Coronavirus news highlights: Andhra Pradesh records new single-day high of 1,933 Covid-19 cases, taking the aggregate tally to 29,168

Hi, and thanks for following DH's coverage on the coronavirus so far. For more updates, follow this link for latest news on the pandemic.

. To ensure smooth movement of vehicles during Covid-19 pendemic, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to ensure capturing of FASTag details while registering or issuing fitness certificate to vehicles all over the country.

. Hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the life insurance sector witnessed an 18.6 per cent drop in the first year premium to Rs 49,335 crore in the April-June quarter of the current financial year, according to a report by CARE Ratings.

. The number of coronavirus cases in Karnataka may double in the next 15 to 30 days and the coming two months would emerge as a big challenge for the government in tackling the pandemic, state Health Minister B Sriramulu has said.

. Scientists, including those of Indian-origin, have provided the first extensive review of Covid-19's effects outside the lungs, and have recommended that physicians treat it as a multisystem disease with manifestations including blood clots, kidney failure, and neurological symptoms like delirium.

. TVS Motor Company expects the business environment to remain challenging for the most part of the current financial year due to the coronavirus pandemic with chances of some revival only in the later part of the year, according to the company's annual report for 2019-20.

. “In view of a major spike in Covid-19, we'll have to carve out containment zones for effective restrictions in different areas of Srinagar. Local cooperation is solicited in the best interest of public health. Notified (sic),” Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Choudhary, tweeted.

Read more here

. Russia on Sunday reported 6,615 new coronavirus cases, taking its nationwide tally of infections to 727,162.

The country's coronavirus crisis response centre said 130 people had died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 11,335.

Russia said 501,061 people have recovered from the virus. (Reuters)

. After Pune's Shankar Kurhade popularised the gold mask , a jewellery shop in Surat, sold diamond-studded face masks costing between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakhs.

Dipak Choksi, the owner of the jewellery shop in Surat told ANI said he got the idea after a customer demanded unique masks for his wedding, which was to be held at home.

Read more here

. I requested Telangana govt to increase Covid-19 testing, give proper treatment for poor & middle-class people & assured them that Center will provide all medical equipment required to fight Covid-19. Center will provide 1200 ventilators to Telangana: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy.

. Pinarayi government has messed up the Covid-19 crisis. They tried to suppress actual figures, even Indian Medical Association (IMA) and doctors came out saying that we should increase testing but the state government's attitude was always negative: JP Nadda, BJP President

. Soon after megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan tested positive for Covid-19 and were admitted to a city hospital on Saturday, rumours started to spread that even Neetu and the "Sanju" actor are infected with the novel coronavirus.

Read more here

. South Korea has reported 44 additional cases of the coronavirus over the past 24-hours, maintaining an uptick in new infections in the greater Seoul area and central cities.

The additional figures released Sunday took the country's total to 13,417 with 289 deaths. The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says 21 of the newly reported cases were local transmissions, all of them recorded either in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area or two central cities.

The agency says the 23 other cases were linked to international arrivals. South Korea has been reporting roughly 30-60 cases every day since it eased social distancing rules in early May. (AP)

. US President Donald Trumphad on a black mask as he walked through the corridors of Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington to meet with wounded veterans.

Read more here

. 28,637 Covid-19 cases and 551 deaths reported in India in the last 24 hours. Total positive cases stand at 8,49,553 including 29,22,58 active cases, 5,34,621 cured/discharged/migrated 22,674 deaths: Ministry of Health.

. The 77-year-old Bollywood icon was admitted to the Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital at Vile Parle after he and Abhishek Bachchan tested positive for the virus.

"Amitabh Bachchan is stable with mild symptoms and is currently admitted at the isolation unit," a Nanavati Hospital spokesperson said.

Read more here

. When the Covid-19 pandemic stuck India, private hospitals and nursing homes shut their doorson scores of hapless patients, who had nowhere to go. In an interview with DH’s Kalyan Ray, Association of Healthcare Providers (India) director-general Girdhar Gyani explains the reason for such a reaction by hospitals. Excerpts:

Read the full interview here

. The parents of an 18-year-old man, who was diabetic and tested positive for Covid-19 before his death in a government hospital in Kolkata, on Saturday alleged that he succumbed because of negligence as he was refused a bed by three medical facilities.

Read more here

. These days, I can’t make out where one activity ends and the next begins. There are mornings when I am stuck between a sink of unwashed dishes, an article that requires editing on the double and a homework submission that is not even mine to finish. I feel like I’ve fallen headlong into one long, unbroken activity with neither beginning nor end.

Read more of this fascinating piece here

. Mexico's Health Ministry on Saturday reported 6,094 new confirmed coronavirus infections and 539 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 295,268 cases and 34,730 deaths.

The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases. (Reuters)

. There is much to criticise the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) over for its recent diktat to deliver a vaccine against Covid-19 by August 15. The direction is so deeply and obviously flawed that there is no gainsaying that the ICMR has made itself and India lose respect and credibility. That the purpose was political gains, rather than a genuine scientific effort and advancement is obvious from the proposed date itself.

Read more here

. Brazil, the world's No. 2 coronavirus hotspot after the United States, recorded 1,071 new deaths from the outbreak on Saturday, with a total of 1,839,850 confirmed cases, the Health Ministry said.

Brazil has now recorded a total of 71,469 deaths, the ministry said. (Reuters)

. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been admitted to Saturday evening after testing positive for the coronavirus.

. A majority of people prefer government jobs for employment security and higher salary, amid uncertainties due to the disruptions caused by Covid-19, according to a study.

. Several state governments have resorted to localised lockdowns to combat Covid-19 as fresh infections recorded the highest ever increase prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi directing real-time national monitoring of the pandemic.

. Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa orders complete lockdown in Bengaluru and Bengaluru Rural districts, on Saturday, from on July 14 to July 22.

. Maharashtra's coronavirus case count rises to 2,46,600 with highest single-day spike of 8,139, death toll rises by 223 to 10,116: health department

. Complete lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts from 8 pm on 14th July to 5 am on 23rd July in view rising Covid-19 cases. Essential services exempted: Karnataka Chief Minister's Office (CMO)

. Manipur reported 11 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1593 including 843 recoveries and 750 active cases: State Health Department

. 45 Covid-19 cases and 12 discharged/cured reported in Uttarakhand today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 3,417, including 2,718 recovered, 623 active cases & 46 deaths: State Health Department

. 872 Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths reported in Gujarat in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state is now at 41,027, including 28,685 cured/discharged and 2,034 deaths: State Health Department

. 1,781 Covid-19 cases, 2,998 recovered, & 34 deaths reported in Delhi today. Total number of cases in the national capital is now at 1,10,921, including 87,692 recovered/discharged/migrated, 19,895 active cases, & 3,334 deaths: Delhi Health Department

. 488 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths have been reported in Kerala in the last 24 hours. Sixteen more areas have been designated as Covid-19 hotspot, taking the total number of hotspots to 195 in the state: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded the setting up of an Indian Medical Service (IMS), on the lines of IAS, IPS and IFS, to bring about a drastic change in the healthcare sector, the doctors' body said.

. 1,813 Covid-19 cases, 1,168 discharged & 17 deaths in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the state is now at 27,235, including 12,533 active cases, 14,393 discharged & 309 deaths: State's COVID Control Room

. The emergencies chief of the World Health Organization says the agency believes an unexplained pneumonia outbreak in Kazakhstan is likely due to the coronavirus.

. MoHFW released white paper by TIFAC to strategize revival of post-Covid-19 economy.

. Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed Covid-19 situation in the country in a meeting attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Member of NITI Aayog, Cabinet Secretary and other senior officials of the central government.

PM directed that we must reiterate the need to observe personal hygiene & social discipline in public places. Awareness about coronavirus should be disseminated widely & a continuous emphasis on preventing spread of the infection should be laid.

. The Indian economy has started showing signs of getting back to normalcy in response to the staggered easing of restrictions, Das said.

. Centre's Make-in-Indiapush for medical equipment is facing bumps asserious concerns have been raisedregarding the quality of locally-made ventilators, according to a report by Business Standard .

Read more here

. "If we just let drugs and vaccines go to the highest bidder, instead of to the people and the places where they are most needed, we'll have a longer, more unjust, deadlier pandemic," Gates, a founder of Microsoft, said in a video released on Saturday during a virtual Covid-19 conference organized by the International AIDS Society.

Read more here

. Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Indian government Dr Arabinda Mitra, delivering a joint statement at a session on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) here on Friday, said that Japan and India organised a series of bilateral and multi-stakeholder meetings last month.

Read more here

. The Department of AYUSH is playing its role in boosting the health of frontline Covid-19 warriors through remedies available under different systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani.

Read more here

. Documents including Aadhar card, doctor’s prescription, consent form, a Covid-19 positive report and the contact details of the purchaser was made mandatory by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration to buy antiviral drug, Remdesivir, anti-inflammatory medicine Tocilizumab, reported Times of India .

Read more here

. It took a pandemic and a lockdown to highlight the precarious existence of the country’s blue-collar workers. Left without jobs and shelter, an estimated 30 million — roughly a fifth of the urban labour force — have gone back to their villages, with many completing long, hazardous journeys on foot when trains and buses shut down.

Read more here

. The largest slum cluster of Asia, Dharavi is sandwiched between the Central and Western suburban lines in Mumbai. Spread over 2.1 sq km, Dharavi is a sort of mini-India, with over 7 to 10 lakh people staying and working here.

Read more here

. "Coronavirus pandemic will result in high NPAs and capital erosion of banks and other financial institutions. It is obvious. It happens after every calamity. But the primary focus now should be to identify the vulnerability and take necessary corrective measures,” Das said addressing the Banking and Economic Conclave of State Bank of India.

Read more here

. Rajasthan reports 170 new Covid-19 positive cases and 2 deaths today, taking the total number of positive cases and deaths to 23,344 and 499 respectively: State Health Department.

. According to Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh, many of them were primary contacts of the infected individuals, were suffering from ILI and SARI. On the positive note, as many as 51 persons had recovered and were discharged from the hospitals. The total person's discharge in the district so far is 753. As many as 1057 cases were undergoing treatment at different Covid-19 hospitals in the district.

Read more here

. From February 2019 onwards, on a cumulative basis, we had cut the Repo rate by 135 basis points till the onset of Covid-19. That was done mainly to tackle the slowdown in growth which was visible at that time and we had elaborately touched upon its in our MPC Resolutions: RBI Governor.

. Coronavirus is the worst health and economic crisis in the last 100 years with unprecedented negative consequences for output, jobs and well being. It dented the existing world order, global value chains, labour and capital movements across the globe: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das at 7th SBI Banking and Economics Conclave.

. India's Covid-19 case tally crosses 8 lakh mark with 519 deaths and the highest single-day spike of 27,114 new cases in the last 24 hours. Total positive cases stand at 8,20,916 including 2,83,407 active cases, 5,15,386 cured/discharged/migrated 22,123 deaths: Ministry of Health.

. Brenda Del Hierro was not so thrilled with distance learning when her kids were sent home in March to when the novel coronavirus pandemic hit, yet the Los Angeles mom said she was not convinced it would be safe to send them back to the classroom this fall.

Read more here

. The committee was also told that India is to play a key role in either developing or manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccine as the country is a leading manufacturer of vaccines and generic medicines. Nearly 60 percent of the world’s vaccines are developed here.

Read more here

. Following a big surgein casessinceJune 27,the contact and travel history of patientsis no longer being releasedinthedailybulletinissuedby the health and family welfare department.

There have been 8,592 positive cases in the city between July 2 and July 9.Till June 26, all the contact and backgrounddetailsof patients were up to date, with the city reportingonly 114 cases.

Read more here

. It is the first time scientists have been able to confirm that patients with hyperglycemia, but not diagnosed with diabetes, are at higher risk of death from COVID-19, they wrote in the journal Diabetologia.

Read more here

. Looking to move away from traffic and congestion and start your new working-from-home life in a roomier house in a leafy area? You might get paid to do so. As the coronavirus pandemic boosts remote working and interest in suburban living around the globe, some places are offering incentives for people to move in, seeking to tackle dwindling populations and drive growth.

Read more here

. Brazil surpassed 70,000 coronavirus deaths on Friday, the health ministry said, though the number of daily fatalities appears to be stabilizing.

The ministry said there had been 45,000 new infections and 1,200 deaths over the last 24 hours, taking the totals to 1.8 million cases and 70,400 deaths.

Brazil is the second-worst affected country in the world after the United States. (AFP)

. India has forever had a complex relationship with handshakes. For some, it’s not even an option while greeting others. There are quite a few though, who reserve a smirk for it, and associate it with a certain loss of ‘culture’ especially when any other gender than that of the male is involved in it.

Read more here

. As dengue season sets in across large parts of India with the onset of the monsoon, scientists warn that Covid-19 and the mosquito-borne disease have overlapping symptoms and worry the country’s healthcare infrastructure won’t be able to cope with this double whammy.

Read more here

. The company, which had initially released the data from the trial in April, said the finding requires confirmation in clinical trials.

Remdesivir has been at the forefront of the battle against Covid-19 after the intravenously administered medicine helped shorten hospital recovery times in a clinical trial.

Read more here

. 5366 patients discharged today; 1,32,625 Covid-19 patients discharged after full recovery until today; Recovery rate in the state is 55.62% 7862 new cases in the state today 226 Covid-19 deaths reported in the state today. Case fatality rate in the state: 4.15% Out of 12,53,978 laboratory samples, 2,38,461 have been tested positive (19.01%) for Covid-19 until today. Currently, 6,74,025 people are in home quarantine and 46,560 people are in institutional quarantine.

. Owing to concerns of community spread of coronavirus in Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala government has announced an extension of the ongoing week-long triple lockdown in the city for one more week.

. From 2.82 percent a month earlier, India's Covid-19 case fatality rate has declined to 2.72 percent which is lower than that of many other countries, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

. Tamil Nadu reports 3,680 new Covid-19 positive cases and 64 deaths today, taking the total number of positive cases to 1,30,261 including 46,105 active, 82,324 discharges and 1,829 deaths: National Health Mission, TamilNadu

. As many as 99.34 per cent students cleared the Class 10, while the success rate for Class 12 was a bit lower at 96.74 per cent in the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CICSE), results of which were declared on Friday.

. From tomorrow, 20,000 samples to be tested with antigen test kits in Bengaluru, said Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar

. Total infected so far: 6950 Now under treatment: 3100 Recovered so far: 3820 27 died 416 fresh cases today 112 recovered today 1,84,112 underhome and institutional quarantine 3,517 in hospital observation 3.18 lakh samples tested so far 4,525 results pending

. Close on the heels of reports of spurt in online child pornography material during the lockdown, Kerala is witnessing another disturbing trend of increasing number of children ending their life.

. Deccan Herald's new webinar series, DH Sparks, brings together opinion-leaders, experts and stakeholders to discuss the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in.

The first discussion, slated on July 10, focuses on the surge in content and consumption on OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + Hostar, Voot, Zee5, Sony Liv, Hulu etc.

Producers have been bypassing movie halls and releasing their films through these channels. Is the shift from big screen to small screen here to stay? What are the implications for movie halls and multiplexes, actors, directors and technicians? How will it impact movie making? And what can movie buffs expect in the coming months?

Speakers 1. Baradwaj Rangan, Film Critic 2. Nitin Datar, VP, Film Federation of India 3. Pawan Kumar, Director 4. Pramod Arora, Chief Growth Officer, PVR 5. Samyukta Hornad, Actor

W atch DH's webinar LIVEhere

. Complete lockdown announced for Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and some parts of Rural Pune from July 13 to July 23. Only shops related to essential services like dairy and medical stores & and hospitals will remain open: Pune Divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar

. Universities coming under the purview of Higher Education Department are required to complete the examinations for final year students by end of September 2020 in offline/online/blended (offline + online) mode following protocols related to Covid-19 pandemic, according to a statement issued by the Karnataka government.

Next academic session in the universities will be through online classes tentatively from September 1, 2020, for the first and higher semester and offline (classroom) teaching from October 1 or as may be directed by state government/MHA/UGC guidelines, as perKarnataka government.

. ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12 results has been declared on Friday at 3 pm, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) said.

. A 62-year-old man with Covid-19, died at a hospital in Chikkamagaluru on Friday

The man hailing from Shankarapura was tested positive for the viruseight days ago and was undergoing treatment at the designated Covid-19hospital.

He failed to respond to the treatment and passed away onFriday. (DHNS)

. Accusing the University Grants Commission (UGC) of creating confusion, Gandhi said it is unfair to conduct examinations during the Covid-19 pandemic and the UGC should listen to the voice of students.

Read more here

. Yediyurappa, 78, said he will work from his official residence Cauvery for a few days.

“I will hold video conferences to issue directives and provide suggestions,” he said in a statement.

Read more here

. Russia's death toll from the novel coronavirus edged past 11,000 on Friday, as the country reported 174 new deaths in the past 24 hours.

The country's coronavirus crisis response centre reported 6,635 new cases, bringing its nationwide tally of infections to 713,936, the world's fourth-highest caseload.

The death toll now stands at 11,017. Russia says 489,068 people have recovered. (Reuters)

. With nearly 2.30 lakh Covid-19 progressive cases and total deaths inching towards 10,000, Maharashtra is the worst-affected state of India.

The Covid-19 mortality rate in Maharashtra stands at4.19 percent.

Read more here

. Around 2.7 lakh tests are being done daily. Despite being such a large country, we have not reached the community transmission stage of Covid-19. Though there are some small pockets where there could be slightly higher transmission locally: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

. The recovery rate among Covid-19 patients stands at about 63%, the mortality rate is just 2.72%. We are not concerned about the number of cases. We are ramping up testing so that maximum cases can be detected and treated: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. (ANI)

. There are enough indications, both from the Election Commission (EC) and key political actors, that the Bihar Assembly elections will happen in a few months’ time, as scheduled.

Cognisant of the risks of Covid-19 spread during electioneering and voting, the EC is said to be considering the following:

Read more here

. In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, the advance of Covid-19 presents indigenous people with a cruel cultural dilemma -- remain in their villages with little medical help, or seek safety in the city and risk being deprived of their ancestral funeral rites.

Read more here

. She is one among the 200 caregivers of Covid suspects or Covidpositive patients who have procured an oxygen cylinder from voluntarygroups for their family members because they are unable to procure abed in any of the city's hospitals. Despite the state's assurancesthat all is well, even to the central team that visited the city onTuesday, this is how much thecrisis has exacerbated in the capital.

Read more here

. Bolsonaro, 65, appeared in his weekly Facebook Live post at his official residence. He appeared to be in good shape and was not accompanied, as is often the case, by ministers or senior officials, and the usual sign language interpreter was not present.

Read more here

. Voters will wear masks and gloves, and go through temperature checks before casting their ballots, following a short nine-day campaign that took place mostly online as rallies were banned to reduce infection risks.

Read more here

. In January, as a frightening new virus filled hospital wards in Wuhan, China, Stephanie Giordano, a 25-year-old researcher at the drugmaker Regeneron, in a suburb of New York City, began working on a treatment for the disease.

Read more here

. India reports 475 deaths and the highest single-day spike of 26,506 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Positive cases stand at 7,93,802 including 2,76,685 active cases, 4,95,513 cured/discharged/migrated and 21,604 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

. Stranded migrant labourers with their belongings wait to board a special train to Howrah station in Kolkata after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the coronavirus , at MGR Central railway station in Chennai. Credit: AFP

. Read more here

. In an open letter published this week in a journal, two scientists from Australia and the US wrote that studies have shown “beyond any reasonable doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking and coughing in microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in the air.”

Read more here

. However, other details about Rohit Kirni, the Jammu district Youth NC president, like his exact age and medical history did not immediately know.

With his death, a total of six people died due to Covid-19 in the Union Territory on Thursday.

Read more here

. Rajesh Bhushan, the Officer on Special Duty, Union Health Ministry, told an online media briefing Thursday that it has been noticed that certain drugs are not available freely in the market.

Therefore, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has written letters to companies manufacturing them with two specific suggestions, he said.

Read more here

. "The president has always said that he sees hydroxychloroquine as a very promising prophylactic but that every person should not take it unless they get a prescription from their doctor," White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said at a news conference.

Read more here

. With scientists from several countries claiming that coronavirus is airborne, the Health Ministry on Thursday said it is an "evolving situation" and the government is "keeping abreast" with the information coming from the WHO.

. The wife of a 48-year-old Covid patient had procured four oxygen cylinders before her husband passed away after failing to get a hospitalbedfor three days.

. The ICMR on Thursday said a nationwide sero-survey to determine the exposure of the novel coronavirus among the population will be carried out as a follow-up to a similar study conducted in May, the results of which are yet to be released.

. The total number of Covid-19 infections in Karnataka on Thursday breached the 30,000 mark as the state reported its biggest single-day spike of over 2,200 new cases and 17 related fatalities, taking the death toll to 486, the Health department said.

. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Thursday postponed the Asia Cup tournament, scheduled for September this year, until June 2021 owing to an upsurge in Covid-19 cases in the region.

. Bringing to the fore the dangers frontline workers face in combating the deadly coronavirus, 395 policemen have tested positive for the infection since the outbreak of the pandemic in Bengaluru.

. India is witnessing “localised outbreaks” of Covid-19 and the highly infectious disease has not entered the “community transmission” phase, the Health Ministry said on Thursday as the total cases were galloping towards the eight-lakh mark.

. With India now one of the world’s top threeCovid-19 hotspots, the country is focused on controlling its pandemic and reviving stalled economic growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

. Uttar Pradesh Government imposes lockdown in the State from 10 pm July 10 till 5 am onJuly 13.

. In a new game plan to tame Covid-19, the Cabinet on Thursday decided to form a ministerial team to manage the pandemic in each of the eight municipal zones in Bengaluru, the state capital where cases have been rising rapidly.

. West Bengal recorded highest single day spike of a whooping 1,088 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours on Thursday taking the total number of cases 25,911. Currently there are 8,231 active cases in the state.

. Chinese state media has offered a rare glimpse of the lab at the heart of coronavirus conspiracy theories, as it seeks to push back against claims the facility was the source of the global pandemic.

. Fresh Cases: 2,187 Total: 1,07,051 In July: 19,691 (18.39% of total)

Deaths: 45 Total:3,258

Discharged: 4,027 Total: 82,226

Under treatment: 21,567 (12,543 in home isolation)

Samples tested 7,24,148 (22,289 new - 9,719 RTPCR+1,2570 Rapid Antigen Tests)

. Iran reported a new single-day record death toll of 221 from the novel coronavirus on Thursday, amid a rise in cases in recent weeks.

. The World Health Organization, which faced criticism for its handling of the coronavirus crisis, said Thursday it had launched an independent pandemic response panel headed by former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

. Amid a spurt in coronavirus cases, the government on Thursday said India has not yet reached the community transmission stage of Covid-19 and asserted that there have been localised outbreaks in some geographical areas.

. 4067 patients discharged today; 1,27,259 Covid-19 patients discharged after fullrecovery until today; Recovery rate in the state is 55.19%

6,875 new cases in the state today

219 Covid-19 deaths reported in the state today. Case fatality rate in the state: 4.19%

Out of 12,22,487 laboratory samples, 2,30,599 have been tested positive (18.86%) forCovid-19 until today.

Currently, 6,49,263 people are in home quarantine and 48,191 people are in institutional quarantine.

. The Centre has defended before the Supreme Court the creation of PM Cares Fund during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying existence of statutory funds like the NDRF did not prohibit setting up a fund with voluntary donations.

. Karnataka new record: State tally: 2,228 cases Bengaluru: 1,373 cases 17 deaths 18,952 tests today 957 recoveries on Thursday 457 in ICU

. The number of recovered cases has overshot the number of Covid-19 active cases by 2,06,588. The number of recovered cases is 1.75 times (almost twice) the number of active cases, and the recovery rate among Covid-19 patients has increased to 62.09% today: Government of India - ANI

. Total infected so far: 6,534 Now under treatment : 2,795 Recovered so far :3,708 27 died 339 fresh cases today 149 recovered today 1,85,960 in home and institutional quarantine 3,261 in hospital observation 3,07,019 samples tested so far 4,854 results pending

. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, a Southern Railway Signal & Telecommunication engineer has developed a device to remind people to maintain at least a three metre distance from each other.

. African countries urgently need to scale up coronavirus testing and the use of face masks, a regional disease control body said on Thursday, as the epidemic gains traction across the continent with confirmed cases topping half a million.

. India has approved a plan to develop affordable rental housing for migrant workers after millions of labourers fled the nation's cities for villages amidst coronavirus lockdowns that left many of them without jobs and homes.

. A 53-year-old assistant sub-inspector of Delhi Police died on Thursday morning at a hospital here, weeks after he tested positive for Covid-19, officials said.

. The Assam government has decided to impose a "total lockdown" in Golaghat town from Thursday evening for eight days to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, an official said.

. Just one person in a South Korean survey of more than 3,000 people showed neutralizing antibodies to the novel coronavirus, health authorities said on Thursday, indicating the virus has not spread widely in the community.

. As many as 3,000 antigen testing kits have been given to Maharashtra's Palghar district and 10,000 more will be procured for the detection of Covid-19 infections, collector Dr Kailash Shinde said on Thursday.

. The number of tests has increased, on an average, we are testing more than 2.6 Lakhs of samples per day. We hope to see a further rise by the use of the antigen test: ICMR Senior scientist Nivedita Gupta - ANI

. When we talk of case load of Covid-19 in India, it is 2,69,000 people. This tells us that at the end of the day we've managed a situation where our health care infrastructure is not unduly burdened&is not creaking due to the pressure: Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Ministry of Health - ANI

. We are the second-most populous country of the world. Despite a population of 1.3 billionn people, India has been able to manage Covid-19relatively well. If you look at cases per million population it still remains amongst lowest in the world: Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Ministry of Health.

Today we have 538 cases per million population, it's as per WHO situation report. Case per million population in some countries are at least 16-17 times more than what it is in India. We have 15 deaths per million population whereas we have countries where it is 40 times as much- ANI

. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has called for setting up of citizen's vigilance committee to combat and check the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

"The fight against Covid-19 is not alone of the government... there has to be citizen's vigilance committees in hamlets, villages,colonies," Thackeray said while reviewing the pandemic situation of Thane district.

. Around 8 employees of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) have tested positive for Covid-19.

. The Delhi High Court, on Thursday, directed Delhi University to file an affidavit detailing the schedule of final year undergraduate exams which have been postponed from July 10 to beyond August 15.

. Universities & colleges can opt to conduct exams through online, offline or blended mode. Guidelines for the conduct of exams have been issuedon the basis of Standard Operating Procedure suggested by the Health Ministry. All states should conduct exams for final year students: UGC Secy

. I'm certain that India will have an important role in developing and in scaling up production of the vaccine once it is discovered: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India Global Week 2020.

. Vaccines made in India are responsible for 2/3rd of the vaccine needs of the world's children. Today also, our companies are active in international efforts for development and production of Covid-19vaccine: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India Global Week 2020

. 3 deaths and 1555 new Covid-19 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours; the total number of positive in the state is now 23,814: State Health Department

. Indians are natural reformers. History shows that India has overcome every challenge be it social or economic. On one hand, India is fighting a strong battle against the global pandemic. With an increased focus on people's health, we are equally focussed on the health of the economy: PM Modi

. In these times, it is natural to talk about revival. It is equally natural to link global revival and India. There is faith that the story of global revival will have India playing a leading role: PM ⁦Narendra Modi delivers the inaugural address at India Global Week 2020

. India Tourism Development Corporation signs MoU with AIIMS to strengthen health protocols and monitor Covid-19 preventive practices across all its properties, including hotels, according to a statement from the PSU under tourism ministry

. The global comparison between the five most affected countries clearly depicted that India has one of the lowest cases per million (538) and deaths per million (15) compared the global average of 1453 and 68.7, respectively: Government of India.

. Hospital authorities have informed me that misinformation is being spread. Hospital is following all protocols: Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on a video posted by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleging mishandling of bodies in Nalanda Hospital in Patna.

. A number of Covid-19 cases reaches 1101 in Himachal Pradesh, active cases stand at 256. Total of 821 patients has recovered so far. The death toll stands at 9: State Health Department

. Karnataka: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa calls State Ministers, MPs, MLAs and Corporators from Bengaluru for a meeting at Palace Grounds to discuss Covid-19 management in the city.

. We are seeing on TV that India has become the 3rd most Covid-19 affected country. It is necessary to see this in correct perspective, we are a country with the 2nd highest population in the world. Our cases per million are 538, while world average is 1,453: Union Health Minister

. It is our humble request, education is our sacred duty towards our children. Let us leave politics out of education and make our politics more educated: Ramesh Pokhriyal, Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister

. There has been a lot of uninformed commentary on the exclusion of some topics from CBSE syllabus. The problem with these comments is that they resort to sensationalism by connecting topics selectively to portray a false narrative: Ramesh Pokhriyal, Union HRD Minister

. Highest single-day spike of 577 cases takes Odisha's Covid-19 tally to 11,201; toll rises to 52 with four more deaths: Health department

. Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi tests negative for coronavirus, says Raj Nivas statement. She was tested for Covid-19 after Raj Nivas employee was found infected with the virus

. All those who worked during this Covid-19crisis, it is not that they only carried out their responsibilities. There was a fear, in such a situation coming forward voluntarily, this is a new form of service: PM Modi interaction with Varanasi based NGOs

. 100 years ago, a similar pandemic happened, it is said that back then the population was not this big in India. Even then, at that time, India was one of the countries which had the most deaths. That is why whole world was concerned for India this time: PM Modi

. 149 Covid-19cases & 7 deaths reported in Rajasthan today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 22212, including 4846 active cases & 489 deaths: State Health Department

. India reports the highest single-day spike of 24879 new Covid-19 cases and 487 deaths in the last 24 hours. Positive cases stand at 767296 including 269789 active cases, 476378 cured/discharged/migrated & 21129 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

. A total of 1,07,40,832 samples tested for Covid-19 till July 8. Of these, 2,67,061 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

. Beijing's city government reported no new confirmed coronavirus cases for July 8, the third straight day of no new cases as the city curbs the spread of the disease.

. Brazil exceeded 1.7 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus as of Wednesday, and the disease has killed a total of 67,964 people, according to the country's Health Ministry.

In the last 24 hours, the country registered 44,571 new cases and an additional 1,223 deaths from the disease, ministry data showed.

. The Delhi government has revised its 'Covid Response Plan' and will now enlist and screen for the novel coronavirus daily wagers, domestic help, auto drivers and food suppliers, according to an official order issued on Wednesday.

. Do not hold it against me if I talk about a visit to London. It was not recent, and hence there is no need for quarantine. I believe, the Tower is jinxed as many great people have fallen there since the days of William the conqueror, but I did not expect my wife to slip on the polished stone pathway.

. Karnataka on Wednesday reported 2,062 new Covid-19 cases, the highest single-day spike so far since the start of the pandemic. The state also reported a record 54 deaths, which raised the total toll to 474.

. Kerala became the toast of the international media for the effective way in which it tackled the Covid-19 pandemic early on. On May 14, The Guardian praised Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja for her leadership, calling her ‘The Coronavirus Slayer’ and ‘Kerala’s Rockstar Health Minister’.

. The spread of the novel coronavirus in India has quickened in the last few days with new cases ofCovid-19 and deathsreported every day. The epidemic has expanded its footprintin the country and has affectedmore than 7.64 lakh people since the first positive case was confirmed on January30 in Kerala.

. Globalcoronaviruscases exceeded 12 million on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, as evidence mounts of the airborne spread of the disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months.

The number of cases is triple that of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organization.

. Karnataka on Wednesday reported 2,062 new Covid-19 cases, the highest single-day spike so far since the start of the pandemic. The state also reported a record 54 deaths, which raised the total toll to 474.

. Odisha reported six more Covid-19 fatalities on Wednesday, taking the death toll due to the disease to 48, while the state's total tally rose to 10,624 with 527 fresh cases, a health department official said.

. Insurance regulator Irdai on Wednesday set up a working group to examine the possibility of setting up a 'Pandemic Risk Pool' to deal with the risks associated with the disruption in economic activity following an outbreak of coronavirus-like health emergencies.

. As Covid-19 cases continue to surge, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Wednesday began tele-consultation sessions for doctors across states with an aim to reduce mortality due to Sars-Cov-2.

. Taking the total number of cases to 29,536 including 11,933 active cases, 17,279 discharged cases and 324 deaths: State Government

. The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to enforce a complete lockdown across the state on Sundays after a spike in Covid-19 cases in some districts during the past one week.

. Fresh Cases: 2,033 Total cases: 1,04,864 Cases reported in July: 17,504 (16.69% of the total cases)

Fresh deaths: 48 Total deaths: 3,213

Discharged today: 3,982 Total number of people discharged 78,199

Under treatment: 23,452 (14,661 in home isolation)

Samples tested: 7,01,859 (22,028 fresh samples -- 9,461 RTPCR + 12567 Rapid Antigen Tests)

. Total infections: 6195

Fresh cases today: 301 Total deaths: 27 Under treatment: 2605

Recovered so far: 3,559

Recovered today:107 In home and institutional quarantine: 1,82,409 In hospital observation: 3,137 Samples tested so far: 2,96,183 Results pending: 4,754

. Operation 'Samudra Setu', which was launched on May 52020 as part of the national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during the Covid-19 pandemic has culminated after successfully bringing 3,992 Indian citizens back to their homeland by sea. Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock), and Airavat, Shardul and Magar (Landing Ship Tanks) participated in this operation which lasted over 55 days and involved traversing more then 23,000 kilometers by sea. Indian Navy has previously undertaken similar evacuation operations as part of Operation Sukoon in 2006 (Beirut) and Operation Rahat in 2015 (Yemen).

. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought a detailed analytical report from the Delhi government's health secretary on factors responsible for Covid-19 deaths in the city in the last fortnight, officials said.

Delhi reported 736 deaths in the last two weeks, with 397 people succumbing to the disease in the first week of July.

Read more here

. The total deaths in the district haverisen to three. The woman had arrived in Uppalige in Chikkamagaluru from Bengaluru and was tested positive. Shewas suffering from breathlessness, said doctors.

Read more here

. 1062 new Covid-19 positive cases, 12 deaths, 1332 discharged in the last 24 hours in the Andhra Pradesh. The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 22,259 including 11,101 discharged and 264 deaths: State Command Control Room.

. The total number of cases of the novel coronavirus in Russia passed 700,000 on Wednesday, as the country reported 6,562 new infections in the past 24 hours.

The country's coronavirus crisis response centre said 173 people had died from the virus overnight, taking the official death toll to 10,667.

Total infections stand at 700,792. Russia says 472,511 people have recovered. (Reuters)

. DCGI Chief VG Somani said that they had received complaints from an Uttar Pradesh-based community engagement group called LocalCircles.

Read more here

. From world leaders and royals to sports stars and artists, and now Brazil's far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro... the coronavirus has hit millions around the world, including the rich and famous.

Here is a roundup of high-profile figures affected by coronavirus. Marianne Faithfull, 73, a 1960s icon and celebrated singer-songwriter, was discharged from hospital on April 22, 22 days after being admitted with symptoms of coronavirus.

Read more here

. Holding a high-level meeting with Bengaluru in-charge officials and ministers at his residence, CM Yediyurappa directed officials to add additional ambulances to ferry Covid-19 positive patients to designated care centres or hospitals on a real-time basis.

Read more here

. A 32-year-old man, who recently returned from India and tested positive for the deadly coronavirus on Wednesday, will be charged with absconding from a managed isolation facility in Auckland to go to a supermarket, according to media reports.

Read more here

. As the sun sets in the Japanese town of Tatsuno, thousands of fireflies begin glowing, producing a spectacle that usually draws crowds of delighted visitors.

But this year, the dance of the incandescent insects is being performed without spectators, after coronavirus prevention measures forced organisers of a popular firefly festival to cancel the event.

Read more here

. The personal assistant (PA) of Mayor Goutham Kumar, a joint commissioner-rank officer, an office assistant, and a staff at the BBMP headquarters tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.

Following the PA’s positive test, the mayor went into self-quarantine, while his office at the BBMP headquarters has been sanitised and sealed down for the next 48 hours. All the other staff at the mayor’s office have also been asked to quarantine themselves at home.

Read more here

. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has directed Delhi Health Secretary to share a detailed analysis of factors behind all Covid-19 deaths in the capital in the last two weeks. The objective is to take measures to further reduce Covid-19 deaths in the national capital.

. India reports a spike of 22,752 new Covid-19 cases and 482 deaths in the last 24 hours. Positive cases stand at 7,42,417 including 2,64,944 active cases, 4,56,831 cured/discharged/migrated and 20,642 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

. Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa holds an emergency meeting with Deputy CM Dr Ashwath Narayan and other ministers over Covid-19 situation in the state.

Total number of positive cases in Karnataka stands at 26,815 including 11,098 recovered and 416 deaths, as per the last bulletin.

. Scientists warned on Wednesday of a potential wave of coronavirus-related brain damage as new evidence suggested Covid-19 can lead to severe neurological complications, including inflammation, psychosis and delirium.

Read more here

. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States pushed past 3 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, roughly equal to the population of Nevada, stoking fears that hospitals will be overwhelmed.

Read more here

. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19, the latest victim of a disease that has wreaked havoc in Brazil, the world's No. 2 coronavirus hotspot after the United States.

Read the chronology of the key moments here

. The use of hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus patients has become highly politicized in the US but it is used widely in India, a top White House official has said, asserting latest research showed the malaria drug is highly effective in early stages of Covid-19.

Read more here

. The United States, the country hardest hit by the coronavirus, on Tuesday posted 60,209 new cases, a record for a 24-hour period, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

The country was just shy of three million cases, at 2,991,351, the Baltimore-based university said in its latest data as of 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Wednesday).

The death toll stood at 131,362, with 1,114 additional deaths counted. (AFP)

. They found that about 3% of more than 9,600 respondents in the United States said that they had changed their residence because of the coronavirus, and 6% said someone else had moved into their home. About 22% of respondents had either moved because of the pandemic or knew someone who did.

Read more here

. Vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) is hoping to develop a Covid-19 vaccine by the year-end as it is focusing on a "good and safe" product and is not in a "rush", the company's CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Tuesday.

Read more here

. The World Health Organization on Tuesday acknowledged "emerging evidence" of the airborne spread of the novel coronavirus, after a group of scientists urged the global body to update its guidance on how the respiratory disease is spread.

Speaking at a briefing in Geneva, WHO expert Benedetta Allegranzi said the organization believed it had "been open to the evidence on modes of transmission" of the new virus.

Read more here

. There are rumours and fake news that there is a lockdown in Shillong from July 10th; I would like to clarify that the Government of Meghalaya has taken no such decision: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma

. It is hereby ordered to shutdown the entire Cuttack city (CMC area) till midnight of 10 July. Weekend shutdown restrictions will also apply to Cuttack city (CMC area) on July 11&12 as per previous order: Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), Odisha

. Some 400,000 new cases of Covid-19 were reported over the weekend and the new coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of slowing down, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

. Vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) is hoping to develop a Covid-19 vaccine by the year-end as it is focusing on a "good and safe" product and is not in a "rush", the company's CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Tuesday.

. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro says he has tested positive for Covid-19 after months of downplaying the virus' severity.

. The WestBengalgovernment on Tuesday decided to impose complete lockdown in all containment zones from Thursday, as Covid-19 cases and casualties continued to surge in the state.

. Gujarat reports highest single-day spike of 778 COVID-19 cases to take tally to 37636; toll 1,979 with 17 deaths: Health dept (PTI)

. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy interacts with an anesthesiologist during his visit to a newly converted Covid-19 care centre, in Chennai, Tuesday, July 7, 2020. A building of the National Institute of Ageing has been converted into a dedicated Covid-19 care centre.

. Karnataka Covid-19 update:

New cases: 1,498 Deaths: 15 Bengaluru: 800 Active: 14,385 ICU: 143 Total: 25,317 Recovered: 10,527

. Total infected so far: 5894 Now under treatment: 2413 Recovered so far:3,452 27 died 272 fresh cases today 111 recovered today 1,86,576 underhome and institutional quarantine 3,034 in hospital observation 2,85,968 samples tested so far 5,456 results pending

. Union Minister Harsh Vardhan discusses bilateral Health Co-operation with his Swedish counterpart in the background of Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Ministers discussed in detail status & containment measures for Covid-19 & future vision for handling it.

. The meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology to discuss Covid-19 pandemic scheduled on Friday is staring at the possibility of being postponed, as a section of MPs expressing their inability to attend due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures in states.

. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file a status report on 57 minor girls, having been tested positive for Covid-19 in a shelter home in Kanpur.

. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Odisha crossed the 10,000-mark on Tuesday with 571 fresh infections, while the toll climbed to 42 as four more people succumbed to the disease, a health department official said.

. 1,178 Covid-19 positive cases reported in Andhra Pradesh in last 24 hours. The total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 21,197. Death toll rises to 252 and a total of 9745 discharged: State Command Control Room, Andhra Pradesh

. Govt to come up with standard operating procedure for shooting films in India in wake of Covid19 pandemic, set to provide incentives for production to accelerate restart of filmmaking: Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar

. In the last 24 hours, 1,346 new Covid-19 positive cases have been reported. Active cases in the state stand at 9,514. A total of 19,627 have been discharged after recovering from the disease. The death toll stands at 827: Uttar Pradesh Principal Health Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad

. Covid-19 tests in India cross 1 crore-mark, as a result of continuously expanding network of 1,115 testing labs across the country.Recovered patients touch 4,39,947 today. 1,80,390 more recovered cases than active cases, taking India’s recovery rate to 61.13%:Union Health Ministry

. In a trend that compounds concern, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai has overtaken that of China's.

The deadly virus was first reported in December 2019 at Wuhan in Hubei province of China and now it has turned into a global pandemic.

Read more here

. Our ventilator is 5-10 times cheaper, normally it costs 10-15 lakh, ours is for 1.5 lakh. International vendor nexus is very strong in this market, will they appreciate the success of indigenous products?: Prof. Diwakar Vaish, Co-founder AgVa Healthcare, ventilators under PM CARES FuND.

. “Let me make it clear: There’s no community spread. We’re in between stages two and three. We told the Central team this. They’ve asked us to ensure we don’t get into the third stage,” Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu told reporters.

Read more here

. The annual tournament was originally scheduled to begin on March 29 but was postponed indefinitely due to Covid-19. India's death toll from the pandemic surpassed 20,000 on Tuesday.

Read more here

. The fight against Covid-19 is more difficult than the mythological war of Mahabharata, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said, adding that the battle against the pandemic will continue till 2021 as the disease vaccine won't be available before that.

Read more here

. The country also posted a worrying number of new daily infections, at 54,999 -- a few thousand shy of the record set just days ago -- and 357 new deaths.

The country has reported a total of 29,31,142 Covid-19 cases and 1,30,248 deaths, the university reported.

Read more here

. In total 76,222 Covid-19 cases have been reported and 3,422 deaths, including 79 on Monday, the ministry said in a statement.

Read more here

. To encourage Covid-19 warriors in auniqueway, Mumbai MP Gopal Shetty has felicitated 30 of them by gifting them Rs 5,000 in cash and a gold coin weighing one gram. These warriors include security guards, sanitation workers and administrative staff.

Read more here

. Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Karnataka, is under home quarantine and his office in Vikas Soudha has been sanitised and sealed. The development happened after a visitor who had visited his office tested positive.

. Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol on Monday asked the Kalaburagi and Bagalkotdistrict administrations not to permit weddings with gatherings as it could lead to the spread of the virus and instead hold it at the sub-registrar offices concerned.

Read more here

. More than 200 scientists have called for the World Health Organisation and others to acknowledge that the coronavirus can spread in the air — a change that could alter some of the current measures being taken to stop the pandemic.

Read more here

. India's Covid-19 case tally crosses 7 lakh-mark with 22,252 new cases and 467 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total positive cases stand at 7,19,665 including 2,59,557 active cases, 4,39,948 cured/discharged/migrated 20,160 deaths: Ministry of Health.

. In the last three months, prices of refurbishedlaptopshave gone up by Rs 5,000 to 8,000, depending on the configuration. Newlaptopspowered by Intel processors have seen an average price rise of Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000, according to retailers.

Read more here

. President Donald Trump said on Monday that US schools must open in the fall - a decision over which he has limited power - as governors struggle with a nationwide rise in coronavirus infections and states reverse and pause attempts to reopen.

Read more here

. The department also advised the hospitals that "before putting hypoxic patients on ventilators, high flow nasal oxygen therapy should be tried as per the guideline".

Earlier, it had advised all Covid-19 hospitals to opt for "prone awake ventilation" as and when possible before putting a patient on conventional mechanical ventilation.

Read more here

. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation and may help explain superspreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants.

Read more here

. Over two dozen Covid-19 casualties, which had been declared asymptomatic by authorities, have now tested positive, in a strange U-turn which officials blamed on a statistical error.

Clarifying the matter, a government official said the patients had died due to late-stage effects of Covid-19 and had symptoms.

Read more here

. The World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing a report that suggested its advice on the novel coronavirus needs updating after some scientists told the New York Times there was evidence the virus could be spread by tiny particles in the air.

. The following is a brief roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for Covid-19, the illness caused by the virus.

. The man (name withheld), a resident of Uttam Nagar, was discharged from the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) on July 3 along with his wife who had also contracted Covid-19.

"CM Kejriwal felicitated our 1000th patient to mark the milestone, and the recovered patient's wife was also present on the occasion," Director RGSSH, Dr B L Sherwal said.

Read more here.

. ** Number of Covid-19 tests crosses the 1 crore-mark.

** During the last 24 hours, 3,46,459 samples tested.

** The cumulative number of samples tested, as of now is 1,01,35,525.

** Recovery rate:60.86%.

** Over1105 labs have enabled people to undergo Covid-19 tests.

** Number of recovered cases among Covid-19 patients rise to 4,24,432 as of today.

** During the last 24 hours, a total of 15,350 Covid-19 patients have recovered.

** There are 2,53,287 active cases and all are under active medical supervision.

. Ministry of Home Affairs, in a letter to Union Higher Education Secretary, today permitted universities and institutions to conduct exams.

The final Term Examinations are to be compulsorily conducted as per the UGC Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities; and as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

. Delhi Covid-19 Update July 6:

Total cases: 1,00,823 Fresh Cases: 1,379 *On July 5 - 2,244

Fresh deaths: 48

Total deaths: 3,115

Total samples tested:6,57,383

Samples tested on July6:13,879

Samples tested on the other days:

July 1 - 19,956 July 2 - 20,822 July 3 - 24,165 July 4 - 23,673 July 5 - 23,136

Total discharged: 72,088

Discharged today: 749

Under treatment: 25,620 (17,141 in home isolation)

. Total infected so far: 5,622 Fresh cases today: 193 Now under treatment: 2,252 Recovered so far: 3,341 Recovered today: 167 Total deaths: 27 In home and institutional quarantine: 1,83,291 In hospital observation: 2,075 Samples tested so far: 2,75,823 Results pending: 4,179

. Covid-19 Positivity Rate indicates thenumber of people testing positive among those tested.

. Opening hours to be rescheduled to 7 am to 6 pm (to avoid evening crowds). There will not be any consumption inside the shop premises of 0.S. liquor or ENA based country liquor shop, saysOdisha Excise Department

. The Covid-19 positive patient who jumped off the 4th floor of AIIMS Trauma Centre is critical and is admitted in ICU, saidDCP (Southwest) Devender Arya

The 37-year-old COVID19 patient ran out of trauma centre-1 where he was admitted. He ran to 4th floor where he broke window pane & jumped out. He was moved to ICU immediately and he later succumbed to his injuries, said AIIMS, Delhi

ANI

. In the last 24 hours, 933 new Covid-19 positive cases and 24 deaths have been reported in the state. There are 8,718 active cases, 19,109 discharges so far and 809 patients have succumbed to the infection: UP Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Awanish Awasthi

. About 4,24,400 have recovered from Covid-19 so far in India. There are over2.53 lakh active cases in the country.19,693 lost their lives due to the infection. Over 10 million Covid-19 tests done so far, said ICMR.

. Kirana stores are emerging as the hub that helps maintain a regular supply of essentials as cities struggle to get back to their normal rhythm and many such neighbourhood stores are considering greater technology adoption, according to a report.

Read more here

. Addressing an online media briefing, the Chief Minister said that there has been a spike in demand for plasma over the past 4-5 days, after the opening of a plasma bank in Delhi.

Read more here

. A man photographed fleeing smoke and debris as the south tower of the World Trade Centre crumbled just a block away on Sept. 11, 2001, has died from coronavirus, his family said.

Read more here

. The Covid-19 crisis in the city deepened on Sunday with as many as 1,235 more people contracting the virus. This brings the total number of cases to 9,580, out of which 8,167 (or 85.25%) are active.

Read more here

. With Covid-19cases in Kerala, especially those through local spread, increasing alarmingly, the Kerala Government has made preventive measures more stringent by making wearing of masks and registration for entering Kerala mandatory under law.

Read more here

. Three hundred unmanned aerial vehicles were programmed to form images above the Han river -- which runs through the South Korean capital -- for the eyecatching flash mob.

Read more here

. A new human cell 'membrane on a chip' allows continuous monitoring of how drugs and infectious agents interact with our cells, an advance that may be employed to test potential drug candidates for Covid-19, scientists said on Monday.

Read more here

. "Clinical and regulatory development of Desidustat in Covid-19 is being executed in Mexico by Avant Santé Research Center S.A. de C.V., a leading contract research organisation headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico," Cadila Healthcare said in a regulatory filing.

Read more here

. A nationwide survey on the impact of Covid-19 on 250 Indian startups has found that nearly a fourth of them have cash reserves to meet expenses for up to six months, while almost one in three said they will lay off employees if the lockdowndrags on.

Read more here

. President Donald Trump dismissed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States over the weekend, downplaying the impact of the disease and saying that while the testing of tens of millions of American had identified many cases, “99%” of them were “totally harmless.”

Read more here

. BBMP East Zone has 2,004 cases, of which 1,694 were active, as on Sunday. But crowded market areas are not the problem, urban slums are. Crammed spaces act as incubators for the virus. The highest number of cases have been reported in the urban slums of DJ Halli, and in areas like KJ Halli and Robertson Road.

Read more here

. The Goa government plans to expand the scope of Covid-19 testing in the state by designating special teams at the primary health centres and community health centres to collect samples of suspected coronavirus patients, health minister Vishwajit Rane has said.

Read more here

. Avinash (name changed),34,is having his dinner when he gets an emergency call. He does not finish his meal, for he knows any delay could cost a person’s life. As a ‘108’ ambulance driver, he is always on his toes, but this time there is a lingering fear of contracting the deadly novel coronavirus.

Read more here

. Anosmia -- the loss of one's sense of smell -- may be an invisible handicap, but is psychologically difficult to live with and has no real treatment, he says.

And it is the price that an increasing number of people are paying after surviving a brush with the coronavirus, with some facing a seemingly long-term inability to smell.

Read more here

. India reports a spike of 24,248 new Covid-19 cases and 425 deaths in the last 24 hours. Positive cases stand at 6,97,413 including 2,53,287 active cases, 4,24,433 cured/discharged/migrated and 19,693 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

. Local authorities issued a new advisory late on Sunday ordering an extension of lockdown curbs on monuments in and aroundAgra. The government order did not specify the duration of the lockdown for monuments that have been closed since March.

Read more here

. A nationwide survey on the impact of Covid-19 on 250 Indian startups has found that nearly a fourth of them have cash reserves to meet expenses for up to six months, while almost one in three said they will lay off employees if the lockdowndrags on.

Read more here

. The coronavirus is finding new victims worldwide, in bars and restaurants, offices, markets and casinos, giving rise to frightening clusters of infection that increasingly confirm what many scientists have been saying for months: The virus lingers in the air indoors, infecting those nearby.

Read more here

. Scientists in 2013 sent frozen samples to the Wuhan lab from a bat-infested former copper mine in southwest China after six men who had been clearing out bat feces there contracted a severe pneumonia, the newspaper said.

Read more here

. District authorities in South West Delhi have delinked three hotels serving as extended Covid care facilities from hospitals due to low occupancy, officials said on Sunday.

. More than six months into the pandemic, the coronavirus has infected more than 11 million people worldwide, killing more than 525,000. But despite the increasing toll, scientists still do not have a definitive answer to one of the most fundamental questions about the virus: How deadly is it?

. Virus samples sent to the Wuhan Institute of Virology seven years ago closely resemble Covid-19, according to a report in the Sunday Times that highlights unanswered questions about the origins of the global pandemic.

. India on Sunday edged past Russia to become the third worst-hit country by the Covid-19 pandemic, powered by a surge in new infections in southern states of Karnataka and Telangana which have reported a jump in fresh cases over the past few days.

. As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital is under heightened vigil.

. London : Drinkers in Soho congregate, as coronavirus lockdown restrictions eased across England, in London, Saturday July 4, 2020. England embarked on perhaps its biggest lockdown easing yet as pubs and restaurants reopened for the first time in more than three months. AP/PTI

. At a virtual press conference, Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh also questioned the government why only 1,340 ventilators could be procured till June 22 whereas it had placed order for 50,000 on March 31.

. There are 80 state-run labs that are testing samples in Karnataka. Private labs have not taken any testing load. Rules will be formed soon for private labs to test the samples sent by the government, he said.

. 1,311 new Covid-19 cases and 69 deaths recorded in Mumbai today, taking total number of cases to 84,125 including 55,883 recoveries and 4,896 deaths: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

. New Covid-19 cases in Karnataka--1,925 Total cases in Bengaluru --1,235 Total deaths today--- 37 Total deaths in Bengaluru ---16

. Delhi Health Department issues an order, instructing all health care facilities to carry out compulsory rapid antigen detection testing of patients with ILI symptoms, patients admitted with SARI and others who visit their facilities. (ANI)

. Maharashtra reported 6,555 new COVID-19 cases and 151 deaths today, taking total number of cases to 2,06,619 and death toll to 8,822. Number of active cases stands at 86,040: State Health Department (ANI)

. Punjab reported 175 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total number of cases to 6,283 including 4,408 recoveries and 164 deaths. Highest 70 cases have been reported in Ludhiana: State Health Department

. Indian Academy of Sciences, atop science bodyin the country,on Sunday strongly criticised the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for setting up a target of 42 days to roll out the first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine from the preclinical stage.

. Kerala Health Department has issuednotification, extending the enforcement of state's Covid-19 regulations till July 2021.

. Delhi reports 63 deaths and 2,244 new Covid19 positive cases today. Total number of positive cases stands at 99,444 including 71,339 recovered/discharged/migrated, 25,038 active cases and 3,067 deaths: Delhi Govt

. In today's episode, The Indian Academy of Sciences has strongly criticised the Indian Council of Medical Research's Covid-19 vaccine target, the main aide of notorious gangster Vikas Dubey arrested, Kanye West to run for US presidency and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launches Elyments App.

Listen to DH's daily podcast here

. Total infected so far: 5429 Now under treatment : 2227 Recovered so far :3,174 26 died 225 fresh cases today 126 recovered today 177995 in home and institutional quarantine 2944 in hospital observation 268218 samples tested so far 5881 results pending

. An emotional selfie video of Dr Sultana making a fervent appeal “for rescue from the hospital’s exploitation” has put focus on the huge mismatch between the rates fixed by the Telangana government for Covid-19 treatment in the private sector and the actual bills that the patients are forced to pay.

. Collective and focused efforts for containment and management of Covid-19 by the government of India along with the states and union territories have led to the number of recovered Covid-19 patients to rise to 4,09,082 so far, it said.

. His son Santhosh J Poojary had clarified that Poojary's condition is stable and is admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

. China's capital had two new cases, the seventh straight day of single-digit increase. Authorities have confirmed 334 infections during the city's outbreak, which was detected about three weeks ago and is the largest in the country since March.

. 6,73,165 total confirmed cases 4,09,083 cases cured/recovered 97,89,066 samples tested

. More than 4 lakh patients recovered

Recovery rate amongst Covid-19 is 60.77%.

In the last 24 hours 2,48,934 samples have been tested.

. Close to 39 crore people covered in surveillance and awareness drives by ASHAs and auxiliary nurse midwives

They have played a critical role in spreading awareness about the symptoms and precautions against Covid-19. (PIB)

. While the Delhi government has provided administrative support, the ITBP is the nodal agency operating the Centre under the name "Operation Corona Warriors".The centre is 1,700 feet long and 700 feet wide -- roughly the size of 20 football fields -- and has200 enclosures with 50 beds each.

Read more here.

. Here is theCPI(M)'s full statement:

Gilead Sciences’ anti-viral drug Remdesivir has shown efficacy in treating Covid-19 patients. Media reports indicate that the US, which is hoarding all drugs found to be useful in combatting the Covid pandemic, has bought the entire stock of Remdesivir from Gilead for the next three months. It will therefore not be available for the restof the world.

The price of Remdesivir in the US is $3,000 or Rs. 2.25 lakhs, for a 5-day course. Five Indian companies are in negotiations for manufacturing Remdesivir under Gilead’s license. After manufacturing in India, Remdesivir will be sold at a ‘concessional’ price of $400 or Rs. 30,000-35,000 for the same 5-day course. The cost of manufacturing Remdesivir for a full course - as worked out by experts—is less than $10 or Rs 750 in the US. And about Rs. 100 in India. Gilead, by virtue of its patent monopoly, is holding the world to ransom by asking a price that is hundreds of times its cost.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has accelerated theapproval for the use of Remdesivir in India for Covid-19 patients. But with the US buying up the entire stock of Gilead and the high cost due to its patent monopoly, Indian patients will either not get the drug, or if it is available, find the cost prohibitive.

Under Clause 92 of India’s Patent Act, in whose enactment the Left played a pivotal role, India has the right to issue a compulsory license to manufacture the drug in India. Indian generic drug manufacturers have the ability and the will to manufacture the generic Remdesivir version. Under Clause 92A of the Patent Act, compulsory license can even be issued for export to countries that may require the drug and not have the capability to manufacture it. Given Gilead’s extortionate price for Remdesivir, the Government should immediately issue compulsory license to a number of Indian manufacturers.

Given that India is one of the largest generic drug manufacturers in the world, there should be no reason why this drug cannot be made available rapidly and at affordable prices to the Indian people.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) calls upon the central government to immediatelyinvoke Clause 92 of the Patent Act and issue a compulsory licence for the manufacture of the generic version of this drug, vital to save lives and effectively combat the pandemic.

. On Saturday evening, India had 6,59,496 confirmed cases of Covid-19 against Russia’s 6,73,564. While India had reported 18,655 deaths due to the infectious disease, Russia had reported far fewer fatalities at 10,027.

Read more here.

. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and 14 staffers of the CMO tested negative for Covid-19 on Saturday, official sources said.

. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.

. In this combo photo, clockwise from top left, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Textiles and Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar and Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal are seen wearing a variety of masks as they attend 'Seva Hi Sangathan Abhiyan' meeting at BJP HQ, in New Delhi, Saturday, July 4, 2020. (PTI Photo)

. In the last 24 hours, 7,074 positive cases and 295 deaths were recorded, the highest in a day's time since the outbreak of the pandemic in Maharashtra. The total number of cases now stand at 2,00,064 and deaths 8,671, according to the data of the Public Health department.

. With Covid-19 cases increasing in the state, the BJP leadership had earlier limited party activities such as protest demonstrations. But the state leadership has made the restrictions more stringent after MP Locket Chatterjee tested positive for Covid-19.

. With Covid-19 cases increasing in the state, the BJP leadership had earlier limited party activities such as protest demonstrations. But the state leadership has made the restrictions more stringent after MP Locket Chatterjee tested positive for Covid-19.

. On Saturday evening, India had 6,59,496 confirmed cases of Covid-19 against Russia’s 6,73,564. While India had reported 18,655 deaths due to the infectious disease, Russia had reported far fewer fatalities at 10,027.

. Maharashtra reported 7,074 Covid-19 cases and 295 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total number of cases to 2,00,064 and death toll to 8,671. Number of active cases stands at 83,295, accordingState Health Department

1180 Covid-19 cases, 1071 recovered & 68 deaths reported in Mumbai today. Total number of cases in the city is now at 82814, including 53463 recovered/discharged, 24524 active cases & 4827 deaths, as per theBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

. Gujarat reports highest single-day spike of 712 cases taking coronavirus case count to 35,398; death toll rises to 1,927 with 21 new fatalities: health department

. The health department officials here went into a tizzy after the Bihar Legislative Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh tested coronavirus positive on Saturday. He has been admitted to the AIIMS-Patna.

. West Bengal records highest single-day spike of 743 Covid-19 cases and highest single-day increase in death toll with 19 more. Total cases: 21231. Active cases: 6329. Total deaths: 736. Discharged:14166. Samples tested: 530072.

. Karnataka Government finally issues official circular/guidelines for home isolation of Covid-19 positive patients. Only those who are asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic shall be allowed to be in isolation at home.

The government has tweaked age criteria from less than 50 to less than 60 years. Now anybody who is not a senior citizen can be home quarantined if positive for Covid-19

. Tamil Nadu reported 4,280 fresh Covid-19 cases and 65 deaths today, taking total cases to 1,07,001 and death toll to 1,450. Number of active cases stands at 44,956: State Health Department

. Total infected so far: 5,204 Now under treatment : 2,129 Recovered so far :3,048 25 died 240 fresh cases today 209 recovered today 174844 in home and institutional quarantine 2915 in hospital observation 260011 samples tested so far 5092 results pending

. 2 new Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths reported in Dharavi area of Mumbai. Total number of cases in the area is now at 2311, including 519 active cases & 86 deaths: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

. Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday alleged that there was lack of coordination among the three constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and also between Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his cabinet in the fight against Covid-19.

. Workers of Bihar BJP & the people deserve congratulations. Many people were saying that Covid-19 will spread faster in eastern parts of the country due to high temperatures. But you all have proved it wrong: PM Modi after reviewing relief works by Bihar BJP during lockdown

. Relaxations in Chennai lockdown to come in effect from 6th July. Vegetable & grocery shops allowed to open from 6 am to 6 pm, textile & hardware shops from 10 am to 6 pm, and restaurants from 6 am to 9 pm: Edappadi K Palaniswami, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

. Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore Bernard Moras has been diagnosed with mild symptoms of Covid-19 and his condition now is said to be stable.

. More than 45 per cent of the over 5.96 lakh Covid-19 tests in Delhi were conducted in the last 16 days after the government started testing through the rapid-antigen methodology in and around containment zones of the national capital.

. Researchers, led by an Indian scientist, have developed a cheap, electricity-free centrifuge to separate components in patient saliva samples for the detection of the novel coronavirus, an advance that may increase the accessibility of Covid-19 diagnostics in poor regions of the world.

. Lockdown extended till 12th July in Madurai and area limits of adjoining rural civic bodies of Paravai & Thiruparankundram panchayats, saidEdappadi K Palaniswami, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

. ICMR’s process is exactly in accordance with globally accepted norms to fast-track the vaccine development for diseases of pandemic potential wherein human and animal trials can continue in parallel, saidICMR on Covid19 vaccine candidate developed by Bharat Biotech International Ltd.

In the larger public health interest, it is important for ICMR to expedite clinical trials with a promising indigenous vaccine. Faced with the unprecedented nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, all other vaccine candidates across the globe have been similarly fast-tracked, ICMR said.

. Kolkata Airport authority on Saturday announced that no flights shall operate to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad from 6th to 19th July 2020 or till further orders, whichever is earlier.

. "India has a very vibrant tech and start up ecosystem, which has done India proud nationally as well as globally. Our youngsters have excelled in providing tech solutions across sectors. The Covid-19 Pandemic has also brought about a big disruption, which is being tackled through the use of technology to aid our day to day lives," said PM Modi in a LinkedIn post.

"To help our start-up and tech community achieve this objective, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology along with Atal Innovation Mission are coming up with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Innovation challenge. This shall run intwotracks: Promotion of Existing Apps and Development of New Apps," he said.

"

For promotion of existing Apps and Platforms across the categories of E-learning, Work-from-Home, Gaming, Business, Entertainment, Office Utilities, and Social Networking, Governmentwill provide mentoring, hand-holding and support. Track-01 will work in mission mode for identifying good quality Apps for the leader-board and shall be completed in around a month.

For incubating new Apps and Platforms, Track-02 initiative will work to help create new champions in India by providing support in ideation, incubation, prototyping and roll out along with market access," he said.

. 237 police personnel found positive for Covid-19 & 4 died in Maharashtra in the last 72 hours, taking the total number of positive cases to 5,175 including active cases to 1,0140 and death toll to 64 in the force: Maharashtra Police

. No flights shall operate to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai & Ahmedabad from 6th to 19th July 2020 or till further orders, whichever is earlier, according toKolkata Airport.

The decision was taken on the request of West Bengal Government in view of Covid-19, theKolkata Airport Director said.

. Andhra Pradesh recorded 765 new Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 17,699 out of which 9,473 cases are active and 8,008 have recovered. Number of deaths due to the disease rises to 218: State Health Department

. The apex research body on Friday wrote to select medical institutions and hospitals to fast-track clinical trial approvals for the coronavirus vaccine candidate Covaxin being developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech which it plans to release on August 15.

Read more here.

. According to insiders, state officials were informed by epidemiologists and other experts in the third week of June that the number of new cases in the city would see a dramatic increase from June 21 onwards.

Read more here.

. The UN health body has been accused by US President Donald Trump of failing to provide the information needed to stem the pandemic and of being complacent towards Beijing, charges it denies.

Read more here.

. The decision has not only come under serious criticism from independent scientists and public health experts but has even made the vaccine's manufacturer – Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech – uncomfortable, as the company refused to put a deadline on the vaccine's commercial launch in the absence of even preliminary human trial data.

Read more here.

. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has written to all states/UTs saying that all private laboratories in their state who intend to initiate TrueNat/CBNAAT based testing for Covid-19 should be encouraged to immediately apply for NABL accreditation to ensure quality testing.

. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus disease and quarantined himself.

. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's office on Friday said it had given Rs 140.72 crore to the Health & Family Welfare department from the total Rs 334.50 crore it received from citizens and corporates to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

. Early detection and a timely clinical management of Covid-19 cases have resulted in increasing daily recoveries, with the recovery rate of coronavirus patients crossing 60 per cent in the country on Friday, the Union health ministry said.

. Fresh Cases 2520 Total 94965

Deaths 59 Total 2923

Discharged 2617 Total 65624

Under treatment 26148 (15878 in home isolation)

Samples tested 596695 (24165 fresh samples; 31405/million)

. Telangana: Arvi Healthcare, a start-up based in Hyderabad, has developed a contactless, facial-recognition based thermal-screening kiosk. CEO says,"In Covid-19 situation,this kiosk will be helpful in schools, workplaces&other places, as it is integrated with attendance solutions"

. 6,364 Covid-19 cases & 198 deaths reported in Maharashtra today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 1,92,990 including 1,04,687 discharged, 79,911 active cases & 8,376 deaths, according to the state health department.

Out of 198 Covid-19 deaths reported in the state today, 150 occurred in the last 48 hours and rest 48 are from the previous period.

. Gujarat reported 687 fresh Covid-19 cases and 18 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total number of cases to 34,686 including 24,491 recoveries and 1,906 deaths: State Health Department

. 1,694 new Covid-19 cases and 21 deaths reported in Karnataka today, taking total number of cases to 19,710 and death toll to 293. Number of active cases stands at 10,608: State Health Department

. NEET examination postponed to September 13 in view of Covid-19 pandemic, saidHRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'.

. In the last 24 hours, 519 new Covid-19 positive cases have been reported in Bihar taking the total number of cases in the state to 10911 including 8211 discharged and 2615 active cases: State health department

. 64 deaths and 4329 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Tamil Nadu today, taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 1,02,721. The death toll stands at 1,385: Tamil Nadu Health Department

. Total infected so far: 4,964 Now under treatment : 2,098 Recovered so far :2,839 25 died 211 fresh cases today 201 recovered today 177011 under home and institutional quarantine 2794 in hospital observation 253011 samples tested so far 4834 results pending

. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s office on Friday clarified that no discussions had taken place on imposing a lockdown, and no meetings were scheduled over the weekend on this.

. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, on Friday authorised the use of anti-viral drug remdesivir to treat the new coronavirus.

. The aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday it was extending the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country till July 31 but added that some international scheduled services on selected routes may be permitted on a case to case basis.

. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee has tested positive for Covid-19. Currently her condition is stable and she is under home isolation. The actor-turned-politician said in a tweet on Friday that she has slight fever and was in self-isolation for the past one week.

. The chief of India's top clinical research agency said in a leaked letter circulated on Friday it envisaged launching a novel coronavirus vaccine by Aug. 15, prompting derision from some health experts who questioned the timeline.

. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday met the family members of doctor Aseem Gupta who died fighting Covid-19 and handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore as an ex-gratia to them.

. The chief of India's top clinical research agency said in a leaked letter circulated on Friday it envisaged launching a novel coronavirus vaccine by Aug. 15, prompting derision from some health experts who questioned the timeline.

. Former Australian batsman Michael Hussey is fearful of the prospect of Australia hosting the T20 World Cup in October-November and says a 16-team event amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic could prove to be a logistical nightmare.

. South Africa's hospitals are bracing for an onslaught of patients, setting up temporary wards and hoping advances in treatment will help the country's health facilities from becoming overwhelmed.

. Twelve clinical trial sites have been identified at present and the apex health research body has asked the medical institutions and principal investigators to ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7.

Read more here.

. Rajasthan: 123 new Covid-19 cases and 5 deaths have been reported in the state till 10:30 am today. Tally stand at 18,785 including 3,307 and 4,35 deaths.

Odisha: 561 fresh Covid-19 cases reported in Odisha on July 2. Tally at 8,106, including 5,502 recoveries and 2,567 active cases.

Meghalaya: Covid-19 tally in Meghalaya is now at 59 including 15 active cases with one fresh returnee from Delhi testing in Tura.

. Since 1st April 2020, Centre distributed over 2.02 crore N95 masks and more than 1.18 crore PPE kits to states/ UTs/ Central Institutions, free of cost. Over 6.12 crore HCQ tablets also distributed, along with 11,300 ‘Make in India’ ventilators, says the Governmentof India.

Till now, 7.81 lakh PPEs and 12.76 lakh N95 masks have been supplied in Delhi, 11.78 lakh PPEs and 20.64 N95 masks in Maharashtra, and 5.39 lakh PPEs and 9.81 lakh N95 masks in Tamil Nadu by the Union Health Ministry, it added.

ANI

. Since 1st April 2020, Centre distributed over 2.02 crore N95 masks and more than 1.18 crore PPE kits to States/UTs/Central Institutions, free of cost. Over 6.12 crore HCQ tablets also distributed, along with 11,300 ‘Make in India’ ventilators: Govt of India - ANI

. Scientists have shown that a variation in the genome of the novel coronavirus has improved its ability to infect human cells, and has helped it become the dominant strain circulating around the world.

. India's crippled services industry, the lifeblood of economic growth and jobs, contracted sharply in June as an extended lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus stalled business activity, a private sector survey showed.

. Governor Gavin Newsom urged Californians on Thursday to turn to their “better angels" and use common sense by wearing masks and skipping traditional gatherings with family and friends during the holiday weekend — a message echoed by local officials who previously sparred with the governor over his virus orders.

. India's Covid-19 cases soaredby over 20,000 in a day for the first time taking the country's totaltally to 6,25,544 on Friday, while the death toll climbed to 18,213 with 379 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned against the "hasty" relaxation of anti-coronavirus measures, state media reported Friday, indicating the country will keep its borders closed for the foreseeable future.

. President Donald Trump, yet again, hailed the United States' coronavirus testing as Covid-19 cases in the country increased by more than 55,000 on Thursday, a new daily global record for the pandemic.

. A potential Covid-19 vaccine indigenously developed by the Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd has got nod from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for human clinical trials, according to a government source.

. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will urge Britons to act responsibly when pubs reopen this weekend, warning that businesses, livelihoods and the future of the whole economy depends on it.

. Bengaluru's overall positivity rate stands at 5.33%, but what is of concern is that the city recorded a positivity rate of 11.89% over the past 10 days.Now, the city has 5,505 active cases while the death toll stands at 101.

. Developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, the first few batches of the vaccine named Covaxin have been sent to the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, for certification following which they would be dispatched to hospitals involved in the trial. In a parallel process, ethical committee approvals are being taken.

. The total number of confirmed positive cases in India reaches 6,25,020; death toll stands at 18,207 as of July 3.

Track state-wise Covid-19 data here

. The US notched more than 53,000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours Thursday, a tally by Johns Hopkins University showed, a new one-day record as infections surge around the country. The Baltimore-based university's tracker showed 53,069 more cases as of 8:30 pm (0030 Friday GMT), bringing the total number of cases since the pandemic reached the United States to 2,735,339.

. “In view of a large number of asymptomatic cases being detected, the current guidelines have been extended to asymptomatic positive cases also besides very mild and pre-symptomatic cases,” the revised guidelines said.

. There is 'very little risk' that pets can infect their owners with Covid-19, the chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

. Of the over 6 lakh Covid-19 cases reported in the country till Thursday, 34,540 patients needed ICU care, 37,505 required oxygen, and 9,272 were put on ventilators, health ministry sources said.

. As Covid-19 cases surge, Centre on Thursday revised the guidelines to allow asymptomatic patients to recuperate in isolation in the safe confines of their homes.

. Bihar reported its highest single-day spike of 479 Covid-19 cases on Thursday, taking the tally to 10,683, while five people died due to the disease, raising the death toll to 78, the health department said.

The state capital experienced mayhem following the explosion of more than 90 cases across the city, besides a fresh casualty in the district.

. A pregnant woman was refused at nine hospitals and struggled for half a day before getting admission to the KC General Hospital for delivery.

. While coronavirus cases have been on a rise across Karnataka, Bengaluru is currently facing another major challenge as the city's current Covid-19 doubling rate is reportedly

. Permission for Phase I/II clinical trial for Covid-19vaccine of Zydus Cadila granted today as a rapid response after recommendation by Subject Expert Committee: Health Ministry official

. Unscientific disposal of face masks by the residents of the city, is posing a threat to the civic workers of contracting the virus. Despite repeated warnings and request, the people continue to violate guidelines and dispose the masks along with garbage.

. 1,213 Covid-19 cases, 987 discharged & 8 deaths reported in Telangana today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 18,570, including 9,226 active cases, 9,069 discharged, & 275 deaths: State Health Department

. 60 Covid-19 cases & 57 recoveries reported in Jharkhand today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 2585, including 582 active cases, 1988 recovered/discharged & 15 deaths: State Health Department

. Coronavirus cases crossed the 4,000 mark in a single day for the first time in Tamil Nadu on Thursday as the state's overall tally mounted to 98,392 and 57 more deaths pushed the toll to 1,321.

. Delhi govt announces remote teaching-learning plan for all classes to address issues of digital divide and reduce academic loss of students in the wake of closure of schools due to Covid-19pandemic. (PTI)

. 11 deaths and 568 new Covid-19 cases reported in Haryana today. The total number of positive cases in the state is now 15,509 including 11,019 recovered and 4,239 active cases: State Health Department

. Maharashtracrosses 10,00,000-mark of Covid-19 laboratory tests

Out of 10,20,368 laboratory samples, 1,86,626 have been tested positive (18.29%) forCovid-19 until today. There are 114 laboratories functional for Covid-19 testing – 64government ones and 50 private ones. 7715 tests are being conducted per 10,00,000population, the same at the national level is 6334.

By 1st July 2020, 90,56,173 tests havebeen done across the country, 11.26% of which have been in Maharashtra.

Currently, 5,72,032 people are in home quarantine and 41,741 people are in institutionalquarantine.

. An advocate has moved a Delhi Court seeking lodging of an FIR against yoga guru Baba Ramdev and others for allegedly cheating people by falsely claiming that his firm Patanjali hasfound a cure for Covid-19.

. 2373 Covid-19 cases, 3015 discharged & 61 deaths reported in Delhi today. Total number of cases in the national capital is now at 92175, including 63007 recovered/discharged/migrated, 26304 active cases & 2864 deaths: Delhi Health Department

. In these unpredictable and frightening times, how do we keep ourselves on an even emotional keel? On this edition of MyGov Samvaad, we discuss this and much more with our corona-warrior Shikha Goyal, Additional Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City.

Listen to the podcast

. 57 deaths and 1554 new positive cases of Covid-19 reported in Mumbai today, taking the total number of cases to 80,262. 5903 patients recovered and discharged today, according to theMunicipal Corporation Greater Mumbai.

19 Covid-19 cases & 2 deaths reported in Dharavi area of Mumbai today. Total number of cases in the area is now at 2,301, including 551 active cases & 84 deaths, as per theBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

. 'Is coronavirus weakening?', 'When (will) vaccine for coronavirus (come) in India?' and 'Will the coronavirus ever end?' were among the top COVID-19 related questions on Google in India in the month of June, even as the overall search volume for coronavirus declined as compared to May, according to Google search trends.

. An Indian Army brigadier who wa posted at the Eastern Command died due to Covid-19 on Thursday.

. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the coronavirus crisis on Thursday and resolved to strengthen the Indo-Russia ties for jointly addressing the challenges of the post-Covid world.

. There is no community spread of Covid-19 pandemic in Maharashtra, Public Health and Family Welfare minister Rajesh Tope said.

. Congress supporters stage a protest against the central government's decision for asking AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to vacate her bungalow within a month as she is not entitled to the facility following the withdrawal of her SPG protection, outside her residence, in New Delhi, Thursday, July 2, 2020. (PTI Photo)

. During the last 24 hours, a total of 11,881 Covid-19 patients have recovered, taking the cumulative figure to 3,59,859. This further takes the recovery rate to 59.52%. Presently, there are 2,26,947 active cases and all are under medical supervision: Government of India

. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday held a meeting with the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the national capital and its adjoining areas, located in the two neighbouring states.

. The World Health Organisation says smoking is linked to a higher risk of severe illness and death from the coronavirus in hospitalised patients, although it was unable to specify exactly how much greater those risks might be.

. The first-of-its-kind Plasma Bank in the country starts functioning today, four policemen arrested in the case relating to the custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu,59 banned Chinese apps down from Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India, EDquestions Ahmed Patel for the third time in a week and Congress leader D K Shivakumar officially takes charge as president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Coronavirus news highlights: Andhra Pradesh records new single-day high of 1,933 Covid-19 cases, taking the aggregate tally to 29,168

Follow DH's coronavirus coverage here

Andhra Pradesh records new single-day high of 1,933 COVID-19 cases, taking the aggregate tally to 29,168. A record 19 deaths in a day escalate the toll to 328: Government bulletin

Road Transport Ministry asks NIC to capture FASTag details while registering vehicles

Life insurance sector witnesses 18.6% drop in first-year premium: CARE Ratings

Karnataka's Covid-19 tally may double in next 15-30 days: Health Minister

Follow us on :

Follow Us