India is the third worst-hit nation in terms of COVID-19 cases after the U.S. and Brazil. India's coronavirus tally, on August 22 crossed the 3 million mark. According to Johns Hopkins University, the global tally stands at 2,29,84,824.
India also crossed a significant milestone of testing more than 10 lakh samples for COVID-19 in 24 hours on August 21, taking cumulative tests to 3,44,91,073, the Health Ministry said on August 22.
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Maharashtra reports 10,441 new casesADVERTISEMENT
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Maharashtra reported a spike of 10,441 Covid-19 cases on Sunday as the total case tally rose to 6,82,383 of whom 1,71,542 cases are active. 258 new deaths pushed the total death toll to 22,253.
As many as 8,157 patients were discharged today to take the total recoveries till date to 4,88,271. Pune reported a huge spike of more than 2,500 fresh cases to take its total case tally to 1,50,207 while 67 deaths pushed its total death toll to 3,741.
Mumbai reported 991 new cases to take its total case tally to 1,36,353 of whom only 18,567 are active. 34 new fatalities saw the city's death toll climb to 7,422. Kolhapur district reported 22 deaths, Nagpur reported 22 deaths while Kolhapur in western Maharashtra reported 13 fatalities.
- Shoumojit Banerjee
M.P. reports 1263 new cases
Madhya Pradesh on Sunday recorded 1,263 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 53,129. The number of active cases stands at 11,510.
As many as 23 patients died of the illness on the day, taking the State-wide death toll to 1,229. As for recoveries, 991 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 40,390 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services.
Local bodies in Kozhikode to step up reverse quarantine measures
Recognising the importance of reverse quarantine in fighting COVID-19, local bodies in Kozhikode district have started identifying vulnerable groups, including ailing senior citizens and those suffering from serious ailments, within their limits for providing better care. The data on such persons will be updated on the COVID-19 Jagratha portal for effective monitoring and field-level support.
Rapid response teams (RRTs) functioning within the limits of various panchayats, municipalities and the Kozhikode Corporation will play the lead role in regularly updating the health records. Based on their recommendations, the local bodies will be permitted to purchase emergency testing devices such as pulse oximeters.
Sales of Corona Kavach policies on a rise, says Max Bupa
The coronavirus pandemic has acted as a catalyst for increasing awareness about health insurance as sales of newly-launched Corona Kavach policy have risen to 200-300 policies per day, a top official of Max Bupa Health Insurance said.
For the insurer, growing awareness is translating into the purchase of policies across the country, Max Bupa Health Insurance MD and CEO Krishnan Ramachandran said.
“At Max Bupa, we have seen that COVID-19 has acted as a catalyst for awareness amongst people. The awareness of health insurance has grown manifold, more than what we have seen in the last 20 years in our industry. At Max Bupa, we have seen health insurance related queries increasing in the last couple of months,” Ramachandran told PTI in an interview.
- PTI
T.N reports close to 6000 new cases again
Tamil Nadu reported 5,975 new COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total positive till date to 3,79,385.
Total active cases as on date are 53,541.
6,047 people were discharged today, taking the total to 3,19,327. Deaths today were 97, taking the toll to 6,517.
97 new cases push Arunachal’s COVID-19 tally to 3,223
Arunachal Pradesh reported 97 more COVID-19 cases, including 35 security personnel, pushing the State’s tally to 3,223, a senior health department official said on Sunday.
The fresh cases include 24 each from Tawang and Upper Subansiri, 22 from the Capital Complex region and 16 from West Kameng, State Surveillance Officer L. Jampa said.
— PTI
Coronavirus | With 3 million positive cases, experts say rise unlikely to abate soon
India crossed three million cases on Sunday after adding nearly 69,239 cases the previous day — the fourth straight day that it had added over 69,000 cases. India continued to be placed behind Brazil and the United States in the overall case load and, at 56,706 deaths, had only half as many as Brazil and less than a third as that of the U.S.
India on Saturday reported having tested a million samples — the first time it surpassed this milestone. India has been conducting an average 8,89,935 testings in the last five days and had tested 34.4 million samples till August 21. Only about 23% of the confirmed cases, or about 7,00,000, are active cases requiring treatment and the case fatality ratio — or the confirmed deaths per ratified cases — has dipped to less than 2%.
— Special Correspondent
Telangana needs to increase COVID-19 tests: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy
Telangana needs to ramp up COVID-19 testing though the recovery rate in the state has improved, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “Recovery rate is good in Telangana also. But, I feel the number of tests need to increase.”
— PTI
Delhi govt. requests Centre to open metro services in phased manner
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the Delhi Government has requested the Center to allow the functioning of the Delhi Metro in a phased manner on a trial basis. “Centre should not have a blanket rule on opening Metro transport across the country. It needs to see that Delhi is different as corona cases in the Capital are under control.”
— Delhi Bureau
Entertainment industry welcomes Centre’s SOPs for resumption of films, TV shoots
Members of the entertainment industry, including filmmaker Boney Kapoor, actor-producer JD Majethia, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, on Sunday hailed the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for resuming shooting of films and TV programmes announced by the Centre.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar announced guiding principles and SOPs on preventive measures for media production to contain the spread of coronavirus.
— PTI
COVID-19: Delhi prisons provide lemon juice, homeopathic medicines to inmates to boost immunity
Frequent medical screening of all inmates, introducing immunity-boosting fruits in their diet and spreading awareness about the importance of personal hygiene are some of the steps taken by the Delhi Prisons Department to contain the spread of COVID-19 among prisoners, jail officials said on Sunday.
The first case of coronavirus was reported in Rohini Jail on May 13. Two COVID-19 positive inmates of Mandoli Jail died on June 15 and July 4. Both were senior citizens, according to the officials.
— PTI
59 coronavirus deaths, 5,325 fresh cases reported in Uttar Pradesh
Fifty-nine people succumbed to COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, raising the death toll caused by the disease to 2,926 in the state, a senior official said.
Briefing reporters here, Additional Chief Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad said the case fatality rate stands at 1.56%.
— PTI
Tamil Nadu observes intense lockdown, violators fined
People stayed indoors and roads were deserted as Tamil Nadu observed a complete lockdown on Sunday as part of efforts to fight COVID-19.
While only healthcare services and milk supplies were operational, violators of norms in urban and semi-urban localities in districts including Kancheepuram, Pudukottai, and Virudhunagar were finedby local authorities.
— PTI
If everything goes well India would get COVID-19 vaccine by year-end: Harsh Vardhan
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that if everything goes well, India would get a vaccine against the novel coronavirus by the end of this year.
Three COVID-19 vaccine candidates, including two indigenous ones, are in different phases of development in India.
— PTI
High recoveries push India’s recovery rate to nearly 75%; case fatality rate down to 1.86%
A consistently increasing number of recoveries has pushed India's Recovery Rate amongst the COVID-19 patients to nearly 75%, said the Ministry of Health. In a press release , it stated: "With the recoveries of 57,989 COVID patients in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has reached 22,80,566 today. India's total recoveries now exceed the total active cases (7,07,668) by nearly 16 lakhs (1,572,898). Currently at 1.86%, India’s Case Fatality Rate (CFR) is one of the lowest globally."
Scientists decode how lungs are damaged in severe COVID-19 using novel imaging technique
Using a novel technique which enables high resolution imaging of damaged lung tissues, scientists have found the changes caused by severe COVID-19 in the structure of the organ’s blood vessels and air sacs, findings that may support the development of new treatment methods against the disease.
In the study, published in the journal eLife, the scientists developed a new X-ray technique which enables high resolution and three-dimensional imaging of lung tissues infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
— PTI
Tripura’s COVID-19 tally rises to 8,720; death toll mounts to 72
The number of COVID-19 cases in Tripura rose to 8,720 on Sunday as 331 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the state’s coronavirus death toll to 72, a health official said.
The two patients died at the Agartala Government Medical College on Saturday, he said.
— PTI
Total 3.52 cr samples tested for COVID-19, average daily positive rate dips to 7.67% in past week
Testing over eight lakh samples for six days in a row, India’s total COVID-19 tests have touched 3.52 crore, while the average daily positivity rate has come down from 9.67 per cent during August 3-9 to 7.67 pc over the last week, the Centre said on Sunday.
So far, 3,52,92,220 samples have been tested for detection of COVID-19 with 8,01,147 being tested on Saturday.
— PTI
Doctors in Mysuru call off strike; COVID-19 testing to resume
The decision comes after the Mysuru ZP CEO was transferred; doctors decide to wait for the inquiry into Nanjangud THO and COVID-19 warrior Dr S.R. Nagendra’s alleged suicide, from the Regional Commissioner
The COVID-19 testing had come to a halt as doctors and other healthcare staff across Mysuru district struck work since Thursday.
— Shankar Bennur
Six deaths, 697 fresh coronavirus cases in Rajasthan; total count 69,961
Rajasthan health authorities on Sunday reported six coronavirus fatalities and 697 fresh infections, taking the numbers to 950 deaths and 69,961 cases in the state.
So far, 69,961 people have contracted the infection in the state, according to a Health Department official.
— PTI
Goa welcomes filmmakers to shoot movies in beach state
The state-runEntertainment Society of Goa on Sunday welcomed filmmakers to the coastal state after the Centre announced the standard operating procedures for resuming shooting of films and TV programmes.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 in March, film shootings were suspended in Goa, which is a popular hub for the Hindi, Marathi and South Indian film industries.
— PTI
New COVID-19 cluster at Singapore’s biggest dormitory
A new COVID-19 cluster has been reported in Singapore’s biggest dormitory housing foreign workers, including Indian nationals, about a month after it was declared to be fully cleared of the coronavirus.
Two of the new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore on Saturday were linked to 55 previous cases to form a new cluster at Sungei Tengah Lodge dormitory at 500 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.
— PTI
Many animal species may be vulnerable to coronavirus infection, study says
Humans are not the only species facing a potential threat from the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to a new study which says several critically endangered primates such as the Western lowland gorilla, Sumatran orangutan, and Northern white-cheeked gibbon may be susceptible to infection with the virus.
Scientists, including those from the University of California (UC) - Davis in the US, used genomic analysis to compare the structure of the ACE2 receptor protein which the novel coronavirus uses to enter cells across 410 different species of vertebrates, including birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
— PTI
Homeopathic drug given to half of Gujarat population since March
The Gujarat health department has said it distributed homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album-30 to more than half of the state’s population as prophylaxis since March after the outbreak of COVID-19.
In its presentation made before the World Health Organisation on August 20 on Gujarat’s COVID-19 prevention strategy, the health department said it distributed Arsenicum Album-30 to 3.48 crore people, which is more than half of the state’s population of 6.6 crore.
— PTI
Madhya Pradesh Health Minister tests positive for Coronavirus
Madhya Pradesh Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prabhuram Choudhary on Sunday afternoon declared he had tested positive for COVID-19, the seventh Minister besides Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to have contracted the illness so far.
Giving out the test result on Twitter, Dr. Choudhary appealed to those who came in contact with him to get tested. “Those in close contact should quarantine themselves. With your prayers and blessings I will return soon amidst you to do public service,” he wrote in Hindi.
— Siddharth Yadav
Pakistan’s COVID-19 cases reach 292,765
Pakistan’s coronavirus cases on Sunday reached 292,765 after 591 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.
Four patients died during the period, taking the number of fatalities in the country to 6,235, according to the Ministry of National Health Services.
— PTI
South Korea elevates distancing as epidemic nears spring levels
Beaches and churches were closed and baseball games played in empty stadiums on Sunday after South Korea added hundreds to its growing coronavirus caseload amid concerns the epidemic is getting out of control.
The 397 new cases reported by South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention marked the 10th day of triple-digit increases and indicated that the speed of viral spread was nearing the levels last seen during the worst of the outbreak in spring.
- PTI
No rise in complaints of crimes against children during lockdown: NCPCR chief
There has been no increase in the number of complaints of crimes against children during the coronavirus-induced lockdown in the country, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said. In fact, the NCPCR, the country’s apex child rights’ body, reported to authorities some reports claiming otherwise, he said.
Mr. Kanoongo said the NCPCR took various steps to address the challenges faced by children due to the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. Asked if the number of complaints related to crimes against children saw a rise during the lockdown, which began on March 25, he said "no".
- PTI
COVID-19 situation continues to be critical in Thiruvananthapuram
Nine more deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in Thiruvananthapuram as the district’s caseload leaped by 464 on Saturday. Local transmission also remained high by accounting for almost all of the fresh cases.
Nearly 99% of the cases have been attributed to local transmission. These included 459 cases, including those of nine health workers. Among these, the sources of infection were unknown in 40 cases.
With 290 recoveries also being reported, the current number of people being treated in the district for the infection is 5,163.
Private hospital sealed for overcharging COVID-19 patients
District Collector Prashant J. Patil on Saturday instructed medical officers to seal a private hospital for allegedly overcharging a COVID-19 patient.
Following a complaint by an aggrieved family, medical officials inspected Navya Hospital in the town of Nalgonda in Telangana and found that the management was billing patients even without conducting tests.
Reportedly, one patient was charged ₹6 lakh, at ₹50,000 per day, for COVID-19 treatment which included only supply of oxygen.
Odisha sees steepest daily surge
Odisha registered its steepest ever daily surge with 2,993 COVID-19 positive cases on Sunday.
With this, the State’s total COVID-19 cases reached 78,530 cases. 52,276 patients have recovered. There are 25,792 active cases in the State.
Odisha has lost 409 persons to COVID-19 following the occurrence of 10 more deaths on Sunday. Three deaths were reported from Ganjam.
- Satya Sundar Barik
Three COVID-19 patients untraceable in UP’s Muzaffarnagar
Three people who tested COVID-19 positive in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district cannot be traced as they provided fake information and phone numbers during sample collection, officials said on Sunday.
Two of them claimed to be staffers of a hospital here, while the third person had given his address as Saket Colony.
District authorities have launched a search to trace the three persons, the officials said.
- PTI
Puducherry death toll hits 159
Puducherry recorded eight more COVID-19 deaths taking the death toll to 159, while the cumulative tally crossed the 10,500 mark with 412 new admissions.
All deaths were recorded in patients between the age group of 35 and 78 years.
The total tally stands at 159 deaths, 3,706 active cases, 10,522 cumulative cases and 6,657 recoveries.
- Dinesh Varma
SOPs issued for resuming production of films and TV serials, says Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar. These SOPs have been finalised after consulting the Health and Home ministries, he said.
Mr. Javadekar said barring those who are in front of the camera all others will have to wear masks.
He hoped that the release of the SOPs will not only lead to resumption of shooting of films and TV serials, but also generate employment.
Women vigilantes, youth help enforce lockdown in Manipur
In the backdrop of the daily increase in the number of infections, the youth have erected fences at the entrance of their villages and nearby localities. No villager is allowed to leave or enter the villages. Besides, the youth are spraying chemicals to stop the spread of the infection. Whenever a person is tested positive, the house is cordoned off and even the national highways that pass through villages are closed.
The local youth clubs and women vigilantes have also driven out drug offenders and convicted murderers from the villages.
1,284 more test positive in Thane
The number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra’s Thane district has gone up to 1,13,884 with 1,284 more people testing positive for the disease, a health official said on Sunday.
The fatality count in the district has reached 3,240 as 26 more people succumbed to the viral infection on Saturday, he said.
India sees a single-day spike of 69,239 cases
With a single-day spike of 69,239 infections, the country’s COVID-19 caseload mounted to 30,44,940, while the death toll climbed to 56,706 with 912 fatalities being reported in a span of 24-hours, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.86 per cent.
There are 7,07,668 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 23.24 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
- PTI
11 more COVID-19 deaths in Telangana
Telangana logged 2,384 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the State's tally to 1,04,249. The death toll rose to 755 with 11 more COVID-19 deaths, the State government bulletin said, providing data as of 8 p.m. on Saturday.
The total number of people who recovered from the infectious disease so far was 80,586, while 22,908 were under treatment.
Real estate, construction, industrial product sectors to see more revenue impact: survey
The real estate, construction & industrial product segments are expected to see more revenue impact and business disruption on account of coronavirus spread, indicates the findings of a recent survey.
Protiviti India’s Business Resilience Barometer survey said that 57% of respondents from real estate and construction sector, and 42% of respondents from industrial product sector envisage a negative revenue impact exceeding 25%.
Delhi records highest new cases in over a month
Delhi witnessed the highest number of daily new COVID-19 cases in more than a month on Saturday with 1,412 new cases being reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,60,016, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Saturday.
The last time the number of new cases was above this was on July 18, when 1,475 new cases were reported.
Kerala reports 2,172 new cases
Kerala reported 2,172 new cases of COVID 19 and 1,292 recoveries on Saturday. The cumulative case burden of the State ever since the outbreak began has now reached 56,354 cases. With 36,539 persons having recovered from their disease, the number of active cases or patients currently undergoing treatment in hospitals across the State is 19,538.
The Hindu Explains | How will a centralised EMR tool help in monitoring COVID-19 trends?
Last week, researchers, as part of an international consortium, reportedly created an agile analytic tool for rapid disease insights, working with medical records of patients with COVID-19 in five countries. They put together a centralised electronic medical records (EMR) tool that would help them gather, monitor, analyse clinical trends in COVID-19 across multiple countries.
While EMRs were supposed to make things easier in terms of access across platforms, they did not turn out to be such a big boon after all, because the data was locked in on local platforms.
Cases in West Bengal touch 1.35 lakh
West Bengal on Saturday recorded 3,232 new cases of infection in the past 24 hours taking the number of infections to 1,35,596 . The deaths in the past 24 hours were 48 which took the number to 2,737. The discharge rate in the State reached 77.41% . The active cases in the State touched 27,900.
Home Ministry issues SOP for international passengers
The Ministry of Home Affairs on August 22 issued Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for international travel on non-scheduled commercial flights under Vande Bharat scheme and air transport bubble arrangement.
Accordingly, persons desirous to travel to India on Vande Bharat flights, will register themselves with the Indian missions in the country where they are stranded or residing, along with necessary details as prescribed by Ministry of External Affairs. However, such a registration may not be required on flights operating under air transport bubbles arrangements, the SOP said.