Coronavirus Updates: Health ministry secretary Lav Agarwal tests COVID-19 positive, to observe home isolation

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Health ministry secretary Lav Agarwal tests COVID-19 positive

Union health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal on Friday tweeted that he had tested positive for coronavirus.

Reports said that Agarwal is asymptomatic and had had a meeting with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and the NITI Aayog CEO on Thursday.

Dear All,Just to inform that I have tested positive for Covid 19 and initiating home isolation as per guidelines. Requesting all my friends, colleagues for self monitoring. Contact tracing will be done by Health Team. Hoping to see everyone soon.

— lavagarwal (@lavagarwal) August 14, 2020

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Kovind praises India’s ‘super-human efforts’ in containing COVID-19

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday appreciated the “super-human efforts” in containing the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and said these are “worth emulating” by the wider world.

In his address to the nation on the eve of the 74th Independence Day, the president complimented the COVID warriors and said the nation is indebted to doctors, nurses and other health workers who have been continuously on the forefront of the country’s fight against this virus.

“All corona warriors deserve high praise,” Kovind said in his televised address.

He said it is very reassuring to note that the central government, while anticipating the tremendous challenge, responded effectively and well in time.

“For a country so vast and diverse with high population density, meeting this challenge requires super-human efforts,” the president said.

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Singer SP Balasubrahmanyam is critical, say reports

The health of playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, who had tested positive for coronavirus earlier in August, is critical and he is on life support, reports said on Friday.

A bulletin released by the hospital said that he has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is on life support. The bulletin added that his condition worsened on the night of 13 August.

“He is currently being treated by a set of doctors and his haemodynamic and clinical parameters are being closely monitored,” India Today reported.

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Amit Shah tests negative for COVID-19

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that he has tested negative for COVID-19 and he will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors. Shah tested positive for coronavirus on 2 August and was under treatment in Medanta Hospital, Gurugram.

The minister in a tweet thanked all those who wished for his recovery.

“Today my corona test report has come negative. I thank God and at the moment I express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have blessed me and my family by wishing me well. Will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors,” he said.

“I also thank all the doctors and paramedical staff of Medanta Hospital who helped me in fighting Corona infection and who are treating me,” he added.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala LATEST Updates

Kerala likely to witness 10,000 to 20,000 cases per day during Aug-Sept: health minister 

Kerala is likely to witness a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the months of August and September with daily infections expected to touch between 10,000 to 20,000, State Health Minister KK Shailaja said.

“Experts have opined that during the months of August and September we may witness a surge in COVID-19 cases. We may report between 10,000 to 20,000 cases per day,” she said in a video campaign urging the youth to join the “COVID Brigade” to halt the pandemic spread.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

Nearly 7,000 COVID-19 cases in Puducherry 

Puducherry recorded 6,995 COVID-19 infections on Friday after 328 more individuals tested positive for the novel coronavirus. With 181 cured patients, the union territory registered a total of 4,009 recoveries. 

The COVID-19 toll has reached 106 after four more patients succumbed to the contagious disease, said the health ministry.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

Rahul Gandhi demands equitable vaccine policy 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded that the government clearly define an inclusive and equitable vaccine access policy to ensure its affordability and fair distribution.

India will be one of the COVID-19 vaccine-producing nations.

It needs a clearly-defined, inclusive & equitable vaccine access strategy ensuring availability, affordability & fair distribution.

GOI must do it now.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 14, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra LATEST Updates

147 Maharashtra cops test positive in 24 hrs 

The Maharashtra Police has said that 147 policemen were found COVID-19 positive in the last 24 hours in Maharashtra, taking the tally of cops affected with disease so far to 11,920. The police also said that there were 2,227 active cases and 9,569 recoveries while 124 policemen had succumbed to the disease so far.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

Over 3,800 coronavirus cases in Himachal Pradesh 

Himachal Pradesh registered 20 fresh COVID-19 infections, taking the total to 3,836 on Friday. Fourteen more patients have recovered taking the cumulative figure to 2,449, said the state health department.

Of the total, there are 1,334 active cases, 2,449 recovered cases and 17 deaths till date, said the state health department.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

Odisha reports 54,630 COVID-19 infections

After 1,977 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Odisha, the total climbed to 54,630, said the state health department on Friday. Ten more deaths in the state took the COVID-19 toll to 324. 

“The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 54,630, including 16,353 active cases, 37,900 recovered cases and 324 deaths till date,” said the Odisha Health Department.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

India’s COVID-19 recovery rate at 71.17%

India’s COVID-19 cases crossed 24 lakh on Friday after 64,553 people tested positive for the contagious disease in a day, and the recoveries rose to over 17 lakh, the health ministry said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Telangana LATEST Updates

Telangana reports 1,921 new COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths

With 1,921 new COVID-19 cases in Telangana, the total climbed to 88,396 on Friday, said state health department. Nine more deaths have take the COVID-19 toll to 674.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

India’s COVID-19 toll rises to 48,040

The COVID-19 toll in India has risen to 48,040 after 1,007 more patients succumbed to the highly-contagious disease, the health ministry said on Friday.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

India’s worst COVID-affected States and Union Territories:

Maharashtra: 5,60,126 (includes recoveries, deaths and active cases)

Tamil Nadu: 3,20,355

Andhra Pradesh: 2,64,142

Karnataka: 2,03,200

Delhi: 1,49,460

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

Bharat Biotech-ICMR’s Covaxin safe so far, says report

Preliminary results of Phase 1 clinical trials show that Bharat Biotech-ICMR’s coronavirus vaccine ‘Covaxin’ is safe to use, reported India Today on Friday. Phase 1 of the human trials in most centres chosen for Covaxin trials have concluded.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

Over 64,000 fresh COVID-19 cases in a day, says health ministry 

India registered 64,553 fresh COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, taking the cumulative figure to 24,61,191 on Friday, said the health ministry. At least 1,007 more deaths take the COVID-19 toll in the country to 48,040. 

“The COVID-19 tally in the country rises to 24,61,191 including 6,61,595 active cases, 17,51,556 discharged/migrated and 48,040  deaths,” said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Updates

Lucknow CMO issues hospital rates for admitting COVID-19 patients

The chief medical officer of Lucknow, RP Singh said that Rs 10,000 will be charged for isolation beds including supportive care and oxygen for COVID-19 patients while, Rs 15,000 for ICU without need for ventilaor care and Rs 18,000 for ICU with ventilator care.

Chief Medical Officer Lucknow, RP Singh issues hospital rates for per day of admission in the wake of #COVID19 pandemic. Rs 10,000 for isolation beds including supportive care & oxygen, Rs 15,000 for ICU without need for ventilaor care and Rs 18,000 for ICU with ventilator care. pic.twitter.com/QQZyCMsFAZ

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 14, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

8.3 lakh COVID-19 tests in past 24 hrs, total figure at 2.68 crore: health ministry 

With tests of over 8 lakh COVID-19 samples, India tested the highest the number of samples for the coronavirus disease, said the health ministry on Thursday. This took the cumulative testing figure in India to 2,68,45,688 crore.

A record 8,30,391 samples were tested on Wednesday in the country. 

“In pursuance of the ‘’test, track and treat’’ strategy, India is geared up to reach the testing capacity of 10 lakh tests per day,” the ministry said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

10 more COVID-19 deaths, 3,906 fresh cases in Bihar

Bihar claimed to have conducted a record number of over one lakh COVID-19 tests in the past 24 hours, during which 10 more patients succumbed to the virus and 3,906 fresh cases were reported.

According to a bulletin issued by the state health department, the toll rose to 484, while the tally soared to 94,459, with 31,567 active cases.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India LATEST Updates

Final exam crucial step in student’s academic career: UGC tells SC

The UGC has told the Supreme Court that final examination is a “crucial step” in the academic career of a student and the state government cannot say that its 6 July directive, asking universities and colleges to conduct final year examinations by 30 September amid the COVID-19 pandemic, was “not binding”.

The UGC said the 6 July guidelines are based on the recommendations of experts and have been made after due deliberation and it is wrong to claim that it will not be possible to conduct the final examinations in terms of the guidelines.

“That apart, the state govt (Maharashtra) avers that the next academic session must begin in the interest of students, while, at the same time, contending that the final examinations should be cancelled and degrees can be awarded without such examinations even though such a step would irreparably damage the future of students. Such contentions by the state govt are clearly therefore meritless,” the UGC said in its reply to the affidavit filed by Maharashtra earlier.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir LATEST Updates

Vaishno Devi Yatra to resume from 16 August

Nearly five months after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra was suspended as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir administration announced that the Yatra would be resumed on 16 August.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had begun preparations of the resumption of the Yatra months in advance. The temple premises are being regularly sanitised and all the norms amid the COVID-19 pandemic are in place to welcome pilgrims.

J&K: Vaishno Devi yatra will resume from August 16, nearly 5 months after it was suspended due to COVID-19. A local in Katra says, "Only 500 pilgrims will be allowed per day. Govt should allow more people with a condition that they produce COVID-19 negative certificate." (13.08) pic.twitter.com/rasBPbdsu9

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2020