Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India Cases Rise to 1,45,380, Death Toll at 4,167; US Deaths Inch Closer to 1 Lakh-mark With 532 Fatalities in 24 Hours

ICMR Says Efforts are On To Scale-up Testing in Bihar and Odisha | Taking cognisance of the expected surge in cases due to influx of migrant workers in UP, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal ICMR decided to expand testing. With immense efforts and hand-holding, the diagnostic capacities have been scaled up in these states with- 17 testing labs in Bihar, 17 in Odisha, 27 in Uttar Pradesh and 36 in West Bengal.

Lockdown Violations in Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur

Madhya Pradesh: Myriad of people gathered at the wedding of Bilasa village accountant in Alirajpur amid #COVID19 lockdown yesterday. Dheeraj Babbar, Sub Divisional Police Officer, Alirajpur says, "The village people have violated lockdown norms. FIR has been registered". pic.twitter.com/lHuO2uK8CP

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2020

For Second Day India Tests Less Than One Lakh Samples | For the second consecutive day, India tests less than a lakh samples when the capacity is more than 1,50,000. Authorities tested 92,000 samples in the 24 hours and over 31 lakh samples in totality. 

76 New Cases Reported in Rajasthan in Last 12 Hours | With 76 new cases reported in the last 12 hours, Rajasthan's total tally rose to 7,376. 

Fly Safe, Stay Safe

Australia Will Not Open the Country’s Borders 'Anytime Soon' | Australia will not open the country’s borders “anytime soon”, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, but added the country will continue its discussions with neighbouring New Zealand for a trans-Tasman safe travel zone.

Brazil Travel Ban by US to Start 2 Days Earlier | A ban on foreign travellers arriving in the US from Brazil due to the surge in coronavirus cases there will now take effect late Tuesday, two days earlier than previously announced. 

Here's the breakup for cases reported in India

India's Positive Cases Rise to 1,45,380 | In the last 24 hours, India recorded 6535 cases, taking the total tally to 1,45,380. Of which 80,722 are active cases, 60,490 cured and 4,167 succumbed to the infection, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced. 

Mexico Reports Over 2,000 Fresh Cases | Mexican health officials reported 2,485 new cases of coronavirus and 239 deaths, bringing the country’s totals to 71,105 and 7,633, respectively.

Australia to Outline Economic Recovery Plans as Lockdowns Ease | Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will outline his government's plans to revive the sputtering economy but is expected to warn a recovery will take between three to five years. Australia has reported just over 7,100 COVID-19 infections, including 102 deaths.

WHO Warns of 'Second Peak' in Countries Where Covid-19 Declining | Countries where coronavirus infections are declining could still face an “immediate second peak” if they let up too soon on measures to halt the outbreak, the World Health Organization said. 

South Korea Reports 19 New Virus Cases | South Korea has reported 19 new cases of the coronavirus, most from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where officials have been actively tracing transmissions linked to nightclubs and other entertainment venues.

AIIMS Sanitation Chief Succumbs to COVID-19 in the National Capital

Indian-American Couple Develops Low-cost Ventilator | An Indian-American couple developed a low-cost portable emergency ventilator which is soon to hit the production stage and will be available in India and the developing world at an affordable rate to help doctors deal with the COVID-19 patients.

Saudi Arabia to Revise Curfew Times | Saudi Arabia will revise curfew times this week, and lift it entirely across the Kingdom with the exception of the holy city of Mecca starting 21 June, The Guardian reported. 

Police personnel check movement passes of people at Delhi-Ghaziabad border after Ghaziabad sealed border with Delhi again to combat COVID-19

WHO Worries  About "silent epidemic" Unless Africa Prioritises Virus Testing | Africa has so far been spared the worst impact of the coronavirus, but the World Health Organization is worried the continent could face a “silent epidemic” if its leaders do not prioritise testing for it, a WHO envoy said. 

Did Everything Right, Yet Peru Becomes COVID Hotspot | Peru had more than 123,900 confirmed coronavirus cases and 3,600 deaths -- putting it second only to Brazil both in the number of cases and deaths in Latin America.

READ | Touted by Trump & India for Covid-19 Treatment, WHO 'Temporarily Pauses' Trial on Hydroxychloroquine Over Safety Concerns
 

"The decision came after the Lancet published a study that said the drug, touted by US President Donald Trump as a treatment, was linked to an increased risk of death and heart ailments."

Chandigarh Records Three New Cases | Three new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Bapu Dham Colony, Chandigarh. The total number of cases in the union territory now stands at 269, Health Department said. 

Covid-19 Measures ‘Disastrous’ for Children: Dutch Watchdog | The coronavirus pandemic will have a “disastrous” impact on children’s rights worldwide, making them more vulnerable to forced labour and underage marriage, a Dutch rights group said. 

No New Coronavirus Deaths in Ireland for First Time in 9 Weeks | Ireland recorded no new deaths from the coronavirus for the first time since March 21. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar called it a "significant milestone", adding on Twitter: "This is a day of hope. We will prevail."

In Bolsonaro's Brazil, Everyone Else is to Blame for Virus |  With Brazil emerging as one of the world's most infected countries, President Jair Bolsonaro is deflecting all responsibility for the coronavirus crisis, casting blame on mayors, governors, and outgoing health minister and the media.

Over the last 3 days, India has witnessed a record spike in COVID-19 cases. Experts attribute factors such as easing restrictions, varying testing levels for such a rise in infections.

UP Records 8 More COVID-related Deaths; 229 Fresh Cases Take Tally to 6,497 |  Eight more people have died of COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh, taking their number to 169 as 229 fresh coronavirus cases surfaced in the state, an official of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) said.

Domestic flight operations resumed at Ladakh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport. "The first flight that landed here was an Air India flight with around 50-60 passengers onboard", Sonam Nurboo, Airport Director said. 

Assam Breaches 500-mark in COVID-19 Cases, 156 New Infections | Assam recorded its highest single-day spike of 156 cases, taking the total past the 500-mark, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. With these fresh cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections has gone up to 548 in the state, of which 479 are active cases. 

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has allowed domestic air services by "non-scheduled and private (general aviation) operators (fixed-wing/helicopters/microlight aircraft)".