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COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS | Bengal allows international charter flights, corona-negative certificates must

Mamata government has decided that only flights carrying stranded Indian nationals from abroad having a negative test report (RT-PCR) conducted within 96 hours of flight departure may land at state.
A view of NSCBI Airport wearing a deserted as the flight services were suspended during the complete lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus disease in Kolkata. (Photo | PTI)
A view of NSCBI Airport wearing a deserted as the flight services were suspended during the complete lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus disease in Kolkata. (Photo | PTI)
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With a single-day spike of 61,537 new COVID-19 cases and 933 deaths in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 tally surged to 20,88,612 on Saturday. The death toll due to the disease now stands at 42,518 in the country, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

The COVID-19 tally of 20,88,612 cases includes 6,19,088 active cases, 14,27,006 cured/discharged/migrated, stated the Union Health Ministry

Maharashtra with 1,45,889 active cases and 3,27,281 cured and discharged patients continues to be the worst affected. The state has also reported 17,092 deaths due to the infection. Tamil Nadu has 52,759 active cases while 2,27,575 patients have been discharged after treatment in the state. 4,690 deaths have been reported due to COVID-19 in the state.

West Bengal allows international charter flights

  • Easing restrictions, the West Bengal government decided to allow international charter flights carrying Indian nationals with COVID-negative certificates to land at the airports in the state, a senior official said on Saturday.

  • The restrictions on Vande Bharat Mission flights will, however, continue, he said. The state government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs in this connection.

  • The state government has decided that presently only charter flights carrying stranded Indian nationals from abroad having a negative test report (RT-PCR) conducted within 96 hours of flight departure may land at airports in Bengal, the letter sent on Friday stated.

  • Accordingly, you are requested to kindly convey the aforesaid SOP to the Indian Missions and also to the ministry of civil aviation for further necessary action so that the chartered flights following the SOP may be scheduled with effect from August 10, it added.

  • The airlines should apply for a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the state government, specifying the sponsor, the number of passengers and their details, and an undertaking that all passengers travelling are COVID-negative, as per the standard operating prcedures or SOP.

  • A clearance from the Indian mission in the originating country or the MEA is also needed, it said.

    • Bengal COVID-19 death toll reaches 2000 as 51 people succumb across state

    There were 20 fatalities in Kolkata, while in neighbouring North 24 Parganas 19 people succumbed to the disease on Saturday.There were three deaths in Howrah, two each in South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Paschim Bardhaman and one each in Dakshin Dinajpur, Darjeeling and Hooghly districts. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Union Minister Arjun Meghwal says tested positive for COVID-19

    The minister of state for heavy industries and parliamentary affairs said after developing COVID-19 symptoms he was tested twice and found positive in the second report. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    News from Himachal

    Himachal Pradesh Minister Sukhram Chaudhary, who has tested positive for COVID-19, has been shifted from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya COVID hospital to ICU ward of Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla due to difficulty in respiration: Shima CMO Dr Surekha Chopra.

    Sanjay Dutt on his health condition

    Assam figures

    Latest Himachal tally

    926 new cases in Jharkhand

    BJP's Suresh Pujari tests positive for COVID-19

  • Senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari on Saturday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in home isolation on the advice of doctors.

  • "Though I did not have any symptoms, I underwent Corona test yesterday. Today I was informed that the report has come and I have tested positive for COVID-19," Pujari, an MP from Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha, said on Twitter.

  • On August 4, Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmandra Pradhan had tested positive and was admitted to Medanta Hospital.

  • Four Odisha MLAs had also contracted the virus, but all of them have now recovered, officials said.

    • Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tests positive

    I tested positive for COVID-19 after testing negative for the disease. My health is fine but I am admitted to AIIMS on doctors' advice: Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs

    Sanjay Dutt tests negative

    Actor Sanjay Dutt admitted to Lilavati hospital in Mumbai after he complained of breathlessness. His COVID-19 report is negative but he is still there for some time just for medical observation. He is perfectly fine: Lilavati hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

    WATCH | Karnataka bulletin

    Latest Rajasthan numbers

    Latest Bengala COVID-19 numbers

  • Total positive case till date: 92,615.

  • Positive at present: 25,486.

  • Death: 2,005.

  • Discharged: 65,124.

  • Total tests: 10,79,657.

  • Note: 2,949 tested positive and 51 died in past 24 hours.

    • 859 new cases in Madhya Pradesh

    Latest Goa tally

    259 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Goa today. Total number of cases now at 8206 including 2332 active cases and 72 deaths: Directorate of Health Services, Goa.

    More recoveries than new cases in Mumbai

    WATCH | Kerala bulletin

    Latest Haryana tally

    Karnataka reports its highest spike

    501 new casesin Uttarakhand

    169 new cases in Manipur

    169 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Manipur in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 3,635 including 1,697 active cases, 1,927 discharges and 11 deaths: State government.

    Kolkata Police on lockdown implementation in Bengal capital

    671 people have been arrested for deliberate violation of the COVID-19 safety restrictions since morning till 1800 hours today. A total of 32 vehicles have been seized in the same period: Kolkata Police.

    Gujarat tally

    Another spike in Maharashtra

    Update on Karnataka CM's health

    Silver line for Odisha in its COVID-19 fight

    998 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Punjab in the last 24 hours

    998 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Punjab in the last 24 hours. State tally rises to 22,928 including 7,506 active cases, 14,860 cured/discharged and 562 deaths: Government of Punjab

    Eight new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Dharavi: BMC

    Eight new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Dharavi area of Mumbai today. Total number of cases now at 2612 including 83 active cases: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

    Amid COVID-19 surge, Andhra Pradesh to focus on reducing mortality rate

    Observing that peaking of coronavirus cases was a natural consequence, Andhra Pradesh Special Chief Secretary (Health) KS Jawahar Reddy on Saturday said their focus was now on reducing the mortality rate.

    West Bengal government​​​​​​​ to upload health parameters of COVID patients on website

    The West Bengal government has decided to upload the health parameters of COVID-19 patients under treatment in state-run and private hospitals on the health department's website, so that family members are able to know their condition, a senior official said on Saturday.

    Future lockdowns in Darjeeling hills only in containment zones: GTA

    No further region-wide lockdown will be imposed in the Hills, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chairman Anit Thapa said on Saturday as the week-long restrictions came to an end. The total lockdown was imposed in the municipal areas of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik in the wake of the spike in COVID-19 cases.

    Recovery rate rises to 68.32%, fatality rate declines to 2.04 %: Health Ministry

    Focused and effective efforts towards containment, testing, isolation and treatment by the Centre, states and Union Territories have resulted in the recovery rate rising to 68.32 per cent and fatality rate steadily declining to 2.04 per cent, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.

    Latur: No nod for marriage functions in halls till Aug 30

    People should opt for registered marriages rather than traditional ceremonies amid the coronavirus pandemic and no permission would be given for such functions in public halls till August 30, Latur Collector G Shreekant said.

    118 deaths have been reported in Tamil Nadu today

    UTs reporting 9 per cent of India's COVID-19 active cases

    About 13 districts concentrated in 8 states & UTs reporting 9% of India's COVID-19 active cases & 14% of fatality, which is higher than the national Case Fatality Rate (CFR) average. Presently, the national CFR is 2.04%: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

    52 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Chandigarh

    52 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Chandigarh today, taking the total number of cases to 1426. Death toll rises to 24 after 1 death was reported. Number of active cases now at 529: Chandigarh Health Department

    'Swachhagrah' has empowered us in the fight against COVID-19: PM Narendra Modi

    India’s total recoveries cross 14.2 lakhs as recovery rate continues to improve

    India’s total recoveries cross 14.2 lakhs as recovery rate continues to improve, stands at 68.32% today. National case-fatality rate has further dipped to 2.04%: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

    Kerala recorded 1,420 new COVID-19 cases

    Kerala recorded 1,420 new COVID-19 cases, 1,715 recoveries & 4 deaths in the last 24 hours. 485 cases reported in Thiruvananthapuram today: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

    1,404 fresh COVID-19 cases take Delhi tally to 1,44,127; death toll climbs to 4,098

    Delhi recorded 1,404 fresh coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the tally in the city to over 1.44 lakh, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 4,098, authorities said. The number of daily cases after dipping to three-figure count last weekend has again shown a rise in the last few days, recording in excess of 1,000.

    Odisha's COVID-19 tally crosses 44,000-mark with 1,643 fresh cases, death toll mounts to 259

    The total number of COVID-19 cases in Odisha crossed the 44,000-mark on Saturday with 1,643 fresh infections, while the toll climbed to 259 as 12 more people succumbed to the disease, a Health Department official said.

    Mizoram employees to get full salary from August as government curtails deferment period

    The Mizoram government has curtailed the period of deferment of employees' salary from three months to two in view of a slight improvement in the financial condition of the state and all staffers will be paid in full from August, according to an order.

    13 districts with high COVID-19 mortality told to address low testing, ensure timely hospitalisation

    Thirteen districts in eight states and Union Territories reporting COVID-19 mortality higher than the national average were advised by the Centre on Saturday to address the issues of low testing and delay in test results, and ensure timely hospitalisation.

    Rise in COVID cases after return of state's residents: Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur

    Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said there is a noticeable increase in COVID-19 cases in the state following the return of residents who were stranded in other parts of the country, especially in containment zones with many cases.

    COVID-19 patient tries to jump off Kolkata hospital building

    A COVID-19 patient in Kolkata tried to jump off a hospital building on Saturday after breaking the windowpane with an oxygen cylinder but was saved by an alert health worker, police said.

    COVID-19 doubling rate in Thane city improves to 69 days

    The doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra's Thane city has improved from 24 days in June to 69 days presently, Thane municipal commissioner Dr Vipin Sharma said on Saturday. As many as 21,514 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Thane city so far. (READ MORE)

    Gauhati University to resume regular classes from September 1

    The Gauhati University will reopen from September 1 to resume regular classes. This comes following the state government’s decision to reopen schools and colleges from September 1. (READ MORE)

    Abhishek Bachchan reaches home after COVID-19 recovery

    Soon after actor Abhishek Bachchan tested negative for coronavirus, the actor got discharged and reached his home in nearly 15 minutes from Nanavati Hospital where he was undergoing the treatment. (READ MORE)

    13 districts in India have reported 14 per cent of total COVID-19 deaths: Centre

    Flagging that 13 districts across 8 states with about 9% of India’s active Covid-19 cases, have reported 14% of the total infection deaths, the Centre on Saturday reiterated the need of reducing case fatality rate by adopting necessary measures. (READ MORE)

    Tata Motors rolls out heath, hygiene accessories for customers

    Tata Motors on Saturday said it has launched a range of health and hygiene accessories for its customers. In line with the company's ongoing endeavour to ensure the safety of its customers at all times, these accessories are designed to provide car owners with an additional level of safety, Tata Motors said in a statement. (READ MORE)

    Elgar Parishad: HC asks Maharashtra govt to clarify on COVID test reports of Raut, Teltumbde

    The Bombay High Court has sought a clarification from the Maharashtra government after the court was informed that COVID test reports of Mahesh Raut and Anand Teltumbde, both accused in the Elgar Parishad- Koregaon Bhima case, bore identical findings on weight, height, and some other vital health parameters. (READ MORE)

    Manipur purchases 50,000 antigen kits, ramps up testing following spurt in COVID-19 cases

    The spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases has made Manipur government ramp up testing. It is the last state in the Northeast to record a COVID-19 death. There were hopes initially that the state will remain largely unaffected but that has been proven wrong. (READ MORE)

    MoS Kailash Choudhary tests positive for COVID-19, hospitalised

    Minister of State for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday and asked those who came in contact with him recently to get tested. (READ MORE)

    Chennai to cross 8 lakh COVID-19 RTPCR tests soon

    In a few days, Chennai will cross 8 lakh Covid-19 RTPCR tests, says Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash. He says active cases will further go down in the city.

    List of Covid-19 Containment Zones in Chennai

    All the plane crash victims will be tested for COVID: Kerala CMO

    All the accident victims will be tested for COVID including those who died in the crash. So far, only one victim has tested positive for Coronavirus: Kerala Chief Minister's Office

    IMA says nearly 200 doctors in India have succumbed to COVID-19 so far; requests PM's attention

    A total of 196 doctors in the country, majority of them being general practitioners, have succumbed to COVID-19 so far, said the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday, requesting the prime minister for his attention on the issue.

    Abhishek Bachchan tests negative for COVID-19

    Actor Abhishek Bachchan on Saturday said that he has tested negative for COVID-19. Abhishek and his father, megastar Amitabh Bachchan were admitted to Nanavati hospital after they tested positive for COVID-19 on July 11. The actor shared the news in a post on Twitter almost a week after his father was discharged from the hospital. (READ MORE)

    56 new COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh

    17 new COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya, tally rises to 1,023

    Seventeen more people including three BSF personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya, taking the state's tally to 1,023, an official said on Saturday. The fresh cases have pushed the total number of active COVID-19 cases to 594, the official said.

    COVID-19 cases in Puducherry cross 5000 with 268 fresh cases, toll rises to 80

    The number of COVID-19 cases in Puducherry crossed 5000 on Saturday with 268 fresh cases and five deaths. The total tally in the Union Territory is now 5067, while the number of active cases is 1953 and the toll has risen to 80. (READ MORE)

    Noida gets new facility

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday inaugurated a dedicated 400-bed government hospital for COVID-19 patients in Noida. The facility is located in Sector 39 of the city and has come up in association with the Tata Trusts and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, according to officials.

    Arunachal tally crosses 2,000-mark

    Arunachal Pradesh's coronavirus tally crossed the 2,000-mark on Saturday as 101 more people, including 46 security personnel, tested positive for the disease, a Health Department official said. With the fresh infections, the total number of cases rose to 2,049, State Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa said.

    COVID-19 may have longer incubation period of eight days

    The incubation period of COVID-19, which is the time after which those infected with the novel coronavirus start showing the first symptoms, could be as much as eight days -- longer than previous estimates of four to five days -- says a new study which involved the largest amount of patient samples to date in such an analysis.

    Plane crash: Kerala to quarantine first-responders

    Rajasthan tally

    2 more Maharashtra cops succumb

    A total of 187 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths were reported in the Maharashtra Police force in the last 24 hours, taking the total count to 10,614. With two more fatalities, the total deaths in the state police force reached 114. Out of the total number of police personnel infected with coronavirus, 8,604 have recovered and 1,896 cases are active, informed the Maharashtra Police on Saturday.

    53 new cases in Muzaffarnagar

    53, including 19 jail inmates, tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, taking the number of active cases to 235, a health official said on Saturday. The number of recoveries have risen to 753 after 23 more people tested positive, Chief Medical Officer Praveen Chopra said.

    5 more deaths in Puducherry

    The COVID-19 toll in Puducherry mounted to 80 with five more people, including two women, succumbing to the viral infection on Saturday. Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release that all these patients had co-morbidities and were in the age group ranging between 57 and 78 years.

    Odisha update

    40 passengers of crashed AIr India flight test positive

    2,33,87,171 samples tested so far

    National tally

    West Bengal lockdown

    Section 144 imposed in Noida ahead of CM Yogi's visit

    "Section 144 has been imposed in Noida, ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit on Saturday. People are not allowed to fly drones. 15 gazetted officers and around 700 constables who are on duty are required to undergo COVID-19 testing," Ranvijay Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Noida told ANI. Adityanath will inaugurate a COVID-19 government hospital on Saturday, the police said.

    Odisha allows private hospitals with 30+ beds to open COVID-19 units

    The hospitals must have a separate fever clinic and facility for isolation of suspected cases. When the suspected cases come out to be positive, they will be shifted to the Covid beds provided the patient wants to take the services of the hospital on payment.

    (READ HERE)

    Night curfew in Punjab

    Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am in the worst affected cities of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala from Saturday to contain COVID-19 spread.

    Section 144 imposed in Noida ahead of CM Yogi's visit

    "Section 144 has been imposed in Noida, ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit on Saturday. People are not allowed to fly drones. 15 gazetted officers and around 700 constables who are on duty are required to undergo COVID-19 testing," Ranvijay Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Noida told ANI. Adityanath will inaugurate a COVID-19 government hospital on Saturday, the police said.

    Section 144 imposed in Noida ahead of CM Yogi's visit

    "Section 144 has been imposed in Noida, ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit on Saturday. People are not allowed to fly drones. 15 gazetted officers and around 700 constables who are on duty are required to undergo COVID-19 testing," Ranvijay Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Noida told ANI. Adityanath will inaugurate a COVID-19 government hospital on Saturday, the police said.

    Telangana update

    COVID-19: 16 districts asked to raise tests per million population, ensure ambulance availability

    Districts that are reporting COVID-19 mortality higher than the national and states' average are a cause of concern, the Union Health ministry said as India's death toll due to the disease climbed to 41,585, according to its data updated at 8 am. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    COVID-19: Centre asks states to test grocery shop workers, vendors

    In a letter to states and UTs, Secretary in the Health Ministry, Rajesh Bhushan also stressed the need for operationalising ambulance transport system with oxygen facility and quick response mechanism. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Seven-day moving average in daily COVID-19 tests significantly improved to 5.66 Lakh since July: Government

    With India's cumulative testing rising from 1.2 crore on July 14 to 2.2 crore as on date, the COVID-19 positivity rate has seen an increase from 7.5 to 8.87 per cent during the same period, it said. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    618 cases in Jharkhand

    Rajasthan tally

    Tiruchy corporation faces flak for barricading individual houses, apartments

    Recently, the barricading of individual houses and flats in Bengaluru drew severe criticism from the activists, and this had compelled the commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to remove those barricades as they amounted to stigmatizing the COVID-19 patients. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    WATCH | Karnataka bulletin

    Mumbai tally

    Ravi Shankar Prasad tests negative

  • Minister for IT and Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday said he has tested negative for COVID-19.

  • Prasad, who is also the Law Minister, had earlier this week gone into self-isolation as per protocol, after he met Home Minister Amit Shah on August 1 evening.

  • In a tweet on Friday, Prasad said, "Friends! My COVID test is negative. The report came today. I was in isolation for the last one week because I had attended a meeting with Amit Shah Ji a day before he was found positive".

  • He thanked his friends and well wishers for their support. Prasad said he had been fine throughout, and following his daily routine, exercise and also working from home.

  • In another tweet, he said, "Many friends and well wishers sent their overwhelming messages of support. I was fine throughout, following my daily routine, exercise and also working from home. My sincere gratitude and thanks to all. God bless".

  • Shah, on Sunday, had said he had tested positive for coronavirus and was getting admitted to a hospital following the advice of doctors.

    • WATCH | Kerala bulletin

    Latest Karnataka numbers

    News from Punjab

    19 new cases in Mizoram

    19 new COVID-19 cases reported in Mizoram today, taking the total tally to 558 so far. Number of active cases is 270 while 288 people have been discharged. No death reported in the state till date: Government of Mizoram.

    473 new cases in J&K

    Update from Haryana

    Haryana Government has decided that pregnant female employees working in State Civil Secretariat have been exempted from attending the office & are allowed to work from home

    New SOP for international arrivals in Karnataka

    1,074 new cases in Gujarat

    1,074 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 deaths reported in Gujarat in last the 24 hours. State tally rises to 68,885 including 14,587 active cases, 51,692 cured/discharged and 2,606 deaths: State Health Department, Gujarat.

    Punjab tally

    734 new cases in Madhya Pradesh

    734 new cases of COVID-19, 719 recovered cases, and 16 deaths reported in Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours. State tally rises to 37,298 including 8,715 active cases, 27,621 cured/discharged and 962 deaths: State Health Department, Madhya Pradesh.

    751 new cases in Haryana

    Latest Andhra numbers

    More than 10,000 cases in Maharashtra again

    Dummy mobile number, hospital address can be used for testing mentally ill homeless people: ICMR to HC

    The country's top medical research body came out with the solution to address the issue of mentally ill homeless persons not being tested for COVID-19 for the lack of a government issued identity card, an address proof or a mobile number as required under the testing guidelines issued by the ICMR. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    In a welcome sign, COVID-19 positivity rate at Chennai's fever camps down from 31% to 18%

    On August 6, out of the 88,247 samples taken, 16,524 had turned positive, which gives a positivity rate of 18 percent. On July 7, the positivity rate was at 31 percent, the highest, after 10,569 tested positive from the 37,616 samples. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    India men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, three other players test positive for COVID-19

    Besides Manpreet, defender Surender Kumar, Jaskaran Singh and drag-flicker Varun Kumar have also tested positive for the deadly virus. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral Tests Positive for COVID-19

    Shiromani Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. He had attended a Parliamnet standing committee meeting on August 6.

    Beijing reports first new local coronavirus case in week

    China's capital is reporting its first new case of locally transmitted COVID-19 in a week. State media said Friday the case in Beijing is linked to a recent outbreak in the northern port city of Dalian. (READ MORE)

    Is TN's economy on the road to recovery thanks to its COVID-19 strategy?

    A top government official told The New Indian Express that in April, the state managed to mop up Rs 2,052 crore, a drop of 75 percent compared to last year when the revenue earned was Rs 8,544 crore. (READ MORE)

    Five deaths and 1251 cases reported in Kerala

    Pakistan to resume international flights from August 9

    Pakistan government on Friday announced the resumption of international flight operations at all airports in the country from August 09 as a part of lifting coronavirus-triggered restrictions. (READ MORE)

    Tamil Nadu records 119 deaths on Friday, Chennai cases plummets

  • Today's positive cases in Tamil Nadu: 5,880

  • Total positive cases in Tamil Nadu: 2,85,024

  • Today's positive cases in Chennai: 984

  • Total positive cases in Chennai: 1,07,109

  • Deaths recored on Friday: 119

  • Total deaths recorded so far: 4690

  • Active cases in Tamil Nadu: 52,759

    • Delhi records 23 deaths, 1193 cases in 24 hours

    Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra tests positive for COVID-19

    Former CM Siddaramaiah's son and MLA Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. Siddaramaiah had tested positive for the virus on Tuesday and is undergoing treatment at Manipal hospital.

    Mizoram records 19 fresh cases

    Nepal's govt offices to be closed for 15 days amid surge in cases

    Amid the continuous surge in coronavirus cases in Nepal, the Chief District Officers of Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur) has decided to close operations of government offices for 15 days. (READ MORE)

    Chairman of Panihati municipality dies of COVID-19

    Chairman of the board of administrators of Panihati municipality, Swapan Ghosh died of coronavirus at a private hospital Thursday, his family sources said. He was 66.

    Chairman of Panihati municipality dies of COVID-19

    Chairman of the board of administrators of Panihati municipality, Swapan Ghosh died of coronavirus at a private hospital Thursday, his family sources said. He was 66.

    Night curfews eased; weekend lockdowns partially lifted in MP

    Night curfews will now be observed from 10 pm to 5 am as opposed to the earlier timing of 8 pm to 5 am, the official from the state public relations department said. Weekend lockdowns have also been partially lifted in virus-affected districts, he said.

    Oxford Covid-19 vaccine to cost Rs 225 per dose in India: Serum Institute

    The Serum Institute of India, which has a manufacturing partnership for a Covid-19 vaccine by the Oxford University, and another one by a US-based company Novavax, on Friday, announced that it will make it available at $3 or Rs 225 for low-and middle-income countries including India. (READ MORE)

    Multiple hand washes a day, keeps COVID-19 away

    COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya cross 1000-mark

    Meghalaya's COVID-19 tally crossed 1000-mark after 13 more persons tested positive for the virus on Friday.

    11 Assam Assembly employees test COVID-19 + ahead of session

    Eleven employees of the Assam Legislative Assembly have tested positive for COVID-19 on a single day, ahead of the scheduled commencement of a session from August 31, a senior official said on Friday. The Assembly administration is testing all its employees with the help of the Health Department. (READ MORE)

    Queue up for testing

    Bihar tally crosses 70000-mark

    Bihar on Friday recorded 3646 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the state tally to 71,794.

    Siddaramaiah clinically stable and responding to treatment: Hsopital

    Leader of opposition and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is clinically stable and responding to treatment. He is comfortable and his appetite has improved, ANI quoted Manipal Hospital.

    Aurobindo Pharma working on vaccine; shortlisted for BIRAC funding

    Aurobindo Pharma Limited is working on developing several viral vaccines including one for COVID-19 even as the candidate was approved for funding by the Department of BioTechnology, the company said in its latest annual report. (READ MORE)

    35-year-old govt doctor loses COVID-19 battle, 6th warrior to die in T'gana

    In a tragedy that has shaken the entire medical fraternity in Telangana, a 35-year-old doctor working as a medical and health officer in Bhadradri Kothugudem district died of COVID-19. (READ MORE)

    ASHA workers stage protest over minimum wage

    Delhi airport develops portal for self-declaration of int'l passengers

    The Delhi international airport has developed an online portal that will allow international arriving passengers to fill a mandatory self-declaration form and eligible passengers to apply for exemption from compulsory institutional quarantine for coronavirus, said its operator DIAL on Friday. (READ MORE)

    Himachal Governor's appointments cancelled as Power Minister testes +

    Raj Bhawan cancels all engagements & appointment of Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya. Decision taken as a precautionary measure after state Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary, who was administered oath by Governor on July 30th, tested positive for COVID-19.

    Himachal update:

    Himachal Pradesh's COVID19 case tally is now at 3061 including 1124 active cases, 1897 recovered and 12 deaths: State Health Department

    Delhi liquor shops to remain open till 10:00 pm

    Maha Kumbh update

    Puducherry reports 244 fresh cases

    As many as 244 fresh COVID-19 cases and five deaths were reported in Puducherry UT taking the total cases to 4862 , active cases to 1873 and deaths to 75 on Friday. Among the new cases, 233 cases are in Puducherry region,10 in Karaikal and two in Yanam.

    Tripura's caseload rises to 5,743

    Tripura registered the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 deaths on Friday as six more patients succumbed to the infection, a health bulletin said. The fresh fatalities have pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 36, it said. The northeastern state's COVID-19 caseload shot up to 5,743 as 128 more people tested positive for the infection, the bulletin said.

    BCG vaccine is safe, doesn't increase risk: Study

    The Bacille Calmette-Guerin or BCG vaccine, originally made against tuberculosis, has a general stimulating effect on the immune system and is therefore effective against Covid-19, say researchers. The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, compared groups of volunteers who have received a BCG vaccine in the past five years (before the corona pandemic), showing that the vaccine is safe and possibly influences Covid-19 symptoms.

    Delhi tally

    Arunachal tally rises to 1,948

    Ninety-three more people including 68 security personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the northeastern state's tally to 1,948, a senior health official said on Friday. Of the total 1,948 COVID-19 cases, 700 are active as 1,245 have recovered from the disease and three have died, he said.

    HC order quashed

    Odisha tally

    Mumbai makes quarantine mandatory

    Karnataka revises protocols

    Rajasthan tally

    US urges citizens not to visit India

    The US has lifted the highest level of its global health travel advisory for Americans due to the coronavirus pandemic and restored the previous country-specific system without changing the status of over 50 countries, including that of India and China.
    (READ HERE)

    Former Himachal CM in home quarantine

    Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal along with his staff members has quarantined himself at his house here as a precaution after the state power minister tested positive for coronavirus. He quarantined himself as a precautionary measure as he had recently attended a meeting with the state BJP chief Suresh Kashyap, who was in close contact with Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhry.

    Karnataka govt conducts online exams for 1,356 MLHP posts

    Karnataka government conducted an online examination under the National Health Mission (NHM) for recruitment of 1,356 Mid-Level Healthcare Provider (MLHP) posts to the Health and Wellness Centre. Of 1,356 MLHP posts, the department of health and family welfare is recruiting for 1,307 new posts, as per the press note.

    Restrictions intact in Kashmir

    National tally

    Telangana tally

    CM Adityanath to inaugurate new COVID-19 hospital in Noida

    Amid the rising cases of coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh, a new COVID-19 government hospital will be inaugurated in Sector 39 of Noida in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, sources informed.

    National testing tally

    US update

    Daily coronavirus deaths in the US surged to a three-month high of over 2,000 on Thursday and the number of cases passed 19 million globally, pushing many nations to further ratchet up restrictions in the battle against the pandemic.

    Africa crosses one million mark

    Different corners of the globe marked grim milestones, with Mexico's official toll soaring above 50,000 dead and the continent of Africa hitting one million confirmed cases.

    TN CM inspects COVID facility

    182 recovered Hyderabad cops resume duty

    "They followed the principles of SOP of Covid19 during their quarantine period. I congratulated them for their successful recovery and joining back for duties. They have been honoured with a certificate and memorandum," Commissioner Anjani Kumar said.

    Six months into COVID-19 pandemic, government to finally start National Clinical Registry

    On Thursday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) urged dedicated Covid hospitals and health centres across the country to join the project and declared the name of 15 hospitals that will act as mentor institutions for their assigned states. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Courts should resume physical hearing at earliest: BCI & DHCBA tells Parliament panel

    Representatives of Bar Council of India (BCI) and Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice headed by senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav to brief him about the 'functioning of courts through video conferencing/virtual courts'. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Plea in SC seeks postponement of JEE (Main), NEET-UG exams amid COVID-19

    While referring to the coronavirus pandemic, the plea has sought quashing of July 3 notices issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA), by which it was decided to conduct Joint Entrance Examination (Main) April 2020 and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-Undergraduate exams in September. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    COVID-19 safety norms flouted in Tiruchy

    Latest Assam numbers

    More than 1100 patients recover in Odisha

    755 new cases in Haryana

    More than six lakh tests for third consecutive day

    WATCH | Common cold infection may train body to recognise coronavirus: Study

    Now, Himachal Power Minister tests positive

    More than 1100 cases in Rajasthan

    WATCH | Karnataka bulletin

    Lockdown extended in Thiruvananthapuram

    191 new cases in Goa

    Health Ministry proposes national COVID-19 registry

    WATCH | Latest Kerala bulletin

    Tamil Nadu reports 5,684 fresh Covid-19 cases, 110 deaths

    Chennai alone recorded 1,091 cases and cases continue to surge in city's neighbouring districts. Chengalpet recorded 408 cases, Kancheepuram 336 and Tiruvallur 320 cases. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Nearly 3000 new cases in Bengal

    Bagdogra Airport's press note to media

    Bagdogra Airport has handled 16 flight movements and 2084 passenger movements today following social distancing and all other precautionary measures for COVID-19: Bagdogra Airport.

    More than 900 new cases in Mumbai

    910 new COVID-19 cases, 57 deaths and 988 recoveries reported today in Mumbai. The total number of cases in Mumbai stands at 1,20,165 including 20,562 active cases, 92,661 recovered, and 6,645 deaths. Recovery rate stands at 77%: Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai.

    Delhi L-G receives proposal from Kejriwal government for implementing unlock 3.0

    Delhi Government sends proposal to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal recommending to open hotels, gyms and weekly markets, citing fall in the number of COVID-19 cases in national capital: Delhi Government Sources.

    499 new cases in J&K

    Update on Karnataka CM's health

    Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa, who was admitted to Manipal Hospitals on 2nd Aug, continues to be clinically stable and is responding well to treatment. He is cheerful and continues to attend to his activities from his room: Dr. Manish Rai, Director, Manipal Hospital Bengaluru.

    News from Assam

    Latest lockdown relaxations update from Madhya Pradesh

    It has been decided that lockdown will be in place on Sundays only in Bhopal & some other districts. Hotels and restaurants can now function till 10 pm. The curfew will remain in place between 10 pm and 5 am: Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra.

    298 new cases in Uttarakhand

    Gyms reopen in Kolkata

    154 new cases in Manipur

    As COVID-19 cases surge in Tumakuru, authorities ramp up beds, testing facilities

    As private hospitals have to reserve fifty percent of their beds for COVID-19 cases, a conglomeration of fourteen hospitals has been preparing to set up two facilities -- one at Ashwini Hospital and another at Surya Hospital with about 300 more beds. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Punjab registers a massive spike in cases

    More than 11,000 new patients in Maharashtra

    Karnataka's Bannerghatta zoo safe for travellers

    Andhra continues to report over 10000 cases

    Karnataka records 93 deaths in last 24 hours

    Patanjali Ayurved fined Rs 10 lakh by Madras HC for chasing profits by claiming COVID-19 'cure'

    The injunction was granted by the Madras High Court on a trademark infringement suit filed by Chennai-based Arudra Engineers Private Limited, which was using the registered trademarks Coronil-213SPL and Coronil-92B for its industrial cleaning chemicals for nearly three decades. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Assam govt allows licensed bars to serve liquor

    Assam government has allowed bars with licenses to serve liquor, adhering to strict COVID19 guidelines & social distancing norms: Excise Department, Govt of Assam 

    Tamil Nadu continues to report over 100 deaths

    As Bihar scales up testing, positivity rate dips to 4.26%

    State principal health secretary Pratyay Amrit claimed that decline in the positivity rate of Covid-19 has started taking placing mainly from July 27, when the testing was ramped up. On Thursday, he said that the state has crossed 60000-mark in daily testing in the last 24 hours. 

    READ FULL REPORT HERE

    Duty calls

    499 new infections and 10 deaths reported in Jammu and Kashmir

    499 COVID19 cases (73 from Jammu & 426 from Kashmir), 464 recoveries & 10 deaths reported in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours. With this, total cases have risen to 23,454, including 15,708 recoveries and 436 deaths: Jammu and Kashmir Administration 

    Vande Bharat flight lands in Chandigarh

    1299 new cases reported as Delhi enhances testing capacity

    Dharavi reports eight new cases of COVID-19

    8 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Mumbai's Dharavi today. Active cases in the area now stand at 82 while 2257 people have been discharged. Total number of positive cases in Dharavi stands at 2597: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation 

    Kerala reports 1298 new cases and 3 deaths

    Chandigarh COVID tally

    Number of COVID-19 cases reaches 1,327 in Chandigarh; active cases and deaths stand at 529 and 20 respectively: Chandigarh Administration 

    Maharashtra governor inaugurates COVID testing lab in Mumbai

    Uttar Pradesh tally

    Uttar Pradesh reported 4,658 new COVID-19 cases and 63 death in the last 24 hours, taking active cases to 43,654 and death toll to 1,918. A total of 63,402 have been discharged in the state so far: State Health Department 

    Glenmark to launch stronger version of FabiFlu for Covid-19 treatment in India

    Drugmaker Glenmark on Thursday said it will launch a higher strength (400 mg) version of oral antiviral drug favipiravir, a medicine granted emergency use authorization by the country's drug regulator to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 patients. Favipiravir is manufactured by Fujifilm by the brand name Avigan and has been in use in Japan since 2014 to treat novel influenza virus.

    FULL REPORT HERE

    No gain without pain!

    Why does plasma therapy benefit only some COVID-19 patients? Puzzle may be solved in weeks

    The findings of the crucial trial could have major policy implications and will help firm up the scientific basis on which doctors could decide which patients qualify to benefit from the treatment.

    FULL REPORT HERE

    Plasma therapy trial didn't show promising therapy, says AIIMS

    Convalescent plasma therapy didn't show benefit in reducing mortality risk among COVID19 patients, according to interim analysis of randomised controlled trial at AIIMS Delhi to assess efficacy of this mode of treatment 

    Delhi govt sends over recommendations to L-G for Unlock 3.0

    Delhi Government sends proposal to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal recommending to open hotels, gyms and weekly markets, citing fall in the number of COVID19 cases in national capital: Delhi Government Sources 

    Andhra health minister visits COVID-19 patients in Tirupati

    Reserve Bank of India extends loan restructuring facility to corporates

    The restructuring will be allowed as per the prudential framework issued on June 7, 2019, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said. Last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the government is working with the RBI on the need for restructuring of loans to help the industry tide over the impact of COVID-19. 

    FULL REPORT HERE

    Vande Bharat Mission flight

    RBI to allow offline payments through cards on pilot basis

    The Reserve Bank on Thursday announced a scheme on pilot basis for offline retail payments using cards and mobile devices to encourage customers to go for digital transactions even in those places that lack internet connectivity.

    Senior CPI(M) leader Shyamal Chakraborty dies of COVID-19 at hospital in Kolkata: Party sources

     

    Himachal Pradesh tally

    Himachal Pradesh's COVID-19 case tally rises to 2,928. There are 1,087 active cases, 1,801 recovered cases and 12 deaths in the state: State Health Department 

    Contactless ticketing in Delhi buses

    Siddaramaiah is stable: Manipal Hospital

    Leader of opposition & Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah continues to remain stable clinically since admission to Manipal Hospitals on Aug 3rd, 2020 for #COVID19. He is comfortable and cheerful. He is being closely monitored by our team of doctors: Manipal Hospital

    Prayers for former Karnataka CM

    HAL donates ambulances to two Bengaluru hospitals

    HAL donated two ambulances to Bowring & Lady Curzon Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru under CSR program. These specialised ambulances can be used for transporting patients who require medical monitoring while in transit and non-invasive airway management. 

    Centre releases 2nd tranche of COVID-19 relief package

    READ FULL REPORT HERE

    Indian golfers left frustrated by COVID-triggered cancellations

    Asian Tour events are getting cancelled regularly. Last week, the Panasonic Open in Japan, scheduled for September 24-27, also met the same fate due to the Covid-19 pandemic. India’s Viraj Madappa was planning to participate in that event. The Asian Tour witnessed 23 events last year, but 2020 has witnessed just four so far due to the pandemic. The Shinhan Donghae Open in South Korea, starting September 10, now remains the last scheduled event for the year.

    FULL REPORT HERE

    COVID-19 testing underway in Vijayawada

    Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar urges people to exercise caution amid COVID-19 pandemic, rains in state

    With rains in several parts of Karnataka amid COVID-19 pandemic, state Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on Thursday asked the people to maintain caution and contact the Health department helpline in case of any symptoms. "There is heavy rain in several districts of the state's coastal, Malnad and north interior regions. People have to observe utmost caution during these rains amid corona infections. In case of any symptoms like fever, cough and cold immediately call the health department helpline 104," Sudhakar tweeted.

    WATCH | COVID-19 and other related news updates from Tamil Nadu

    Kerala cops restrict number of customers in supermarkets to curb spread of COVID-19 in state

    As per the new order issued by state police chief Lokath Behera, not more than six customers per 100 square feet will be allowed to enter supermarkets. Police have also directed supermarket owners to keep the number of employees to a bare minimum. The Chief Minister on Wednesday had directed the police to take adequate measures to contain the spread of the pandemic. Following this, the police issued directives to regulate the functioning of supermarkets. 

    Take action against online health services operating illegally: Delhi HC to state govt

    Delhi HC directs AAP govt to take action against online health service aggregators which are operating illegally and collecting samples for COVID19 tests 

    IMA submits SOPs to Goa govt for home quarantined patients

    IMA Goa chief Dr S Samuel said they have urged the state government to take the services of private doctors, who are members of the IMA, to keep a tab on the health of such patients. Health officers/medical officers concerned shall designate an Indian Medical Association (IMA) member doctor within their jurisdiction, as per the list made available by IMA Goa, said proposal submitted to the state government on Wednesday.

    Delhi update

    65 fresh cases in Arunachal

    The list includes 22 security personnel, taking the state's total count to 1,855, an official said. Of the fresh cases, 10 were reported from Capital Complex region, 19 from Changlang district, 12 from East Siang, eight from Lohit, four each from East Kameng and West Siang, three from Namsai, two from Tirap and one each from Lower Dibang Valley, Papumpare and Tawang, state Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa said.

    Odisha's tally rises to 40,71

    Odisha's COVID-19 tally surged past the 40,000-mark on Thursday with the biggest single-day spike of 1,699 cases, even as 10 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 235, a health department official said.

    FULL REPORT HERE

    Five more succumb in Puducherry

    Five more people including two women succumbed to COVID-19 in Puducherry, taking the death toll in the union territory to 70, a top Health department official said on Thursday. As many as 195 new cases were reported taking the overall tally to 4,621, of which 1,743 were active cases

    READ FULL REPORT HERE

    Jharkhand tally

    137 new cases, 2 deaths reported in Maharashtra Police

    Out of the total number of police personnel infected with coronavirus, 8,189 have recovered and 1,865 cases are active, informed the Maharashtra Police on Thursday.

    137 new cases, 2 deaths reported in Maharashtra Police

    Out of the total number of police personnel infected with coronavirus, 8,189 have recovered and 1,865 cases are active, informed the Maharashtra Police on Thursday.

    Moderna taps into AWS to boost vaccine research

    The biotechnology major Moderna which has entered the phase III clinical trials for its Covid-19 vaccine has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred Cloud partner as well as its standard for analytics and Machine Learning (ML) workloads. Moderna is pioneering a new class of messenger RNA (mRNA) medicines.

    COVID-19 don't target taste bud cells

    A new study has now revealed that the loss of the sense of smell and taste linked to inflammation caused by the infection.
    (READ HERE)

    Odisha update

    12 employees including Deputy Secretary & Joint Secretary of Odisha Health and Family Welfare department tested positive on Thursday. Further contact tracing os on and 20 odd staff, who had come in contact have been asked to work from home.

    Telangana to conduct 40k tests daily

    The Telangana government has decided to conduct 40,000 COVID-19 tests daily and also keep 10,000 oxygen beds ready all over the State, an official release has said. The Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao-led cabinet which met here on Wednesday discussed threadbare the coronavirus spread, treatment being given to those affected and further strengthening of the public health system, an official release issued Wednesday night said.

    READ FULL REPORT HERE

    PM expresses grief at loss of lives in Ahmedabad

    Hospital trustee detained

    Rajasthan update

    Cyberabad cop succumbs

    Telangana's major district hospitals run full

    Inevitably, the healthcare machinery in districts are facing the burden for the third day straight, with the MGM hospital in Warangal - a COVID-19 facility - which has 255 beds is running full.
    (READ HERE)

    Pandemic pulls down services sector

    Despite the relaxation in coronavirus-induced restrictions, India’s services sector activity remained muted for the fifth month in a row in July, according to a survey.
    (READ HERE)

    Hospital fire update

    Silent prayer honours warriors in Odisha

    Thousands of people across Odisha joined a minute's silent prayer to honour the COVID warriors on Wednesday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led the silent prayer at 6 p.m. in honour of the warriors across the state. Patnaik also administered an oath to the people of the state to follow the COVID-19 guidelines.

    Relief announced for kin of fire victims

    29 security personnel test positive in Mizoram

    Thirty-three people, including 29 security personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram in the last 24 hours, taking the state's tally to 537, a Health Department official said on Thursday. Of the fresh cases, 28 were reported from Aizawl district, two from Champhai and one each from Lunglei, Kolasib and Saitual, he said.

    National tally at 19,64,537

    Aviptadil provides rapid recovery for critical patients

    Houston Methodist Hospital was the first to report the rapid recovery of patients on ventilators and those with severe medical conditions after three days of treatment.
    (READ HERE)

    Probe ordered

    2,21,49,351 samples tested

    Rajasthan to introduce new tourism

    CM Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday announced that the Rajasthan government will soon introduce a new tourism policy to help ensure the sector tides over the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Reviewing the work of the Tourism Department, Gehlot said, "Rajasthan is a prominent tourism centre and livelihood of thousands of people depends on this sector."

    Common cold infection may train body against coronavirus

    The research, published in the journal Science, noted that the immune system's memory T cells keep track of the viruses they have seen before, giving the cells a headstart in recognising and fighting off repeat invaders.
    (READ HERE)

    Telangana update

    Andhra villagers complain as patients roam freely

    The youth of Ullibhadra village in Vizianagaram district have complained to the Sub Collector that there are at least 14 patients in their village and they have not been quarantined but allowed to roam around.

    Ahmedabad hospital fire leaves 8 dead

    Major fire at Ahmedabad hospital

    The victims include five men and three women, who were being treated at the ICU ward of the COVID-19 designated Shrey Hospital in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad, the official said.
    (READ HERE)

    Gyms reopen

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