Coronavirus roundup: Developments in India and rest of world

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jul 13, 2020, 20:12 IST

NEW DELHI: India saw yet another record single-day jump of 28,701 COVID-19 cases, pushing its tally to 8,78,254 on Monday, while the death toll climbed to 23,174 with 500 people succumbing to the infection, according to the Union health ministry data.
The number of recoveries stands at 5,53,470, while there are 3,01,609 active cases of coronavirus infection presently in the country and one person has migrated, the updated data showed.

Here are the top developments:

1

India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and discussed issues such as leveraging the power of technology to transform the lives of India's farmers and youths and the importance of data security. During the interaction, they also spoke about the new work culture that is emerging in the times of COVID-19.
Union home minister Amit Shah held a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in his Lok Sabha constituency Gandhinagar in Gujarat. The meeting, held via video conference, was attended by Gandhinagar Collector Kuldeep Arya, District Development Officer Shalini Duhan and Gandhinagar Municipal Commissioner Ratankanvar Gadhvicharan.
Nineteen states and Union territories have a COVID-19 recovery rate higher than the national average of 63.02 per cent, the Centre said, asserting that coordinated steps taken by it along with state governments have contributed to a "gradual surge" in the recovery of patients.
It also said that there are 30 states and Union territories (UTs) that have a fatality rate lower than the national average of 2.64 per cent.
According to the ICMR, 1,18,06,256 samples had been tested for COVID-19 till July 12, of these 2,19,103 samples were tested on Sunday.
Drug firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said it has cut price of antiviral drug Favipiravir - sold under the brand name FabiFlu for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 - by 27 per cent to Rs 75 per tablet. The company had launched the drugÂ last month at a price of Rs 103 per tablet.

2

States

Karnataka: There is no proposal to extend the week-long lockdown in Bengaluru urban and rural districts to be enforced from Tuesday night to check rising COVID-19 case, Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa said, appealing to the people to cooperate and not pay heed to rumours.
Punjab: The Punjab government issued revised guidelines, completely disallowing public gatherings and restricting social gatherings to five attendees and marriages and other functions to 30 instead of the current 50. It asked police to register FIRs against those violating the curb on public gatherings.
Delhi: The Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital will be the second hospital in the national capital after the ILBS to start a plasma bank, a top official said. The hospital has hired three expert counsellors who will encourage patients to donate plasma and tell them it is a safe process.
UP: Twenty-one more people died from coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh as the state reported a record daily spike of 1,654 infections, pushing the total number of cases to 38,130. So far, 955 have died from the infection in the state.
Kerala: Kerala continued to witness a big surge in daily COVID-19 infections with 449 cases being reported, pushing the count to 8322, while the death toll has reached 33 with two more fatalities.
Andhra: A record 37 COVID-19 deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh, the highest single-day tally so far, taking the toll to 365 as the overall infection count jumped up to 31,103 with the addition of a new record high of 1,935 positive cases.
Uttarakhand: Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat warned that the battle against coronavirus could be a long-drawn-out process in which caution and awareness would serve as the most effective weapons.
Sikkim: Two more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Sikkim, taking the total tally in the state to 153. The number of active cases in the state currently stands at 71, while 82 have recovered so far.
West Bengal: A deputy magistrate in West Bengal died due to COVID-19, the first senior government officer to have succumbed to the infection in the state, a health department official said. Debdutta Ray, who was posted in Hooghly district, died at a private hospital in Serampore.
Odisha: Amid reports that patients were being denied treatment in some non-COVID hospitals of Odisha over fears of virus transmission, the state issued an order, asking all healthcare facilities to ensure necessary medical services are provided to those in need.
Goa: A senior health official assisting in a COVID-19 facility in Goa has tested positive for novel coronavirus on Monday morning. It is the first instance of a state government functionary being detected with the infection since the outbreak began in Goa.
Arunachal: Arunachal Pradesh reported 19 new coronavirus infections, taking the state's COVID-19 tally to 359. The state has 219 active cases, while 138 patients were discharged after being cured.
Tripura: Tripura's COVID-19 count has shot up to 2,068 with 105 more people testing positive for the disease. Tripura has so far reported two COVID-19 fatalities.
Puducherry: Puducherry reported 50 new COVID-19 cases, taking the overall tally of infections to 1,468. No fatality occurred during the last two days.
Nagaland: Nagaland recorded its highest single-day spike of 71 COVID-19 cases, taking the northeastern state's tally to 845. Of the 845 COVID-19 cases, 518 are active cases as 327 people have recovered from the disease.
Mizoram: Mizoram has reported four new COVID-19 cases, raising the state's coronavirus tally to 231.
HP: Himachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally remained at 1,213 as no new coronavirus cases were reported from the state. Out of the total cases, there are 266 active cases in the state and 923 patients have recovered from the disease.

3

World

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 569,135 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December. At least 12,927,000 cases of coronavirus have been registered in 196 countries and territories.
Two experts from the World Health Organization have arrived in China for research on the source of the new coronavirus, the country's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying confirmed. As per CGTN media reports, Hua, at the daily press briefing, was quoted as saying that the two experts will cooperate with Chinese scientists and medical experts and discuss related questions, but did not provide details on the experts' itinerary in China.
The United States is the worst-hit country with 135,205 deaths from 3,304,942 cases. At least 1,006,326 people have been declared recovered.
Mexican officials say the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths has passed 35,000, making it the country with the fourth highest total. Sunday's rise to 35,006 confirmed deaths moved Mexico, a country with 130 million inhabitants, past Italy.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he is looking into “enforcement” measures that may be required around face coverings in enclosed public spaces as he called on people to use them in shops in order to curb COVID-19 transmission.
Hong Kong has banned public gatherings of more than four and required face coverings on public transport as the city battles an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Restaurants won't be allowed to offer dine-in services from 6 pm to 5 am, while fitness centres and beauty salons will be closed for 7 days. The measures take effect July 15.
Singapore recorded 322 new coronavirus infections, including 11 community and five imported cases, taking the total tally to 46,283. Most of the new patients are foreign workers residing in dormitories.
Australia's worst-hit Victoria state recorded only 177 new coronavirus cases on Monday, but a health official is warning the disease's spread might yet worsen. The new cases were substantially down from 273 cases on Sunday and a record 288 on Friday.