Covid update: 2 more ministers infected; plane crash testing; USA schools

Manicurist: Client Knowingly Exposed COVID-19

Although nail salons are reopening nationwide, COVID-19 is still very much an ongoing pandemic. In Washington, under the state's guidelines for personal service providers, that includes nail salons, clients "must self-screen for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 before arriving at the service provider location." But a nail technician named Taylor recently shared a since-removed Facebook post with a screenshot of a text-message conversation she says she had with a customer.

NHS workers demand pay rise after coronavirus leaves staff ‘on their knees’

Thousands of NHS workers have taken to the streets across the UK to demandbetter wages for staff left “on their knees” by the coronavirus pandemic. InLondon, health workers who have missed out on a public sector pay rise fellsilent for two minutes as a mark of respect for colleagues who have lost theirlives fighting Covid-19. One of dozens of marches planned around the countryfor Saturday, participants in the capital – many in scrubs – were wearingmasks and tried to constantly maintain a social distance from one another.

'Imagine if Covid struck before 2014': PM Modi inaugurates Swachhata museum

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra in Delhi on Saturday. He said that like the Quit India Movement, which was launched under the leadership of MK Gandhi on August 8, 1942, the Swachhata Kendra's inauguration symbolises the ongoing cleanliness drive, or 'Filth, Quit India' movement. Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister said that many habits of hygiene propagated under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were helping the country in its fight against the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. The PM also took a dig at the Opposition, asking his audience to imagine what the situation would've been if Covid-19 had struck before 2014, when open defecation was prevalent. India has reported over 20 lakh Covid cases so far, making it the third worst-hit country in the world. However, with over 42,500 deaths so far, India has among the lowest Covid mortality rates, coupled with a high recovery rate. Watch the full video for more.

Covid update: India vaccine progress; another minister infected; IMF on economy

From another minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet testing positive for infection, to the progress report of India's indigenously-developed vaccine candidates - here are the top news updates on the Covid-19 pandemic. Union minister of petroleum and natural gas, and steel, Dharmendra Pradhan, tested positive days after Union Home minister Amit Shah confirmed his positive diagnosis. Meanwhile, other members of the Union cabinet, like Ravi Shankar Prasad and Babul Supriyo, are quarantining themselves as a precaution. On the medical front, India's two vaccine candidates have completed phase 1 of human clinical trials. The vaccines have been developed by Bharat Biotech, ICMR and Zydus Cadila. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to allow all places of worship to reopen from August 16. Earlier, the authorities had decided to cancel the annual Amarnath Yatra due to the Covid pandemic. In economic news, the International Monetary Fund has said that Covid might exacerbate the narrowing of global current account imbalances which was happening due to trade slowdown in 2019. Watch the full video for the other updates on the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Kozhikode crash: Pilots among 20 dead; PM Modi speaks to Kerala CM; NDRF rushed

Over 18 people were killed, 123 were injured in a plane crash in Kerala’s Kozhikode. Pilot Captain Deepak Vasant Sathe was one of the pilots who died. Helplines to assist in providing information about passengers were issued. Airport Control Room - 0483 2719493, Malappuram Collectorate - 0483 2736320, Kozhikode Collectorate - 0495 2376901. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted about the incident and expressed their pain. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rushed Fire and Police Force at Kozhikode airport. PM Modi spoke to Kerala CM over the phone regarding the crash. Home Minister ordered National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rush at the airport. The plane, with 190 onboard from Dubai, split into two while trying to land. The aircraft overshot the Karipur’s table top runway. Watch the video for more details.

Foreign, Indian currency notes worth over 91 lakh seized in UP's Chandauli

Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested a man with currency notes in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli. The seized notes are of Indian foreign currencies and worth Rs 92,34,724 lakh. The accused person was carrying the currency from Gorakhpur to Kolkata.

COVID-19 update: Total cases surpass 5-lakh mark in Maharashtra

India on August 08 witnessed single-day spike of 61,537 and 933 deaths. Maharashtra continues to lead caseload as the state reported 12,822 cases in a day. Positive cases tally in Maharashtra now stands at 5,03,084. Toll in the state mounted to 17,367. Trajectory of Andhra Pradesh continues upwards with 10,000 cases daily.

COVID-19: Total cases surpass 2-lakh mark in Andhra Pradesh

As trajectory of COVID-19 cases continues to surge, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are recording over 10,000 cases daily. Andhra Pradesh has reported 2,06,960 cases so far. With 10,483 new cases, total tally of Maharashtra stood at 4,90,262. Total cases in India surpassed 20-lakh mark on August 7. 2,27,88,393 samples have been tested so far, according to ICMR.

COVID-19: CM Jagan Reddy holds review meeting with state officials

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting over COVID-19 situation in the state on August 07. Several state officials were also present in the meeting. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state are 1,96,789 including 1,12,870 recoveries, 82,166 active cases while 1,753 deaths have been reported so far.

Arsenal close to signing Chelsea's Willian - media reports

Brazil international Willian is close to moving across London from Chelsea to Arsenal on a three-year deal according to the British media.

COVID-19 crisis crippling South America's largest economy

Brazil is facing its highest unemployment rate in three years.

Covid update: Ayodhya priest worried; South Korea on India, vaccines; gym rules

From another Ayodhya priest testing positive days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, to the government issuing guidelines for gymnasiums and yoga centres ahead of their reopening from August 5 - here are the top news updates on the Covid-19 pandemic. The World Health Organisation has reportedly completed the groundwork in China for an investigation into the origin of the virus which causes the Covid-19 illness. WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also warned the world that although there is hope of development of an effective vaccine, there is also the possibility that we might never have a 'silver bullet' against the disease. Meanwhile, South Korean envoy to India, Shin Bong-kil, said that India has always been important when it comes to vaccines and the country also has a strong pharmaceutical industry. A controversy has broken out over the admission of Union Home minister Amit Shah to a private hospital in Gurugram after he tested positive for Covid infection. Congress' Shashi Tharoor said that patronage of the powerful is important to maintain public faith in government institutions. India also crossed a milestone in its fight against the virus. The country passed the landmark of 2 crore total tests on August 2. Watch the full video for the other updates regarding the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Covid update: Russia mass vaccination from Oct plan; Delhi 2nd sero survey

From the Russian government planning to roll out a mass vaccination drive from October 2020 after getting vaccine clearance by August, to India's case fatality rate dropping to 2.15%, the lowest since the lockdown began - here are the top news updates on the Covid-19 pandemic. India's total case tally has crossed the 16.95 lakh-mark, with over 36,500 deaths so far. The national capital has kickstarted its second round of serological survey, aimed at gauging the extent of the virus' spread. The first survey had suggested that almost a quarter of Delhi's population had been exposed to the Covid-causing virus. Meanwhile, the Assam government is planning to reopen schools, colleges and other education institutions by September 1. However, the final decision would be taken by the Union government, said Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In international news, the United States of America is still struggling to get on top of the virus wave, even as expert Anthony Fauci expressed 'cautious optimism' about a vaccine being available by the end of the year. Watch the full video for the other updates on the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.