Coronavirus Updates: With increased testing and relaxed lockdown more containment zones likely in Delhi
Coronavirus LATEST Updates: The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi, which currently stand at 716, may be increased owing to further relaxations under ‘Unlock’ and doubling of coronavirus tests, officials said on Thursday
 "Coronavirus Updates: With increased testing and relaxed lockdown more containment zones likely in Delhi")
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates
Containment zones in Delhi likely to increase with doubling of COVID-19 tests, say officials
The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi, which currently stand at 716, may be increased owing to further relaxations under ‘Unlock’ and doubling of coronavirus tests, officials said on Thursday. COVID-19 tests in Delhi will be doubled to 40,000 per day within a week as there has been a marginal increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said on Wednesday, asserting that aggressive testing and isolation will remain his government’s strategy to fight the disease.
The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi has risen from 539 on 1 August to 716 on 27 August. Officials said the rise in the number of containment zones has also been congruent with the increase in cases in the national capital.
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Andhra Pradesh records over 10,500 cases
Andhra Pradesh on Thursday moved closer to the four-lakh mark in coronavirus cases after adding 10,621 afresh in 24 hours. The state’s COVID-19 tally now read 3.93 lakh total cases, 2.95 lakh recoveries and 3,633 deaths, leaving 94,209 active cases, according to the latest government bulletin. The state registered 92 related fatalities in 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday while 8,528 more patients had recovered from the infection.
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Coronavirus pandemic hits fast dwindling tribe in Andaman
Four members of a dwindling tribe in India’s far off Andaman Islands have tested positive for coronavirus, Reuters reported on Thursday as the country reported 75,760 new infections, the highest-single-day rise. The Great Andamanese are one of the six tribes of Mongoloid and African origin, who have lived in the Andamans in the Bay of Bengal for thousands of years. Only about 50 members survive, after thousands were killed by British colonisers in the 19th century or died later due to diseases, the Reuters report said,
Coronavirus in Mumbai Latest Updates
Coronavirus tally in Dharavi area of Mumbai reaches 2,740 with three new cases: Civic body
Dharavi slum colony on Thursday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total count to 2,740, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said. The civic body stopped sharing data on fatalities in Dharavi, once a COVID-19 hotspot, since June.
Coronavirus in Odisha Latest Updates
Educational institutions to remain closed till end of Durga Puja vacation in Odisha
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday announced that all educational institutions in the state till end of Durga Puja vacation in view of the prevailing pandemic situation. The announcement was made by Patnaik after reviewing the situation due to COVID-19 in the state.
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
India reports highest single-day increase of over 75,000 cases
India has registered 75,760 coronavirus infections and 1,023 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Thursday, making it the biggest daily rise in the country, Union Health Ministry data shows. Today’s jump of cases is the highest that any country has ever recorded on a single day since the start of the outbreak. The fresh cases have pushed the country’s coronavirus tally to over 33.1 lakh cases.
25,23,771 patients have recovered, taking the recovery rate to 76.24%. Maharashtra remains the hardest-hit state in the pandemic, accounting for 7,18,711 cases. Maharashtra is followed by three southern states, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. India is the country with the third-highest coronavirus caseload in the world after the United States and Brazil.
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates
Kolkata metro to restart after Centre’s nod
The Kolkata metro railway said that it will restart services on receiving the go-ahead from the Union Home Ministry and the Railway Ministry. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that the Metro Railway authorities can resume services, maintaining all COVID-19-related safety protocols.
“We will start the process of resuming services once we receive directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Railway Ministry,” Metro Railway spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said.
After receiving the go-ahead, the Metro authorities will discuss the modalities of running the services in the city with the West Bengal government, she told PTI.
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates
Delhi HC says 5 benches will hold physical hearings from 1 Sept
The Delhi High Court Thursday said five of its benches will start holding physical courts on a rotation basis from September 1, and issued standard operating procedure (SOP) for it.
The high court, which has been conducting hearings through video conferencing since March 24 to contain the spread of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, said the remaining benches shall continue taking up matters through the virtual mode.
All the pending matters listed before the high court from September 1 to 30 would be adjourned to November 3 to December 7 respectively, the order said.
(PTI)
Supreme Court declines permission to carry out Muharram procession across country
The Supreme Court declined permission for carrying out Muharram procession across the country and asked Lucknow-based petitioner to move before the Allahabad High Court with his plea.
The apex court said how can it pass a general order for the whole country. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said it would lead to chaos and targeting of a particular community. “You are asking for a general order and then if we allow this there will be chaos. Particular community will be targeted for spreading Covid. We don’t want that. We as a court cannot risk the health of all the people,” the bench, which heard the matter through video conferencing, was quoted as saying by PTI.
Coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir Latest Updates
BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma tests COVID positive
BJP MP from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency, Jugal Kishore Sharma, has tested positive for COVID-19. “I got myself tested on my own and my test report has come positive,” he tweeted, urging people who had been in contact with him during the past few days to get themselves to take precautions and get tested.
मुझे रात हल्का बुखार था मैंने स्वयम COVID का टेस्ट करवाया जिसकी रिपोर्ट Positive आयी है। मेरा उन लोगों से अनुरोध है जो इन दिनों मेरे संपर्क में थे कि वह सुरक्षा की दृष्टि से अपनी जांच करवा लें।
— Jugal Kishore Sharma (@mpjugalkishore) August 27, 2020
Coronavirus in Karnataka Latest Updates
Bengaluru metro begins trial runs on Yelachenahalli-Anjanapura stretch
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Thursday commenced trial runs on the new stretch of Namma Metro in Bengaluru between Yelachenahalli and Anjanapura, The Indian Express reported. “This (trial runs) will continue for a 30-day period to check all the system parameters at different speeds for safety,” a BMRCL statement read.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LATEST Updates
With 8,580 more people testing positive for coronavirus in Karnataka on Wednesday, the total tally exceeded the 3 lakh-mark. According to the statistics issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the state is 3,00,406. At the same time, in Bengaluru, 3,284 new cases were reported.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Pranab Mukherjee still in deep coma, ventilator support: Hospital
Former President Pranab Mukherjee continues to be in a deep coma and on ventilator support, the hospital where he is admitted said on Thursday. According to the doctors treating 84-year-old Mukherjee, he is haemodynamically stable.
Doctors say a patient is haemodynamically stable when the blood circulation parameters – blood pressure, heart and pulse rate, are stable and normal.
Mukherjee was admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital on 10 August and was operated for removal of a clot in the brain. He was also tested positive for COVID-19. He later developed a lung infection.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates
COVID-19 tally in Thane crosses 1.17 lakh
The number of COVID-19 cases in Thane rose to 1,17,739 on Thursday after 1,326 more people tested positive for the disease in the Maharashtra district, officials said. The district also reported 38 deaths on Wednesday, taking the total number of fatalities to 3,386, they said.
Thane city is close to the 25,000-mark as it has so far reported 24,906 COVID-19 cases, an official here said.
Coronavirus in Telangana LATEST Updates
Telangana reports 2,795 new cases; eight deaths push toll to 788
Telangana reported 2,795 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the state’s overall tallyof positive infections to 1,14,483, reports PTI. The toll rose to 788 with eight more fatalities, a state government bulletin said on Thursday, providing data as of 8 pm on 26 August.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
COVID-19 vaccine trial: Vital signs of volunteers normal, says doctor
Vital health parameters of the two volunteers, who have been administered the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate at a medical college here as part of the phase II clinical trial, are normal, a senior official from the medical facility told PTI on Thursday.
Two men, aged 32 and 48, were given the first shot of the ‘Covishield’ vaccine, being manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), at Bharti Vidyapeeth’s Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. The dose will be repeated after one month, an official said.
“Since yesterday, our medical team is in touch with the two volunteers and both are fine. They do not have any pain, fever, injection-side reaction or systemic illness post-vaccination,” the medical college and hospital’s deputy medical director Dr Jitendra Oswal said.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
More than 100 flights operated in lockdown, says Hardeep Singh Puri
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said that India has operated more than 1000 flights and more than 200,000 passenger footfalls at airports. “Now we cross the milestone of more than 100,000 domestic passengers in a day, " he tweeted.
Sky full of milestones!
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 27, 2020
More than 1000 flights.
More than 200K passenger footfalls at airports.
Now we cross the milestone of more than 100K domestic passengers in a day!
Civil Aviation sector flies high.
Congratulations to everyone who has made this achievement possible. pic.twitter.com/sGb9rehxE9
Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates
COVID-19 can affect almost all organs, symptoms maybe unrelated to lungs: experts
COVID-19 can affect almost all organs besides the lungs and the initial symptoms may be totally unrelated to chest complaints, according to experts at AIIMS in Delhi, reports PTI.
They stressed that classification of cases into mild, moderate and severe categories based just on respiratory symptoms should be relooked to include other organ involvement.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Govt must listen to students on NEET-JEE, find amicable solution: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi said the NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future due to concerns about coronavirus infection and floods in Assam and Bihar. “NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future. They have genuine concerns of: fear of Covid19 infection, transport and lodging during pandemic and flood-mayhem in Assam and Bihar. GOI must listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution,” he said.
NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health & future.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 26, 2020
They have genuine concerns of:
- fear of Covid19 infection
- transport & lodging during pandemic
- flood-mayhem in Assam & Bihar.
GOI must listen to all stakeholders & find an acceptable solution.#AntiStudentModiGovt
Coronavirus in West Bengal LATEST Updates
Shops closed & streets deserted in Birbhum as Bengal observes bi-weekly lockdown
West Bengal: Shops closed & streets deserted in Birbhum as state observes bi-weekly lockdown amid pandemic.
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2020
The state is observing complete lockdown for 2 days every week until end of Aug. There are 1,47,775 COVID cases in the state, as per the latest state health dept bulletin pic.twitter.com/ixileze5k8
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
India’s recovery rate rises to 76.24%
With a total of 25,23,771 patients having recuperated so far, the recovery rate was recorded at 76.24 percent while the COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.83 percent.
There are 7,25,991 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 21.93 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
COVID-19 vaccine access strategy should have been in place: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asserted that a fair and inclusive COVID-19 vaccine access strategy should have been in place by now and said the government’s alleged “unpreparedness” is “alarming”.
Gandhi had earlier demanded that the government clearly define an inclusive and equitable vaccine access policy to ensure its affordability and fair distribution.
Human trials on various COVID vaccines are currently underway across the world, including in India.
A fair and inclusive Covid vaccine access strategy should have been in place by now.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 27, 2020
But there are still no signs of it.
GOI’s unpreparedness is alarming. https://t.co/AUjumgGjGC
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
UN chief to renew call to India, G20 nations to invest in sustainable transition post-COVID
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will renew his call to India and other G20 countries to invest in a clean, sustainable transition as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, during his virtual address to The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
Guterres will deliver the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial lecture on 28 August organised by TERI, a global think-tank focusing on a broad range of sustainable development and climate-related issues, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday.
In his lecture titled ‘The rise of renewables: shining a light on a sustainable future’, Guterres will renew “his call on G20 countries, including India, to invest in a clean, sustainable transition as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh LATEST Updates
Biggest single-day spike of 143 COVID-19 cases reported in Arunachal
Arunachal Pradesh reported its highest-single day spike in COVID-19 cases as 143 people, including 23 security personnel and a health worker, tested positive for the infection on Thursday, an official said told PTI. The fresh infections have pushed the state’s caseload to 3,555, he said.
Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates
Distributing vaccines without rich countries cornering doses will be a challenge: WHO’s Soumya Swaminathan
Distributing Covid-19 vaccine around the world fairly without letting the rich countries corner the limited doses is going to be a big challenge, the World Health Organisation’s Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Wednesday.
On vaccine development for the novel coronavirus, she said: “By early 2021, we should have some good news.”
Then, there is the big challenge of being able to scale, distribute and allocate fairly around the world without letting the rich countries corner the limited doses, Swaminathan said.
Read full report hereCoronavirus in Russia LATEST Updates
Russia announces advanced trials of Sputnik V in 40,000 volunteers over six months
The mayor of Moscow invited residents Wednesday to join trials of a coronavirus vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month, in what officials described as a breakthrough on par with the Soviet Union’s launch of the world’s first satellite in 1957.
The world’s first vaccine against the coronavirus to receive a government go-ahead has caused unease among international medical experts, who called Russia’s fast-tracked approval and failure to share any data supporting claims of the vaccine’s efficacy a major breach of scientific protocol.
Scientists around the world say any widely-used vaccine should first be tested in advanced trials involving tens of thousands of people to prove it is safe and effective before being licensed.
Read full report hereCoronavirus in India LATEST Updates
India’s total rises to 33.1 lakh with over 75,000 new cases in past 24 hrs
India’s overall case count rises to 33,10,234 with 75,760 new infections in the last 24 hours. The country’s toll goes up by 1,023 to 60,472. As many as 25,23,771 people have recovered from the infection in the country.
Coronavirus in Kerala LATEST Updates
Kerala govt issues guidelines for Onam celebrations in view of pandemic
Kerala Government issues Guidelines for Onam celebrations:
— Prasar Bharati News Services & Digital Platform (@PBNS_India) August 27, 2020
▪️ Crowding in the name of Ona-Sadhya shall be avoided
▪️ No Public Onam Celebrations shall be allowed
▪️ All shop owners shall ensure there is no crowding pic.twitter.com/xqDPevYScC
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Moderna says vaccine creates immune response in elderly people, no side effects
Moderna Inc said on Wednesday that the initial report shows that its COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune responses in older adults that were similar to younger participants, reports LiveMint . The drugmaker said the immune responses in those aged between 56 and 70 years, above 70 and those in the age-group of 18 and 55 were similar.
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LATEST Updates
Religious places in Rajasthan to reopen from 7 Sept
All religious places in Rajasthan will reopen for public from 7 September, months after they were closed due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, an official statement said on Wednesday. The decision was taken during a review meeting on the coronavirus situation in the state chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Social distancing norms will have to be followed and all religious places will be sanitised from time to time, the statement said. District collectors and superintendents of police will carry out inspections and ensure all safety measures are taken, it said.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LATEST Updates
Karnataka to open degree colleges from 1 September
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Dr Ashwath Narayana CN on Wednesday had announced that academic year for various degree courses will commence from the 1 September with online classes. Offline classes will be conducted starting in October, he said.
The development comes amid the controversy regarding the holding of JEE, NEET examinations.
Narayana said that the department is awaiting guidelines from the central government on conducting offline classes as well as the few degree exams to be conducted in September.
Coronavirus in West Bengal LATEST Updates
Ensure no flights 7, 11 and 12 Sept: WB govt to civil aviation ministry
West Bengal Government in a letter to Union Ministry of Civil Aviation asked the ministry to ensure that there is no flight coming to or going out of any airport of West Bengal on 7, 11 and 12 September as the state will observe complete lockdown on these three days.
The government also aid restriction on flights coming in from six cities, viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad, is being partially lifted from 1 September onwards. Flights from these cities can come to the state thrice a week.
Ensure that there is no flight coming to or going out of any airport of West Bengal on 7th, 11th & 12th September as the state will observe complete lockdown on these three days: West Bengal Government in a letter to Union Ministry of Civil Aviation pic.twitter.com/a2mlH6zTLG
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2020
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Many states/UT have better numbers than national average, says Centre
According to the ministry of health and family welfare, early identification through aggressive testing, comprehensive surveillance and contact tracing, and focus on the timely and efficient clinical treatment of patients have ensured a high number of speedy recoveries. This has also kept the Case Fatality Rate low.
“Many states/UTs have performed better with more encouraging figures than the national average for the recovery rate and fatality rate,” the ministry said.
#IndiaFightsCorona
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) August 27, 2020
Early identification through aggressive TESTING, comprehensive surveillance & contact TRACING, and focus on timely and efficient clinical TREATMENT of patients have ensured high number of speedy recoveries. This has also kept the Case Fatality Rate low. pic.twitter.com/gNruO7ZtZ9
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates
3,244 new coronavirus cases in Pune district, 62 deaths
Pune district reported 3,244 new coronavirus cases since the previous evening which took its case count to 1,53,141, a health official said on Wednesday.
The death toll reached 3,804 with 62 patients succumbing to the infection, he added. “Of the 3,244 cases, 1,617 are in Pune Municipal Corporation limits, which has recorded 87,317 cases so far.
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Mamata Banerjee, Amarinder Singh call for approaching SC for postponing JEE, NEET
At a virtual meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, Opposition chief ministers mounted an attack on the Central Government over various issues such as pending GST compensation due to the states, and economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the meeting, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said that all chief minsietrs must together approach the Supreme Court seeking that the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) exams be postponed.
Read full report here
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