or COVID-19 care centres, nor are they dead. In many cases, their contact numbers or addresses on record are incorrect.
Hyderabad's Gokul Chat closed after owner tests positive
Popular eatery in Hyderabad, Gokul Chat, which was among the two places rocked by blasts in 2007 that claimed 44 lives, has been temporarily closed after its owner tested positive for coronavirus. Twin blasts at this shop and open air theatre at Lumbini park in 2007 had left 44 dead and 68 injured.
Police said the management took the decision after the owner, who was suffering from pneumonia for a long time, was admitted to a private hospital on June 13 and subsequently tested positive.
Though the owner had not been coming to the eatery since June 8, the workers there have been placed under home quarantine, they said. Samples have been collected from his family members for COVID-19 tests, they added.
- PTI
No self-isolation for officials after inter-State travel
Constitutional and government functionaries, as well as their staff, will not be required to home quarantine themselves for seven days after making inter-State journeys related to official work as long as they are asymptomatic.
According to an order issued by Chief Secretary, Vijay Dev, the requirement, which is mandatory for general citizens undertaking inter-State travel through bus, train or air, has been waived for such individuals.
Gurugram fighting uphill battle against coronavirus
Gurugram recorded its first COVID-19 case on March 16, and saw its 1,000th case over 78 days later on June 2. Just six days after that, the city breached the 2,000-mark; and five days later, on June 13, the total number of cases had crossed 3,000. With 2,779 new cases and 42 deaths between June 1 and June 16, almost 75% of all cases and 91% of deaths in Gurugram have been reported in the past two weeks alone.
In a first, number of discharged surpasses new COVID-19 infections in Bengal
While the cases of COVID-19 infections are increasing in West Bengal, a new silver lining has emerged in the battle against the pandemic where the number of patients discharged has been surpassing the number of infections for three consecutive days for the first time.
