Coronavirus India LIVE Updates: Tripura to go under 3-day total lockdown from Monday
Coronavirus (Covid-19) India News Live Updates: With nearly 50,000 cases (48,916) on the second consecutive day, the total number of coronavirus infections in India crossed the 13 lakh-mark to reach 13,36,861 on Saturday.
By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi |
Updated: July 25, 2020 9:48:15 pm
Coronavirus India LIVE Updates: Covid-19 testing van in New Delhi on Friday.
Coronavirus India News Live Updates: Tripura government announced three-day total lockdown in the state starting Monday, to break the chain of spreading coronavirus. One more person succumbed to the virus in the northeastern state, taking the toll to 11, while 106 fresh infections pushed its caseload to 3,778, a health official said on Saturday.
India has ramped up its testing capacity for Covid-19 and conducted over 4.20 lakh — highest ever number of tests in a day, the Union Health Ministry said Saturday, while crediting the increase in number of labs for the achievement. In January, India had only one testing lab for coronavirus which has now increased to 1,301, including private labs. The Health Ministry said revised ICMR guidelines and efforts by states also helped in achieving the goal of widespread testing. Till Friday, a total of 1,58,49,068 tests for COVID-19 had been done in the country.
With nearly 50,000 cases (48,916) on the second consecutive day, the total number of coronavirus infections in India crossed the 13 lakh-mark to reach 13,36,861 on Saturday. Also, 757 deaths in the last 24 hours pushed the death toll to 31,358. Currently, India has 4,56,071 active cases and 8,49,431 people have been treated and discharged. 63.54 per cent people recovered so far, the health ministry has said.
Globally, 15,736,499 people have been infected and 638,577 have succumbed to the virus. As many as 8,986,470 recoveries have been reported so far.
Live Blog
Coronavirus (Covid-19) India News Live Updates: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tests positive; India crosses 13 lakh-mark, nearly 50,000 cases reported again. Centre gives 6-point mantra to surge states; Globally, 15,736,499 people have been infected and 638,577 have died. Follow all the updates here
21:48 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Maharashtra minister meets Pune’s octogenarian woman stick-fighter
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Saturday met Shantabai Pawar, an 85-year-old woman whose stick-fighting video went viral on social media and drew widespread praise from netizens. In the video, Pawar was displaying seen her stick-fighting skills on the streets of Pune during lockdown to earn living for her family, which includes orphaned children she has taken under her care. “I had the privilege to meet 85yrs old Shantabai Pawar, the #WarriorAaji from #Pune, at her home. I heard from many people about the way she has been exercising for her livelihood. Felt inspired & refreshed upon meeting her & gifted her Nawari Saree & Rs 1 Lakh on Party’s behalf,” tweeted Deshmukh.
I had the privilege to meet 85yrs old Shantabai Pawar,the #WarriorAaji from #Pune, at her home.I heard from many people about the way she has been exercising for her livelihood.Felt inspired & refreshed upon meeting her & gifted her Nawari Saree & Rs 1Lakh on Party’s behalf.(1/2) pic.twitter.com/ZXxcsAZWhr
Addressing people in a televised speech, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said Saturday that coronavirus cases are increasing in Tripura, mainly among people who came from outside the state and those who came in close contact with them. “I want to thank people for maintaining rules and regulation of government properly. That’s why Tripura is safe so far. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has announced many packages to help the people. But it’s not possible to solve everything. Currently, we have a fatality rate of 0.29 percent against a national average of 8 per cent. But the scenario of coming three months will be clear in these three days (of lockdown). This lockdown is necessary so that we can be prepared,” Deb said in his appeal.
20:28 (IST)25 Jul 2020
South Western Railway operates Shramik Special train after 19 days
South Western Railway operates Shramik Special train after 19 days. The train that left KSR, Bengaluru, with 1,540 passengers at 6.40 pm (July 25) is operated to Guwahati (with stoppages at Nirgundi, Howrah, and New Jalpaiguri), officials confirmed.
South Western Railway operates #ShramikSpecial train after 19 days. The train that left KSR #Bengaluru with 1540 passengers at 6.40 pm (July 25) is operated to Guwahati (with stoppages at Nirgundi, Howrah, and New Jalpaiguri), officials confirmed. @IndianExpress
Tripura to go under 3-day total lockdown from Monday
Tripura government announced three-day total lockdown in the state starting Monday, to break the chain of spreading coronavirus. One more person succumbed to the virus in the northeastern state, taking the toll to 11, while 106 fresh infections pushed its caseload to 3,778, a health official said on Saturday.
19:32 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Delhi Police head constable succumbs to COVID-19
A 53-year-old head constable working with Delhi Police died of COVID-19 at a city hospital, officials said on Saturday. Head Constable Satya Narayan was posted at the Madhu Vihar police station, they said. Narayan tested positive for COVID-19 on July 13 and was sent to the COVID Care Centre in Akshardham. Later that day, he was shifted to LNJP Hospital. He had health issues like high BP, diabetes and had two stents in his heart, reported PTI.
19:24 (IST)25 Jul 2020
J&K's COVID-19 tally crosses 17,000-mark with 523 fresh cases
Jammu and Kashmir's Covid tally crossed 17,000-mark on Saturday as 523 more people tested positive for the virus, while nine people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, raising the COVID-19 death toll to 305, officials said.
18:31 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Kerala records 1,103 single-day spike in coronavirus cases
Kerala recorded 1,103 coronavirus cases in a single day
#COVID19India#CovidKerala Kerala reports 1103 new covid-19 cases today. The highest ever daily tally. 9420 active cases. State reports five deaths today @IndianExpress
BCCI president and former Team India skipper Sourav Ganguly has tested negative for Covid-19 after he gave his samples as a precautionary measure. Ganguly has been in home quarantine for more than a week after his elder brother Snehasish Ganguly had tested positive for the disease.
18:20 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Bengal wears deserted look on 2nd day of bi-weekly lockdown
Normal life came to a standstill in West Bengal on Saturday as a complete lockdown was imposed across the state to break the chain of surging novel coronavirus cases. All shops were shut and all modes of transport went off the streetes as part of the state government's bi-weekly lockdow plan.
Ultodanga-VIP flyover connecting Kolkata Airport and E M Bypass in Kolkata on Saturday.
18:06 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Streets empty, shops closed as Lucknow observes weekend lockdown
Lucknow streets wore a deserted look on Saturday as most shops and businesses were closed and public transport went off the roads in view of the state's second weekend lockdown of the month to combat COVID-19. The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to impose a strict lockdown across the state on weekends to stop the spread of the virus. The restrictions will remain in place at least for July, officials had said earlier. Markets were closed in the city and only vehicles carrying essential goods were seen plying on Saturday. The markets in prominent areas of Lucknow such as Hazratganj, Aminabad, Chowk, Gomtinagar, Indiranagar, Latouche Road, Alambagh, Hewett Road, Aliganj and Gudumba remained shut. (PTI)
16:46 (IST)25 Jul 2020
COVID-19: Import licenses for rapid diagnostic kits of 3 firms cancelled, 16 suspended by DCGI
India's drug regulator has cancelled the rapid diagnostic kit import licenses of three firms and suspended that of 16 others saying the USFDA has removed the manufacturers from their list of coronavirus serology test kits with directions that they should not be distributed. The three firms are Cadila Healthcare, MDAAC International and N W Overseas while the 16 companies include Transasia Bio-Medicals, Cosmic Scientific, Inbios India, S D Biosensor, Accurex Biomedicals, Biohouse Solutions and Trivitron Healthcare among others. The companies were issued a show cause notices on July 17 asking why their import licenses shall not be cancelled since the diagnostic kits of the manufacturers have been removed by USFDA with direction that it should not be distributed from the list of product of serology test kits for COVID-19 disease, according to an official order by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). (PTI)
16:45 (IST)25 Jul 2020
India's COVID-19 testing hits record high of 4.20 lakh samples a day
Slowly but steadily, India has ramped-up its testing capacity for COVID-19 and conducted over 4.20 lakh tests in a day, the highest ever, the Union Health Ministry said Saturday, crediting the rise in number of labs for the achievement. India had only one testing lab for Covid-19 in January but it has now increased the number to 1,301, including private labs. The Health Ministry said revised guidelines by ICMR and efforts put in by the states also helped in widespread testing. Till Friday, a total of 1,58,49,068 tests for COVID-19 had been done in the country. India did 3.50 lakh tests every day over the last one week, the ministry said. With 4,20,898 samples tested in the last 24 hours, the Tests Per Million (TPM) has increased to 11,485 and continue to maintain an upward trend.
16:15 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Serum Institute of India seeks DCGI permission for phase 2/3 clinical trials of Oxford's COVID vaccine
Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with AstraZeneca to manufacture the Oxford vaccine candidate for COVID-19, has sought permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for conducting phase 2/3 human clinical trials of the potential vaccine, highly-placed sources said on Saturday. The sources told PTI that the Pune-based drug firm submitted its application to the DCGI on Friday seeking permission for conducting the trials of 'Covidshield'. "According to the application, it would conduct an observer-blind, randomised controlled study to determine the safety and immunogenicity of 'Covishield' (COVID-19) in healthy Indian adults. The firm said that an around 1,600 participants of more than 18 years would be enrolled in the study," a source said. (PTI)
15:14 (IST)25 Jul 2020
South Kolkata DCP thanks people for staying home during 'complete lockdown'
As Kolkata is observing a complete lockdown today, South Kolkata DCP took to Twitter to thanks the city dwellers for making this effort successful by staying home. The West Bengal government has announced a plan of bi-weekly lockdown in the state capital to break the chain of spread of coronavirus.
Won't lift lockdown just to address economic concerns: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that he is not considering the “complete lifting” of Covid-19 lockdown in the state only to address the economic concerns as he highlighted the need to strike a balance between issues related to health and economy amidst the ongoing crisis. Thackeray’s comments come after NCP chief and former Union Minister Sharad Pawar yesterday highlighted the importance of “economic revival” by resuming activities in Maharashtra’s industrial centres and said that the decision on extension of lockdown must be made after accessing the situation on ground.
14:54 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Yogi govt should pay attention to COVID testing: Mayawati
BSP president Mayawati on Saturday asked the Yogi Adityanath-led government to pay proper attention on testing and cleanliness in hospitals as the number of coronavirus cases continue to surge.
Taking to Twitter, she said: “In view of the daily rise of corona epidemic in country’s largest state Uttar Pradesh, the government should immediately give proper attention to corona testing, facilities in hospitals and cleanliness in COVID centres. This is the demand of the BSP.”
The state recorded 50 deaths and 2,667 new infections on Friday, taking the toll to 1,348 and tally to 60,771.
14:53 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Won’t lift lockdown just to address economic concerns: Uddhav
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he was not in favour of lifting the lockdown entirely only to address economic concerns.
“I will never say that the lockdown will be lifted completely. But I have started reopening a few things gradually. Once reopened, it shouldn’t be shut again. Hence, I prefer taking steps in phases. You can’t just think about economy or health. There needs to be a balance between the two,” he said in an interview to Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.
“This pandemic is a global war. It has affected the entire world. Those countries which had lifted the lockdown in haste thinking that it was over, were again forced to impose it to curb the spread. In Australia, they had to rope in the Army,” he added.
The state is observing a lockdown till July 31. From June onward, the government began lifting the restrictions in phase-wise manner under its ‘Mission Begin Again’ initiative.
14:22 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Uniform country-wide peak in COVID-19 cases will not happen: Expert
There cannot be a uniform peak in COVID-19 cases in a large country like India and each state has its own trajectory based on when people there were exposed to the infection, a public health expert said. The peak could be witnessed in states like Delhi by this month end or early August while it may be around September in others such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka, Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) here Prof. G V S Murthy said. IIPH was set up under the aegis of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI).
14:00 (IST)25 Jul 2020
People, govts together attained victory over COVID-19, fight not yet over: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said people of the city, his government and the Centre together have attained victory over COVID-19 but the fight is not yet over.
Speaking at the inauguration of a 450-bed Delhi government hospital in Burari via videoconferencing, he said in the last one month, coronavirus-related parameters have improved in the national capital. "Two crore people of Delhi, Delhi government and the Centre together have attained victory over coronavirus but it would not be correct to say that the fight is over," Kejriwal said.
He said in the past one month, the number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi has gone down, deaths have reduced, recovery rate has improved and positivity ratio has lowered.
13:59 (IST)25 Jul 2020
Scientists identify 21 existing drugs that block coronavirus in lab studies
Scientists, including those of Indian-origin, have identified 21 existing drugs that stop the replication of the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19 in lab studies, an advance that may lead to the development of new therapeutic combinations against the disease. The researchers, including those from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in the US, analysed one of the world's largest collections of known drugs for their ability to block the replication of the novel coronavirus, and found 100 molecules with confirmed antiviral activity in laboratory tests.
According to the study, published in the journal Nature, 21 of these drugs are effective in blocking the reproduction of the virus at concentrations that could be safely achieved in patients.
Movie-goers wearing masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus are spaced apart as they watch a movie in a newly reopened cinema in Hangzhou in eastern China. (Chinatopix via AP)
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Cheif Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Saturday became the first CM to test positive for the novel coronavirus. He is likely to get admitted to Chirayu hospital in capital city Bhopal. His reports came days after Cabinet Minister Arvind Bhadoria, who had attended a Cabinet meeting and had travelled with the CM to Lucknow to attend the funeral of Governor Lalji Tandon earlier this week. tested positive for the disease.
Rigorous implementation of pandemic lessons, systematic containment, and proper planning and procurement to plug the gaps in health infrastructure are key, the Centre has told nine states that are currently facing a surge in novel coronavirus infections. At a high-level review meeting that went on for three hours over a video link on Friday, the Centre emphasised six main issues to the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, top sources told The Indian Express.
Meanwhile, AIIMS Delhi on Friday administered first dose of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to a 30-year-old male. The subject will be monitored for two weeks after which he will be given the second dose.
Beijing partially reopened movie theatres Friday as the threat from the coronavirus continues to recede in China's capital. Cinemas in parts of the city deemed at low risk of cross-infection began admitting moviegoers under social distancing rules. Tickets must be booked in advance, attendance is capped at 30% of capacity and no eating or drinking is allowed during the show.
Odisha, meanwhile, has been contributing over 1,000 cases for the last two days, but is yet to report its daily numbers. For the last few days now, India has been more Coronavirus patients than any other country in the world except the United States. Brazil’s daily numbers have fallen in the last week, while India has risen from the level of about 35,000 to almost 50,000 now.
For the last two days, even Tamil Nadu seems to be searching for a new level. For more than a week, the state reported almost identical number of new cases, around the 4,500-mark. But it showed a jump on Wednesday with more than 5,800 new infections, and on Thursday, this went even further to 6,400.
These numbers have suddenly made Karnataka look much better. Karnataka was the fastest growing state till about a week ago, before Andhra Pradesh took over. It had surged past many states to become the state with the fourth-largest caseload. Even on Thursday, Karnataka added 5,000 cases, which till two days back, could have been the highest outside if Maharashtra. But because of the surge seen in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka’s numbers look much more modest.
On Wednesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines for ending isolation and precautions for Covid-19 patients. With these new guidelines, the CDC is now focussing on a “symptom-based” strategy for ending isolation rather than a test-based strategy.
What are the new recommendations?
The CDC now says that for most persons with Covid-19, isolation and precautions can be discontinued after a period of 10 days from symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Exceptions to this include those patients that have severe illness due to which they may produce replication-competent virus even after 10 days. For such patients, the duration of isolation and the period for taking precautions may be extended to 20 days after symptom onset.
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Coronavirus India LIVE Updates: Covid-19 testing van in New Delhi on Friday.
Movie-goers wearing masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus are spaced apart as they watch a movie in a newly reopened cinema in Hangzhou in eastern China. (Chinatopix via AP)
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Saturday met Shantabai Pawar, an 85-year-old woman whose stick-fighting video went viral on social media and drew widespread praise from netizens. In the video, Pawar was displaying seen her stick-fighting skills on the streets of Pune during lockdown to earn living for her family, which includes orphaned children she has taken under her care. “I had the privilege to meet 85yrs old Shantabai Pawar, the #WarriorAaji from #Pune, at her home. I heard from many people about the way she has been exercising for her livelihood. Felt inspired & refreshed upon meeting her & gifted her Nawari Saree & Rs 1 Lakh on Party’s behalf,” tweeted Deshmukh.
Addressing people in a televised speech, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said Saturday that coronavirus cases are increasing in Tripura, mainly among people who came from outside the state and those who came in close contact with them. “I want to thank people for maintaining rules and regulation of government properly. That’s why Tripura is safe so far. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has announced many packages to help the people. But it’s not possible to solve everything. Currently, we have a fatality rate of 0.29 percent against a national average of 8 per cent. But the scenario of coming three months will be clear in these three days (of lockdown). This lockdown is necessary so that we can be prepared,” Deb said in his appeal.
South Western Railway operates Shramik Special train after 19 days. The train that left KSR, Bengaluru, with 1,540 passengers at 6.40 pm (July 25) is operated to Guwahati (with stoppages at Nirgundi, Howrah, and New Jalpaiguri), officials confirmed.
Tripura government announced three-day total lockdown in the state starting Monday, to break the chain of spreading coronavirus. One more person succumbed to the virus in the northeastern state, taking the toll to 11, while 106 fresh infections pushed its caseload to 3,778, a health official said on Saturday.
A 53-year-old head constable working with Delhi Police died of COVID-19 at a city hospital, officials said on Saturday. Head Constable Satya Narayan was posted at the Madhu Vihar police station, they said. Narayan tested positive for COVID-19 on July 13 and was sent to the COVID Care Centre in Akshardham. Later that day, he was shifted to LNJP Hospital. He had health issues like high BP, diabetes and had two stents in his heart, reported PTI.
Jammu and Kashmir's Covid tally crossed 17,000-mark on Saturday as 523 more people tested positive for the virus, while nine people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, raising the COVID-19 death toll to 305, officials said.
Kerala recorded 1,103 coronavirus cases in a single day
BCCI president and former Team India skipper Sourav Ganguly has tested negative for Covid-19 after he gave his samples as a precautionary measure. Ganguly has been in home quarantine for more than a week after his elder brother Snehasish Ganguly had tested positive for the disease.
Normal life came to a standstill in West Bengal on Saturday as a complete lockdown was imposed across the state to break the chain of surging novel coronavirus cases. All shops were shut and all modes of transport went off the streetes as part of the state government's bi-weekly lockdow plan.
Lucknow streets wore a deserted look on Saturday as most shops and businesses were closed and public transport went off the roads in view of the state's second weekend lockdown of the month to combat COVID-19. The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to impose a strict lockdown across the state on weekends to stop the spread of the virus. The restrictions will remain in place at least for July, officials had said earlier. Markets were closed in the city and only vehicles carrying essential goods were seen plying on Saturday. The markets in prominent areas of Lucknow such as Hazratganj, Aminabad, Chowk, Gomtinagar, Indiranagar, Latouche Road, Alambagh, Hewett Road, Aliganj and Gudumba remained shut. (PTI)
India's drug regulator has cancelled the rapid diagnostic kit import licenses of three firms and suspended that of 16 others saying the USFDA has removed the manufacturers from their list of coronavirus serology test kits with directions that they should not be distributed. The three firms are Cadila Healthcare, MDAAC International and N W Overseas while the 16 companies include Transasia Bio-Medicals, Cosmic Scientific, Inbios India, S D Biosensor, Accurex Biomedicals, Biohouse Solutions and Trivitron Healthcare among others. The companies were issued a show cause notices on July 17 asking why their import licenses shall not be cancelled since the diagnostic kits of the manufacturers have been removed by USFDA with direction that it should not be distributed from the list of product of serology test kits for COVID-19 disease, according to an official order by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). (PTI)
Slowly but steadily, India has ramped-up its testing capacity for COVID-19 and conducted over 4.20 lakh tests in a day, the highest ever, the Union Health Ministry said Saturday, crediting the rise in number of labs for the achievement. India had only one testing lab for Covid-19 in January but it has now increased the number to 1,301, including private labs. The Health Ministry said revised guidelines by ICMR and efforts put in by the states also helped in widespread testing. Till Friday, a total of 1,58,49,068 tests for COVID-19 had been done in the country. India did 3.50 lakh tests every day over the last one week, the ministry said. With 4,20,898 samples tested in the last 24 hours, the Tests Per Million (TPM) has increased to 11,485 and continue to maintain an upward trend.
Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with AstraZeneca to manufacture the Oxford vaccine candidate for COVID-19, has sought permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for conducting phase 2/3 human clinical trials of the potential vaccine, highly-placed sources said on Saturday. The sources told PTI that the Pune-based drug firm submitted its application to the DCGI on Friday seeking permission for conducting the trials of 'Covidshield'. "According to the application, it would conduct an observer-blind, randomised controlled study to determine the safety and immunogenicity of 'Covishield' (COVID-19) in healthy Indian adults. The firm said that an around 1,600 participants of more than 18 years would be enrolled in the study," a source said. (PTI)
As Kolkata is observing a complete lockdown today, South Kolkata DCP took to Twitter to thanks the city dwellers for making this effort successful by staying home. The West Bengal government has announced a plan of bi-weekly lockdown in the state capital to break the chain of spread of coronavirus.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that he is not considering the “complete lifting” of Covid-19 lockdown in the state only to address the economic concerns as he highlighted the need to strike a balance between issues related to health and economy amidst the ongoing crisis. Thackeray’s comments come after NCP chief and former Union Minister Sharad Pawar yesterday highlighted the importance of “economic revival” by resuming activities in Maharashtra’s industrial centres and said that the decision on extension of lockdown must be made after accessing the situation on ground.
BSP president Mayawati on Saturday asked the Yogi Adityanath-led government to pay proper attention on testing and cleanliness in hospitals as the number of coronavirus cases continue to surge.
Taking to Twitter, she said: “In view of the daily rise of corona epidemic in country’s largest state Uttar Pradesh, the government should immediately give proper attention to corona testing, facilities in hospitals and cleanliness in COVID centres. This is the demand of the BSP.”
The state recorded 50 deaths and 2,667 new infections on Friday, taking the toll to 1,348 and tally to 60,771.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he was not in favour of lifting the lockdown entirely only to address economic concerns.
“I will never say that the lockdown will be lifted completely. But I have started reopening a few things gradually. Once reopened, it shouldn’t be shut again. Hence, I prefer taking steps in phases. You can’t just think about economy or health. There needs to be a balance between the two,” he said in an interview to Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.
“This pandemic is a global war. It has affected the entire world. Those countries which had lifted the lockdown in haste thinking that it was over, were again forced to impose it to curb the spread. In Australia, they had to rope in the Army,” he added.
The state is observing a lockdown till July 31. From June onward, the government began lifting the restrictions in phase-wise manner under its ‘Mission Begin Again’ initiative.
There cannot be a uniform peak in COVID-19 cases in a large country like India and each state has its own trajectory based on when people there were exposed to the infection, a public health expert said. The peak could be witnessed in states like Delhi by this month end or early August while it may be around September in others such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka, Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) here Prof. G V S Murthy said. IIPH was set up under the aegis of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI).
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said people of the city, his government and the Centre together have attained victory over COVID-19 but the fight is not yet over.
Speaking at the inauguration of a 450-bed Delhi government hospital in Burari via videoconferencing, he said in the last one month, coronavirus-related parameters have improved in the national capital. "Two crore people of Delhi, Delhi government and the Centre together have attained victory over coronavirus but it would not be correct to say that the fight is over," Kejriwal said.
He said in the past one month, the number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi has gone down, deaths have reduced, recovery rate has improved and positivity ratio has lowered.
Scientists, including those of Indian-origin, have identified 21 existing drugs that stop the replication of the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19 in lab studies, an advance that may lead to the development of new therapeutic combinations against the disease. The researchers, including those from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in the US, analysed one of the world's largest collections of known drugs for their ability to block the replication of the novel coronavirus, and found 100 molecules with confirmed antiviral activity in laboratory tests.
According to the study, published in the journal Nature, 21 of these drugs are effective in blocking the reproduction of the virus at concentrations that could be safely achieved in patients.