Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, following a COVID-19 review meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and other senior government officials, reiterated the need to observe personal hygiene and social discipline in public places while appreciating the manner in which the pandemic has been “contained” in Delhi.

The Hindu Explains | Is airborne transmission of COVID-19 a risk?

Here is a list of State Helpline numbers. You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here.

Here are the latest updates:

Akhilesh to UP govt: Instead of weekend curbs, opt for four-day workweek

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday suggested the Uttar Pradesh government to implement a four-day working week to contain coronavirus instead of imposing a stricter lockdown on weekends.

The SP chief, however, said emergency services should operate round the clock on all days.

His reaction came on a day the government decided to impose stricter curbs across the state from coming Saturday amid a spike in infection cases.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi earlier said that the restrictions will remain in place at least for July.

“Instead of imposing a lockdown on weekends, the government should implement a four-day workweek system in view of the COVID-19 spread and it should be for a long period,” Mr. Yadav said.

- PTI

Pulse oximeters like ‘surakha kavach’, have minimised COVID-19 deaths in Delhi: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday termed pulse oximeters as ‘suraksha kavach’ (protective shield) that have helped minimise COVID-19 deaths of patients under home isolation in Delhi.

Delhi government has provided pulse oximeters to asymptomatic and mild symptom corona patients undergoing home isolation.

“Delhi has been able to minimise deaths of Corona patients in home isolation thru this suraksha kavach called pulse oximeter. If patients detect their oxygen is falling they reach out to us for help. We immediately send oxygen concentrators to their home or take them to a hospital,” Mr. Kejriwal said in a tweet.

A pulse oximeter is a device that measures blood oxygen level. Coronavirus patients need to be hospitalised if their oxygen level reaches 90 per cent or below, according to health guidelines.

- PTI

Uttar Pradesh’s COVID-19 tally reaches 36,476; death toll rises to 934

The death toll due to COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday mounted to 934 after 21 more people succumbed to the disease, while 1,384 fresh infections pushed the tally to 36,476, health officials said.

Additional Chief Secretary Medical and Health Amit Mohan Prasad said 23,334 of the total infected have been discharged. The state now has 12,208 active COVID-19 cases, he said.

On Saturday, 39,623 samples were taken for testing, Mr. Prasad said during a daily media briefing on COVID-19.

“We are now conducting 40,000 tests on a daily basis. In March, the daily testing capacity was 60 and now it has increased by 650 times,” he said.

- PTI

82 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Nepal

Nepal’s COVID-19 cases jumped to 16,801 after 82 new infections were reported, while 38 people have succumbed to the coronavirus, a senior health official said on Sunday.

The number of recovered patients has gone up to 8,589 as 147 COVID—19 patients recuperated from the infection in the last 24 hours, Health Ministry spokesperson Jageshwor Gautam said.

A total of 82 new infections have been reported, pushing the country’s tally to 16,801, the official said.

Currently, there are 8174 corona active patients undergoing treatment at different health facilities across the country. Nepal’s COVID—19 recovery rate has reached 51.1 per cent, Mr. Gautam said.

The death toll remains 38 as there was no death reported in the last 24 hours, according to Health Ministry.

- PTI

Tripura’s COVID-19 tally rises to 1,963; death toll mounts to 2

Tripura’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,963 on Sunday with 32 more people testing positive for the infection, while one more coronavirus fatality pushed the death toll to two, officials said.

West Tripura district registered 12 new cases, followed by five each in Sepahijala and Gomati, four in North Tripura district, two each in Khowai and Unokoti and one each in Dhalai and South Tripura districts, they said.

The state registered its second COVID-19 fatality after a 72-year-old patient died at the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) on Saturday evening, Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar Rakesh said.

The man, who hailed from Khowai district, was admitted to the hospital on Friday with liver ailments besides COVID-19 symptoms, the official said, adding his swab samples tested positive for the infection.

“Unfortunately, 1 COVID-19 patient from Khowai has died in AGMC today,” Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb tweeted late on Saturday.

A 42-year-old man had died of COVID-19 in the same hospital on June 9.

- PTI

India’s COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 62.93%, says Health ministry

Focussed and coordinated action by the Centre along with states and U.T.s, effective clinical management of coronavirus and timely diagnosis led to a consistent increase in the number of recovered cases in the country, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. The number of recovered cases exceeds active COVID-19 cases by 2,42,362 as on date, it said.

“The recovery rate has improved to 62.93%,” the ministry said.

“As more people are recovering due to all-round efforts, the recovered cases exceed active cases by 2,42,362,” it said.

- PTI

COVID-19 also a ‘corrector’ that requires us to repurpose our lives: Naidu

The COVID-19 pandemic should not be seen only as a disaster but also as a “corrector” that prepares the society for the next challenge by requiring us to “repurpose our lives”, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday.

In the Facebook post ‘Musings of Life in Corona Times’, Naidu asked people to introspect and assess if they have learnt the right lessons and equipped themselves to deal with such uncertainties during their confinement in the past few months.

“Constant evaluation of the course of life in all its manifestations and in the totality of context is an essential pre-requisite for a higher living. One such opportunity is now as we live with coronavirus,” he said.

- PTI

People testing negative for COVID-19 but showing symptoms should be treated: Experts

Test results may come out negative even if one has contracted COVID-19, experts have warned, advising that those showing symptoms of the disease must be treated without waiting for a confirmatory test to prevent aggravation of the infection.

There have been several cases where patients showing clinical symptoms of COVID-19 have tested negative for the virus multiple times. They were confirmed positive after repeated tests, doctors said.

The general perception of the experts now is that a high degree of suspicion arising out of the clinical symptomatology and the CT scan reports should be the guiding factor for treatment rather than relying only on the RT-PCR test which has a sensitivity of only 70%, Dr. Neeraj Gupta, professor in the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, said.

Even the rapid antigen test has a sensitivity of only 40%.

“So many patients will be missed if we rely only upon these tests,” Dr. Gupta said.

- PTI

Singapore recorded 178 new COVID-19 cases

Singapore’s COVID-19 cases reached 45,961 on Sunday after 178 new infections, comprising mostly migrant workers living in dormitories, were detected, according to the health ministry.

Among the new infections, 177 are migrant workers living in dormitories. There is one community infection of a Singaporean while another is an imported case, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

On Saturday, one imported case of an Indian national who returned to Singapore from India on July 6 was reported.

The work pass holder was placed on a 14-day stay-home notice upon arrival, and was tested while serving her notice. She is a work pass holder who is currently employed in Singapore.

Currently, there are 192 confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Of these, most are stable or improving, and 1 is in critical condition in the intensive care unit, the MOH said on late Saturday.

- PTI

Partial lockdown in Srinagar to combat COVID-19; over 60 containment zones designated

Authorities on Sunday ordered a partial lockdown in Srinagar by designating over 60 containment zones amid a surge in coronavirus cases over the past week, officials said.

The lockdown will be imposed in 68 containment zones of the city from Monday and no movement would be allowed in these areas without permission, they said.

“In view of the major spike in COVID-19 cases, we will have to carve out containment zones for effective restrictions in different areas of Srinagar. Local cooperation is solicited in best interest of public health,” District Magistrate, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

He confirmed the reimposition of the lockdown.

The decision to reimpose the lockdown in these areas of city was taken at a meeting late Saturday evening, the officials said.

- PTI

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, daughter Aaradhya test positive for coronavirus

Smt. Aishwarya Rai Bacchan & Daughter Aaradhya Abhishek Bacchan have also been detected positive for COVID-19. Smt. Jaya Bachhan ji is tested negative for for the virus. We wish the Bacchan Family to get well soon with a speedy recovery, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.

- Alok Deshpande

 

I’m fine and healthy: Hema Malini dismisses hospitalisation rumours

In a video message on Sunday, veteran star-MP Hema Malini put an end to the rumours of her hospitalisation, saying she is “completely fine” and “healthy“.

The 71-year-old actor dismissed the reports by sharing a 28 second-long clip on Twitter from home.

“I am hearing rumours that I am not well and I am in the hospital but I want to inform all my loved ones that this is not true. Nothing has happened to me. I am healthy. By the grace of God, I am completely fine,” Malini said in the video.

“Thank you so much for your concern,” she added.

- PTI

Karnataka’s COVID-19 tally may double in next 15-30 days: Health Minister

The number of coronavirus cases in Karnataka may double in the next 15 to 30 days and the coming two months would emerge as a big challenge for the government in tackling the pandemic, state Health Minister B Sriramulu has said.

However, there was no need for any panic and people should follow the COVID-19 related regulations to stay safe, he said in a series of tweets.

As on Saturday, the cumulative tally of COVID-19 cases in the state touched 36,216, including 613 fatalities and 14,716 discharges.

“Lockdown has been announced in Bengaluru from Tuesday 8 pm for the next seven days. Abide by the regulations. Everyday more than 2,000 cases of coronavirus are coming to fore,” Sriramulu said late Saturday.

- PTI

Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya have tested negative: Mumbai mayor

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Sunday said actors Jaya Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai have tested negative for coronavirus.

The mayor’s statement came a day after Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek Bachchan said they had tested positive for COVID-19 and were admitted to a hospital here.

The mayor said the Bachchan residence is now a containment zone and all residents have been quarantined for 14 days.

- PTI

Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya have tested negative: Mumbai mayor

Uttar Pradesh to implement weekend lockdowns

To stop the spread of COVID-19 infection, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to implement strict lockdown across the state on weekends, a senior official said on Sunday.

“The lockdown on weekends will be implemented from the coming Saturday and Sunday especially in the crowded areas. The markets and offices will remain closed on these days. However, the banks will remain open,” Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi said.

“This is being done basically to stop the spread of infection through unwanted physical movement. Economic activities will, however, not suffer,” he added.

- PTI

Kamal Haasan wishes Amitabh speedy recovery, tells him to become a 'wellness icon'

Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan. File photo  

 

Top actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan on Sunday wished megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abishek Bachchan a speedy recovery from COVID-19 and wanted the acclaimed actor to become an icon for “survival and wellness” as well.

“I wish both the Bachchans @SrBachchan @juniorbachchan a speedy recovery. I trust the Indian doctors and Sr. Bachchan’s will to overcome health hazards.Get well soon and become an icon again for survival and wellness,” Mr. Haasan said on his twitter handle.

Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan on Saturday said they have tested positive for COVID-19 and been hospitalised in Mumbai.

- PTI

Scientists decode COVID-19 symptoms outside lungs

Scientists, including those of Indian-origin, have provided the first extensive review of COVID-19’s effects outside the lungs, and have recommended that physicians treat it as a multisystem disease with manifestations including blood clots, kidney failure, and neurological symptoms like delirium.

“I was on the front lines right from the beginning. I observed that patients were clotting a lot, they had high blood sugars even if they did not have diabetes, and many were experiencing injury to their hearts and kidneys,” said Aakriti Gupta, a co-author of the study from Columbia University in the US.

According to the review of studies, published in the journal Nature Medicine, a substantial proportion of COVID-19 patients suffer kidney, heart, and brain damage.

The researchers recommended that doctors treat these conditions along with the respiratory disease.

“Physicians need to think of COVID-19 as a multisystem disease,” Ms. Gupta said.

One of the non-respiratory complications most reported by studies is blood clotting, according to the researchers.

They said these clotting complications may stem from the virus’ attack on cells that line the blood vessels.

The scientists explained that when the virus attacks blood vessel cells, inflammation increases, and blood begins to form clots, big and small.

These blood clots, according to the study, can travel all over the body and wreak havoc on organs, perpetuating a vicious cycle of inflammation.

- PTI

Aviation Ministry revises passenger regulations

The Civil Aviation Ministry has told the airlines that passengers who submit a self-declaration form that they have not tested positive for COVID-19 during the three weeks prior to the departure date are allowed to take their flight, officials said.

On May 21, the government had made it mandatory for all passengers to submit the self-declaration form before a flight stating that they did not test positive for COVID-19 during two months prior to the departure date.

 

 

Around 16 staff members from Maharashtra's Raj Bhavan have tested COVID-19 positive and state governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has gone in isolation. 

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now be testing all employees at Raj Bhavan, confirmed one of the staff members from Raj Bhavan.

No official statement has been released from Raj Bhavan.

- Alok Deshpande

Esha Deol quashes rumours of Hema Malini being hospitalised

Actor Esha Deol on Sunday rubbished rumours that her mother, veteran star Hema Malini was admitted to a hospital. There were reports that the 71-year-old actor was rushed to a hospital due to poor health. Taking to Twitter, Esha asked people not to react to misinformation.

 

Meanwhile, designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni also slammed rumours that her mother Neetu Kapoor and brother, actor Ranbir Kapoor, have tested COVID-19 positive, urging people not to spread misinformation.

The rumours started to spread after actor Amitabh Bachchan and his son, actor Abhishek Bachchan tested positive for COVID-19 and were admitted to a city hospital on Saturday.

- PTI

Hoping for shorter quarantine period for Team India during Australia tour, says Sourav Ganguly

 

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly wants a shorter than mandated quarantine period for the Indian team when it travels to Australia for a Test series this year as “we don’t want the players to go that far and sit in hotel rooms for two weeks.”

 

Lockdown extended in Navi Mumbai

Thane Collector Rajesh Narvekar issued an order for extending the lockdown till the midnight of July 19 and municipal corporations have been asked to decide individually as per the situation of the respective areas.

While Kalyan-Dombivli Corporation and Thane Municipal Corporation had extended the lockdown till July 19 on Friday, Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation extended it till July 18. Following their cue, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) also extended the lockdown for another six days till midnight of July 19 as new cases touched fresh highs.

 

Andhra Pradesh ropes in Facebook, IIT-Tirupati for better management of COVID-19

 

In the backdrop of spike in COVID-19 positive cases and casualties, the Andhra Pradesh government has roped in social media giant Facebook and IIT-Tirupati for better management of the pandemic.

The mapping and analysis of people moving in public places, apparently, has been a big help for the government machinery in its containment measures initiated for the fast-spreading disease.

 

Tripura to enforce stricter measures as cases surge

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday hinted at taking harsh measures like the imposition of a lockdown in the wake of a surge in coronavirus cases in the State. He also expressed displeasure over violations of health protocols and curfew restrictions. “I am receiving proposals from the districts. We may even enforce lockdown,” he said.

 

Spectre of new clusters in Thiruvananthapuram

 

Raising the spectre of new COVID-19 clusters, the number of cases without known sources of infection continued to mount in the capital district, even while the daily caseload fell by a half on Saturday when compared to Friday.

Among the 69 people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, as many as 46 contracted the infection through local transmission. The administration was in the dark over the origin of infection of 11 of the cases, strengthening the possibility of silent transmission in parts of the district.

 

Health dept. awaits nod for plasma bank

The Health department is awaiting the Centre’s nod for setting up a convalescent plasma bank in the State even as the demand for plasma among COVID-19 recovered people continues to mount. Most requests posted on Twitter are by family members of patients admitted in corporate hospitals.

Plasma collected from patients who have recovered from the disease would be infused with antibodies to neutralise the coronavirus. It is expected that the procedure would bring down the mortality rate.

 

Lockdown back in Bengaluru Urban, Rural from July 14 night

 

With a big rise in COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks in and around the city, the State government has reimposed total lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts for seven days from 8 p.m. on July 14 till 5 a.m. on July 22.

All the guidelines announced during the previous lockdowns will be in force during this period. Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who is currently under home quarantine, has appealed to all residents of the two districts to remain indoors during the lockdown period to control the pandemic.

 

All upcoming exams of State-run universities cancelled: Sisodia

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday said all upcoming written examinations of universities under Delhi government will be cancelled due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, and students, including those in final year, will be passed based on evaluation of previous exams or semesters.

 

Fever clinics credited with Chennai’s declining trend in infections

 

The Greater Chennai Corporation has screened 10 lakh residents so far in fever clinics as part of its efforts to arrest the spread of COVID-19 in the city.

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash said that a high number of residents being screened in fever clinics had led to a declining trend for 11 days in the city that has a population of 87 lakh. The fever clinics were started in May to better COVID-19 containment activities in the city.

 

COVID-19 deaths in West Bengal cross 900

West Bengal on Saturday recorded 26 more deaths due to COVID-19 taking the number of casualties to 906. The State recorded yet another highest single-day spike of 1,344 cases in 24 hours, taking the tally to 28,453.