A day after tragedy struck in the form of a deadly fire in a COVID-19 care facility in Andhra Pradesh, the State has crossed a grim milestone of over 2,000 coronavirus-related deaths.
Other southern States maintained their high daily virus caseloads, as Tamil Nadu reported nearly 6,000 cases and 119 casualties. Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and the Puducherry Union Territory saw significant additions to their existing COVID-19 patients.
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:
WHO: Number of people infected by COVID-19 will hit 20 million this week
The head of the World Health Organization predicted that the number of people infected by the coronavirus will hit 20 million this week, including about 750,000 deaths.
In a briefing on Monday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that behind these statistics there is a great deal of pain and suffering but said there were still green shoots of hope no matter what stage in an outbreak a country or region might be.
— AP
12 fresh cases push Mizoram’s COVID-19 tally to 620
Twelve more people, including five Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, taking the northeastern state’s caseload to 620 on Monday, a health official said.
Five cases were reported in Lunglei district, four in Kolasib, two in Aizawl and one in Champhai, he said.
— PTI
With 51 more COVID deaths in Uttar Pradesh, toll reaches 2,120
Uttar Pradesh on Monday reported 51 more deaths due to COVID-19, pushing the fatalities due to the disease to 2,120.
The total number of infected persons has now gone up to 1,26,722 with 4,113 fresh cases reported in the state in the last 24 hours, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said.
— PTI
BMC to conduct study to assess efficacy of AI-based COVID-19 test
The Mumbai civic body has decided to conduct a study to assess the efficacy of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology which claims to detect coronavirus infection within half a minute, a senior official said on Monday.
The ‘non-invasive voice sample analysis’ claims to detect the viral infection by analysing sound waves of patients.
— PTI
Uttar Pradesh Health Minister recovers from COVID-19, attends office
Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Monday attended his office after recovering from coronavirus. He had tested positive for the infection on July 24.
“I am fine. On Thursday, I was declared COVID negative. After this, I spent around five days in quarantine. Today, I was at my office and attended a meeting with the UP chief minister,” Jai Pratap Singh told PTI on Monday.
— PTI
COVID-19 positive Kerala crash victim battled infection earlier too
One of the victims of Friday’s Dubai-Kozhikode flight, who was declared positive for COVID-19 after his death, was infected by the coronavirus earlier too while in the UAE and tested negative before flying to India, according to a media report.
Sudheer Variyath, 45, succumbed to his injuries a couple of hours after the Air India Express plane crash on Friday in Kozhikode, the Gulf News reported.
He was the last person to be declared dead after the crash. He tested positive for COVID-19 in the test conducted after the crash.
— PTI
COVID-19 situation in Maha serious, says Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the COVID-19 situation in his state was serious and it accounted for 42 per cent of all deaths nationwide due to the infection.
Fadnavis, leader of opposition in the Assembly in the neighbouring state, was in Goa to pay a courtesy visit to Chief Minister and party colleague Pramod Sawant.
— PTI
Fine for not wearing mask raised to ₹1,000 in Gujarat
In a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19, the Gujarat government on Monday increased the fine for not wearing mask in public places to ₹1,000 from the present ₹500.
The decision came after the Gujarat High Court in its order last month asked the government to collect a minimum fine of Rs 1,000 from those found without mask in public places.
— PTI
Assam DGP tests positive for COVID-19
Director General of Assam Police Bhaskar Jyot Mahanta tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, officials said. The top police officer has opted for home isolation, an official source told PTI.
“Healthcare professionals will act as per protocols and test the samples of his immediate contacts,” a senior official said.
— PTI
Puducherry Minister tests positive for virus, admitted to JIPMER
Puducherry Agriculture Minister R. Kamalakannan tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. He was admitted to JIPMER, director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar told PTI.
Meanwhile, 245 new cases were reported in the Union Territory taking the total number of infections so far to 5,624, Kumar said in a press release
— PTI
Empower more people to take care of COVID-19 patients: Devi Shetty
India will face an acute shortage of doctors, nurses, and technicians in the next few weeks and months unless the government takes a dramatic decision to empower more people to take care of COVID-19 patients, warned Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health.
According to Dr. Shetty, the country can quickly make available a large number of final year nursing and MD students to the healthcare workforce by changing regulatory requirements. The Ministry of Health, Nursing Council of India, and other healthcare bodies should work on this front and many countries are already doing it, he said.
— Mini Tejaswi
No quarantine for air passengers visiting Assam for less than 72 hours
Any air traveller to Assam who will depart from the state within 72 hours of his arrival will not have to undergo quarantine provided his Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result at the airport is negative, an order issued by the state government said on Monday.
The passenger will also have to provide a copy of his return ticket indicating his departure within 72 hours, the order issued by the state Health Department’s Principal Secretary Samir Sinha said.
— PTI
COVID-19 treatment: Yogi Adityanath directs to post official for monitoring at private medical college hospitals
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday asked the Medical Education Department to post an official for monitoring at each private medical college hospital treating COVID-19 patients.
According to a statement, the CM during a review meeting at his residence here said the private medical colleges where COVID-19 hospitals have been established, an officer should be appointed by the department for monitoring and ensuring quality treatment to patient.
— PTI
13% COVID-19 patients in Indore recovered in home isolation
Some 13 per cent of the COVID-19 patients in Indore, the worst-affected district in Madhya Pradesh, have recovered in home isolation, an official said on Monday.
He said the home isolation programme, where doctors supervise patients with the help of a mobile app, was started in the district three months ago.
— PTI
Pandemic wrecks global Class of 2020’s hopes for first job
British fashion school graduate Phoebe St. Leger’s dream of landing a job at a design label is on hold. Like many others in the global Class of 2020, the pandemic is clouding her career ambitions.
The coronavirus forced the cancellation of her university graduating class’s final-year fashion show, removing the chance to show her knitwear collection to people in the industry, some of whom might have liked her work enough to offer her a job.
— AP
Mamata Banerjee wishes Pranab Mukherjee speedy recovery
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed concern over former President Pranab Mukherjee testing positive for COVID-19 and wished him a speedy recovery.
“Concerned to hear about Former President Pranab Mukherjee Da testing positive for #COVID19. My prayers are with him & his family during this time and I wish him a speedy recovery,” Ms. Banerjee tweeted.
— PTI
Over 5,725 COVID-19 patients successfully treated using Siddha system of medicine in Tamil Nadu, say official sources
The traditional Siddha system of medicine has come in more than handy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Tamil Nadu with nearly 6,000 people being cured of the contagion in dedicated facilities across the state, official sources said on Monday.
Siddha treatment has helped to successfully treat 5,725 patients at 11 exclusive Siddha COVID-19 Care Centres (CCC) in Tamil Nadu, including two in the metro, till August 7, the sources added.
— PTI
Singapore reports 188 new COVID-19 cases
Three people who returned to Singapore from India tested positive for COVID-19, as the city-state reported 188 new coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the national tally to 55,292.
Singapore’s total number of COVID-19 cases rose past 55,000 on Sunday - the country’s 55th National Day.
— PTI
52 new COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya; tally rises to 1,114
Meghalaya on Monday reported 52 new COVID-19 cases, including 29 BSF personnel, taking the state’s tally to 1,114, officials said Of the total 1,114 COVID-19 cases, 610 are active as 498 people have recovered from the disease and six have died.
The 52 new COVID-19 cases were reported from East Kashi Hills (11), Ri Bhoi (2) and 39 in West Garo Hills district which includes 29 BSF personnel, Director of Health Services, Aman War said.
— PTI
Woman diagnosed with coronavirus gives birth to daughter in Imphal
A 24-year-old woman who tested positive for COVID-19, gave birth to a healthy daughter on Monday in the Gynae ward of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal run under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Disclosing this to reporters on Monday RIMS officials said that the woman hails from Lilong areas in Thoubal district.
When she was admitted she was diagnosed with the virus. Doctors said that this is not a new thing since this hospital has been treating and helping other women in delivering babies regardless of the fact whether they are COVID-19 negative or positive. All patients are treated without any discrimination, an official said.
— Iboyaima Laithangbam
COVID-19: BMC starts second phase of sero-survey in Mumbai
The Mumbai civic body has started the second phase of sero-surveillance study in the city from Monday to assess the spread of COVID-19 and how many people have developed antibodies against the disease.
The survey will cover F-North (Dadar, Matunga and Dharavi), M-West (Deonar and Govandi) and R-North (Dahisar) wards, where a similar study was conducted last month, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said.
— PTI
Former Bangladesh spinner Mosharraf Hossain tests positive for COVID-19
Former Bangladesh left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain, who has represented the national team in five ODIs, has tested positive for COVID-19.
The 38-year-old, who had undergone four months of intense treatment including a surgery for brain tumour, contracted the infection after his father also tested positive for the contagious disease.
— PTI
15% students enrolled in Delhi govt schools not traceable since lockdown, not attending e-classes
Close to 15% students enrolled in Delhi government schools are not “traceable” since the lockdown was announced and have not been attending the alternative classes conducted online or through phones, according to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Mr. Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, said efforts are being made to locate these students either physically or telephonically to get them into the system.
— PTI
UGC in Supreme Court questions decisions by Delhi, Maharashtra to cancel exams amid COVID-19 pandemic
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday strongly objected to Maharashtra and Delhi governments employing the Disaster Management Act to cancel the examinations of students amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying “sooner this issue is resolved the better for the students”.
Appearing before a Bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the conduct of examinations was entirely within the domain of the UGC, a statutory body. The law officer said the States could not go on and cancel examinations on their own. The UGC had specific guidelines and procedure for conducting them.
— Krishnadas Rajagopal
56 prison inmates test positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly
At least 56 inmates of two prisons in Bareilly of Uttar Pradesh have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.
“Reports of 51 inmates of central jail and five inmates of district jail have been found positive for COVID-19” District Surveillance Officer Ashok Kumar said.
— PTI
Former President Pranab Mukherjee tests positive for COVID-19
Former President Pranab Mukherjee.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee has tested positive for COVID-19. Mr. Mukherjee said he had taken the COVID-19 test before a separate procedure and it turned out that he has contracted the disease.
In his personal Twitter handle, Mr. Mukherjee apppealed all those who came in contact with him recently to get tested.
Odisha’s COVID-19 caseload crosses 47,000-mark; death toll mounts to 286
Odisha registered its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 deaths on Monday as 14 patients succumbed to the disease, while 1,528 new infections pushed its caseload to 47,455, a health official said.
The fresh fatalities have taken the COVID-19 death toll in the state to 286, he said.
— PTI
India's coronavirus recovery rate improves to 69.33%, case fatality rate drops to 2%: Health Ministry
Coronavirus recoveries in India have surged to 15,35,743 with a record 54,859 more people recuperating in the past 24 hours, taking the recovery rate to 69.33%. The case fatality rate has dropped to about 2%, the ministry said.
The total coronavirus cases now stands at 22,15,074, including 44,386 deaths, according to the ministry data.
— PTI
China sees drop in new locally transmitted coronavirus cases
New locally transmitted cases of coronavirus in China fell to just 14 over the past 24 hours, the National Health Commission reported Monday. The low figure was offset, however, by 35 cases brought into the country by Chinese travellers from overseas arriving in seven different cities and provinces across the country.
All the cases of local transmission were in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, whose main city Urumqi is the centre of China’s latest outbreak.
— AP
Two succumb to coronavirus in Puducherry, toll rises to 89
Two more people succumbed to COVID-19 in Puducherry taking the death toll in the union territory to 89, a top Health department official said on Monday.
Also, 245 new cases were reported taking the total number of infections in the union territory to 5,624, of which 2,180 (including 819 home quarantined patients) are active, Director of Health and Family Welfare S. Mohan Kumar said in a press release.
— PTI
COVID-19: Death of doctors in Bihar nine times more than national average
With the surging growth in numbers of COVID-19 pandemic disease patients in Bihar, the State has reported nine times more death of doctors than the national average.
“In Bihar the doctors death percentage due to COVID-19 has been 4.42% while, the national average is 0.5%”, claimed Dr Ajay Kumar, senior vice-president of Indian Medical Association, Bihar chapter.
Till Sunday, as many as 19 doctors in Bihar died due to coronavirus while, over 250 are infected with the disease, said Dr Sunil Kumar state secretary of IMA.
— Amarnath Tewary
Pakistan’s coronavirus tally jumps to 2,84,660
Pakistan’s coronavirus tally reached 2,84,660 with the detection of 539 new cases in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday.
Fifteen more fatalities due to the disease were reported overnight, pushing the nationwide death toll 6,097.
— PTI
Home electric cookers could efficiently sanitise N95 masks, say scientists
Fifty minutes of dry heat in an electric cooker, such as a rice cooker or Instant Pot, could effectively sanitise N95 respirator masks, while maintaining their filtration and fit, researchers, including one of Indian origin, have found.
According to the findings published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, this could enable wearers to safely reuse limited supplies of the respirators, originally intended to be one-time-use items.
N95 respirator masks are the gold standard of personal protective equipment that protect the wearer against airborne droplets and particles, such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Indian hockey player Mandeep Singh tests positive
Indian hockey team forward Mandeep Singh has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the sixth national player to contract the dreaded infection, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said on Monday.
Mandeep Singh. | Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout
The 25-year-old from Jalandhar is asymptomatic and is being treated along with the other five players by doctors in Bengaluru, where the national camp is due to start on August 20 at the SAI centre.
Do not ignore early symptoms, doctors warn Chennai residents
COVID-19 cases may be slowly declining in Chennai but there should be no room for complacency among the people, doctors say.
Government doctors on COVID-19 duty continue to see sick patients with severe hypoxia and respiratory distress, raising the need to seek medical help at the earliest. According to them, awareness of timely diagnosis is better now, but they see instances of people ignoring early symptoms and delay seeking medical help.
Growth rates of positive, active cases on the decline in Bengaluru
Though the number of COVID-19 cases being reported in the city has been hovering around the 2,000 mark every day, civic officials say a closer inspection of the data shows a drop in the growth rate of both, positive cases and active cases.
Positivity rate is defined as the percentage of people who test positive for the virus of those overall who have been tested. While active cases rate is the time of detection till the end of treatment or quarantine.
According to data shared by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the moving average growth rate of active COVID-19 cases increased from June 27 to July 18, but started reducing after that. A similar trend was observed in the growth rate of active cases.
When COVID-19 forced governments to step up
With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing with it unprecedented hard times for the people, governments have had to step up and do much more than they would normally deliver. With a great deal of normal life disrupted due to lockdowns that were imposed with the idea of slowing the transmission of the virus, this intervention from the state became necessary. The governments also had to upgrade health infrastructure in their States, as it soon became obvious that the existing health facilities were going to be woefully inadequate.
We have compiled a list of schemes put together by the governments of the southern States — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana — to be of service to the people during the continuing reign of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Over 1,000 COVID deaths in 24 hours
India has seen a single-day spike of 1,007 deaths, taking the total toll to 44,386, said the Union Health Ministy in its daily bulletin issued today.
The total COVID-19 case count is 22,15,074, of which 62,064 are new cases.
The bulletin noted that there are 6,34,945 active COVID-19 cases in India, and that 15,35,743 people have recovered.
Govt. hospital shut in Manipur as four doctors, nurse test positive
The government hospital at Leimapokpam in Bishnupur district of Manipur has been closed after four doctors and a staff nurse tested COVID-19 positive.
Meanwhile, the Imphal West district Collector has declared three areas in Imphal as containment zones. Officials said the decision was taken after two persons in two hotels and a local resident just opposite the Imphal City police station tested positive.
Policeman accused in Sattankulam custodial death case dies of COVID-19
Pauldurai, Special Sub-Inspector of Police of Sattankulam police station in Thoothukudi district, one of the 10 police personnel accused in the custodial death of trader P. Jayaraj and his son, Benicks, died in Madurai on Monday. He was tested COVID-19 positive.
He was admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) on July 24 after he tested positive for the pandemic at the Central Prison here where he was lodged.
Maharashtra records more than 12,000 cases yet again
Maharashtra reported more than 12,000 COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day on Sunday, adding 12,248 more to take the State’s total case tally to 5,15,332. A proportionately high fatality surge of 390 deaths saw the total toll rise to 17,757.
The spike is the State’s second-highest single-day jump till date, with the highest of 12,822 cases recorded on Saturday.
However, the number of recoveries outweighed the case surge, with 13,348 patients being discharged — the State’s highest single-day recoveries — to take the cumulative recoveries to 3,51,710. Of the total case tally, 1,45,558 are active ones.
MP CM to give plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that he would donate his blood plasma for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Mr. Chouhan had tested positive for coronavirus on July 25 and remained hospitalised for 11 days before he was discharged on August 5.
“I was tested positive for COVID-19 earlier and I am perfectly healthy now after treatment. Antibodies to fight coronavirus must have been developed in my body and so I will soon donate plasma for therapy,” an official release quoted the Chief Minister as saying while reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the state via video conferencing.
While plasma therapy is effective, senior health officials have warned that it will not be useful for critically-ill COVID patients. Read more here.
U.S. sets record as coronavirus cases top 5 million
The United States set a record for coronavirus cases with more than 5 million people now infected, according to a Reuters tally, as the country's top infectious diseases official offered hope earlier this week that an effective vaccine might be available by year-end.
With one out of every 66 residents infected, the United States leads the world in COVID-19 cases, according to a Reuters analysis.
The country has recorded more than 160,000 deaths, nearly a quarter of the world's total. - Reuters