Coronavirus LATEST Updates: Karnataka reported 7040 new cases (including 2,131 cases from Bengaluru Urban), 6680 124 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 2,26,966 and toll to 3,947. Former India opener Chetan Chauhan died on Sunday due to COVID-19 related complications after being put on life support for nearly 36 hours, his brother Pushpendra Chauhan said. With a sharp fall in the case fatality rate to below 2 percent, India has one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality globally, according to the health ministry. Over the last 24 hours, 303 new positive cases and one death were recorded in the Maharashtra Police force. The reported active COVID-19 cases in India now stand at 6,77,444 with as many as 18,62,258 COVID-19 patients discharged so far, the Union Health Ministry has said in its latest update. A spike of 65,002 cases took India’s COVID-19 tally past 25 lakh on Saturday, just a day after it crossed the 24 lakh mark, while the number of fatalities neared 50,000 with 996 deaths, Union Health Ministry data showed. According to figures from the ministry, 18.08 lakh people have so far recuperated from the disease, pushing the recovery rate to 71.61 per cent. India has been reporting over 60,000 cases daily since August 7, barring August 11 when the country registered 53,601 new instances of the infection. The COVID-19 caseload stood at 25,26,192, while the death-toll climbed to 49,036, data updated on Saturday at 8 am showed. Case fatality rate has declined to 1.94 per cent. There are 6,68,220,active cases of coronavirus infections in the country, which is 26.45 per cent of the total caseload, while the number of recoveries has risen to 18,08,936. India’’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh mark on August 7. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 2,85,63,095 samples have been tested up to August 14. Of these, 8,68,679 were examined on Friday, the highest in a day so far. Of the 996 fresh deaths reported, 364 are from Maharashtra, 117 from Tamil Nadu, 104 from Karnataka, 97 from Andhra Pradesh, 60 from West Bengal, 55 from Uttar Pradesh, 25 from Punjab, 16 each from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, 15 each from Gujarat and Jharkhand, 13 from Rajasthan, 11 each from Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir and 10 each from Kerala, Odisha and Telangana. Besides, seven fatalities have been reported from Haryana, six from Assam, four each from Puducherry, Tripura and Uttarakhand, two each from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Goa while Arunachal Pradesh and Chandigarh have registered one fatality each. Of the total 49,036 deaths, Maharashtra counts for the maximum with 19,427, followed by 5,514 in Tamil Nadu, 4,178 in Delhi, 3,717 in Karnataka, 2,746 in Gujarat, 2,475 in Andhra Pradesh, 2,335 in Uttar Pradesh, 2,319 in West Bengal and 1,081 in Madhya Pradesh. So far, 846 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 731 in Punjab, 684 in Telangana, 520 in Jammu and Kashmir, 518 in Haryana, 442 in Bihar, 324 in Odisha, 224 in Jharkhand, 175 in Assam, 147 in Uttarakhand and 139 in Kerala. Chhattisgarh has registered 130 deaths, Puducherry 106, Goa 93, Tripura 50, Chandigarh 28, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 24, Himachal Pradesh 19, Manipur 13, Ladakh nine, Nagaland eight, Meghalaya six, Arunachal Pradesh five, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two and Sikkim one. According to the Health Ministry, more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
Coronavirus Updates: Karnataka reports 7,040 new cases; health minister B Sriramulu discharged after recovery
Coronavirus Updates: Sriramulu was admitted to Bengaluru’s Bowring hospital on 9 August after testing positive for COVID-19
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Coronavirus in Meghalaya LATEST Updates
Four-day complete lockdown in Mizoram
The Mizoram government on Sundaym imposed a four-day complete lockdown in the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) area to curb the spread of COVID-19, an official said. The lockdown will come into effect from the midnight of Sunday and will remain in force till 4.30 am on August 21, he said. The decision in this regard was taken during a meeting chaired by Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana during the day, the official said.
He said a massive secondary contact tracing exercise will be launched and frontline workers will be tested duringthe lockdown period. Besides, random sampling will be done, the official said. Mizoram registered its highest single-day spike of 64 COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
PTI
Coronavirus in Meghalaya LATEST Updates
Night curfew in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district extended till 24 Aug
The night curfew imposed in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, under which Shillong falls, has been extended till August 24, officials said on Sunday. The night curfew has been in force from 9 pm till 5 am every day, they said.
East Khasi Hills district has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the northeastern state at 388. “The order was issued to put in place preventive and mitigation measures and to identify and take stringent steps so that the spread of COVID-19 is contained,” District Magistrate Matsiewdor War Nongbri said.
PTI
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates
Pune reports 2,800 fresh infections
Pune district in Maharashtra reported 2,800 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the overall number to 1,25,197, a health official said on Sunday. The toll in the district crossed the 3,000-mark to reach at 3,022 after 65 patients succumbed to the infection, he said.“Of the 2,800 cases, 1,522 were from areas within the limits of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), where the infection count has gone up to 74,098,” the official said. As many as 1,412 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, he added.
PTI
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Updates
90 inmates of govt shelter home for girls in Bareilly test positive
Ninety inmates of a government shelter home for girls in Bareilly have tested positive for COVID-19, an official said on Sunday.Deputy Director of Women Welfare Department Nita Ahirwar said, “In the past two days, 90 inmates of Nari Niketan here have tested positive for COVID-19. All of them have been isolated.“How the inmates got contracted the coronavirus infection is being investigated, he said.
PTI
Coronavirus in West Bengal LATEST Updates
West Bengal registers 51 deaths, 3,066 new cases
West Bengal’s COVID-19 toll rose to 2,428 with 51 more patients losing their lives on Sunday, as per an official bulletin. The state also reported 3,066 new cases of coronavirus infection, taking the tally to 1,16,498, the bulletin issued by the Health Department said. Total 2,935 people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, improving the discharge rate to 74.48 percent. There are 27,299 active cases in the state at present, it said
Coronavirus in Kerala LATEST Updates
Kerala reports 1,530 new case; CM, 7 other ministers test negative
Kerala on Sunday reported over 1,500 COVID-19 cases for the fourth straight day, taking the tally to 44,415 while Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and seven of his cabinet colleagues along with top officials tested negative, several of them for the second time. As many as 53 health workers were among the 1,530 fresh cases, 1,351 of them through contacts, and ten COVID-19 deaths took the toll due to the disease to 156, Health Minister KK Shailaja said in a health department release. Vijayan, Shailaja and others, who went into self- quarantine on Friday after the Malappuram District Collector contracted the virus days after accompanying them to the air crash site there, tested negative for coronavirus, sources in the Chief Minister’s office said.
PTI
Coronavirus in Karnataka LATEST Updates
Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu thanks colleagues, doctors after recovery
Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu said he has been discharged from Bengaluru’s Bowring Hospital after recovering from COVID-19. The minister had tested positive on 9 August. “It is owing to the dedicated service of the doctors and medical staff there that I have recovered quickly and I am indebted and grateful to them for the same,” the minister said on Twitter.
3/3
— B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) August 16, 2020
I also take this opportunity to thank our Chief Minister and all my cabinet colleagues for all the support extended during this period.#Covid19#Bowring_And_Lady_Curzon_Hospitals
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LATEST Updates
Madhya Pradesh records highest single-day rise of 1,022 new cases
Madhya Pradesh reported its highest single-day spike of 1,022 coronavirus cases on Sunday, pushing the state’s overall count to 45,455, reports PTI quoting state health officials. The toll rose to 1,105 as 11 patients succumbed to the infection, the officials said. Of the new cases, the highest number of 214 were reported in Indore, followed by 126 in Jabalpur, 123 in Bhopal and 65 in Gwalior. The number of cases in Indore, the worst-hit district in the state, climbed to 9,804 of which 342 people have died.
A total of 685 patients were discharged from hospitals in the state after recovery during the day.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates
Mumbai reports 1,010 new cases, 49 deaths and 719 recoveries
Mumbai’s coronavirus case count went up to 1,28,726 with 1,010 more testing positive today, reports ANI quoting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). With 47 deaths, the toll rose to 7,130 while 719 recoveries took the active caseload to 17,828 active cases.
1,010 new #COVID19 cases, 719 recovered cases and 47 deaths reported in Mumbai today. Total number of cases now at 1,28,726 including 1,03,468 recovered/discharged cases, 17,828 active cases and 7,130 deaths: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/No0V1KHS1x
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2020
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates
Toll in Maharashtra climbs to 20,037
The tolld ue to COVID-19 in Maharashtra breached the 20,000-mark on Sunday after 288 patients succumbed to the infection, a state health official said. The state reported 11,111 new positive cases during the day, which pushed its overall tally to 5,95,865, he said. The number of deaths caused by the infection now
stands at 20,037. A total of 8,837 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on Sunday, taking the count of such persons to 4,17,123. There are 1,58,395 active cases in the state now, the official added.
PTI
Coronavirus in Punjab LATEST Updates
Punjab revenue minister tests positive
Punjab Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar has tested positive for coronavirus, a health official said on Sunday. He is now under home isolation and samples of his family members have also been taken for testing, the official said. Kangar had hoisted the national flag in Mansa during Independence Day celebrations on Saturday. A health official said the health teams have been tracing people who came in contact with the minister. Those who were in close contact with Kangar would be tested for COVID-19, he added.
Kangar is the second minister from the state to have contracted coronavirus. after Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa.
PTI
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Solicitor General lauds PM’s ‘responsive’ leadership
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Sunday lauded the “responsive” leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ensuring that India passes through the international crisis of COVID-19 pandemic with “minimal” and “unavoidable” damage. The law officer also hailed Indian judiciary for functioning on a daily basis to provide access to justice to everyone in the country. “It is impossible to envisage the situation but for the responsive leadership of our Prime Minister. I don’t think we could have passed through this international crisis with minimal damage which was unavoidable. It is a shivering idea to imagine what would have happened under any other leadership,” he said.
PTI
Coronavirus in Karnataka LATEST Update
Karnataka heath minister B Sriramulu discharged after recovery
Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu discharged from Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru after recovering from #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/iE0WZtjo2h
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2020
Coronavirus in India LATEST Update
Amit Shah condoles Chetan Chauhan’s death
Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the death of UP Minister and former Indian cricketer Chetan Chauhan. “Chetan Chauhan served the country throughout his life first as a sportsman and later as a public servant. His death is a great loss for Indian politics and cricket.”, he said in a Twitter post.
उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार के मंत्री व पूर्व क्रिकेटर श्री चेतन चौहान जी ने अपने जीवन में पहले एक खिलाड़ी के रूप में और बाद में एक जनसेवक के रूप में देश की सेवा की। उनका निधन भारतीय राजनीति और क्रिकेट के लिए बहुत बड़ी क्षति है। मैं उनके परिजनों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ। ॐ शांति
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 16, 2020
Coronavirus in India LATEST Update
Narendra Modi extends condolences to Chetan Chauhan’s family
Prime MInsiter Narendra Modi expressed grief over UP minister Chetan Chauhan’s death and extended condolences to his family. “Chetan Chauhan distinguished himself as a wonderful cricketer and later as a diligent political leader. He made effective contributions to public service and strengthening the BJP in UP,” said Modi.
Shri Chetan Chauhan Ji distinguished himself as a wonderful cricketer and later as a diligent political leader. He made effective contributions to public service and strengthening the BJP in UP. Anguished by his passing away. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2020
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LATEST Update
Rajasthan Chief Justice tests negative after scare
Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court Indrajit Mahanty on Sunday tested negative for coronavirus after a scare that he has contracted the infection, reports PTI .Jaipur Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Narottam Sharma said the first report had come out positive due to a technical error in the RT-PCR test. “However, he has tested negative in two subsequent reports,” Sharma said, adding that there is a possibilty of an error cropping up due to mistakes by the health staff or technical issues. Sharma said the health staff has been asked to remain vigilant with utmost accuracy.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday had expressed concern after the chief justice tested positive for the infection. He had wished him speedy recovery in a tweet. Earlier, the work at the Rajasthan High Court here was suspended for three days from 17 to 19 August.
Coronavirus in Delhi LATEST Update
Delhi reports 652 new case, eight fatalities
Delhi’s coronavirus case count went up to 1,52,580 with the addition of 652 new cases during the day, reports PTI. The toll from the disease rose to 4,196 with eight more deaths. With 1,310 recoveries being reported in the last 24 hours, the recovery rate in the National Capital has improved to 90.15 percent.
Coronavirus in Kerala LATEST Update
Over 350 prisoners test positive in Thiruvananthapuram central jail
The Coronavirus pandemic has hit the central jail in Thiruvananthapuram with more than 350 inmates testing positive in the last one week and a murder accused succumbing to the pathogen on Sunday, jail superintendent Santhosh S told PTI. The undertrial prisoner was the first to test positive for the virus in the prison at nearby Poojapura and in the last one week 359 more cases, including a staff, have been reported, he said. As many as 145 cases were detected on Sunday alone, he said adding barring three, shifted to hospital, others have been kept in a special isolation area within the prison.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Update
Former India opener Chetan Chauhan succumbs to COVID-19
Former India opener Chetan Chauhan died on Sunday due to COVID-19 related complications after being put on life support for nearly 36 hours, his brother Pushpendra Chauhan said. Chauhan was 73 and is survived by his wife and son Vinayak, who is scheduled to arrive from Melbourne later in the day. “My elder brother Shri Chetan Chauhan has left us today after fighting a good battle. I sincerely thank everyone who had prayed for his recovery. His son Vinayak will be reaching anytime and we will then perform last rites,” Pushpendra told PTI.
Chauhan, who was Sunil Gavaskar’s longest serving opening partner, was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi PGI in Lucknow on July 12 after being found COVID-19 positive. Due to kidney related ailments, his health deteriorated and he was shifted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram. On friday night, he had a multi-organ failure and was put on ventilator support.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Update
Dilip Kumar’s brothers test positive, hospitalised
Legendary actor Dilip Kumar’s brothers, Ehsaan Khan and Aslam Khan, have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in hospital, reports PTI. Ehsaan, 90 and Aslam, 88, were admitted to Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night after they complained of breathlessness. Both the brothers, who live separately from Dilip Kumar, are being treated by Dr Jalil Parkar. “They were brought to the hospital late Saturday night. They have tested positive for COVID-19. Their oxygen levels are low and both of them are on non-invasive ventilator support,” Parkar told PTI.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Update
Recoveries in Uttar Pradesh cross one lakh
The number of COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the disease crossed the one lakh-mark in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday even as the state reported 56 more fatalities due to the coronavirus, pushing the death toll to 2,449, an official said. The number of patients who have recovered from the disease now stands at 1,00,432 in Uttar Pradesh and the recovery rate is 65.03 per cent, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.
PTI
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Update
Lockdown to be lifted in step-wise manner, says Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said the process of lifting the lockdown in the state would be done in a stepwise manner. The threat of COVID-19 still persists, Thackeray said on Saturday, and added that he does not want a second wave of the deadly viral infection in the state. It is more important how to lift the lockdown than when to come out of it, Thackeray said in a video interaction with a team of doctors who are part of the task force set up by his government to combat COVID-19.
The Maharashtra government last month extended the lockdown in the state till 31 August.Till Saturday, the state reported 5,84,754 COVID-19m cases and 19,749 deaths due to the disease, as per official figures.
PTI
Coronavirus in Mizoram LATEST Update
Mizoram records highest singe-day spike of 64 new cases
Mizoram reported its highest single-day spike of 64 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, pushing the tally to 777, reports PTI. Of the new cases, 50 were reported from Aizawl district and 14 from Kolasib bordering Assam, an official said. The figure also includes 40 security personnel. Mizoram now has 421 active cases, while 356 people have so far recovered from the disease, the official said, adding, the recovery rate in the state has declined to 45.81 percent.
Coronavirus in US LATEST Update
USFDA clears simple saliva test for faster detection of COVID-19
The US health watchdog has authorised the emergency use of a new and expensive saliva based laboratory diagnostic test for COVID-19 that could be a game changer in the diagnosis of the infection as it will enable rapid testing amongst more people easily, reports PTI. Stephen Hahn, the Food and Drugs Administration Commissioner, said the new saliva test would increase efficiency and avoid shortage of crucial test components like reagents.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Update
Monsoon Session of Parliament to witness many first-time measures
Hectic preparations are underway for the Monsoon Session of Parliamen, which is likely to begin in the last week of August or early September, reports PTI. The preparations include several first-time measures in view of the COVID-19 pandemic such as staggered sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and use of both chambers and galleries to accommodate members while following physical distancing norms, officials said. According to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, members of the Upper House will be seated in both chambers and galleries during the session. Similar seating arrangements are being worked out by the Lok Sabha Secretariat as well. For the first time, large display screens and consoles for participation from galleries, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, special cables between the two Houses and polycarbonate separators will be in place.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Updates
Uttar Pradesh reports 4,454 new cases
In the last 24 hours, Uttar Pradesh recorded 4,454 new cases, taking the active cases to 51,537, reports ANI quoting Additional Chief Secretary Health Amit Mohan Prasad. “So far 1,00,432 people have been discharged. 2,449 people have died of infection so far,” he said.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Sanjay Raut says Russia gave lesson of being ‘atmanirbhar’ with vaccine
In a dig at the Narendra Modi government over its push for self-reliance, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Russia gave the first lesson to the world on being ‘Aatmanirbhar’ by introducing a COVID-19 vaccine while India has just been preaching about it.
Lauding Russia for the vaccine, Raut, in his weekly column ‘Rokhtokh’ in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, said this was a sign of being a superpower, and added that Indian politicians will not follow Russia’s example as a model since “they are in love with America”.
_**Read full report here**_Coronavirus in Meghalaya LATEST Updates
63 test positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya, takes tally to 1,354
At least 63 more people, including 39 BSF personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya, taking the northeastern state’s virus count to 1,354 on Sunday, reports PTI.
Meghalaya currently has 693 active cases, while the number of recoveries stands at 655. Six people have succumbed to the infection so far.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Ex-Goa CM’s son and BJP leader Utpal Parrikar tests COVID-19 positive
BJP leader Utpal Parrikar, who is the son of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, said he has tested positive for coronavirus and got admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors, reports PTI.
After his test results came out, Uptal Parrikar told reporters on Saturday evening that he tested positive for COVID-19. “Its a mild infection, so I would be home quarantined, he then said.
Coronavirus in Delhi LATEST Updates
Delhi’s DMA issues guidlines ahead of forthcoming festivals
Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Sunday issued instructions to District Magistrates ahead of forthcoming festivals, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. During Ganesh Chaturthi, no idol of Lord Ganesha to be set up in public places. No permission to be granted for procession during Moharram, reports ANI.
Delhi Disaster Management Authority issues instructions to Dist Magistrates ahead of forthcoming festivals, in the wake of #COVID19. During Ganesh Chaturthi, no idol of Lord Ganesha to be set up in public places. No permission to be granted for procession during Moharram. pic.twitter.com/2sF18vGwER
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2020
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LATEST Updates
Work at Rajasthan HC suspended for 3 days after chief justice tests positive
Work at the Rajasthan High Court here will remain suspended for the next three days after its Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty reportedly tested positive for coronavirus, reports PTI
The registrar general of the high court, in a notice, said all the persons concerned are requested to get themselves tested for COVID-19. The facility of testing is available in the Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur bench during the three-day period, the notice added.
Coronavirus in Singapore LATEST Updates
Singapore reports 86 new cases; total reaches 55,747
Singapore reported 86 new coronavirus infections, including two community and six imported cases, taking the nationwide tally to 55,747, the health ministry said on Sunday. Most of the new cases are work permit holders currently under quarantine, the ministry said without giving the exact figure, reports PTI.
The six imported patients are placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, the ministry said. Of the two community cases, one is a Singaporean national and the other is a foreign worker, it said.
Coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh LATEST Updates
With 51 new COVID-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh, total now at 2,658
At least 51 more people, including 28 security personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, raising the state’s tally to 2,658, a senior health department official told PTI on Sunday. Barring two, all of them are asymptomatic, he said.
A total of 1,176 people, including 534 security personnel, have tested positive for the infection in the state since August 1, the official said.
Coronavirus in Gujarat LATEST Updates
23 prisoners of Rajkot Central jail test coronavirus positive
As many as 23 prisoners of the Rajkot Central Jail in Gujarat have tested positive for coronavirus, a senior official said told PTI on Sunday.
Rapid antigen tests were conducted on 94 inmates and results of 23 of them, including undertrials and convicts, came out positive on Saturday night, jail superintendent Banno Joshi said. “The infected inmates are asymptomatic and have been isolated. We are in the process of getting them hospitalised,” Joshi said.
There are total 1,386 inmates in the Rajkot Central Jail as on date. Earlier, 11 inmates had tested positive for coronavirus on various occasions. With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the jail has gone up to 34, the official said. The district has so far reported 3,173 COVID-19 cases.
Coronavirus in Pakistan LATEST Updates
Pakistan’s coronavirus total jumps to 288,717, toll at 6,168
Pakistan’s coronavirus tally reached 288,717 on Sunday after 670 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said. Six more fatalities were reported overnight, pushing the death toll to 6,168, it said.
While 266,301 patients were recovered so far, 769 are in critical condition at various hospitals across the country. With the detection of the 670 new cases, Pakistan’s coronavirus tally now stands at 288,717, the ministry said.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
‘Condition much better, stable’, says Pranab Mukherjee’s son on ex-president’s health
The medical condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee is much better and stable, his son Abhijit Mukherjee informed on Sunday.
He said that the vital parameters of the former President, who underwent life-saving emergency surgery for the brain clot on August 10, following which his health status had worsened, are stable and he is responding to the treatment.
On 10 August, the former President had informed that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
_**Read full report here**_Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
98-year-old war veteran defeats COVID-19
Indian Navy on Sunday said that a 98-yr-old retired war veteran Sepoy Ramu Laxman Sakpal has defeated the novel coronavirus, reports ANI.
“Sepoy Ramu Laxman Sakpal (Retd), a 98-yr-old war veteran, residing at Nerul was admitted to Naval Hospital Ship Asvini in a critical state. He was diagnosed with Pneumonia due to COVID a few weeks ago. His condition was successfully managed, leading to freedom from COVID-19,” the statement from the Indian Navy read.
Sakpal (Retd) was accorded a warm farewell at INHS Asvini, the primary naval healthcare centre in the war against COVID-19 and managing the care of serving and retired COVID-19 patients from Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Coronavirus in Assam LATEST Updates
Assam’s COVID-19 tally tops 75,000, toll climbs to 182
Assam’s COVID-19 tally surpassed the 75,000-mark with 1,057 fresh cases, while the death toll mounted to 182 as eight more people succumbed to the virus, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The state’s coronavirus caseload stood at 75,558, while 53,286 people have so far recovered from the disease, he said. Assam now has 22,087 active COVID-19 cases, the minister said in a tweet late on Saturday.
“Our positivity rate continues to be low at 5.08 percent, which gives us confidence,” he said.
📌 Discharge Alert
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 15, 2020
1⃣5⃣9⃣3⃣ patients discharged on Aug 15
Our total number of recovered patients is more than double to that of active patients. Kudos to doctors👏
😊Total Discharged Patients: 53286
😑Active Patients: 22087
12:20 AM /Aug 16#AssamCovidCount #AssamFightsCovid pic.twitter.com/kyQpkfWq5a
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Devotees start thronging Vaishno Devi Shrine as religious places open in J&K
The famous Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir along with other religious places across the Union Territory reopened for devotees on Sunday morning after remaining closed for almost five months due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The gates of the shrine reopened for the devotees around 6 am and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Ramesh Kumar was seen taking last minute review of the measures to ensure safety of the pilgrims from the dreaded disease.
“The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage was stopped on March 18 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and now when the administration had decided to reopen the religious places, the board had taken all necessary measures keeping in mind the challenge posed by the dreaded disease,” Kumar said.
In the first week, there shall be a cap of 2,000 pilgrims each day, of which 1,900 would be from Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 100 from outside.
Coronavirus in Telangana LATEST Updates
Telangana COVID tally rises to 91,361
On Sunday, Telangana’s COVID tally rose 91,361 after 1,102 fresh cases were registered, as per PTI.. The toll in the state reached 693 after nine more patients succumbed to the disease, as per the health department.


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