NEW DELHI: With 1,076 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 11,933, said the Union ministry of health on Wednesday. Out of the total tally, 10,197 cases are active while 1,343 patients have been cured/discharged and migrated.
With 38 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll rises to 392.
Here is a look at the latest updates on the outbreak of coronavirus from India and around the world —
Govt identifies 170 districts as hotspots, 207 as potential hostspots
The Union health ministry has identified 170 districts as COVID-19 hotspots and 207 districts as potential hotspots, officials said on Wednesday, reiterating that there has been no community transmission of the disease in the country so far.
Addressing the daily briefing to provide updates on coronavirus situation in the country, joint secretary in the ministry of health Lav Agarwal said that states have been asked to classify districts which have reported a higher number of cases as hotspots, the districts where cases have been reported as non-hotspots, and green zones where no cases have been reported.
Two million coronavirus cases recorded globally: AFP tally
More than two million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially registered around the world, half of them in Europe, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 1000 GMT Wednesday based on official sources.
At least 2,000,576 infections, including 126,871 deaths, have been recorded. Europe is the hardest hit continent, with 1,010,858 cases and 85,271 fatalities.
The United States, where the virus is spreading most rapidly, registered 609,240 cases, and 26,033 deaths.
Home secretary writes to States, UTs to ensure strict compliance with lockdown guidelines
Home secretary Ajay Bhalla on Wednesday wrote to all the states and Union territories asking them to ensure strict compliance with the consolidated revised guidelines of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Bhalla, in the letter, said that the State and Union territory governments cannot dilute the restrictions imposed in the guidelines, but can enforce stricter norms.
"I have already emphasized vide my earlier letter that States/UTs cannot dilute restrictions imposed vide the aforesaid guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. States/UTs may, however, impose stricter measures, than these guidelines as per the requirement of the local areas," Bhalla said in the letter.
Spain's daily virus toll falls again with 523 dead
Spain's daily death toll from the coronavirus fell on Wednesday to 523, after posting a one-day rise, bringing the total number of fatalities to 18,579, the health ministry said.
The number of new confirmed infections in the country, one of the worst hit by the pandemic, rose by over 5,000, after falling for six consecutive days, which lifts the total number of infections to over 177,000.
UPSC to decide on fresh dates for remaining civil services-2019 personality tests after May 3
In view of the prevailing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the Union Public Service Commission on Wednesday announced that a decision on fresh dates for the remaining civil services-2019 personality tests will be taken after May 3.
The commission said that dates for the civil services-2020 (prelim), engineering services (main) and the geologist services (main) examinations had already been announced and any rescheduling in these examinations if necessitated by the evolving situation, will be notified on its website.
Scientists discover six new coronaviruses in bats
Scientists have discovered six new coronaviruses in bats in Myanmar -- the first time these viruses have been found anywhere in the world.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE, will help understand the diversity of coronaviruses in bats and inform global efforts to detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases that may threaten public health, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the researchers from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in the US, studies will evaluate the potential for transmission across species to better understand the risks to human health.
Only essential services allowed in 'hotspot' zones, say new lockdown guidelines
No unchecked movement of people except for those maintaining essential services and providing medical care will be permitted from the COVID-19 'hotspot' zones, according to the new lockdown guidelines issued by the MHA on Wednesday.
The ministry emphasized that even the activities allowed under the new guidelines will not be permitted in the 'hotspot' zones, or the areas/clusters with high occurrence of COVID-19 cases.
The 'hotspots' will be determined as per the guidelines issued by the Union ministry of health.
WHO launches interactive COVID-19 service on Facebook Messenger
The World Health Organisation has come up with an interactive method which uses Facebook Messenger to eradicate false information being spread about coronavirus.
The WHO will be using the reach of Facebook Messenger to provide accurate information to users.
The users will also be able to ask questions and get a quick response from the WHO's 'Health Alert' service on Messenger.
With 38 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll rises to 392.
Here is a look at the latest updates on the outbreak of coronavirus from India and around the world —
Govt identifies 170 districts as hotspots, 207 as potential hostspots
The Union health ministry has identified 170 districts as COVID-19 hotspots and 207 districts as potential hotspots, officials said on Wednesday, reiterating that there has been no community transmission of the disease in the country so far.
Addressing the daily briefing to provide updates on coronavirus situation in the country, joint secretary in the ministry of health Lav Agarwal said that states have been asked to classify districts which have reported a higher number of cases as hotspots, the districts where cases have been reported as non-hotspots, and green zones where no cases have been reported.
Two million coronavirus cases recorded globally: AFP tally
More than two million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially registered around the world, half of them in Europe, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 1000 GMT Wednesday based on official sources.
At least 2,000,576 infections, including 126,871 deaths, have been recorded. Europe is the hardest hit continent, with 1,010,858 cases and 85,271 fatalities.
The United States, where the virus is spreading most rapidly, registered 609,240 cases, and 26,033 deaths.
Home secretary writes to States, UTs to ensure strict compliance with lockdown guidelines
Home secretary Ajay Bhalla on Wednesday wrote to all the states and Union territories asking them to ensure strict compliance with the consolidated revised guidelines of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Bhalla, in the letter, said that the State and Union territory governments cannot dilute the restrictions imposed in the guidelines, but can enforce stricter norms.
"I have already emphasized vide my earlier letter that States/UTs cannot dilute restrictions imposed vide the aforesaid guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. States/UTs may, however, impose stricter measures, than these guidelines as per the requirement of the local areas," Bhalla said in the letter.
Spain's daily virus toll falls again with 523 dead
Spain's daily death toll from the coronavirus fell on Wednesday to 523, after posting a one-day rise, bringing the total number of fatalities to 18,579, the health ministry said.
The number of new confirmed infections in the country, one of the worst hit by the pandemic, rose by over 5,000, after falling for six consecutive days, which lifts the total number of infections to over 177,000.
UPSC to decide on fresh dates for remaining civil services-2019 personality tests after May 3
In view of the prevailing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the Union Public Service Commission on Wednesday announced that a decision on fresh dates for the remaining civil services-2019 personality tests will be taken after May 3.
The commission said that dates for the civil services-2020 (prelim), engineering services (main) and the geologist services (main) examinations had already been announced and any rescheduling in these examinations if necessitated by the evolving situation, will be notified on its website.
Scientists discover six new coronaviruses in bats
Scientists have discovered six new coronaviruses in bats in Myanmar -- the first time these viruses have been found anywhere in the world.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE, will help understand the diversity of coronaviruses in bats and inform global efforts to detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases that may threaten public health, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the researchers from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in the US, studies will evaluate the potential for transmission across species to better understand the risks to human health.
Only essential services allowed in 'hotspot' zones, say new lockdown guidelines
No unchecked movement of people except for those maintaining essential services and providing medical care will be permitted from the COVID-19 'hotspot' zones, according to the new lockdown guidelines issued by the MHA on Wednesday.
The ministry emphasized that even the activities allowed under the new guidelines will not be permitted in the 'hotspot' zones, or the areas/clusters with high occurrence of COVID-19 cases.
The 'hotspots' will be determined as per the guidelines issued by the Union ministry of health.
WHO launches interactive COVID-19 service on Facebook Messenger
The World Health Organisation has come up with an interactive method which uses Facebook Messenger to eradicate false information being spread about coronavirus.
The WHO will be using the reach of Facebook Messenger to provide accurate information to users.
The users will also be able to ask questions and get a quick response from the WHO's 'Health Alert' service on Messenger.
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