Coronavirus News Highlights: Today is the eighty-fifth 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 11,903. 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 81.9 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 4.44 lakh people have died so far. The United States, Brazil, Russia, India and the United Kingdom are the most-affected countries.
Russia starts clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine
Clinical trials of a Russian coronavirus vaccine have started Wednesday, the Health Ministry said in a statement.Two forms of the vaccine developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya research instituteliquid and powder for injectionswill be tested on two groups of volunteers, 38 people each, the statement said. The participants will be isolated in two Moscow hospitals. (AP)
71 new coronavirus patients in Chhattisgarh, total rises to 1,864
With 71 new patients found,the number of coronavirus cases in Chhattisgarh increased to 1,864 on Wednesday, a health official said. The number of recovered patients too rose to 1,099 as 148 patients were discharged from hospitals, he said. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE updates | WHO halts trial of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients
The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that testing of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in its large multi-country trial of treatments for COVID-19 patients had been halted after results from other trials showed no benefit. "The hydroxychloroquine arm of the SOLIDARITY trial has been stopped," WHO expert Ana Maria Henao-Restrepo told a news briefing. (Reuters)
Govt to reimburse cost of pulse oximeter purchased by CGHS beneficiaries
The government has decided to reimburse the cost of pulse oximeter purchased by Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.According to an office memorandum issued by the Union health ministry on Tuesday, CGHS beneficiaries who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been allowed to purchase one pulse oximeter per family. Even in a case where there are more than one COVID-19 positive cases in a family of CGHS beneficiary, they can claim reimbursement only for one device. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates | More ICUs may be needed in coming days: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that more Intensive Care Units (ICUs) may be needed in the coming days as the national capital continued to witness a spurt in COVID-19 cases in the city."We may need more ICUs in the coming days. Discussed wid doctors of our Del govt hospitals on how to increase no of ICUs," he said in a tweet. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE updates | TN tests over 25K samples in a day, case count tops 2,000
In a first, Tamil Nadu tested a record 25,463 samples in a single day while 2,174 people tested positive for the coronavirus, the highest increase in a 24-hour period, propelling the tally over 50,000, the health department said here on Wednesday. With the addition of the fresh cases, the infection count for the state reached 50,193, of which Chennai accounted for 35,556 and active cases stood at 21,990. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | CRPF official succumbs to COVID-19
A CRPF official has succumbed to COVID-19, taking the death toll from the disease in the country's largest paramilitary force to five, officials said on Wednesday. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also reported 35 fresh cases of the infection in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus-affected personnel to 783 out of which 338 are active while 440 patients have recovered. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates | COVID-19 cases up by 3,307 to 1,16,752; 114 more die
Maharashtra on Wednesday reported3,307 new COVID-19 cases and 114 deaths, taking the case count to 1,16,752 and fatalities to 5,651, a Health official said. With discharge of 1,315 patients in the day, the number of the recovered cases mounted to 59,166, he said.
The number of active cases in hospital stands at 51,921, the official added. Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 1,16,752, new cases 3,307, deaths 5,651, discharged 59,166, active cases 51,921, people tested so far 7,00,954. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE updates |
The world has now recorded more than 8 million cases of COVID-19. In the first two months, 85,000 cases were reported. In the past two months 6 million cases have been reported. However, there are green shoots of hope, which show that together through global solidarity, humanity can overcome this pandemic.: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO)
RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh tests positive for COVID-19
Former Union minister and veteran RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh tested positive for COVID-19 here on Wednesday, a close aide said. Singh, who had been suffering from fever and cough for quite some time, was admitted to AIIMS, Patna on Tuesday following the advice of doctors and his samples were also sent for COVID-19 testing.The sample report has come out and he has tested positive, the close aide of the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader said. (PTI)
COVID-19 testing increased after HM's intervention; testing rate fixed at Rs 2,400: MHA
Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's decision to double COVID-19 tests in Delhi, 16,618 samples have been collected on June 15 and 16, compared to 4,000 to 4,500 daily till June 14, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Wednesday.
The ministry also announced that the price for COVID-19 test in Delhi has been fixed at Rs 2,400 as suggested by a high-level committee set up by the home minister on Sunday and now tests will be done via Rapid Antigen methodology.
"In pursuance of decisions taken by HM @AmitShah on 14th June, to double the #COVID19 testing in Delhi; 16,618 test samples collected on June 15 and 16 (till 14th June daily collection varied between 4000-4500). Reports of 6,510 tests received so far, remaining to be received by 18th June," an MHA spokesperson tweeted. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE updates | Gujarat COVID-19 case count crosses 25,000 mark, 27 more die
Gujarat's COVID-19 case counton Wednesday crossed the 25,000 mark and reached 25,148 with the addition of 520 new cases, a Health official said.
COVID-19 death toll rose by 27 to 1,561, he said. With 348 patients being discharged in the day, the number of the recovered cases in the state increased to
17,438. There are 6,149 active cases in Gujarat and 69 of them are in critical condition, the official added. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Ladakh LIVE updates | 38 new COVID-19 cases in Ladakh, tally 687
There were 38 more novel coronavirus cases in Ladakh, taking the tally to 687 on Wednesday, the Health Department said. The number of active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is 594 -- 479 in Kargil and 115 in Leh -- and seven more people were discharged, taking the total recoveries to 92, officials said.
Twenty-seven of the 38 new COVID-19 cases were from Kargil district and 11 in Leh district, the department officials said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Manipur LIVE updates | 52 more test positive for COVID-19 in Manipur, total count 552
Fifty-two more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Manipur, taking the state's tally to 552, an official said on Wednesday.All of them, including 20 women, had recently returned from other states and were in quarantine centres, said the official at the COVID-19 Common Control Room here.
Of the fresh cases, 20 hail from Ukhrul district, 10 from Bishenpur, six from Thoubal, four each from Chandel, Kakching and Kangpokpi, two from Imphal West and one each from Churachandpur and Kamjong. With these new patients, the active COVID-19 cases rose to 360 in the state. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
From 18 June, tests will be done via new Rapid Antigen methodology approved by ICMR. Delhi would be given priority for these kits. The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to cap the COVID-19 test rate at Rs 2,400.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE updates | Punjab reports 6 coronavirus deaths, 126 fresh cases
Six COVID-19 patients in Punjab died on Wednesday, pushing the death toll to 78 while 126 more people tested positive for the infection in the state, taking the virus count to 3,497, officials said.
Four deaths were reported in Amritsar, the district worst affected by the coronavirus in Punjab, while one each was in Ferozepur and Sangrur, according to the state government's medical bulletin. With fresh cases reported on Wednesday, the state has seen 357 more people testing positive since June 15. (PTI)
17 new coronavirus cases surface in Himachal; total count 578
Seventeen more people, including a Sashastra Seema Bal personnel, tested positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the number of infections in the state to 578, officials said. So far, seven people have died from the disease in the state.
The 44-year-old Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel was posted at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi and had recently returned to Kangra district.He was the among the eight cases reported from the district. Four cases were detected in Una, three in Chamba and two in Solan. (PTI)
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tests positive for COVID-19
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has tested positive for COVID-19. His first COVID-19 test had yielded negative results, buthe tested positive in the second one. Jain was rushed to the hospital on June 16 with high fever and breathlessness, both symptoms of the infection.However,he tested negative for the virus later that day.
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates | Six more people test COVID-19 positive in Muzaffarnagar
Six more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, taking the total number of active cases in the district to 85, an official said on Wednesday.
According to Additional District Magistrate Alok Kumar, 73 results of COVID-19 testing were received by the authorities, of which six were positive.
He said all the 85 virus patients in the district are at Medical College Begarajpur. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE updates | Punjab reports 6 coronavirus deaths, 126 fresh cases
Six COVID-19 patients in Punjab died on Wednesday, pushing the death toll to 78 while 126 more people tested positive for the infection in the state, taking the virus count to 3,497, officials said.
Four deaths were reported in Amritsar, the district worst affected by the coronavirus in Punjab, while one each was in Ferozepur and Sangrur, according to the state government's medical bulletin. With fresh cases reported on Wednesday, the state has seen 357 more people testing positive since June 15. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh LIVE updates | AP CM skips PM's consultations on COVID-19
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSJagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday abstained from the videoconference Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with Chief Ministers of various states to discuss measures to check the spread of coronavirus during "unlock 1.0.
Officially, there was no word on why he chose not to attend the virtual interaction but sources said it was due to the ongoing budget session of the Legislature. (PTI)
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE updates |
COVID-19 death toll in Bengal crosses 500-mark with 11 more fatalities; the total tally of cases 12,300: Health department bulletin.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tests positive for COVID-19: Office of Delhi Health Minister
COVID-19 toll breaches 100-mark in Karnataka; tally of cases rises to 7,734
The COVID-19 death toll in Karnataka breached the 100 mark as the state on Wednesday reported eight new fatalities and 204 cases, taking the total number of infections to 7,734. The day also saw 348 patients getting discharged, taking the total recoveries to 4,804, the health department said in its bulletin.
SC stays Telangana HC direction to conduct COVID-19 test on bodies before release from hospital
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the May 26 direction of the Telangana High Court which had asked the state authorities to conduct COVID-19 test on dead bodies before they are released from the hospitals.
Separately, the apex court also stayed the direction passed on June 8 by the high court which had said that if its directives were not implemented by the authorities then it would have no other option but to issue contempt notice for "intentional and willful disobedience" of its orders. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE updates | Kerala reports 75 COVID-19 cases, tally now 2,696
Kerala reported 75 positive cases on Wednesday, taking the COVID-19 infection tally to2,696, but in some relief for the state, 90 people have recovered from the disease on Wednesday.Of the positive cases, 53 have come from abroad and 19 from other states, while three have been infected through contact,Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
During the last 24 hrs, 6922 COVID-19 patients were cured. A total of 1,86,934 patients, so far, have been cured of COVID-19. The recovery rate rises to 52.80%. Currently, 1,55,227 active cases are under medical supervision. The number of government labs has been increased to 674 and private labs hasbeen increased to 250 (A total of 924) for testing.In the last 24 hours, 1,63,187 samples were tested. The total number of samples tested thus far is 60,84,256: Ministry of Health
Coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh LIVE updates |
2 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Himachal Pradesh today. Total number of positive cases rise to 570 in the state including 186 active cases, 365 recoveries and 6 deaths: State Health Department
Coronavirus in Bangladesh LIVE updates | Bangladesh's daily count of COVID-19 cases tops 4,000 for first time
Bangladesh on Wednesday recorded 4,008 new coronavirus cases, the highest-single day count, taking the total number of cases to 98,489. The death toll due to the COVID-19 rose to 1,305 after 43 people died on Wednesday, according to the health directorate.Another 1,925 COVID-19 patients recovered in the same period, raising the total to 38,189, DGHS Additional Director General Nasima Sultana said in a media briefing. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE updates | Civil hospital in Aurangabad to add 30 beds
The capacity of CivilHospital at Aurangabad in Maharashtra will go up to 200 by June end, a senior official said on Wednesday. The hospital is a dedicated COVID-19 treatment facility. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE updates |
17 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Dharavi area of Mumbai, taking the total number of cases to 2106. A total of 77 people have succumbed to the disease in the area so far: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra
Coronavirus in Sikkim LIVE updates | Two more COVID-19 cases detected in Sikkim, total rises to 70
Two more persons have testedpositive for COVID-19 in Sikkim, taking the total number of cases in the Himalayan state to 70, a top Health department
official said on Wednesday. Of the total 70 COVID-19 cases, 66 are active and four have recovered from the disease, the official said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE updates | TN CM seeks Rs 9,000 crore COVID-19 grant from Centre
A grant of Rs 9,000 crore to combat COVID-19 and its after effects, relief package to ease the burden on power sector and sanction of Rs 3,000 crore for
medical equipment were among the demands made by Chief Minister K Palaniswami in a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
Outlining the various ongoing anti-COVID-19 initiatives, including those related to prevention, testing and treatment, Palaniswami said orders have been placed for 2.75 crore triple layer face masks, 38.85 lakh N-95 masks, 21 lakh PPE kits and 15.45 lakh RT-PCR testing kits. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE updates |
Tamil Nadu crosses 50,000 mark with 2,174 new COVID-19 cases today, taking the total number of cases to 50,193. Death toll rises to 576 after 48 deaths were reported today: State Health Department (ANI)
Coronavirus in Assam LIVE updates |
95 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Assam today, taking the total number of cases to 4605. Number of active cases stand at 2183: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma(ANI)
Coronavirus in Germany LIVE updates | 400 people test positive in German meat plant
Authorities in western Germany say 400 people at a large meatpacking plant have tested positive for COVID-19.The regional health authority in Guetersloh said Wednesday that the new cluster is linked to a slaughterhouse operated by the Toennies Group in nearby Rheda-Wiedenbrueck.
There have been several outbreaks at German abattoirs in recent weeks, prompting the government to impose stricter safety rules for the industry and ban the practice of using subcontractors. Toennies Group says the slaughterhouse is its largest site and employs over 6,000 staff. (AP)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates | With 3 more deaths, COVID-19 toll in Maha police rises to 45
With the death of three morepersonnel of Maharashtra police due to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the number of such fatalities rose to 45 on Wednesday,
an official said. A total of 366 police personnel have recovered from the viral infection during the same period.
The number of active cases in the police force now stands at 1,033, comprising 128 officers and 905 personnel, the official said. As of June 16, 204 police officers and 1,195 personnelwere undergoing treatment for COVID-19. (PTI)
PM meeting with CMs regarding COVID-19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the increase in domestic manufacturing capabilities of PPEs, masks, availability of diagnostic kits in adequate quantity, the supply of ventilators made in India using PM CARES fund, availability of testing labs, lakhs of COVID special beds, thousands of isolation and quarantine centres, and adequate human resource through training. He underlined the need to give constant emphasis on health infrastructure, information systems, emotional support and public participation: PMO
Coronavirus in Nepal LIVE updates | Nepal records highest single-day spike with 586 new COVID-19 cases
Nepal on Wednesday reported its highest single-day increase in the coronavirus cases with 586 new infections, taking the country's total count to 7,177.
The new cases include 546 males. The country's COVID-19 death toll climbed to 20 after a 46-year-old kidney patient died due to the deadly virus, the Health Ministry said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE updates | MMRDA adds 1,000 beds to COVID-19 hospital
Town planning authority MMRDA on Wednesday handed over the second phase of its COVID-19 hospital at BKC, comprising 1,000 beds, to local civic body BMC. The financial capital has been the worst-hit by the deadly coronavirus, reporting more than 60,000 infections and 3,170 fatalities so far.The second phase of the hospital was completed in 17 days. It has 100 beds with ICU services, while the other 900 are divided into oxygen and non-oxygen facility equally. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray virtually inaugurated the facility, which has been handed over to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). (PTI)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates | 30 COVID deaths, 583 new cases: UP suffers highest single-day spikes on both counts
Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday reported 30 COVID-19 deaths and 583 new cases of infection, registering the highest single-day spikes on both counts, said an official.With the two-pronged spike, the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the state rose to 465 and infected cases to 15,181.
A total of 9,239 people, however, have been cured and discharged from hospitals, leaving 5,477 active cases in the state, said Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Nagaland LIVE updates | 14 new COVID-19 cases in Nagaland, tally rises to 193
Fourteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Nagaland on Wednesday, taking the total number of infections in the northeastern state to 193, officials said. Of the total cases, 90 are active and 103 people have recovered from the disease, they said, adding that the recovery rate in the state is 53.36 percent.
Giving details of the fresh cases, Health and Family Welfare Minister S Pangnyu Phom tweeted, "Two new cases, one each from Dimapur Quarantine Centre and Tuensang Quarantine Centre of COVID-19 positive have been reported out of 314 samples tested." (PTI)
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE updates | COVID-19 patient saved using convalescent plasma therapy in Kerala: Doctors
51-year-old man, who was battling for life after being infected by coronavirus has recovered after undergoing convalescent plasma therapy at a government
hospital in Thrissur, in a first such instance in Kerala using the experimental medical technique.
The beneficiary, who had been on ventilator for almost a week was taken off the support after a team of doctors administered the plasma of a person cured of the disease. (PTI)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LIVE updates |
Highest single-day spike of 583 COVID-19 cases, 30 deaths reported in Uttar Pradesh. Tally rises to 15,181, toll 465: Official (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Finance Ministry releases Rs 15,187 cr to states as rural local bodies grant
The finance ministry on Wednesday released Rs 15,187 crore to 28 states as grants to rural local bodies to help them restart economic activity. "Based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, @FinMinIndia today (Wednesday) released Rs 15,187.50 crore to 28 states as the 1st instalment of Rural Local Bodies Basic (Untied) Grants for 2020-21," the Office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted.
This amount would enable the rural local bodies to fight the coronavirus pandemic and restart economic activities, it added.
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE updates | Gujarat minister fined for not wearing mask
A minister in Gujarat had to pay a penalty of Rs 200 on Wednesday for not wearing a mask while entering the premises of Chief Minister's office in Gandhinagar ahead of a cabinet meeting. Local news channels showed Minister of State Ishwarsinh Patel entering the premises of the Chief Minister's office without a mask.
All other ministers who arrived for the cabinet meet were seen wearing masks.
After the lapse was pointed out by news channels, the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation slapped a penalty of Rs 200 on him. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
Out of 503 isolation coaches deployed in Delhi, 317 will be ready by Wednesday to host COVID-19 patients: Northern Railways (PTI)
Coronavirus in the United Kingdom LIVE updates | Steroid Dexamethasone approved as COVID-19 treatment in UK
The UK government on Wednesday authorised the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) to use steroid dexamethasone, the world's firstcoronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death among severely ill patients. The Department of Health said the cheap and widely available anti-inflammatory steroid has been immediately approved to treat all hospitalised COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen, including those on ventilators, after an Oxford University trial confirmed positive results on Tuesday. (PTI)
