Coronavirus roundup: Developments in India and rest of world

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 13, 2020, 19:52 IST

NEW DELHI: The Covid-19 recovery rate has risen to 70.77 per cent on Thursday with the total number of patients recuperating from the disease reaching nearly 17 lakh, while the case fatality rate has further declined to 1.96 per cent, the Union health ministry said.
It said "record-high" recoveries have led to a decline in the "actual caseload" of the country, which is the number of active cases, and currently is only 27.27 per cent of the total cases.

Here are the top developments:

1

India

The country recorded the highest 56,383 recoveries in 24 hours on Thursday, taking the total number of recovered patients to 16,95,982. There are 6,53,622 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country, according to the health ministry data.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a cumulative 2,68,45,688 samples have been tested up to August 12 with 8,30,391 samples being tested on Wednesday, the highest in a day so far.
With a record single-day increase of 66,999 cases, India's Covid-19 tally rose to 23,96,637 on Thursday, while the death toll climbed to 47,033 with 942 people succumbing to the disease in 24 hours, the health ministry data showed.
The head of the Ram temple trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das (80), has tested positive for Covid-19, officials said. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has taken detailed information on the health condition of Das, a government official said.
Visa services provider VFS Global on Thursday announced the launch of an online appointment booking service for Covid-19 sample collection in association with certified medical laboratories in Delhi, Kochi and Mumbai. The Covid-19 RT-PCR sample collection service is open for all and is not limited to travellers, the statement said.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday discussed the Covid-19 situation and vaccine cooperation with his German counterpart Heiko Maas. The two leaders also reviewed developments in Europe and Asia.
The functioning of the Central Information Commission has not been interrupted even for a single day during the entire course of the coronavirus pandemic, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.
British premier carrier Virgin Atlantic on Thursday announced the resumption of its flight services to Delhi and Mumbai from London Heathrow, under the air bubble pact, starting September 2. Virgin Atlantic plans to operate three flights a week from Delhi to London Heathrow from September 2, while Mumbai services are planned to re-commence from September 17 with four flights per week, the airline said.

2

States

UP: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath stressed on the need to increase coronavirus testing in containment zones. Adityanath said efforts should be made to ensure that all those living in containment zones are tested for Covid-19 to achieve the aim of setting up such zones.
Delhi: Delhi recorded 956 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally in the city to over 1.49 lakh, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 4,167. Fourteen fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours. The number of tests conducted on Thursday stood at 15,356.
Odisha: The Odisha government has launched a mobile application, which would provide necessary details and proper guidance to people to help them combat the Covid-19. The app will generate awareness on the pandemic, especially among the younger population, who account for 55.49 per cent of the state's total coronavirus count.
West Bengal: Kolkata Police has drawn up an elaborate standard operating procedure for its personnel to counter the Covid-19 pandemic in a better way. The SOP advises police personnel how to mantain the safety protocol and guard themselves from the contagion while on duty. So,far over 1,600 KP personnel have been infected by coronavirus.
Meghalaya: Three Air Force personnel are among the 12 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Meghalaya, pushing the tally in the northeastern state to 1,191. Thirty people were discharged from hospitals, taking the number of recoveries to 547.
Tripura: Tripura's Covid-19 tally rose to 6,621 with 121 fresh cases, while the death toll climbed to 44 as one patient succumbed to the disease. The fatality was reported from West Tripura district.
Rajasthan: Eleven more people have died due to Covid-19 in Rajasthan, pushing the toll to 833 while 608 new cases brought the state's infection tally to 56,708. Of the fresh fatalities, Jaipur and Bharatpur reported three each; Udaipur and Ganganagar (two each) and Bikaner (one).
Puducherry: Six more people including three women died of Covid-19 in Puducherry while 305 fresh cases were reported in the Union territory. The total number of fatalities rose to 102 with the six deaths reported in the Union territory during the last 24 hours.
Arunachal Pradesh: At least 103 more people, including 44 security personnel, have tested positive for Covid-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, raising the state's tally to 2,430.
Goa: Corporation of the City of Panaji decided to keep the Panaji municipal market complex and fish market closed for half day on August 14 to sanitize parts of the market for the safety of visitors who are visiting for Ganesh Chaturthi shopping, Panaji Mayor, Uday Madkaikar said.
Bihar: As many as 3,906 new Covid-19 cases and 24 recoveries were reported in Bihar. The total number of Covid-19 cases in the state has reached 33,916.
Andhra Pradesh: The Covid-19 tally shot up to 2,64,142 in Andhra Pradesh as 9,996 fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The state also registered 82 more coronavirus deaths, taking the overall toll to 2,378.

3

World

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 750,000 people worldwide since it first emerged in China in December. A total of 750,003 deaths have been recorded, out of 20,667,684 cases across the globe. Almost half of the deaths reported worldwide were in the four worst hit countries: the United States has recorded the most deaths with 166,038, followed by Brazil with 104,201, Mexico with 54,666 and India with 47,033.
New Zealand rushed to track the source of a sudden return of the virus as the number of new cases in Auckland increases to 17, raising the prospect that a three-day lockdown imposed on the country's biggest city will be extended.
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has imposed its first nationwide lockdown due to a virus infection in a returning traveler who had been released from quarantine. The government issued a stay-at-home order for its approximately 750,000 people, and all schools, offices and commercial establishments were closed.
The first batch of volunteers aged between 21 and 55 in Singapore have received a dose of a potential coronavirus vaccine being developed in the country.
Called Lunar-Cov19, the vaccine is developed by Duke-NUS Medical School and American pharmaceutical company Arcturus Therapeutics.
Italy imposes mandatory testing for all travellers arriving from Croatia, Greece, Malta and Spain, and bans all visitors from Colombia, in a bid to rein in new infections. Travellers arriving at an airport, port or border crossing can choose from a number of options, including rapid tests on the spot, or the presentation of a certificate obtained within the last 72 hours which shows they are Covid-19 free.
Pakistan reported 753 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 286,673, the health ministry said. 10 Covid-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, pushing the number of total deaths to 6,139.
Australia reported a dip in new Covid-19 cases and virus-related deaths on Thursday with nine fatalities and 292 new infections detected in the last 24 hours. Now, the national Covid-19 death toll stands at 361. The total number of cases has climbed to 22,358, including 12,774 cases of recovery.
Nepal reported 525 new coronavirus cases, taking the country's Covid-19 tally to 24,957. With four new virus-related fatalities, Nepal's coronavirus death toll stands at 95.