India's COVID-19 caseload went past 29 lakh with a single-day spike of 69,652 infections, while the recoveries increased to 21,58,947 on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
Meanwhile, a spike in corona cases has prompted Punjab to reboot its measures which include extension of weekend lockdown with daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am in all the cities and towns of the state from Friday.
After a rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Chandigarh during past few days, the union territory administration has decided to impose stricter restrictions and ordered closure of all shops and establishments, except those providing essential services, on Saturdays and Sundays.
Twelve more people succumbed to COVID-19 in Rajasthan, raising the death toll from the disease to 933 while the infection tally mounted to 67,954 in the state with the detection of 1,335 fresh cases on Friday. Three new fatalities were reported from Jaipur, two from Tonk and one each from Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jalore, Nagaur, Rajsamand, Sikar and Udaipur.
The crime branch has arrested a 36-year-old man from Worli in Central Mumbai for selling duplicate N-95 masks in the black market, a police official said on Friday. The accused was identified as Riyaz Ahmed Rais Ahmed Khan, a resident of Shivajinagar, he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered that restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which bars assembly of more than four people, be imposed in the state amid rising COVID-19 cases.(READ MORE)
Recovery crosses 50,000 in #Odisha after a record 1927 #COVID19 patients recover today
— Hemant Kumar Rout (@TheHemantRout) August 21, 2020
Total cases: 72,718
Recovered: 50,504
Death: 443
Active: 21,771
Khurdha 246
Ganjam 190
Nayagarh 151
Rayagada 146
Sundergarh 108
Kandhamal 101
Dhenkanal 95
Mayurbhanj 88@NewIndianXpress
Sikkim Health Minister Dr M K Sharma tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The minister himself announced the news of his testing positive for COVID-19 in a brief Facebook post. "I, Dr MK Sharma, Health Minister of Sikkim, would like to inform all the Sikkimese people that I developed symptoms of COVID-19 and got myself tested today and the results have come as positive," he said.
With over 3,000 patients cured of coronavirus in Bihar on Friday, the state registered its highest ever recovery rate at 78. 05 per cent, according to a bulletin issued by the health department.
The tally of coronavirus patients in Dharavi, the largest slum in Mumbai, increased to 2,700 on Friday after three persons tested positive for the infection, a senior civic official said. On Thursday, Dharavi had recorded 17 positive cases, its highest single-day rise in the month of August.
Cumulative #COVID19 cases in Bengaluru cross 1-lakh mark. 7,571 new cases & 93 deaths reported in Karnataka till Thursday night. 2,948 cases in Bengaluru.
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) August 21, 2020
State's tally- 2,64,546
Active cases - 83,066
Deaths- 4,522
Discharges - 1,76,942@NewIndianXpress @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/U9izuMmPMA
The COVID-19 tally in Andhra Pradesh increased to 3,34,940 with 9,544 new cases reported in the last 24 hours ending 9 a.m. on Friday. The total number of recoveries increased to 2,44,045 with 8,827 more patients discharged from COVID-19 hospitals across the state in the last 24 hours.(READ MORE)
Senior most MP cabinet minister and ex Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava tests COVID positive. He is the sixth MP minister to test positive. MP reports highest single day spike in COVID cases with 1147 new cases in last 24 hours.@NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard
— Anuraag Singh (@anuraag_niebpl) August 21, 2020
The European economy's rebound from the coronavirus recession appears to have slowed in August as a resurgence in new confirmed contagions across the region makes businesses, shoppers and travelers more cautious. An indicator of business activity published research firm IHS Markit fell back to a level that suggests the economy is barely growing after a relatively strong burst in July, when many countries had phased out the restrictions on public life that were imposed in the spring to contain the pandemic.
Another ruling BJD MLA Sanjib Mallick from Bhadrak on Friday tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of lawmakers infected by the virus in the state to nine @XpressOdisha @NewIndianXpress
— Bijay Chaki (@bijay_TNIE) August 21, 2020
More than 17K tests done, 1250 fresh #COVID__19 cases registered.
— Somrita Ghosh (@Somrita_Ghosh) August 21, 2020
1082 patients recovered.
13 more fatalities.
589 containment zones @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard #CoronavirusIndia pic.twitter.com/qdex941U6u
Chennai recorded a COVID-19 spike on Friday with 1,282 fresh cases. Last week, almost after two months, the city started recording less than 1,000 cases but just after three days, they started coming close to 1200, while on Friday, the number increased further. (READ MORE)
Chandigarh reported 116 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 2,631 including 1,426 discharges and 33 deaths: Chandigarh Health Department
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij says all offices and shops, except those providing essential services, will remain closed on every Saturday and Sunday in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the state
All offices and shops except essential will remain closed in Haryana on every Saturday and Sunday due to #COVID__19
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) August 21, 2020
Just as #COVID__19 cases in Chennai started stabilizing, people throw caution to the wind to shop ahead of #GaneshChaturthi. @xpresstn @shibasahu2012
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 21, 2020
Express Photos | @haisat2005 pic.twitter.com/D9jcOFMrIa
654 new COVID19 cases reported from Jammu and Kashmir today; 114 from Jammu division and 540 from Kashmir division, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 31,371. The death toll is at 593: Govt of J&K
#COVID19 update #TamilNadu (August 21)
— S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) August 21, 2020
Today’s +ive cases 5,995 (5,963 indigenous/32 imported) Total 3,67,430
Chennai 1,282 Total 1,22,757
Active 53,413
Discharged 5,764 Total 3,07,677
Death 101 (36 pvt/65 govt) 93 with comorbidities Total 6,340@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/f9zktsmZTv
According to the plan, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will soon start sending teams to residences spread over 144 wards to compile a list of people with comorbidities.
#Covid19Update #Kerala
— Sovi Vidyadharan (@sovividyadharan) August 21, 2020
August 21
New cases - 1983
Recoveries - 1419
Deaths - 12
Contact transmission - 1777
Unknown sources - 109
From abroad - 64
From other states - 99
Health workers - 35
429 cases in Thiruvananthapuram@xpresskerala@NewIndianXpress
"With deep sorrow I inform you all that my mother Honnuramma passed away on Thursday night due to age related issues. At the ripe age of 95, my mother had completely recovered from coronavirus and just returned home from the Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru," Sriramulu tweeted.
#SPBalasubrhamanyam continues to be on ventilator support and ECMO. His condition is currently stable. @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/YjqnNSvFq4
— Sinduja (@Sinduj11) August 21, 2020
Outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the containment measures needed have shoved the global economy off the cliff in the first half of this year. Many economies, including most of the world’s largest economic engines such as the United States, United Kingdom and Japan, have officially recorded recessions.
#Erode district collector C Kathiravan tested positive for #COVID19 on Friday. Placed himself under home quarantine.@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress @chandhini97
— S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) August 21, 2020
Bombay High Court refuses to grant any interim stay on transfer of funds from Siddhivinayak Temple trust in Mumbai to Maharashtra government for fight against COVID-19 and also for a subsidised food scheme for the poor in the state
#COVIDUpdates: 9,544 samples, out if the 55,010 samples tested in last 24 hrs till #Friday 9 am, tested positive in #AndhraPradesh. Death toll at 3,092 with 91 more #deaths reported.#active - 87,803#recovered - 2,44,045@NewIndianXpress @Kalyan_TNIE #apfightscorona #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/ZlbhWickXx
— TNIE Andhra Pradesh (@xpressandhra) August 21, 2020
There is presently no COVID-19 positive case among inmates in prisons of Delhi. Two inmates of Tihar jail were detected COVID-19 positive on August 3 & have now recovered: Sandeep Goel, DG Prisons, Delhi
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated a RT-PCR Laboratory in Raigad district. He also launched a 121-bedded state of the art, ICU enabled dedicated COVID Hospital in Dombivli today: Maharashtra CMO pic.twitter.com/Gf2fiyv4PU
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
Singapore reopened its borders to more long-term pass holders on June 19. The Ministry of Health (MOH) told The Straits Times newspaper that there were more than 83,000 arrivals in the country by land, sea and air between June 18 and August 6. Only 152 imported cases were reported during the same period. About eight in 10 of those infected had arrived from India and the Philippines - two countries which provide a large proportion of Singapore's foreign workforce, the report said.
A healthcare worker is working with #Covid_19 rapid antigen test kits at a testing centre in New Delhi. @TheMornStandard
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 21, 2020
Express Photo | @Shekharyadav02 pic.twitter.com/awWqrB5XTZ
Restricted to their rooms for six days, players who have landed in the UAE for the IPL, spent their opening day talking to each other through 'balconies' besides following a fitness plan handed out by the teams' trainers. Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab players arrived in Dubai on Thursday evening while Kolkata Knight Riders landed in Abu Dhabi in the night.
Travelling while maintaining #socialdistance! KSRTC has reduced the number of seats in a #Rajahamsa bus with 39 seats to 29 seats by changing its seating arrangement to battle #COVID_19 crisis. @XpressBengaluru @AshwiniMS_TNIE @santwana99 @KSRTC_Journeys pic.twitter.com/0JIFgGvQEN
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 21, 2020
Election Commission of India issues guidelines for the conduct of general elections/by-elections during COVID-19; candidates can file nomination online, people to wear face masks during election-related activities.
The option of postal ballot facility has been extended to the electors who are marked as 'persons with disabilities', people above age of 80 years, people employed in notified essential services and who are COVID-19 positive/possibly infected: Election Commission of India https://t.co/S8OZZK0HE7 pic.twitter.com/QoPkbrdHkx
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
The city resident, in his complaint filed on August 19 through his advocate Asim Sarode, sought the commission to take action against the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorities and the RSS-linked Lok Kalyan Samiti (LKS) for committing breach of his privacy. The complainant has strong objection over such disclosure of data of persons who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite Tamil Nadu government announcing there won't be any public worship of lord Ganesha, people thronged the roads for #GaneshChathurthi, throwing caution to the wind in Chennai. Some even didn't wear masks.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 21, 2020
Express video | @haisat2005.@shibasahu2012 @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/GRYbfUcDSJ
Rama Rao, who was addressing a virtual conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the status of real estate and infrastructure projects amid the COVID-19 outbreak, said the current crisis will end soon and that the government and industry should come together to lay a framework to go further in the areas of job creation.
Madras High Court upholds Tamil Nadu government's order, banning Vinayak Chaturthi processions in the state, allows individuals to immerse idols.
ALSO READ: Madras HC allows immersion of idols by individuals during Vinayaka Chaturthi
A 67-year-old man died and three others were injured in a road accident involving a private ambulance near Kethanakonda, 30 km from Vijayawada on Friday morning. The ambulance was reportedly shifting a COVID-19 patient to Hyderabad for treatment.
Over 300 personnel of the Maharashtra police tested positive for coronavirus, while five died of the infection in the last 24 hours, an official said on Friday. The latest casualties have taken the death toll in the police force to 136, which includes 14 officers, the official said. With 62 deaths, Mumbai police had recorded the highest number of casualties in the force due to the pandemic.
Jailed RJD chief Lalu Yadav, currently admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, is again under the scanner for COVID-19 after nine policemen, deployed in his security, tested positive on Thursday. Doctors, however, said his chances of exposure are very low as the security guards were deployed outside and did not come in contact with him.
Researchers at Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi are developing an aptamer-based diagnostic kit for detection of COVID19. It can detect a number of infections in precise & efficient manner, besides making detection of COVID19 less costly: Ministry of Science & Technology
"Nine security personnel deployed for Lalu Prasad's security, have tested positive for COVID-19. The security personnel have been removed from their duties," Dr Umesh Prasad, physician of RJD chief said. (READ MORE)
Despite Tamil Nadu government announcing there won't be any public worship of lord Ganesha, people thronged the roads for #GaneshChathurthi, throwing caution to the wind in Chennai. Some even didn't wear masks.
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 21, 2020
Express video | @haisat2005.@shibasahu2012 @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/GRYbfUcDSJ
Migrant workers are in no hurry to return to Karnataka due to the marked surge in COVID-19 cases, with Bengaluru topping the state in terms of active cases and deaths. As a result, a slew of railway projects that desperately depend on workers from northern, eastern and northeastern parts of the country are progressing at a snail’s pace. (READ MORE)
Puducherry on Friday recorded 313 more COVID-19 cases and six deaths, taking the Union Territory's count of coronavirus cases to 9,594. At least 143 people have succumbed to the virus in the UT so far.
Jharkhand recorded 820 new COVID19 cases, 879 recovered cases & 13 deaths on 20th August. Total COVID positive cases stand at 27,341 including 9,505 active cases, 17,445 recovered/discharged cases & 291 deaths till date: State Health Department
Supreme Court allows Jain temples at Dadar, Byculla and Chembur in Mumbai to open for worshippers for last two days of Paryushan on August 22 and 23, while observing Centre's SOP on opening of religious places. A Bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said that this concession cannot be applied to any other temple or for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations which involve large congregation.
PP Saikia and Md Rasidul Karim of 97 Bn BSF deployed in law & order duty, in Assam's Guwahati voluntarily donated #COVID19 Convalescent Plasma at GMC Hospital, Guwahati on 20th August: Border Security Force (BSF) pic.twitter.com/I6fV53Gzq6
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
Himachal Pradesh records 34 new COVID19 positive cases, 36 recovered cases & 2 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the state's COVID tally to 4,572 cases including 1,383 active cases, 3,121 recoveries and 21 deaths: State Health Department
Travel maintaining with social distance !@KSRTC_Journeys has converted 39 seater Rajahamsa bus to 29 seater changing its seating arrangement. This bus on trial will run between Bengaluru and Mysuru @NewIndianXpress @santwana99 @XpressBengaluru pic.twitter.com/7LLdhKWxpo
— Ashwini M Sripad (@AshwiniMS_TNIE) August 21, 2020
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal handovers a cheque of Rs 1 Crore to the family of Raju, a sanitation worker who died due to #COVID19 while carrying out his duties CM says, "He died while serving the people. We are proud of all such COVID warriors." pic.twitter.com/gcQGvI9QkU
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
India has touched another peak of posting highest recoveries of #COVID19 cases in a single day with 62,282 people being discharged in the past 24 hours. Total recoveries cross 21.5 lakh-mark, recovery rate soars past 74 per cent: Government of India
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
(Representational picture) pic.twitter.com/pY4JGVbQq7
The state police have reported a total of 13,180 total cases, including 2,389 active cases and 10,655 recoveries. So far, the novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of 136 police personnel.
An #ambulance overturned at Ketanakonda in #Ibrahimpatnam near #Vijayawada while transporting #COVID19 patient to #Hyderabad from Palakollu. One dead, while three injured.@NewIndianXpress @Kalyan_TNIE #ACCIDENT #mishap #coronavirus #pandemic #pandemiclife pic.twitter.com/rqqYoGGwqe
— TNIE Andhra Pradesh (@xpressandhra) August 21, 2020
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/aug/21/covid-19-strict-lockdown-in-kolkata-violations-reported-in-some-districts-senior-cop-succumbs-to-2186531.htmlKolkata (Central Division) ACP Uday Shankar Banerjee dies, was under treatment for #COVID19.#WestBengal pic.twitter.com/Bx2aqYNWn0
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
Latest Corona negative report will be mandatory for Ministers, MLAs, officers and employees to attend the session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, that begins on August 28: Rana KP Singh, Punjab Assembly Speaker
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
2698 new #COVID19 cases detected in #Odisha, 10 die
— Hemant Kumar Rout (@TheHemantRout) August 21, 2020
1675 in quarantine
1023 local cases
Tests: 56479
CPR: 4.7%
Khurda 475
Cuttack 207
Ganjam 162
Rayagada 154
Koraput 146
Mayurbhanj 128
Sundargarh 103
Balasore 102
Total cases: 72718
Tests:1172426@XpressOdisha @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/1EZYht0yH3
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that Seth G S Medical College, civic-run KEM Hospital and the public health department of the BMC will jointly conduct the study for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). "The study will also look at degree ofseverity of the disease and development of immunity using immunological markers," the BMC said. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
The Washington-based development lender previously estimated that 60 million people would fall into extreme poverty due to COVID-19, but the new estimate puts the deterioration at 70 to 100 million, and he said "that number could go higher" if the pandemic worsens or drags on. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Rajasthan reports 695 #COVID19 cases and 5 deaths today; 237 patients recovered and 189 discharged. The total positive cases in the state stand at 67,314 including 926 deaths, 51,427 recovered and 50,749 discharged: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/K0Nf2porov
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
The medical condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee (in file pic) remains same. He is being treated for lung infection and continues to be on ventilatory support. His vital parameters are being maintained and he is haemodynamically stable: Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt pic.twitter.com/VBhJAZewHS
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
It has been hoped that pandemic will be controlled when 60-70 per cent of the population develops immunity—either after natural infection or vaccination. Even with THI being achieved in limited areas, we will still need safe and effective vaccines to tackle the spread of the pandemic. A vaccine is our true hope. Till then, serosurveys should be continued to guide the response and all of us need to continue to use masks, wash hands, and keep following the approach of test, trace, treat and isolate.(READ FULL REPORT HERE)
West Bengal: Bi-weekly lockdown is being observed in Birbhum in view of #COVID19 outbreak.
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
The state will observe complete lockdown for 2 days every week until the end of August. There are 1,29,119 COVID19 cases in the state, as per the latest state health department bulletin. pic.twitter.com/Xqk983vCzQ
1967 cases of Coronavirus detected with 26,767 tests
— TNIE Telangana (@XpressHyderabad) August 21, 2020
8 reported deaths
States total tally inches to 99,391 cases with 21,687 active cases pic.twitter.com/ul9DKs9YpM
Today I met & interacted with patients who had recovered from #COVID19 from across the state. They informed me that there is still discrimination in society. In the coming days, we'll not only try to control the disease but also remove this discrimination: Goa CM P Sawant (20.8) pic.twitter.com/0TAy8yIh0P
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2020
Testing in India has steeply increased to more than 9 lakh tests per day. This is bolstered with all States/UTs testing more than 140 tests/day/million population as advised by WHO (World Health Organisation): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/a2Y7OI7ESL
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2020
Until now, it was thought that children are less susceptible to the virus. The new research from the US however indicates that they are silent carriers. These findings, published in The Journal of Paediatrics, have been dubbed as “surprising and unexpected” as they challenge current perception about the infectious disease in children. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded various steps taken by authorities in Gujarat to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state, said a top government official on Thursday. The WHO organised a webinar on Thursday to know more about Gujarat's COVID-19 response and best practices put in place to contain the virus, said Principal Secretary, Health, Jayanti Ravi.
To spread awareness about the coronavirus pandemic, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday launched a first-of-its-kind, interactive video game and two new promotional videos urging people to adhere to key COVID-19-appropriate behaviours. (READ MORE)
To encourage doctors and nursing staff working in COVID care hospitals, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced to give additional honorarium to them, a statement said. The decision was taken in a corona review meeting on Thursday.
To encourage doctors and nursing staff working in COVID care hospitals, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced to give additional honorarium to them, a statement said. The decision was taken in a corona review meeting on Thursday.
