Coronavirus India Updates, August 9: Record 7 lakh tests conducted in a day

People wearing masks as a precaution against the coronavirus walk past books displayed for sale on a street in Hyderabad, India, Sunday, July 19, 2020. (AP)

Here are the top developments in the country today:

India reporting more Covid-19 cases than other nations for last five days

For the last five days, India has been reporting more novel coronavirus infections than any other country in the world. On Saturday, India’s over 64,000 new infections comprised more than 22 per cent of all the cases detected globally.

The United States and Brazil, two countries that have greater number of people infected by the virus till now, have been finding fewer number of new cases every day during this period, while India’s case numbers have been increasing steadily, with more than 60,000 new cases for the last three days. The numbers in the United States and Brazil have not gone past lower 50,000s in the last three days.

The gap between India and Brazil amongst active cases is much narrower. India has about 6.28 lakh active patients, while Brazil has 8.18 lakh. In the United States, the number of active cases is 23.46 lakh.

The ten worst-affected states accounted for about 82 per cent of all the cases in the country, both in terms of total caseload, as well as new cases on Saturday.

A medical staffer conducts a Covid-19 test at a drive-in centre near Vasant Kunj in New Delhi on Thursday (Express photograph by Tashi Tobgyal)

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu tests positive

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Sunday said he tested positive for coronavirus and has been hospitalised. “Following fever, I got myself tested and found to be infected by coronavirus,” Sriramulu tweeted on Sunday. He has been admitted to the Government Bowring hospital in the city for treatment. Sriramulu is the fifth minister in Karnataka to have tested positive for coronavirus. Prior to him, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Forest Minister Anand Singh, Tourism Minister C T Ravi, B C Patil were infected by the virus.

ಕೊರೊನ ಪಾಸಿಟಿವ್ ಬಂದಿರುವ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಶಿವಾಜಿನಗರದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಸ್ವಾಮ್ಯದ ಬೋರಿಂಗ್ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗೆ ದಾಖಲಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

ಶೀಘ್ರ ಗುಣಮುಖನಾಗಿ ಬರುವ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸವಿದ್ದು, ಯಾರೂ ಆತಂಕಪಡುವ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. pic.twitter.com/cGnYuPbZ15

— B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) August 9, 2020

Delhi’s Covid-19 situation under control: Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the COVID-19 situation in Delhi is under control and the recovery rate is improving. Speaking at the inauguration of a hospital in Ambedkar Nagar, he said in case the situation takes a turn for the worse, the government is fully prepared to deal with it. On the COVID-19 situation in Delhi, the chief minister said, “The situation is under control, all parameters good, recovery rate is improving, positivity ratio reducing and deaths have reduced.”

Vijayawada hotel fire: At least 10 dead, CM orders probe

At least nine people were killed in a major fire caused by a short circuit at a hotel which was being used as a coronavirus facility in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada in the early hours of Sunday. A private hospital had leased Hotel Swarna Palace in Vijayawada to keep infected Covid patients. At least seven patients panicked and  jumped from the terrace as the flames spread to the upper floors. Two others died of asphyxiation as thick fumes enveloped the hotel.

Expressing shock over the incident, Reddy announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh to the kin of the deceased and ordered an in-depth probe into the mishap. He also directed authorities to take steps to ensure better medical services to the victims of the accident.

A health worker performs a test after taking a nasal swab sample to test for COVID-19 in Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Minister who endorsed immunity papad tests positive

Minister of State Arjun Ram Meghwal said that he has tested positive for coronavirus in a second screening, after testing negative the first time even as he showed initial symptoms. “I am fine but have been admitted to AIIMS as per medical advise. I request that those who have come in contact with me in the last few days to please take care of their health”, the minister tweeted in Hindi.

The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Heavy industries had last month endorsed a papad brand, saying it had ingredients which will boost a person’s immunity and help defeat coronavirus. His video caused a storm on social media, with people criticising the unscientific claims.

In the video, Meghwal spoke about a brand called ‘Bhabhi ji papad’ and said that it helps “develop antibodies” to fight against the virus. He also seen wishing the brand’s owner Sunil Bhansali on the launch of the product,  saying he hopes the venture will be “successful” under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative launched by the central government.

The packaging line for a COVID-19 vaccine that is still in trials at Serum Institue in Pune, India, July 10, 2020. (Atul Loke/The New York Times)

68 fresh cases take Arunachal’s tally to 2,117

At least 68 more people, including 36 security personnel and a healthcare professional, have tested positive for coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the state’s total count to 2,117, a Health Department official said on Sunday. Of the fresh cases, 10 were reported from the Capital Complex region, 20 from East Kameng district, 12 from West Siang, five each from Tirap and Lower Siang, four each from West Kameng and Namsai, three each from East Siang and Tawang, two from Papumpare and one from Changlang, State Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa said.

Assam records 2,218 fresh cases

Assam reported 2,218 fresh COVID-19 cases and eight deaths due to the disease on Saturday, taking the infection tally to 57,714, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The death toll due to COVID-19 has reached 140 in the state, he said. Of the eight fatalities, two each were reported from Nalbari and Tinsukia and one each from Morigaon, Kokrajhar, Nagaon and Dibrugarh, the minister said.

Medical interns, along with civic workers, team up for a door to door screening in parts of Greater Mumbai on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

“2,218 COVID-19 cases detected out of 54,845 tests in last 24 hrs. We have managed to maintain low positivity rate 4.04 per cent,” Sarma tweeted. “1,782 patients have been discharged today. A good number indeed. My best wishes with all recovered patients and their families,” he added.