Coronavirus Updates: 11,514 new COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra today; tally rises to 4,79,779

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates

Mamata says Kolkata cord blood bank to be used for COVID-19

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said the cord blood bank in the city will be used for treating COVID-19 patients in addition to the plasma bank at the state-run Calcutta Medical College Hospital.

She announced that psychology students will be inducted for tele counselling of COVID-19 patients and their families. She also cautioned that none should impersonate representatives from COVID-19 testing centres and said the people should get their samples tested only at government authorised laboratories

(PTI)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Himachal Pradesh Latest Updates

Himachal minister tests COVID-19 positive

Sukhram Chaudhary, Himachal Pradesh power minister tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday. He took oath as state minister in Shimla on 30 July, ANI reported.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra reports 11,514 new cases

The Maharashtra health department said that 11,514 COVID-19 cases and 316 deaths were reported in the state on Thursday. Total number of cases in the state is now at 4,79,779, including 1,46,305 active cases, 3,16,375 recovered and 16,792 deaths.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra guv inaugurates new COVID-19 lab

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday inaugurated the new COVID-19 testing laboratory (molecular lab) of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mira Bhayandar through the digital platform from Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. 

The governor asks the hospital to give ‘motherly affection’ to patients, ANI reported.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari inaugurates the new #COVID19 testing laboratory (molecular lab) of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mira Bhayandar through the digital platform from Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. Governor asks the hospital to give ‘motherly affection’ to patients pic.twitter.com/OcsJMmYP7t

— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Madhya Pradesh Latest Updates

MP govt says lockdown only on Sundays in select districts

“It has been decided that lockdown will be in place on Sundays only in Bhopal and some other districts. Hotels and restaurants can now function till 10 pm. The curfew will remain in place between 10 pm and 5 am,” said Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra on Thursday.

Coronavirus Outbreak in Kerala Latest Updates

Over 18,000 cured patients in Kerala so far, says govt

Kerala health minister KK Shailja on Thursday said that 1,298 new COVID-19 cases, three deaths and 800 recoveries were reported. The number of active cases now stands at 11,983, total death toll at 97.

18,337 COVID-19 infected people have recovered so far in Kerala. 25,205 samples were analyzed during the last 24 hours. A total of 9,08,355 samples have so far been sent for testing and the results of 6,346 samples are yet to come, she added,

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

1,299 new COVID-19 cases in Delhi

1,299 COVID-19 cases, 1,008 cured patients, and 15 deaths were reported in Delhi on Thursday. Total number of cases in the National Capital is now at 1,41,531, including 1,27,124 recovered, 10,348 active cases and 4,059 deaths.

5,737 RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 14,699 Rapid antigen tests conducted today. A total of 11,20,318 test conducted so far, the Delhi government said.

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Updates

‘Proactive, multi-level institutional response’ helped curb COVID-19, says Centre

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday told the WHO’s southeast Asia director that India’s “proactive and graded multi-level institutional response to Covid resulted in maintain very low cases and deaths per million population”.

This was achieved and maintained despite high population density, low fractional GDP spending and per capita doctor and hospital bed availability compared to developed nations, he added.

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

WHO tells southeast Asia nations to accelerate resumption of healthcare facilities

The World Health Organization on Thursday urged the member nations of its southeast Asia region to maintain essential health services and accelerate resumption of healthcare facilities hit by the pandemic as an integral part of the COVID-19 response.

  The pandemic has put immense strain on health systems across the South-East Asia Region. 

Previous disease outbreaks have shown that disruption to essential services caused by an outbreak can be more deadly than the outbreak itself, said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region, on Thursday. 

“We must fast track efforts and do all we can to avoid that from happening while continuing efforts to break the COVID-19 transmission chain,” she stressed during a virtual meeting with ministers of health from the region.

(PTI)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Updates

Delhi govt sends proposal of lifting curbs to LG, says report

ANI reported that the Delhi government on Thursday sent a 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.

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Updates

CPM leader Shyamlal Chakraborty succumbs to COVID-19 in Bengal

Senior CPM trade union leader and former West Bengal transport minister Shyamal Chakraborty passed away at a hospital in Kolkata on Thursday at the age of 76. He had tested COVID-19 positive.

Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LATEST Updates

157 new cases reported in Indore, total rises to 8,014

As many as 157 people tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 8,014, reports PTI.

After the easing of restrictions in the last one month, there has been a spurt in COVID-19 cases in the state’s industrial hub.  The death rate due to COVID-19 in the district stands at 4.05 percent as against the national average of 2.07 percent, as per an analysis of the data.

The district administration has been easing restrictions in a phased manner for different social and commercial activities in order to restore normal life gradually.

Coronavirus in Karnataka LATEST Updates

Belthangady MLA tests positive for coronavirus

Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja has tested positive for COVID-19. In a Twitter message, the legislator said he got himself tested Wednesday as he was having a mild fever, reports PTI.

Poonja said he was not having any other symptoms and is taking treatment at home. Poonja had recently met Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Surge in global cases subdued early signs of economic revival, says RBI Guv

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said that global economic activity has remained fragile and the surge in COVID-19 cases has subdued early signs of revival.

Pinning hope on the agriculture sector, he said, Kharif crop harvest is expected to boost rural demand. Economic activity had started to recover, but a surge in coronavirus infections has forced imposition of lockdowns, he added.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Centre releases Rs 890 cr as 2nd tranche of package for COVID-19 preparedness

The Centre has released Rs 890.32 crore as the second installment of the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package to 22 states and Union Territories, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. The amount of financial assistance to each state and Union Territories is based on their COVID-19 caseload.

Those who received financial assistance in the second installment include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim, the ministry said.

Coronavirus in Puducherry LATEST Updates

Puducherry’s COVID-19 total rises to over 6,000 with 195 new cases

Puducherry records 195 new coronavirus cases and five deaths on Thursday, PTI reports, quoting a health department official. The total tally of infections in the Union Territory is now 6,621 and the toll is 70.

Coronavirus in Jharkhand LATEST Updates

Jharkhand reports over 1,000 new cases today

Jharkhand registers 1,060 coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the total tally of infections in the state to 15,130, ANI reports, quoting the state health department.

Coronavirus in Odisha LATEST Updates

Odisha registers over 40,000 cases, toll now at 235

Odisha’s tally of coronavirus cases crosses the 40,000-mark on Thursday, after the state records its biggest jump in infections with 1,699 cases, PTI reports. Ten more fatalities push the toll to 235.

Coronavirus in Telangana LATEST Updates

Telangana reports 2,092 new cases; 13 new deaths push toll to 589

The surge in COVID-19 cases continued in Telangana, with 2,092 new cases being reported, the highest single-day spike so far, while the death toll mounted to 589 after 13 more people succumbed to the virus.

The case fatality rate in the state was 0.80 percent, while it was 2.09 percent at the national level, it said. The total number of people who recovered from the infection stood at 52,103, while 20,358 were under treatment.

The recovery rate was 71.3 per cent in the state, while it was 67.19 per cent in the country.

Coronavirus in Telangana LATEST Updates

Telangana to conduct 40,000 COVID-19 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.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Repo rate remains at 4%, need to ensure inflation is within target: RBI governor

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 4 percent, Governor Shaktikanta Das announced on Thursday. 

“An accommodative stance of the monetary policy will continue as long as necessary to revive growth and mitigate the impact of the pandemic while ensuring that inflation remains within target going forward. RBI is perhaps the only central bank in the world which has set up a special quarantine facility for continuity of critical operations,” Das said.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Repo rate remains at 4%, need to ensure inflation is within target: RBI governor

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 4 percent, Governor Shaktikanta Das announced on Thursday.

“An accommodative stance of the monetary policy will continue as long as necessary to revive growth and mitigate the impact of the pandemic while ensuring that inflation remains within target going forward. RBI is perhaps the only central bank in the world which has set up a special quarantine facility for continuity of critical operations,” Das said.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Harsh Vardhan says DRDO to help create 10,000 beds for COVID-19 patients

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan addresses a virtual meeting of the regional directors of World Health Organization South-East Asia. “Within 10-20 days, with the help of Defence Research and Development Organisation, we were able to create from 1,000 to 10,000 beds for Covid-19 patients,” he says. “We are also ensuring mental well being of populace amid pandemic.”

#WatchNow!! @WHO Executive Board Chairman & Hon'ble Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan participating in a virtual meeting with RD, @WHOSEARO & Health Ministers of Member States @PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA https://t.co/e39e3Me2NJ

— DrHarshVardhanOffice (@DrHVoffice) August 6, 2020

Coronavirus in Rajasthan LATEST Updates

Rajasthan reports 539 new cases, takes total to over 48,000

539 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Rajasthan today till 10.30 am. Total confirmed cases in the state have risen to 48,383, including a death toll of 753 and 34,318 recoveries.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

India’s recovery rate now at 67.6%

As many as 13,28,336 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the Union Health Ministry has said in its latest update.  India’s COVID-19 recovery rate now stands at 67.6 percent.

Coronavirus in US LATEST Updates

Facebook deletes Trump post claiming children are ‘almost immune’ to COVID-19

Social media giant Facebook, for the first time, has removed a post from US President Donald Trump in which he claimed that children were “almost immune” to COVID-19, saying it violated its policy against spreading “misinformation” about the novel coronavirus.

The post in question was a video clip of a Trump interview on Fox News Channel uploaded by the Trump campaign on Wednesday. The US President claims in the clip that children are “almost immune” to COVID-19.

Coronavirus in Canada LATEST Updates

Pfizer, Moderna strike deals with Canadian govt to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses

Canada announced Wednesday it has signed two agreements with American pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Moderna for the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021.

Millions of doses will be supplied, but the vaccines are still in development while negotiations continue with other potential suppliers, Procurement Minister Anita Anand told a news conference.

They will also still need to obtain Health Canada regulatory approvals before being distributed to Canadians, she said.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

India registers over 5.9 lakh actives cases, fatality rate to 2.07%

There are 5,95,501 active COVID-19 cases in the country presently which contribute 30.31 per cent of the total cases. The fatality rate has further dropped to 2.07 per cent, the data stated.

This is the eighth consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000.

Coronavirus in Mizoram LATEST Updates

29 security personnel among 33 new COVID-19 patients 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.

Mizoram now has 251 active COVID-19 patients, while 286 people have recovered from the disease. The recovery rate in the state stands at 53.25 per cent, the official said, adding that one patient, who has migrated to Assam, is not included in the Mizoram’s COVID-19 tally.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

India registers over 56,000 new cases, takes total to 19.6 lakh

India registers 56,282 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the total number of infections to 19,64,536. The toll rises by 904 to 40,699.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Over 6.6. lakh samples tested yesterday, says ICMR

As many as 6,64,949 samples were tested on Wednesday, says the Indian Council of Medical Research. The total number of COVID19 samples tested up to 5 August is 2,21,49,351.

Coronavirus in Gujarat LATEST Updates

PMO announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for kin of those killed in fire

An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Ahmedabad, the PMO said in a tweet.

Ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Rs. 50,000 each would be given to those injured due to the hospital fire.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 6, 2020

Coronavirus in Gujarat LATEST Updates

Gujarat CM orders probes in hospital fire, asks for report within 3 days

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered a probe in the incident of fire at Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Sangeeta Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) will be leading the probe and the CM has ordered for a report within 3 days.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Narendra Modi condoles deaths in Ahmedabad hospital fire 

Saddened by the tragic hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to CM @vijayrupanibjp Ji and Mayor @ibijalpatel Ji regarding the situation. Administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2020

Coronavirus LATEST Updates

New drug RLF-100 shows dramatic results for critical COVID-19 patients

Doctors at a hospital here have used a new drug called RLF-100, also known as aviptadil, that has led to rapid recovery from respiratory failure in critically ill COVID-19 patients, reports PTI.

The drug has been approved by the FDA for emergency use at multiple clinical sites in patients who are too ill to enter the FDA’s Phase 2/3 trials.

Coronavirus in Gujarat LATEST Updates

8 killed after fire breaks out in COVID-19 hospital

Eight patients in the ICU ward of a private COVID-19 designated hospital died after fire broke out there on Thursday, news agency PTI reported.

Fire broke out at the Shrey Hospital in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad during the early hours of Thursday, an official said.

Around 40 other COVID-19 patients at the facility were rescued and shifted to a civic hospital in the city, he said. The cause of the fire is not known yet, he said.

Coronavirus in Assam LATEST Updates

Assam’s total COVID-19 cases cross 50,000-mark

Assam’s total crosses the 50,000-mark with 2,284 new infections, says Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Six additional deaths take the state’s toll to 121.

📌Alert ~ 2284 COVID cases detected out of 59162 tests in last 24 hrs.

Glad that our positivity rate is just 3.86%!

Kamrup (M)- 362, Dibrugarh- 177, Nagaon- 157, Kamrup (R)- 123

↗️Total cases 50445
↗️Recovered 34421
↗️Active cases 15900
↗️Deaths 121

9:55 PM, Aug 05 pic.twitter.com/cGO6dVVvWh

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 5, 2020

Coronavirus LATEST Updates

Zydus Cadila to start second phase of vaccine candidate trials today

Zydus Cadila announced Wednesday that its plasmid DNA vaccine to prevent COVID-19, going by the name ZyCoV-D, was found to be both safe and well-tolerated in healthy volunteers in Phase I human trials, which began on 15 July 2020. The vaccine candidate will begin Phase II trials on Thursday, 6 August, the company said.

Coronavirus in US LATEST Updates

Virus testing in the US is dropping, even as deaths mount

US testing for the coronavirus is dropping even as infections remain high and the death toll rises by more than 1,000 a day, a worrisome trend that officials attribute largely to Americans getting discouraged over having to wait hours to get a test and days or weeks to find out the results.

An Associated Press analysis found that the number of tests per day slid 3.6 percent over the past two weeks to 750,000, with the count falling in 22 states. That includes places like Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri and Iowa where the percentage of positive tests is high and continuing to climb, an indicator that the virus is still spreading uncontrolled.

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Novavax signs Covid-19 vaccine supply deal with India’s Serum Institute

Novavax Inc said it has entered a supply and license agreement with the Serum Institute of India for the development and commercialization of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate reports Reuters.

The Indian drugmaker will have exclusive rights for the vaccine in India during the term of the deal and non-exclusive rights during the “Pandemic Period” in all countries other than those designated by the World Bank as upper-middle or high-income countries.