Covid screening camp in progress at Trombay Koliwada on Friday. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Coronavirus India News Live Updates: Thirteen districts in eight states and Union Territories recording COVID-19 mortality higher than the national average were advised by the Centre on Saturday to address the issues of low testing and delay in test results, and ensure timely hospitalisation. With reports emerging from some areas that patients were dying within 48 hours of being admitted to health centres, the Union health ministry asked them to ensure timely referral and hospitalisation of people infected with Covid-19.
Noting that total of 196 doctors have succumbed to Covid-19 in India so far, Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention on the issue. “As per the latest data collected by the IMA, our nation has lost 196 doctors, out of which 170 of them are above the age of 50 years, with general practitioners attributing to around 40 per cent of it,” the IMA said expressing concerns over the safety of doctors in the battle against the COVID-19 crisis.
India reported 61,537 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total caseload to 20,88,612, including 6,19,088 active cases and 14,27,006 recoveries, data from the Union Health Ministry showed. With 933 deaths being reported on Friday, the death toll touched 42,518. Saturday marks the tenth day in a row that Covid-19 cases have risen by over 50,000. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that a cumulative total of 2,33,87,171 samples have been tested so far, with 5,98,778 samples being tested on Friday.
Over 19.3 million cases of coronavirus and 7.19 lakh deaths have been reported across the world.
An artist gives final touches to wall graffiti in Kolkata honouring frontline Covid-19 warriors. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
Six of the security personnel stationed at the residence of ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a media report. The PCR tests of the guards were carried out at Maharajgunj-based Nepal Police Hospital, The Himalayan Times reported. According to Dahal's secretariat, the infected persons are the team of police personnel stationed at the entrance of the residence. (PTI)
hirteen districts in eight states and Union Territories reporting COVID-19 mortality higher than the national average were advised by the Centre on Saturday to address the issues of low testing and delay in test results, and ensure timely hospitalisation. In view of reports from some areas that patients were dying within 48 hours of being admitted to health facilities, the Union health ministry asked them to ensure timely referral and hospitalisation of people afflicted with COVID-19. In a high-level virtual meeting chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, the eight states were directed to ensure availability of ambulances and maintain zero tolerance for their refusal, the ministry said. (PTI)
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Chaudhary has tested positive for coronavirus, he tweeted on Saturday. He is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Jodhpur, he said. "Following the test done last night after showing symptoms, the report for coronavirus has come out positive," Chaudhary wrote on Twitter. ''All friends who came in contact with me in the last few days should keep distance from their family members and get themselves tested," he said.
268 new Covid-19 cases, 109 discharges and 5 deaths have been reported in Puducherry today. Total of number of cases now at 5,087 including 1,953 active cases, 3,054 recovered cases and 80 deaths: Puducherry Govt
Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan has been discharged from the hospital after testing negative for coronavirus. He was admitted in Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital for the last 29 days. Amitabh Bachchan shared the news of Abhishek being discharged from the hospital. He wrote on Twitter, “T 3620 – Abhishek tests negative for CoviD .. discharged from Hospital .. on his way home .. GOD IS GREAT .. thank you Ef and well wishers for your PRAYERS ..” Read more
Noting that total of 196 doctors have succumbed to Covid-19 in India so far, Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention on the issue. “As per the latest data collected by the IMA, our nation has lost 196 doctors, out of which 170 of them are above the age of 50 years, with general practitioners attributing to around 40 per cent of it,” PTI reported as the IMA saying while expressing concerns over the safety of doctors in the battle against the COVID-19 crisis.
The Covid-19 death toll in Puducherry rose to 80, with five more people succumbing to the infection on Saturday, PTI reported.
Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release that all these patients had co-morbidities and were in the age groups ranging from 57 to 78 years.
The union territory recorded 268 new cases, its highest so far, taking the total number of cases to 5,087.
Around 1,953 of the total cases are active (including 607 in home isolation in Puducherry and Yanam region, while 3,054 patients have recovered and 80 have died.
Rajasthan on Saturday reported nine more coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday, pushing the state death toll to 776, while 499 new cases were recorded, taking the total caseload to 50,656, PTI quoted a health department official as saying.
There are 13,570 active cases in the state, while as many as 34,069 people have been discharged, the official said.
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced that small temples with an annual income less than Rs 10,000, mosques, dargah, churches and other religious places in the corporation areas will be opened for worship from August 10, reported PTI.
Temples and other religious places of worship were closed for darshan since March 24, when the state government enforced a total lockdown. The government, however, permitted all religious activities including daily puja in temples by priests.
Also, driving schools across the state shall function from August 10, adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be released by the government.
With 101 new coronavirus cases, Arunachal Pradesh's tally crossed 2,000-mark on Saturday, PTI quoted a Health Department ofiicial as saying. The total number of cases in the state rose to 2,049, State Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa said.
At least 81 people were discharged from hospitals on Friday. The number of active cases in the state now stands at 720, while as many as 1,326 have recovered, and three have died, Jampa said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said deaths due to the coronavirus infection must be reduced at any cost and asked officials to focus on tracing patients and contacts. Thackeray asked authorities to take strict action against hospitals for overcharging, and also called for effective bed and ambulance management amid the outbreak.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Friday cited that some government officials get away with following standard protocols of domestic air passengers including “mandatory home isolation for 14 days” after entering the state and they would from now on require a written statement “justifying their request from home quarantine exception”.
Maharashtra registered a spike of 10,483 new cases on Friday, which took its coronavirus tally to 4,90,262, the state health department said. The death toll in the state due to the pandemic reached 17,092 with 300 patients succumbing during the day, it said. The statement said that the recovery rate in the state is 66.76 per cent, while the fatality rate is 3.49 per cent. Mumbai reported 862 new cases and 45 deaths on Friday.
DMK MLA from Thanjavur, T K G Neelamegam tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. He has been admitted to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for treatment.
With this, a total of 27 legislators have tested positive for the state till now. 11 from AIADMK, 13 from DMK, one from AICC and two from independent parties have tested positive till date, with two legislators having recovered and one DMK MLA having succumbed to the virus in May.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu recorded 5880 positive cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the state tally to 2,85,024. Among these, Chennai reported 984 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 1,07,109. Chennai recorded less than 1000 cases for the first time in months.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has directed its personnel to go into preventive quarantine after at least two passengers of the Air India Express flight that crashed at Kozhikode on Friday night tested positive for Covid-19, PTI quoted officials as saying. At least 18 passengers, including the two pilots of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, were killed in the accident.
'We are trying to identify our personnel, who rescued the passengers who have tested positive for coronavirus,' CISF Special Director General (Airports) MA Ganapathy told PTI.
Around 50 CISF personnel, who were involved in the rescue operation, and their family members have been asked to quarantine themselves, a senior officer said.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday inaugurated a dedicated 400-bed government hospital for Covid-19 patients in Noida, PTI reported.
The facility is located in Sector 39. Adityanath also reviewed the facilities in the hospital, which is expected to begin services with 200 beds initially from Sunday, and will have 400 beds in the course of time, officials said.
Coronavirus has infected over 5,800 people in Gautam Buddh Nagar district and claimed 43 live so far, as per official figures.
When the country’s lawmakers get back to business in the midst of the Covid pandemic, it will be to a very altered workspace.
After exploring a number of possibilities, presiding officers of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have almost agreed on a fully physical model for conducting the Monsoon session of Parliament. Parliament is expected to meet in September for the first time since March. According to the plan, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will take turns to work — either as morning and evening shifts, or by working on alternate days. Of the Lok Sabha’s current strength of 542, 168 members will be seated in the Lok Sabha chamber, and the others distributed across the Lower House’s galleries, the Rajya Sabha and its galleries.
Telangana reported a new single day high with 2,207 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the overall caseload in the state to 75,257. The death toll rose to 601 with 12 more fatalities, a state government bulletin said on Friday. Till now, 53,239 have recovered and the recovery rate stands at 70.7%.
Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, crossed the 2 lakh mark Friday as another 10,171 were added taking the overall tally to 2,06,960 out of which over 1.2 lakh people have recovered till now. With 89 new deaths, the state reported its highest single day spike in death toll so far.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected crores of people around the world with total India number touching almost 20 lakh and the number is only increasing with every passing day. People have been stuck at home for the longest time now due to the pandemic but eventually, everyone is stepping out for work or other activities. At these times it is crucial to follow social distancing norms, keep hands sanitized, wear a mask, and try not to meet people until and unless extremely required.
During the pandemic, several gadgets have been introduced that can help you stay safe at these times. Read our list of five such gadgets that you must own during Covid-19.
The Union Health Ministry has asked states and UTs to take up coronavirus testing of grocery shop workers, vegetable and other vendors, stating if undetected they can potentially spread the infection to a large number of people.
In a letter to states and UTs, Secretary in the Health Ministry, Rajesh Bhushan also stressed the need for operationalising ambulance transport system with oxygen facility and quick response mechanism. He underlined that refusal rate of ambulances must be monitored at a daily basis and brought down to zero.