COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS | Record spike in southern states, Thiruvananthapuram lockdown extended

Tamil Nadu reported a new single day high of 4,979 fresh COVID-19 cases as the overall tally crossed 1.70 lakh in the state, the second worst affected after Maharashtra.

A record single-day spike in fresh cases was recorded in many southern states on Sunday as India's COVID's tally neared 11 lakh.

Maharashtra was still contributing a major portion of the caseload with the highest-ever 9,518 new COVID-19 cases in a day, taking the tally to 3,10,455 while 258 more people succumbed to the disease, including 149 deaths in the Mumbai metropolitan region, the state Health department said.

Tamil Nadu reported a new single day high of 4,979 fresh COVID-19 cases as the overall tally crossed 1.70 lakh in the state, the second worst affected after Maharashtra.

A single-day high of 5,041 COVID-19 cases was registered in Andhra Pradesh as the overall aggregate inched closer to the 50,000 mark on Sunday. Also, the state saw the highest spike in deaths in a day as 56 coronavirus patients succumbed, pushing the toll to 642, a state government bulletin said.

Karnataka reported 4,120 new COVID-19 cases and 91 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 63,772 and the death toll to 1,331, the state health department said.

And though the situation in Kerala was relatively better, the tally breached the 12,000 mark on Sunday with 821 people, including 13 health workers, testing positive for the virus in the highest single day spurt in the state so far. The lockdown imposed in the state capital was extended to July 28.

Tamil Nadu nurse narrates ordeal on fighting COVID-19 at the frontline

Shanthi Lakshmi* chronicles her overwhelming experience as a senior nurse in the COVID-19 ward, witnessing life, despair and everything in between. (READ MORE)

Lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram extended till July 28, new testing strategy mooted

With no reduction in the number of Covid-19 cases due to contact or with unknown source of infection, the lockdown implemented at the Thiruvananthapuram corporation limit has been extended till midnight of July 28. (READ MORE)

Rapid antigen tests to be conducted in Thiruvananthapuram's densely populated areas

With community transmission confirmed in two coastal villages — Pulluvila and Poonthura — in the capital district, the health department is in the process of rolling out a special surveillance activity to identify other regions facing a similar threat. Rapid antigen assays will be conducted to assess the viral spread in densely populated areas like coastal and tribal villages and urban slums.

Off the streets, Bengaluru vendors struggle to earn a living during pandemic

Street vendors have been asking for Rs 15,000 monthly compensation for the last three months or for their rent and kids’ schools fees to be covered by the state government. While the government gave compensation to cab and auto drivers, washermen and barbers, street vendors have been ignored. (READ MORE)

At 48,000, Tamil Nadu performs highest number of tests per day: CM Edappadi K Palaniswami

The measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 seem to be yielding results in Chennai, where the positivity rate has plunged substantially from 31.67 per cent to 9.52 per cent. The rate has reached the single-digit mark after a gap of over two months. However, the State on Sunday recorded the highest single-day figure of 4,979 cases. As many as 78 deaths were reported. (READ MORE)

Assam update

1,018 #COVID19 cases reported in Assam on 19th July, including 577 cases from Guwahati City. The total number of cases in the state stands at 23,999, including 16,023 discharged, 7,916 active cases and 57 deaths: Himanta Biswa Sarma, State Health Minister pic.twitter.com/K33rnjVMHB

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2020

Railway to provide 503 isolation coaches

In order to provide additional healthcare facilities, the Northern Railway is providing 503 isolation coaches equivalent to 8,048 beds as COVID Care Centres at nine different stations of Delhi on request of the state government.

WATCH |Drones launch aerial strike on coronavirus in Bengaluru

Six more COVID-19 deaths in Rajasthan

Six more deaths due to coronavirus were recorded in Rajasthan on Sunday, raising the toll in the state to 559, while 934 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 29,434, officials said. Two deaths each were recorded in Ajmer and Jodhpur and one death each in Nagaur and Pratapgarh, an official statement said.

Pune city's case count breaches 37,000-mark

With the single-day spike of 1,508 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the overall count of Pune city in Maharashtra went past the 37,000-mark, a health official said. The number of positive cases now stand at 37,386, he said.

Seven-day lockdown declared in Raipur from July 22

The entire area under Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) and Birgaon Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Raipur district has been declared as containment zones, collector S Bharathi Dasan said in an order. Several activities will be restricted during July 22 to July 28 midnight, he said.

Jharkhand death toll rises to 49

One more person succumbed to the disease on Sunday, while 153 fresh cases pushed the tally to 5,552, a government bulletin said.

Thiruvananthapuram lockdown extended

Lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram extended till July 28. AG's office can function with 30% staff, Kinfra parks to function. #lockdown #COVID__19 pic.twitter.com/7VpM1FlpK8

— TNIE Kerala (@xpresskerala) July 19, 2020