Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Health Ministry Official Lav Agarwal, Face of India's Covid Briefings, Tests Positive

No public processions are allowed while buying and installing private Ganesha idols or while immersing the idols in wells, said the government order issued on Friday.

Rajasthan Reports 1,278 Fresh Cases | Rajasthan reported 1,278 fresh coronavirus cases today, taking the total number of infections in the state to 58,692 including 13,949 active cases, 41,963 recovered cases and 846 deaths. 

Odisha Records 1,977 More Cases | Odisha reported 1,977 new coronavirus cases and 10 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 54,630. The total number of cases includes 15,047 active cases, 39,206 recovered cases and 324 deaths. 

Punjab Extends Night Curfew to all Cities | Night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am extended to all cities in Punjab: State Chief Minister's Office

Lav Agarwal Tests Positive for Covid-19 | Dear All, Just to inform that I have tested positive for Covid 19 and initiating home isolation as per guidelines. Requesting all my friends, colleagues for self monitoring. Contact tracing will be done by Health Team. Hoping to see everyone soon: Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Lav Agarwal

Punjab Reports 1,077 New Covid-19 Cases | Punjab recorded 1,077 new Covid-19 cases and 25 deaths today, taking the total number of cases to 29,013 and the death toll to 721. The state now has 9,954 active cases. 

Maharashtra Records 12,608 Covid-19 Cases | Maharashtra reported 12,608 new coronavirus cases and 364 deaths today, taking the total number of cases in the state to 5,72,734, while the death toll rose to 19,427. The tally includes 1,51,555 active cases and 4,01,442 recoveries. 

Karnataka Health Minister Responding to Covid-19 Treatment | Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu is responding to Covid-19 treatment. He is asymptomatic and cheerful and he is being closely monitored. His vitals are stable: Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru

Dharavi Reports 9 New Cases | Dharavi reported nine new coronavirus cases in Mumbai's Dharavi area today, taking the total number of cases to 2,658.

President Kovind said festivities on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day will not take place as usual.

WHO: Covid-19 Constantly Changing | How does Covid-19 spread?Mainly by droplets from person to person, could also be through small droplets or aerosols that remain in air for some time, & through fomites. In closed, crowded settings, aerosol spread could happen & precautions should be taken. The science is evolving: Chief WHO Scientist Soumya Swaminathan 

How does #COVID19 spread?Mainly by droplets from person to person, could also be through small droplets or aerosols that remain in air for some time, & through fomites. In closed, crowded settings, aerosol spread could happen & precautions should be taken. The science is evolving pic.twitter.com/bOeyjZd3LA

— Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya) August 14, 2020

Kerala CM Tests Negative for Covid-19 | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tests negative for coronavirus, according to CMO sources. 

President's Speech on Covid-19 Crisis | When cities and towns go quiet and roads are deserted, they work tirelessly to ensure that people are not deprived of health care and relief, water and electricity, transport and communication facilities, milk and vegetables, food and groceries, medicine and other essentials. They risk their own lives to save our life and livelihood: Ram Nath Kovind

Nation Indebted to Docs, Health Workers amid Covid-19 Fight | The nation is indebted to doctors, nurses and other health workers who have been continuously on the forefront of our fight against this virus. Unfortunately, many of them have lost their lives battling the pandemic: President Ram Nath Kovind

President on Covid-19 Crisis | Celebrations of Independence Day this year will be rather restrained. The world confronts a deadly virus which has disrupted all activities and taken a huge toll. It has altered the world we lived in before pandemic: President Ram Nath Kovind on Independence Day eve

Covid-19 India Update | India has conducted a record 8,48,728 tests for detection of COVID-19 in a day with an aim to achieve a daily target of 10 lakh, the Union Health Ministry said. 

Twenty-two officials, including the Malappuram district collector and district police chief who assisted in the rescue operations, have tested positive.

'Govt to Take Decision After Considering All Aspects' | The Government of India will take a reasonable decision only after seriously considering every aspect: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Russian Covid-19 Vaccine Sputnik-V

Tamil Nadu Governor Tests Negative for Covid-19 | Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit who was under treatment for Covid-19, tested negative today. "We are very pleased to inform that Governor Banwarilal Purohit has tested negative for COVID-19 today. His grit and determination has helped in his speedy recovery and he continues to remain active," Kauvery  Hospital said. 

Top Russian Medic Quits over Sputnik V Registration | Professor Alexander Chuchalin has quit the Russian health ministry's ethics council after the country decided to go ahead with the registration of a Covid-19 vaccine 'Sputnik V' despite safety hazards. 

Tamil Nadu Records 5,890 New Covid-19 Cases

Tamil Nadu Records 5,890 New Covid-19 Cases | A total of 5,890 new coronavirus cases were reported in Tamil Nadu, taking the total number of cases in the state to 3,26,245. The death toll reached 5,514 after 117 new deaths were registered in the last 24 hours. The tally includes 2,67,015 discharges and 53,716 active cases. 

Thane City Shops in Non-hotspots Can Operate on All Days | Shops and business entities, barring malls and some other establishments, will be allowed to reopen outside Covid-19 hotspots in Thane city on all days from August 15, according to new orders issued by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

2000 PG Medical Students to be Available for Covid-19 Duties in Karnataka | Post Graduate medical results will be published in a couple of days and 2,000 additional PG medicos who will undergo internship will be available for Covid-19 duties in the state, Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said. 

A majority of Russian doctors would not feel comfortable being injected with Russia's new COVID19 vaccine due to the lack of sufficient data about it and its superfast approval, a survey of more than 3,000 medical professionals showed on Friday.

MP Min Tulsiram Silawat Recovers from Covid-19 | Madhya Pradesh minister Tulsiram Silawat, who had tested positive for coronavirus infection, was discharged from a private hospital today following his recovery. 

UP Records 4,512 New Covid-19 Cases | Uttar Pradesh reported 4,512 fresh Covid-19 cases and 55 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the state tally to 1,45,287 while the toll rose to 2,335. The tally includes 50,426 active cases and 92,526 discharges. 

Home Minister Amit Shah Tests Negative for Covid-19 | Today my corona test report has come negative. I thank God and at the moment I express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have blessed me and my family by wishing me well. Will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors: Amit Shah

आज मेरी कोरोना टेस्ट रिपोर्ट नेगेटिव आई है।

मैं ईश्वर का धन्यवाद करता हूँ और इस समय जिन लोगों ने मेरे स्वास्थ्यलाभ के लिए शुभकामनाएं देकर मेरा और मेरे परिजनों को ढाढस बंधाया उन सभी का ह्रदय से आभार व्यक्त करता हूँ।
डॉक्टर्स की सलाह पर अभी कुछ और दिनों तक होम आइसोलेशन में रहूँगा।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 14, 2020

Kerala CM, 8 Other Ministers Self Quarantined | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, eight other MPs including Health Minister K K Shailaja will be going into self-quarantine after viisiting Air India Crash site. About 22 officials including the Malappuram district collector and district police chief tested positive for coronavirus today. Co-operation and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran will hoist national flag at Independence Day function in Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow. 

Delhi Covid-19 Tally Update | Health bulletin shows Delhi recorded 1,192 fresh coronavirus cases today, taking the tally to 1,50,652, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 4,178 after 11 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. 

India Exported 23 Lakh PPE to 5 Countries in July | India exported 23 lakh personal protection equipment to five countries including the US, the UK, UAE,  Senegal and Slovania in July, after the government relaxed export norms and this has substantially helped the country to position itself in the global market of these kits, the Union Health Ministry said.