The World Health Organization warned Monday that there might never be a “silver bullet” for coronavirus (COVID-19), despite the rush to discover effective vaccines. The agency urged governments and citizens to focus on the basics of public health and disease control in order to suppress the pandemic.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given nod to the Serum Institute of India (SII) for conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, developed by the University of Oxford, in the country.

You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.

Here are the latest updates:

U.S. doing ‘very well’ against COVID-19, India has a ‘tremendous problem’: Trump

President Donald Trump said that as compared to big countries, America was doing “very well” in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, while India is having a “tremendous problem” battling the disease and China is witnessing a “massive flare up” in infections.

"I think we’re doing very well. I think that we have done as well as any nation. If you really look, if you take a look at what’s going on, especially now with all these flare ups and nations that they were talking about," Mr. Trump told reporters at a news conference on Monday.

"Don’t forget, we’re much bigger than - other than India and China. China is having a massive flare up right now. India has a tremendous problem. Other countries have problems," he said in response to a question.

- PTI

60 new COVID-19 cases in Arunachal; tally rises to 1,752

Sixty more people, including 13 security personnel and four health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the northeastern State’s caseload to 1,752, a senior health official said.

Of the 60 new cases, 14 were reported from East Siang followed by Namsai (13), Changlang (9), Lower Siang (6), five each from East Kameng and Capital Complex, three each from Papum Pare and West Siang and one each from Longding and West Kameng districts respectively, State Surveillance Officer Dr. L. Jampa said.

- PTI

Six out of nine new deaths from Ganjam district

Odisha reported 1,384 new cases which took the State’s count to 37,681 on Tuesday. After recovery of 23,073 patients, active cases stood at 14,350.

Nine persons died of COVID-19 taking the total death-toll to 216. Highest six deaths were reported from Ganjam district which accounted for more than 51.85 % of State’s total.

- Satya Sundar Barik

Fatalities in Puducherry now at 57

The death of a 55-year-old woman at JIPMER raised COVID-19 fatalities to 57 in Puducherry.

The total number of COVID-19 cases crossed the 4,000 mark with 168 new admissions across the U.T.

The infection rate (positives from 812 sample tests in 24 hours) was 20.7%.

With 96 patients getting discharged in the past 24 hours, the number of active cases in Puducherry dropped below 1,000 to aggregate 989 cases. Yanam has 134 active cases,  Karaikal 59 (five new admissions) and Mahe one.

- Dinesh

Tripura CM tests negative for COVID-19

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb tested negative for COVID-19 even as two members of his family have contracted the disease.

He has, however, quarantined himself at his residence for the next seven days.

“Two of my family members found COVID-19 positive. Other family members found negative...” he tweeted late on August 3.

“My COVID-19 test results came negative. For next 7 days I will follow home quarantine & other guidelines. Also, I will work from home. I thank beloved people of Tripura for your wishes and prayers. The fight against COVID-19 will continue and together we shall win,” he tweeted on Tuesday morning.

- PTI

Elderly, differently-abled persons to receive cash at their homes in Odisha

Bank and postal employees can deliver cash to the doorsteps of elderly and differently-abled persons in Odisha after receiving phone calls from them seeking assistance in this regard, officials said.

The decision to this effect was taken by the Odisha government on Monday as elderly persons have been advised to remain indoors due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, they said.

“Postal and bank employees are allowed to move to the premises of senior citizens and differently-abled persons to deliver cash, on phone calls during working hours, with strict adherence to safety measures,” the Finance Department said in an order.

- PTI

States must respond promptly to senior citizens' requests: SC

The Supreme Court directs that senior citizens be paid regular pension under the different schemes, while discussing the care of the elderly during COVID-19.

The government is obliged to take care of those living alone, provide them essential goods and services, the court says.

States have to respond promptly as and when senior citizens, especially those living alone, make a request. It adds that care givers in old age homes should wear PPE and follow proper sanitation procedures.

- Krishnadas Rajagopal

Active cases dip to nearly 10K in delhi

As many as 805 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1,38,482, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Monday.

Of the total cases, 1,24,254 people have recovered and there are 10,207 active cases. Also, 17 more deaths were reported in a single day, taking the total to 4,021.

The total number of tests done in the past 24 hours was only 10,133, which is nearly half the average daily of around 20,000 in July.

Pandemic has created largest disruption of education in history: Guterres

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion students in all countries and continents and an additional 23.8 million children and youth could drop out or not have access to school next year due to the pandemic’s economic impact alone, the UN Secretary General’s policy brief on education said.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a video statement launching his policy brief on‘Education and COVID19’ that in mid-July, schools were closed in more than 160 countries, affecting over 1 billion students and at least 40 million children worldwide have missed out on education in their critical pre-school year.

- PTI

803 new fatalities reported in the country: Ministry

The Health Ministry said that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 5,86,298, while 12,30,509 people have recovered.

Single-day spike of 52,050 COVID-19 cases pushes India’s virus caseload to 18,55,745 and death toll rises to 38,938 with 803 new fatalities. The recovery rate has risen to 66.31%, while the fatality rate has further dropped to 2.10%, the data stated.

This is the sixth consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000

- PTI

I-Day celebrations to be subdued in Sikkim due to COVID-19

The 74th Independence Day celebrations will be subdued in Sikkim due to the COVID-19 outbreak, officials said. The State-level function will be held at Manan Bhawan in Gangtok instead of Paljor Stadium, the usual venue.

The event will be held on a smaller scale with limited invitees, but with the same zeal and enthusiasm, an official said. The programme will be live-streamed across various digital platforms.

The decision in this regard was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S.C. Gupta on Monday, the official added.

- PTI

Deaths hit a new high in Bengal, take toll to 1,731

For the first time on Monday, the number of COVID-19 deaths on a single day in West Bengal crossed the 50 mark with 53 deaths, taking the total fatalities to 1,731. As many as 2,716 cases were recorded taking the total tally in the State to 78,232, of which 21,683 were active. The discharge rate in the State stands at 70.07%.

Karnataka Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah tests positive

After Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah has tested positive for coronavirus. He was admitted to Manipal Hospitals at 11.30 p.m. on Monday for evaluation of fever.

“I have been tested positive for #Covid19 & also been admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors as a precaution. I request all those who had come in contact with me to check out for symptoms & to quarantine themselves,” he tweeted.

Punjab recordes 19 COVID-19 deaths, Haryana 7

Punjab recorded 677 COVID-19 cases on Monday and reported 19 more deaths taking the tally to 442, according to an official statement.

In Haryana, 654 cases surfaced taking the tally of cumulative cases to 37,173. It also reported seven deaths taking the tally to 440.

Telangana senior CPI (M) leader Sunnam Rajaiah dies of COVID-19

Former Bhadrachalam MLA, senior CPI (M) leader and Girijana Sangam leader Sunnam Rajaiah (68), reportedly died of COVID-19 in the wee hours on Tuesday.

He died while being shifted from Hyderabad to a COVID-19 Hospital in Vijayawada. He is survived by wife and two sons and two daughters.

All shops in Mumbai to open from August 5

All shops in Mumbai can remain open on all days, on both sides of the road, irrespective of the odd-even formula which was in place, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced on Monday.

An order issued by Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal, said all non-essential markets, market areas and shops would be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Liquor shops have been allowed over the counter sales, with strict observance of physical distancing norms in place to curb COVID-19.

19 positive cases reported in IISc

As many as 19 people living on the Indian Institute of Science campus have tested positive for COVID-19 as of July 31. According to a press release on Monday, 12 of 15 COVID-19 positive students in hostels tested negative. Most of them were asymptomatic and treated in the COVID-19 Care Centre managed by the campus health care doctors. That apart, 34 pensioners and employees who live off-campus have also tested positive.