23:44 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Fresh guidelines to check coronavirus in armed forces issued

 

A revised protocol has been issued to contain spread of coronavirus in the armed forces which included exemption of 14-day quarantine period on specific conditions like commuting from one duty station to another without any stay in between and reporting back to units travelling by official transport, reports PTI. The revised protocol, issued by the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) also recommended avoiding short duration duties of up to seven days unless deemed crucial for the interest of the services, they said.

23:09 (IST)

Coronavirus in India  Latest Updates

India now has 1,000 COVID-19 testing labs, says ICMR


The Indian Council for Medical Research said India now has 1,000 COVID-19 testing labs set up with its facilitation and termed this as a major milestone. While 730 are state-run labs, 270 are private labs. The number has gone up from one on 23 January to 160 on 23 March and 1,000 on 23 June, it said. 

"This is an important milestone in the fight against coronavirus. Since the beginning, we have been focusing on 3Ts— testing, tracking and treating — to fight the disease. Through increased testing, we are fighting this virus," PTI quotes ICMR Director General Dr. Balram Bhargava as saying.The country is now testing over 1.90 lakh samples every day.

Agencies

22:23 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Mumbai registers 846 fresh cases, 42 deaths

 
Mumbai reports 846 new cases, 42 deaths, says BMC. The metropolis has till date recorded 68,481 patients. While 34,576 patients have recovered, as many as 3,842 have succumbed to the disease. The civic body said that the death count figure has gone up as 65 deaths were added from previous period.

22:11 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Cipla to price generic version of Remdesivir at less than Rs 5,000 per vial

 
Pharma major Cipla will price its generic version of antiviral drug remdesivir at less than Rs 5,000 per vial in keeping with its conviction of providing access to the medicines at affordable cost, the company said on Tuesday. "In line with our overall philosophy of driving access and affordability, the drug will be priced at less than Rs 5,000 per vial vial for injection 100 mg -- amongst the lowest pricing for remdesivir globally," Cipla said in an e-mailed response to PTI. On being asked about the launch of the drug, the company said: "We have started commercial manufacturing, and the product will be available in the next 8-10 days."

22:04 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttarakhand Latest Updates

Uttarakhand reports 31 patients, one death and 61 recoveries

Uttarakhand reports 31 new COVID-19 cases, taking total to 2,535. One person succumbs to disease while 61 recover from it. So far 30 deaths have been reported in the state while 1,602 persons have been discharged.

21:27 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Updates

Maharashtra reports 3,214 new infections, 248 deaths

 
Coronavirus case count in Maharashtra rises to 1,39,010 with 3,214 new patients while toll reaches 6,531 with 248 deaths, reports PTI. According to the state's public health department, 75 persons died of the infection over the past two days, while 173 deaths were recorded previously. The case fatality rate stands at 4.69 percent while the recovery rate stands at just over 50 percent with as many as 69,631 persons having been discharged till date. There are 62,833 active cases in the state.

21:15 (IST)

Coronavirus in Telangana Latest Updates

879 new cases take Telangana's case count to 9,553

Telangana on Tuesday reported 879 new patients and three deaths, taking the state's total to 9,553 and toll to 220. Of the new cases, 652 were found in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits, according to the state health department.

20:56 (IST)

Coronavirus in Gujarat Latest Updates

Ahmedabad reports 235 new cases, 15 deaths

 
The number of COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad mounted by 235 to 19,386 on Tuesday, state Health department said. With 15 more persons succumbing to the viral infection, the death toll went up to 1,363, it said. With 381 more people getting discharged in the day, the number of the recovered cases in the district rose to
 
14,394.

20:40 (IST)

Coronavirus in Kerala Latest Updates

Situation grave, warns Kerala CM as cases rise to 3,503

As Kerala's COVID-19 case count touched 3,503 on Tuesday with 141 positive cases being reported, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sounded an alarm that the situation was becoming "grave". A 68-year-old man from Kollam, who had tested positive for the infection after returning from Delhi, died on Tuesday, taking the toll so far to 22.

"The situation is getting grave and along with this there are people who have tested positive and are asymptomatic. There are some cases where we have not been able to find the source of the infection", Vijayan said.

PTI

20:07 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Cases in Delhi up by 3,947 to 66,602

Delhi registered 3,947 new coronavirus cases and 68 deaths today, pushing total number of such infections to 66,602 including 24,988 active cases and 2,301 deaths, reports ANI. Over 39,000 persons have recovered so far with 2,711 getting discharged today. 

20:02 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Amit Shah responds to Delhi CM, says decision for COVID care centre taken three days ago

 
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday countered Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's claim over a new COVID care facility being set up in the national capital, saying a decision for a 10,000-bed care centre to be operationalised by 26 June  was taken three days ago. In a series of tweets, Shah also said that a 1,000-bed full-fledged hospital with 250 ICU beds is being developed for COVID-19 patients and the facility, to be manned by armed forces personnel, will be ready in the next 10 days. Shah's counter came after Kejriwal wrote to him inviting him to inspect the 10,000-bedded centre and requested him for deployment of doctors and nurses from ITBP and Army at the Centre.
 
PTI

19:56 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

COVID-19 cases among  CAPF, NSG, NDRF rise to 2,981

 
COVID-19 cases in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the two other federal forces of NSG and NDRF have gone up to 2,981 with 85 new infections being reported on Tuesday, reports PTI. These forces, as per the latest data accessed by PTI, have recorded 23 deaths due to the pandemic. The CAPFs are the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Central Industrial Security Force, and the Sashastra Seema Bal.The highest of 910 cases have been reported in the CRPF, followed by 791 in the BSF, 653 in the CISF and 281 in the ITBP. The NSG has a total of 68 cases, while the NDRF has 152.

19:21 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

AIIMS to restart limited OPD services from 25 June

 
Almost three months after it closed down its Out-Patient Department (OPD) services, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has decided to resume the operation from 25 June for its follow-up patients, not more than 15 a day, for each department initially, officials told PTI on Tuesday. 
 
"AIIMS to restart physical OPD services from 25 June. It is informed that the Director AIIMS has approved the resumption of physical appointments for old/follow-up patients, not to exceed 15 per day for any department initially which will be enhanced in a few days," an official circular issued to all departments on Tuesday said. Additionally, necessary appointments for limited number of new patients will also be given for those departments who wish to start physical OPD consultation but no appointments will be given for evening specialty clinics in the first phase of OPD reopening, said the circular.
 

19:14 (IST)

Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu Latest Updates

Tamil Nadu registers 2,516 new cases, 39 deaths

 

Tamil Nadu on Tuesday recorded 2,516 new cases, 1,227 discharges, and 39 deaths, reports ANI.  The total number of infections has gone up to 64,603 and toll has reached 833, according to the state health department.

18:23 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

Not aware of Patanjali's COVID-19 medicines, says AYUSH ministry; directs company to stop publicising treatment

 
The AYUSH ministry has said that it is not aware of the facts and claims being made by Patanjali about its coronavirus medicines Coronil and Swasari,which it claims has shown hundred percent results in COVID-19 patients except those on life support. " The Ministry of AYUSH has taken cognizance of the news being recently flashed in the media about Ayurvedic medicines developed for treatment of COVID-19 by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, Haridwar (Uttrakhand). Facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known to the Ministry," it said in statement and directed Yoga guru Ramdev's herbal medicine company to provide details of the medicines and of the trials conducted for it, including sample size, protocol, ethics committee clearance,etc. It also directed the company to stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined.

18:00 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

Novak Djokovic tests COVID-19 positive

Novak Djokovic, the men’s world number one tennis player, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Serbian said in a statement on Tuesday, making him the fourth tennis to have contracted the infection after taking part in a Tennis exhibition series organised in Croatia and Serbia. Croatia’s Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Viktor Troicki have previously tested positive after playing in Djokovic’s Adria Tour exhibition tournament in the Balkan region.

Agencies

17:43 (IST)

Coronavirus in Karnataka Latest Updates

Karnataka announces cap on COVID-19 treatment in pvt hospitals

The Karnataka government on Tuesday announced a cap on COVID19 treatment rates in private hospitals — Rs 5,200 to Rs 10,000 for those referred by public health facilities and Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 for patients admitted directly, reports PTI.

17:29 (IST)

Coronavirus in Punjab Latest Updates

Punjab opens restaurants, hotels for dine-in with 50% occupancy

The Punjab government on Tuesday moved towards further reopening of the economy, allowing hotels, restaurants and marriage halls to operate at 50 percent capacity, with strict adherence to social-distancing norms and other health protocols.   According to fresh guidelines issued here, restaurants in the state are now allowed 'dine-in' facility till 8 pm, with 50 percent occupancy or 50 guests, whichever is less.
 

16:40 (IST)

Coronavirus in India Latest Updates

India's COVID-19 deaths per lakh population among lowest in world, says health ministry

 
As against the global average of 6.04, India has one COVID-19 death per lakh population which is one of the lowest in the world, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday, and credited timely detection of cases, extensive contact tracing and effective clinical management for the low mortality rate. Till date, 14,011 people have died in India due to the viral infection with 312 fatalities reported in 24 hours till Tuesday 8 am, while 14,933 new instances of the disease took the total caseload to 4,40,215.Citing WHO Situation Report 154 dated June 22, the ministry said the United Kingdom has registered 63.13 coronavirus-related fatalities per lakh population, while in Spain it is 60.60, Italy 57.19, the US 36.30, Germany 27.32, Brazil 23.68 and Russia 5.62.
 
PTI

16:31 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi Latest Updates

Arvind Kejriwal writes to Amit Shah seeking ITBP doctors, nurses for COVID care centre

 
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal  has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah inviting him to inspect the 10,000-bedded COVID-19 care centre at Radha Soami Satsang Beas campus in Chhattarpur, reports ANI.  In his letter, he has also also requested for deployment of doctors and nurses from ITBP and Army at the Centre.

15:58 (IST)

Coronavirus in Assam Latest Updates

Lockdown to be implemented in 11 Guwahati wards

Lockdown to be imposed in 11 wards of Guwahati from 9 pm on Tuesday, untill further orders, ANI reported. Essential services such as grocery stores, petrol pumps, banks etc to remain functional, the statement said.

15:25 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttarakhand Latest Updates

103 new COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand reported 103 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 2,505, the state health department said.

15:01 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Patanjali announces first ‘ayurvedic medicine’ to fight COVID-19

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said Patanjali is launching the first successful ayurvedic medicine for COVID-19 treatment, following successful clinical trials. The controlled study was done on 280 patients, Ramdev added.

He claimed that Patanjali’s 'CORONIL', which contains giloy, ashwagandha and tusli, among other ingredients, has shown 100 percent recovery rate in seven days. Ramdev claimed CORONIL is the first ayurvedic medicine to fight COVID-19.

14:47 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Rajasthan Latest Update

Rajasthan sees 199 new COVID-19 cases, total reaches 15,431

Rajasthan reported 199 fresh coronavirus cases on Tuesday, taking the state's total number of such cases to 15,431, officials said. With no death reported in the state on Tuesday, the death toll due to the disease stands at 356, reports PTI.

Jaipur has recorded a maximum of 150 deaths due to COVID-19, and 2,988 positive cases followed by Jodhpur where 34 deaths and 2,459 cases have been reported. A total of 11,794 COVID-19 patients have been discharged, officials said, adding the state has 3,035 active cases.

14:40 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

PM CARES Fund allocates Rs 2,000 crore for 50,000 'Made in India' ventilators

As India continues to see a surge of COVID-19 cases, the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for supply of 50,000 ventilators to government-run COVID-19 hospitals in all states and Union Territories. All these ventilators will be ‘Made in India’, said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a press release issued on 23 June.

Out of the 50,000 ventilators, 30,000 ventilators are being manufactured by M/S Bharat Electronics Limited. Of the remaining 20,000 ventilators, 10,000 are being manufactured by AgVa Healthcare, 5,650 by AMTZ Basic, 4,000 by AMTZ High End and 350 by Allied Medical, said the PMO.

14:31 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

Scrap system requiring patients to visit govt facility for clinical assessment: Sisodia tells LG

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday requested Lt Governor Anil Baijal to scrap the system requiring every COVID-19 patient to visit a government-run centre for clinical assessment.

Addressing an online media briefing, Sisodia said he has written to Baijal, saying that the new system will only add pressure on the government machinery.

The deputy chief minister demanded that the previous system should be implemented wherein teams of the district administration visit the house of an infected person for his or her clinical assessment.

14:22 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

No Haj this year, govt to refund application money without deduction: Naqvi

Day after Saudi Arabia announced that “very limited number” of people will be allowed to perform Haj this year due to the pandemic, the Centre on Tuesday has decided to refund the application money of pilgrims without any deduction, reports Indian Express.

“We have decided that Haj pilgrims from India will not be sent to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020. Application money of more than 2.3 lakh pilgrims will be returned without cancellation deductions through a direct transfer,” said Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

14:13 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

70 COVID-19 patients go missing in Mumbai

Seventy patients who tested positive for coronavirus from Mumbai’s P-North (Malad) ward have gone missing, reports Times Of India. BMC has sought Mumbai Police help to trace these people who went missing after testing positive from P-North Ward over the past three months, through their mobile phone location and CDRs, according to News18.

14:05 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Decision on scrapping remaining Class XII exams likely tomorrow: Centre, CBSE tell SC

The Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education tell the Supreme Court that a decision on whether to scrap the remaining exams of Class 12 students, in view of the surge in coronavirus cases, is likely to be taken on Wednesday, PTI reports.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar that the government and the board are aware of the anxiety of students, and authorities will take a decision on the issue soon.

The top court was hearing a plea, filed by some parents of the students appearing for the exam, seeking a direction to the CBSE to declare the results on the basis of exam already conducted and to calculate it on an average basis with internal assessment marks of remaining subjects.

13:59 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Uttar Pradesh Latest Update

COVID cases in shelter home: NCPCR asks UP govt to ensure proper treatment of infected girls

The apex child rights body, NCPCR, has asked the UP government to ensure proper treatment and protection of 57 girls who tested positive for the coronavirus infection at a government-run shelter home in Kanpur.

In a statement, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said its chairperson Priyank Kanoongo on Monday sought details of the matter from the UP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

13:51 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Gujarat Latest Update

12 doctors of private medical college arrested for holding 'liquor party', say reports

According to reports, Vadodara police on Monday arrested 12 resident doctors of a private medical college for allegedly holding a liquor party. 

Indian Express reports that police had received a complaint from a member of the residential colony citing that a group of people had arrived in multiple cars, had gathered in one of the houses and were making a lot of noise. Based on the complaint, a team of police patrol team from Waghodia police station had raided the house early morning and found 12 persons including five women in an inebriated condition

13:40 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Karnataka Latest Update

Ex- CM HD Kumaraswamy urges shutting down Bengaluru for 20 days

Instead of sealing a few areas, the entire state capital should be shut down for 20 days in view of the rising COVID-19 cases, former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday.

In a series of tweets, the JD(S) leader said sealing some areas would not serve any purpose and that weaker sections of the society should be taken care of immediately.

"Stop playing with human lives. It will not serve any purpose to seal a few areas. If you care for the human lives in Bengaluru, shut down the city totally for 20 days. Else, Bengaluru will become another Brazil. People''s lives are more important than the economy," Kumaraswamy tweeted.

13:32 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Cases in India climb to 4,40,215; nearly 11,000 recoveries in single day

With 14,933 people testing positive for coronavirus in a single day, India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 4,40,215 on Tuesday while the death toll rose to 14,011 with 312 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The number of recoveries also surged with 2,48,189 patients cured so far, while there were 1,78,014 active cases, according to the updated official figures at 8 am. One patient has migrated.

During the last 24 hours, a total of 10,994 COVID-19 patients have recovered, taking the recovery rate to around 56.38 per cent amongst coronavirus infected patients, an official said.

13:28 (IST)

Coronavirus outbreak in Odisha latest update

Ahead of Rath Yatra, Puri temple servitor tests COVID-19 positive

One of the servitors of Shree Jagannath Temple here tested positive for COVID-19 during mandatory testing of priests and police personnel ahead of the annual Rath Yatra on Tuesday, a senior official said. The servitor will not be part of any ritual related to the Rath Yatra, he said.
 
Samples of 1,143 servitors were tested on Monday night, as per directives of the Supreme Court. "Except one, reports of all the others came out negative. The servitor who tested positive has been shifted to a COVID-19 hospital," the official said, adding that contact tracing has been initiated.
 
Modifying its earlier order, the apex court on Monday gave the go-ahead for the Rath Yatra after taking note of the Odisha government's assurance that it "can be held in a limited way without public attendance".

13:10 (IST)

Coronavirus outbreak in Andhra Pradesh latest update

462 new Covid-19 cases and 8 deaths recorded in Andhra Pradesh in 24 hours

462 new Covid-19 cases and 8 deaths recorded in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 9,834 including 5,123 active cases. Number of deaths stands at 119, says state health department.

12:52 (IST)

Coronavirus outbreak in India latest update

Indian pilgrims will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020, says Naqvi

The government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.

The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested not to send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Naqvi told reporters.

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: The Indian Council for Medical Research said India now has 1,000 COVID-19 testing labs set up with its facilitation and termed this as a major milestone. The country is now testing over 1.90 lakh samples every day.

Coronavirus case count in Maharashtra rises to 1,39,010 with 3,214 new patients while toll reaches 6,531 with 248 deaths, reports PTI. According to the state's public health department, 75 persons died of the infection over the past two days, while 173 deaths were recorded previously.

Delhi registered 3,947 new coronavirus cases and 68 deaths today, pushing total number of such infections to 66,602 including 24,988 active cases and 2,301 deaths, reports ANI.

 COVID-19 cases in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the two other federal forces of NSG and NDRF have shot up to over 2,900 with 85 new infections being recorded on Tuesday, reports PTI.

The AYUSH ministry has said that it is not aware of the facts and claims being made by Patanjali about its coronavirus medicines Coronil and Swasari,which it claims has shown hundred percent results in COVID-19 patients except those on life support. It has asked the company to provide details of composition of medicines and the research study and told it to stop publicising their claims until the issue is duly examined.

Novak Djokovic, the men’s world number one tennis player, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Serbian said in a statement on Tuesday.

 As against the global average of 6.04, India has one COVID-19 death per lakh population which is one of the lowest in the world, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday, and credited timely detection of cases, extensive contact tracing and effective clinical management for the low mortality rate.

As India continues to see a surge of COVID-19 cases, the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for supply of 50,000 ventilators to government-run COVID-19 hospitals in all states and Union Territories.

One of the servitors of Shree Jagannath Temple here tested positive for COVID-19 during mandatory testing of priests and police personnel ahead of the annual Rath Yatra on Tuesday, a senior official said. The servitor will not be part of any ritual related to the Rath Yatra, he said. Meanwhile, 70 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 from Mumbai’s P-North ward have gone missing.

The government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 4.25 lakh after 14,821 new cases were recorded, and the toll rose to 13,699 with 445 new casualties, according to the Union health ministry's figures.

However, the ministry said that the rate of COVID-19 cases per 1,00,000 people in India is "one of the lowest" in the world despite the high population density, and the recovery rate has now reached almost 56 percent.

For every one 1,00,000 population, there are 30.04 coronavirus cases in India, while the global average is over three times at 114.67, the ministry said, referring to the WHO Situation Report 153, dated 21 June.

"This low figure is thus a testimony to the graded, pre-emptive and pro-active approach the Government of India along with the states and UTs took for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19," the ministry said in a statement.

Presently, the total cases in India stand at 4,25,282 including 1,74,387 active cases, 2,37,196 cured/discharged/migrated and 13,699 deaths.

Centre says India's COVID-19 recovery rate rises to 55.77%

Citing the WHO Situation Report, the Centre said the US has 671.24 cases per 1,00,000 population, while Germany, Spain, Brazil and the UK have 583.88, 526.22, 489.42 and 448.86 cases per 1,00,000 population, respectively.

It said Russia has 400.82 cases per 1,00,000 people, while Italy, Canada, Iran and Turkey have 393.52, 268.98, 242.82 and 223.53, respectively.

In its update issued at 8 am on Monday, the ministry also said that 9,440 COVID-19 patients had recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 2,37,195, a recovery rate of 55.77 percent.

Presently, there are 1,74,387 active cases and all are under medical supervision, the statement said.

"The difference between the recovered patients and the active COVID-19 cases continues to widen. Today, the number of recovered patients has crossed the number of active patients by 62,808," the ministry added.

The COVID-19 testing infrastructure is "continuously being ramped up" and number of government labs has been increased to 723 and the private labs to 262, adding up to a total of 985, it said.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a total of 69,50,493 samples have been tested up to 21 June, 1,43,267 of them just on Sunday.

SC allows Puri Rath Yatra to be conducted

The Supreme Court has modified its earlier order and allowed the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri to be held with the coordination of the temple committee, state government and Centre without compromising with the health issue pertaining to COVID-19.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde said that the apex court is only considering conducting the yatra in Puri and not anywhere else in Odisha.

The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the annual Rath Yatra at Jagannath Temple in Puri, which is slated to be held on 23 June, and all activities related to the gathering in view of the coronavirus pandemic this year.

The top court pronounced the order after hearing a batch of intervention applications seeking modification of its earlier order of staying the yatra in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

The apex court, while disposing of the pleas filed in the matter, noted that the Odisha government can stop the yatra or festivities if they feel it is going out of hand and added that it was aware of the situation and has passed the order accordingly.

While reading the order, the bench said, "Clearly, any spread of COVID-19 due to this will be disastrous since large numbers are involved and it won't be possible to track everyone after they go back home."

After the apex court's order, the Odisha government imposed a "curfew-like" shutdown in the Puri district ahead of yatra "and appealed to citizens to refrain from stepping out of their homes when the chariots roll out on the Grand Road on Tuesday," News18 reported.

Lockdown ordered in COVID-19 clusters of Bengaluru due to spike in cases

Concerned over increase in COVID-19 cases in the Bengaluru, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa directed officials to implement lockdown measures strictly in the clusters which have reported more infections.

Yediyurappa held a meeting with ministers and senior officials regarding containment strategies and said it can be achieved only if preventive measures are implemented strictly and asked the officials to work in this direction.

"Lockdown shall be implemented strictly in the clusters which reported more cases, especially, KR Market and surrounding areas such as Siddapura, VV Puram, Kalasipalya. It was decided to seal the adjoining streets, where the cases are reported, a release from the Chief Minister's office said.

Stringent action would be taken against those who violate quarantine norms and FIR would be filed if necessary, it said.

Delhi HC tells AAP govt to increase COVID-19 testing

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the AAP government to try and increase the COVID-19 testing methodology — Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) — in view of rise in coronavirus cases in the National Capital.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad noted that present per day RAT numbers were "abysmal" as they were not even reaching 50 percent of the target of 22,000 tests per day set by the Delhi government.

"See if you can expand the Rapid Antigen Testing numbers. Looking at the rate the (COVID-19) numbers are going up, the sooner you do, the better," the bench said.

Delhi government additional standing counsel Satyakam, appearing for the health department, said the RAT methodology was started on 18 June and was in its trial phase.

He said the testing methodology was presently confined to hot spots and containment zones and asked the court to wait for a week after which the RAT numbers would go up.

During the hearing via video conferencing, the high court also suggested that the RAT methodology be permitted in the designated COVID-19 hospitals as well so that testing numbers can be ramped up.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government will give pulse oximeters to COVID-19 patients in home isolation so that they can monitor oxygen levels.

“The biggest issue we have seen is oxygen levels falling suddenly. Some patients require oxygen immediately. Those under home isolation will be given oximeters to monitor their levels… We will also give them a number they can call if the levels dip. A team will reach your house with a concentrator. The patient can be stabilised while being shifted to the hospital. This will be present in each district. Once a person is cured, this can be returned to the government,” he said.

Goa records first COVID-19 death, Tamil Nadu govt imposes complete lockdown in Madurai

Goa on Monday recorded the first death due to coronavirus, The Indian Express reported. The victim was reportedly an 85-year-old man from Morlem.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government said that a "complete" lockdown will be imposed from 23 June to 30 June in "jurisdiction of Madurai Corporation limits, Paravai Town Panchayat and rural blocks of Madurai east, Madurai west and Thiruparankundram."

The state reported 2,710 new COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 62,087 and death toll to 794 on Monday.

As many as 3,721 people tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra, taking the total number of cases to 1,35,796 in the state. This includes 67,706 recoveries, 6,283 deaths and 61,793 active cases.

Meanwhile, Kerala reported 138 fresh cases of coronavirus, taking total number of cases to 3,310 out of which 1,540 cases are active. Number of fatalities due to the disease stands at 21, said the state health department.

WHO says highest single-day jump in global tally of cases reported on Sunday

The World Health Organization on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 1,83,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours.

The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied and the US next at 36,617. Over 15,400 came in from India.

Experts said rising case counts can reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing as well as broader infection.

Overall in the pandemic, WHO reported 87,08,008 cases with 4,61,715 deaths worldwide. More than two-thirds of those new deaths were reported in the Americas.

With inputs from agencies



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