Coronavirus live updates: India records highest one-day hike of 69,878 cases

Spike of 69,878 cases and 945 deaths reported in India, in the last 24 hours: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Read: WHO hopes pandemic over in two years as Europe battles rising cases

Western Europe has been enduring the kind of infection levels not seen in many months, particularly in Germany, France, Spain and Italy -- sparking fears of a full-fledged second wave. In the Spanish capital Madrid, officials recommended people in the most affected areas stay at home to help curb the spread as the country registered more than 8,000 new cases in 24 hours.

Total number of samples tested up to 21st August is 3,44,91,073, including 10,23,836 samples tested yesterday: ICMR

Read - Covid flip-flop: ‘Chappal’ sales up, formals down

At a time when formal footwear has taken a step back as most people are working from home, sales of flip flops, sandals and slides have touched 80% of pre-Covid levels, said retailers, manufacturers in India. Despite some people taking up fitness for the first time, sports shoes are still huffing and puffing to catch up.

India crosses the milestone of 1 million Covid tests a day. More than 10 lakh people tested in the last 24 hours: Ministry of health

Read: India's Covid cases set to cross 3m, last million in just 16 days

The country’s caseload is projected to cross that mark on Saturday, after more than 68,000 fresh infections on Friday took the tally to just 30,000 short of 3 million. India’s daily cases, at 68,682 on Friday, was the third highest till date, taking the total to 29,71,112, as per data collated from state governments. For the fourth day running, deaths from the virus remained over 950, with 958 fatalities taking the total toll to 55,858.

WHO chief hopes pandemic ends within 2 years

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described COVID-19 as a “once-in-a-century health crisis” and said that while globalisation had allowed the virus to spread quicker than the flu did in 1918, there was also now the technology to stop it that hadn't been available a century ago. “We hope to finish this pandemic (in) less than two years, especially if we can pool our efforts,” he said during a press briefing on Friday.

Mexico's confirmed coronavirus cases rise to 549,734 , deaths reach 59,610

Haryana government has decided to enforce closure of establishments dealing in non-essential items on weekends

Day after record high, testing drops by a lakh

A day after India registered a record high of 9.18 lakh Covid-19 tests in a single day, testing dropped on Thursday to just over 8 lakh samples, the health ministry said on Friday. New cases remained high at 68,898, dropping slightly from 69,652 recorded a day ago. This resulted in a spike in daily positivity rate to 8.5%, though it remains close to the cumulative 8.6%, as compared to 7.5% on the previous day.

India's Covid cases set to cross 3m, last million in just 16 days

India is on the verge of becoming the third country in the world to record 3 million cases. The country’s caseload is projected to cross that mark on Saturday, after more than 68,000 fresh infections on Friday took the tally to just 30,000 short of 3 million. For the fourth day running, deaths from the virus remained over 950, with 958 fatalities taking the total toll to 55,858.

Police can obtain call data records of Covid patients: Kerala HC

The Kerala high court on Friday disposed of a PIL questioning the collection of call data records (CDR) of Covid-19 patients by the state police for contact tracing, but made it clear that the state government should ensure only the tower location details are used and confidentiality is strictly maintained.

Children over 12 should follow same mask rules as adults, reports AFP quoting WHO

Punjab CM orders imposition of Sec 144 in state

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered that restrictions under Section 144 which bars assembly of more than four people, be imposed in the state amid rising Covid-19 cases. Only a day back, the state had announced lockdowns in all 167 cities and towns extended till Aug 31.