India on Wednesday recorded the highest single-day jump of 507 COVID-19 deaths and also a majority of cases — close to 4 lakh — in June to make it the worst month for the country prompting some States to go for varying degrees of lockdown.
Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu have accounted for over 70% of 17,400 coronavirus deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The data updated at 8 a.m. on Wednesday also showed that 18,653 new infections were reported in 24 hours taking the tally to 5,85,493. At the same time, the recovery rate was also steadily improving to touch nearly 60%.
Here is a list of State Helpline numbers . You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here .
Here are the latest updates:
Delhi reports 2,442 new cases
2,442 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 89,802, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Wednesday.
Also, 61 more deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths to 2,803.
Of the total cases, 59,992 people have recovered and there are 27,007 active cases.
134 news cases in CRPF; total tally over 1,300
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reported 134 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the tally of the cases in country’s largest paramilitary to over 1,300, officials said.
As per latest data, out of the total 1,385 coronavirus cases in the force, 682 are under treatment, while 694 have recovered.
A total of 134 fresh cases have been reported in the 3.25 lakh personnel strong CRPF, the lead internal security force of the country, in the last 24 hours. Twenty-two personnel also recovered during the same time period, the officials said.
Assam government to adopt new coronavirus testing model in Guwahati
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the Assam government to adopt a new model for conducting 10,000 COVID-19 tests daily with quick results in Guwahati to prevent it from going Mumbai and Delhi ways, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.
Mr. Shah had held a meeting on the prevailing situation in Guwahati with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday, Mr. Sarma said addressing a press conference here.
Maharashtra reports 5,537 new cases
Maharashtra reported a new single-day high of a staggering 5,537 fresh Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, as the State's total case tally breached the 1.8 lakh mark to reach 1,80,298. As many as 198 new deaths pushed the total death toll to 8,053. Of these, 69 were reported in the last 48 hours while the remaining 129 were from an earlier period, said State Health Department officials. Of the total case tally, 79,075 are active ones. As many as 2,243 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of recoveries till date to 93,154.
With 1,487 new cases reported today, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 79,145. The city's death toll has risen to 4,631. As many as 75 of the new deaths today were from Mumbai city, 31 from Pune district and 22 from Thane among other parts of the State.
BMTC asks employees above 50 and with serious ailments to avail leave
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has asked all its employees aged above 50 and those with serious ailments to avail leave, following the recent spike in COVID cases in the city.
“As employees who are aged and those suffering from serious ailments will be at the risk of getting infected by coronavirus it would be pertinent not to use their service for now in their interest,” an order dated June 29 by the city bus operator said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister launches ‘Kill Corona’ campaign to screen every home
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday launched his government’s fortnight-long “Kill Corona” campaign, which aims to screen every household in the State for the infection.
At the launch, Mr. Chouhan said that when he took over as the state chief minister in March, the basic amenities to fight the pandemic were in a dismal condition.
“The situation in Madhya Pradesh is now much better than before. I took oath at 9 pm of March 23 and went directly to Vallabh Bhavan (state secretariat), because I realised the seriousness of the disease and the dangers it posed,” he said.
17 more test positive for COVID-19 in Ladakh; 46 patients cured
The Union Territory of Ladakh recorded 17 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the tally in the twin districts of Leh and Kargil to 990, officials said. However, the number of active cases in Ladakh dropped to 295 -- 183 in Kargil and 112 in Leh -- after 46 more patients were cured of the disease in Kargil and subsequently discharged, they said.
The 295 cases included 12 people, who tested positive on Wednesday. The new cases included 12 from Kargil and five from Leh, the officials said.
They said the condition of all the patients suffering from COVID-19 is “stable”.
Ladakh had recorded one coronavirus-related death, while 694 people have been cured of the infection in the twin districts till date.
IMA opens coronavirus helpline for Delhi police personnel, families
The Indian Medical Association opened a coronavirus helpline for Delhi police personnel and their family members to mark the National Doctor’s Day on Wednesday.
Delhi Police Commissioner S. N. Shrivastava launched the “Corona Helpline for Delhi Police” through video-conferencing.
The helpline numbers — 9999672238 and 9999672239 — will be available during working hours on all days of the week, police said.
Assam lab isolates COVID-19 virus
The Regional Medical Research Centre for NE Region at Dibrugarh in Assam has become the fourth laboratory in the country to successfully isolate SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus which can be used in the production of vaccine against the contagion in future, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.
Scientists at the RMRC have isolated the COVID-19 virus in VERO-CCL81 cell line in the BSL-3 level lab available at the institute, he told a press conference here.
RMRC, Dibrugarh is the third government laboratory in the country, after NIV (ICMR Lab), Pune and CCMB (CSIR lab), Hyderabad and fourth overall after Bharat Biotech, a private biotechnology laboratory in Hyderabad), to isolate the virus in tissue culture.
Smaller towns in Karnataka resort to ‘local’ lockdowns to fight COVID-19
Even as the Karnataka State government was awaiting the closure of crucial SSLC examination to decide on the next level of measures for combating COVID-19, smaller towns are now resorting to “local lockdowns”, with trading community compressing the business hours instead of keeping shops open all day through to fight the contagion. The lockdown, however, excludes essential services and supplies.
With speculations rife over another lockdown, the voluntary closure of businesses has been reported from smaller towns of Mysuru, Chamarajnagar and Kodagu districts after a spike in cases. The big jump in cases in the three districts since last week has put the authorities on their toes and are mulling over various measures for keeping the spread under check.
Shopkeepers in T Narsipur town in Mysuru; Gonikoppal in Kodagu and Gundlupet in Chamarajnagar have come up with the idea of “local lockdowns” to do their bit to fight the virus.
Gujarat postponing final year exams on Centre’s directive: Minister
The Gujarat government on Wednesday rolled back its decision to conduct the final year examinations for various courses under state-run universities within hours of announcing it, in view of a directive issued by the Union HRD ministry asking states to defer all exams.
After attending the cabinet meeting this morning, state Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama announced that the government had decided to allow state-run varsities to hold the final year exams.
Death of patient with ILI symptoms: Notice to 18 pvt hospitals in Bengaluru for ‘denying’ admission
Eighteen private hospitals here have been slapped with a show-cause notice after a 52-year old patient with influenza-like illness symptoms died here on being allegedly denied admission by them citing “non- availability” of beds.
Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesdy said refusal to provide treatment was not only inhuman but also illegal as he tagged a copy of the notice in a tweet.
— PTI
Tamil Nadu records 3882 fresh coronavirus cases
3882 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday taking the State's to 94049.
A total of 52926 individuals have been discharged till date. 2852 people were discharged today. The State has witnessed 63 deaths today taking its tally to 1264.
— Tamil Nadu Bureau
PIL in SC to ban consumption of liquor, intoxicating drinks in view of COVID-19 pandemic
A PIL seeking ban on consumption of liquor and other intoxicating drinks in view of rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The plea, filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, contended that liquor consumption during the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviour, mental health issues and violence.
— PTI
In Kolkata, healthcare providers push for home care of COVID-19 patients
In Kolkata, where the outbreak of COVID-19 has still not reached the level of other metros but the number of cases is climbing steadily, healthcare providers are encouraging patients with mild symptoms to seek treatment from home.
Several hospitals have also come up with attractive home-care packages that can be availed by patients who are asymptomatic and who show mild to moderate symptoms. These hospitals will remote-monitor the patients during the course of the treatment and bring them over for admission only if their condition worsens.
The idea is to prevent overcrowding in hospitals in a situation when many doctors believe the worst is yet to come. At present, in West Bengal, more than 600 cases are being detected daily — a steep climb from about 100 only two weeks ago — and a chunk of them are reported from Kolkata.
— Bishwanath Ghosh
Nepal’s COVID-19 tally crosses 14,000-mark
Nepal has registered 482 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 14,046, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
Health Ministry Spokesperson Jageshwar Gautam said that 365 men and 117 women tested positive for COVID-19 during tests conducted across the country in the past 24 hours.
Thirty people have died due to the coronavirus. The virus has spread to all 77 districts of Nepal.
— PTI
Madurai Siddha doctor’s herbal concoction has anti-viral effect, State tells Court
The State government has informed the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) that the herbal concoction prepared by a Madurai-based Siddha doctor has been sent to the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), New Delhi after it was found that the formula may have an anti-viral effect.
The court was hearing the petition filed by S. Subramanian, who was previously the Medical Officer of the Siddha dispensary at the High Court Bench. In his petition, the Madurai-based Siddha doctor had sought a direction to the Ministry of Ayush to test his herbal concoction and see if it could be used as a cure for COVID-19.
— Staff Reporter
Tripura to combat COVID-19 with Vitamin C-enriched fruits, juice
The Tripura government has decided to shield its urban population from the novel coronavirus with the armour of Vitamin C.
The State Cabinet on Tuesday evening finalised the Public Immunity Boosting Programme that entails distributing Vitamin C-enriched juice and fruits, especially pineapple and lemon, among the urban population through self-help groups every Saturday.
The programme, initially for July, is expected to cost the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government Rs. 1 crore.
— Special Correspondent
Experts suggest treating asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic COVID patients in home isolation
Experts have suggested that treating asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients in home isolation would be appropriate as it would lessen the burden on hospitals, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Wednesday.
Mr. Yediyurappa had convened a meeting with medical experts regarding COVID-19 management in the state.
The guidelines and strategy to be implemented for treatment and covid management in the state were discussed in detail at the meeting, officials said.
— PTI
Maharashtra: Nashik records 18 new COVID-19 cases; tally at 4,270
As many as 18 fresh cases of COVID-19 have been detected in rural areas of Maharashtra’s Nashik district, taking the tally to 4,270 in the region, a health official said on Wednesday.
Swab reports of 18 suspected patients came out positive for the infection late on Tuesday night, the official said.
Of the 4,270 coronavirus cases in the district, Nashik city accounts for 2,180, followed by Malegaon at 1,034, while 932 were reported from other parts, a release here stated.
— PTI
Scientists identify molecules that may block key COVID-19 drug target
Researchers have identified a library of molecules that can potentially shut down a protein involved in the novel coronavirus genome replication process, an advance that may lead to the development of new therapeutics for COVID-19.
According to the scientists, including those from Columbia University in the US, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, uses a protein called polymerase to replicate its genome inside infected human cells.
— PTI
Patanjali to sell Coronil as 'immunity booster,' not 'cure for COVID-19'
Yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved on Wednesday said there are no AYUSH Ministry restrictions on selling Coronil , a drug the company recently launched as a medicine for COVID-19 but is now calling it a product to manage the disease.
Also read | Ayush Ministry lens on Baba Ramdev’s COVID-19 cure
The Union ministry confirmed that Patanjali can sell the product but not as a cure for COVID-19.
— PTI
11 sadhus of Swaminarayan sect test coronavirus positive
Eleven sadhus belonging to one of the divisions of the Swaminarayan sect, which has its temple in Maninagar area here in Gujarat, have tested positive for coronavirus over the last one week, a health official said on Wednesday.
They belonged to Maninagar ‘panth’ or denomination of the sect.
— PTI
COVID-19 testing campaign will help reduce deaths, but UP might see rise in cases: CM
The number of COVID-19 cases might increase in Uttar Pradesh after a campaign to test people starts from Thursday, but it will certainly help in reducing deaths, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday.
He also stressed on checking the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue in the state.
“From Thursday, a special campaign for medical screening for COVID-19 will be started in six districts of the Meerut division which are Meerut, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Hapur and Baghpat, the chief minister said.
— PTI
Goa open to domestic tourists from July 2
Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar on Wednesday announced that the coastal state will be open to tourists starting July 2, as 250 hotels have been granted permission to resume operations.
The decision to restart tourism activities was taken during a state cabinet meeting, the minister said.
Hotels and homestays that have not registered with the department to reopen business will not be allowed to entertain guests or offer online bookings, Ajgaonkar said.
15 inmates of Bengal prison test positive for COVID-19
Fifteen inmates of a prison in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Wednesday.
The infected inmates of the Baruipur Central Correctional Home are asymptomatic and have been admitted to an isolation ward of the prison hospital, an official of the Correctional Services Department said.
“They are being treated at the prison hospital. If needed, we will shift them to other hospitals as per the advice of the doctors,” he said.
KSRTC depot in Angamaly shut after bus conductor tests positive
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus depot in Angamaly near here has been shut after a conductor who was on duty on routes passing through Angamaly, tested positive for coronavirus in his home town in Malappuram on Tuesday.
The conductor, a native of Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, developed symptoms on June 28 and his test results returned positive late on June 30 at Malappuram. He was on duty on the Aluva-Angamaly-Chalakkudy bus route on June 23, 24 and 25.
— PTI
Kolkata’s Kalighat temple reopens for devotees after 100 days
The doors of the famed Kalighat temple in Kolkata were reopened for devotees on Wednesday, nearly 100 days after they were shut in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Ten devotees are being allowed inside the temple premises at a time. Over 100 devotees have entered the temple since the gates were reopened at 6 am. The temple will remain open from 6 am to 12 noon and from 4 pm to 6.30 pm.
No devotee will be given ‘charanamrito’ (holy water) or will be allowed to carry flowers inside the temple, a temple committee spokesman said.
Prohibitory orders clamped in Mumbai till July 15
Section 144 has been imposed in Mumbai till July 15.
Presence or movement of one or more persons in public or any gathering, including religious places subject to certain conditions, have been prohibited.
The order was levied by Pranays Ashok, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) owing to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city. - Sonam Saigal
SSI succumbs to COVID-19 in Chennai
A special sub inspector of police succumbed to COVID-19 at a private hospital in the early hours of Wednesday.
He is the second victim of the pandemic in the Greater Chennai City Police limits. S. Balamurali, who was Mambalam Inspector, died on June 17.
So far, over 1,129 police personnel, including a few IPS officers, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Greater Chennai City Police. As many as 54 personnel are undergoing treatment in city hospitals, while 600 are under quarantine facilities. Around 450 police personnel rejoined duty after they recovered from COVID-19.
Maharashtra Police has lost 60 of its personnel to COVID-19. Out of the 60 victims, 38 were from the Mumbai Police force. So far, nearly 4,900 police personnel have been infected with coronavirus in the State, including over 2,600 from the Mumbai Police force.
Guwahati tops highest single-day spike in Assam COVID-19 cases
Assam’s principal city has topped the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 positive cases in the State.
Guwahati, under total lockdown past June 28 midnight , recorded 380 out of the 613 cases detected till 11.55 p.m. on June 30.
Restrictions in Telangana extended till July 31
A day after the Central government issued fresh guidelines on Coronavirus (COVID-19) management, the State government has announced extension of existing restrictions in the State till July 31.
In the order issues late on Tuesday evening, the government announced some relaxations in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Union Ministry issued orders for extending the lockdown in containment zones along with reopening of activities in a calibrated manner in areas outside the containment zones.
Delhi's COVID situation improving, says CM Kejriwal
The COVID-19 situation in Delhi appears to be under control, said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, adding that citizens need to continue wearing masks and follow social distancing.
"At this time in Delhi, across hospitals, there are 5,800 beds which are occupied with COVID patients; we are prepared with 15,000 beds," said Mr. Kejriwal in his daily briefing.
"Every day, the number of patients getting cured is increasing; 66% patients have gotten cured so far," he added.
"The situation now seems to be under control; it is not as bad as it was predicted, or thought of, a month ago. But this doesn’t mean that things should completely go back to the way they were," said Kejriwal, adding "we must continue social distancing, wearing masks."
Mumbai's iconic Lalbaugcha Raja mandal cancels Ganesh Chaturthi celebration
The Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Mandal, which installs Mumbai’s most famous Ganpati idol, on Wednesday announced cancellation of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mandal will not install the Ganesh idol this year, Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal’s secretary Sudhir Salvi told reporters.
It will organise blood and plasma donation camps and provide financial assistance to the families of policemen who died of COVID-19, he said. - PTI
Dr. Gangakhedkar, the face of ICMR at COVID-19 briefings, retires
Dr. Raman R. Gangakhedkar, who had become the face of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) during government briefings to media on the coronavirus pandemic, retired as the head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the apex health research body on Tuesday.
Dr Raman Gangakhedkar | File
During his approximately four-year stint with ICMR, he was instrumental in formulation of policies to handle the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala in 2018 and recently for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Convalescent plasma may be considered in COVID-19 patients not responding to steroids: CDSCO
Convalescent plasma may be considered in COVID-19 patients with moderate disease who are not improving (oxygen requirement is progressively increasing) despite use of steroids, noted a one-page advisory issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (Biological Division), here on Wednesday.
The Health Ministry last week released guidelines on clinical management protocol for COVID-19 where certain therapies were indicated for use as investigational therapies, in which convalescent plasma by plasmapheresis has been indicated as “Off Label” in COVID-19 patients’.
Gujarat reports 600 plus COVID-19 cases for fourth consecutive day
Gujarat on Tuesday reported 620 COVID-19 infections as the tally climbed to 32,643 while 20 deaths took the fatality count to 1,848. The State reported 600 plus cases for the fourth consecutive day.
So far, 23,670 patients have been discharged while the active cases are 6,928 including 71 who are aided by mechanised ventilation.
Figures obtained under the RTI about cremations at the city’s two dozen crematoriums have given an alarming picture in May and till mid June compared to the corresponding period last year.
30 staff of Hosur-based pharma company test COVID-19 positive
A leading pharma manufacturer Micro Labs Limited has emerged as a ‘mini COVID cluster’ in Hosur with as many as 30 employees across production blocks testing positive for COVID-19. Incidentally, the company has become the single largest contributor to the COVID-19 numbers in Krishnagiri district in less than a week.
A manager at the quality control block in Unit 3 of the company’s production facility had first tested positive last week. The company allegedly brought 50 of its employees from Bengaluru in the company bus with some claiming that physical distancing norms were not adhered to.
Employees alleged that they were not informed that the manager had tested positive for COVID-19. Instead they learnt about it only through random messages on WhatsApp groups of other companies.
Railways to expand Mumbai local services but not for general passengers
The Railways will expand its suburban services in Mumbai from Wednesday and run 350 trains each in the Central and Western Railway Zones, Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.
The trains will, however, only carry essential services personnel identified by the Maharashtra government.
These trains will halt at major stations (where fast locals halt). On the harbour line too the trains will halt at major stations only. - PTI
Asymptomatic patients forcibly taken to care centres, complain Chennai residents
Residents have complained to the Greater Chennai Corporation that its doctors have been forcing asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, already under home isolation, to go into institutional quarantine.
“After I visited a camp in Valasaravakkam, the doctor said I will be taken to a hospital. Even after my doctor explained that I was already being treated while in home isolation, the official refused to let me be. They did not tell me the name of the hospital,” a resident of Nesapakkam said.
Frontline workers are like a 'non-violent army': Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took to Twitter discuss the experience of being a health professional in the time of COVID-19 with four Indian nurses working in different parts of the world. In a virtual meeting, Sherylmol Puravady from England, Vipin Krishnan from AIIMS, Narendra Singh from Australia and Anu Ragnat from New Zealand shared their insights.
West Bengal allows 50 people at weddings, funerals
The West Bengal government has allowed 50 people at marriage functions and funerals during the next phase of the coronavirus lockdown from July 1 to 31.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said morning walks will be allowed from 5.30 am till 8.30 am, provided social distancing and all other norms are strictly followed”.
“From now onwards, we will be allowing 50 people both at weddings and last rites,” Banerjee said. - PTI
Quick update on the coronavirus numbers:
India has registered a record single-day jump of 507 COVID-19 fatalities, says the Union Health Ministry. With this, India's death toll has climbed to 17,400.
The total number of cases is now 5,85,493, of which 2,20,114 are active. As many as 3,47,978 people have recovered from the infection, according to Central data.
In Goa, BJP MLA tests positive for coronavirus
A BJP MLA from Goa has tested positive for coronavirus, a senior State health official said on Wednesday.
The legislator was admitted to Margao-based ESI Hospital, a specially designated facility for COVID-19 patients, after his test came out positive on Tuesday, the official said.
Last month, a former State health minister tested positive for coronavirus and has been undergoing treatment at the ESI Hospital. - PTI
Class 10 student makes face shields for Delhi police
A Class 10 student from Delhi has earned accolades for designing face masks for the police. Zareb Vardhan used a 3D printer to design the protective equipment. He says that over 10 such face shields can be made in one day using the machine.
Another death in Hassan
A 32-year-old person died of COVID-19 infection in Hassan, Karnataka on Tuesday night. The deceased is native of Dudda Hobli in Hassan taluk.
The person was found positive for COVID-19 infection on Monday and was admitted to a COVID Hospital, said the sources in the district administration. This is the fourth death due to the viral infection reported in the district. Hassan district administration is expected to make an official announcement about the death later today.
