Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the Ministry was not tracking the number of post-COVID syndrome cases in India, but it was following reports of re-infection confirmed in Hong Kong earlier this week. A technical body of experts is gathering data to develop a guideline for addressing post-COVID complications, he said.
“This is still a relatively new virus — only about 7-8 months old. We aren’t alarmed with the development but are following it closely. We still are understating the time period of immunity that the infection provides,” ICMR director general said.
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:
Haryana Agriculture Minister tests positive
Haryana Agriculture Minister J.P. Dalal has tested positive for COVID-19, he said in a tweet, making him the eighth legislator of the ruling BJP in the State to contract the infection.
Mr. Dalal said he got himself tested three days ago and the report was negative. However, he got himself tested one more time, in which he tested positive.
The Minister said he was in isolation at home and appealed to all those who had come in his contact to get themselves examined.
- PTI
Odisha records steepest single-day surge
Odisha’s COVID-19 tally jumped by 3,371 cases, recording the steepest single-day surge so far. With this, the State’s total cases soared to 87,602. After recovery of 59,470 patients, active cases stood at 27,638. Thirteen persons died of COVID-19 taking the death toll to 441.
- Satya Sundar Barik
Face coverings mandatory for many secondary schools in England
The U.K. government has made face coverings compulsory for staff and pupils aged 12 and over in secondary schools of England in areas subject to local lockdowns to control the spread of coronavirus.
In a u-turn after mandatory face masks had been ruled out, the Department for Education said that as schools in England prepare to reopen for the new term in the coming weeks, it is updating its advice on face coverings in schools in line with the World Health Organisation guidance on face masks.
- PTI
67,151 new COVID-19 cases; 1,059 deaths in country
India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 32.34 lakh with 67,151 more people testing positive for the infection, while the recoveries have surged to 24,67,758, the Health Ministry said.
The death toll from the pathogen climbed to 59,449 with 1,059 more fatalities. There are 7,07,267 active cases of COVID-19, comprising 21.86% of the total 32,34,474 cases, the Ministry said.
The case fatality rate has declined to 1.83%, the Ministry data stated.
- PTI
At least two cases of re-infection detected in Telangana
At least two cases of reinfection with coronavirus have come to the notice of Telangana State Health department officials. Citing research, senior health officials said the symptoms in the second bout were mild.
The officials found out about one such case among their colleague who was closely involved in COVID management work in the State Health campus, Koti. Another is a dean of a prominent central government hospital in Hyderabad. More such cases have come to the notice of the health officials.
KFC suspends 'Its Finger Lickin' Good' slogan amid pandemic
Don’t lick your fingers! That’s what Kentucky Fried Chicken signalled to customers Monday as the company suspended its “It’s Finger Lickin’ Good” tagline after 64 years, deeming it “the most inappropriate slogan for 2020” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The suspension will affect the slogan’s use in global advertising “for a little while,” the company said in a statement.
New cases decline in the U.S.
The number of Americans newly diagnosed with the coronavirus is falling — a development experts credit at least partly to increased wearing of masks — even as the outbreak continues to claim nearly 1,000 lives in the U.S. each day.
About 43,000 new cases are being reported daily across the country, down 21 per cent from early August, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
German coalition agrees to extend coronavirus relief for economy
German coalition parties agreed on Tuesday to extend measures to cushion the effects of the coronavirus crisis on Europe's biggest economy, including prolonging a short-time work scheme and a freeze on insolvency rules.
The German economy contracted at its steepest rate on record in the second quarter and the government is desperate to mitigate the effects of the pandemic as much as possible, especially in the run-up to elections in the autumn of 2021.
West Bengal's discharge rate at 79.10%
West Bengal on Tuesday recorded 2,964 new cases of COVID-19, taking the total case tally to 1,44,801.
The State also recorded 58 fatalities in the past 24 hours taking the death toll to 2,909.
Kolkata recorded 16 deaths in and the North 24 Parganas 18. The district recorded more new infections than Kolkata. While the North 24 Parganas recorded 590 infections, Kolkata recorded 541.
The State, however, recorded more recoveries than infections taking the discharge rate to 79.10%.
Demands for relaxations surge, but Uddhav firm on going slow
While Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is firm on not pushing the State government’s Mission Begin Again, demands, ranging from concessions to single-screen theatre owners and opening gymnasiums to seeking relaxations from e-pass, are increasing every day.
A delegation of the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors’ Association of India on Tuesday held a meeting with Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule and submitted a list of demands, including concessions in electricity bills, exemption from property tax, and soft loans with minimum rates.
T.N. records 5,951 fresh infections, 107 deaths
As many as 5,951 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, taking the State’s tally to 3,91,303. While 6,998 persons were discharged after treatment, 107 deaths were recorded in the State.
A total of 52,128 persons are currently undergoing treatment. As many as 3,32,454 persons have been discharged till date, while the death toll stands at 6,721.
Kejriwal calls urgent meeting to discuss COVID-19 situation
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a high-level meeting to discuss the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi, sources said.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and senior officials will attend the meeting, which will take place at 11 a.m., according to sources.
- PTI
Keep those with mild infections under isolation and not in health facilities: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an administrative meeting suggested that those with mild infections be released from health facilities and kept under isolation. She said a separate record should be kept for those from neighbouring States who are seeking treatment in the health facilities in W.B.
She directed police officials to make alternative arrangements for the stay of the personnel so that they do not crowd the barracks and the infection in the force can be contained.
Jagityal ASP dies of COVID-19
Jagityal district Additional Superintendent of Police K. Dakshinamurthy passed away in the early hours of Wednesday while undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a private hospital in Karimnagar. He is the first ASP rank officer in Telangana State to die after having contracted COVID-19.
CPI(M) leader dies after contracting infection
Senior CPI(M) leader D. Lakshmanan, who played a major role in organising government employees, died on Monday after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 84.
Uttarakhand CM tests negative, to remain in isolation for three days
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has isolated himself for three days as a precautionary measure despite a negative COVID-19 test report.
Sharing this information on social media on August 25, Mr. Rawat said he and his family underwent a COVID-19 test along with the staff and the security personnel at the CMO as a precautionary measure.
The Chief Minister chose to undergo the test after an officer on special duty tested positive for the infection recently.
- PTI
EU trade chief insists he broke no COVID-19 rules on Irish trip
The Irish government on Tuesday evening said there were clear breaches of COVID-19 public health guidelines during European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan’s recent trip to his native Ireland.
Mr. Hogan attended a golf dinner last week that outraged the Irish public and led to the resignation of an Irish minister and the disciplining of several lawmakers. He insisted on Tuesday he had adhered to all rules during the trip.
Maharashtra's case tally crosses 7 lakh
Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 10,425 fresh COVID-19 cases , taking the State’s case tally to 7,03,823, a State health official said. With this, cases in Maharashtra crossed the seven lakh mark.
The death toll due to the pandemic in the State rose to 22,794 with 329 fatalities being reported during the day, the official said.