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Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Haryana Caps Price of Covid-19 Tests, Fixes Rate at Rs 2,400

News18.com | June 19, 2020, 5:22 PM IST

Event Highlights

Blood Plasma of Recovered Patients Safe to Use: Study
Delhi Health Minister Put on Oxygen Support

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital early on Tuesday, has been put on oxygen support after his lung infection worsened, his office said in a statement. Jain has been shifted to Saket's Max Hospital, where he will be administered plasma therapy for Covid-19. Jain was initially admitted to hospital and was administered a test for the infection on Tuesday morning, for which he tested negative. But he still ran fever and showed symptoms, so another test was done after 24 hours. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday took over the charge of health, PWD, power and other departments held by his cabinet colleague.

India reported the highest single-day spike of 13,586 new Covid-19 cases and 336 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases to 3,80,532, including 1,63,248 active cases, 2,04,711 cured/discharged/migrated and 12,573 deaths. The Centre has pitched for a unified strategy for Delhi and its satellite cities to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, while the city government ramped up Covid-19 diagnosis by commencing testing through the rapid antigen method. With 2,877 fresh instances, the total number of coronavirus cases reached 49,979, while the death toll climbed to 1,969. The national capital now has 26,669 active cases. The satellites cities of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad have nearly 7,630 cases and together reported 142 deaths. While reviewing the coronavirus situation in Delhi-NCR, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the satellite cities like Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad cannot be separated from the national capital in this battle. “The home minister favoured a unified strategy for Delhi-NCR to tackle the coronavirus,” a home ministry source said.

Jun 19, 2020 5:22 pm (IST)

Update | Haryana government has fixed the price of Covid-19 tests at Rs 2,400.

Jun 19, 2020 5:17 pm (IST)

Update | Uttarakhand Chief Minsiter Trivendra Singh Rawat has sanctioned an amount of Rs 11.25 crore for purchasing 3 testing machines for Dehradun, Haldwani and Srinagar medical colleges to increase coronavirus testing in the state.

Jun 19, 2020 5:11 pm (IST)

Update | Press conference to be held by Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia has been re-scheduled to 6 pm today.

Jun 19, 2020 5:08 pm (IST)

Count of Maha's Testing Labs Rose to 100: Thackeray | Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the number of COVID-19 testing laboratories in the state has now increased to 100 from two in the past.

Jun 19, 2020 5:02 pm (IST)

Covid-19 Hospital Managed by Doctors Without Borders Opens | Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated a 100-bed temporary COVID-19 hospital, set up by Doctors Without Borders, an international humanitarian organisation, in collaboration with the state government.

Jun 19, 2020 4:54 pm (IST)

Third Meat Plant Closed in UK Local Outbreak | A meat processing plant in West Yorkshire has been shut down amid a localised outbreak of Covid-19, the third such site to shut down in the UK in recent days. The shutdown of the Yorkshire plant follows further outbreaks.

Jun 19, 2020 4:47 pm (IST)

Odisha: Migrant Woman Gives Birth on Special Train | A pregnant migrant woman, who was travelling on Shramik Special train, delivered a baby after reaching a railway station in Odisha's Balangir district, said East Coast Railway (ECoR).

Jun 19, 2020 4:40 pm (IST)

SC Takes Note of Different Covid-19 Testing Charge in Various States, Asks Centre to Decide

It indicated however that the court will not venture into the fixation of the charges which will be taken care of by the Centre.

Jun 19, 2020 4:32 pm (IST)

Update | Latest CT scan report shows that the pneumonia patches in his lungs have increased. He experienced increased giddiness and tiredness today. Advice of doctors will be followed: Delhi Chief Minsiter Arvind Kejriwal on Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Jun 19, 2020 4:27 pm (IST)

China Publishes Gene Sequences from Latest Spike | China's Center for Disease Control said says it has published the gene sequences for three strains of the coronavirus detected in the new outbreak that hit Beijing this month. At least one of the strains tied to the Chinese capital's largest wholesale food market had reportedly shown similarities to a strain found in Europe. The study has been given to the World Health Organization and the GISAID Initiative.

Jun 19, 2020 4:19 pm (IST)

Praying for Good Health of Satyendar Jain: Delhi Guv |

Praying for speedy recovery & good health of Hon’ble Minister, GNCTD @SatyendarJain ji.
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 19, 2020

Jun 19, 2020 4:15 pm (IST)

Delhi Seeks Volunteers to Fight Pandemic | In view of surging coronavirus cases in the city, the Delhi government will rope in NGOs, civil society organisations, NCC and NSS cadets and scouts for survey of coronavirus suspects, and surveillance and management of isolation cases.

Jun 19, 2020 4:10 pm (IST)

Manish Sisodia to Hold Presser at 5 PM | Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia to address a digital press conference today at 5 pm.

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Jun 19, 2020 4:05 pm (IST)

UPDATE | Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain has been shifted to Max Hospital in Saket today. Reports state that he will be administered plasma therapy for coronavirus infection.

Jun 19, 2020 4:02 pm (IST)

Blood Plasma from Recovered Patients Safe for Covid-19 Treatment | A report published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceeding stated that a large study of 20,000 hospitalised coronavirus patients who received transfusions of blood plasma from recovered people found the treatment was safe.

Jun 19, 2020 3:58 pm (IST)

UP Records Highest Spike of 809 New Covid-19 Cases | A total of 809 new coronavirus cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh today, taking the total number of active cases in the state to 6,092. The state now has16,594 after recording its highest spike in infections.

Jun 19, 2020 3:55 pm (IST)

Uttarakhand Covid-19 tally Reaches 2,127 | Uttarakhand reported 25 new coronavirus cases, taking the state's tally to 2,127. Most of the new patients have a travel history to Delhi NCR and Maharashtra.

Jun 19, 2020 3:51 pm (IST)

Pune Records 515 New Virus Cases | Health officials recorded 515 fresh coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in Maharashtra's Pune district to 13,750. A total of 12 deaths were also reported, taking the toll to 552.

Jun 19, 2020 3:46 pm (IST)

Amit Shah Wishes Delhi Health Min Speedy Recovery from Covid-19 |

Praying for the speedy recovery of Shri Satyendra Jain, Health Minister of Delhi who is battling with COVID-19 infection.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 19, 2020

Jun 19, 2020 3:41 pm (IST)

Tibet Covid-19 Update | The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said 14-day quarantine and coronavirus test are mandatory for Tibetans arriving in community settlements from or via red zones.

Jun 19, 2020 3:35 pm (IST)

South Asians in UK Most Likely to Die from Covid-19 | A new study titled 'Ethnicity and Outcomes from Covid-19' revealed that South Asians are at greater risk of dying from coronavirus when hospitalised with pre-existing diabetes.

Jun 19, 2020 3:24 pm (IST)

Radha Soami Satsang Beas centre will be a Covid-19 care centre with 10,000 beds, of which 10% will be oxygenated beds.

Radha Soami Satsang Beas centre will be a #COVID care centre with 10,000 beds out of which 10% will be oxygenated beds. We are working on its air conditioning. The cardboard beds are lightweight, reusable and have 2 years of warranty: South Delhi District Magistrate BM Mishra pic.twitter.com/vpKdB9x9wk
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

Jun 19, 2020 3:19 pm (IST)

Preventive Measures in Offices against Covid-19 (Image: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB)

Jun 19, 2020 3:19 pm (IST)

Preventive Measures in Offices against Covid-19 (Image: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB)

Jun 19, 2020 3:15 pm (IST)

READ| Italy Sewage Study Suggests Covid-19 Was There in December 2019 Before China Reported First Cases

Small studies conducted by scientific teams in the Netherlands, France, Australia and elsewhere have found signs that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be detected in sewage, and many countries are…

Jun 19, 2020 3:03 pm (IST)

Blood Plasma of Recovered Patients Safe to Use: Study | Researchers in the US have found that Covid-19 patients who received transfusions of blood plasma from people who recovered found the treatment was safe. The study of 20,000 hospitalised patients with Covid-19, published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, suggests that giving blood plasma to people early in the disease may be beneficial. The safety report assesses the seven days following transfusion for hospitalised patients between April 3 and June 11 who were deemed at risk of progressing to a severe or life-threatening condition.

Jun 19, 2020 2:49 pm (IST)

Delhi Health Minister Put on Oxygen Support | Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who has tested positive for Covid-19, put on oxygen support after his lung infection increases: Office of Delhi Health Minister.

Jun 19, 2020 2:42 pm (IST)

Japan's Fujitsu Brings Hand Washing AI to Covid-19 Fight | Japan's Fujitsu Ltd develops an artificial intelligence monitor that will ensure healthcare, hotel and food industry workers scrub properly. The AI, which can recognise complex hand movements and can even detect when people aren't using soap, was under development before the coronavirus outbreak for Japanese companies implementing stricter hygiene regulations, according to Fujitsu. It is based on crime surveillance technology that can detect suspicious body movements.

Jun 19, 2020 2:34 pm (IST)

Andhra Pradesh Tally Crosses 6,000#

Andhra Pradesh Tally Crosses 6,000 | Four deaths and 376 new Covid-19 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 6,230: State Health Department.

Jun 19, 2020 2:15 pm (IST)

READ | China's Clover Begins Human Trials of Covid-19 Vaccine with GSK, Dynavax Boosters

Initial safety data from the trial, which is enrolling about 150 adults and also investigating the vaccine in combination with Dynavax's adjuvant, is expected in August this year, Clover said.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Haryana Caps Price of Covid-19 Tests, Fixes Rate at Rs 2,400

In this representative image, a woman gets nasal swab taken to test for the coronavirus. (AP Photo/ Channi Anand)

Besides Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava, senior officials of NCR districts and Ministries of Home and Health and ICMR attended the meeting. Shah assured the NCR districts that the central government will provide all support to them in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic, another source said. Delhi and its satellite cities -- an urban belt sprawling across three states -- has one of the highest population densities in the country. A large number of people reside in Delhi and work in the satellite cities or vice versa. The NCR comprises districts belonging to Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the prominent ones being Gurgaon, Faridabad (both in Haryana), Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) and Ghaziabad (both in UP).

“In view of the structure of Delhi-NCR region, all concerned bodies need to unite and work on a common strategy against the coronavirus pandemic. In this context, I met with Delhi Chief Minister and senior officials of Center and Delhi-NCR today to discuss how to evolve a strategy as soon as possible,” Shah tweeted. On the meeting by Shah with officials of Delhi-NCR, a home ministry statement said the minister said an expert committee decided the rates for COVID-19 beds and treatment in Delhi, and these could be applied in hospitals in the NCR cities after consultations.

It would be better to conduct COVID-19 testing through the new rapid antigen methodology approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which will ramp up the testing capacity and help in early diagnosis and treatment, he said.

Shah also directed officials from UP and Haryana governments to submit information about COVID-19 beds, ventilators, oxygen cylinders, ICU and ambulances available with them and their plan to augment these resources by July 15 to the Union Home Ministry so that a common strategy can be devised in the NCR in the battle against the virus, the statement said.

Shah said there was need to scale-up testing for COVID-19 and provide treatment to those found positive. The home minister also suggested that the NCR districts can consider adopting Rs 2,400 charge fixed for COVID-19 testing in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the national capital commenced the new rapid antigen test at 169 centres in and around containment zones of the city. A total of 341 teams are involved in rapid antigen testing which makes results available within 30 minutes, an official said. People with mild symptoms or no symptoms at all can get themselves tested, another official said.

A total of 7,040 people were tested for coronavirus of which 456 turned positive, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. In the initial phase, tests will be conducted only on those who live in containment zones, he added.

SG Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State for Home, said the Centre plans to conduct six lakh rapid antigen tests at these 169 facilities. Delhi currently has 431 ventilators and the central government will provide 500 more to hospitals in the city. Similarly, the Centre will provide 650 ambulances to add to the 350 that the city already has, Reddy added.

Kejriwal tweeted, "Two important things happened today. COVID-19 testing rates in Delhi have been reduced to Rs 2,400 and rapid-antigen testing has started. I hope people won't face any problem in getting themselves tested now."

Those who came to get themselves tested at a centre in Sunlight Colony in southeast Delhi said the entire process took only about an hour. The centre started operating at 10 am and by around 5 pm 125 swab samples were collected, a healthcare worker said.

A healthcare worker at the testing centre said each testing kit costs Rs 450 and can provide results within 30 minutes as compared to RT-PCR test that takes three to four hours.

The kits, called Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection, have been developed by South Korean company S D Biosensor. The testing method involves looking for antibodies which are produced when the body is exposed to a pathogen.

If a person has antibodies associated with novel coronavirus, it means the person is either COVID-19 positive or has recovered.

Shah has had a series of meetings with Delhi L-G Anil Baijal, Kejriwal and senior officials in the last four days to strengthen Delhi's health infrastructure. On June 4, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to convene a meeting of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for easing interstate movement at all borders in the NCR. It also observed that there should be a consistent policy in this regard for the NCR.