Coronavirus Updates: Amit Shah tells Delhi, Haryana, UP CMs to increase rapid antigen testing to reduce transmission rate

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Amit Shah tells Delhi, UP, Haryana to increase rapid antigen testing

The MHA on Thursday said that Home Minister Amit Shah told the CMs of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh during a meeting that more testing using rapid antigen test kits should be done to help reduce the infection transmission rate.

“These kits can be provided by the Centre to UP and Haryana. Focus on early hospitalization to reduce mortality rates,” the statement added.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

4,343 new COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu

A total of 4,343 new coronavirus cases were reported in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 98,392, the state health department said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Delhi govt says teachers are using WhatsApp to reach students

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said, “Our teachers will reach out to their students through WhatsApp or regular phone call. Give them light assignments and take regular feedback. In the process, they will also find out the well being of children. Students from KG to Class 10 will receive daily exercise and feedback from class teachers through Whatsapp. Teachers will connect through regular phone with those who do not have WhatsApp or smart phone.”

He added, “Schools are closed but learning will continue. ‘Learning with human feel’ is the mantra of Delhi Government’s teaching learning approach. Digital technology to complement the efforts of teachers in reaching out to every child and assist them in learning. We are following the principle that a ‘Digital Divide’ should not come in the way of children’s access to learning opportunities. The core of our approach is outreach and connect between teachers and their students.”

Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates

Fourth Bihar MLA tests COVID-19 positive

RJD MLA Shahnawaz Alam has tested positive for COVID-19, the fourth legislator in Bihar to have contracted the disease.

The legislator from the Jokihat constituency in Araria district said he was asymptomatic. Alam has been shifted to an isolation centre in the district, civil surgeon Dr MMP Singh said.

His sample was taken for testing to the Sadar Hospital on Tuesday and the report came on Wednesday evening.

Earlier, state minister Vinod Kumar Singh and his wife, BJP MLA Jibesh Kumar Mishra and Congress legislator Anand Shankar Singh had tested positive for novel coronavirus.

(PTI)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India conducts 9 million COVID-19 tests

India crossed the nine-million mark in conducting COVID-19 tests on Thursday with 90,56,173 samples tested till Wednesday.

PTI reported that officials of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said the country now has 1,065 testing labs in the country — 768 in the public sector and 297 in private. The daily testing capacity is going up fast, they said, adding it was around 1.5 lakh per day on May 25 and is more than three lakh per day at present.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Recovery rate rises to 59.52%, says Centre

The Union health ministry said that during the last 24 hours, a total of 11,881 COVID-19 patients have been cured, taking the total figure to 3,59,859. This further takes the recovery rate to 59.52 percent.

There are 2,26,947 active cases and all are under medical supervision currently.

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

WHO says smoking could cause higher risk of COVID-19

The World Health Organisation on Thursday said that “smoking is linked to a higher risk of severe illness and death from the coronavirus in hospitalised patients, although it was unable to specify exactly how much greater those risks might be,” News18 reported.

“In a scientific brief published this week, the UN health agency reviewed 34 published studies on the association between smoking and COVID-19, including the probability of infection, hospitalisation, severity of disease and death,” the report added.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Centre tells states to give bodies of those suspected to be COVID-19 positive to kin without test result

The Union Health Ministry has asked all states and UTs to hand over bodies of suspected COVID-19 cases to their relatives without waiting for laboratory confirmation of the infection but said the mortal remains should be disposed of as per government guidelines.

A letter on the matter was sent to all states and UTs on Wednesday in the wake of issues raised regarding death of suspected COVID-19 patients and bodies not being handed over to relatives pending confirmation of test report by hospitals.

“I would like to clarify that the dead bodies of such suspected COVID cases should be handed over to their relatives immediately and laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 should not be awaited,” the letter written by Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Health Ministry, Dr Rajiv Garg said.

These bodies can as a matter of abundant precaution be disposed as per the ‘Guidelines on Dead Body Management’ available on the website of Union Health Ministry which directs that handlers in PPE accompany the body for final rites, the letter stated.

(PTI)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India needs FDI investments worth Rs 50 to 60 crores in MSMEs to boost economy

Union minister Nitin Gadkari says India needs foreign direct investments worth Rs 50 to 60 lakh crore in infrastructure projects and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to boost the economy, which has been damaged by the coronavirus crisis. “The country at this juncture needs liquidity,” he tells PTI. “Without liquidity, our economy’s wheel will not accelerate.”

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

COVID-19 testing can be done on prescription of any doctor, says Centre

Through a significant step announced by the Central Government, COVID-19 testing can now be done on the prescription of any registered practitioner, and not exclusively a Government doctor.

The Government on India on Thursday also said that till now, 90,56,173 tests conducted through a diagnostic testing network. There are now 1,065 testing labs in the country-768 in the public sector and 297 private labs. Yesterday, as many as 2,29,588 people got tested for COVID-19.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Total no of people tested for COVID-19 in India to soon touch 1 crore

The total number of people being tested for COVID-19 tests in the country will soon touch one crore, said the Government on India, reports ANI. This has been possible due to removal of all bottlenecks by Government of India. Various steps taken by Central Government have paved the way for enhanced testing for COVID-19.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Curfew imposed in Beed district to contain spread of COVID-19

Curfew has been imposed in Maharashtra’s Beed city for eight days in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus, officials said. Only essential and emergency services will be allowed to operate during the period, as per an order issued on Wednesday by Beed Collector Rahul Rekhawar.

According to the order, the curfew will remain in force till 8 July midnight.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

IndiGo to give 25% discount on airfare to doctors and nurses till year-end

IndiGo said on Thursday it will give a 25 percent discount on the airfare to doctors and nurses till the end of 2020 as they are at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. “The nurses and doctors will be required to provide valid hospital IDs at the time of check-in as proof of their identity,” the airline said in a press release.

“The discount will be offered while booking through IndiGo’s website, valid for sale and travel from 1 July 2020 till 31 December 2020,” it added.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Andhra Pradesh Latest Updates

Andhra reports 845 new cases, 5 deaths in past 24 hours

845 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total confirmed cases in Andhra Pradesh to 16,097. Of these, 8,586 cases are active. The toll stands at 198, reports ANI.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates

Kumaraswamy slams Karnataka govt for poor handling of COVID-19

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday slammed the BJP government in the state for its failure to protect the citizens from coronavirus, reports PTI.

In a series of tweets, Kumaraswamy hit out at Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and ministers for wasting their time in issuing contradictory statements instead of taking lessons from the Kerala government.

Even when you have a proven model in Kerala government's success in Covid management, the ministers waste time in issuing contradictory statements and doing nothing. Karnataka suffers due to lack of co-ordination in the cabinet.
3/5

— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | H.D.Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) July 2, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra minister says state needs to take loans to pay govt employees

Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday claimed that the state is having to take loans to pay salaries to government employees amid the coronavirus crisis, ANI reports. “We haven’t received any fund from Centre,” he says. “However, there is no cash crunch for handling the coronavirus situation in the state.”

He also added, “Situation of the state is such that we will have to take a loan to pay next month’s salaries of govt employees. Except for 3-4 departments, expenses have been cut in other departments.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Remidesivir to be available in Maharashtra in 2 days, says health minister

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope says remdesivir and favipiravir medicines will be available across the state in the next two days, ANI reports. “We are ensuring that it is not available for rich and influential people only,” he said.

He also added that nine out of 10 coronavirus patients have shown improvement after receiving plasma therapy. He says there is no community spread in Maharashtra and a total 93,000 patients have recovered till now in the state.

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates

Indian army brigadier succumbs to COVID-19

An Indian Army Brigadier, posted at the Eastern Command in Kolkata, dies of the coronavirus, ANI reports.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Kejriwal announces helpline numbers for plasma donation

“If you are eligible and willing to donate plasma, then you may call 1031 or WhatsApp at +918800007722. Our doctors will then get in touch with you to further confirm your eligibility,” said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

यदि आप प्लाज्मा डोनेट करना चाहते हैं तो 1031 पर काॅल करें या 88-000-07722 पर Whatsapp करें।

हमारे डाक्टर आपसे बात कर आपकी eligibility के हिसाब से आपको सही सलाह और जानकारी देंगे- माननीय मुख्यमंत्री श्री @ArvindKejriwal जी pic.twitter.com/nsrv8gAeWW

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 2, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Arvind Kejriwal inaugurates first-of-its kind plasma bank in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal briefs media on the coronavirus on Thursday. He inaugurated a first-of-its-kind plasma bank in Delhi and said that the plasma therapy will help in treating coronavirus patients till a vaccine for the disease is found.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Kejriwal urges COVID-19 patients who have recovered to donate plasma 

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged COVID-19 patients in the National Capital who have recovered from the viral infection to donate plasma for treatment of others. 

“If you have recovered from COVID-19 and your age is between 18 and 60 and your weight is above 50 kg, then you may donate plasma for COVID-19 patients,” said Kejriwal. 

If you are eligible & willing to donate plasma, then you may call us at 1031 or you can whatsapp us at 8800007722. Our doctors will then get in touch with you to further confirm your eligibility: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/5PJKvbotNV

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

10-day lockdown begins in Thane from today

A 10-day complete lockdown has been enforced from Thursday in Thane and two other civic administration limits adjoining Mumbai city to contain the spread of coronavirus, officials said. Essential services and medical emergencies are exempted from the lockdown, while inter-city buses, autorickshaws and taxis will not be allowed to operate in these civic limits, they said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in New Zealand Latest Updates

New Zealand’s health minister resigns after coronavirus criticism

New Zealand’s embattled Health Minister resigned on Thursday after security slip-ups at quarantine facilities where the coronavirus was detected just days after officials declared it had been eliminated from the country, reports Reuters.

David Clark was also under fire for personally breaching strict lockdown rules twice earlier in the year, by taking his family on a beach trip and driving to a mountain biking track.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Rajasthan Latest Updates

Rajasthan reports 115 new cases, 5 deaths

Rajasthan on Thursday reported 115 new coronavirus cases and five deaths in the last 24 hours. The state’s overall count rises to 18,427 and the toll reaches 426.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India’s recovery rate now at 59.5%

India’s COVID-19 recovery rate now stands at 59.5 percent. As many as 3,59,859 people have recovered from the coronavirus so far in India. There are 2,26,947 active cases.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu remain worst-hit

With 1,80,298 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu (94,049) and Delhi (89,802).

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

363 inmates, 102 jail staffers have tested positive to date, says state prison department

According to the Maharashtra Prison Department, a total of 363 inmates and 102 jail staff have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. Four inmates have died due to COVID-19 and a total of 255 inmates and 82 jail staff have also recovered so far. Mumbai’s Central Prison has reported maximum positive cases with 181 inmates 44 Jail staff testing positive.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

India reports over 19,000 cases, 434 deaths in past 24 hours

The number of coronavirus cases in India on Thursday, crossed 6 lakh as India reports 19,148 cases in the past 24 hours. India now has 6,04,641 cases and 17,834 deaths. The toll has increased by 434.

As many as 3,59,859 people have recovered from the coronavirus so far in India. There are 2,26,947 active cases.

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Updates

Trump says he’d wear a mask in close quarters, hopes coronavirus will ‘just disappear’

After long resisting wearing a mask in public, President Donald Trump said Wednesday he thinks it makes him look like the Lone Ranger, and he likes it. “I’m all for masks. I think masks are good,” Trump told Fox Business in an interview. “People have seen me wearing one.”

Trump’s comments came a day after Republican lawmakers suggested that he wear a mask in public to set a good example for Americans. “If I were in a tight situation with people, I would absolutely,” Trump said in the interview.

Read full report here

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Updates

Over 90 lakh samples tested so far, says ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that 90,56,173 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till yesterday (1 July). Of these, 2,29,588 were tested yesterday.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Mumbai Police seizes over 2,000 vehicles on 1 July

As many as 5,800 vehicles seized in the last two days, in connection with violation of coronavirus lockdown norms. On 30 June 3,508 vehicles were seized and on 1 July, 2369 vehicles were seized, said Mumbai Police.

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Updates

Global COVID-19 cases now at 1.06 crore

Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world stand at 1.06 crore, according to the Johns Hopkins University CSSE. This figure includes COVID-19 patients who have recovered and the overall global death toll which stands at 5.14 lakh.

With over 26.5 lakh reported cases till date, the United States is the worst-affected country in the world. The US is followed by Brazil, Russia, India and the United Kingdom.

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Updates

US records over 52,000 new cases in past 24 hours

The United States has seen record 52,000 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University CSSE’s tracker.

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Updates

US records nearly 50,000 cases of COVID-19 in single day

Governors of US states hit hardest by the resurgent coronavirus halted or reversed steps to reopen their economies on Wednesday, led by California, the nation’s most populous state and a new epicenter of the pandemic.

New cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, shot up by nearly 50,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, marking the biggest one-day spike since the start of the pandemic.

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Updates

US buys nearly full stock of COVID-19 drug remdesivir

The US has secured nearly the entire world stock of antiviral drug remdesivir from US-based Gilead Sciences for the next three months, leaving hardly any stock of the key COVID-19 drug for the rest of the world.

As a result of an agreement with the drugmaker announced earlier this week, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has secured more than 500,000 treatment courses of the drug for American hospitals through September.