India Coronavirus Updates, 10 August: 4 Indian Army Gurkha soldiers test positive in Nepal; 2 held in Odisha for spreading Covid-related rumours

Monday marks the fourth consecutive day when new cases have increased by over 60,000.

Four Indian Army Gurkha soldiers test COVID-19 positive in Nepal

Four Gurkha soldiers serving the Indian Army who were visiting their home in Nepal contracting the coronavirus at a quarantine centre in the country’s eastern Sunsari district, officials told PTI on Monday. The Nepalese nationals from the Gurkha regiments of the Indian Army tested positive after their swab samples were taken at a quarantine facility in Dharan Municipality of Sunsari district, Assistant Chief District Officer Mahesh Kumar Pokharel said.

2 held in Odisha for coronavirus related rumour-mongering

Two persons, including one COVID survivor, were arrested on Monday for allegedly spreading rumours about the management of the coronavirus pandemic in Odisha, the police said. Police took the action after the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation authorities complained that an audio clip of a conversation between two persons, containing misleading information about the pandemic, went viral on social media and was telecast by a regional news channel. A statement issued by the Additional DCP, Bhubaneswar, said:  “On examination and prima facie investigation, it has been found that the audio record has been prepared and circulated, and propagated with mala fide and mischievous intention as the clip contains misleading and false information about COVID pandemic.”

13 per cent Indore COVID-19 patients recovered in home isolation

Around 13 per cent of the Covid-19 patients in Indore, the worst-affected district in Madhya Pradesh, have recovered in home isolation, an official said on Monday. He said the home isolation programme, where doctors supervise patients through a mobile app, was started in the district three months ago. After a recent surge in cases in the state, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has instructed officials to promote the home isolation programme to treat asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms.

Taking to Twitter, Chouhan said, “Home isolation of patients with common symptoms should be encouraged so that seriously ill patients can be treated in hospitals. Ensure use of apps and other necessary tools for real time monitoring.”

Former president Pranab Mukherjee infected with Covid-19

Former president Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that he had tested positive for coronavirus and urged all his recent contacts to self-isolate and get tested as a precautionary measure.

Taking to Twitter, Mukherjee said: “On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for COVID19 today. I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self isolate and get tested for COVID-19.”

15 per cent students enrolled in Delhi govt schools not traceable since lockdown: Manish Sisodia

Around 15 per cent students enrolled in Delhi government schools are not “traceable” since the lockdown was announced and have not been attending the alternative classes online or through phones, PTI quoted Deputy CM Manish Sisodia as saying.

Sisodia said efforts are being made to locate them either physically or telephonically to get them into the system.

“We are conducting full-fledged teaching learning either online or through phones and teachers have been instructed to ensure personal involvement with each student. So far, there are maximum 15 per cent students who are not traceable and are not in contact with their schools and hence not attending the classes,” he said.

There are nearly 15 lakh students enrolled in over 1100 government schools in Delhi.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu tests positive for coronavirus

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu Sunday tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In a series of tweets, the minister announced, “After developing symptoms of flu, I have tested positive for coronavirus today.” Sriramulu got himself admitted to state-run Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru.

Over 1,700 new cases in Odisha

Odisha on Monday reported the highest single-day spike of 13 coronavirus fatalities, pushing the state death toll to 272, PTI quoted a health department official as saying.

At least 1,734 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total tally to 45,927, the official said.

Ganjam district is the worst-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and it accounted for as many as 131 deaths. It is among the 13 districts in the country identified by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for high caseload and mortality rate, the official said. The fatality rate in the district is over one per cent, while that of the state stands at 0.59 per cent.

The state has 13,82 active cases, accounting for 30.09 per cent of the total caseload, while 31,785 people have recovered from the infection.

Andhra’s coronavirus tally touches 2.27 lakh

A health worker takes a nasal swab sample to test for Covid-19 in Hyderabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo)

Andhra Pradesh on Sunday registered its highest single-day spike in the number of cases, with the tally rising to 2.27 lakh. A total of 10,820 infections were recorded on Sunday. With 97 deaths, the toll from the virus stood at 2,039. The number of recoveries reached 1.38 lakh as 9,097 got cured in the last 24 hours, leaving 87,112 active cases in the state, the government said.

Telangana reported 1,256 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the overall infection tally to 80,751 while the death toll mounted to 637 with 10 more fatalities. The declining trend in new positive cases in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), observed during the last several days, continued with 389 fresh cases being reported.

While there are around 22,528 active cases in the state, as many as 57,586 people have recovered from the disease. Follow Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Coronavirus LIVE updates

Arunachal records 38 new Covid-19 cases, including 20 security personnel

Thirty-eight more people, including 20 security personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the state tally to 2,155, PTI quoted a health official as saying.

State Surveillance Officer L Jampa said, “Twenty paramilitary personnel, including nine in East Kameng, three each in West Siang, East Siang and Tirap and one each in Anjaw and Papumpare districts, are among the new patients.”

Fifty-two people were discharged from hospitals on Sunday, Jampa said. Arunachal now has 670 active cases, while 1,482 people have recovered, and three have died.

Assam records 5 more Covid-19 deaths

Five more people died of coronavirus in Assam on Sunday, pushing the death toll to 145, PTI quoted Himanta Biswa Sarma as saying.

Around 1,123 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, taking the state tally to 58,837, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare said.

Assam now has 16,364 active cases, while 42,325 people have recovered from the disease.

Covid-19 death toll in Bengal crosses 2,000

People during a swab test for Covid-19 in South Kolkata on Saturday. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

West Bengal reported 54 more fatalities on Sunday, pushing the death toll in the state to 2,059, PTI quoted the state health department as saying.

At least 2,939 new cases were recorded, raising the total number of cases to 95,554, the bulletin said.

Around 67,120 patients have recovered from the disease, while 26,375 cases are active.

Jharkhand Covid-19 death toll rises to 177

With 9 more deaths due to coronavirus in Jharkhand, the death toll in the state increased to 177, PTI quoted a state government bulletin as saying.

As many as 530 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, raising the state tally to 18,156.

Jharkhand now has 8,981 active cases while around 8,998 people have recovered, the bulletin said.