12:08 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates
17 COVID-19 hospitals in Thane overcharge Rs 1.82 crore
As many as 17 private hospitals in Maharashtra's Thane city overcharged COVID-19 patients to the tune of Rs 1.82 crore and are yet to refund Rs 1.40 crore out of it, civic officials said on Monday.
Following several complaints from patients, Thane Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Sharma constituted audit teams to check the billings of 17 hospitals in the city, reports PTI.
The audit teams checked 4,106 bills from 10 July to 21 August and found an excess amount totalling Rs 1.82 crore in 1,362 bills, the civic body said in a statement.
The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) issued show cause notices to these hospitals following which they refunded Rs 26.68 lakh to the patients.
12:06 (IST)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates
COVID-19 cases in Thane cross 1.14 lakh
The COVID-19 tally in Thane reached 1,14,765 on Monday after 881 new cases were found in the Maharashtra district, officials told PTI. The district also reported 28 more deaths due to COVID-19, taking the total number of fatalities to 3,268.
So far, Kalyan town in the district has reported the highest number of 26,623 cases, followed by Thane city-24,459 and Navi Mumbai-23,321, an official release said.
11:38 (IST)
Coronavirus in Pakistan LATEST Updates
Pakistan reports 496 new cases of coronavirus: Ministry
Pakistan has resistered 496 new cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of infections in the nation to 2,93,261, the health ministry said on Monday, reports PTI. The Ministry of National Health Services said the new cases were detected as the number of diagnosis tests have been intensified across the nation.
"Health authorities have reported 496 new cases of coronavirus and now the total number of infections stand at 2,93,261," the ministry said in a statement.
11:33 (IST)
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
India's COVID-19 recovery rate at 75%
A single-day spike of 61,408 COVID-19 cases took India''s virus caseload past the 31-lakh mark on Monday, a day after it crossed 30 lakh, while recoveries surged to 23,38,035 pushing the recovery rate to over 75 percent, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
India''s COVID-19 caseload mounted to 31,06,348, while the death toll climbed to 57,542 with 836 fatalities being reported in a span of 24-hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.85 per cent, while the recovery rate has risen to 75.27 per cent.
11:09 (IST)
Coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh LATEST Updates
Arunachal Pradesh''s COVID-19 tally rises to 3,263
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 3,263, with 40 more people including 17 security personnel testing positive for Coronavirus, a senior Health department official said on Monday.
Sixty-nine people were discharged from different hospitals on Sunday as they have recovered from COVID-19, taking the total number of recoveries to 2,297, he said. Of the total 3,263 COVID-19 cases in the state, 961 are active cases as 2,297 people have recovered from the disease and five have died.
A total of 1,792 people, including 699 security personnel, have tested positive for the infection in the state since August 1, the official said.
10:50 (IST)
Coronavirus in Jharkhand LATEST Updates
COVID-19 positive prisoner drinks alcohol inside hospital ward; probe ordered
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has ordered an investigation after a viral photo purportedly shows a Covid prisoner drinking alcohol inside a hospital ward in Dhanbad, reports PTI.
Katras police station officer in charge Ras Bihari Lal has identified the man as 30-year-old Shantu Gupta, who was arrested on extortion charges. After he tested positive, the police admitted him to the central hospital of Bharat Coking Coal Limited.
10:10 (IST)
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
Why India is so affected by the virus?
India, the world's second-most-populous nation is currently leading in new infection cases as the virus marches through impoverished rural areas in the north and the wealthier but older populations of the south.
Previously the main hotspots have been the teeming megacities of New Delhi and Mumbai, home to some of the world's biggest slums.
"At the moment we are seeing a fairly sharp rise in cases overall for India," said K Srinath Reddy, of the non-governmental Public Health Foundation of India.
But the epidemic has left Asia's third-largest economy reeling, and tens of millions of people have lost their jobs and livelihoods.
10:01 (IST)
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
India’s 5 worst-affected states:
The numbers given below includes recoveries, deaths and active cases
- Maharashtra: 6,82,383
- Tamil Nadu: 3,79,385
- Andhra Pradesh: 3,53,111
- Karnataka: 2,77,814
- Uttar Pradesh: 1,87,781
09:58 (IST)
Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates
With over 61,000 new cases, India's total climbs up to 31 lakh
India’s coronavirus tally rises to 31,06,348 cases after the country reports 61,408 new infections in 24 hours. The country’s toll climbs up by 836 to 57,542.
09:31 (IST)
Coronavirus in Singapore LATEST Updates
COVID-19 cases reappear at Singapore's largest dormitory
Around 4,800 workers have been issued a stay-home notice at Singapore's largest foreign workers' dormitory after fresh coronavirus emerged there, reports PTI.
The Sungei Tengah Lodge dormitory was among the largest COVID-19 clusters in Singapore with over 2,200 confirmed cases before it was declared cleared of the disease by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) last month.
On Sunday, 58 fresh coronavirus cases were confirmed in the dormitory, a day after a new COVID-19 cluster emerged there.
08:28 (IST)
Coronavirus in Odisha LATEST Updates
Odisha reports record 2,993 new COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths
Odisha on Sunday registered its highest single-day spike of 2,993 COVID-19 cases and 10 more deaths due to the infection, reports PTI. With this, the state's COVID-19 death toll has mounted to 409 and the infection tally reached 78,530, a health official said.
08:26 (IST)
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LATEST Updates
COVID-19 patient tries to commit suicide in Jabalpur
Staff members of a hospital in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday foiled the bid of a 40-year-old COVID-19 patient to commit suicide by jumping off the third floor of the facility, police said.
The patient got down from the third floor window onto the open slab and was about to jump when some staff members rushed to him and held him back, said Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital Dean Dr P K Kasar.
The patient is suffering from some mental issues according to his family members, he said. Kasar demanded that state government install iron grills on the windows of the hospital.
08:23 (IST)
Coronavirus in US LATEST Updates
US approves plasma therapy to treat COVID-19 infection
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved using blood plasma from recovered coronavirus patients as a treatment against the infection, reports AFP. “This product may be effective in treating COVID-19 and... the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product,” reads the FDA’s statement.
Coronavirus LATEST Updates: India’s coronavirus tally rises to 31,06,348 cases after the country reports 61,408 new infections in 24 hours. The country’s toll climbs up by 836 to 57,542.
'This product may be effective in treating COVID-19 and... the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product,' reads the FDA’s statement
The number of coronavirus positive cases reported so far in the country crossed 30 lakh on Sunday, just 16 days after it crossed 20 lakh. The toll rose to 56,706 with 912 fatalities reported in 24 hours, said the health ministry in its morning update.
COVID-19 cases in the country jumped from 10 lakh to 20 lakh in 21 days, while it had taken 59 days for the cases to cross 10 lakh.
It took 110 days for COVID-19 cases in the country to reach one lakh.
However, the number of recoveries also surged to 22,80,566 with 57,989 patients recuperating from COVID-19 in a day, the data updated at 8 am showed. The country now has 7,07,668 active cases, which comprise 23.24 percent of India's total caseload, the ministry said.
The recovery rate among coronavirus patients neared 75 percent, while the case fatality rate dipped to 1.86 percent, which is among the lowest in the world, the ministry claimed.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar announced standard operating procedures (SOPs) for resuming shooting of films and TV programmes. The new guidelines include measures such as social distancing and mandatory use of face cover or masks for cast and crew, except for actors in front of camera.
In Madhya Pradesh, health minister Prabhuram Choudhary said he has tested coronavirus positive. Choudhary is the seventh minister in the state, besides Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to have tested positive for the viral infection. Meanwhile, Delhi reported its highest single-day spike in August with 1,450 new cases.
Recovery rate touches 74.90%, says health ministry
The Union health ministry on Sunday said the average daily number of recoveries is on a "constant upward move", even as the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 30,44,940 after a spike of 69,239 fresh infections.
The average daily recoveries have steadily increased from 15,018 between1 and 7 July to 60,557 between 13 and 19 August, the health ministry said. The total recoveries exceed the active cases by nearly 16 lakh (1,572,898) and the national recovery rate has gone up to 74.90 percent, it said in a statement.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), a cumulative total of 3,52,92,220 samples have been tested up to 22 August, with 8,01,147 samples being tested on Saturday.
With over eight lakh tests being conducted for the eighth consecutive day, the average daily positivity rate has come down from 9.67 percent during 3-9 August to 7.67 percent over the last week. the ministry said.
Centre announces SOPs for film shoots
The Centre on Sunday announced SOPs for resuming shooting of films and TV programmes to contain the spread of COVID-19. Union minister Prakash Javadekar asserted that the guidelines will facilitate resumption of shooting and provide employment to scores of people in the film industry who were affected in the wake of the pandemic.
Sharing details of the SOPs, Javadekar said barring those who are in front of cameras, all others will have to wear masks.
The I&B ministry's SOPs state that physical distancing of at least six feet to be followed as far as feasible at all locations at all times, while sitting, standing in queues, among others. These include places such as shoot locations, sound recording studios and editing rooms.
Aspects such as scenes, sequences, set-ups, camera locations, positions of various crew members, seating arrangements, food and catering arrangements, staggered meal timings should be planned while giving due consideration to physical distancing norms, according to the document.
Measures should be taken by the production team to involve a minimum number of cast and crew members during the shoot, the SOPs said.
Visitors and audiences should not be allowed on sets and for outdoor shooting, necessary coordination with local authorities should be ensured to minimise and manage the spectators, they said.
Resting or stay-over facilities should be planned while adhering to physical distancing guidelines, according to the document.
Staggered call and pack-up timings for different production units should be ensured by studios having multiple sets, the SOPs added. "There shall be designated entry and exit points for all shoot locations and other workplaces," the document said.
Common locations such as sets, cafeteria, make-up rooms, edit rooms, vanity vans, washrooms should be sanitised regularly, it said.
Sanitisation, to the extent possible, before and after the shoot should be done, the SOPs said.
Shooting of films and TV serials can be resumed using these SOPs, Javadekar said.
India may get vaccine by year-end if everything goes well, says Harsh Vardhan
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that if everything goes well, India would get a vaccine against COVID-19 by the end of this year.
कब तक आएगी #कोरोना की #vaccine ?
पत्रकारों के इस सवाल पर मैंने उम्मीद जताई कि अगर सब कुछ ठीक रहा तो भारत इस साल के आखिर तक #coronavaccine हासिल कर लेगा। @MoHFW_INDIA @CSIR_IND @NDRFHQ pic.twitter.com/zqAxftKUdt
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) August 22, 2020
Three COVID-19 vaccine candidates, including two indigenous ones, are in different phases of development in India. The phase-one human clinical trials of the two indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidates, one developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and the other by Zydus Cadila Ltd, have been completed and the trials have moved to phase-two, ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava had said recently.
The Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford, is likely to begin phase two and three human clinical trials next week.
West Bengal, Odisha register record spike in cases
Meanwhile, several states added new cases and fatalities to their tallies. Delhi registered 1,450 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the city's highest single-day spike in August, taking the total cases to over 1.61 lakh while the toll mounted to 4,300. The positivity rate stands at 7.74 percent, while the recovery rate is 90.04 percent.
The COVID-19 caseload of West Bengal went up to 1,38,870 after with 3,274 new infections, the highest in a day, the health department said. The toll due to the disease also rose to 2,794 with 57 more people succumbing to the viral infection, the department said in a bulletin. Since Saturday, 3,048 patients have recovered from the disease and the number of active cases is now 28,069, it said.
Odisha too registered its highest single-day surge of 2,993 COVID-19 cases and 10 more deaths due to the infection. With this, the state's toll has mounted to 409 and the infection count reached 78,530, a health official told PTI. Fifty-three other coronavirus patients have also died, but the cause of their deaths was attributed to some other reasons, the official said.
Maharashtra reported 10,441 new coronavirus positive cases, which pushed the cumulative total in the state to 6,82,383. With the death of 258 patients during the day, the toll climbed to 22,253.
Madhya Pradesh health minister tests positive
In Madhya Pradesh, Health Minister Prabhuram Choudhary tweeted that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
"My COVID-19 test report came out positive. I request those who had come in my contact to undergo a coronavirus test. Those in close contact should quarantine themselves," he tweeted. "With your prayers and blessings, I will return amidst you soon to serve the people," he said.
मेरी कोविड की रिपोर्ट टेस्ट के बाद पॉजि़टिव आई है।मेरा सभी से निवेदन है जो भी मेरे संपर्क में आए हैं, वह कोरोना टेस्ट करवा लें। मेरे निकट संपर्क वाले लोग क्वारनटीन में चले जाएं।आप सभी की प्रार्थना एवं आशीर्वाद से जल्द आप सभी के बीच उपस्थित होकर फिर जन सेवा के कार्यों में लगेंगे।
— Dr. Prabhuram Choudhary (@DrPRChoudhary) August 23, 2020
In the last week of July, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had tested positive and recovered after treatment. Besides, Public Works Department Minister Gopal Bhargava, Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang, state Cooperatives Minister Arvind Bhadoriya, Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat, Higher Education Minister Mohan Yadav and Minister of State (Independent charge) for Backward Class and Minority Welfare Ramkhelawan Patel had also tested coronavirus for the infection.
With inputs from PTI
source https://www.firstpost.com/health/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-news-india-live-updates-covid19-pandemic-bus-service-flight-train-shop-lockdown-latest-updates-maharashtra-8744821.html
