India registered more than 10,000 cases for the third day in a row and is the fourth worst-hit nation by the COVID-19 pandemic currently. As the infection shows no signs of abating worldwide, experts are looking at how we can revamp the existing means of education, work practices, healthcare and transportation to cope with this.
Central to India’s lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19 was a complete shutdown of the transport system. Now, as the country emerges from the lockdown, a proper ramping up of the transport system is needed, argues engineering experts.
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:
TRS MLA tests positive for COVID-19 in Telangana
Another ruling TRS MLA tested positive for COVID-19 in Telangana, taking the number of party legislators infected by the virus to three.
The MLA had mingled with the legislator who was found positive earlier, TRS sources said.
Last week, a TRS legislator from Warangal district had tested positive for COVID-19.
The MLA, who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital, was examined by doctors, who said he can be quarantined at home, official sources said.
The ICMR guidelines allow treatment of asymptomatic patients at home, they said.
Meanwhile, a senior doctor at a State-run hospital, who has an advisory role with the government on health matters, is also in home quarantine, the sources said.
The doctor tested positive on June 14. — PTI
Case registered against Congress MLA for ‘flouting’ COVID-19 norms & holding son’s marriage
Apparently flouting all COVID-19 norms, a Congress MLA held his son’s marriage at Ballari recently, attended by leaders, including former Chief Minister Siddaramiah and Health Minister B. Sriramulu, with the police registering a case.
According to police, the case was registered at in Harapanahalli Taluk of Ballari against Congress MLA and former Minister P.T. Parameshwar Naik and his son after a large number of people thronged the marriage.
The case was registered on a complaint by the Tahsildar.
Conditions like a cap of 50 attendees, social distancing and wearing of masks were not adhered to, police said.
Videos purportedly showed many high profile people having attended the event, such as Mr. Sriramulu, Mr. Siddaramaiah and former Minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge.
The Health Minister was seen in the video not wearing a mask, going against his own department’s guidelines mandating wearing masks.
He was also seen surrounded by people, indicating social distancing was given a go by. — PTI
Pune COVID-19 cases rise by 318 to 12,243; death toll 511
With 318 more people from Maharashtra’s Pune district testing positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the tally of cases has risen to 12,243, a Health official said.
With 13 more people succumbing to the infection, the death toll mounted to 511.
In Maharashtra, Pune and Thane account for maximum number of coronavirus cases after Mumbai.
A total of 236 patients were discharged from various hospitals in Pune district in the day.
“Of the 318 new cases, maximum 257 were reported from the Pune Municipal Corporation limits, which now has 10,021 patients,” he said.
Pimpri Chinchwad area reported 32 new cases, taking the overall tally to 1,177.
The number of cases from rural areas, civil hospital and Pune cantonment board now stands at 1,045, he said. — PTI
Delhi govt asks its PWD to install CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards within 24 hours
The Delhi government on June 15 directed its Public Works Department (PWD) to install within 24 hours CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards of its all coronavirus-designated hospitals in New Delhi. The order came soon after Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev to install CCTV cameras in COVID-19 wards of every designated hospital in the national capital for proper monitoring of services and ensuring patients’ issues are resolved.
“It is hereby directed that Covid wards in all Covid Hospitals of Delhi Government shall have CCTV cameras for efficient monitoring and supervision of patient care, said the order issued by Delhi government’s Health Department..
It said the PWD will install CCTV cameras in all COVID-19 wards within 24 hours and submit a compliance report through pshealth@nic.in.
After paying a surprise visit to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital in New Delhi earlier in the day, Mr. Shah also suggested psychosocial counselling of doctors and nurses engaged in the service of humanity through the fight against coronavirus.
The LNJP is a Delhi government hospital and has been declared as a dedicated coronavirus facility. — PTI
8 people, including 5 doctors, test COVID-19 positive in Muzaffarnagar
Eight more people, including five doctors, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar, taking the total number of active cases in the district to 106, an official said.
The five resident doctors of Muzaffarnagar Medical College and Hospital who tested positive for the virus were not working in the COVID ward of the hospital, the official said.
Muzaffarnagar Chief Medical Officer Praveen Chopra told PTI that the district authorities had received 155 COVID-19 test results, of which eight were positive.
He said the contacts of the fresh cases are being traced.
Mr. Chopra said 106 patients are presently under treatment in the COVID hospital, while 82 people have been discharged after recovery.
On June10, six resident doctors from the medical college were found positive for the virus. — PTI
Centre asks States to engage with private sector for provisioning critical care at reasonable rates
Amid reports of shortage of healthcare infrastructure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre on June 15 asked States and Union Territories to engage with the private sector for augmenting such infrastructure and provisioning critical care at reasonable rates.
There have been several reports indicating an emerging shortage of healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals with ICU beds, ventilators and oxygen-supported beds, for management of COVID-19 patients, the Health Ministry said.
There have also been reports of overcharging by healthcare providers for COVID-19 treatment, it said in a statement.
Being seized of the emerging scenario, the Ministry has asked the States and UTs to engage with the private healthcare providers to facilitate enhanced bed availability and critical care health facilities as well as to ensure fair and transparent charges for services provided.
In this regard, some States have already taken an initiative and have reached an agreement with the private sector on reasonable rates and arrangements to provide critical care for in-patient admissions.
PMJAY package and CGHS package rates are already available with the states and the rates of CGHS are fixed area wise, the statement said.
In order to ensure that patients receive prompt, good quality and care at reasonable rates, it has been suggested to States to have consultations with the local private healthcare providers and arrive at reasonable rates, while factoring in cost elements for personal safety equipment for healthcare providers, the Ministry said.
It has been suggested that the rates, once fixed, must be widely publicised so that both the patients and service providers are fully aware and capacities are used optimally, it said.
States have also been asked to proactively engage with the private sector health providers and consider pooling in public and private healthcare facilities, as this will help in providing prompt, good quality and reasonable health care to COVID-19 patients, the Ministry said. — PTI
Maharashtra reports highest single-day death spike
Maharashtra reported its highest fatality surge on Monday with 178 new Covid-19 related deaths taking the State's death toll to 4128, while 2786 new cases took the State's total tally to 1,10,477.
Of the total cases, 50,554 are active ones. As many as 5071 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of discharged till date to 56,049.
With 1,067 new cases, Mumbai's total case tally has reached 59,293. The city's death toll has risen to 2,250. As many as 68 of the new deaths reported today were from Mumbai city, 20 from Vasai-Virar, 14 from Pune district and 12 from Navi Mumbai among other parts of the State.
- Shoumojit Banerjee
Short film made in Odisha village wins award in COVID-19 film festival
Martyapura Re Jamaraj (‘Yamaraj on earth’), a short film produced by a group from the Ankushpur village of Odisha’s Ganjam district has won a special jury award at the COVID-19 International Film Festival 2020. The 13-minute short film in Odia seeks to spread awareness in rural areas on preventive measures to check the spread of the coronavirus through humour. The online festival of short films focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Karnataka govt. issues order for ban on online classes up to Class V
Six days after the minister for primary education announced a ban on virtual classes up to class V, the Department of Primary and Secondary Education issued a Government Order on Monday.
The department has directed schools across all boards to stop online classes from kindergarten to class V. It also states that no fee should be collected for this purpose. The classes, including pre-recorded videos, should be stopped until a committee appointed by the department submits its report, it says.
Delhi reports 1647 new cases, death toll at 1400
1647 new Covid-19 positive cases were reported in Delhi on Monday taking the total number of cases to 42829. 73 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours and the total number of deaths was revised to 1400.
604 patients recovered from the virus taking the cumulative number of people recovered to 16427. There are currently 25002 active cases in the Capital with 242 Containment Zones, according to the health bulletin.
Unique vehicle rolled out for contact-free swab collection
The district administration here has rolled out a unique Rapid Testing Vehicle (RTV) as part of its Total India Remote Analysis Nirogya Abhiyan (TIRANGA) project, facilitating a smoother, safer and people-friendly way of collecting throat and nasal swabs for screening people for SARS-CoV-2.
Vinay Goyal, Thiruvalla Sub Collector who is a medical doctor, duly backed by District Collector P.B. Noohu, is the brain behind the novel project. TIRANGA comprise two modified vehicles—one an automated non-contact rapid screening vehicle that avoids undue exposure of health workers to suspected patients and the other a Rapid Testing Vehicle (RTV) that facilitates contact-free collection of throat and nasal swabs of suspected COVID-19 patients.
Will impose lockdown if cases increase: Arunachal students’ body
The apex student’ body of Arunachal Pradesh has threatened to impose a total lockdown “anytime, anywhere” if the number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) positive cases increase and the government machinery is unable to check its community spread.
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has taken the decision after a frontline worker tested positive on Sunday. The union also factored in Mizoram’s return to total lockdown for two weeks from June 9 and a similar move under consideration in Assam.
ICMR recommends use of faster COVID-19 testing kit
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended the use of Standard Q COVID-19 Ag antigen detection test in containment zones and healthcare settings in combination with the RT-PCR test. Collected nasal swab is used for testing in this procedure.
“A positive test in antigen, result of which is available in 30 minutes, should be considered as a true positive one and does not need reconfirmation by RT-PCR test. It will show whether the patient is currently infected,” said L.K. Sharma, scientist and media coordinator, ICMR, on Monday.
Gujarat reports 514 new cases, 28 deaths
Gujarat recorded 514 new COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths on Monday, taking its infection toll to 24,104 and fatality count to 1506. So far, 16,672 patients have been discharged including 339 discharged on Monday.
- Mahesh Langa
Apex healthcare industry body urges Delhi to mandate hospitals to publish treatment charges
Apex healthcare industry body NATHEALTH on Monday said it has urged the Delhi government to mandate the hospitals to publish their treatment charges for COVID-19 in a bid to improve transparency.
In a representation to Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Kumar Jain on 'COVID Package Pricing', NATHEALTH also recommended the appointment of an ombudsman at zonal level to inspect the complaints of overcharging.
The representation highlights the unprecedented challenges being faced by private healthcare providers in COVID-19 treatment, it added.
"Pricing is a factor of quality of infrastructure, level of services, medical protocol followed, brands of medicines used, skill and salaries of doctors and staff and more importantly the medical outcomes," NATHEALTH said.
- PTI
T.N. reports 1843 new cases, 44 deaths
Tamil Nadu reported 1843 more postive cases and 44 deaths on Monday, according to the State health bulletin. 797 were discharged today, taking the total discharged to 25,344. The death toll rose to 479 and the total positive cases stand at 46,504.
The Gujarat government has decided to increase petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 per litre in order to partially offset the financial losses caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. Price hike effective from midnight.
- Mahesh Langa
M.P. CM claims significant improvement in COVID-19 parameters
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has claimed a significant improvement in curbing the spread of coronavirus in the State, saying key parameters like doubling time of cases and the patient recovery rate are getting better.
As per a health bulletin, worst-hit Indore has showed a remarkable improvement in the scenario with just six of the total 1,058 samples returning a positive result on Sunday. The death toll increased by four to 174.
During a video conference on Sunday evening to review the situation and arrangements being made across Madhya Pradesh for tackling the COVID-19 crisis, Mr Chouhan said the state stands second in the country in terms of recovery rate, and eighth in the number of cases.
"All COVID-19 parameters in the state have improved significantly. On Sunday, the number of active cases came down by 151 after 300 patients recovered and went home. The number of active cases now stands at 2,666," a public relations official quoted the chief minister as saying.
Mr. Chouhan said that doubling time of cases in Madhya Pradesh has increased to 34.1 days while the recovery rate has gone up to 71.1 per cent, "which is a very good sign".
- PTI
M.P. postpones graduate and post-graduate examinations
The Madhya Pradesh government has postponed graduate and post-graduate examinations due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, a public relations department official said on Monday.
Graduate exams were to be held from June 29 to July 31 while PG exams were scheduled from June 16 to July 31, both conducted by state Higher and Technical Education department, the official informed.
"Both exams have been postponed due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in MP. New dates will be announced soon," he said.
- PTI
Mumbai Airport to cater to 100 domestic flights from June 16
Starting June 16, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has been permitted to cater to a total of 100 domestic commercial passenger flight movements which includes 50 departures and 50 arrivals.
— Mumbai Bureau
National Games infra may be used as COVID care centres: Goa CM
Stadiums built for the National Games to be held in Goa has come handy in the fight to contain the coronavirus outbreak and they would soon be notified as COVID care centres, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday.
These include the one at Navelim in south Goa, Pernem in the northern part of the state and Shyama Prasad Mookerjee stadium near Panaji, he said.
— PTI
Roof insulation for COVID-19 coaches in high temperature areas: Railways
The Railways will insulate the roofs of COVID-19 isolation coaches deployed in areas which experience high temperatures to make their interiors cooler and more comfortable for patients, Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav said on Monday.
The Railways has so far deployed 204 isolation coaches in four states. They will work as COVID-19 care centres.
— PTI
COVID-19 positive TRS MLA in home quarantine
A ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, has gone into home quarantine, official sources said here on Monday.
The MLA, who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital after he tested positive, was examined by doctors, who said he should be quarantined at home, the sources said.
— PTI
NIS wants T.N. govt to hand over city COVID-19 Care Centres, claims it can cure positive cases in three days
The National Institute of Siddha (NIS), which claims to have successfully treated 160 COVID-19 positive cases in the metro in a short span, has requested the state government to hand over all COVID-19 Care Centres in the city to it to facilitate Siddha doctors to commence treatment.
Coming under the Union Ayush Ministry, NIS, which claims to have cured the 160 people within five days, is confident of flattening the curve in Chennai and convert it into a safe zone in just matter of days.
- PTI
Prisoner’s plea for implementation of enhanced wages: Delhi HC seeks AAP govt stand
The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response of the AAP government and the jail authorities on a prisoner’s plea seeking payment of daily wages as per the enhanced rates of 2019.
Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to the Delhi government and Diector General, Prisons and sought their stand on the prisoner’s petition which had contended that the inmates were being paid as per the 2014 rates.
— PTI
West Bengal govt introduces software to keep track of employees working from home amid COVID-19
The West Bengal government has come up with a software to monitor the performance of its employees working from home amid the COVID-19 scenario, a senior official said on Monday.
The state’s department of finance is using the software on an experimental basis, he said.
— PTI
CBI alerts Interpol about counterfeit hand sanitiser
Following inputs from the Interpol, the CBI issues alerts to all the State/UT police agencies, cautioning them against online advance payment scams and use of methanol for counterfeiting hand sanitisers
— Delhu Bureau
Nearly 52% of Kolkata citizens favour total lockdown for another month: Survey
Nearly 52% of over 2,500 people surveyed in Kolkata have favoured a complete lockdown for one more month, amid the unrelenting rise in COVID-19 cases, according to a study by a social media platform.
LocalCircles, a community-based social media platform which has Nadir Godrej, Anand Mahindra and R.C. Bhargava as members of its advisory board, recently conducted a survey in high virus load cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad to find out what the residents there had to say about any further extension of lockdown.
— PTI
Delhi HC seeks Delhi govt reply on plea challenging suspension of inmates’ legal consultation
The Delhi High Court Monday sought response of the AAP government on a plea challenging a circular suspending legal consultation of the inmates with their advocates in prison due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan issued notice to the Delhi government on the petition which sought allowing of legal interview or consultation and drafting of cases of the jail inmates in Delhi with the advocates of their choices.
— PTI
In latest contribution, J&K BJP donates another Rs 1 crore to PM CARES Fund
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP on Monday donated another Rs 1 crore to the Prime Minister CARES Fund, a party spokesman said.
This was the fifth instalment made by the J&K BJP since the start of the coronavirus-driven lockdown, raising the total donations by the unit to the PM CARES Fund to Rs 5 crore, he said.
— PTI
Indian market plunges tracking global peers as COVID fears deepen
Indian stock benchmarks on Monday crashed over 1.6% in line with global selloffs as fears over a second wave of coronavirus infections in some countries dented economic recovery hopes.
The BSE barometer Sensex tanked 552.09 points or 1.63 points to close at 33,228.80. Intra-day, the index fell over 857 points before staging a mild recovery towards the fag-end of the session.
— PTI
Gear up for more COVID-19 testing, process samples within 48 hrs: Delhi govt to labs, hospitals
The Delhi government has directed all laboratories and hospitals to work on their full potential and ramp up COVID-19 testing capacity to meet the increased demand of processing samples.
In an order issued on Sunday, Health Secretary Padmini Singla also called for processing the samples within a maximum of 48 hours.
— PTI
Three days institutional quarantine for those coming to Karnataka from Tamil Nadu and Delhi: B.S. Yediyurappa
The Karnataka Government on Monday announced mandatory institutional quarantine of three days for those coming from Delhi and Tamil Nadu, that will be followed by 11 days home quarantine while those coming from Maharashtra will have institutional quarantine of seven days followed by seven days of home quarantine.
Though the measures to reduce the pace of spr
ead will come into immediate effect, a government order in this respect is expected shortly. The Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa announced the latest measures here on Monday after chairing a high level meeting of ministers and senior state administration officials.He pointed out of that total 7,000 cases reported in the State, as many as 4,386 came from Maharashtra and 1,340 positive cases are those from the contacts of persons from Maharashtra. Further, 216 persons testing positive were those coming from abroad while 87 cases and 67 cases were reported from those coming from Delhi and Tamil Nadu respectively.
— Karnataka bureau
'Shramik Trains have ferried eight lakh migrants home': Railways
Specials Shramik trains running since May 1, have succesfully ferried eight lakh migrants home, claimed Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Indian Railway Board. He said: "Very few migrants left to be sent back, we are coordinating with state governments to take them home as well."
"50 railway coaches have already been deployed in Delhi for COVID-19 patients," Mr Yadav claimed.
"In areas where temperature is too high, roof insulation can be provided in non-ac isolation coaches," he added.
— PTI
Special train carrying labourers for BRO work in Ladakh reaches J&K’s Udhampur
A special train with over 1,600 labourers from Jharkhand, who will join the Border Road Organisation’s (BRO) construction work in Ladakh, reached here on Monday, officials said.
The 1,648 workers arrived at Udhampur Railway Station at around 3.15 am and were subjected to coronavirus screening before being allowed to board the waiting buses for the Union Territory of Ladakh, the officials said.
— PTI
Deferred due to COVID-19, polls to 9 Bihar legislative council seats now on July 6
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for elections to nine Bihar Legislative Council seats that had been deferred in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Polling and counting will take place on July 6, the ECI said.
The terms of Ashok Choudhary, Krishan Kumar Singh, Prashant Kumar Shahi, Sanjay Prakash, Satish Kumar, Radha Mohan Sharma, Sonelal Mehta, Md. Haroon Rashid and Hira Prasad Vind ended on May 6.
— Special Correspondent
Delhi HC declines to entertain plea seeking waiver of traffic challans to doctors
The Delhi High Court Monday declined to entertain a plea by a doctors’ association seeking waiving of the e-challans issued against “all corona warriors”, including healthcare workers, during first two phases of the COVID-19 lockdown.
A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan asked the association to make a representation to the traffic police with regard to its prayers for formulation of guidelines on display of speed limit signboards and immediate intimation of violation to the violator, Delhi government additional standing counsel Santosh Tripathi said.
— PTI
Centre extending lab facilities to Delhi: Satyendra Jain
As Delhi prepares to ramp up testing for the coronavirus infection, Heath Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said laboratory facilities under the Centre in the national capital are being extended to the city government.
Interacting with reporters, he also asserted that Delhi was doing “maximum testing earlier” and will continue to do more testing with whatever resources are at its disposal.
— PTI
Bury differences, join hands to battle COVID-19 in Delhi: Amit Shah
All political parties in Delhi should forget their differences and join hands in the COVID-19 battle of the national capital, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday after chairing an all-party meet.
Leaders of the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Congress and the BSP attended the meeting.
Mr. Shah appealed to the four parties to ask their workers to help in ensuring the ground implementation of the Delhi government’s coronavirus guidelines.
— PTI
Man tests positive post marriage; bride, 63 others quarantined
A 22-year-old man who got married three days ago tested positive for novel coronavirus on Monday leading to the bride and 63 others who attended the function being quarantined in Palghar district in Maharashtra, an official said.
Jawhar Tehsildar Santosh Shinde said the man is a laboratory assistant.
— PTI
Amit Shah visits Delhi's LNJP hospital
Home Minister Amit Shah visits LNJP hospital to review COVID-19 preparedness, LNJP is a COVID dedicated hospital run by Delhi government
— Vijaita Singh
Outbreak situation bad as Maharashtra did not happen in Kerala: Ashish Shelar
Senior Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Monday said the Uddhav Thackeray government’s mismanagement was responsible for the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state.
Talking to reporters here through an app, Shelar said the situation would have been different and far better if the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government had followed the steps implemented by Kerala to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak.
— PTI
Advised Tamil Nadu govt on tweaking lockdown relaxations, prevent virus spread: Expert
The Tamil Nadu government has been advised on scaling down lockdown relaxations and preventing the further spread of coronavirus, a member of an expert committee said here on Monday following a consultative meeting with Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
Amid continuing surge in the number of fresh coronavirus cases in the State, Dr P Kuganantham, a senior epidemiologist and member of the 19-member expert committee on COVID-19 set up by the government, said: “We have given advice (to the government) on cutting down relaxations and (further) prevent the spread of virus and the government will take a decision.”
— PTI
Kathua police station resumes functioning after cops recover from COVID-19
A police station in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday resumed functioning after remaining closed for over a fortnight following three policemen testing positive for coronavirus.
The police station was declared ‘out of bounds’ on May 30.
— PTI
Total lockdown in four T.N. districts including Chennai
Chief Minister Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has announced total lockdown in Greater Chennai, Chengalpet, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts from June 19 to June 30. Autorickshaws, taxis and private vehicles won't be allowed to ply, except in case of medical emergency. State. Central govt offices and banks can work with 33% staff.
ATMs will function as usual. PDS will work from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. provided they are outside the containment zones. Vegetable shops, provision stores, petrol bunks will function from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Vegetable shops, provision stores, petrol bunks will function from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Only delivery or take away will be allowed in restaurants between this time.
Tea shops won't function, however, Amma Unavagams and community kitchens will be open. Construction activity will be allowed if the workers stay in the same premises
E-pass will be allowed only for marriage, funerals and medical emergencies. Rice ration card holders in these four districts and uncategorised workers will be given Rs.1000 as relief.
— Tamil Nadu Bureau
Hyderabad MLA Bigala Ganesh Gupta tests positive for coronavirus
Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi legislator from Nizamabad Urban Bigala Ganesh Gupta tested positive for COVID-19 and has been advised home quarantine by doctors in Hyderabad on Monday.
He is the second legislator from the district to get the virus after Nizamabad Rural MLA Bajireddy Govardhan was found to be positive on Sunday.
Nizamabad Rural MLA who had spent some time with Janagoan MLA Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy, the first ruling party MLA to have contracted the disease, got himself tested on Saturday and the result was intimated to him on Sunday. Mr. Bajireddy immediately drove down to Hyderabad and was admitted to a private hospital.
— Telangana Bureau
Delhi HC seeks government's reply on Ganga Ram Hospital’s plea for quashing FIR over COVID-19 norms
The Delhi High Court Monday sought response of the AAP government on a plea by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) seeking quashing of an FIR lodged by Delhi Police against it for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulation norms.
Justice C Hari Shankar, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, issued notice to the Delhi government and listed the matter for further hearing on August 11.
— PTI
Bombay High Court permits airlines to allow passengers on middle seats
The Bombay High Court on Monday permitted all flight operators to allow passengers to occupy middle seats in flights, but said they should strictly comply with guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A division bench of Justices S.J. Kathawalla and S.P. Tavade refused to accept the contentions raised in a petition filed by Air India pilot Deven Kanani, who said the middle seats of all international and domestic flights should be kept vacant to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
— PTI
Students get exam or internal assessment options: ISCE to Bombay High Court
The Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE) board on Monday told the Bombay High Court it would give its Class X and XII students the option to either take the pending examinations in July or have their final results determined based on internal assessment.
The ISCE board had planned to conduct its pending standard X and XII board examinations in July after it got cancelled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
— PTI
ICMR recommends use of rapid antigen kits for testing in containment zones, healthcare settings
In view of its high specificity but relatively low sensitivity, the ICMR has recommended the use of rapid antigen test kits for diagnosis of COVID-19 in containment zones and healthcare settings in combination with the RT-PCR test.
The kits will allow faster diagnosis without laboratory examination
Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection kit (rapid antigen test kits) is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for qualitative detection of specific antigens to SARS-CoV-2. It has been developed by SD Biosensor, a South Korea based company, the ICMR said in an advisory.
- PTI
Rahul Gandhi targets govt. over lockdown stages
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with Chief Ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday to decide the roadmap for India’s future COVID-19 strategy, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted the government over the previous stages of lockdown .
Mr. Gandhi took to Twitter and quoted scientist Albert Einstein to attack the government. “This lock down proves that: “The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance — Albert Einstein,” the former Congress chief tweeted and tagged a video graphic that claimed the lockdown flattened the wrong curve.
— Special Correspondent
4 more policemen in Uttar Pradesh test positive for coronavirus
Four more police personnel in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar tested positive for COVID-19, taking the number of policemen detected with the infection to 23, officials said on Monday.
They are attached with the Sector 49 police station in Noida and were found positive for the novel coronavirus on Sunday, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Ankur Aggarwal said.
— PTI
40 KSRTC employees of Kannur depot asked to go into quarantine
Two days after a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) driver tested positive for COVID-19, 40 employees of the Kannur depot who came in contact with the driver were asked to go into quarantine.
The 45-year-old driver tested positive for the virus on May 13. His samples were taken for swab test on May 8 after his return from Kollam where he went with students, who had returned by a flight from Russia on May 27.
— Staff Reporter
Narendra Modi to talk to Chief Ministers on Tuesday, Wednesday
Amid an unabated rise in coronavirus cases in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a fresh round of consultations with chief ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday on ways to check the spread of the virus as India exits the lockdown.
On Tuesday afternoon, Modi will hold a video-conference with Chief Ministers, Lt. Governors and administrators of 21 states and Union territories.
These include Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, the northeastern states and some UTs.
— PTI
Telangana to cap charges on COVID-19 test, treatment
Telangana government on Monday has announced a slab on fee that can be charged by private hospitals and labs which can be charged for treatment and Coronavirus tests.
For the tests at private labs, ₹2,200 can be charged. For treatment at private hospitals, the bed charges will be ₹4,000 for isolation, ₹7,500 for treatment without ventilator in ICU, ₹9,000 for treatment with ventilator in ICU.
Previously, the Maharashtra State government had capped treatment costs in private hospitals for people without medical insurance.
— K. Shiva Shankar
Delhi HC seeks AAP govt stand on NGO’s offer to cremate those who die of coronavirus
The Delhi High Court Monday sought response of the AAP government on a plea by an NGO, which operates green crematoriums in Delhi, offering its facilities to cremate the bodies of those who have died of coronavirus .
A Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan issued notice to the Delhi government and sought its stand on the NGO's plea by June 29.
The Bench also gave the Delhi government time till June 29 to file an updated status report in the PIL initiated by the court on its own after coming across news reports about the lack of facilities to cremate those who have died of COVID-19 and that such bodies were piling up in the mortuaries.
— PTI
No plans for Lockdown in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that there was no plan for another lockdown in Delhi even as the number of novel coronavirus cases continue to spurt.
“Many people are speculating whether another lockdown in Delhi in being planned. There are no such plans,” Kejriwal tweeted.
— PTI
"5,000 Coronavirus tests to be administered in Telangana's 30 Assembly constituencies": Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar
Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar said that 50000 Coronavirus tests in 30 Assembly constituencies will be conducted. These tests will be administered in containment zones for people in close contacts with Coronavirus positive patients and displaying Influenza Like Symptoms (ILI).
People at the frontline of COVID management such as municipal workers, Police, patients at hospitals who need the test before surgery, will also be under the purview of the aforementioned govenrmenet decision.
Citing surveillance reports, Mr. Kumar said there is no community transmission in Telangana. He said the 50,000 tests are conducted to build confidence of people.
The process of conducting 50000 tests have begun and it will be streamlined by tomorrow. Mr. Kumar said the State is not considering imposition of another lockdown.
— Telangana Bureau
India focussed on mitigating COVID-19’s negative economic impact on talent abroad: EAM S. Jaishankar
India has been engaged with foreign governments to ensure the welfare of prospective migrants, and is currently focussed on mitigating the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indian talent abroad, External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar said on Monday.
Addressing the third edition of the Annual Conference of Protectors of Emigrants via video-conferencing, he said the protectors of emigrants must also rise to the challenge of reviving the post-COVID economy and engage with the post-COVID world.
— PTI
18-yr-old man becomes Jammu and Kashmir’s youngest COVID-19 victim
An 18-year-old man succumbed to COVID-19 here on Monday, becoming the youngest person to die of the disease in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The man, a resident of Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, was admitted to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital here on June 12 as a medico-legal case involving assault, the officials said.
With the fresh death, the toll due to COVID-19 in the union territory has risen to 61.
— PTI
Delhi High Court seeks AAP govt stand on NGO’s offer to cremate those who die of COVID-19
The Delhi High Court Monday sought response of the AAP government on a plea by an NGO, which operates green crematoriums in Delhi, offering its facilities to cremate the bodies of those who have died of COVID-19.
A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan issued notice to the Delhi government and sought its stand on the NGO’s plea by June 29.
— PTI
Odisha's COVID-19 cases tally breach the 4,000-mark
Odisha’s COVID-19 tally on Monday crossed the 4,000-mark, with 146 more people, including nine disaster response personnel, testing positive for the infection, a Health Department official said.
With these fresh patients, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 4,055, he said.
Of the 146 cases, 128 were detected in various quarantine centres where people returning from different states are staying, while 18 were found in contact-tracing exercises, the official said.
— PTI
Securities Appellate Tribunal to remain closed till June 30 amid coronavirus pandemic
The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has said it will remain closed till June 30 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier, the tribunal was scheduled to remain closed till June 12.
“In continuation of our earlier order dated June 1, extending the closure of the tribunal till June 12 on account of the lockdown declared by the government... the tribunal shall further remain suspended till June 30,” SAT said in a notification.
— PTI
'Volunteers needed to assist medical facilities': AAP leader Sanjay Singh
AAP leader Sanjay Singh says political party volunteers to be roped in to assist the medical facilities
Government plans to appeal to people who have recovered from COVID to come forward and help as health workers, this includes doctors who have recovered, he said
He added that ambulance timings were to be reduced from 36 mins to 20 mins
— Vijaita Singh
Amit Shah's all-party meet on Delhi's COVID-19 situation concludes
All party meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah on COVID-19 situation gets over. At the meeting, Mr. Shah apprised the leaders of four major political parties of Delhi on the steps taken to check the coronavirus pandemic and sought their views on the issue, a Home Ministry official said.
Leaders of the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the BSP have attended the meeting.
- Vijaita Singh
Two more COVID-19 deaths in Rajasthan
Rajasthan reported 78 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday taking the tally to 12,772, while the death toll climbed to 294 with two new fatalities, officials said.
One death was reported from Udaipur besides one person from outside the state succumbed to COVID-19, they said.
— PTI
Ten zones surpass 1,000-mark; over 5,000 cases in Chennai's Royapuram
Ten zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation have reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases each.
Royapuram continues to report the largest number, with cases in the zone crossing 5,000. Owing to the increasing cases in the 10 zones, the Corporation has deployed 61 mobile medical units for COVID-19 containment activities in the city. The units will conduct fever camps and help those in home isolation.
Residents in each of the six zones — Royapuram, Tondiarpet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Kodambakkam, Anna Nagar and Teynampet — received the services of six mobile medical units on Sunday.
— Special Correspondent
Three blocks of Tripura's Sepahijala district declared as containment zones
With Sepahijala district reporting a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Tripura government has declared three entire blocks as ‘containment zones’ to check the infection, officials said on Monday.
Of the total 1046 COVID-19 cases in Tripura so far, Sepahijala district has reported 45% of the cases, officials said, adding that of the 45 new cases detected in the state on Sunday, 44 were from Sepahijala district.
The notification declaring the three entire blocks Kathalia, Boxanagaar and Nalchhar as containment zones was issued on Sunday to restrict the movement of people outside their homes.
— PTI
Eight fresh COVID-19 cases in Puducherry, tally rises to 202
Eight new COVID-19 cases were reported in Puducherry on Monday taking the total number of infections in the union territory to 202, a top Health department official said.
The number of fatalities remained at four with no fresh deaths being reported during the last 24 hours. Director of Health and Family Welfare Services S. Mohan Kumar told reporters that all the new coronavirus patients were admitted to Indira Gandhi Government Medical College hospital in neighbouring Kadirkamam.
— PTI
No plan to impose lockdown again in Gujarat: Vijay Rupani
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday said his government does not plan to impose lockdown again in the state.
Dismissing speculations being made on social media platforms about the lockdown, the Chief Minister urged people not to get carried away by such “unfounded rumours“.
“Following the unlock from June 1, daily life is gradually becoming normal. Business and trade-related activities have also picked up in the state. In such a scenario, the state government does not have any plans to impose the lockdown again,” Mr. Rupani said in a statement.
— PTI
Staff nurse dies of COVID-19 at ‘hotspot’ RGGGH
A staff nurse died of COVID-19 at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) on Sunday.
With several doctors, including seniors and postgraduates, having tested positive for the infection in the last few days, there are fears among the hospital’s staff that Tamil Nadu’s largest government tertiary care centre may have become a hotspot for COVID-19.
— Serena Josephine M.
West Bengal’s Tarapith temple still closed to devotees
Though many famous places of worship in West Bengal have opened their doors to devotees with adequate precautionary measures in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Tarapith temple will take more time to unlock its gates, an official said.
The authorities of the centuries-old shrine have expressed concern over health safety of devotees, amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state, he said.
The state government has granted permission to all places of worship to unbolt their doors to the devotees from June 1, while stressing that safety protocols have to be strictly followed at all shrines.
— PTI
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to test people in markets, eateries, and medical shops
The silent spread of COVID-19 through asymptomatic patients has caught many cities unawares. In an attempt to pre-empt this and to get a clearer idea about the spread of the virus in the city, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to test people visiting public spaces, such as markets, malls, restaurants, supermarkets, and medical establishments.
When compared to other cities in India, the number of positive cases in Bengaluru (currently at 690) is relatively low and the BBMP aims to keep it that way.
The civic body has developed a new strategy called ‘anti-contact tracing’ to uncover new clusters where the virus may be spreading quietly.
Officials plan to combine samples from crowded places with those taken from people’s homes.
— Tanu Kulkarni
Journalists and their kin test positive in Hyderabad
Of the 140-odd journalists who have been reporting during the COVID-19 lockdown and their family members in Hyderabad who gave their swab samples for coronavirus testing, 23 have tested positive.
The Health department is conducting tests for journalists and their family members at the Old Secretariat. Earlier this month, over 20 reporters, including a few from national media and various publications from across the State, had been diagnosed with the virus.
- Staff Reporter
Amit Shah holds all-party meet on COVID-19 situation in Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with the leaders of all political parties of Delhi on Monday to discuss about the novel coronavirus situation, officials said.
Mr. Shah apprised the leaders of four major political parties of Delhi on the steps taken to check the coronavirus pandemic and sought their views on the issue, a Home Ministry official said.
Leaders of the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the BSP have attended the meeting.
— PTI
SBI closes 3 branches in Mumbai, Thane after spike in COVID cases among staff
The nation’s largest lender, State Bank of India, has temporarily closed three branches — two in Mumbai and one in adjoining Thane — after eight staff tested positive for COVID-19, bank employees said.
The bank’s main branch in Thane was shuttered last week after seven of the 25 staff were found COVID-19 positive, according to a senior bank employee.
As a precautionary measure, the bank temporarily stopped operations at its LCPC located in Andheri, after a gardener working there was founded to be infected with the virus, the employee said.
SBI closes 3 branches in Mumbai, Thane after spike in COVID cases among staff
The nation’s largest lender, State Bank of India, has temporarily closed three branches — two in Mumbai and one in adjoining Thane — after eight staff tested positive for COVID-19, bank employees said.
The bank’s main branch in Thane was shuttered last week after seven of the 25 staff were found COVID-19 positive, according to a senior bank employee.
As a precautionary measure, the bank temporarily stopped operations at its LCPC located in Andheri, after a gardener working there was founded to be infected with the virus, the employee said.
Ten zones in Chennai surpass 1,000-mark
Ten zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation have reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases each.
Royapuram continues to report the largest number, with cases in the zone crossing 5,000. Owing to the increasing cases in the 10 zones, the Corporation has deployed 61 mobile medical units for COVID-19 containment activities in the city. The units will conduct fever camps and help those in home isolation.
Residents in each of the six zones — Royapuram, Tondiarpet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Kodambakkam, Anna Nagar and Teynampet — received the services of six mobile medical units on Sunday.
11,502 more COVID-19 cases, 325 deaths in India
India saw a jump of over 11,000 novel coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day on Monday, taking the total number of infections to over 3.32 lakh, while the toll rose to 9,520 with 325 more deaths, the Health Ministry said.
There are 1,53,106 active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), while 1,69,797 people have recovered and a patient has migrated, according to the ministry data updated in the morning.
Therefore, 51.07% of the patients have recovered so far, an official said. - PTI
Bengaluru church hosts drive-in prayers
Though places of worship have started opening their doors, online streaming of mass and pujas continues to be popular.
A church in Bengaluru, meanwhile, has come up with a novel solution to ensure social distancing during prayers. In a first, a drive-in service was conducted by Bethel AG Church at Hebbal Kempapura.
In a first, a drive-in service being held at Bethel AG Church in Hebbal Kempapura, Bengaluru, on Sunday.
The service called ‘Worship on Wheels’ was held to ensure that social distancing was maintained during Sunday prayers. Though Sacred Hearts Church was closed, the Sunday mass was held in an open ground.
All party meeting today to discuss Delhi's COVID-19 situation
In the wake of the worsening COVID-19 situation in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has convened an all-party meeting on Monday. The Delhi units of BJP, AAP, Congress and BSP have been invited to attend the meeting.
This comes a day after Mr. Shah met with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and others, following which he announced that testing will be ramped up in the capital city.
On Sunday, Delhi registered the highest spike in COVID-19 cases . The total number of cases now stands at 41,182 out of which 24,032 are active cases. The total number of deaths here stands at 1,327.
Meanwhile, numerous examples of patients being slapped with ‘exorbitant’ bills by private hospitals have come to light. The Hindu interviewed six persons who said that they were either asked to pay an advance deposit ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹6.5 lakh or charged “exorbitant” rates for COVID-19 treatment by private hospitals in the city.
Local trains in Mumbai back on track for essential service workers today
Over two months after it was suspended, Mumbai's local trains started functioning for essential service workers like health, civic and police personnel from today morning. Ticket windows will be opened for commuters, but passes will be issued only to those who can furnish a government ID card.
Western Railway (WR) will run 120 services from Virar to Churchgate, while Central Railway (CR) will run 200 services. On WR, services will run at 15-minute intervals between 5.30 a.m. and 11.30 p.m. On CR, trains will only halt at fast service stations and will depart from Panvel, Kasara, Karjat, Kalyan and Thane.
China’s Beijing re-institutes measures to contain new outbreak
Even as it looked like China had got the coronavirus pandemic under control, capital city of Beijing has reported 49 new cases, many of which was traced to a wholesale market that supplies much of the city’s meat and vegetables.
Beijing has closed the Xinfadi market, ordered testing of all its workers and is requiring anyone who travelled there to self-isolate for two weeks.
The new cases reported over the weekend mark China’s highest daily total of coronavirus cases in two months, prompting Beijing to suspend the restart of some classes and reverse the relaxation of some social isolation measures.
(With input from Agencies)
