At a Covid-19 testing centre in New Delhi (Express Photo: Gajendra Yadav)Coronavirus India News Live Updates: Given the daily increase of nearly 1,000 deaths, India is edging towards the grim 50,000-mark in the total number of deaths due to the novel coronavirus so far. On Sunday, the country recorded 63,489 new cases and 944 deaths taking the tally to 25,89,682 cases including 49,980 deaths and over 18 lakh recoveries. Mizoram is currently the only state in India with less than 1,000 cases of the novel coronavirus apart from Lakshadweep, which continues to be Coronavirus-free, with no cases having been detected on the islands so far.
During his seventh consecutive Independence Day speech delivered at the Red Fort Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that three probable Covid-19 vaccines are currently being developed in India and large-scale production will begin as soon as scientists give a green signal. The Prime Minister paid tribute to all the frontline workers involved in India’s fight against the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Russia has announced that the country has already produced the first batch of its controversial Covid-19 vaccine despite criticism over the haste in delivering the vaccine. The vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V, will be rolled out by the end of this month. Globally, nearly 21 million people have been infected with the virus and 7,60,213 have died. The United States (53,35,398) is the worst-affected country followed by Brazil (32,75,520) and India.
At a Covid-19 testing centre in Pune. (Express Photo: Arul Horizon)
On Sunday, the country recorded 63,489 new cases and 944 deaths taking the tally to 25,89,682 cases including 49,980 deaths and over 18 lakh recoveries. Mizoram is currently the only state in India with less than 1,000 cases of the novel coronavirus apart from Lakshadweep, which continues to be Coronavirus-free, with no cases having been detected on the islands so far.
The number of new COVID-19 infections in Turkey hit its highest level in 45 days on Saturday, the country’s health minister said as he announced 1,256 new cases. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter that the number of seriously ill patients, mostly with underlying medical conditions, was also on the rise with 668 people.
The ministry said 21 people died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the confirmed death toll to 5,955. More than 248,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Turkey since March. Experts say, however, that all confirmed officials are undercounts due to limited testing, missed mild cases, possible government manipulation and other factors.
The Odisha government has approved a standardised rate for reimbursement for the treatment of coronavirus patients at COVID care facilities run by private hospitals by capping the charges by the private medical facilities. The rate for treating COVID-19 patients at private healthcare centres which the state government will reimburse, has been fixed at Rs 4,750 per day per isolation bed, Rs 17,000 per ICU bed and Rs 18,000 per ventilator use.
On August 8, the state government through an order had allowed the admission of COVID patients at private hospitals for treatment. The decision for the standardised rates of the various consumable costs was taken following a recommendation from a technical team of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack after observing the costs incurred there for treating COVID patients.
Despite widespread criticism from scientists and health professionals from across the world, the Russian Health Ministry Saturday announced that the country has already produced the first batch of its controversial Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V, will be rolled out by the end of this month, according to a Reuters report.
This comes less than five days after Russian President Vladimir Putin first announced that the vaccine was safe to use, adding it had already been administered to his daughter. Several world leaders and health authorities accused Russia of releasing the vaccine in haste, even before it could clear a vital last-stage of human trials to establish its safety and efficiency.