Covid Updates Live News: India reports 3,57,229 new cases, 3,20,289 discharges and 3,449 deaths in the last 24 hours

Israel to send medications and medical equipment including oxygen generators and respirators to India as part of COVID-19 assistance

India’s tally of coronavirus infections crosses 20 million

India becomes the world’s second nation, after the United States, to pass the grim milestone. It took the south Asian country just over four months to add 10 million cases, versus more than ten months for its first 10 million.

India reports 3,57,229 new cases

Pulse oximeters more useful in COVID screening for older adults

People have become accustomed to having their temperature checked during the pandemic because fever is a key indicator of COVID-19. New research led by researchers at Washington State University proposes that taking a temperature is a less useful indicator of infection in older adults and that a pulse oximeter be used instead.

Sri Lanka receives 1st batch of Sputnik V shots

The 15,000 doses were flown in early hours of Tuesday to the Indian ocean island nation which is struggling to obtain COVID-19 vaccines because of the delay in getting them from the neighboring India. Sri Lanka has ordered 13 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from the Russia’s Gamaleya Institute.

Diplomats from India, S Africa work together in US on TRIPS waiver to COVID-19 vaccines

Diplomats from India and South Africa are working together to convince American lawmakers and policymakers on the need to support their proposal before the WTO to temporary waive some of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) during the COVID-19 emergency.

8 lions in Hyderabad zoo test positive for Covid

In perhaps the first such case in India, eight Asiatic lions at the Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) in Hyderabad have tested positive for Covid-19. Sources said that the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) orally told NZP officials that the RT-PCR tests of these lions were positive.

Three siblings raise over USD280,000 for medical supplies in India

Founders of a non-profit organisation, “Little Mentors”, they reached out to their school friends and families for funds so that they could arrange life-saving equipment like oxygen concentrators and ventilators for needy patients and hospitals in and around Delhi.

Delhi CM holds meeting to further strengthen home isolation system for COVID-19 patients

Kejriwal instructed authorities to strengthen the home isolation system so that patients can get good treatment with timely counselling and to keep in touch with patients undergoing treatment in home isolation. He said that a clear record should be kept of how many COVID-19 positive patients are going to the hospital and how many are being treated in home isolation.

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced incentives for frontline health workers dealing with COVID-19 patients and decided to grant an extension to retiring doctors up to December, officials informed.

“The incentive will be Rs 10,000 per month for resident doctors, post-graduates, and medical officers, Rs 7,000 for nursing and paramedical staff, and Rs 5,000 for drivers, sweepers, and attendants,” reads an official statement

United States Department of Defense says the final two flights of COVID-19 aid to India have been delayed at least until Wednesday. US Transportation command says the delay is due to maintenance issues.

Fauci’s advice to India: Clamp nationwide lockdown, go for massive vaccination drive

Expressing concern over surging coronavirus cases in India, America’s top public health expert and White House Chief Medical Adviser Dr Anthony Fauci on Monday recommended a nationwide lockdown, massive vaccination drive and the construction of a large number of makeshift hospitals. “It is quite obvious to everyone that the situation in India is extremely serious,” Dr Fauci, who is considered one of the world’s top infectious disease specialists, told PTI in an interview.

Kerala Police Chief directs personnel to strictly enforce COVID-19 restrictions

Amid the worrying rise of COVID-19 cases, Kerala Police chief Lokanath Behara on Monday directed all district police chiefs and station house officers to strictly enforce the COVID-19 restrictions imposed in the state.

US lawmakers seek briefing on plans to give COVID vaccines to India, other countries

In a letter to Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, the four lawmakers praised the decision to distribute among several nations 60 million AstraZeneca vaccines, which cannot be used in the US.

Australia sees remote chance of jail for India travel ban offenders

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday said it was “highly unlikely” travellers from COVID-ravaged India would face the maximum penalties of five years jail and a A$66,000 fine for breaking border rules as he faces pressure to overturn them.

FDA expected to OK Pfizer vaccine for teens within week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 12 to 15 by next week, according to a federal official and a person familiar with the process, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year.