Coronavirus Updates: Confirmed cases in Maharashtra cross two lakh with 7,074 new infections reported today; toll reaches 8,671
23:25 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates
Toll climbs to 34 in Odisha
23:18 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in UK Latest Updates
Toll in UK rises to 44,198
The United Kingdom’s toll from confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus has risen by 67 to 44,198 in the last day, the government said on Saturday, reports Reuters.
23:07 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates
22:58 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates
Gautam Buddh Nagar reports five deaths, CMO tests positive
22:48 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Cabinet Secretary holds review meeting
22:28 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates
Father, brother of groom arrested for violating safety protocols
21:48 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
1,180 new cases, 68 deaths recorded in Mumbai today
1,180 COVID-19 cases, 1071 recoveries and 68 deaths were reported in Mumbai today. Total number of cases in the city is now at 82,814, including 53,463 recovered/discharged, 24,524 active cases and 4,827 deaths, reports ANI quoting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
21:35 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Maharashtra records 7,074 new cases, toll mounts to 8,671
Maharashtra reported 7,074 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the total number of cases to 2,00,064, said a state health department bulletin. The toll rose to 8,671 with 124 deaths reported in the last 48 hours and 171 added from the previous period. Over 1.98 lakh patients have been discharged till date and the recovery rate stands at 54.02 percent, said the bulletin.
Maharashtra reported 7,074 COVID-19 cases and 295 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total number of cases to 2,00,064 and death toll to 8,671. Number of active cases stands at 83,295: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/1khzthSUgi
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2020
21:17 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Goa Latest Updates
Goa's active cases climb to 853
Goa recorded 108 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the number of active cases in the state to 853, reports ANI quoting the state health department.
Goa recorded 108 fresh COVID-19 cases today, taking active cases to 853: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/akjPsJGZyk
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2020
21:06 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates
Amarnath Yatra to be conducted in 'restricted manner'
20:51 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates
Gujarat records 712 new cases, 21 deaths in 24 hours
20:35 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Punjab Latest Updates
College, University exams cancelled in Punjab
20:32 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
Karnataka reports 1,839 new cases, 42 deaths today
Covid19 Bulletin: 4th July 2020
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) July 4, 2020
Total Confirmed Cases: 21549
Deceased: 335
Recovered: 9244
New Cases: 1839
Other information: Telemedicine facility, Corona Watch Application and Helpline details.#KarnatakaFightsCorona#Covid19Karnataka@BSYBJP pic.twitter.com/sUoAhmpEut
20:01 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates
Nitish Kumar takes COVID-19 test, results expected tomorrow
19:44 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Mizoram Latest Updates
Two BSF jawans test positive in Mizoram
19:30 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Pune Mayor tests positive
Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said he had tested positive for COVID-19 after feeling feverish. Taking to Twitter, Mohol said that his condition was stabel and he would continue to remain in touch with authorities while undergoing treatment.
थोडासा ताप आल्याने मी माझी #COVIDー19 टेस्ट केली असता, ती पॉझिटिव्ह आली आहे. माझी प्रकृती स्थिर असून लवकरच बरा होऊन पुन्हा तुमच्या सेवेत असेल. उपचारादरम्यान सर्व यंत्रणांच्या संपर्कात राहून परिस्थितीचा आढावा घेत राहील.
— Murlidhar Mohol (@mohol_murlidhar) July 4, 2020
आपला,
मुरलीधर मोहोळ, महापौर
19:25 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates
Delhi records 2,505 new cases
19:18 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Only two new cases reported in Mumbai's Dharavi
19:03 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Updates
Kerala's case count up by 240 to 5,204
18:52 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates
Tamil Nadu reports 4,280 new cases, 65 fatalities
Tamil Nadu on Saturday reported 4,280 fresh COVID-19 cases and 65 deaths, taking total cases to 1,07,001 and the toll to 1,450. Number of active cases stands at 44,956, reports ANI quoting the State Health Department.
Tamil Nadu reported 4,280 fresh COVID-19 cases and 65 deaths today, taking total cases to 1,07,001 and death toll to 1,450. Number of active cases stands at 44,956: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/Tnpdev9fkk
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2020
18:49 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates
Narendra Modi addresses Bihar BJP workers
"Some believed that COVID-19 will spread more in east India due to high poverty but they have been proved wrong," said Narendra Modi while addressing Bihar BJP workers. "Several of our workers despite knowing the danger, kept working in the service of people and lost their lives. I pay my tributes to all of them and express condolences to their families," ANI quotes him as saying.
18:13 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates
Tamil Nadu CM announces relaxations in Chennai from Monday
Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that relaxations in Chennai lockdown will come in effect from 6 July, reports ANI. Vegetable and grocery shops will be allowed to open from 6 am to 6 pm, textile and hardware shops from 10 am to 6 pm, and restaurants from 6 am to 9 pm for takeaway services, he said. Chennai and its suburbs have been under an intense lockdown from 19 June.
17:59 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Mizoram postpones re-opening of schools indefinitely
17:44 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
COVID-19 patient kept in ambulance for one day for want of bed, alleges family
The family of a 64-year-old man who succumbed to the coronavirus infection in Navi Mumbai has alleged that he had to be kept in an ambulance for a whole day before he could be admitted to a hospital. They said that the man developed symptoms on 20 June but could not be admitted to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's (NMMC) COVID hospital at Vashi as there was no bed with with oxygen supply available. The man's son said he continued approaching private hospitals and in the meantime his father was kept in a cardiac ambulance as he required oxygen support. When he was finally admitted the next day, the family did not have the money to buy an injection that cost Rs 32,000. The man, who performed in a music band, died on 25 June.
PTI
17:12 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates
Lockdown extended in Madurai, surrounding areas till 12 July, announces CM
The lockdown has been extended till 12 July in Madurai and area limits of adjoining rural civic bodies of Paravai and Thiruparankundram panchayats, ANI quotes Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami as saying. The lockdown imposed to control the spread of COVID-19 amid rising number of cases in Madurai was slated to end on 5 July.
17:03 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Process for trials of COVID-19 vaccine being expedited in accordance with global norms, safety remains top priority: ICMR
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Saturday issued a release stating that the process to expedite the human trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Bharat BioTech, NIV and ICMR, were being carried out in accordance with global norms.
"In the larger public health interest, it is important for ICMR to expedite clinical trials with a promising indigenous vaccine. Faced with the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, all other vaccine candidates across the globe have been similarly fast-tracked," new agency ANI quotes the country's top medical research body as saying."The ICMR’s process is exactly in accordance with globally accepted norms to fast-track the vaccine development for diseases of pandemic potential wherein human and animal trials can continue in parallel," states the release while adding that ICMR remains committed to the safety and interest of the people of India.
The announcement that a vaccine would be made available by 15 August had come under criticism from many quarters, with political leaders alleging that the process was being expedited so that the announcement could be made on Independence Day.
In the larger public health interest, it is important for ICMR to expedite clinical trials with a promising indigenous vaccine. Faced with the unprecedented nature of the #COVID19 pandemic, all other vaccine candidates across the globe have been similarly fast-tracked: ICMR https://t.co/gJiGKjZ2ku
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2020
16:40 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Arunachal Pradesh Latest Updates
Total lockdown in Arunachal Pradesh's Capital Complex from 6 to 12 July
Itanagar capital complex will be under lockdown from 6th July (Monday) till 12th July (Sunday).
— Pema Khandu (@PemaKhanduBJP) July 4, 2020
Detailed Guidelines and SOP for compliance will be issued shortly. #StayHomeStaySafe
16:15 (IST)
237 Maharashtra Police personnel test positive in 72 hours
237 personnel of Maharashtra Police were found COVID-19 positive in the last 72 hours, taking active number of cases in the force to 1,040. A total of 64 police personnel have succumbed to the infection: Maharashtra Police pic.twitter.com/jMVSbqKV7B
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2020
16:05 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Kolkata Latest Updates
Kolkata bans flights from coronavirus hotspots like Delhi, Mumbai
Kolkata Airport announced on Saturday that no flights shall operate to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad from 6th to 19th July 2020 or till further orders are issued. The West Bengal government had been requesting Centre to susoend inbound flights to Bengal from COVID-19 hotspots.
15:37 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Bengaluru Latest Updates
Bengaluru to go under lockdown over weekend
"Complete lockdown to be imposed from 8pm today till 5am on Monday in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits, as per instructions by Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in view of, COVID19," BBMP Commissioner Anil Kumar said.
He added that sale of essential items will be allowed during the lockdown, including meat shops. "Police action will be taken against people found roaming outside unnecessarily," he said,
15:22 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Scientists strike note of caution as govt plans to fast-track 'Made in India' vaccine, covaxin
India's COVID-19 vaccine programme has gained sudden traction but it is imperative to strike a balance between giving it high priority and rushing into a process that takes months, even years, several scientists said on Saturday, a day after the ICMR announced it envisaged a preventive by next month.
"Fast tracking a vaccine trial in four weeks for safety, immunogenicity and efficacy is just not possible if things are to be done correctly," Shahid Jameel, virologist and CEO of the Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance, a public charity that invests in building biomedical sciences and health research framework, told PTI.
15:07 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Himachal Pradesh Latest Updates
Another COVID-19 death in Himachal Pradesh takes toll to nine
With one more death reported in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, the COVID-19 toll in the state rose to nine. However, no new positive cases were reported. With this, the total number of cases in the state now stands at 1,033 including 332 active cases.
So far, 677 patients have recovered, said the state health department.
14:48 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates
Bihar's COVID-19 toll climbs to 84 after six more die
The COVID-19 toll in Bihar increased to 84 on Saturday after six more patients succumbed to the viral infection. While 197 fresh cases have pushed the state's total to 11,111, according to the state health department.
The state has 2,816 active coronavirus cases, while 8,211 patients have recovered from the disease. This takes the recovery rate to 73.89 percent.
14:28 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Andhra Pradesh Latest Updates
765 fresh COVID-19 infections in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh registered 17,699 coronavirus cases on Saturday after 765 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 toll reached 218, said the state health department.
Of the total positive cases, there are 9,473 active cases in the state.
13:52 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Updates
Vijay Rupani visits Surat to assess COVID-19 situation
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel arrived at Surat on saturday to assess the COVID-19 situation, PTI reported. Surat has reported 5,461 COVID-19 cases, including 198 deaths, so far.
13:51 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in China Latest Updates
WHO team to visit China next week to probe origin of COVID-19
Amid global concerns that China delayed giving information regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak, a team of World Health Organisation (WHO) will visit the country next week to investigate the origins of the virus and its spread to human beings.
The visit will take place more than six months after the WHO's Country Office in China picked up a statement from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission on cases of 'viral pneumonia'.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke in January about an agreement with China for sending a team of international experts "as soon as possible" to work on increasing the understanding of the outbreak.
13:36 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Forcing development of COVID-19 vaccine fraught with horrendous human costs: Sitaram Yechury
CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday alleged that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is trying to expedite the production of an indigenous COVID-19 vaccine so Prime Minister Narendra Modi can announce the cure for the infectious disease on Independence Day.
"Scientific advances can never be 'made to order'. Forcing the development of an indigenous vaccine, bypassing all health and safety norms, to be announced by Narendra Modi on Independence Day is fraught with horrendous human costs," tweeted Yechury.
But...scientific advances can never be ‘made to order’.
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) July 4, 2020
Forcing the development of an indegenous vaccine as a cure for Covid-19, bypassing all health & safety norms, to be announced by PM Modi on Independence Day is fraught with horrendous human costs. #Covid_19 #Vaccine #ICMR pic.twitter.com/x2xbPFvRyy
13:19 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates
Jama Majid reopens for public today
Jama Masjid reopens for the public from today. The mosque will remain open from 9 am to 10 pm and everyone will have to follow physical distancing norms, said Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of the mosque.
Delhi: Jama Masjid reopens for the public from today. Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of the mosque said that it will remain open from 9 am to 10 pm while following social distancing norms. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/hEtvux9GB5
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2020
13:16 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Jharkhand Latest Updates
Six police personnel in Ranchi test COVID-19 positive
Six personnel of Ranchi Police have tested COVID-19 positive on Saturday. "They have been quarantined and are receiving treatment. Their contact tracing within and outside the department is being done," said Surendra Kumar Jha, SSP Ranchi
12:13 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
I-T department further extends ITR filing deadline
The extension on income tax return filing date comes just a couple of days after the I-T department on Thursday extended the deadline for tax saving investments/payments for the financial year 2019-20 up to 31 July.
As a result, taxpayers will now be able to make investments for claiming deductions under the Income Tax Act for the financial year 2019-20 up to 31 July.
11:59 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
ITR filing deadline for FY 2019-20 extended till 30 Nov
The Income Tax Department has announced a further extension to the deadline for filing income tax return (ITR) for the financial year (FY) 2019-20 to 30 November.
The department, in a tweet, said that the move has been taken "understanding and keeping in mind the times that we are in" and hoped it will help taxpayers "plan things better."
11:32 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Mizoram Latest Updates
Mizoram postpones opening of schools for 2020-21 academic session
The Mizoram government has postponed the opening of schools for the 2020-21 academic session for an indefinite period as a part of the containment measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak, a minister said.
The government had earlier decided to open educational institutions for the current academic session from 15 July.
11:30 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
No public transport to operate in Karnataka from 8 pm today
Public transport - buses, autos and cabs will not operate in Karnataka during the curfew, which will be enforced from Saturday at 8 pm. Places of worship, malls and dine-in service at hotels and restaurants, shops selling non-essential commodities, including liquor, will remain shut.
11:28 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
Karnataka to enforce curfew from 8 pm today
A curfew in Karnataka will be implemented from 8 pm on Saturday til 5 am on Monday. It will not be any different from the restrictions imposed during previous curfews and lockdowns, said BH Anil Kumar, Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to The Hindu.
"The restrictions that were in place then will be imposed now also," said Kumar.
11:19 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates
Odisha reports 8,601 COVID-19 cases with 34 deaths
After five more people die of the novel coronavirus in Odisha, the COVID-19 toll in the state climbed to 34 on Saturday. The total number of confirmed cases increased to 8,601 after 495 more individuals tested positive, said the health department.
10:58 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in Rajasthan Latest Updates
204 new cases, three deaths in Rajasthan
As per the Rajasthan health department, there were 204 new COVID-19 positive cases and three deaths reported till 10:30 am. The total number of cases stands at 19,256, including 3,461 active cases and 443 deaths, as per the health department
10:36 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Over 95 lakh COVID-19 samples tested: ICMR
At least 95,40,132 COVID-19 samples have been tested so far, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), adding that 2,42,383 samples were tested on Friday alone.
10:27 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
India's COVID-19 recovery rate at 60.80%
Of the total 6,48,315 positive cases, as many as 3,94,227 COVID-19 patients have so far been cured of the virus, said the health ministry on Saturday. This takees the COVID-19 recovery rate to 60.80 percent.
10:22 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
India's COVID-19 mortality rate at 2.88% after 18,655 patients die
With the death of 442 more individuals in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 toll jumped to 18,655 on Saturday, according to the latest data released by the health ministry.
The COVID-19 mortality rate is now at 2.88 percent.
10:18 (IST)
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
India records over 6.48 lakh COVID-19 infections
India registered 22,771 new coronavirus cases for the first time in a single day, taking the total count to 6,48,315 on Saturday. As many as 442 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, said the health ministry.
Coronavirus Updates: Maharashtra reported 7,074 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the total number of cases to 2,00,064, said a state health department bulletin. The toll rose to 8,671 with 124 deaths reported in the last 48 hours and 171 added from the previous period.
University and college examinations in Punjab have been cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Saturday. However, the online exams being conducted by some universities will continue uninterrupted.
Delhi recorded 2,505 fresh coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the tally in the city to 97,200, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 3,004.
Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that relaxations in Chennai lockdown will come in effect from 6 July, reports ANI. Vegetable and grocery shops will be allowed to open from 6 am to 6 pm, textile and hardware shops from 10 am to 6 pm, and restaurants from 6 am to 9 pm for takeaway services, he said.
Responding to criticism over its 15 August deadline for COVAXIN, which is being developed by Bharat Biotech, the ICMR said that all COVID-19 vaccine trials across the world are being similarly fast-tracked, while adding that the safety and interest of the people of India remain its topmost priority.
Kolkata Airport announced on Saturday that no flights shall operate to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad for two weeks starting from Monday
Bengaluru will go under complete lockdown from 8 pm today until 5 am on Monday, city's municipal commissioner told ANI.
The COVID-19 toll in Bihar increased to 84 on Saturday after six more patients succumbed to the viral infection. While 197 fresh cases have pushed the state's total to 11,111, according to the state health department.
The state has 2,816 active coronavirus cases, while 8,211 patients have recovered from the disease. This takes the recovery rate to 73.89 percent.
Amid global concerns that China delayed giving information regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak, a team of World Health Organisation (WHO) will visit the country next week to investigate the origins of the virus and its spread to human beings.
The visit will take place more than six months after the WHO's Country Office in China picked up a statement from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission on cases of 'viral pneumonia'.
The Jama Masjid will reopen for the public from Saturday. The mosque will remain open from 9 am to 10 pm.
"Everyone will have to follow physical distancing norms," said Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of the mosque.
A curfew in Karnataka will be implemented from 8 pm on Saturday til 5 am on Monday.
It will not be any different from the restrictions imposed during previous curfews and lockdowns, said BH Anil Kumar, Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to The Hindu.
As per the Rajasthan health department, there were 204 new COVID-19 positive cases and three deaths reported in the state till 10:30 am. The total number of cases stands at 19,256, including 3,461 active cases and 443 deaths, as per the health department
India registered 22,771 new coronavirus cases for the first time in a single day, taking the total count to 6,48,315 on Saturday. As many as 442 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, said the health ministry.
At least 11,300 'Make In India' ventilators have been dispatched so far under Centre's 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' mission, said the Union health minister on Saturday.
Of the total ventilators, 6,154 have been delivered to hospitals. Ministry of Health is also supplying 1.02 lakh oxygen cylinders across India; 72,293 have been delivered, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
Telangana reported eight more COVID-19 deaths on Friday, taking the toll to 283. After 1,892 fresh cases were registered for the first time in a day, the state's tally was pushed to 20,462.
Maharashtra registered 6,364 fresh COVID-19 cases on Friday for the first time in a single day taking the total number of positive cases to 1,92,990.
The toll due to the pandemic rose to 8,376 with 198 new deaths reported in the past 24 hours, a health department statement said.
Even as India's COVID-19 recovery rate crossed 60 percent on Friday, the number of confirmed cases soared by over 20,000 in a day for the first time, data from the Union Health Ministry showed.
The contrasting figures emerged even as the country's apex medical body ICMR announced its plan to launch the world's first COVID-19 vaccine, the indigenously developed COVAXIN, by 15 August. Experts, however, said such a timeline may not be realistic.
In the meantime, Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal aannounced that the JEE and NEET exams have been postponed to September in view of the coronavirus pandemic, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) decided to suspend all the international flight operations in the country till 31 July.
Friday also saw Goa re-opening its doors for domestic tourists and Himachal Pradesh said that it would allow entry of tourists with conditions such as a test report showing negative for COVID-19 and a prior hotel booking of at least five days.
The hilly state had imposed a ban on tourism three-and-a-half-months ago to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.
COVID-19 cases and deaths as of today
India has confirmed 6,25,544 COVID-19 cases so far while 18,213 have lost their lives since the virus made its first appearance in Kerala's Thrissur in January. The number of recoveries stands at 3,79,891, while one patient has migrated. There are 2,27,439 active cases of coronavirus infections currently in the country.
Most of the 20,903 coronavirus infections reported in a 24-hour span till Friday 8 am came from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana and Karnataka, PTI said, adding that 379 people died during the same period.
Tamil Nadu crossed one lakh COVID-19 cases with the state reporting 4,329 fresh infections and 64 fatalities, pushing the toll from the deadly virus to 1,385.
Of the total 18,213 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra accounted for the highest 8,178 fatalities followed by Delhi with 2,864 deaths, Gujarat with 1,886, Tamil Nadu with 1,321, Uttar Pradesh with 735, West Bengal with 699, Madhya Pradesh with 589, Rajasthan with 430 and Telangana with 275 deaths.
The COVID-19 death toll reached 272 in Karnataka, 251 in Haryana, 198 in Andhra Pradesh, 152 in Punjab, 115 in Jammu and Kashmir, 77 in Bihar, 42 in Uttarakhand, 27 in Odisha and 25 in Kerala.
Jharkhand has registered 15 deaths, Chhattisgarh 14, Assam and Puducherry 12 each, Himachal Pradesh 10, Chandigarh six, Goa four and Meghalaya, Tripura, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry.
More than 70 percent deaths took place due to comorbidities, it said.
According to health ministry's 8 am data, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 1,86,626, followed by Tamil Nadu at 98,392, Delhi at 92,175, Gujarat at 33,913, Uttar Pradesh at 24,825, West Bengal at 19,819 and Rajasthan at 18,662.
The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 18,570 in Telangana, 18,016 in Karnataka, 16,097 in Andhra Pradesh, 15,509 in Haryana, and 14,106 in Madhya Pradesh.
It has risen to 10,471 in Bihar, 9,013 in Assam, 7,849 in Jammu and Kashmir and 7,545 in Odisha. Punjab has reported 5,784 novel coronavirus infections so far, while Kerala has 4,753 cases.
A total of 3,013 have been infected by the virus in Chhattisgarh, 2,984 in Uttarakhand, 2,584 in Jharkhand, 1,435 in Tripura, 1,482 in Goa, 1,279 in Manipur, 1,014 in Himachal Pradesh and 990 in Ladakh.
Puducherry has recorded 802 COVID-19 cases, Nagaland 501, Chandigarh 450 and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu together have reported 230 COVID-19 cases.
Arunachal Pradesh reported 195 cases, Mizoram has 162 cases, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has 109, Sikkim has registered 102 infections so far, while Meghalaya has recorded 56 cases.
The ICMR said that a total of 92,97,749 samples were tested for COVID-19 up to 2 July, with 2,41,576 of those tested on Thursday.
COVID-19 vaccine by 15 August, says ICMR
India's apex medical body ICMR said Friday that it has identified 12 clinical trial sites, including medical institutions and hospitals, and has asked their principal investigators to ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than 7 July.
The trial sites included AIIMS, New Delhi, AIIMS, Patna and SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Tamil Nadu.
In its letter to principal investigators of the 12 sites, ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava noted that the clinical trial of Covaxin is one of the "top priority projects which is being monitored at the top-most level of the government".
However, it is not clear how the clinical trials can be completed and the vaccine released on 15 August when the normal period for a vaccine to be approved is 12 to 18 months.
Several experts have questioned the ICMR's timeline, asking if the efficacy of the vaccine is "pre-decided" and cautioned it from applying "excess pressure".
Over seven vaccines are being researched in India and only Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN and Zydus' ZyCoV-D have got the go-ahead to start human clinical trials, just this week. Globally, over 100 candidates are being tested on humans but no vaccine has yet been approved.
Speaking to Firstpost, Bharat Biotech chairman Dr Krishna Ella, said said that COVAXIN was reported to be safe and immunogenic in all animals. "We have now moved forward towards the clinical development of this vaccine," he added.
Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of Covaxin in COVID-19 patients will begin this month.
According to PTI, Zydus said that is planning to initiate the clinical trials in July 2020 across multiple sites in India in over 1,000 subjects, however, the company did not say when the vaccine will be ready for commercial use, unlike Covaxin, which is targeting for release on 15 August.
The vaccine candidate, ZyCoV-D, showed a "strong immune response" in animal studies, and the antibodies produced were able to completely neutralise the wild type virus, Zydus said.
With inputs from agencies
from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/2YZwTTe
FP Staff
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