Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Bihar's COVID-19 cases reach 6,289 as 193 test positive; Patna, Bhagalpur account for 10% of infections

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23:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Himachal Pradesh Latest Update

Address proof must to enter Himachal Pradesh

 
The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday said people entering the state will have to provide address proof, making it clear that those arriving from the red zones will be quarantined. A senior official said there have been cases of people coming from red zones, which are more seriously affected by coronavirus, but claiming that they were staying in a green zone.

23:37 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

Nursing homes with 10 to 49 beds to be used for COVID-19 treatment, orders Delhi govt

In order to prevent COVID-19 patients from coming into contact with non-COVID patients and to increase the bed capacity in view of a potential growth in cases in the National Capital, the Delhi government has ordered all nursing homes in NCT of Delhi having bed strength of 10 to 49 beds to exclusively treat coronavirus cases, reports ANI. All such nursing homes (10 to 49 bedded) are required to make their COVID beds functional within three days failing which would initiate action against the defaulter nursing home, states the order.

23:31 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

358 new coronavirus cases in Pune district, 13 deaths

358 new coronavirus patients were found in Pune district since previous evening, taking the number of cases to 11,560, a health official said on Saturday. The death toll in the district reached 484 with 13 patients succumbing to the infection during this period. "Of 358 cases, 282 were found in Pune Municipal Corporation limits, where 9,448 cases have been reported so far. 163 patients were also discharged from the hospitals upon recovery," said the official.

PTI

23:24 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Chhattisgarh Latest Update

Cases in Chhattisgarh up by 67 to 1,512

Chhattisgarh reports 67 new COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number of positive cases to 1,512. Number of active cases stand at 875, ANI quotes the State Health Department as saying.

23:20 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Telangana Latest Update

Nineteen of family test positive in Telangana's Sangareddy

Nineteen members of a family in Telangana's Sangareddy district have tested positive for coronavirus,health department officials told news agency PTI. They said a 55-year-old woman in Zaherabad was admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad earlier this week with multiple health problems.  Her swabs were collected for coronavirus tests on June 9, but she died the same day.The woman was buried in the town on June 10 with 25 relatives attending the funeral.Meanwhile her samples tested positive on June 10, following which all the relatives were put in isolation at the government hospital here and their swabs were sent for COVID-19 tests.

23:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jharkhand Latest Update

Confirmed cases in Jharkhand climb to 1,711

 
The number of COVID-19 cases in Jharkhand rose to 1,711 with 54 more people testing positive for the pathogen on Saturday, a government bulletin said.  Of the total 1,711 COVID-19 cases, 887 are active cases and 816 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the disease, it said.

23:04 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Update

Europe nations sign deal for 400 million vaccine doses

Pharma giant AstraZeneca has struck a deal with Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance to supply up to 400 million doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine, reports AP. The alliance forged by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands to speed up production of a coronavirus vaccine is set to take delivery by the end of 2020 of a vaccine being tested by the University of Oxford. The agreement struck Saturday aims to make the vaccine available to other European countries that wish to take part. The cost is expected to be offset by funding from the governments.

22:58 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Update

West Bengal's COVID-19 count rises to 10,698

West Bengal reports 454 new COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 10,698 including 463 deaths and 5,693 active cases, ANI reports quoting the state health department

22:55 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

We must focus on controlling number of fatalities, says Anand Mahindra

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Saturday called for focus on controlling number of fatalities due to coronavirus and ensuring availability of hospital beds, saying that in a country of India's size the number of infection is inevitably going to rise. In a series of tweets, Mahindra said even though the level of transmission is probably significantly higher and largely untraceable and unreported, it shouldn't alarm the world.

22:47 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Update

With 193 fresh cases, Bihar's cases climb to 6,289

The total number of coronavirus cases in Bihar rose to 6,289 on Saturday with 193 new cases, while the death toll stood at 35, health department officials said. Since Friday night, Patna district reported 24 COVID-19 cases with the youngest among them being a three-year-old girl from the capital city. The district has so far reported two casualties, they said. The officials, however, pointed out that till date 198 people in the district have been cured of the disease and the number of active cases stood at 122. Patna and Bhagalpur districts comprised 10 per cent of the state's total caseload with 322 and 319 instances of the infection respectively.
PTI

22:39 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Update

Kolkata traffic police constable dies of COVID-19

Traffic Police Constable Dilip Sardar, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease a few days back and was admitted to the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital succumbed on Saturday, making this the second death among Kolkata Police, reports PTI.

22:33 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Punjab Latest Update

Punjab to fix charges for treatment of COVID-19 patients in pvt hospital

Taking note of reports that some private hospitals in Punjab were charging exorbitant amount from COVID-19 patients, the state government will soon fix charges for treatment, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said on Saturday. The minister pointed out that most of the COVID-19 patients do not need any special treatment. They only need to be kept under observation, served food and medicines, he said. He warned private hospitals overcharging coronavirus patients of stringent action and said that the government reserves the right to withdraw the land provided to hospitals at highly concessional rates.

PTI

22:29 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Update

West Bengal education minister asks schools not to hike fees 

 
West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Saturday asked private schools not to effect any fee hike amid the COVID-19 scenario. "The state government has been telling schools not to hike fees and impose charges under different heads. Please remember it is an official directive. The chief minister had also made a plea regarding this, don't disregard that," Chatterjee said.
 
Parents staged protests against a rise in tuition fees in front of a school in Ranikuthi area in the morning. Similar demonstrations have been taking place before private schools in Lake Gardens, Belgharia and Dum Dum over the past two-three days.

22:26 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

Delhi LG makes provisions for fines to be imposed on those violating COVID-19 guidelines

 Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Saturday approved regulations under which residents can be fined for flouting COVID-19 norms, reports News18. The rules are called the Delhi Epidemic Diseases, (Management of Covid-19) Regulations under which Delhi Police can impose a fine of Rs. 500 for the first offence and a fine of Rs. 1000/- for the repeat offence, if any person is found violating the following norms:

1. Observation of quarantine rules.
2. Maintaining of social distancing.
3. Wearing of Face mask/cover in all public places /workplaces.
4. Prohibition of spitting in public places.
5. Prohibition on consumption of paan, gutka, tobacco etc in public places.

22:19 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Himachal Pradesh Latest Update

Himachal Pradesh revises list of cities with high COVID-19 case load

 
The Himachal Pradesh government has revised its list of cities in the country having high prevalence of COVID-19 cases, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) RD Dhiman. The system of issuing e-pass has also been changed, making it mandatory for applicants to provide address proof, he added.  In his list revision order issued on Friday, Dhiman said entire Delhi along with Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Thane, Pune, Hyderabad, Chengalpattu, Gurugram, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kolkata/Howrah and Indore cities have high load of coronavirus infection cases.All persons arriving from these areas will be institutionally quarantined, Dhiman added.
 
PTI

22:09 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Madhya Pradesh Latest Update

198 infections, seven deaths reported in Madhya Pradesh today

198 coronavirus positive cases and seven deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. The total number of positive cases in the state rose to 10,641 including 447 deaths and 7,377 recoveries, ANI quotes the state health department as saying.

22:01 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

Cases in Delhi jump by 2,134 to 38,958

As many as 2,134 new coronavirus cases and 57 deaths were reported in Delhi today, reports ANI. According to the state health department, the total number of cases in the National Capital is now at 38,958, including 14,945 recovered/discharged/migrated, 22,742 active cases and 1271 deaths.

21:54 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Arunachal Pradesh Latest Update

Gujarat returnee tests positive in Arunachal Pradesh

A Gujarat returnee was found coronavirus positive at the quarantine facility in Arunachal Pradesh'sLower Dibang Valley. The patient is asymptomatic and shifted to the COVID care centre (CCC). Two otherswere  discharged from CCC, Namsai after their two consecutive test samples came negative, ANI quotes the state government as saying.

21:49 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

PIB Principal DG KS Dhatwalia discharged from AIIMS

Principal Director General of Press Information Bureau KS Dhatwalia who had tested COVID-19 positive and was admitted to the AIIMS on 7June was discharged on Saturday. Dhatwalia, who underwent treatment under Dr Neeraj Nischal, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS, was discharged around 4 pm. "He is doing fine now and he will be in home-isolation for the next few days," a source told news agency PTI.

21:39 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Update

22 CRPF personnel test coronavirus positive in south Kashmir

At least 22 CRPF personnel from several battalions have tested positive for coronavirus in south Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.  None of these troopers have any recent travel history, the officials added.

This is the second time in the last four days that a large number of paramilitary CRPF personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus. On 10 June , 28 CRPF personnel had tested positive. 

PTI

21:36 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Update

Muzaffarnagar to be under lockdown every Sunday starting tomorrow

Complete shutdown to be imposed in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar every Sunday starting 14 June in view of spike in coronavirus cases; all activities except essential services to be suspended, PTI quotes the district administration as saying.

21:28 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Telangana Latest Update

Telangana reports 253 new cases, eight deaths

A total of 253 new coronavirus cases and eight deaths were reported in Telangana on Saturday taking the case count to 4,737 and toll to 182.

 

21:24 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Punjab Latest Update

Punjab to decide on conducting college, university exams after 30 June

21:15 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

Delhi govt seeks fee details from hospitals

 
Amid a social media buzz over high cost of coronavirus treatment at a private facility, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said the government has sought fee details from all hospitals and will decide on "what to do" after overall observation. The rate card of Max Hospital had gone viral on social media on Friday with many users noting that the charges were too high for a common man. The rate card showed that the facility was charging Rs 72,000 for an ICU with ventilator. On its part, Max Healthcare, which runs the facility, said the viral rate card did not carry "all the facts such as inclusions of routine tests, routine medicines, doctor and nurse charges".
 
Asked about capping fees being charged by private hospitals for COVID-19 treatment on Saturday, Jain said, "All the hospitals have been asked to share the rates that they are charging for COVID treatments. We will decide on what to do after observing every hospital."
 
PTI

21:11 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Update

Gujarat COVID-19 cases go past 23,000

Gujarat on Saturday reported 517 new COVID-19 cases and 33 deaths, including 26 from Ahmedabad, taking the total case count to 23,079 and
fatalities to 1,449, state health department said. A total of 390 patients, including 255 from Ahmedabad and 88 from Surat, were discharged from hospitals in the day, taking the number of recovered cases to 15,891, an official release said.
 
PTI

21:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Goa Latest Update

Goa reports 60 new cases

Confirmed cases in Goa climbed to 523 as 60 more tested positive for the viral infection on Saturday, reports ANI.

20:54 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

PIL in SC seeking national plan to deal with COVID-19 pandemic

A PIL has been filed by an NGO before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre to prepare, notify and implement a 'national plan' as prescribed under the Disaster Management Act to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The petition, filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) through advocate Prashant Bhushan, has also sought a direction to the Centre to transfer all contributions made to the PM CARES Fund, set up for COVID-19 relief, to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

20:46 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

Maharashtra reports 3,427 new COVID-19 cases and 113 deaths in a day

Maharashtra, which is worst-hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the country, on Saturday reported 3,427 new COVID-19 cases and 113 deaths, including 69 from Mumbai, state Health department said.

With this, the latest case count in the state stands at 1,04,568 and fatalities at 3,830, an official release said. Of the totalcases, 78,134 cases are concentrated in
the Mumbai MetropolitanRegion (MMR) which has reported 2,650 deaths, including Mumbai with 56,831 cases and 2,113 fatalities, it said.

20:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Maharashtra becomes the first state to restrict the costs of testing

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said that the government has reduced the rates of the COVID-19 tests conducted by private laboratories from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,200. Talking to PTI, Tope said the lowering of rates for the tests would provide a relief to the people.
"Rs 2,200 will be charged for collecting the swabs through viral transport media (VTM) from hospitals, while it would cost Rs 2,800 for collection of swab from home. Earlier, the charges were Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,200 respectively," he said.

20:06 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

4 Mumbai cops die, highest single-day toll for force

Four Mumbai policemen succumbed to novel coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours, the worst in terms of single-day toll for any unit of the force in Maharashtra since the outbreak began, an official said on Saturday. 

19:47 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

MP Youth Congress president Kunal Choudhary tests positive for COVID-19

 

Congress MLA and Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress president Kunal Choudhary on Saturday morning tested positive for COVID-19, sending jitters across the party preparing for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election and the Assembly byelection. 

The Bhopal district administration was tracing the contacts of Mr. Choudhary, an MLA from Kalapipal, who resided in 74 Bungalows of Bhopal, a residential enclave for Ministers, said a district official. “His sample was collected on Friday night.”

19:31 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Health ministry recommends remdesivir for moderate cases, HCQ for early course of COVID-19

The Health Ministry on Saturday recommended the use of antiviral drug remdesivir in moderate stage of COVID-19 while backtracking from its earlier stance on hydroxychloroquine, saying the anti-malarial drug should be used in the early course of the disease and not on critically ill patients.
 
It also okayed off-label application of tocilizumab, a drug that modifies the immune system or its functioning, and convalescent plasma for treating coronavirus-infected patients in moderate stage of the illness.
 
In its revised 'Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19' the ministry dropped the use of azithromycin in combination with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in severe cases and requiring ICU management. Hydroxychloroquine has demonstrated in-vitro activity against SARS-CoV2 and was shown to be clinically beneficial in several small single-centre studies though with significant limitations, it stated.

19:10 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

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 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 SS Shinde on Friday. 
 
The court was hearing a petition filed by Kamaljeet Sandhu, seeking a direction to the Union and state governments to constitute a committee of expert allopathy, Ayurveda and homeopathy doctors. 

18:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Two-thirds of total cases from five states

 
"It was observed that out of total cases two-thirds are in five states with an overwhelming proportion of cases in big cities. In view of the challenges being faced, particularly by the large cities, it was discussed to augment testing as well as the number of beds and services to effectively handle the peak surge of daily cases," ANI quotes the PMO as saying.

18:41 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Prime minister discusses COVID-19 situation in Delhi

 
During the meeting, the present and emerging scenario of the coronavirus disease in Delhi was discussed and the projections for the next two months were deliberated upon, ANI quotes the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as saying. "The prime minister suggested that the home minister and health minister should convene an emergency meeting with LG, and chief minister of Delhi in presence of all senior officials from the Centre, Delhi Government and Municipal Corporations to plan a coordinated and comprehensive response to handle the rising cases of COVID-19," it said.

18:37 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Narendra Modi holds review meeting, instructs health ministry to undertake emergency planning

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials to review India’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The was attended by Home Minister, Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary, Health Secretary, DG ICMR and other related officials from the Empowered Groups.

The meeting reviewed the national level status and preparation in the context of the pandemic, ANI quotes the Prime Minister's Office as saying. "The prime minister took cognizance of the recommendations of the Empowered Group on city and district wise requirements of hospital beds/isolation beds which will be required and instructed Health Ministry officials to undertake emergency planning in consultation with the States/UTs," it said.

18:25 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Update

30 deaths, 1,989 new infections reported in Tamil Nadu

1,989 new coronavirus cases and 30 deaths were reported in Tamil Nadu today. Total number of cases in the state is now 42,687, including 18,878 active cases, 23,409 discharged and 397 deaths, ANI quotes the state health department as saying.

18:18 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Update

Karnataka reports 308 new cases

Karnataka on Saturday reported 308 new cases taking the total number of cases found in the state so far to 6,824. As many as 209 persons were discharged, taking the number of recoveries to 3648 and the state now has 3092 patients undergoing treatment, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department. Three more patients succumbed to the disease on Saturday, pushing the toll to 81. Three persons who had tested positive for the viral infection have also died due to non-COVID causes, the bulletin stated.

18:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Update

Kerala's active cases climb to 1,342 as 85 more test positive

Kerala on Saturday reported 85 new cases, taking the number of active cases to 1,342 while 46 persons were discharged after recovery taking the number of those cured to 1,045, according to the state health department.

18:04 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Health ministry okays remdesivir under emergency use authorization, HCQ for early course of COVID-19

The Union Health Ministry has recommended use of anti-viral drug remdesivir under emergency use authorization, off-label application of immunomodulatory tocilizumab and convalescent plasma therapy for treating COVID-19 patients in moderate stage of criticality, reports PTI.  Backtracking from its earlier stance, the ministry in its revised 'Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19', released on Saturday, said anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) should be used in the early course of the disease to achieve any meaningful effect and should be avoided in severe cases. 

17:59 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

Dharavi reports 17 new cases

17 fresh COVID-19 cases were recorded in Dharavi area of Mumbai in Maharashtra today, taking the total number of cases to 2,030. reports ANI quoting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.  No new death was reported today in the area and the number of fatalities due to the disease stands at 77.

17:50 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Pakistan Latest Update

Pakistan's former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani tests positive

Pakistan's former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani  tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, becoming the latest top political figure to contract COVID-19 that has claimed 2,551 lives and infected 132,405 people in the country. Gilani, 67, tested positive after attending a hearing of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a corruption case. On Thursday, Shehbaz Sharif, chief of the Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), tested positive for the coronavirus after he appeared before the NAB in a money laundering case.
 
PTI

17:47 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Punjab Latest Update

17 Punjab Police personnel test positive

17 personnel of Punjab Police have tested positive in a random sampling of 7165 of a cross-section of police personnel posted as part of a special RT-PCR COVID-19 testing drive, ANI quotes the Punjab Police as saying.

17:44 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Assam Latest Update

25 patients in Guwahati have no travel history, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 25 COVID-19 patients in Guwahati have no travel history and termed the situation in the city as a matter of concern, according to reports.  The minister said that 50,000 persons in Guwahati will be tested soon and based on the test results, the state government might consider implementing a lockdown in Guwahati, according to the Indian Express. 

17:23 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Update

Uttar Pradesh reports 20 deaths, over 500 new cases

Uttar Pradesh reported 20 coronavirus deaths and 502 new cases pushing the state's COVID-19 tally to 13,118. The total number of those who have lost their lives due to the virus so far has now gone up to 385, Principal Secretary Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said. There are 4,858 active cases in the state and 7,875 have been discharged from hospitals after treatment, Prasad said, adding that the recovery rate in the state continues to be over 60 percent.

PTI

17:17 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra  Latest Updates

Four Mumbai Police personnel die of COVID-19

Four police personnel who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection have lost their lives in the last 24 hours, ANI quotes the  Mumbai Police as saying.

17:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi  Latest Updates

Delhi govt plans 10,000-bed makeshift COVID-19 hospital under sprawling tent

 
The Delhi government is planning a 10,000-bed makeshift hospital for COVID-19 patients under a sprawling tent in south Delhi to prepare for a projected surge in cases in the city, reports PTI. The planned COVID-19 facility will come up at the south Delhi campus of spiritual organisation Radha Soami Satsang Beas. The lush green campus is located near the Delhi-Haryana border. The COVID-19 facility, which will be 1,700 feet long and 700 feet wide, will have 200 enclosures with 50 beds each, said Vikas Sethi, secretary of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Bhati Mines. This makeshift hospital will be the largest such facility in the city so far. The work is expected to be completed by June end, he said.

17:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Chandigarh Latest Updates

Chandigarh reports 11 fresh cases

Eleven fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Chandigarh on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 345 including five deaths and 295 recoveries, ANI quotes the Chandigarh Health Department as saying.

17:04 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Updates

Kerala govt issues list of  Sunday lockdown exemptions

 
The Kerala government has exempted the movement of devotees to places of worship and back from Sunday lockdown, reports India Today. Exams can also be conducted on Sunday and students, those making arrangements will be allowed to travel for the same. ID cards, hall tickets can be shown as proof. Students can also travel to join medical colleges, other medical institutions.

16:51 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Recovery rate improves to 49.95%, says Union health ministry

During the last 24 hours, 7,135 COVID-19 patients have been cured. Thus, so far, 1,54,329 patients have been cured of COVID-19. The recovery rate is 49.95 percent amongst COVID-19 patients. There are 1,45,779 active cases and all are under active medical supervision: Union Health Ministry

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: The total number of coronavirus cases in Bihar rose to 6,289 on Saturday with 193 new cases, while the death toll stood at 35, health department officials said.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Saturday empowered health, revenue and police officials to impose fine up to Rs 1,000 for violations of norms to contain COVID-19.

Gujarat on Saturday reported 517 new COVID-19 cases and 33 deaths, including 26 from Ahmedabad, taking the total case count to 23,079 and fatalities to 1,449, state health department said.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said that the government has reduced the rates of the COVID-19 tests conducted by private laboratories from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,200. Talking to PTI, Tope said the lowering of rates for the tests would provide a relief to the people.

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 coronavirus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials to review India’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

1,989 new coronavirus cases and 30 deaths were reported in Tamil Nadu today. Total number of cases in the state is now 42,687, including 18,878 active cases, 23,409 discharged and 397 deaths.

Uttar Pradesh reported 20 coronavirus deaths and 502 new cases pushing the state's COVID-19 tally to 13,118.

Loss of smell (anosmia) or loss of taste (ageusia) has been added to the list of coronavirus symptoms in the document 'Clinical Management Protocol: COVID-19' issued by the Health Ministry.

Taking note of the "gravity" of the coronavirus situation in the National Capital, the Delhi High Court has directed the AAP government and the Centre to increase the number of beds and ventilators for COVID-19 patients.

Amid a massive spike in coronavirus cases in India, experts on Saturday came down hard on the ICMR for its findings to assert that there was no community transmission of COVID-19, saying it was not reflective of the current situation and the government was showing "obstinacy" in accepting the truth.

Emphasising that community transmission was on in many parts of the country, the experts asked the government to admit it so that people don’t get complacent.

At least 1,233 members of the Mumbai Police recover from the novel coronavirus as of Saturday, said Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Of the, 334 cops have returned to duty.

"A total of 1233 policemen from the Mumbai Police Force have successfully defeated COVID-19. 334 of them have returned to duty. Congratulations to these corona warriors. I am proud of the Mumbai Police who risk their lives to perform their duties diligently," state home minister Anil Deshmukh tweeted.

Three deaths and 118 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported in Rajasthan on Saturday, taking the total number of fatalities and positive cases to 275 and 12,186, respectively, officials said.

Two deaths were reported from Jaipur and one from Bharatpur on Saturday, they said.

Under government's Vande Bharat Mission, 3,908 stranded Indians have returned home on Friday. Twenty-eight repatriation flights of Air India and Al express are scheduled for Saturday to evacuate Indian nationals.

India reached three lakh coronavirus cases in a matter of ten days since it had recorded two lakh cases. The toll climbed to 8,884 with 386 new fatalities as on Saturday.

India took 64 days to cross the one lakh-mark from 100 cases, then in another fortnight it reached the grim milestone of two lakh cases. It has now become the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic with a caseload of 3,08,993.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said that the government has reduced the rates of the COVID-19 tests conducted by private laboratories from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,200.

Talking to PTI, Tope said the lowering of rates for the tests would provide a relief to the people.

"Rs 2,200 will be charged for collecting the swabs through viral transport media (VTM) from hospitals, while it would cost Rs 2,800 for collection of swab from home. Earlier, the charges were Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,200 respectively,” he said.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said that the Delhi government cannot violate the ICMR guidelines "that state certain conditions" prerequisite for conducting COVID-19 tests.

Jain's comments come a day after the Supreme Court slammed the Delhi government for drop in COVID-19 testing from 7,000 to 5,000 amid rising coronavirus cases in the National Capital.

"If you want the number of tests conducted for COVID-19 to increase, then ask ICMR to change its guidelines. We cannot flout ICMR guidelines that state certain conditions which are prerequisite for tests," said the Delhi health minister on Saturday.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 55,07,182 COVID-19 samples have been tested as on Saturday till 9 am. While, in the past 24 hours, 1,43,737 samples were tested, ICMR said.

Registering a record-jump of 225 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, Odisha recorded a total of 3,723 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, said the state health department.

For the fourth consecutive day, the number of recoveries have exceeded the total number of active COVID-19 cases in India after 1,54,330 patients were cured of the infectious disease as on Saturday.

Of the 3,08,993 cases, there are 1,45,779 active cases, said the health ministry on Saturday.

Of the 386 new COVID-19 deaths reported by the health ministry at 8 am on Saturday, 129 were in Delhi, 127 in Maharashtra, 30 in Gujarat, 20 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu, nine each in West Bengal, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, seven each in Karnataka and Rajasthan, six each in Haryana and Uttarakhand, four in Punjab, two in Assam, one each in Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha.

India reported a surge in the COVID-19 fatalities, adding 386 deaths in the past 24 hours. This took the toll across the nation to 8,884 on Saturday. At present, India's COVID-19 mortality rate is at 2.9 percent.

India registered a record-jump of 11,458 new coronavirus cases taking the overall count to more than three lakh on Saturday. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases climbed to 3,08,993.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday tweeted four graphs illustrating the four phases of nationwide lockdown in India reflecting no decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," said Rahul on Twitter.

The percentage of positive cases has seen a sharp increase despite a lockdown since mid-March. The first lockdown was imposed in India on 25 March.

The doubling time of coronavirus cases in India has improved to 17.4 days currently from 15.4 days a couple of weeks ago, the Union health ministry said on Friday, even as the country for the first time recorded over 10,000 new instances of the infection in a day.

At the time the lockdown was imposed on 25 March, the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases was 3.4 days, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with the state chief ministers over video conference on 16 and 17 June to assess the COVID-19 situation after a surge in the number of cases was recorded across India.

The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted a schedule of his meetings with the chief ministers. On 17 June, Modi will speak to the chief ministers of the most-affected states. The prime minister’s last meeting with the chief ministers was on 12 May.

Maharashtra became the first state to report a total of over one lakh cases of the novel coronavirus, as India's tally of COVID-19 cases neared three lakh with the country recording over 10,000 cases in a day for the first time since the first infection was detected in India on 30 January.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's 8 am update on Friday, India's cases have risen to 2,978,535 and the toll has mounted to 8,498, with 10,956 fresh infections and 396 fatalities being recorded recorded in the last 24 hours.

In India, more than 1.47 lakh COVID-19 patients have recovered so far, while there are nearly 1.42 lakh active cases at present, according to the health ministry.

India's toll due to COVID-19 rose to 6,642 with 294 new deaths reported by the health ministry. AP

Meanwhile, the government stressed on the need for stringent containment measures to check the pandemic with the last one lakh cases emerging in just ten days.

The Centre has asked states and UTs to pay special attention on emerging epicentres of cases and to focus on containment, testing and tracing, upgrading health infrastructure, clinical management and community engagement for effective management of COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry said.

The rising cases prompted the Prime Minister's Office to announce on Friday that a fresh round of consultation will be held between between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers next week. Modi will hold the video-conferencing with chief ministers on 16 and 17 June.

This would be the prime minister's sixth round of consultation with the chief ministers, the last being on 11 May.

SC raps Delhi govt, three other states over 'sorry state of affairs'

The rising number of cases in the country have also brought to light the poor health infrastructure. The Supreme Court stated on Friday that the situation was "grim" at hospitals in Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat, as it took note of reports about "horrific scenes" at the National Capital's COVID-19 dedicated LNJP hospital.

The court said the duty of the Delhi government does not end by informing citizens that it has arranged 5,814 beds in government hospitals and 9,535 beds in private hospitals. It said the situation in Delhi is "horrendous, horrific and pathetic".

Raising questions over poor patients' care, disposal of dead bodies and lesser number of COVID testing, the apex court said, "All these facts, which have been brought to the notice of the court by the media reports, clearly indicate a very sorry state of affairs of the patients of COVID-19 in the Government hospitals in the NCT of Delhi as well as in other states."

It directed chief secretaries of Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat to take "remedial action" to ensure proper management of patients at hospitals.

Separately in an order on a PIL, the top court took serious note of non-payment of salary to doctors treating COVID-19 patients and said the country cannot afford to have "dissatisfied soldiers" in the war against the pandemic.

"In war, you do not make soldiers unhappy. Travel an extra mile and channel some extra money to address their grievances. Country cannot afford to have dissatisfied soldiers in this war which is being fought against Corona," the court said.

The Delhi High Court also directed the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to pay by 19 June the salary for March to resident doctors in its six hospitals.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, in the meantime, constituted a high-level expert committee, which includes Indian Council of Medical Research Director-General Balram Bhargava, to suggest effective steps to deal with the outbreak in the city.

Cases from states

According to a PTI tally, figures announced by states and UTs, as of 10.15 pm, showed the overall national tally of confirmed cases having risen to 3,00,519 and the toll to 8,872.

Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, saw its own tally cross the 1-lakh mark after 3,493 new cases were reported to take its total to 1,01,141, while its death toll rose to 3,717.

The state also reported a large number of recoveries. As many as 126 cancer patients, who had tested COVID-19 positive, have also recovered in Mumbai itself.

Horrifying reports emerging from the National Capital, which is currently the second-worst affected state by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Delhi, a record number of 2,137 new cases were detected to take its tally to 36,824, while its toll rose to 1,214, authorities said.

In Tamil Nadu, another badly hit state, the tally saw a record one-day jump of 1,982 cases to cross the 40,000-mark, while the toll reached 367.

Gujarat reported 495 new cases and 31 more fatalities, taking its case count to 22,562 and the toll to 1,416.

Uttar Pradesh reported 20 more COVID-19 deaths and 528 fresh cases, the biggest single-day spike so far for the state. This took the state's toll to 365 and the case count to 12,616. However, more than 7,600 people have recovered already, giving a recovery rate of over 60 percent.

West Bengal breached the 10,000-mark with its highest single-day spike of 476 cases, while nine more fatalities were reported to take the toll to 451.

New cases were also reported from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Goa, Chhatisgharh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, among other states and UTs.

India is currently the fourth worst-hit nation by the COVID-pandemic 19 after the US, Brazil and Russia. While the US has reported more than 20 lakh confirmed cases so far, the tally for Brazil is over 8 lakh and for Russia more than 5 lakh.

Globally, more than four lakh have lost their lives and over 75 lakh have tested positive for COVID-19 since its emergence in China last December. However, nearly 36 lakh have recovered too.

With inputs from PTI



from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/2Aq3nwF
FP Staff

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