23:54 (IST)
Coronavirus in Italy Latest Updates
COVID-19 toll in Italy crosses 25,000
Deaths in Italy related to the coronavirus pandemic topped 25,000 on Wednesday.
The number of dead and new positives continue to plateau for Italy, the first western country to be hit by the crisis. The civil protection agency reported 437 people had died with the virus in the last 25 hours, a 1.7% increase in the death toll to 25,085. The number of positive cases rose 1.5% to 183,857.
(AP)
23:41 (IST)
Coronavirus in Pakistan Latest Updates
Imran Khan tests negative for COVID-19
Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday tested negative for the novel coronavirus, his aide was quoted as saying, as the number of the COVID-19 cases crossed 10,000 in the country.
Khan, 67, agreed for the test after Faisal Edhi, the son of late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and chairman of the Edhi Foundation, who met him last week tested positive for the coronavirus.
23:36 (IST)
Coronavirus in Bihar Latest Updates
Bihar reports 2 more COVID-19 cases
Reports on Wednesday said that two new coronavirus cases were reported in Bihar, taking the total number of cases in the state to 143.
23:33 (IST)
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh Latest Updates
26 more people test positive for COVID-19 in Indore
The Indore chief medical officer said that 26 more people have tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases in the district to 945 including 53 deaths.
23:27 (IST)
Coronavirus in UK Latest Updates
UK's COVID-19 toll crosses 18,000
The British government says 759 more people with the coronavirus have died in UK hospitals, taking the total to 18,100. The daily increase reported was lower than the 823 in the previous 24-hour period, AP reported.
The UK's death toll is the fourth highest in Europe, behind Italy, Spain and France, all of whom have reported more than 20,000 deaths.
23:21 (IST)
Coronavirus in US Latest Updates
New York governor says meeting with Trump was 'productive'
Governor Andrew Cuomo described his meeting with US President Donald Trump as “productive” and the two leaders agreed to double New York's testing capacity to 40,000 tests a day as the death toll from the Covid-19 surpassed 15,000 in the state.
Cuomo, giving his daily press briefing on the Covid-19 pandemic, said numbers in the state of hospitalizations and intubation are coming down. "We're in a relatively good place in downstate New York, the curve is on the descent. The question is now how long is that descent. Is it a sudden drop off, is it one week, two weeks, three weeks, six weeks we don't know, but better to be going down than to be going up,” he said.
(PTI)
23:17 (IST)
Coronavirus in Assam Latest Updates
Assam govt asks private school to cut fees by 50% for March, says report
India Today reported that the Assam government on Wednesday told private schools in the state to cut the fees for March by 50 percent in light of the coronavirus pandemic
23:04 (IST)
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates
COVID-19 patient claims Delhi's LNJP hospital isn't admitting him
ANI quoted a COVID-19 positive patient as alleging that Delhi's LNJP hospital is not admitting him for immediate treatment. He also says that he and three other patients walked to the hospital on Wednesday while there are seven more COVID-19 patients at his home.
#WATCH A COVID19 positive patient alleges that Delhi's LNJP hospital is not admitting him for immediate treatment. He also says that he and 3 other patients walked to the hospital today while there are 7 more COVID19 patients at his home. pic.twitter.com/mun0IvsIex
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2020
22:45 (IST)
Coronavirus in Karnataka Latest Updates
Karnataka govt promulgates Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020
Karnataka government has promulgated the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020. The state government has now powers to punish those who obstruct public servants during discharge of their duties.
22:31 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Maharashtra minister says 83% cases were asymptomatic
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said that 83 percent cases in the state were asymptomatic, adding that plasma treatment is likely to be tried in Mumbai.
"Projection rate of Maharashtra is scary, but don't get scared. We will increase the days of doubling of rate, so this projection won't be true," he was quoted as saying.
22:21 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Bill Gates praises Modi over COVID-19 approach
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "We commend your leadership and the proactive measures you and your government have taken to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 infection rate in India, such as adopting a national lockdown, expanding focused testing to identify hotspots for isolation, quarantining, and care, and significantly increasing health expenditures to strengthen the health system response and promote R&D and digital innovation."
"I’m glad your government is fully utilizing its exceptional digital capabilities in its COVID-19 response and has launched the Aarogya Setu digital app for coronavirus tracking, contact tracing, and to connect people to health services," he added.
Gates also said he is grateful to see that PM Modi is seeking to balance public health imperatives with the need to ensure adequate social protection for all Indians.
(ANI)
22:11 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Mumbai reports 309 new coronavirus cases today
The BMC said that Mumbai reported 309 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 3,754.
Meanwhile, 10 more deaths were reported on Wednesday, with which the toll in the city rose to 160. A total of 425 people have been discharged so far after recovery, including 17 people in the last 24 hours, the statement added.
21:59 (IST)
Coronavirus in Chhattisgarh Latest Updates
Two COVID-19 patients discharged in Raipur today
AIIMS Raipur said that two more COVID-19 patients were discharged on Wednesday. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state is 36, including eight active cases and 28 discharged.
21:49 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Australia praises India's COVID-19 approach
The coronavirus pandemic is stretching much of the world's governmental capacity and terrorists are likely to exploit the situation including by fostering communal tension, Australian High Commissioner-designate Barry O'Farrell said on Wednesday.
In an address at the National Defence College through video-conference, O'Farrell also said India may be one of the most successful developing countries in managing the pandemic and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's global outreach to deal with it.
He said Modi is also one of the leading voices shaping the G20 into a body instrumental in leading the world into post-COVID-19 recovery, and was an early voice advocating for reforms to the World Health Organisation.
"We've seen some remarkable leadership from India since this crisis began. The world is facing an unprecedented health challenge for which no government has a perfect answer," O'Farrell said.
It's laudable not just that the Indian government acted so quickly to stem the virus's spread, but also that it continues working to mitigate the lockdown's impact on India's most vulnerable. It's an enormous challenge for the world's most populous nation," he added.
(PTI)
21:39 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Maharashtra govt to increase surveillance, plasma therapy begins in state
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said, "We've increased surveillance, screening, testing and treatment. We've improved our doubling rate of positive patients to 7.1 days. Our aim is to protect everyone and bring mortality rate to zero. We've started plasma therapy in the state."
21:23 (IST)
Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates
UP govt says Pratapgarh district is COVID-19 frree
The Uttar Pradesh health department said that the state's Pratapgarh district has become COVID-19-free. Pool testing has been started at RIMS in Saifai. 3,500 RT-PCR tests are being conducted daily in Uttar Pradesh.
21:11 (IST)
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates
Delhi reports 92 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death
The Delhi health department said that 92 new COVID-19 positive cases and one death were reported in the National Capital on Wednesday. The total number of cases in Delhi is now 2,248, and the toll is at 48.
20:56 (IST)
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates
Delhi containment zones rise to 89
The list of COVID-19 'containment zones' in Delhi rose to 89 after two areas in the Lado Sarai area added to the list.
20:49 (IST)
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates
IMCT asks Bengal govt for presentation on COVID-19 situation in state
ANI reported that Inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) on Wednesday sought a presentation from the West Bengal government on the level of testing, availability of oxygen and ICU beds, and ventilators.
20:43 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Modi to address gram panchayats on 24 April
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address various gram panchayats across the country on 24 April on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, through video-conferencing.
20:40 (IST)
Coronavirus in Gujarat Latest Updates
Over 100 cases reported in Gujarat today
The Gujarat health department said that 135 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the state on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 2,407 including 179 cured/discharged and 103 deaths.
20:32 (IST)
Corobavirus in Uttar Pradesh Latest Updates
Uttar Pradesh reports 112 new COVID-19 cases today
Reports said that 112 new coronavirus cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. The total number of cases in the state is now 1,455. Of these, 1,255 are active cases, while, 173 have been discharged and 21 have been dead.
20:24 (IST)
Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates
Safdarjung nursing officer tests positive for COVID-19
The Safarjung hospital on Wednesday said that a nursing officer has tested positive for COVID-19 at the hospital.
"She was posted at Gyane HDU (high dependency unit) at the facility. At present,she is admitted in the corona unit of the hospital. Previously, four doctors were also found COVID-19 positive," the statement siad.
20:13 (IST)
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates
300 active cases in Bengal so far
The West Bengal said that there are 300 active cases of COVID-19 in West Bengal, of which 79 patients have been cured while 15 others have succumbed to the infection. A total of 7,037 samples have been tested in the state so far.
20:06 (IST)
Coronavirus in Jharkhand Latest Updates
One new COVID-19 case reported in Ranchi
The Jharkhand government said that one more positive case of COVID-19 was reported in Ranchi's Hindpiri. The total number of cases in Jharkhand rose to 46.
19:53 (IST)
Coronavirus in Uttarakhand Latest Updates
No new COVID-19 cases reported in Uttarakhand today
The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday said that no new COVID-19 case was reported in the state for the second consecutive day. The total number of cases stands at 46, out of which 23 patients have recovered.
19:45 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates
431 new COVID-19 cases reported in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra health department said that 431 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths were reported on Wednesday in the state, taking number of cases to 5,649 and deaths to 269 in the state.
Out of the new deaths, 10 reported in Mumbai. 789 patients have recovered from the disease in the state so far.
19:40 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Centre to take up labour reforms in 'big way'
Reports quoted Labour Secretary Heeralal Samariya as saying that labour reforms will be "taken up in a big way", and that labour codes to be a reality soon.
He said that the labour reforms will be taken in a big way in coming months and labour codes will become a reality soon.
“We are going for the labour reforms and have already got the report from our Parliamentary Standing Committee. Also, we are getting report for the industrial relations code, social security code. In coming months, we will see these codes will become the reality,” he said.
19:33 (IST)
Coronavirus in Chandigarh Latest Updates
No COVID-19 toll reported in Chandigarh so far
The Chandigarh administration on Wednesday said that the number of COVID-19 cases stands at 27 in the union territory, including 14 cured patients. No death has been reported due to the infection so far. 529 samples have been tested.
19:23 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Amarnath Yatra 2020 cancelled over COVID-19 pandemic
ANI reported that this year's Amarnath Yatra has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
19:13 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates
Nine new COVID-19 cases reported in Dharavi
Reports said that nine new coronavirus cases were reported in Mumbai's Dharavi on Wednesday, taking the total cases in the area to 189. The toll stands at 12.
19:03 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Modi hails Cabinet's ordinance on violence against healthcare workers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said, "The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 manifests our commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline. It will ensure safety of our professionals. There can be no compromise on their safety!"
18:42 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
India reports 1,486 new COVID-19 cases, total rises to 20,471
The Union health ministry, in its evening update, said that India's total number of coronavirus cases rose to 20,471 on Wednesday. This includes 15,859 active cases, 3,959 cured/discharged/migrated and 652 deaths.
1.486 new cases and 49 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
18:34 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Modi to interact with CMs on 27 April
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to interact with the chief ministers of all states via video conference on 27 April, ANI reported.
18:27 (IST)
Coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh Latest Updates
No new COVID-19 case reported in Himachal Pradesh today
The Himachal Pradesh government said that no new case of COVID-19 has been reported in the state on Wednesday. There are 23 active cases in the state, 11 patients have recovered and one person has died.
18:18 (IST)
Coronavirus in Kerala Latest Updates
11 new COVID-19 cases reported in Kerala today
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 11 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the state on Wednesday. Of these, seven were reported in Kannur, two in Kozhikode, and one each in Kottayam and Malappuram.
18:13 (IST)
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates
26 new COVID-19 cases reported in Bengal in 24 hours
The West Bengal government on Wednesday said that 26 new coronavirus cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 300 in the state. No deaths have been reported, and the toll remains at 15.
Reportedly, 79 have been cured and discharged so far, including six in the last 24 hours. 7,037 tests have been conducted so far, including 855 in the past day.
18:05 (IST)
Coronavirus in Karnataka Latest Updates
Nine new COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka today
The Karnataka government said that nine new COVID-19 cases — two reported in Bengaluru, five in Kalaburagi, two in Mysuru — have been confirmed in the state from Tuesday 5.00 pm to 5.pm on Wednesday.
"The total number of coronavirus cases in the state is now 427, including 131 discharged and 17 deaths," the statement added.
18:00 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
AAP MP asks Modi to bring back Indians stranded abroad
Bhagwant Mann, AAP Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention for bringing back Indians stranded in foreign counties amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Bhagwant Mann, AAP Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, writes a letter to PM Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention for bringing back Indians stranded in foreign counties amid #CoronavirusPandemic. pic.twitter.com/BV6BXdKXbf
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2020
17:54 (IST)
Coronavirus in Haryana Latest Updates
260 COVID-19 cases reported in Haryana so far
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that so far, 260 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state, out of which 153 people have recovered and three have died.
"511 tests have been conducted on each 10 lakh people in the state. There is no case in three districts," he added.
17:49 (IST)
Coronavirus in Telangana Latest Updates
Telanagana govt says asymptomatic secondary contacts won't be tested
Telangana Government says ‘Asymptomatic Secondary Contacts’ WILL NOT be tested, instead kept in home quarantine for 28 days (time increased from 14 days.). Only Primary Contacts will be tested and kept in Government Quarantine Centres.
17:34 (IST)
Coronavirus in Nepal Latest Updates
3 new COVID-19 cases reported in Nepal
The Nepal government said that three new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Wednesday. "They were kept in Army’s quarantine in Tandi. The total number of positive cases rise to 45," the statement said.
17:27 (IST)
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates
Bengal govt says no COVID-19 testing kits from ICMR available as of today
The West Bengal health ministry, providing the status of the three kinds of COVID-19 testing kits approved by the ICMR in the state, said, "As on 22 April, WBDHFW has 0 kits supplied from ICMR/NICED which can test a COVID-19 patient as per ICMR recommendations. Assuring all citizens that every possible effort is being made to address this situation."
3. Antigen Kits - Not supplied to hospitals in Bengal.
— Department of Health & Family Welfare, West Bengal (@wbdhfw) April 22, 2020
Thus, as on 22nd Apr, WBDHFW has 0 kits supplied from ICMR/NICED which can test a COVID patient as per ICMR recommendations
Assuring all citizens that every possible effort is being made to address this situation (2/2)
17:19 (IST)
Coronavirus in Odisha Latest Updates
One new COVID-19 case reported in Odisha
One new COVID-19 case was reported from Odisha's Jajpur on Wednesday, the state information and public relations department said. The total number of cases is now 83, including 50 active cases, 32 recovered, and one death.
17:10 (IST)
Coronavirus in West Bengal Latest Updates
West Bengal govt says claim of less tests being conducted is untrue
West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha on Wednesday said that "it is not true that we are doing less number of tests". His statement comes a day after the Centre sent teams to review the COVID-19 situation in the state.
"A total of 7,037 samples have been tested till now. There is a notice to withdraw testing kits, whose fault is it?," he added.
16:59 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
MHA tells states to ensure security for healthcare professionals
The MHA on Wednesday wrote to state governments, instructing them to "ensure adequate security to healthcare professionals, medical staff and frontline workers to prevent violence against them"., after the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance making violence against the professionals a non-bailable offence.
"Strict action to be taken against those who obstruct the performance of last rites of COVID-19 warriors succumbing to COVID-19. State governments, UTs requested to appoint Nodal Officers at State/UT level and at district level, who would be available 24*7 to redress any safety issue on the functioning of medical professionals.They should also take immediate and strict action in case any incident of violence takes place." the statement said.
State Govts/ UTs requested to appoint Nodal Officers at State/UT level&at Dist level, who would be available 24*7 to redress any safety issue on the functioning of medical professionals.They should also take immediate&strict action in case any incident of violence takes place:MHA https://t.co/Ii3SxsTrfU
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2020
16:52 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
Recovery rate improves to 19.36% in India, says Centre
The Union health ministry on Wednesday told the media that the recovery rate is 19.36 percent, up from the around 17 percent on Tuesday.
Additionally, 3,870 people have been cured so far and the tally of coronavirus cases rose to 19,984 on Wednesday, reports said.
16:42 (IST)
Coronavirus in India Latest Updates
50 new COVID-19 deaths across India, says Centre
The Union health ministry was quoted by reports as saying that in the last 24 hours, 50 new deaths were reported due to coronavirus across India.
16:40 (IST)
Coronavirus in Rajasthan Latest Updates
Recruitment of 2,000 doctors begins in Rajasthan
Rajasthan health minister Raghu Sharma said that the process of recruitment of 2,000 doctors has begun in the state as per the announcement of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the last state budget.
"We will complete the process in the next one and a half months. 735 doctors have recently been recruited and posted in hospitals. Recruitment process of 12,500 General Nursing & Midwife & Auxiliary Nurse Midwife had been completed but posting couldn't be done due to some litigations. After consultation with Advocate General,the CM has now given orders for posting of 9000 such staff," he added.
16:30 (IST)
Coronavirus in Punjab Latest Updates
COVID-19 patients in Punjab first hotspot district recover, says report
At least 18 patients have recovered from the coronavirus infection in Punjab's first hotspot district, Nawanshahr, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
"(The district) formally cured all infected patients after the result of the last novel coronavirus patient — a 16-year-old from Banga subdivision — came negative. As many as 18 patients have been cured and one death was reported from Nawanshahr (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar) district. It has been almost a month (March 26) since the last positive case was reported from the district. The age of patients varies from a two-year-old to a 78-year-old man.," the report said.
Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The BMC said that Mumbai reported 309 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 3,754.
Meanwhile, 10 more deaths were reported on Wednesday, with which the toll in the city rose to 160. A total of 425 people have been discharged so far after recovery, including 17 people in the last 24 hours, the statement added.
The Delhi health department said that 92 new COVID-19 positive cases and one death were reported in the National Capital on Wednesday. The total number of cases in Delhi is now 2,248, and the toll is at 48.
ANI reported that this year's Amarnath Yatra has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The West Bengal health ministry, providing the status of the three kinds of COVID-19 testing kits approved by the ICMR in the state, said, "As on 22 April, WBDHFW has 0 kits supplied from ICMR/NICED which can test a COVID-19 patient as per ICMR recommendations. Assuring all citizens that every possible effort is being made to address this situation."
The Union health ministry on Wednesday told the media that the recovery rate is 19.36 percent, up from the around 17 percent on Tuesday.
Additionally, 3,870 people have been cured so far and the tally of coronavirus cases rose to 19,984 on Wednesday, reports said.
Uttar Pradesh principal secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad on Wednesday said that there are no COVID-19 active cases in the Pilibhit, Lakihimpur Kheri, Hathras, Bareilly, Prayagraj, Shahjahanpur, Maharajganj, Barabanki, Hardoi and Kaushambhi districts of the state.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance to make violence against health workers non-bailable offence. In case of serious injuries to healthcare workers, the guilty will face imprisonment up to to 7 years.
Those found guilty of attacking healthcare workers will face imprisonment and fine of Rs 50,000 to 2 lakh rupees and carries imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years if anyone found guilty, said Union minister Prakash Javadekar.
Six staff members including a doctor of Bhatia Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. They are currently being treated at the ICU care unit of Bhatia Hospital.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said the Central committee has recommended an increase in the capacity of quarantine facility in Mumbai from 1,200 beds to 2,000, in light of the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Five more COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Bihar on Wednesday. Three cases were registered in Patna, 1 in Bihar Sharif and 1 in East Champaran. "Contact tracing is being done. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 131." Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary, Health Dept, Bihar told ANI.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the safety of doctors at their workplace is non-negotiable and that the government is committed to their cause while appealing to them to reconsider their proposed protest, prompting the IMA to withdraw its stir.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that one of its employees has tested positive for coronavirus. Meanwhile, the number of cases rose to 19,984.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) withdrew their protest after their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan via video-conferencing.
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan, part of a battalion deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, has tested positive for COVID-19 in the national capital, a senior official said on Wednesday. The jawan, working as a nursing assistant, has been admitted to an isolation ward in a Delhi hospital, he said.
On Wednesday, 553 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours in Maharashtra as the total number of positive cases in the state stands at 5229, reports ANI. 19 more deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours as the total death in the state rises to 251.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan interacted with doctors and Indian Medical Association (IMA) through video conferencing on Wednesday. He appreciated their good work and also assured them security and appealed to them not to do even symbolic protest as proposed by them, as the government stands with them.
A 53-year-old coronavirus patient succumbed to the disease on Tuesday night, reports ANI. The death toll in the Pune district rises to 55 according to health officials.
64 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Rajasthan, as of 9 am on Wednesday. The total cases in the state now at 1799, including 274 recovered, 97 discharged and 26 deaths, said Rajasthan Health Department.
West Bengal writes a letter to MHA, assures cooperation to central teams visiting the state to assess lockdown situation. The letter also noted that the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) had arrived without any prior consultation with the state government and, therefore, 'there was neither such opportunity to provide any logistic support as envisaged in the order dated 19 April 2020 nor the team asked for any help.'
Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 19,984, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. This number includes cases involving foreign nationals, patients who have recovered and the toll. The toll in India due to the novel virus has risen to 640.
President Donald Trump has said that he will halt issuing of new Green Cards or legal permanent residency for the next 60 days as part of his executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the US. However, the move will not have any impact on those entering the country on a temporary basis, Trump said.
While coronavirus cases in India inched towards 19,000 on Tuesday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) told state governments to stop using the China-made rapid antibody test kits for two days after Rajasthan flagged "inaccurate results".
The Union health ministry, in its daily press briefing, said that the toll from COVID-19 in India rose to 603 on Tuesday, while the number of cases rose to 18,985. Of them, 15,122 are active cases while 3,260 patients have recovered, the ministry added.
Officials also said that the recovery rate has improved to 17.5 percent in the country and a record number of 705 patients were cured and discharged on Monday itself. Overall, more than 3,300 persons have been cured and discharged so far.
The ICMR said that a total of 4,49,810 samples for COVID-19 infection had been tested till Tuesday, of which 35,852 were done on Monday.
As many as 29,776 samples have been tested in 201 labs under the ICMR network, and 6,076 at 86 private laboratories.
Representational image. AP
ICMR tells states not to use rapid antibody tests for two days
The Rajasthan government has stopped using the rapid testing kits procured from China after they delivered inaccurate results, PTI reported. The state government had received 30,000 kits through ICMR for free, while 10,000 kits were purchased at a cost of Rs 540 plus tax per kit.
The rapid testing kits, through which blood samples are tested, are aimed at speeding up screening and detection of suspected coronavirus patients as they take less time to show results in comparison to the swab-based tests carried out in pathology labs.
On Tuesday, Rajasthan's health minister Raghu Sharma said the kits gave only 5.4 percent accurate results against the expectation of 90 percent accuracy and therefore the kits "were of no benefit". He said the ICMR has been informed about the issue.
Taking note of the Rajasthan government's feedback, ICMR's Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar told journalists that states have been advised not to use these rapid test kits for two days and a fresh advisory will be issued after field validation by its team.
If any problems are detected, the companies will be asked for replacement, he added.
Maharashtra govt revokes lockdown exemptions in Mumbai, Pune
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday revoked lockdown relaxations and exemptions in Mumbai and Pune because "people are not behaving responsibly", the CMO was quoted as saying.
"The rest of the parts of the state to continue to have partial exemptions," the statement added.
Reportedly, the permission given to e-commerce companies to transport electronic goods, as well as to open sweets shops and confectioneries has been rolled back.
E-commerce companies will only be allowed to transport food, essential items, medicines and medical devices.
Additionally, the construction industry won't be allowed to work in the cities and adjoining areas and IT companies have also been asked to make the staff work from home.
There will also be no delivery of newspapers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and the Pune Municipal Region (PMR), said reports quoting the CMO statement.
In Maharashtra, coronavirus cases rose by 552 on Tuesday, taking the total statewide total cases to 5,218. With 19 new deaths, the toll from the virus rose to 251, the state government said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai, which is one of the worst-affected cities across the country, reported 355 new COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 3,445 in the city. Out of 12 deaths in the city in 24 hours, eight had co-morbidities and four had age-related factors, the MCGM said.
The MCGM also said that 12 new cases were reported in Mumbai's densely-populated Dharavi area on Tuesday. The tally of cases in the area rose to 179, including a total of 12 deaths.
Centre, West Bengal govt standoff over IMCTs' visit to state
While West Bengal reported three more deaths on Tuesday, a political standoff emerged between the state and the Centre after the Ministry of Home Affairs said the state government was not cooperating with the central teams visiting there to assess the COVID-19 situation.
The state's ruling party Trinamool Congress said the visit of central teams to West Bengal was like "adventure tourism" and asked why such delegations were not sent to states with much higher numbers of infections and hotspots.
Later on Tuesday, one of the two teams sent to the state visited certain areas of Kolkata, escorted by the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police personnel.
At a daily press briefing on the COVID-19 situation, Home Ministry joint secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the Centre has sent teams under Disaster Management Act to four states — Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
While Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are extending full support, the government in West Bengal is not doing so, she said.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha responded to the allegations, saying that the state government is cooperating with the inter-ministerial central teams visiting the state to assess COVID-19 situation, but made it clear they cannot roam around with them leaving all work to fight the pandemic.
"We are helping them. There's no question of not doing that. But our stand is that we all are busy in fighting coronavirus... they cannot get information sitting in cars or at the guest house.
"We will share all information they want, taking time out of our busy schedule, but we will not be able to roam around with the central team shutting all our work," Sinha told reporters at the state secretariat.
115 families in President's Estate in Delhi quarantined
While new cases were also reported from various states including Odisha and Kerala — where the infection spread has been relatively slower — as many as 115 families residing at the President's Estate in Delhi have been put under self-isolation as a preventive measure after a sanitation worker's relative tested positive for the deadly coronavirus.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique, however, clarified that till date no employee of the President's Secretariat has tested positive and the Secretariat along with the local administration is taking all the preventive measures under the government guidelines.
A COVID-19 positive patient from central Delhi, who was neither an employee of the President's Secretariat nor a resident of the President's Estate, had died on 13 April and after contact tracing it was found that a family member of an employee of the President's Secretariat had been in contact with the deceased, the statement said.
The employee and his family members are residents of the President's Estate.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that there are currently 1,603 active cases of COVID-19 in the National Capital, while 47 people have died from the disese so far.
Kejriwal also announced a special testing facility for mediapersons from Wednesday, after Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra reported positive test results for several journalists and other staff members of media organisations.
COVID-19 cases rise to 1,337 in Uttar Pradesh, almost touch 1,000 in Telangana
At least 137 new coronavirus cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, taking the tally of cases in the state to 1,337. The toll stands at 21 in the state.
Meanwhile, Gujarat saw a rise of 127 cases in 24 hours, resulting in the toll rising to 2,066, which includes 131 recoveries and 90 deaths so far.
The Tamil Nadu government said that 76 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state on Tuesday, taking total number of positive cases in the state to 1,596. One death was also reported, and the toll rose to 18 in the state.
Fifty-six new COVID-19 cases were reported in Telangana on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 928. This includes 711 active cases, 194 who were cured/discharged and 23 deaths, according to the latest update provided by the state health department.
Singapore extends partial lockdown, some countries move to reopen amid health warnings
Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday extended the "circuit breaker" period until 1 June to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus and assured full care for foreign workers, including Indian nationals.
In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Lee said the government was committed to do its "utmost" to keep it this deadly virus at bay.
"We will extend the circuit breaker for four more weeks, ie, until 1 June," said Lee while giving an update on the COVID-19 and the rising number of cases among foreign workers living in dormitories.
Singapore reported 1,111 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a majority of them foreign workers living in dormitories. A total of 9,125 people have been infected in the country.
Noting that businesses and workers would be hurt by the extension, the Singapore prime minister said, "But I hope you understand that this short-term pain is to stamp out the virus, protect the health and safety of our loved ones, and allow us to revive our economy."
"The government will continue to help our businesses and workers cope during the extended circuit breaker period. We will provide the same level of support to our workers and businesses as we are doing now," he said.
Meanwhile, Spain will begin allowing children out of their homes for brief periods next Monday, AP reported, adding that Denmark announced plans to reopen Tivoli Gardens, the Copenhagen amusement park that inspired Walt Disney. And Australia said doctors can resume non-urgent surgery next week.
Countries across Europe and beyond — joined in the US by a cascade of states — moved to gradually reopen amid warnings that acting too quickly could enable the virus to come back with a vengeance.
Meanwhile, UN leaders called for efforts to ensure that all people have access to testing, medical supplies, drugs and future vaccines, especially in developing countries.
Globally, the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 1.7 lakh people, including over 42,000 in the US. Nearly 25 lakh infections have been reported worldwide so far, even as there are fears that the actual tally could be much more as tests are so far limited to serious or symptomatic cases in most countries.
In a press briefing, the World Health Organisation also warned against any rush to ease coronavirus restrictions, saying any such move could result in a resurgence of the disease.
The WHO said governments across the world need to remain vigilant to stop the deadly virus spread and lifting of lockdowns and other social distancing measures must be done gradually.
With inputs from agencies
from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/3au71BA
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