Coronavirus LIVE Updates: BMC Appeals for 'One Ward, One Ganpati' in Mumbai; Karnataka Blames Inter-state Travellers for Spurt in Cases

AIIMS Delhi to Start Enrolling Volunteers for Covaxin Trials from July 20

A man in Australia travelled 32 kilometres for the perfect butter chicken.

Mumbai Civic Body Urges 'One Ward-one Ganpati' |  BMC appeals for 'one ward-one Ganpati'- Mumbai's K west Andheri region officials request Ganesh mandals to not bring more than one Ganpati in each ward. There are a total of 13 wards in K west region and are over 150 mandals in the region. 

South Africa Ranks Fifth Globally For Confirmed Cases | South Africa now ranks fifth in the world for confirmed coronavirus cases, after reporting 13,285 new confirmed cases, for a total of 350,879. That makes up roughly half the cases in Africa.

WHO Reports Record Daily Increase in Global Cases for Second Day in a Row | The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, with the total rising by 259,848 in 24 hours. The biggest increases reported were from the United States, Brazil, India and South Africa, according to a daily report.

The previous WHO record for new cases was 237,743 on Friday. Deaths rose by 7,360, the biggest one-day increase since May 10. Deaths have been averaging 4,800 a day in July, up slightly from an average of 4,600 a day in June.

Streets in Chennai wear a deserted look as the state observes complete lockdown- Anna Arch and Poonamallee High Road in the city.

Inter-state Travellers Responsible for Spurt in COVID-19 Cases in Bengaluru: Karnataka Govt | With the city witnessing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in the past few days, the Karnataka government holds inter-state travellers responsible for the spurt in infections, saying those from hot spot states like Maharashtra could have brought the infection.

Odisha Records Fresh Cases | As many as 736 new COVID-19 positive cases were recorded in Odisha. Of which, 607 recovered in last 24 hours in Odisha. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 17,437 including 11,937 recovered. 

Iran Estimates Up to 25 Million Virus Cases Since Outbreak | Iran’s president estimated as many as 25 million Iranians could have been infected with the coronavirus since the outbreak's beginning, and urged the public to take the pandemic seriously, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

US Divided Over Masks, Schools as Cases Rise by Over 70,000 Again | Americans debated mask mandates and the reopening of schools during the coronavirus pandemic on Friday as state and local officials imposed conflicting orders and cases rose by more than 70,000 across the nation for the second day in a row.

The United States recorded a total of at least 70,674 new COVID-19 infections after climbing by a record 77,499 a day earlier, the largest increase posted by any country since the pandemic started, according to a Reuters tally.

Israelis protest against Netanyahu, government handling of COVID-19 crisis

$140 Fine for Not Wearing Mask in Australian State As Melbourne Cases Rise | Face masks will be mandatory in parts of the Australian state of Victoria as cases in the region continue to rise. Daniel Andrews, Premier of Australia’s Victoria State, said Sunday that people within metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire would be fined 200 Australian dollars ($140) if caught not wearing a face covering.

Karnataka observes complete lockdown today. Visuals from Chennamma circle, Hubli. State govt is imposing complete lockdown every Sunday till August 2 due to COVID-19. Weddings already fixed on Sundays and essential activities are allowed. 

Going To the Beach in Paris? Get Tested for COVID-19 | Parisians heading to the opening of Paris Plages, the yearly transformation of sections of the Seine river into man-made beaches, were met with a new attraction- COVID-19 test centres. A series of indicators across the country, including in the French capital, have suggested the virus could once again be gaining momentum. Authorities are pushing an aggressive testing policy to avoid a return to the peaks seen from March to May.

Cases in Germany Increased To 201,574 | The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 202 to 201,574, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed. The reported death toll rose by 1 to 9,084, the tally showed.

Worldwide Data Breakup

Today's Data Highlights

- Maharashtra crosses 3 lakh total cases. Cases more than UK total. If Maharashtra was a country it would have ranked 10th in the world in total cases. 

- Delhi recoveries now more than 1 lakh (1,01,274). Recovery rate 83.3%

- 2.8k fewer tests on July 18 than July 17. Total tests: 1.38 crore

- Total cases in West Bengal cross 40k

- Recovered cases exceed active cases by over 3 lakh now (3.04 lakh)

- Bangladesh crosses 2 lakh cases. 17 countries now have more than 2 lakh total cases

- Global deaths cross 6 lakh

EU Extends Summit to Sunday After Deadlock Over COVID Recovery Plan | European Union leaders failed to agree on a massive stimulus fund to revive their coronavirus-hammered economies on Saturday after two days of fraught negotiations, but extended their summit for another day to try and overcome their differences.

State-wise Covid Tally

India Records Biggest Daily Spike of Nearly 39K Cases | Highest single day spike of 38,902 cases and 543 deaths reported in India in the last 24 hours. Total Covid-19 positive cases stand at 10,77,618 including 3,73,379 active cases, 6,77,423 cured/discharged/migrated and 26,816 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Masks Mandatory as Cases Rise in Australian State of Victoria | After a one-day respite, Covid-19 cases in the Australian state of Victoria have risen again, prompting a move to make masks mandatory in metropolitan Melbourne and the nearby shire of Mitchell. Health officials on Sunday records 363 new cases in the past 24 hours. Two men and a woman in their 90s died, taking the national death toll from Covid-19 to 122.

Mainland China Reports 16 New COVID-19 Cases Including 13 in Xinjiang | Mainland China reported 16 new COVID-19 cases as of the end of July 18, up from 22 reported a day earlier, the Chinese national health authority said. Of the new infection, 13 were found in Urumqi, the capital of China's far western region of Xinjiang. The other three were imported infection involving travellers from overseas, according to the National Health Commission (NHC) and Xinjiang local health commission.

1,37,91,869 samples tested for COVID19 up to 18th July, of which 3,58,127 were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

At G20, Germany Pledges 3 Billion Euros for Poor Countries | Germany pledged 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) at a meeting of G20 finance ministers to help the world's poorest countries, the finance ministry said. The funds will be made available as long-term loans for the International Monetary Fund's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT).

Texas Coronavirus Cases Include 85 Infants | A health official on the Texas Gulf Coast says that 85 infants have tested positive for the coronavirus, AP reports.Corpus Christi Nueces County Public Health Director Annette Rodriguez said that the 85 infants are each younger than one, but offered no other details, including how the children are suspected to have become infected.

UPDATE | Indian Council of Medical Research set to start multi-centric study to evaluate efficacy of BCG vaccine against COVID-19 in elderly. Global studies had said BCG vaccination as a part of the national vaccination policy is the reason behind India’s low death rates . 

Brazil Reports More Than 900 New Covid-19 Deaths | Brazil’s health ministry reported 912 new Covid-19 deaths, raising the country’s death toll to 78,772. The ministry reported 28,532 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total to 2.07 million.

West Virginia University Announces 28 Football Players Tested Positive for Covid-19 | The University of West Virginia announced Saturday that 28 members of its football program tested positive for Covid-19. The school has tested 518 people since June, resulting in 41 positive results. As well as the 28 members of the football program who tested positive, there were also five cases in men’s basketball, six in women’s basketball and one in women’s soccer. One staff member also tested positive. 

The ministry said that Bengal is reporting almost 1,600 cases daily and 93% of the total active cases were reported in last four days.

Honduran Journalist Dies of COVID-19 Contracted in Prison |  A Honduran journalist known as a strong critic of President Juan Orlando Hernandez died at a hospital of COVID-19 that he apparently contracted while in prison on a defamation sentence.