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Coronavirus LATEST Updates: The West Bengal government on Tuesday extended the “total” lockdown in the state’s containment zones till 19 July. “Special attention will be paid to enforcement of lockdown in containment zones in Kolkata and five north Bengal urban hotspots,” News18 reported. Karnataka’s Bidar district is likely to be under lockdown for a week, reports said, adding that the district has the highest mortality rate in the state. ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava on Tuesday said that there are two Indian indigenous candidate vaccines. “They have undergone successful toxicity studies in rats, mice and rabbits. Data was submitted to DCGI following which both these got clearance to start early phase human trials early this month. These candidate have got their sites ready and they are doing their clinical study on approximately a 1,000 human volunteers each at different sites,” he added. The Union health ministry said that there are 20 states that have a recovery rate which is more than the national average. India’s national average is 63 percent. Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Ministry of Health, added, “Of these states Uttar Pradesh has a recovery rate of 64 percent, Odisha has 67 percent, Assam has 65 percent, Gujarat has 70 percent, Tamil Nadu has a recovery rate of 65 percent.” With 1,916 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh, the total confirmed cases in the state climbed to 33,019 on Tuesday. Of the total confirmed cases in the state, there are 15,144 active cases including 17,467 recoveries. India’s COVID-19 case tally crosses 9 lakh mark with 28,498 new cases and 553 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The total cases stand at 9,06,752 including 3,11,565 active cases, 5,71,460 cured and 23,727 deaths. The pandemic has now killed more than half a million people in six-and-a-half months, and World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there would be no return to the ‘old normal’ for the foreseeable future, especially if preventive measures were neglected. The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 8.50 lakh with 28,701 new infections reported countrywide on Monday. Meanwhile, with the surge in cases across the country, more state governments are likely to impose lockdown restrictions in cities, reports said. According to Union health ministry data, 500 new casualties have also been reported on Monday, taking the total toll to 23,174. Of the total tally of cases, active infections are 3,01,609 while 5,53,471 people have been cured. On its part, the ICMR said that 2,19,103 samples had been tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of tests conducted so far rose to 1,18,06,265. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest single-day rise with 1,654 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, pushing the total to over 38,000. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan was quoted by CNN-News18 as saying that he wouldn’t be able to set a deadline for a vaccine to treat coronavirus. He added, “No data to prove community transmission in India yet. Can say with confidence, community transmission hasn’t begun.” Pune, Bengaluru, Kerala to be under lockdown as COVID-19 cases rise Across the country, authorities are preparing to reimpose lockdown restrictions for varying periods in more cities. In Pune and Bengaluru, the seven- and 10-day lockdown respectively, will begin from Tuesday. The Kerala government has imposed an enhanced triple lockdown in the coastal areas which have been declared as critical containment zones. The triple lockdown came into force from 6 am on Monday and will continue till 23 July. The coastal regions where a triple lockdown has been declared are Thiruvananthapuram-Manikyavilakam, Poonthura and Puthanpally wards, Kollam-Chavara and Panmana, Alappuzha- Pattanakkad, Kadakkarappally, Cherthala south, Mararikulam North, Kodamthuruthu, Kuthiathode, Thuravoor, Arattupuzha, Ernakulam-Chellanam Malappuram-Veliyamkode, Perumbadappu, Ponnani, Tanur municipalities. No movement of people will be allowed to and from the containment zones except for medical emergency and exempted services. The government has also declared five kilograms of rice to the families residing in these regions free of cost, ANI reported. Shops that sell essential items will be allowed to function from 10 am to 6 pm. These shops are permitted to collect stock from 7 am to 9 am. Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to implement strict restrictions across the state on weekends to check the spread of coronavirus, joining Karnataka and Tamil Nadu which have been imposing ‘Sunday lockdown’. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Bihar were among the states that have already announced area-wise lockdown for different durations. Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami extended the curbs in Madurai and nearby regions including the Paravai Town Panchayat and several village panchayats till 14 July. The Maharashtra government had earlier announced a comprehensive lockdown in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad from 13-23 July. The state government had imposed similar curbs in areas around Mumbai. Authorities in Kashmir too began strict implementation of another phase of the lockdown on Sunday, sealing off historic Lal Chowk and 67 other areas in Srinagar which have been declared containment zones after a sudden surge in COVID-19 positive cases over the past one week. The Indian Express reported that authorities the “movement of people are restricted to essential services and medical emergencies only”. The Punjab government reportedly issued a “complete bar” on all public gatherings, while restricting social gatherings to five and marriages/other social functions to 30 instead of the current 50, News18 reported. Additionally, the state government also mandated that an FIR be filed against lockdown violators. Mumbai’s doubling rate is highest in country The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday said that Mumbai has achieved a doubling-rate of 50 days for COVID-19 cases, which is the highest in the country currently. The municipal body credited the achievement to the recently-adopted ‘open testing policy’, which allows people to get tested for coronavirus without prescriptions. Reports said that Mumbai is the only city in the country to implement such a testing policy. “After the open testing policy, our testing has gone up from 4,000 to 6,800, daily. But the total positive cases have come down from 1,400 to 1,200 now,” BMC commissioner IS Chahal was quoted as saying. Of these 1,200 cases, the symptomatic cases are less than 200, so the BMC needs only 200 beds daily, Chahal said. The BMC’s discharge rate now stands at 70 percent, and on Sunday, after allotting beds to all patients, there were still 7,000 COVID-19 beds plus 250 ICU beds lying vacant, he added. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government “decided to cancel exams in all state-run universities in view of the rising coronavirus cases in the state,” News18 reported quoting state education minister Uday Samant. SC refuses to entertain plea for restrictions on Amarnath Yatra in view of COVID-19 The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking restrictions on devotees in the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage this year due to COVID-19 pandemic, saying the issue has to be left with the local administration to look into. “We have to respect principle of separation of powers,” said a bench comprising justices DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph and declined to enter the arena of the executive which has to deal with it as per statutory norms. “We are of view that recourse being taken here under Article 32 (of the Constitution) is inappropriate. The issue as to whether Yatra be held should be left with the local administration. Undoubtedly any decision arrived at must be based on law and all relevant statutory provisions”, the bench, which conducted the hearing through video conferencing, noted in the order. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by ‘‘Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organisation’’ (SABLO) which had sought a direction to the Centre, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board to restrict the access of pilgrims in the Yatra this year in wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Karnataka tourism minister tests COVID-19 positive Karnataka tourism minister CT Ravi has tested positive for coronavirus. His wife and daughter have however, tested negative for the virus, PTI reported. “Yesterday, I along with my wife Pallavi & my staff members underwent COVID19 test. Fortunately, my wife Pallavi and all my staff members are tested negative. Third umpire’s result for me has confirmed that I’m Covid Positive,” Ravi tweeted on Monday. He went into home quarantine on 11 July after he came in contact with a coronavirus patient. WHO team arrives in China to investigate origin of COVID-19 Two World Health Organisation experts arrived in China on Monday as part of a mission in China to trace the origin of the coronavirus pandemic. The virus was first detected in central China’s city of Wuhan late last year. Beijing had been reluctant to allow a probe but relented after scores of countries called on the WHO to conduct a thorough investigation. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, said they would work with Chinese scientists and medical experts on “scientific cooperation on the new coronavirus tracing issue.” China has argued that the virus might have originated outside of China and has denied allegations that it covered up the scale of the outbreak as infections first began to spread. “We have a basic consensus with the WHO that virus tracing is a scientific issue, and that requires international scientific research and cooperation of scientists across the world,” ministry spokesperson Hua said at a daily briefing. “WHO also believes that the virus tracing is an issue in progress, which may involve multiple countries and regions, and WHO will also conduct similar inspections in other countries and regions as needed.” With inputs from agencies
Coronavirus Updates: Bengal extends lockdown in containment zones till 19 July, stringent orders in urban hotspots
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Reports said that the enforcement of lockdown will be monitored strictly in Kolkata and five north Bengal urban hotspots
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Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
Karnataka govt orders 7-day lockdown in Bengaluru
The Karnataka government ordered a lockdown in Bengaluru to combat the spread of COVID-19 for a period of 7 days with effect from 8:00 pm on Tuesday 2020 to 5:00 am on 22 July 2020.
“Shops, including ration shops (PDS), dealing with food, groceries, fruits & vegetables, dairy & milk booths, meat & fish, animal fodder to open from 5 am to 12 pm. Home delivery of essential items shall be encouraged,” the government’s statement said.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
6,741 new COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra today
6,741 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Maharashtra on Tuesday. The total number of cases rose to 2,67,665. Meanwhile, 213 deaths were reported, and total toll is now 10,695.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Week-long lockdown begins in Madhya Pradesh
“Having recorded 191 cases of Covid-19 in a single day, the administration has imposed complete lockdown in Gwalior. The restrictions kicked in at 7pm on Tuesday. Madhya Pradesh home minister Dr Narottam Mishra, however, said no proposal was under consideration to impose total lockdown in the state and it was up to district crisis management committees to take the decision locally,” News18 reported.
Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates
West Bengal govt extends lockdown in containment zones
The West Bengal government on Tuesday extended the “total” lockdown in the state’s containment zones till 19 July.
“Special attention will be paid to enforcement of lockdown in containment zones in Kolkata and five north Bengal urban hotspots,” News18 reported.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates
4,526 new COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu today
Tamil Nadu reported 4,526 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday and 67 casualties were also recorded. The total number of cases rose to 1,47,324 including 97,310 recoveries and 2,099 deaths. 41,357 samples were tested today for the disease.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
80 Bengaluru Metro staffers test COVID-19 positive
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation on Tuesday said that around 80 “workers associated with the Metro Rail work” in the city have tested positive for coronavirus, News18 reported.
“Most of those infected are migrant workers from different parts of the country,” the report added.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Updates
608 new COVID-19 cases in Kerala today
On Tuesday, Kerala reported 608 new COVID-19 cases, and 151 recoveries. One casualty was reported in the state from Alappuzha district, News18 said. Total number of positive cases rises to 8930, active cases stand at 4454.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
Karnataka’s Bidar district to be under lockdown
The Bidar district of Karnataka is likely to be under lockdown for a week, News18 reported, adding that the district has the highest mortality rate in the state.
“Earlier, lockdowns were announced in other districts including Bengaluru, Yadgir and Dakshin Kannada,” the report said.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Ram Madhav to be in quarantine after BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina tests positive
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
India is considered ‘pharmacy’ of the world, says ICMR
ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava on Tuesday said, “India considered the pharmacy of the world. 60 percent of drugs in US are Indian. Lesser known fact that 60 percent of vaccines in the world are of Indian origin. Any vaccine made in the world will have to be scaled up by India, or maybe China.”
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Centre says states have been asked to follow WHO guidelines on testing
“WHO says if you’re testing 140 people per day, per 10 lakhs, that would be indicative of comprehensive testing. There are 22 states who test 140 or over tests per day, per million. We advise the states/UTs to increase testing to meet WHO criteria,” said Rajesh Bhushan of the Ministry of Health on Tuesday.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
ICMR says 2 Indian indigenous vaccine candidates being tested
ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava on Tuesday said that there are two Indian indigenous candidate vaccines.
“They have undergone successful toxicity studies in rats, mice and rabbits. Data was submitted to DCGI following which both these got clearance to start early phase human trials early this month. These candidate have got their sites ready and they are doing their clinical study on approximately a 1,000 human volunteers each at different sites,” he added.
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Number of recoveries is 1.8 times higher than active cases
The Union health ministry on Tuesday said that the number of recovered coronavirus patients in India is 1.8 times higher than the active cases currently.
“Between 2 and 30 May, number of active COVID-19 cases was more than recovered cases. After that, the difference between number of active and recovered cases is rising. Today, number of recovered cases is 1.8 times higher than the active cases,” said Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Ministry of Health.
“In May, the recovery rate was around 26 percent which rose to 48 percent by May end and further increased to around 63 percent by 12 July in the country,” he added.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Gujarat has highest recovery rate, says Centre
The Union health ministry said that there are 20 states that have a recovery rate which is more than the national average. India’s national average is 63 percent.
Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Ministry of Health, added, “Of these states Uttar Pradesh has a recovery rate of 64 percent, Odisha has 67 percent, Assam has 65 percent, Gujarat has 70 percent, Tamil Nadu has a recovery rate of 65 percent.”
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Centre says 86% of total cases in 10 states
Rajesh Bhushan of the Union health ministry on Tuesday said that 86 percent of the total cases are confined to 10 states.
“Two of these have 50 percent of these cases — Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu — and eight other states have 36 percent cases,” he added, in a press briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country.
Coronavirus Outbreaks in Kerala Latest Updates
Rape accused Franco Mulakkal tests COVID-19 positive, say reports
Rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal has tested positive for COVID-19, reports said on Tuesday.
“On Monday, Mulakkal’s counsel informed the Kerala court that his client could not appear as he had been in self quarantine due to his primary contact with a COVID-19 infected person,” Hindustan Times reported.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Bihar Latest Updates
Bihar govt to enforce lockdown from 16-31 July
Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday was quoted by News18 as saying that a lockdown will be imposed in the state from 16 to 31 July to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“Guidelines are being prepared,” he added.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Over 1.20 crore COVID-19 sample tested: ICMR
Over 1.20 crore COVID-19 samples have been tested so far, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), adding that over 2.86 lakh samples were tested on Tuesday alone.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Andhra Pradesh Latest Updates
Andhra Pradesh reports over 33,000 confirmed cases
With 1,916 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh, the total confirmed cases in the state climbed to 33,019 on Tuesday. The COVID-19 toll rose to 408 after 43 more people succumbed to the viral infection.
Of the total, there are 15,144 active cases including 17,467 recoveries.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Updates
Metro workers test COVID-19 positive in Bengaluru
Over 80 labourers working on the Nagavara – Gottigere lane of Namma Metro phase two in Bengaluru, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, ANI reported on Tuesday.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates
DU will hold UG, PG final-year exams from 17 August to 8 September in OBE mode: HC
The Delhi University will conduct the final year UG, PG examinations from 17 August. The examinations will conclude on 8 September.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the University of Delhi informed the Delhi High Court that it “shall conduct the examinations for the final semester/term/year students of all undergraduate and postgraduate courses”, including the School of Open Learning (SOL) and Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB), in the online Open Book Examinations (OBE) mode “remotely”.
Read full article here…Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Biophore India gets DCGI nod to manufacture COVID drug Favipiravir
Biophore India Pharmaceuticals, a Hyderabad-based firm, has received license from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture Favipiravir, a drug used in the finished formulation to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.
Besides DCGI’’s nod to produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient in India, it has been cleared for exports as well.
Coronavirus in Punjab Latest Updates
No home quarantine for those visiting for under 72 hours
The Punjab Chief Minister’s office announced that home quarantine will not be mandatory for those coming to the state for under 72 hours. However, they will be required to submit a formal undertaking at the border check post.
Punjab has reported 8,178 coronavirus cases so far, of which 2,388 are active cases.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Centre to hold presser at 4 pm today
India’s central government will hold a press briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country at 4 pm.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates
Odisha reports 543 new cases today
543 new COVID-19 cases and 505 recoveries have been reported in Odisha. The total confirmed cases now stand at 14,280, including 4,929 active cases, 74 deaths and 9,255 recoveries.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek responding well to treatment, say hospital sources
Actor Amitabh Bachchan and his son, actor Abhishek, who were admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after testing positive for COVID-19, are “responding well" to the treatment, hospital sources told PTI.
Amitabh, 77, and Abhishek, 44, revealed their diagnosis on Twitter on 11 July, saying they were in the isolation ward of Nanavati Hospital.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates
Delhi HC, district courts’ functioning restricted till 31 July
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday decided to restrict its functioning as well as that of the district courts to urgent matters till 31 July in view of the prevalent situation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reports PTI. Earlier, the high court had restricted its functioning and that of the district courts till 15 July.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
India will cross 10 lakh-mark of COVID-19 cases this week: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the total number of coronavirus cases in the country will cross the 10 lakh-mark this week. “This week, the figure of 10,00,000 will be crossed in our country,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Gandhi also tagged a news report quoting the WHO chief who had said that if concrete steps were not taken, the coronavirus situation in the world would turn from bad to worse.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Puducherry Latest Updates
Puducherry reports 63 new cases, takes total to 1,531
Puducherry’s Health Department records 63 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, taking the tally to 1,531 including 684 active cases and 18 deaths, reports ANI.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Rajasthan Latest Updates
Rajasthan reports 98 new cases, 3 deaths till 10:30 am today
As many as 98 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths have been reported in the state today till 10.30 am. Total confirmed cases stand at 25,034, including 5,759 active cases and 521 deaths.
Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates
Deputy magistrate dies of COVID-19 in COVID-19
A deputy magistrate in West Bengal died due to COVID-19 on Monday, the first senior government officer to have succumbed to the infection in the state, a health department official said. Debdutta Ray, who was posted in Hooghly district, died at a private hospital in Serampore.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
India’s recovery rate now at 63.02%
The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has increased to 63.02%, while the recoveries deaths ratio is 96.01%:3.99%, stated the Government of India, reports ANI.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
India’s COVID-19 total crosses 9 lakh-mark
India’s COVID-19 case tally crosses 9 lakh mark with 28,498 new cases and 553 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The total positive cases stand at 9,06,752 including 3,11,565 active cases, 5,71,460 cured/discharged/migrated and 23,727 deaths, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Health.
Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates
Over 2.8 lakh samples tested yesterday, says ICMR
India tested 1,20,92,503 samples tested for COVID19 till 13 July, of these 2,86,247 samples were tested yesterday, said the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Karantaka Latest Updates
Kalaburagi under lockdown from today
Kalaburagi wears a deserted look as the district administration imposes lockdown till 20 July, reports ANI.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Goa Latest Updates
Pvt hospitals asked to reserve 20% beds for COVID-19 patients
The Goa government has made it compulsory for all private hospitals in the state to reserve 20 per cent of their total beds for COVID-19 patients, reports PTI.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday to review the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the coastal state. Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane also attended the meeting.
Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates
WHO sounds alarm as coronavirus cases rise by 10 lakh in five days
The number of coronavirus infections around the world hit 1.3 crore on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, climbing by a million in just five days.
The pandemic has now killed more than half a million people in six-and-a-half months, and World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there would be no return to the “old normal” for the foreseeable future, especially if preventive measures were neglected.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Hong Kong Latest Updates
Hong Kong preps for stringent social distancing norms from tonight
Hong Kong is set to impose the most stringent physical distancing norms from tonight, reports Reuters. Facemasks will be mandatory for people while on public transport, restaurants can only provide takeaways after 6 pm and 12 types of establishments, including gyms, will be shut for a week.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Updates
Odisha’s COVID-19 toll mounts to 70 with six more deaths
The death toll due to COVID-19 in Odisha rose to 70 on Monday with six more fatalities, while the tally climbed to 13,717 as 616 more people tested positive for the disease, a health department official said.
Four deaths were reported from Ganjam district, the state’s COVID-19 hotspot, while Khurda and Cuttack reported one each, he said.
Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates
Total confirmed cases now at 1.3 crores; toll at 5.7 lakh
The total confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world stand at 1.3 crores, according to the Reuters tracker. This figure includes COVID-19 patients who have recovered and the overall global death toll which stands at 5.7 lakh.
With over 33.2 lakh reported cases to date, the United States is the worst-affected country in the world. The US is followed by Brazil, India, Russia and Peru.