In the last 24 hours, Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest COVID-recoveries with 11,915 recovered cases. Karnataka and Maharashtra followed with 9,575 and 7,826 recoveries respectively while Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh registered 5,820 and 4,779 recoveries, a release from the Union Health Ministry said. These 5 States together contributed 57% of the recoveries in the last 24 hours.
The same five States are also contributing 60% of the total cases with Maharashtra at the top with 21.6%, followed by Andhra Pradesh (11.8%) and Tamil Nadu (11.0%).
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:
Government and aided schools across Tamil Nadu have admitted 11.98 lakh students since August 17. Of them, 8.70 lakh have been admitted to government schools and 3.28 lakh to aided schools for elementary and secondary education.
The admission process began later than usual this year. While schools continue to remain shut, the School Education Department allowed the admission process with adherence to safety norms.
“Despite the restrictions in place, school heads and teachers have managed to canvass among parents in nearby localities. Around 2.04 lakh students have joined Class 1 in government schools so far and we expect the numbers to go up to 4 lakh students by the end of September,” said S. Kannappan, school education director.
Virus puts new strain on Gaza’s overwhelmed health system
The Israeli-Egyptian blockade in Gaza, in place since 2007 meant to isolate Hamas, is believed to have played a key role in slowing the arrival of the coronavirus in the region. Few people can move in and out of the territory, and Hamas placed anyone returning to Gaza into mandatory quarantine centers for three weeks.
Before last month, the handful of Gaza’s coronavirus cases were confined to the isolation facilities. But on August 24, the first cases were detected among the general population, and the numbers have multiplied since.
Despite limited testing capacity, over 1,000 active cases have already been detected. Nine people have died.
The outbreak has been especially hard for Gaza’s medical workers. The spread among front-line workers has further strained an already overburdened health-care system.
- AP
Government conducting about 40,000 test every day: Jain
"Wherever there are about three or four (COVID-19) cases, we are making it into a containment zone, so that a positive person is isolated and the area cordoned off to prevent it from spreading," Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told media during the daily COVID-19 briefing.
Mr. Jain said that there is a surge in the number of new cases as the number of tests has gone up substantially and added that the government is doing about 40,000 tests every day.
- Nikhil M. Babu
Post Office Passport Seva Kendras in Tiruchi region will resume operations on Sept. 9
Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) in Tiruchi region will resume operations on September 9, consequent to easing of lockdown restrictions and resumption of public transport.
The services of POPSKs were temporarily suspended due to lockdown. The region has five POPSKs at Karur, Perambalur, Thiruthuraipoondi, Sirkazhi and Karaikal.
The reopening of the POPSKs will avert the need for applicants to visit the Passport Seva Kendras at Tiruchi or Thanjavur.
China asks Indian students to stay in touch with their Chinese colleges
China has asked hundreds of Indian students stranded back home due to the coronavirus pandemic to remain in touch with their respective colleges and follow instructions to protect their academic progress through online courses as foreign students are still not allowed to enter the country.
Over 23,000 Indian students studied different courses in Chinese universities and colleges of which over 21,000 were enrolled to study MBBS, according to last year’s data.
Most of these students left for India during the Chinese New Year holidays in January, just around the time when the coronavirus pandemic began spreading in China following which international travel was disrupted.
"Foreign students in China cannot enter the country for the time being, but the Chinese government attaches great importance to the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of foreign students in China,” the Chinese Ministry of Education informed the Indian Embassy.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy took up with the Chinese officials the concerns of a large number of Indian students following an official announcement that foreign students and teachers will not return to their colleges until further notice.
- PTI
Madras HC extends deadline for payment of school fees
The Madras High Court on Monday extended the deadline for payment of the first instalment of 40% of school fees for the current academic year from August 31 to September 30 considering the difficulties faced by parents due to COVID-19.
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh also warned schools of facing contempt of court proceedings if they were found to have collected more than 40% of tuition fees, fixed by the court on July 17, in the inquiry to be conducted by the School Education Department.
The judge directed the department to complete the inquiry within two weeks and file a report by September 23. The direction was issued after hearing School Education Secretary Dheeraj Kumar through video call on the action taken so far.
Notice to agency operating jumbo COVID-19 facility in Pune
The Pune district administration has served notice to an agency operating a newly-created COVID-19 jumbo hospital here for alleged lapses and mismanagement at the facility, an official said.
Another agency has now been roped in to improve facilities at the hospital, set up in the premises of the College of Engineering here in Maharashtra, Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao said on Monday.
Last week, a news channel journalist died at jumbo medical facility. His family members alleged that he did not get a cardiac ambulance in time. Following his death, there were allegations about mismanagement at the jumbo hospital.
- PTI
Senior SP leader dies due to COVID-19
Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Member of Legislative Council S.R.S. Yadav died due to COVID-19 in Lucknow, the party said.
The 87-year-old tested positive for COVID-19 on September 1 and breathed his last at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences on Monday night, SP national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said.
A native of Unnao district, Mr. Yadav, who worked as an administrative officer till 1992, joined the Samajwadi Party after his retirement. He was presently a member of the party’s national executive.
- PTI
Record 1,133 fatalities push country's death toll to 72,775
India’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 42,80,422 with 75,809 instances of the viral infection recorded in the last 24 hours, while a record 1,133 fatalities took the death toll to 72,775, the Union health ministry data showed.
During the same period, the number of recoveries surged to 33,23,950 pushing the recovery rate to 77.65 per cent, according to the data updated at 8 am on Tuesday.
India’s single-day rise in cases dipped on Tuesday, after recording over 80,000 cases daily for five days in a row. India recorded a spike of over 90,000 cases on Sunday and Monday.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate due to the coronavirus infection stands at 1.7%.
- PTI
French Open to allow spectators
Spectators will be allowed at the French Open this month despite the growing number of coronavirus cases in the country, organizers said.
Organizers unveiled the health protocols for the clay-court grand slam, which will take place at Roland Garros in western Paris from September 27 after being postponed from its May start due to the pandemic.
“Since the international circuit restarted, Roland Garros will be the first tournament with the privilege of hosting an audience,” French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli said Monday.
In accordance with the latest government guidelines capping attendance to 5,000 people in regions such as Paris, the federation has scaled down its plans.
- PTI
Over 80 National Police Academy staffers test positive
Four days after the ‘Dikshant Parade’, over 80 staff members of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here have tested positive for COVID-19. Most of them are non-gazetted officers and live in Site-A, located opposite the main campus.
“They are mainly attached to the maintenance and administrative wings,” a senior officer said, adding that those who tested positive for the infection were isolated in site-A, and are being provided nutritious food and proper medical care.
“They were engaged in urgent works related to the passing out parade. Many of them returned from leave a few days ago,” the officer told The Hindu.
Testing camp set up inside Parliament
The Delhi government on Monday said it has set up a COVID-19 testing camp inside Parliament and is awaiting venue options from the administrative departments of many Central government buildings across Lutyens’ Delhi for the same.
“Recommendations regarding the venue and size of the camps are expected to be received over the coming few days,” said a government official, adding that the government is inching closer to its target of 40,000 daily tests. The government has already ramped up testing for COVID-19 at transit points and court complexes.
The rationale behind setting up camps at such buildings is to allow more testing as people return to their “normal” work routine, a source said.
Andhra Pradesh issues guidelines for Unlock 4.0
The State government on Monday issued Unlock 4.0 guidelines for phased reopening of the State outside containment zones subject to adherence to certain standard operating procedures (SOP), and extension of the lockdown in such areas till September 30.
According to G.O. RT No. 390 issued by Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, all activities will be permitted outside the containment zones except schools, colleges and educational and coaching institutions. They will remain closed for students and regular class activity up to September 30.
However, the following will be permitted: online/distance learning, calling up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to schools for online teaching / tele-counselling and related work (in areas outside the containment zones only) and students of classes 9 to 12 visiting their schools voluntarily for taking guidance from their teachers subject to written consent of parents/guardians from September 21.
Woman positive for COVID-19 with ruptured brain aneurysm undergoes surgery
A 46-year-old woman from Tirumangalam, who was positive for COVID-19 and suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, was successfully operated upon at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) on September 2.
Dean of GRH J. Sangumani said on Monday that the patient arrived in a critical state, battling for her life and requiring oxygen support.
Dr. Sangumani said that the patient continues to be on ventilator support in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit but is slowly making progress. "To perform a neurosurgery in the time of COVID-19 is difficult but the doctors worked through it tirelessly," he said.
3-month extension for retiring doctors, specialists in Punjab
With both cases and fatalities due to COVID-19 going up, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has announced three-month extension for all retiring doctors and specialists.
Captain Singh has also asked the Chief Secretary to expedite the process of recruitment of technicians and lab assistants for coping with the exponential demand in view of the increasing number of cases.
As per a Cabinet decision, these doctors were earlier given extension till September 30, which has now been extended till December 31, 2020, said the Chief Minister.
Japan’s economy shrinks 28% in 2Q, worse than 1st estimate
Japan’s economy shrank at a record, even worse rate in the April-June quarter than initially estimated.
The Cabinet Office said on Tuesday Japan’s seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product contracted at an annualised rate of 28.1%, worse than the 27.8% figure given last month.
The coronavirus pandemic, which has people staying home, restaurants and stores empty or closing, and travel and tourism nose-diving, has hurt all the world’s economies and many companies. It has slammed Japan’s export-reliant economy.
- PTI
Maharashtra hospital asked to deposit overcharged amount in CM’s fund
A private hospital here in Maharashtra has been asked by the district administration to deposit Rs 1.93 lakh into the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for allegedly overcharging COVID-19 patients, officials said.
Jalna Collector Ravindra Binwade issued the order on Monday following complaints that some private hospitals were charging hefty amounts from COVID-19 patients.
The collector appointed auditors to look into the bills of patients and it was found that Vivekanand Hospital, a private medical facility here, had allegedly overcharged patients to the tune of Rs 1,93,986, the district administration said in a release.
- PTI
Minister asks for detailed study on reinfection case
Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar on Monday directed officials to study carefully the COVID-19 reinfection case in a 27-year-old woman in Bengaluru and submit a report on how similar reinfection cases were treated in other States.
The Minister, who on Monday conducted a meeting with task force officials regarding COVID-19 at Vidhana Soudha, said other countries that have reported cases of reinfection have come up with different reasons for it. “We need to study the Bengaluru case in detail to find out if it was a reinfection or if the patient had not been cured completely the first time she had tested positive,” he said.
A.P.’s COVID-19 tally crosses 5-lakh mark
Andhra Pradesh’s COVID-19 tally has crossed the five lakh mark and reached 5,06,493 on Monday with 8,368 new infections reported in the past day. For the first time after 12 days, the day’s tally was below 10,000.
A.P. is now the second State after Maharashtra to witness five lakh cases and it took just 10 days to see 1,02,877 new infections. Similarly, it took only 42 days for the State’s tally to jump fivefold from one lakh on July 27. Maharashtra took 57 days to cross the five lakh mark since breaching the one lakh mark. However, A.P. has a higher testing ratio and lower death rate than Maharashtra. A.P.’s mortality rate is at 0.89% against Maharashtra’s 2.93%.
Double lung transplant virus survivor set to go home
Doctors say Poland’s first double lung transplant COVID-19 patient is feeling fine and will be going home this week.
Doctors who treated 45-year-old Grzegorz Lipinski said Monday that the double transplant was the only way to save him after the virus severely damaged his lungs.
Mr. Lipinski is head of the medical instruments sterilisation room at a hospital in Tychy, southern Poland, that only treats COVID-19 patients.
- AP