Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Mumbai sees 1,460 new cases, 41 deaths today; Delhi tally reaches 80,188

23:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates

Karnataka govt asks pvt hospitals not to deny treatment to COVID-19 patients

 
The Karnataka government issued an order, directing private hospitals not to deny treatment to patients with COVID-19 and COVID-19 like symptoms, reports ANI. "Non-compliance of this order will attract punishment under sections of Disaster Management Act 2005," the order reads.

23:34 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates

Seven-day institutional quarantine for those coming from Maharashtra to Karnataka

People coming from Maharashtra will be placed in seven-day institutional quarantine followed by seven-day home quarantine in Karnataka. People coming from other states will need to undergo 14-day home quarantine, reports ANI quoting the Karnataka government.

23:03 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Goa Latest Updates

Goa reports 89 new cases, one death

Goa on Saturday registered its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day at 89 and also saw its third death from the infection, an official told PTI.A 76 year-old woman died at the COVID facility in Margao, he added. Saturday's 89-case jump took the state's COVID-19 count to 1,128, though the number of active cases is 705 as 420 have been discharged after recovery and three have lost their lives to the infection.

 

22:38 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Telangana Latest Updates

Telangana's cases rise to 13,436

 
Confirmed cases in Telangana surged to 13,436 as the state recorded 1,087 new cases while six fatalities pushed the toll to 243. 888 of the new cases were reported in Hyderabad.
 

22:19 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Haryana  Latest Updates

Haryana reports 543 new cases

543 new COVID-19 positive cases reported were in Haryana on Saturday taking the total number of such cases to 13,427. A total of 8,472 people have recovered/discharged till date and the toll had risen to 218, reports ANi quoting the state health department.

22:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Nagaland Latest Updates

COVID-19 cases in Nagaland rise to 387

Nagaland on Saturday reported 16 more COVID-19 cases, pushing the state's tally to 387, officials said, according to PTI.

Of the total confirmed cases in the state, 223 are active, while 164 persons have recovered, they said.

"A total of 16 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported out of 422 samples tested today," Minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom, said.

State Nodal Officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Nyan Kikon, said all the fresh cases are asymptomatic.

The recovery rate in Nagaland stood 41 percent.

—​ PTI

21:49 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates

West Bengal COVID-19 cases rise to 16,711, toll to 629

West Bengal recorded 521 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 16,711 and toll from the virus to 629, the state health department said in a statement, according to ANI. As per the official figures, the state has 5,293 active cases.

21:17 (IST)

Coroanvirus Outbreak in Mumbai Latest Updates 

Mumbai sees 1,460 new cases, 41 deaths; tally rises to 73,747

Mumbai recorded 1,460 COVID-19 cases and 41 deaths on Saturday, taking the total number of infections to 73,747 and toll from the virus to 4,282, news agency ANI said, quoting the official statement by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

According to the release, the number of active cases in the city stands at 27,134. A total of 888 suspected patients were admitted to hospitals as well.

21:00 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates

Gujarat tally rises to 30,773 as 615 test positive; 18 succumb to virus

Gujarat reported its highest single-day spike of 615 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the overall count to 30,773, state Health department said, according to PTI. With the death of 18 patients in the day, the number of fatalities has gone up to 1,790. The state has 6,566 active cases while the number of the recovered cases climbed to 22,417 after discharge of 379 patients in the day, it said.

20:23 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates

Govt offices in Karnataka to remain closed every Saturday from 10 July

Furthermore, all Government offices in Karnataka shall remain closed on all Saturdays, with effect from July 10, reports ANI. The existing timing of night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am in the morning has been revised to 8 pm to 5 am with effect from 29 June.

20:19 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates

Karnataka to impose lockdown every Sunday from 5 July

Lockdown would be imposed in Karnataka every Sunday, with effect from July 5, until further orders. No activities shall be permitted on that day except essential services and supplies, reports ANI quoting the Karnataka Chief Minister's Office.

20:15 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra reports 167 deaths, 5,318 new infections

Maharashtra reports 167 deaths and 5,318 new coronavirus positive cases. Of these 167 deaths, 86 occurred in the last 48 hrs and the remaining 81 are from the previous period. The total number of cases in the state stands at 1,59,133, reports ANI quoting the state health department.

20:05 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates

Former Gujarat CM Shankasingh Vaghela tests positive

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, reports News18. He is displaying mild symptoms and is currently quarantined at home. A decision on whether to hospitalise him or continue with home-care will be taken on Sunday.

19:35 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Toll in Delhi mounts to 2,558, cases reach 80,188

Delhi on Saturday registered 2,948 new coronavirus cases and 66 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 80,188 and toll to 2,558.

19:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Updates

Kerala records 195 new cases, 102 recoveries

 
Kerala on Saturday recorded 195 fresh infections and 102 recoveries, taking the number of active cases to 1,939 while the number of recoveries reached 21,08 with 102 persons getting recovered today. 

18:50 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

TV cameraperson succumbs to COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu

 
A 41-year-old video journalist working for a Tamil television channel in the news section died of COVID-19 at a hospital on Saturday, the government said. The video cameraman, who was being treated from  14 June at a hospital here for the infection, died today, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said.Condoling his death, the Chief Minister said he has ordered a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family. Minister for Information, Kadambur Raju too condoled the death and said he would provide Rs 50,000 assistance.
 
PTI

18:32 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Tamil Nadu reports 3,713 new cases, 68 deaths

Tamil Nadu  on Saturday reported 3,713 fresh COVID-19 infections and 68 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 78,335 and toll to 1,025. Till date,  44,094 persons have been discharged following their recovery and the number of active cases stands at 33,213, reports ANI quoting the state health department.

18:24 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Recovered cases exceed active cases  by 98,493, says health ministry

 
The number of active coronavirus cases in the country stands at 1,97,387 while the number of cured cases is 2,95,880, said the Union health ministry. With this, the recovery rate is touching 58.13 percent amongst COVID-19 patients, it said, adding that the recovered cases have now exceeded the active cases by 98,493.  "As a result of the collective, graded, pre-emptive and pro-active steps taken by the Government of India in tandem with the States/UTs for prevention, the total number of recovered COVID-19 cases has fast outgrown the number of active COVID-19 cases," it said. Among the states, Maharashtra has the highest number of recoveries (73,214), followed by  Gujarat (21,476) and Delhi (18,574).
 
 

18:07 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Central team visits Thane

 
A Central team, which included Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Civil Affairs Kunal Kumar among others, on Saturday visited Thane district to review the COVID-19 situation and told local authorities to concentrate on reducing the mortality rate from the infection. The team visited restricted quarantine areas in Amritnagar, Inshanagar in Mumbra as well as a COVID-19 facility set up at Maulana Azad Stadium and COVID hospital in Balkum Saket. Agarwal said the emphasis should be on reducing the mortality rate and suggested testing capacity be increased in the district. Pradip Vyas, principal secretary (health) in the state government said the need of the hour was large-scale contact tracing, increasing the number of tests and setting up of more quarantine facilities.
 
PTI

17:51 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Amit Shah, Arvind Kejriwal visit 10,000-bed COVID facility in Delhi

 
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday visited a newly created COVID-19 care facility with over 10,000 beds in the National Capital and reviewed arrangements.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accompanied Shah during his visit to the sprawling facility in south Delhi. During his visit, the home minister took stock of the preparedness of the facility, a home ministry official said.
PTI

17:17 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Eight states account for 85.5% of active case load, says health ministry

 
Eight states, including Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu, contributed 85.5 per cent of the active COVID-19 caseload and 87 per cent of the total deaths due to the disease in India, according to the Union Health Ministry.The ministry said it briefed the Group of Ministers on COVID-19 on the coronavirus situation in the country and the efforts to boost healthcare infrastructure on Saturday.
 
PTI

16:38 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Andhra Pradesh Latest Updates

Andhra Pradesh records 796 new cases, 11 deaths

 
Andhra Pradesh reported 796 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, a record single-day spike, taking the overall tally in the state to 12,285. Also, 11 patients succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 157 so far, according to the latest bulletin.

16:10 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Puducherry Latest Updates

Puducherry CM's office closed for two days as staffer tests positive

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said  on Saturday his office would be closed for the next two days as one of his staff members tested positive for COVID-19.The affected person was admitted to the government hospital on Friday.

PTI

15:29 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Health Ministry adds steroid dexamethasone in COVID-19 treatment protocol

 
The Union health ministry on Saturday added the inexpensive, widely used steroid dexamethasone to the treatment protocols for COVID-19 patients in moderate to severe stages of illness, reports PTI. The updated protocol includes the advice to use dexamethasone as an alternative choice to methylprednisolone for managing moderate to severe cases of COVID-19. The change has been made after considering the latest available evidence and expert consultation, the ministry said. According to the revised 'Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19', dexamethasone which is already used in treating lung infections besides in a wide range of conditions for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects can be used as an alternative to methylprednisolone which already existed in the treatment guidelines.

15:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kashmir Latest Updates

Valley toll at 92

 

The number of COVID-19 fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 92 on Saturday after a 70-year-old woman from Baramulla district tested positive for coronavirus following her death, officials said. The woman, from north Kashmir's sopore district, passed away at the SMHS Hospital late Friday evening. She was admitted to the hospital on Thursday and suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. Her sample, which was taken on Friday, tested positive. 

15:08 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tripura Latest Updates

 

36 fresh COVID-19 cases in Tripura, count at 1,331

Thirty-six more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Tripura, taking the state's tally to 1,331 on Saturday, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said. Fifteen new patients are from the Gomati district while 14 are from South district, three each from Sepahijala and West districts and one from Dhalai, he said.

 

13:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

 

COVID-19 recovery rate above 58%: Harsh Vardhan

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said the country's COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to over 58 percent. "Our mortality rate is near three percent and our doubling rate has come down to near 19 days," Vardhan added.

13:31 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in UP Latest Updates

 

Congratulate those who passed: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated all the students who passed the Class 10 and 10 board exams. He added that the UPMSP had conducted exams and declared results on time despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

Follow all LIVE updates on UP Board Class 10 and 12 results here

12:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

 

Thank Centre for providing testing kits: Kejriwal

Thanking the Centre for providing testing kits, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the number of beds had increased significantly over the past week. "There are 13,500 beds in Delhi, of which 6,500 are occupied," Kejriwal said. He added that 20,000 tests are being conducted daily and 4,000 oxygen concentrators have been procured for COVID-19 patients.

12:35 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

 

COVID-19 triggering panic, depression: Experts

As the COVID-19 wave sweeps across the country, including Tamil Nadu, mental health experts told PTI the pandemic has triggered panic attacks among those who tested positive for the virus, causing bouts of depression and evening driving some to the brink of suicide.

As oer experts, nervousness, fear of contamination, panic attacks, constant reassurance seeking behaviour, sleep disturbance, excessive worry, feelings of helplessness and probability of an economic slowdown are major factors leading to depression and anxiety among peope.

Potential job losses, financial burden and uncertainty about the future and fears of running out of food and  necessities add to worries.

11:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India is home to largest healthcare scheme: PM 

Over eight crore families have access to smoke-free kitchens. More than 1.5 crore houses have been made to give shelter to the homeless. India is home to the largest healthcare scheme in the world, Ayushman Bharat, said Narendra Modi at the inaugural address of 90th birth anniversary celebrations of the Reverend Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan. 

11:42 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India firmly fighting against COVID-19: Modi 

Due to the coronavirus-lockdown, many initiatives taken by the Government and a people-driven fight, India is much better placed than many other nations, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. 

10:40 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Buildings in slums of north Mumbai to be sealed: Mumbai Police

Buildings in congested areas and slums of north Mumbai will be sealed considering the rise in COVID-19 cases here in the last 15 days, PTI quoted Mumbai police commissioner as saying.

During a visit to north Mumbai on Friday, the city top cop attributed the spread of coronavirus infection to the high population density. North Mumbai, which includes Dahisar, Borivali, Malad, Charkop and Kandivali areas, has seen a sharp rise in cases in the last 15 days.

10:33 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

BSF records 911 confirmed cases, 633 recoveries

In the past 24 hours, at least 43 new positive cases were reported in the Border Security Force, taking the total number of infected to 911 on Saturday. A total 633 personnel have been cured and discharged till now, said the BSF in a statement. 

10:16 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Over 79 lakh COVID-19 samples tested so far: ICMR

Almost 80 lakh COVID-19 samples have been tested so far with 2,20,479 being tested in a single day on Friday, said Indian Council of Medical ResearcH (ICMR) on Saturday. 

10:08 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

COVID-19 testing capacity increased in Delhi by four times: Kejriwal

Claiming that COVID-19 testing capacity in the National Capital has increased by four times, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Delhi conducted 21,144 number of tests in a single day on Friday. 

"We have increased testing by four times. Delhi is now following a strategy of very aggressive testing and isolation," tweeted Kejriwal on Saturday. 

09:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Over 2.95 lakh patients cured; India's recovery rate at 58.14%

More than 2.95 lakh COVID-19 patients have been cured of the infectious disease so far, taking India's recovery rate to 58.14 percent as on Saturday. 

Of the total 5,08,953 positive cases, there have been 2,95,881 recoveries across the nation, said the health ministry. 

09:38 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India's COVID-19 mortality rate at 3.08%

After 384 more patients succumbed to the novel coronavirus, the COVID-19 toll across the nation stood at 15,685 on Saturday. This takes the mortality rate to 3.08 percent.

Of the total 5,08,953 cases, there 1,97,387 active cases across the nation. 

09:32 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India's COVID-19 cases over five lakh after 18,552 more test positive

India registered a total of 18,552 new COVID-19 infections and 384 fatalities in the past 24 hours, said the health ministry on Saturday. With this, India records the highest single-day spike taking the total confirmed cases to 5,08,953. 

09:16 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra registers over 1.52 lakh confirmed cases

Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, with over 5,000 new cases, reached an aggregate of 1,52,765, while West Bengal and Tamil Nadu also reported their biggest one-day COVID-19 numbers.

The COVID-19 mortality rate in Maharashtra stood at 4.65 percent. There are 65,829 active cases in the state. Mumbai's total of coronavirus cases reached 72,175 on Friday.

09:12 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates

Nineteen new COVID-19 fatalities in Uttar Pradesh take toll to 630

Uttar Pradesh on Friday reported 19 more COVID-19 fatalities, taking the toll to 630, while 750 fresh cases pushed the state's infection count towards the 21,000-mark, a senior official said.

Three deaths were reported in Meerut, two each in Sultanpur and Etawah, one each in Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Firozabad, Basti, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar, Pratapgarh, Bareilly, Hardoi and Farrukhabad, an official report said in Lucknow.

08:23 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

Confirmed cases cross 9.4 mn globally; toll surpasses 4.80 lakh

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has risen by over 177,000 in the past 24 hours to 9.4 million and the toll has topped 480,000, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.

08:22 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

University of Calgary research shows SARS-CoV-2 may have been evolving slowly since 2013

COVID-19 showed up late in 2019. Since the virus is new to humans, there has been a lot of speculation about how it came to be.

While scientists have been studying the viral genome to find out more about it, it has been suggested that the virus jumped from an animal into humans. There have also been theories about it being made in a lab even though studies point towards its origin being natural and not man-made. Last month, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to look into the origins of the virus.

Now, a group of scientists at the University of Calgary, Canada, say that the COVID-19 causing virus (SARS-CoV-2) may have been circulating amongst the human population since at least 2013, though not the same variant that is responsible for the current pandemic.

Read full article here...

08:03 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India's COVID-19 cases cross five lakh with over 15,000 deaths

India's total number of coronavirus cases crossed five lakh on Friday after reporting more than 17,000 cases for the first time in a single day. The COVID-19 toll climbed to 15,301 with 407 new fatalities.

It was the seventh day in a row that India registered over 14,000 cases.

07:56 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

International flights suspended till 15 July: DGCA

Operations of commercial international flights to and from India will remain suspended till 15 July, civil aviation watchdog DGCA announced on Friday. However, international cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the aviation regulator will be exempted.

"Scheduled international commercial passenger services to or from India shall remain suspended till 23.59 hrs IST of 15 July, 2020... However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case to case basis," said the circular by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

07:45 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jharkhand Latest Updates

Jharkhand to extend lockdown till 31 July: CM 

The Jharkhand government announced an extension of the lockdown till 31 July on Friday to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. "Considering the seriousness of the situation, the state government has decided to extend the lockdown till 31 July," said Chief Minister Hemant Soren. 

The extension order shall come into force with immediate effect, Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh said, adding that the movement of individuals shall continue to remain prohibited between 9 pm and 5 am.

Coronavirus Updates: Mumbai recorded 1,460 COVID-19 cases and 41 deaths on Saturday, taking the total number of infections to 73,747 and toll from the virus to 4,282, news agency ANI said, quoting the official statement by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

According to the release, the number of active cases in the city stands at 27,134. A total of 888 suspected patients were admitted to hospitals as well.

Delhi on Saturday registered 2,948 new coronavirus cases and 66 deaths, taking the total number of infections in the National Capital to 80,188 and toll to 2,558, ANI said.

Meanwhile, lockdown would be imposed in Karnataka every Sunday, with effect from July 5, until further orders. No activities shall be permitted on that day except essential services and supplies, reports ANI quoting the Karnataka Chief Minister's Office. Furthermore, all Government offices in Karnataka shall remain closed on all Saturdays, with effect from July 10.

Eight states, including Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu, contributed 85.5 per cent of the active COVID-19 caseload and 87 per cent of the total deaths due to the disease in India, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The updated protocol issued by the health ministry includes the advice to use dexamethasone as an alternative choice to methylprednisolone for managing moderate to severe cases of COVID-19. The change has been made after considering the latest available evidence and expert consultation, the ministry said.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said the country's COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to over 58 percent. "Our mortality rate is near three percent and our doubling rate has come down to near 19 days," Vardhan added.

Thanking the Centre for providing testing kits, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, said the number of beds had increased significantly over the past week. "There are 13,500 beds in Delhi, of which 6,500 are occupied," Kejriwal said. He added that 20,000 tests are being conducted daily and 4,000 oxygen concentrators have been procured for COVID-19 patients.

In the past 24 hours, at least 43 new positive cases were reported in the Border Security Force, taking the total number of infected to 911 on Saturday. A total 633 personnel have been cured and discharged till now, said the BSF in a statement.

India registered a total of 18,552 new COVID-19 infections and 384 fatalities in the past 24 hours, said the health ministry on Saturday. With this, India records the highest single-day spike taking the total confirmed cases to 5,08,953.

After 384 more patients succumbed to the novel coronavirus, the COVID-19 toll across the nation stood at 15,685 on Saturday. This takes the mortality rate to 3.08 percent.

India's total number of coronavirus cases crossed five lakh on Friday after reporting more than 17,000 cases for the first time in a single day. The COVID-19 toll climbed to 15,301 with 407 new fatalities.

It was the seventh day in a row that India registered over 14,000 cases.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India inched closer to five lakh with a record number of 17,296 new cases being reported in 24 hours. With this, the nationwide tally rose to 4,90,401, while toll from the novel coronavirus climbed to 15,301 with 407 new casualties, the Union health ministry said on Friday.

This was the seventh day in a row that India registered over 14,000 cases.

Delhi, Chennai, Thane, Mumbai, Palghar, Pune, Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Ahmedabad, and Faridabad are the cities and districts that reported a larger number of COVID-19 cases between 19 and 25 June, contributing 54.47 percent of the total caseload, PTI quoted health ministry officials as saying.

Between 1 and 26 June, the country witnessed 2,99,866 cases. However, the number of recoveries have overtaken the active cases by 96,173, the health ministry said. The number of active cases stands at 1,89,463.

In the last 24 hours, 13,940 COVID-19 patients have been cured, taking the cumulative figure of recoveries to 2,85,636. "This has led to the recovery rate touching 58.24 percent," the ministry said.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 77,76,228 samples have been tested up till 25 June with 2,15,446 samples being tested on Thursday.

In the quest to expand COVID-19 testing labs network across the country, the ICMR has inducted 11 new labs in 24 hours. India now has 1,016 COVID-19 diagnostic labs with 737 in the government sector and 279 private ones.

Congress' Abhishek Manu Singhvi tests positive

Congress leader and party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi has home quarantined himself after testing positive for COVID-19, PTI reported. While he has mild symptoms like fever, his wife has also tested positive for the novel coronavirus and has isolated herself at home as per the government guidelines.

After Singhvi tested positive, his son and other family members and staff are also being tested for the virus. Singhvi is the second Congress leader after Sanjay Jha to test positive for COVID-19. Jha has since recovered in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday, almost two weeks after he tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Jain, who had to be admitted to the ICU after his situation worsened, had received the Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT) last week ⁠— a procedure that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) still categorises as “experimental”. Jain underwent the procedure at Max Healthcare, Saket.

International flights suspended till 15 July

The aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Friday it is extending the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country till 15 July but added that some international scheduled services on selected routes may be permitted on a case to case basis.

Scheduled international passenger flights were suspended in India on 23 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The competent authority has decided that scheduled international commercial passenger services to or from India shall remain suspended till 2359 hrs IST of 15 July, 2020," said the DGCA circular.

"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case to case basis," said the circular by the DGCA.

A worker prepares a bed inside a makeshift quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients in Mumbai. AP

Delhi schools to remain shut till 31 July, Gurgaon malls likely to reopen next week

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that all schools in the National Capital will remain shut till 31 July in view of the coronavirus situation.

"Reopening schools is not merely a technical work, rather, it is a creative work that would give schools a new and bigger role. Schools will continue to be closed in Delhi till 31 July," Sisodia said.

The government's decision came after a meeting with education department officials.

According to reports, the proposal to cut syllabus up to 50 percent for the current academic year was discussed at the meeting.

The novel coronavirus cases in Delhi continue to show an alarming upward trend, with the National Capital recently surpassing Mumbai to become India's worst-hit city.

Reports on Friday also said that malls in Gurgoan are likely to reopen next week, three months after they closed down following the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Additionally, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was quoted by reports as saying that the state government was mulling restarting the Metro Rail services in Kolkata from 1 July. "We are discussing with the Metro authorities about resuming the Metro services from 1st July, allowing passengers only up to the seating capacity," she said.

192 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Maharashtra, 64 in Delhi

According to the health ministry's figures, of the 407 new deaths reported till Friday morning, 192 were in Maharashtra, 64 in Delhi, 45 in Tamil Nadu, 18 in Gujarat, 15 each in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, 12 in Andhra Pradesh, 10 in Haryana, eight in Madhya Pradesh, seven in Punjab, six in Karnataka, five in Telangana, four in Rajasthan and two in Jammu and Kashmir.

ANI on Friday evening reported that 5,024 new cases were reported in Maharashtra, taking the tally of cases in the state to 1,52,765.

Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand have reported one COVID-19 casualty each in the last 24 hours.

Of the total 15,301 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra tops the tally with 6,931 deaths, followed by Delhi with 2,429 deaths, Gujarat with 1,753, Tamil Nadu with 911, Uttar Pradesh with 611, West Bengal with 606, Madhya Pradesh with 542, Rajasthan with 379 and Telangana with 230 deaths.

The COVID-19 toll reached 198 in Haryana, 170 in Karnataka, 136 in Andhra Pradesh, 120 in Punjab, 90 in Jammu and Kashmir, 57 in Bihar, 36 in Uttarakhand, 22 in Kerala and 17 in Odisha.

Representational image. AP

Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have registered 12 deaths each, Assam, Puducherry and Himachal Pradesh nine each, Chandigarh six, Goa two and Meghalaya, Tripura, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh have reported one fatality each, according to the health ministry.

More than 70 percent deaths occurred due to comorbidities, the ministry said.

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 1,47,741, followed by Delhi at 73,780, Tamil Nadu at 70,977, Gujarat at 29,520, Uttar Pradesh at 20,193, Rajasthan at 16,296 and West Bengal at 15,648, according to the ministry data.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 12,596 in Madhya Pradesh, 12,463 in Haryana, 11,364 in Telangana,10,884 in Andhra Pradesh and 10,560 in Karnataka.

It has risen to 8,473 in Bihar, 6,549 in Jammu and Kashmir, 6,321 in Assam and 5,962 in Odisha. Punjab has reported 4,769 novel coronavirus infections so far, while Kerala has 3,726 cases.

A total of 2,691 people have been infected by the virus in Uttarakhand, 2,452 in Chhattisgarh, 2,262 in Jharkhand, 1,290 in Tripura, 1,056 in Manipur, 995 in Goa, 941 in Ladakh and 839 in Himachal Pradesh.

Puducherry has recorded 502 Covid-19 cases, Chandigarh has 423, Nagaland has 355 and Arunachal Pradesh has 160. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu together have reported 155 Covid-19 cases.

Mizoram has 145 cases, Sikkim has 85, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has registered 59 infections so far while Meghalaya has recorded 46 cases.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said, adding that 8,123 cases are being reassigned to states.

State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it added.

As COVID cases rise, White House seeks to scrap ‘Obamacare’

Meanwhile, in the US, as coronavirus cases rise in more than half of the states, the Donald Trump administration is urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

The administration’s high court filing on Thursday came the same day the government reported that close to half a million people who lost their health insurance amid the economic shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 have gotten coverage through HealthCare.gov.

The administration’s legal brief makes no mention of the virus.

More than 20 million Americans could lose their health coverage and protections for people with preexisting health conditions also would be put at risk if the court agrees with the administration. However, nothing will happen immediately as the case is unlike to be  heard before the fall.

With inputs from agencies



from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/2YFUU1i
FP Staff

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Both COVID-19 vaccine doses needed for good protection against B16172 variant

New coronavirus variant emerge in India: How should our COVID response change?

120 flights delayed, 30 trains running late; Delhi fog & cold wave continue to give shiver to travellers