An isolation ward for Covid-19 patients being prepared at the Balak Ram Hospital, Timarpur in New Delhi, Friday, July 31, 2020. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
Coronavirus India Updates: India on Tuesday added 52,050 new cases of coronavirus, taking the country’s total caseload to 18,55,745, data from the Union Health Ministry showed. The death toll due to the virus touched 38,938, with 803 fatalities in the last 24 hours.
Presently, there are 5,86,298 active cases, while as many as 12,30,509 people have recovered from the infection. The health ministry data stated that the recovery rate has risen to 66.31 per cent, while the death rate has dropped to 2.10 per cent.
Tuesday marks the sixth consecutive day when new cases have increased by over 50,000.
A cumulative total of 2,08,64,750 samples have been tested so far, with nearly 6,61,892 samples being tested on Monday, the highest done in a single day so far, said Dr Lokesh Sharma, scientist and media coordinator at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Here are some developments from across the country
Karnataka: Siddaramaiah tests positive for Covid-19
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Tuesday said he has tested positive for Covid-19, PTI reported. The minister said he has been admitted to a hospital and is “doing well” and is “stable currently”.
Siddaramaiah’s son and MLA Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah said his father had a fever since Monday morning and was admitted to the Manipal Hospital in the night.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is also undergoing treatment for coronavirus at the same hospital. He was admitted on Sunday night and doctors said he is “doing well” and is “clinically stable”.
Independence day celebrations to be subdued in Sikkim
Celebrations for the 74th Independence Day will be subdued in Sikkim due to Covid-19 outbreak, PTI quoted officials as saying on Tuesday.
The event will be held on a smaller scale with limited invitees and will be live-streamed across various digital platforms, an official said,
Sikkim has reported 688 coronavirus cases till date, out of which 390 are active.
Odisha death toll crosses 200
The death toll due to coronavirus crossed 200 in Odisha, with ten more fatalities on Monday, PTI quoted a Health Department official as saying.
With 1,384 new confirmed cases, the state tally touched 36,297, with at least 207 deaths, the official said.
As many as 1,119 patients recovered from the disease, the highest single-day increase so far, taking the total number of those who have been cured to 23,074.
The state government, meanwhile, directed closure of restaurants in a modified order, just two days after they were allowed to reopen. Restaurants can, however, deliver takeaway/home delivery of food items, just like they had been doing earlier.
Punjab collects Rs 15 crore in Covid fines, mostly from non-mask wearers
THE PUNJAB government has collected a whopping Rs 15 crore in fines amid the Covid-19 pandemic for violations ranging from not wearing masks, to spitting in public places to flouting home quarantine and social distancing guidelines.
The lion’s share of the amount (Rs 14.90 crore) came from those not wearing masks in public places (till July 31), showed official data accessed by The Indian Express. As many as 3,54,173 people were fined in the state and 1,460 FIRs were registered for this violation.