As Unlock-2 begins from July 1, India’s COVID-19 tally climbed to 5,66,840 with nearly 66% cases reported in June alone, and a concerned Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is a cause of worry that people are not strictly adhering to rules and precautions as they did during the lockdown.
From June 1, when relaxations were introduced under Unlock-1, the country has reported 3,76,305 cases. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Gujarat account for nearly two-third of the total cases till now.
Speaking on the coronavirus situation, Mr. Modi, in his address to the nation, said India is in a better position compared to many countries of the world, as timely imposition of lockdown and other decisions have saved lakhs of lives.
Also read:No restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods, reiterates guidelines
Here is a list of State Helpline numbers . You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here .
Delhi case tally rises to 87,360, death toll to 2,742
2,199 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 87,360, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Tuesday.
Also, 62 more deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths to 2,742.
Of the total cases, 58,348 people have recovered and there are 26,270 active cases.
- Nikhil M. Babu
Parents move Supreme Court seeking moratorium on school fees for lockdown period
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court by the parents of children from different States seeking declaration of moratorium or deferment of payment of school fees during the COVID-19 induced lockdown.
The plea also seeks direction to Centre and all the States for directing all the private unaided/aided schools to only charge the proportionate fees based on actual expenditure towards the conduct of the online virtual classes and no other fees from the students since April 1 till the commencement of physical classes.
The Petitioners belonging to different states of the country have come together being constrained to approach this Court seeking inter alia the protection of fundamental right to life as well as education guaranteed under the Constitution of India, 1950 which the children & students enrolled up to the Class XII of various Indian states are being deprived of due to supervening factors namely, the ongoing pandemic- COVID-19 period . the plea said.
64,000 fresh cases added to Delhi’s COVID-19 tally in June
Over 64,000 fresh cases were added to the national capital’s COVID-19 tally in June, while 47,489 patients recovered from the infection during this month, according to Delhi government’s health department data.
The current coronavirus count of the city stands at 85,161, which is highest among cities in the country. Among states and Union Territories, Delhi has the highest number of cases after Maharashtra.
It has 26,246 active cases, while the death toll stands at 2,680.
- PTI
Maharashtra reports 4,878 new cases
Maharashtra recorded another big spike of 4,878 fresh Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the State's total case tally to 1,74,761. A sharp fatality surge of 245 new deaths pushed the total death toll to 7,855. Of these, 95 were reported in the last 48 hours while the remaining 150 were from an earlier period, said State Health Department officials. Of the total case tally, 75,979 are active ones. As many as 1,951 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of recoveries till date to 90,911.
With 893 new cases reported today, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 77,658. The city's death toll has risen to 4,556. As many as 36 of the new deaths today were from Mumbai city, 13 from Aurangabad, 12 from Thane and nine Pune district among other parts of the state.
Only six new coronavirus cases found in Mumbai’s Dharavi area
With six new patients detected, the coronavirus case count in Mumbai’s Dharavi area, known as Asia’s largest slum cluster, rose to 2,268 on Tuesday, said a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official.
In the last ten days, the area which has a very high population density has reported less than ten new coronavirus patients for the third time.
Continued spread of COVID-19 pandemic poses risk to Indian economy, says IMF official
The main downside risk to India’s growth forecast is the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as the health crisis has not yet been contained, a top IMF official said on Tuesday, noting that the country’s near-term growth outlook continues to be clouded by the global and domestic slowdown and uncertainties relating to the coronavirus.
Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its report projected the Indian economy to contract by -4.5 per cent in 2020, which is the slowest Indian growth that it has in its record since 1961.
“The main downside risk to India’s growth forecast is the continued spread of the pandemic as the health crisis has not yet been contained. Further outbreaks could require additional lockdowns to contain the pandemic. Concerns about the virus could also dampen consumer confidence and delay the economic recovery, Chang Yong Rhee, who is director of IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, told PTI in an interview.
53 fresh cases in BSF; total tally crosses 1,000-mark
Fifty-three more Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the overall infections in the largest border guarding force to over 1,000, officials said on Tuesday.
As per latest data, out of the total 1,018 coronavirus cases in the force, 659 personnel have recovered and 354 are under treatment.
- PTI
Tamil Nadu’s virus tally crosses 90,000
Tamil Nadu’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 90,000 mark with nearly 4,000 fresh cases for the third consecutive day on Tuesday and with 60 more deaths, the toll touched 1,201, the government said.
Chennai recorded the highest single day increase of 2,393 cases and the remainder was spread across the state, a health department bulletin said.
While the State capital’s cumulative share of virus cases till date was 58,327, Tamil Nadu’s tally stood at 90,167.
- PTI
No case of COVID-19 among 3,628 prisoners lodged in 14 J&K jails: Official
There is no case of COVID-19 among the 3,628 prisoners lodged in 14 jails across Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Prisons V K Singh said on Tuesday, attributing it to the prevention measures taken by officials.
He also said that currently, 150 new prisoners are undergoing mandatory 14-day quarantine within jail premises. None of them have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Mr. Singh said.
“We have no case of COVID-19 among prisoners as well as jail staff and we are hopeful there will be none in the future given the preventive measures taken by the department for the safety of inmates,” he told reporters at the Jammu District Jail.
Tamil Nadu Minister tests positive for coronavirus
Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K. P. Anbalagan has tested positive for coronavirus, a hospital said here on Tuesday.
The Minister initially showed no symptoms and his CT scan was normal, but as a precautionary measure he was kept under observation, MIOT International said in a statement.
“Subsequently, his second sample tested positive for COVID-19."
COVID-19: 10-day total lockdown in Thane city, Mira Bhayander
Thane city will observe a total lockdown between July 2-12 to contain the coronavirus outbreak, municipal commissioner Vipin Sharma said on Tuesday.
Non-essential services will not operate during this period, and nor would movement of vehicles for proposes other than medical and essential travel be allowed, the order said.
Movement of all essential goods as well as perishable items will be allowed during this period, the order said.
— PTI
Services will remain closed for commuters until further notice: Delhi Metro
Delhi Metro services will remain closed for commuters until further notice, in view of the ‘Unlock 2’ guidelines issued by the government, officials said on Tuesday.
The Delhi Metro has been closed since March 22 when the ‘Janata Curfew’ was observed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Subsequently, the nationwide lockdown was announced which came into effect from March 25.
“Delhi Metro services will remain closed for commuters until further notice, in view of the guidelines issued by the government,” a senior official said.
— PTI
Tablighi Jamaat: HC allows shifting of 65 foreigners to alternate accommodation
The Delhi High Court Tuesday allowed shifting of 65 foreign nationals connected to the Tablighi Jamaat , who participated in the religious congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz event during the coronavirus lockdown, to alternate accommodation.
A Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar passed the order after the counsel for Centre, Delhi government and Delhi Police gave the statements that they do not have any objection to it.
— PTI
Scientists identify drugs that may block coronavirus from jumping to uninfected cells
In the study, the scientists analysed all host and viral proteins that showed changes in an enzymatic process called phosphorylation after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
According to the researchers, by altering phosphorylation patterns in the host’s proteins, a virus can potentially promote its own transmission to other cells and, eventually, other hosts.
They found that 12 per cent of the host proteins that interact with the virus were modified.
The scientists also identified the kinases that are most likely to regulate these modifications, and suggested that these enzymes are potential targets for drugs to stop the activity of the virus and treat COVID-19.
— PTI
Coronavirus | Inquiry ordered into dumping of dead bodies
Ballari Deputy Commissioner S. S. Nakul on Tuesday, ordered for an inquiry after a video showing bodies, alleged to be that of COVID-19 victims, being thrown in large burial trenches in an isolated area.
Mr. Nakul confirmed to The Hindu that he has ordered a detailed enquiry to be conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner and directed him to report at the earliest.
— Staff Reporter
Maharashtra govt can’t regulate fees of private unaided schools: Bombay HC
The Maharashtra government is not empowered to issue an order interfering with the fees structure of private unaided schools or schools of other boards, the Bombay High Court said while granting an interim stay on a government resolution prohibiting fee hike this year.
The government resolution (GR), dated May 8, 2020, directed all educational institutions in the state not to hiketheir feesfor the academic year 2020-21 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— PTI
COVID-19: UP government orders door-to-door survey in Meerut division from July 2
In the wake of increasing cases of COVID 19 in Meerut division, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to conduct a door-to-door survey in six districts of the division from July 2.
During the drive, health department personnel would intensively trace people with Influenza-Like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) in containment zones and would map SARI patients in non containment zones. Special focus would be on mapping vulnerable sections such a people with comorbid conditions, pregnant women and children below the age of 10.
Instructions have been given to district officials to make extra ambulances and hospital facilities available as the survey could result in a spurt of cases.
— Special Correspondent
COVID-19 lockdown will be stricter in Nashik: Maharashtra minister
Lockdown will be implemented in a stricter manner in Nashik, where “curfew-like situation” will prevail between 7 pm and 5 am to contain the spread of COVID- 19, Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said on Tuesday.
The state government on Monday extended the lockdown till July 31 without providing any further relaxations, as COVID-19 cases continued to mount in the state.
— PTI
Narendra Modi warns against laid-back approach to COVID precautions
Narendra Modi in his address to the nation, spoke about the issue of Coronavirus. He said: “Not only are we entering Unlock 2, we are also entering the season where fever, cold etc is common. I request you all to take extra care."
He observed that even though India's mortality rates of is one of the lowest in the world, people have become lackadaisical with regard to social distancing.
"PM of one country was fined ₹13,000 for not observing precautions, in India too we must be as careful, whether it is the PM or ordinary citizens," stressed Mr. Modi.
"Those not observing precautions, need to be told to mend their ways," he said
Lockdown woes
The Prime Minister claimed that the govt. made all efforts to ensure that no one slept on an empty stomach during lockdown.
"As soon as lockdown was announced the government announced the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana," he said.
"In the last three months ₹31,000 crore rupees was sent directly to people’s accounts and ₹18,000 crores was given to farmers."
In his address. Mr. Modi also declared the extension of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna till November end. "80 crore people will get free ration for five more months and ₹90,000 crore will be spent on providing free ration to them," he said.
The Prime Minister ended his speech by reiterating the need to use PPEs and stressed on the need to stringently practice physical distancing measures to keep the spread of the virus in check.
— Delhi Bureau
Recovery rate of COVID-19 patients nearing 60%
The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the country is fast approaching 60%, with the Union Health Ministry attributing it to collective and focussed efforts of the Centre and states for containment and management of the pandemic.
As on date, there are 1,19,696 more recovered patients than COVID-19 active cases.
The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 2,15,125, while 3,34,821 patients have been cured/discharged. A total of 13,099 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.
— PTI
ASHA workers played critical role in COVID-19 management in U.P., tracked 30.43 lakh migrant returnees
In a major exercise, 1.6 lakh accredited social health activists have tracked in two phases over 30.43 lakh migrants who returned to Uttar Pradesh during the COVID-19 lockdown and assisted the state government in contact tracing and community surveillance, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
The ASHAs tracked 11.24 lakh migrant returnees in the first phase and 19.19 lakh in the second, the ministry said, adding that they not only identified 7,965 persons with symptoms but also regularly followed up on their health status.
— PTI
COVID-19: Tourism Manager held for thrashing woman staff
Police on Tuesday arrested Tourism hotel Deputy Manager C.Bhaskar for thrashing a woman senior Assistant after she reportedly asked him to wear face mask.
Enraged over the senior Assistant Usha Rani's suggestion to him in view of growing incidence of coronavirus, the officer allegedly pulled her by her hair and beat her up with a furniture handle in a fit of rage on Saturday last, Dargamitta Police Circle Inspector Nageswaramma told the media here. Fellow employees came to the rescue of the woman employee.
— S. Murali
COVID-19 vaccination must be affordable, universal: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reviewed India’s preparations for vaccinating its vast population against COVID-19 once a vaccine is available and asserted that vaccination must be affordable and universal.
Mr. Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review planning and preparations for vaccination against the novel coronavirus.
— PTI
U.K. approves resumption of hydroxychloroquine trial
Britain’s medical regulatory agency has approved the resumption of a trial testing whether hydroxychloroquine, the malaria drug favoured by US President Donald Trump, might help prevent health workers from contracting the coronavirus.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency had suspended enrollment into the trial after a paper was published in the journal Lancet last month that suggested there was an increased death risk linked to the drug. The paper was found to be based on fraudulent data and was retracted.
— AP
Tamil Nadu issues government order on lockdown till July 31
A day after announcing the extension of lockdown against the spread of COVID-19 across the State till July 31, the Tamil Nadu government on June 30, 2020 issued the necessary G.O. in this regard.
You can download the order here: bit.ly/TNGOJune30
— Dennis S. Jesudasan
Leicester first UK city in extended COVID-19 localised lockdown
A surge in the number of coronavirus infections has resulted in an extended lockdown being imposed from Tuesday on the eastern England city of Leicester, which has one of the country’s largest India-origin populations.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the extension for the Leicestershire region in the House of Commons for at least two weeks more than the rest of England, which is preparing to substantially lift restrictions from this Saturday.
— PTI
Congress urges government to set up all-party COVID-19 management committee
In the wake of allegations of corruption and nepotism in the management of the COVID-19 treatment in the State, Leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah demanded the government to immediately constitute an all-party Covid Management Committee to monitor treatment related issues in the hospitals.
In his tweets, the Congress leader urged Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to constitute all-party Covid Management Committee which would increase public confidence in the backdrop of several complaints.
— Special Correspondent
COVID-19: No immediate curfew in Aurangabad, collector assures
The COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad city will be reviewed in the next 10 days and if the condition worsens, the administration will consider imposing a curfew, an official said on Tuesday.
Collector Uday Choudhari made the announcement at a press conference with municipal commissioner Astik Kumar Pandey and police commissioner Chiranjeev Prasad on Monday evening.
— PTI
How a wedding ceremony triggered COVID infection chain in Bihar
A groom died two days after his marriage and 95 others, a majority of those who had attended the wedding ceremony, were found to be COVID-19 positive in Bihar.
The ceremony took place on June 15 at village Deehpali in Paliganj of Patna district. The 30-year-old groom, a software engineer from Gurugram in Haryana, had come to his village for his wedding.
— Amarnath Tewary
At 66.03%Delhi’s coronavirus recovery rate higher than national average
The coronavirus recovery rate in the national capital reached 66.03 per cent on June 29 as against the national rate of 58.67 per cent, according to official figures.
In June, the national capital added over 64,000 fresh cases to its tally, while over 47,357 patients recovered, were discharged or migrated.
Delhi’s recovery rate breached the 50% mark on June 20, after hovering below it for almost a month.
— PTI
15 test positive for Covid-19 infection in Karnataka's Hassan
Including a policeman escorting a former minister, 15 people have been tested positive for Covid-19 infection in Hassan on Tuesday.
The Health Department staff members, who are conducting random testing, had collected sample from policemen escorting a former minister in Holenarasipur. Among them, four were tested positive. Three of them have been admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru, while one is in Hassan district Covid Hospital.
— Karnataka Bureau
Scandinavian Airlines gets $1.5 billion to survive crisis
Scandinavian Airlines said Tuesday it is getting an aid package worth 14.25 billion kronor ($1.5 billion) after an agreement with its main shareholders, securing the carrier’s survival amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The governments of Sweden and Denmark, which own shares in the airline, were partly financing the recapitalization plan, SAS said in a statement.
— PTI
Philips introduces mobile ICUs for India
Global health technology major Royal Philips on Tuesday said it has introduced mobile intensive care units (ICUs) for India to address the challenging needs of critical-care services in the country.
Designed to meet the critical-care requirements of patients, each pre-fabricated ICU has a capacity for nine beds and will be locally manufactured by Philips in India, it said in a statement.
Each ICU unit can be assembled in one day at the chosen site.These portable ICUs will be helpful to government agencies and organisations looking to enhance community outreach and to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and pandemics like the ongoing COVID-19, it added.
— PTI
Odisha allows counter sale of liquor from Wednesday
The Odisha government will allow over-the-counter sale of liquor from Wednesday after more than three months, and one needs to book a time-slot through an online system for buying alcoholic beverages from the outlets.
The liquor shops across the state will remain open from 7 am to 6 pm, according to a notification issued by the Excise Department on Tuesday.
— PTI
9,000 foreigners left in 43 flights from Goa during lockdown
As many as 43 special flights carrying nearly 9,000 foreigners have so far left from Goa to various international destinations during the coronavirus- induced lockdown, officials said on Tuesday.
The latest flight, of the Russian airliner Rossiya, carrying 318 adults and eight children, left from the Goa International Airport on Tuesday, airport director Gagan Malik said.
“So far, 43 flights carrying nearly 9,000 foreigners have left from Goa to various international destinations,” he said.
— PTI
Singapore reports 246 new COVID-19 cases, mostly foreign workers
Singapore on Tuesday reported 246 new COVID-19 cases, mostly foreign workers living in dormitories.
Of the new cases, three Singaporean citizens or permanent residents (foreigners), the health ministry said.
The rest 243 are foreign workers living in dormitories, it said.
With the detection of 246 new cases, the COVID-19 tally in Singapore now stands at 43,907
— PTI
Maharashtra: Total lockdown in Jawhar town till July 8
Considering the rise in COVID-19 cases, the collector of Maharashtra’s Palghar district has announced a complete lockdown in Jawhar town till July 8, an official said on Tuesday.
As per a release from the town’s civic body, collector Kailas Shinde has imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc) prohibiting assembly of five or more people till July 8, it was stated.
— PTI
Unlock 2: UP CM Adityanath directs officials to study guidelines, make arrangements
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday directed officials to study the Centre’s guidelines for the month-long ‘Unlock 2’ beginning July 1, and make arrangements accordingly in the state.
On Monday, the Centre issued guidelines for the month-long ‘Unlock 2’ from Wednesday — the “phased re-opening” of activities that had been barred to contain the spread of COVID-19 — and said educational institutions, Metro rail services, cinema halls and gyms will continue to remain shut. ‘Unlock 1’, a graded exit from the national lockdown imposed on March 25, is due to end on Tuesday.
— PTI
Delhi HC declines to entertain plea seeking free COVID-19 testing, treatment for all at private labs, hospitals
The Delhi High Court Tuesday declined to entertain a plea seeking free of cost COVID-19 testing and treatment at all private labs and hospitals in the national capital for everyone, rich or poor, saying PILs should be filed with “some responsibility“.
A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said it would dismiss the petition with costs after which the petitioner“s counsel sought to withdraw the plea.
“The petition is disposed of as not pressed at this stage,” the court said.
— PTI
HIV drug combo found to have no benefit for hospitalised COVID-19 patients in U.K. trial
A combination of antiviral drugs commonly used to treat HIV showed no beneficial effects in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in a large-scale randomised trial, scientists in the UK have found.
The findings “convincingly rule out any meaningful mortality benefit of lopinavir-ritonavir in the hospitalised COVID-19 patients we studied,” the scientists running the RECOVERY trial at the University of Oxford said in a statement on Monday
— PTI
Private medical colleges in Bengaluru to allot 50% beds for COVID-19 treatment
Private medical colleges in the city have agreed to provide about 4,500 beds for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Tuesday.
The government has agreed to include private doctors and paramedical staff involved in treatment of coronavirus patients under insurance coverage.
“We have held discussions, they (private medical colleges) have responded positively, they have assured that they will give more than 50% of beds and provide necessary facility.
— PTI
NICED official tests positive for COVID-19
A top official at the city-based National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) has tested positive for COVID-19, a health department source said on Tuesday.
The official, who had complained of uneasiness on Friday, was asked to undergo home isolation, he said.
Six Pak players, including Hafeez, test negative for COVID-19; to join squad in England
Six Pakistani cricketers, who were found to be COVID-19 positive ahead of the team’s departure for England last week, have now tested negative for the second time in three days making them eligible to join the squad in the UK.
Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Wahab Riaz have been found negative in the latest round of testing conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
— PTI
Pakistan reports 2,846 new COVID-19 cases, 118 deaths
Pakistan has reported 2,846 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 209,337, while the number of fatalities reached 4,304 after 118 people died of the disease in the country, the health ministry said on Tuesday.
Out of the total number of infections, Sindh reported 81,985 cases, Punjab 75,501, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 26,115, Islamabad 12,775, Balochistan 10,426, Gilgit-Baltistan 1,470 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 1,065 cases.
— PTI
COVID-19 peak linked to consistent decline in daily toll, says public health care expert
Only when the daily death toll due to coronavirus comes down consistently can one say for sure that COVID-19 has peaked in India, a prominent public health care expert said on Tuesday.
President of Public Health Foundation of India Prof. K. Srinath Reddy said the country is seeing greater spread of the virus because of increase in testing rates, and mobility and mixing of people post the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
— PTI
Delhi’s Jama Masjid to reopen on July 4: Shahi Imam
The historic Jama Masjid, which had closed earlier this month due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the city, will reopen for congregational prayers (namaz) from July 4, Shahi Imam of the mosque Syed Ahmed Bukhari said on Tuesday.
The mosque was closed on June 11 in view of the “critical” conditions in the city due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, till June 30.
— PTI
12th coronavirus-linked fatality in Jammu, toll rises to 96 in J-K
An 85-year-old coronavirus positive woman died at Government Medical College (GMC) hospital here on Tuesday, raising the toll related to COVID-19 to 96 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The death of the octogenarian from the coronavirus is the 12th in Jammu region and the first from Kathua, her home district, they said.
— PTI
Karnataka High Court closed for a day for sanitisation
The shut gates of the Karnataka High Court that was closed for a day today for sanitisation.
The functioning of the Principal Bench of the Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru has been suspended for a day today to carry out sanitisation work, said a notification issued late night on Monday.
However, the notification has not cited any specific reason for sanitisation except stating that “due to unavoidable circumstances.”
Following this, the hearing of all the cases, through videoconferencing and a few selected ones through the physical presence of the advocates, could not commence. - Krishnaprasad
Aamir Khan’s staff tests positive for COVID-19
Superstar Aamir Khan on Tuesday said that some members in his staff have tested positive for coronavirus. The 55-year-old actor said he and the other members of his family have tested negative for COVID-19 but he is awaiting the reports for his mother’s test.
“This is to inform you that some of my staff have tested positive. They were immediately quarantined, and BMC officials were very prompt and efficient in taking them to a medical facility. I would like to thank the BMC for taking such good care of them, and for fumigating and sterilising the entire society, Aamir said in a statement.
— PTI
BMC asks private hospitals to keep staff in campus to check virus spread
As several health care workers and staff of private hospitals staying in different slums here were detected with COVID-19, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked the hospital authorities to ensure that they were lodged in their campuses.
As a precautionary measure, the BMC on Monday ordered the private hospitals and nursing homes to ensure that their staff do not make frequent visit to their residence in the slums.
— PTI
India accounts for 45.8 million of the world’s ‘missing females’: U.N. report
India accounts for 45.8 million of the world’s 142.6 million “missing females” over the past 50 years, a report by the United Nations said on Tuesday, noting that the country along with China form the majority of such women globally.
The State of World Population 2020 report released on Tuesday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the world organisation’s sexual and reproductive health agency, said that the number of missing women has more than doubled over the past 50 years - from 61 million in 1970 to a cumulative 142.6 million in 2020.
— PTI
Tamil Nadu surpasses Delhi in case count
Recording nearly 4,000 cases in the last 24 hours, Tamil Nadu has surpassed Delhi to regain the second spot among the list of worst-hit states by the pandemic, while Karnataka also recorded more than 1,100 overtaking Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.
Maharashtra remained the highest contributor to the single day rise, registering over 5,200 coronavirus infections. Delhi saw an increase of 2,084 cases.
- PTI
ASHA workers protest in Bengaluru
Accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers along with AIUTUC protesting against the government for not providing safety kits during their work in COVID-19 affected areas, at Malleswaram in Bengaluru on June 30, 2020. They demanded an immediately release Rs. 3000, which the government had announced a month ago.
As many as 19 people said to have been tested positive for COVID-19 infection in Hassan on Tuesday. Among them include policemen escorting a former minister, said the sources.
The official press note on the number of cases reported today would be released later today. The Health Department officials said the number of confirmed cases has been on the rise as random tests were being conducted. The staff members are collecting samples of people who interact with the public regularly.
- Special Correspondent
Madurai plans to expand convalescent plasma therapy trials
A worker moving medical waste at the Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital in Chennai.
The Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Madurai is looking to expand convalescent plasma therapy trials for the treatment of selected COVID-19 patients.
Dean J. Sangumani said that till date, two recovered patients — a 39 year-old man and a 43 year-old man — had come forward to donate 500 ml of plasma each. A 72 year-old man had been the only recipient till date, he added.
SSLC students a model for adults during COVID-19 crisis, says Minister
SSLC students entering an exam centre at Chamarajpet in Bengaluru on Monday.
Hailing the students appearing for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination, S. Suresh Kumar, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, said they were a “model even for adults” as they were following all the COVID-19 precautions such as social distancing and wearing masks inside and outside the exam centres.
TTD to conduct COVID test for all pilgrims
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to perform COVID-19 tests without fail on all the devotees bound to the Lord Venkateswara temple, at the Tirumala foothills at Alipiri.
TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal made the announcement after a high-level review meeting on Monday, in the presence of Chittoor Collector N. Bharat Gupta and TTD Additional Executive Officer A.V. Dharma Reddy.
Community transmission: Situation turning worse in Bhubaneswar
Migrant workers come out after discharge from the quarantine centre and heading towards their village, in Keonjhar district of Odisha. File
Bhubaneswar is steadily plunging into a grim situation following an alarming spike in community transmission cases.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday said 23 of the 25 cases (92%) detected in the city were local cases. The rest two cases had travel history to New Delhi and Kolkata.
Govt. to intensify tests from today, says Health Minister
Faced with a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Telangana government has decided to intensify testing from Tuesday.
Health Minister Eatala Rajender said there had been a spike in the number of cases ever since lockdown restrictions were lifted and the increase was observed mainly in some parts of the west and south Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits.
Delhi govt. to set up plasma bank for COVID-19 treatment
Hospital staff guiding patients at Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi on Monday.
The Delhi government will set up a first-of-its-kind plasma bank in the Capital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
The plasma bank will start operating in the next two days, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced here on Monday while paying tribute to Aseem Gupta, an anaesthesia specialist from Lok Nayak Hospital, who died on Sunday after contracting the novel coronavirus earlier this month. Mr. Kejriwal also announced a compensation of ₹1 crore to the next of kin of the doctor.
COVID-19 cases among bank staff a cause for concern
More than 15 bank employees contracted coronavirus in the city during the last week raising concerns among the fraternity. According to information, the employees working in Satyanarayanapuram, One Town, Bandar Road, VMC and Gannavaram branches of a PSU bank tested positive.
1,129 city police personnel test positive
Over 1,129 police personnel, including a few IPS officers, have tested positive for the SARS CoV-2 infection in Greater Chennai City Police. As many as 54 personnel are under treatment in city hospitals.
