Coronavirus India Updates: Covid-19 Tally Tops 5.85 Lakh; Death Toll At 17,400

Covid-19 cases in India continue to mount by the day as the country struggles to prevent new infections in a reopening economy.

India added over 18,000 new cases of the novel virus, taking the total tally to more than 5.85 lakh in the world’s second-most populous country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on July 1.

Key Numbers

• Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 5,85,493
• Active cases: 2,20,114
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 3,47,979
• Deaths: 17,400

India reported 18,653 fresh cases, 13,157 recoveries and 507 deaths in the 24 hours preceding the Health Ministry’s update. This is the largest spike in one-day deaths barring June 17 when Delhi and Maharashtra revised their Covid-19 deaths figures with the latter reported over 1,300 accrued deaths alone.

Despite an improved daily recovery rate of over 10,000 in nine of the past 10 days, the number of active cases in India now stands at 2.2 lakh.

Global Update

Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease specialist, warned lawmakers that coronavirus infections could rise to 100,000 a day if behaviors don’t change. Trump said in a Twitter post that he’s ‘more and more angry at China’ over the pandemic. New South Wales, Australia’s most-populous state, said residents of 10 virus hotspots in neighboring Victoria would face six months in jail or a fine of A$11,000 if they attempt to cross the border.

Cases Surpass 10.4 million; deaths top 508,000.

Track news and developments around the Covid-19 outbreak in India here.

Mumbai police on Wednesday issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in the city, restricting movement of people in public places, and said the measure was taken to check rising Covid-19 cases.

The order says curbs on movement for non-essential work came into force from Wednesday and shall remain so till July 15, unless withdrawn earlier.

The order prohibits "presence or movement of one or more persons in public places or gathering of any sort", a senior police official said.

Police have prohibited gatherings of any sort, including at religious places subject to stipulations, he said.

The order said movement of one or more persons in areas designated as containment zones by the municipal authorities is prohibited, except for essential activities, supply of essential goods and medical emergency.

Source: PTI

Scientists have experimented with non-medical grade masks, and found that well-fitted ones made from stitching two layers of quilting cotton fabric are the most effective in stopping the spread of cough and sneeze droplets, whereas bandana-style coverings "had little to no effect."

The study, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, used a laser to map out the paths of droplets as they were coughed and sneezed out of a mannequin head, and examined how different mask designs and materials altered these paths.

While the use of face masks is widely recommended by public health officials during the Covid-19 pandemic, relatively few specific guidelines pertaining to mask materials and designs are available, according to the researchers from Florida Atlantic University in the U.S.

Source: PTI

With Over 5.85 lakh confirmed Covid-19 cases, India is the fourth country with most cases, behind Russia. However, India’s pace of adding new cases is now more than twice that of Russia which means it might overtake the soviet nation soon if its curve does not flatten.

Tamil Nadu's Covid-19 tally crossed the 90,000 mark with nearly 4,000 fresh cases for the third consecutive day on Tuesday and with 60 more deaths, the toll touched 1,201, the state government said.

Chennai recorded the highest single day increase of 2,393 cases and the remainder was spread across the state, a health department bulletin said.