Coronavirus live updates: Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah tests positive, admitted to hospital

Read: UN chief warns world facing 'generational catastrophe' on education

Health ministry releases new number on India's Covid cases

Total cases:1,855,745: Active:5,86,298; Discharged:1,230,509; Deaths:38,938

Geography & seasonal variation may be helping India keep Covid toll low: Study

Providing an explanation for India’s “lowest across the globe” mortality rate for Covid-19, doctors from Tata Memorial Hospital said “geography” and “seasonal variation” could be helping India. India has registered 38,135 deaths in the past four and half months compared to, say, 1.5 lakh in the US. The Tata doctors, who have been treating cancer patients infected with Covid-19, said deaths rather than cases should be used to study the virus’s effects. Their viewpoint has been published online in the ICMR’s website and will feature in Indian Journal of Medical Research’s third special edition on Covid-19 in India.

Govt issues guidelines for reopening of gyms, yoga institutes

All yoga institutes and gymnasiums in containment zones shall remain closed and only those outside such zones will be allowed to open, the 'Guidelines on Preventive Measures to Contain Spread of Covid-19 in Yoga Institutes & Gymnasiums' stated. "Spas, sauna, steam bath and swimming pools (wherever applicable) shall remain closed," the document said. Protocols like allowing only asymptomatic people, maintaining social distancing, use of Aarogya Setu mobile application, as far as possible, will have to be followed.

US coronavirus cases rise by at least 48,395 on monday to 4.73 million, deaths rise by at least 582 to 155,933

Former Karnataka CM and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah says, he has tested positive for Covid-19, admitted to hospital

Serum Institute gets DCGI nod for Phase 2 & 3 trials

India’s apex drug regulator has allowed Pune-based Serum Institute of India to conduct late-stage — Phase 2 and 3 — human trials in India for the Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine candidate. With this, Serum Institute also joins the race for the vaccine in India where two other potential candidates — from Bharat Biotech and Cadila Healthcare — are already conducting Phase 1 and 2 human trials.

Rapid antigen tests now make up nearly half of daily checks

The increased use of rapid antigen tests (RAT) has helped the government ramp up testing for early detection and clinical management of infected cases and isolation of contacts. However, ICMR is examining concerns arising over ‘false negatives’ under RAT and RT-PCR remains the ultimate gold-standard test. While the number of daily Covid-19 tests almost doubled in the last one month, the share of RAT went up by 40-45% by the end of July as compared to just 4-8% in its first week, official data show.

13 new Covid-19 cases reported in Mizoram; the total number of cases now stands at 495 including 266 cured/discharged and 229 active cases: Department of Information and Public Relations, State Government (ANI)

China reports 36 new coronavirus cases in mainland vs 43 a day earlier: Reuters

China reported 36 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for Aug. 3, compared to 43 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Tuesday. Of the new infections, six were imported, versus 7 a day earlier, according to a statement by the National Health Commission. China reported 21 new asymptomatic patients, compared to 11 a day earlier.

US adds 46,321 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins

The United States added 46,321 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The world's largest economy also added 532 deaths, the Baltimore-based institution's tracker showed at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Tuesday). The US has now recorded 4,711,323 total cases, with 155,366 deaths, making it by far the worst-hit country in the world.

Mexico reports 4,767 new coronavirus cases, 266 more deaths

Mexico's health ministry on Monday reported 4,767 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 266 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 443,813 cases and 48,012 deaths. The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.

Read: Serum gets DCGI nod for Phase 2 & 3 trials

With this, Serum Institute also joins the race for the vaccine in India where two other potential candidates — from Bharat Biotech and Cadila Healthcare — are already conducting Phase 1 and 2 human trials.

Read: India’s Covid count on Sunday highest in world

Latin America and Caribbean surpass 5 million coronavirus cases: AFP

Latin American and the Caribbean on Monday surpassed five million coronavirus cases, according to an AFP tally, more than half of which have been registered in Brazil. Alongside the cases, there have been more than 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the region. Brazil has recorded 2.75 million infections and more than 94,000 deaths.

Tripura CM undergoes COVID-19 test after kin test positive, reports ANI

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Monday announced that he underwent testing for COVID-19 test, the result for which is awaited after two members of his family tested positive for the virus.

India's case tally crosses 18 lakh, recoveries surge to 11.86 lakh

India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 18-lakh mark on Monday, just a day after it went past 17 lakh, with 52,972 cases reported in a day, while the number of recoveries surged to over 11.86 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The total coronavirus cases surged to 18,03,695, while the death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 38,135 with 771 people succumbing to the disease in a day, the data updated at 8 am showed.

WHO advance team ends visit to China to probe Covid origin

he World Health Organisation said on Monday that an advance team looking into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak has concluded its mission in China, and the UN health agency is preparing the deployment of a larger group of experts to the suspected outbreak zone. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the “international team” will deploy to Wuhan, the city where the pandemic is believed to have erupted late last year. Tedros said “terms of reference” have been drawn up by the WHO and China, but he did not specify.

Senior CPM leader Md Salim tested for Covid +ve, reports IANS

Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader from West Bengal Mohammad Salim has tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday night. The ex-MP tweeted, "I have tested positive for Coronavirus with very mild symptoms but I got myself admitted into a hospital as per the advice of my attending doctor".