Coronavirus India News Highlights: Today is the eighty-sixth day of India’s nationwide lockdown, meant to curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. Confirmed COVID-19 cases in India stand at 3,54,065. The death toll from the outbreak in India is at 12,237. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Gujarat have reported the highest number of cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers will be holding video conference today.
Globally, there have been over 83.2 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 4.48 lakh people have died so far. The United States, Brazil, Russia, India and the United Kingdom are the most-affected countries.
Coronavirus in Jammu and Kasmir | J&K records 149 new COVID cases; tally rises to 5,555
The total number of COVID-19 cases increased to 5,555 in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday after 149 people, including five policemen, tested positive for the infection, officials said.
Of the fresh cases, 49 were reported from the Union Territory's Jammu region and 100 from the Kashmir region, they said. The cases detected on Thursday included 44 persons who had returned to Jammu and Kashmir recently. "These also include five Jammu and Kashmir policemen," an official said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates | Over 600 people issued challans for not wearing face masks, violating social distancing norms
Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Delhi Police on Thursday issued challans to over 600 people in the national capital for allegedly not wearing face masks and violating social distancing norms, officials said.
According to the police, 640 challans were issued for not wearing masks, spitting and violation of social distancing norms. Atotal of 4,175 challans have been issued since Monday, they said. The Delhi Police also distributed masks to people across different shelter homes and residential areas in Delhi.A total of 19,870 masks have been distributed by police, they added. (PTI)
Coronavirus pandemic | Maharashtra adds 3,752 new COVID-19 cases; 100 deaths
Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally increased by 3,752 cases to 1,20,504 on Thursday, while 100 more patients succumbed to the infection, said a health department official. The state reported death of 100 people due to coronavirus, taking the toll to 5,751, official said.
COVID-19: CAPFs report 110 fresh cases; tally over 2,380
The paramilitary forces or the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) witnessed 110 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking the tally of such cases among the five forces to over 2,380, according to official data.
The forces -- CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB -- have so far witnessed 17 deaths due to the disease. The Border Security Force (BSF) reported 53 fresh coronavirus cases since Wednesday. Twenty-four troops of the about 2.5-lakh-personnel-strong force also recovered from the disease during the period.
The maximum of 37 fresh cases were reported from various BSF battalions based in Tripura, a senior official said. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE updates | WHO hopeful COVID-19 vaccines could be available before end of this year
The World Health Organisation's chief scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, on Thursday said that the agency is optimistic and hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccines could be available before the end of this year.
I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic, but vaccine development is a complex undertaking and comes with a lot of uncertainty. The good thing is we have many different vaccine candidates and platforms,she said, adding that WHO's focus is also on accelerating and scaling up a potential vaccine.If we are lucky, there will be one or two successful candidates before the end of this year,she said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE updates | 12 more COVID-19 deaths in West Bengal, toll rises to 518
West Bengal reported 12 more COVID-19 fatalities on Thursday, taking the coronavirus death toll in the state to 518, a state health bulletin said. All of the 12 deaths "were due to the comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental", the bulletin said. Since Wednesday, 435 people have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of cases in the state to 12,735, it said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE updates | Dharavi records 28 new COVID-19 cases; no fresh death
Mumbai's slum colony of Dharavi reported 28 new cases of COVID-19, taking the tally to 2,134 on Thursday, the city civic body said. A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said no fresh death was reported from the slum-dominated area in the past 24 hours, keeping the toll constant at 78. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Manipur LIVE updates | Manipur reports 54 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 606
Manipur reported 54 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the northeast state's tally to 606, officials said on Thursday.All the 54 people who tested positive for COVID-19 had returned from other states, they said.
The COVID-19 Common Control Room in a statement said that of the 54 new cases, 26 were reported from Pherzawl district, 21 from Senapati and seven from Churachandpur district. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE updates | Gujarat's COVID-19 count up by 510 to 25,660; death toll 1,592
Gujarat reported 510 newcoronavirus positive cases on Thursday, taking the state's tally to 25,660, while the fatality count mounted to 1,592 with the death of 31 more patients, the health department said.
The number of recovered cases in the state rose to 17,829 with 389 more patients getting discharged from the hospitals, it said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates | 70 new COVID-19 cases in Aurangabad, tally now 3,106
Seventy more people testedcoronavirus positive in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra on Thursday, which pushed its overall count of patients to 3,106,
an official said. Of the total number of cases, 1,709 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery, the official said. (PTI)
Centre orders timely payment of salaries to docs, healthcare workers engaged in COVID treatment
The Centre on Thursday directed all states and union territories to ensure timely payment of salaries to doctors and healthcare workers engaged in treating COVID-19 patients and warned of action against hospitals and authorities for non-compliance of the order.
The order by the Union Health Ministry comes a day after the Supreme Court asked the Centre to issue directions to states for payment of salaries and providing necessary quarantine facilities to doctors and healthcare workers involved in treating COVID-19 patients. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Nepal LIVE updates | Nepal records 671 new coronavirus cases, total number of infections jumps to 7,848
Nepal on Thursday registered a record 671 new coronavirus cases and two more fatalities, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 7,848 and the death toll to 22. A 46-year-old man from Godawari Municipality-4 and a 43-year-old woman of Lamkichuha Municipality-2 in Kailali district died of COVID-19 on Thursday, Health Ministry spokesperson Jageshwor Gautam said during a press briefing. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Chhattisgarh LIVE updates | Naxals with COVID-19 symptoms asked to leave camps
Fearing the spread of deadlyCOVID-19 in their ranks, Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bastar division have been asking group members showing symptoms like cold and cough to leave their camps, police claimed on Thursday.A woman cadre recently returned to her village in Bijapur district as her colleagues asked her to leave the group after she showed flu-like symptoms, a senior police official said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh LIVE updates | 4 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Himachal Pradesh, total cases 590
Four more people tested positive for the coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 590, officials said.Two fresh cases were reported each from Kangra and Solan districts, Special Secretary (Health) Nipun Jindal said. So far, seven people have died of the disease in the state. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Nagaland LIVE updates | 6 recover from COVID-19; active cases down to 84
Nagaland did not report any freshcoronavirus positive case on Thursday, while the recovery of six patients has brought down the number of active cases in the state to 84, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom, said.
This is the second time since May 25, when Nagaland registered its 'first' COVID-19 cases, that no fresh infection was detected. The first such instance was recorded on June 1. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE updates |
210 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths have been reported in Karnataka. Total positive cases stand at 7944 and death toll is at 114: State Health Department (ANI)
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE updates |
Tamil Nadu reports 2,141 new COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number of positive cases to 52,334. Death toll is at 625 after 49 deaths were reported today: State Health Department (ANI)
Coronavirus Impact | Office space demand may plunge 55% this year due to COVID-19: Report
Net office space leasing could drop 45-55 percent to 21-24 million sq ft during 2020 across major cities as companies are likely to defer their decision on expansion plans after the outbreak of COVID-19, according to property consultant Cushman & Wakefield.
The net absorption stood at 45 million sq ft in 2019. "Office market remained robust in January-February 2020 before tapering off in March as COVID-19 and lockdown took hold. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE updates | Excise personnel dies of COVID-19 in Kerala; 97 new cases reported
The COVID-19 tally inKerala rose to 2,794 on Thursday with 97 fresh cases being reported, while the toll touched 21 after an excise department personnel succumbed to the disease.With 89 recoveries today, 1,359 people are presently under treatment and 1.26 people are under observation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
While 65 of the positive cases came from abroad, 29 had come from other states, and three people were infected through contact, he told reporters here. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates | Delhi commences COVID-19 rapid antigen tests
The Delhi government commenced COVID-19 testing through the rapid antigen methodology at 169 centres in and around containment zones of the city on Thursday.A total of 341 teams are involved in the rapid-antigen testing which makes results available within 30 minutes, an official said.
According to Union minister G Kishan Reddy, the Centre plans to conduct six lakh rapid antigen tests at these 169 facilities. An official said around 50,000 tests were expected to be conducted on Thursday.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Two important things happened today. COVID-19 testing rates in Delhi have been reduced to Rs 2,400 and rapid-antigen testing has started. I hope people won't face any problem in getting themselves tested now." (PTI)
Those coming to Pondy from neighbouring TN will be put under 14-day quarantine: CM
Puducherry Chief Minister VNarayanasamy on Thursday said the territorial administration has intensified measures to prevent people from neighbouring
Tamil Nadu districts of Chennai and Villupuram from intruding into the union territory.
"None would be let into the territorial limits of Puducherry even if they possess e-passes," he said while addressing media. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE updates |
97 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Kerala today. Death toll rises to 21 after one death was reported today. Total cases in the state stand at 2794 cases, of which 1358 are active cases: CM Pinarayi Vijayan(ANI)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates | 33 shelter home inmates test positive for COVID-19 in Kanpur
Thirty-three inmates of two shelter homes run by the Uttar Pradesh government here have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Thursday.Eighteen coronavirus patients have been detected at a women shelter home, while 15 in a girls care home, District Magistrate Brahma Dev Ram Tiwari said. (PTI)
Coronavirus research | Polio vaccine for COVID-19 'testable', may offer limited protection: Scientists
Indian scientists have responded cautiously to a suggestion by global researchers that the oral polio vaccine be tested for COVID-19, saying it is a 'testable idea'based on a sound scientific concept but may offer only limited protection against the infection.
With a vaccine for COVID-19 at least a year away, scientists say repurposing already safe and effective vaccines is the way to go for immediate relief against COVID-19. The repurposed vaccines could include the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) used against tuberculosis, both part of the immunisation given to Indian children.
It is worth conducting a clinical trial, said Ram Vishwakarma, director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) in Jammu. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Navi Mumbai LIVE updates | A record 202 new coronavirus detected in Navi Mumbai; 9 die
A record 202 persons, includinghalf a dozen children aged below 10, tested positive for coronavirus in Navi Mumbai, taking the tally to 4,391 on Thursday, while nine more patients succumbed to the infection,an official said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh LIVE updates | Andhra Pradesh reports 425 fresh COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 7,496
The COVID-19 surge continuedunabated in Andhra Pradesh with a record single-day high of 425 new cases being added, taking the overall tally to 7,496 on Thursday.
The coronavirus toll also continued its upward trend as two more patients died in Krishna district, making it a total of 92 so far in the state, according to the latest bulletin. In the last 24 hours ended at 10 AM, as many as 131coronavirus patients were discharged from hospitals in thestate, the bulletin added. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates | UP sees highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases, 604 recorded
Uttar Pradesh recorded its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with 604 people testing positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, officials said as the total number of coronavirus cases rose to 15,785 in the state.
The death toll from the novel coronavirus also increased to 488 after 23 fresh fatalities were reported from different districts of Uttar Pradesh, they said.
The previous highest single-day spike in cases was on Wednesday when the state recorded 583 cases. (PTI)
WHO official says malaria drug won't stop deaths
The World Health Organisation's top scientist says it's now been definitively proven that the cheap malaria drug hydroxychloroquinethe drug favoured by President Donald Trump doesn't work in stopping deaths among people hospitalized with the new coronavirus.But Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said there could still be a role for the drug in preventing people from catching COVID-19 in the first place and noted that clinical trials testing hydroxychloroquine's role in this are ongoing. (AP)
Coronavirus in Assam LIVE updates | Assam reports one more COVID-19 death, 82 new cases
One more person died of COVID- 19 in Assam on Thursday, raising the death toll due to coronavirus in the state to nine, while 82 people tested positive taking the total number of cases to 4,777, Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The person died in Diphu Medical College and Hospital and this is the second death from Karbi Anglong district. Out of the nine deaths, three cancer patients succumbed to the infection. (PTI)
Bangladesh coronavirus cases cross 100,000-mark
Bangladesh's coronavirus cases on Thursday crossed the 100,000-mark after 3,803 new COVID-19 infections were reported in the last 24 hours, a senior health official said.The death toll due to the COVID-19 rose to 1,343 after 38 people died, according to the health directorate.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Bangladesh are 102,292, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Additional Director General Nasima Sultana was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Uttarakhand LIVE updates | Uttarakhand's COVID-19 tally reaches 2,079
The number of COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand rose to 2,079 on Thursday with 57 more people testing positive.Twenty-eight fresh cases were detected in Dehradun district, 14 in Pauri, five in Haridwar, four in Rudraprayag, three in Chamoli and one each in Almora, Uttarkashi and Tehri, according to a state health department bulletin.
Most of the new patients have a travel history to Delhi and the National Capital Region, it said. Of the total 2,079 patients in the state, 1,262 have recovered, 26 died and 14 migrated out of the state, the bulletin said. There are 777 active COVID-19 cases in the state, it said. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE updates | WHO testing interim data from COVID-19 trial on HIV drugs
The World Health Organization is looking at interim data from its large multi-country trial of the combination of HIV drugs Lopinavir and Ritonavir to treat COVID-19 patients, the U.N. agency's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Thursday.
Her comments come after the WHO on Wednesday stopped testing of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in the trial of treatments for COVID-19 patients, after studies indicated it showed no benefit in those who have the disease. She said more study was needed to see whether hydroxchloroquine could prevent infection. (Reuters)
National policy on 'COVID-free' certification for expats returning home needed: Tharoor
Senior Congress leaderShashiTharoorhas urged External Affairs Minister SJaishankarto come out with a transparent national policy on 'COVID-free' certification, saying if such a document is mandatory for expatriates returning home then the government should facilitate it and not put the onus on the 'pravasis'.
In a letter toJaishankar,Tharoorsaid while theVandeBharat Mission, currently in its third phase, continues to offer a valuable service, a considerable proportion of Indian citizens have been unable to secure their return back to the country.Tagging the letter,Tharoortweeted, "It is Kerala government that has made it mandatory fortravellersto board withCovid-freecertificates. I told the CM personally that many Gulf countries do not test asymptomatic people. His response was to ask the Central government to arrange such tests forpravasisthrough Embassies." (PTI)
Coronavirus Impact | CM calls for low-key Ganpati celebration this year
Maharashtra Chief Minister UddhavThackeray on Thursday called for a simple and low-key Ganpati festival celebration this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked Ganesh mandals to undertake social welfare programmes.
Thackeray said the threat of coronavirus is not yet over and therefore, it will not be possible to celebrate the Ganesh festival with the usual pomp and gaiety. (PTI)
Coronavirus Research | COVID-19 patients without disease symptoms may have weaker immune response: Study
COVID-19 patients who do not show any symptoms of the disease may have a weaker immune response to the virus, according to a new study which highlights the risks of using 'immunity passports' to certify that a person has recovered from COVID-19, and is fit for travel and work.
The research, published in the journal Nature Medicine, presents an analysis of the clinical and immunological manifestations of 37 asymptomatic patients infected with the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. It found that these patients had an average duration of viral shedding of 19 days, compared with 14 days in another group of 37 patients who showed symptoms of the disease. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates | Yogi orders increasing beds in COVID-19 hospitals from nearly 1L to 1.50L by June end
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed officials to increase the bed strength in COVID-19 hospitals from nearly one lakh at present to 1.50 lakh by the end of June.He also asked them to increase the testing capacity to 20,000 per day by June 20, an official release said.
At present, the state is testing nearly 16,000 samples per day. In a meeting with senior officials, the chief minister stressed on remaining alert and maintaining discipline during the unlock period. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Puducherry LIVE updates | Man dies of COVID-19 in Pondy; 27 fresh cases reported
A 52-year-old man died of coronavirus while 27 new cases were recorded in Puducherry on Thursday, taking the toll to six and aggregate to 271 in
the Union Territory.Lt Governor Kiran Bedi urged the people to adhere to the guidelines of the Centre and adopt social distancing, wear masks and also ensure sanitation to help prevent.
Speaking to reporters here, Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao said the man, who was admitted to Indira Gandhi Government hospital here succumbed to the infection early today. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates |
630 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in UP, in the last 24 hours. There are 5,659 active cases, 9,638 people have been discharged after making full recovery from the disease. A total of 488 people have succumbed to it: Principal Health Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad (ANI)
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE updates | 16 residents of slum in Kolkata test positive for COVID-19
At least 16 slum dwellers in the city's Bagbazar area in Kolkata have tested positive for COVID-19, following which they were sent to a quarantine centre on the outskirts of the metropolis, sources in the state health department said on today.
Those that came in contact with the COVID-19 patients, including family members, have been sent to another isolation unit in neighbouring Howrah district. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Uttarakhand LIVE updates |
Uttarakhand reports 57 new COVID-19 cases till 2:30 pm today, taking the total number of positive cases to 2,079: State Control Room COVID-19 (ANI)
Coronavirus in Assam LIVE updates |
Assam reports 82 new COVID-19 positive cases taking the total number of cases to 4,777. The number of active cases stand at 2,111, tweetsState Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Assam COVID-19 tally:
> Total cases 4,777
> Recovered 2,654
> Active cases 2,111
> Deaths 09
Latest updates on COVID-19 crisis around the world
> A case has been registered against a 25-year-old man from Maharashtra's Palghar district, who got married without waiting for his COVID-19 test result, which later came out positive for the infection, police say.
> India is returning to normal business activity with consumption and demand rising, PM Narendra Modi says.
> SC stays this year's historic Puri's Rath Yatra due to COVID-19 pandemic.
> Singapore reports 257 new coronavirus cases among foreigners.
> Cinemas, salons and non-contact sports to return as South Africa eases lockdown.
> The Asian Development Bank says countries in Developing Asia will "barely grow" in 2020, while India's economy is forecast to contract by 4 per cent this fiscal due to the pandemic.
(Source: PTI)
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE updates | Odisha reports 174 fresh cases of COVID-19, total rises to 4,512
Odisha reported 174 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, taking the total to 4,512 in the state, officials said. Of the fresh cases, 146 were reported from different quarantine centres where people returning from other parts of the country are lodged, they said.
The process of contact tracing and follow up action is being taken, a health department official said. Thirteen frontline workers were found positive in Ganjam district, which during the last 24 hours reported 56 new cases, raising the total to 755. (PTI)
COVID-19 impact | India's economy to contract by 4% in FY21, says ADB
The Indian economy is expected to contract by 4 percent in FY21, and then grow by 5 percent in FY22 as economic activity normalises gradually, the Asian Development Banksaid in a supplement to its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) on June 18.
"Growth in Indian GDP slowed to 3.1percent in the last quarter of FY20, its slowest since early 2003," the report said.
Coronavirus in Singapore LIVE updates | Singapore reports 257 new coronavirus cases among foreigners
Singapore on Thursday confirmed 257 new COVID-19 infections among foreign workers, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 41,473.
The new patients include four community cases, including one permanent resident (foreigner), the health ministry said. The other three are foreigners on work passes. The rest 253 cases are also foreign workers living in dormitories.The total coronavirus cases in Singapore now stands at 41,473. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates |
Delhi govt decides to cap rate of COVID-19 RT-PCR test for coronavirus at Rs 2,400: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Coronavirus in Mizoram LIVE updates | 9 fresh COVID-19 cases in Mizoram; count rises to 130
Nine more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, taking the northeastern state's tally to 130, Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana said on Thursday. South Mizoram's Lawngtlai and Siaha districts have reported four new cases each while one case was reported from Lunglei district, he said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh LIVE updates |
586 COVID-19 positive cases reported in Himachal Pradesh so far, including 6 deaths and 368 recovered: State health department
