Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Bengal to Start Tele-medicine Services from July 1 to Enable Patients to Consult Doctors on Phone

Tele-medicine Services from July 1 in WB | We are introducing tele-medicine services from July 1 to enable patients to avail medical consultation via telephone amid coronavirus-related curbs, says West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Benerjee.

West Bengal Covid-19 Update | Because of lakhs of medical professionals (doctors, nurses, paramedics) police personnel and other frontline workers are fighting Covid 19 in a selfless manner, as a mark of respect for their exemplary services, the state government has decided to declare July 1 as state holiday. We will request other states to declare a holiday in states as well and will also ask the Centre to declare July 1 as a national holiday, said West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. Doctor's Day, observed on July 1 in Bengal is celebrated to mark the occasion of birth anniversary of Dr Bidhan Roy. 

Update | Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla held video consultations today with French Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on our multi-faceted cooperation with France, exchanges on regional and global issues and coronavirus pandemic response: Ministry of External Affairs

Meghalaya Chief Minister Test Negative for Coronavirus | Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma tested negative for coronavirus today. The minister's swab sample was tested first on June 22 and then again on Sunday. "Both the samples were found negative," an official at the Chief Medical Officer's office in Shillong said.

UP Covid-19 Tally Update | Health Officials confirmed  685 new coronavirus cases today. The state now has 6,650 active cases and 15,506 discharges/cured patients. The death toll stands at 672. 

Telangana Minister Tests Positive for Covid-19 | A senior minister in Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's cabinet has tested positive for coronavirus and is currently undergoing treatment in a private hospital. 

Karnataka CM Holds Meeting on Covid-19 Response | Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa holds a meeting with representatives of private hospitals over coronavirus treatment, in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa holds a meeting with representatives of private hospitals over #COVID19 treatment, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/l60SAJku0z

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Under the extended lockdown, the government has empowered district collectors and municipal commissioners to impose restrictions on non-essential activities.

UPDATE | All government offices with certain exceptions like emergency, health&medical, treasuries, disaster management, police, NIC food&civil supply, FCI, municipal services to function with 15% strength or 15 persons whichever is higher. All private offices can operate up to 10% strength or 10 people whichever is more, as per the latest guidelines by the Maharashtra government. (Image: ANI)

Haryana to Start Plasma Therapy | Haryana will soon start convalescent plasma therapy for treatment of COVID-19 patients in all its medical colleges after approval from ICMR, Health Minister Anil Vij said.

BBMP Arranges 1,600 More Beds for Covid-19 Cases | The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set up five more Covid Care Centres with a total capacity of 1,600 beds in view of the rising coronavirus cases in Bengaluru. 

77 Maharashtra Cops Test Covid-19 Positive | At least 77 Maharashtra Police personnel have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The total number of police personnel infected with the virus now stands at 4,743 with 59 fatalities.

Update | Concerned District Collector and Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations in Maharashtra may enforce certain measures and necessary restrictions in specified local areas on the permitted non-essential activities and movement of persons to control coronavirus, the latest bulletin says.

Medical Experts Against Lockdown Extension in TN | Prabhdeep Kaur, Deputy Director, National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), said the expert medical committee has not recommended lockdown extension in Tamil Nadu citing socio-economic issues and suggested strict curbs in areas where the infection rate are high. 

Bihar Registers 282 New Covid-19 Cases | A total of 282 fresh coronavirus cases were reported in Bihar today, taking the total number of cases in the state to 9,506.

Maharashtra Extends Lockdown Till July 31 | Maharashtra has extended its coronavirus lockdown till July 31, amid rising Covid-19 cases in the country.

Rs 2,000 Upon Completing Quarantine in Odisha | People who are placed under institutional quarantine in Odisha are given Rs 2,000 on completion of their quarantine term. A person quarantined in Jajpur says, "State government has given all facilities here. Rs 2,000 was credited in my account after I stayed here for 10 days."

Vande Bharat Phase-4 Schedule Out | India's Vande Bharat Mission's phase 4 schedule is out. It is aimed at repatriating Indians from foreign countries amid Covid-19.

For Classes 9 to 10 in Karnataka | The online classes will be for 30-45 minutes divided into 4 periods for five days a week for classes 9 to 10.

Online Classes Guidelines for Karnataka | Under the directions of Karnataka HC, state government issues guidelines to conduct online classes: 30 mins a week for kindergarten; 30-45 mins divided in two periods for three alternate days a week for classes 1-5; 30-45 mins divided in two periods for 5 days a week for classes 5-8.

Hyderabad Man Dies Of COVID-19 After His Plea To Get Oxygen Support From Hospital Goes Unanswered

Srinagar Woman Distributes Medical Kits in J&K | An employee of Srinagar Municipal Corporation goes door-to-door to distribute free 'Eva Medi Kits' containing sanitary napkins and liquid soaps to women in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, amid Covid-19.

Jammu&Kashmir: An employee of Srinagar Municipal Corporation goes door-to-door to distribute free 'Eva Medi Kits' containing sanitary napkins&liquid soaps to women in Srinagar; says,"There are so many women who can't afford these things.I spend my salary to purchase these items." pic.twitter.com/k5gWWFfcYF

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Delhi HC Suspends Courts' Functioning Till July 15 |  Delhi High Court extends the suspension of the functioning of High Court and subordinate courts till July 15, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. All pending matters listed before the Court in this period stand adjourned. Hearing in urgent matters to be held via video-conferencing.

'Project Platina' Launched in Maha | ‘Project PLATINA’-World’s Largest convalescent plasma therapy trial cum treatment of severe COVID-19 patients was today launched by Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department and inaugurated by CM Uddhav Thackeray: Maharashtra CMO.

Govt Mulls Reopening of Kartarpur Corridor | "The Pakistan government has offered to reopen Kartarpur Corridor from today. We also want that the corridor reopens but the final decision has to be taken by the Centre keeping in view COVID-19 situation," Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Chief Secretary Dr Roop Singh in Amritsar.

Andhra Pradesh Reports 793 New Cases | Andhra Pradesh reports 793 new cases and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases rise to 13891 including 7479 active cases, 6232 discharged cases and 180 deaths: State COVID-19 nodal officer.

Officials said 37 teams were on the job and people in the containment zones were being thoroughly screened to stall community transmission.

'Won't Let Virus Spread': Punjab CM | "If there will be any chance of the spread of COVID-19 infection in my state, I will act firmly. I will not let this disease spread in my state. I have to do my best," said Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.

India Now Has 1,047 Covid-19 Diagnostic Labs | This includes 760 in the government sector and 287 private labs. The 11 labs that have been inducted in the last 24 hours are all operated by the government. Here’s the break-up:

• Real-Time RT PCR based testing labs: 567 (Govt: 362 + Private: 205)

• ​TrueNat based testing labs : 393 (Govt: 366 + Private: 27)

• ​CBNAAT based testing labs : 87 (Govt: 32 + Private: 55)

The total number of samples tested is showing an uphill trend, and has touched 83,98,362. Yesterday, 1,70,560 samples were tested.

Difference Between Recovered and Active Cases Increases to 1,11,602 |  The gap between recoveries and active cases is 1,11,602 as on Monday. So far, as many as 3,21,722 patients have been cured of COVID-19. The recovery rate continues to steadily improve. It has reached 58.67% amongst COVID-19 patients today.