An artist gives final touches to wall graffiti in Kolkata honouring frontline COVID-19 warriors. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
Coronavirus India News Live Updates: Nearly a week after Amit Shah contracted the coronavirus, the home minister has now tested negative, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari tweeted. Shah who had been visiting hospitals and Covid-19 centres in Delhi, underwent treatment in Gurgaon’s Medanta Hospital. He was the first member of the Union Cabinet to test positive for the disease.
Late on Saturday night Minister of State Arjun Ram Meghwal Saturday said in a tweet that he has tested positive for coronavirus in a second test, after testing negative in the first test with the onset of initial symptoms. The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Heavy industries had last month endorsed a brand of papad, saying it had ingredients which will boost a person’s immunity and help defeat coronavirus. His video caused a storm on social media, with people criticising the unscientific claims.
With 64,399 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the total caseload in India has now risen to 21,53,011. Of these, 6,28,747 are active cases, while 14,80,885 patients have already been discharged, data from the Union Health Ministry showed. As many as 861 deaths were reported, taking the casualties to 43,379. For eleven straight days now, Covid-19 cases have in India have risen by over 50,000. Globally, over 19.5 million cases of coronavirus and 7.25 lakh deaths have been reported.
At least nine people were killed in a major fire caused by a short circuit at a hotel which was being used as a coronavirus facility in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada in the early hours of Sunday. A private hospital had leased Hotel Swarna Palace in Vijayawada to keep infected Covid patients. This comes days after eight coronavirus patients died in a huge fire that broke out in the intensive care ward of a private hospital in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad.
An artist gives final touches to wall graffiti in Kolkata honouring frontline Covid-19 warriors. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
Nearly a week after Amit Shah contracted the coronavirus, the home minister has now tested negative, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari tweeted. Shah who had been visiting hospitals and Covid-19 centres in Delhi, underwent treatment in Gurgaon’s Medanta Hospital. He was the first member of the Union Cabinet to test positive for the disease.
In a tweet, Amit Shah had said he got tested after showing Covid-19 symptoms while requested those who had come in contact with him in the last few days to get tested and isolate themselves. “Following the appearance of initial symptoms of Covid-19, I got myself tested and the report is positive. My health is fine but on the advice of doctors I am getting admitted to hospital. I request all those who came in contact with me in the past few days to isolate themselves and get tested,” Shah had tweeted
The number of people succumbed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil surpassed 1 lakh-mark on Saturday, with 905 deaths and 49,970 cases in the last 24 hours. Despite the rising numbers and having over 3 million cases, the country continues to reopen its public places despite warning from experts that the pandemic is yet to peak. While it took three months for the toll to reach 50,000, it just took 50 days to kill the next 50,000.
At least 68 more people, including 36 security personnel and a healthcare professional, have tested positive for coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the state's total count to 2,117, a Health Department official said on Sunday. Of the fresh cases, 10 were reported from the Capital Complex region, 20 from East Kameng district, 12 from West Siang, five each from Tirap and Lower Siang, four each from West Kameng and Namsai, three each from East Siang and Tawang, two from Papumpare and one from Changlang, State Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa said. "Thirty-six security personnel of paramilitary forces are among the fresh patients. A healthcare worker from West Kameng district has tested positive for COVID-19," he said. (PTI)
The premier of Australia's Victoria state says more than 2,700 active cases have no known source and remain the primary concern of health authorities. Victoria on Sunday saw a welcome drop in its new COVID-19 cases with 394 but a record 17 deaths, including two people in their 50s. It took the hard-hit state's toll to 210 and the Australian total of deaths to 295. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said confirmed cases also include almost 1,000 health care workers. The city of Melbourne has been under tough restrictions since a week ago, including an overnight curfew and mandatory wearing of masks, but won't see the results of their efforts for another one to two weeks.
New Zealand on Sunday marked 100 days since it stamped out the spread of the coronavirus, a rare bright spot in a world that continues to be ravaged by the disease. Life has returned to normal for many people in the South Pacific nation of 5 million, as they attend rugby games at packed stadiums and sit down in bars and restaurants without the fear of getting infected. But some worry the country may be getting complacent and not preparing well enough for any future outbreaks.
New Zealand got rid of the virus by imposing a strict lockdown in late March when only about 100 people had tested positive for the disease. That stopped its spread. For the past three months, the only new cases have been a handful of returning travelers who have been quarantined at the border.
Nine people have died in the fire in Vijayawada. Expressing shock over the incident, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh to the kin of the deceased and ordered an in-depth probe into the mishap. He also directed authorities to take steps to ensure better medical services to the victims of the accident. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he discussed the situation with the chief minister.
With 64,399 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the total caseload in India has now risen to 21,53,011. Of these, 6,28,747 are active cases, while 14,80,885 patients have already been discharged, data from the Union Health Ministry showed. As many as 861 deaths were reported, taking the casualties to 43,379. For eleven straight days now, Covid-19 cases have in India have risen by over 50,000. Globally, over 19.5 million cases of coronavirus and 7.25 lakh deaths have been reported.
A major fire broke out at a hotel, which is being served as a coronavirus facility, in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada in the early hours of Sunday. According to unconfirmed reports, at least seven persons are feared dead and several others injured in the incident. Taking note of the incident, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered an in-depth probe and directed authorities to take steps to ensure better medical services to the victims of the accident.
The U.K. will need more than just a simple communication campaign to ensure people get a potential coronavirus vaccine after research showed that less than a third of the population would definitely seek to be inoculated.
A survey by King’s College London and Ipsos Mori released Sunday showed British people who are skeptical about science and authority were more likely to say they’d refuse a vaccine. While 43% said they’d be very likely or fairly likely to get a vaccine, if one becomes available, 16% said they are unlikely to or definitely won’t and 11% didn’t know. Read more
China reported 23 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for Aug 8, down from 31 a day earlier, the country’s health authority said on Sunday. Among the new cases, 15 were locally transmitted and eight were imported infections, the National Health Commission said in a statement published on its website. Some 45 people were discharged on Saturday and there are still 817 active cases in the country, including 43 severe cases. The total number of infections in mainland China now stands at 84,619, with the death toll unchanged at 4,634
Maharashtra on Saturday reported a highest single-day spike of 12,822 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally in the state to 5,03,084, a health official said.
With 275 COVID-19 patients succumbing, the death toll in the state increased to 17,367, he added. However, a record 11,082 patients were also discharged from hospitals, taking the tally of recovered coronavirus patients to 3,38,362, the official added.
There are 1,47,048 active coronavirus patients in Maharashtra now, he said.
Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Arjun Ram Meghwal tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. Taking to Twitter, Meghwal said, “I tested positive for COVID-19 after testing negative for the disease. My health is fine but I am admitted to AIIMS on doctors’ advice.”
Two BSF jawans succumbed to Covid-19 at GBP Hospital at Agartala on Saturday.
Bengal recorded 2,949 cases, 2,064 discharges, and 51 deaths today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 92,615, including 65,124 discharged, 25,486 active cases, & 2,005 deaths, the State Health Department said
1,304 new Covid-19 cases, 1,454 recoveries & 58 deaths reported in Mumbai today. Total number of cases in the city is now at 1,22,331 including 95,354 recoveries, 19,932 active cases & 6,748 deaths: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
Andhra Pradesh continued to witness a surge in COVID-19 cases as 10,080 fresh infections were reported, taking the overall tally to 2,17,040 while a single day high of 97 fatalities were recorded. The latest government bulletin said the state now had 85,486 active cases after 1,29,615 coronavirus positive persons got cured, including 9,151 in the last 24 hours, and 1,939 succumbed. (PTI)
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday defended the use of the Rapid Antigen tests for diagnosis of COVID-19 in the national capital, saying the false reading rate for it is almost the same as that of the-PCR. Sisodia said the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), over which the experts have expressed reservations due to high false negative rate, has its own merits, one of which is giving immediate results that can help in early isolation of a patient to contain the spread of the virus. (PTI)
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.