Coronavirus India Updates: India Overtakes U.K. With Nearly 3 Lakh Cases

Covid-19 infections neared the 3-lakh mark, at a time when authorities maintain that India has not reached the community transmission stage. The country’s total cases have surpassed that of U.K.’s taking it to the 4th spot.

The world’s second-most populous nation added 10,956 fresh cases in the 24 hours preceding the Health Ministry’s 8 a.m. update on June 12, taking the total tally to 2,97,535. This includes 8,498 deaths and 1,47,195 patients who have recovered.

Authorities reported 396 deaths and 6,166 recoveries during the same 24 hours.

• India has reported its deadliest day.
• Fresh cases spike, crossing the 10,000-mark for the first time.
• Authorities report second highest number of people discharged in 24 hour period.

Even with confirmed Covid-19 cases in India nearing the 3 lakh mark, authorities continued to assert that there is no community transmission in the country.

"India is not in community transmission. We have to continue with our strategy of testing, tracing, tracking, quarantine and containment measures; we should not give up our guard on these," Indian Council of Medical Research Director General Balram Bhargava said at a media briefing.

Key Numbers

• Total confirmed cases: 2,97,535
• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 10,956
• Total number of active cases: 1,41,842
• Total patients cured/discharged/migrated: 1,47,195
• Total deaths: 8,498

Global Update

Tokyo’s governor lifted the city’s virus alert and denied she was considering canceling the Olympic Games. Houston may reimpose stay-home orders as cases in the city surge.

The World Health Organization said the spread of the coronavirus in Africa is accelerating.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign is asking people attending his campaign rally in Oklahoma to waive liability if they contract Covid-19. A court in Australia ruled against a weekend rally amid concerns it could hurt efforts to control the virus outbreak.

Cases pass 7.4 million; deaths exceed 420,000.

Track news and developments about the Covid-19 outbreak here.

The district administration of Amritsar, which is the worst affected by coronavirus in Punjab, on Friday announced that all shops except medical stores will remain closed on weekends.

Also, people will have to get an e-pass for movement on weekends.

The move came a day after the state government announced a stricter lockdown on weekends and public holidays.

Source: PTI

Confirmed cases in Maharashtra crossed the 1-lakh mark on Friday evening.

The state reported 3,493 new cases, according to the public health department. Total cases now stand at 1,01,141.

This includes 47,796 recoveries and 3,717 patients who succumbed to the virus infection. Over the past 24 hours, 1,718 patients recovered, while 127 died.

Find out how Maharashtra reached the grim milestone here.

Google on Friday said it has added a new feature on its Search, Assistant, and Maps products to help users find information on Covid-19 testing centres near them.

Google is working with the Indian Council of Medical Research and MyGov to provide users with information on authorised testing labs, a statement said.

The new feature is available in English along with eight other languages in India -- Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, and Gujarati, it added.

Source: PTI

Maharashtra’s government today dispelled rumours of another lockdown.

• Rumours that lockdown will be imposed again in Maharashtra are false.
• No such decision taken by the government.
• State is working towards restarting the economic cycle while following safe hygiene rules.

Source: Chief Minster's Secretariat

While India’s total cases and deaths show no sign of slowing down, reported recoveries are on the rise too. Authorities reported 6,166 cases recovered, discharged or cured, over the 24 hours preceding the Health Ministry’s 8 a.m. update - the second highest so far.

This comes days after India’s total recoveries crossed India’s active cases.

India’s total cases have surpassed that of U.K., according to the latest data available for both countries. It now has the 4th highest Covid-19 cases in the world.

Delhi’s Jama Masjid will remain closed for visitors even as the central government has allowed for religious institutes to open their gates, amid fears of further spreading the virus.

The mosque's Shahi Imam, Syed Ahmed Bukhari said that no congregational prayers will be performed at the mosque till 30th June.

In unrelated news, crowds continue to flout social distancing rules in most cities across India, including the national capital.

This is days after Delhi’s case tally crossed the 30,000 mark and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia warned that the state’s total cases could cross 1 lakh by the end of the month.

Over 3.57 lakh needy families and destitute people who are not covered under the National Food Security Scheme will be provided free foodgrain for next two months in Rajasthan.

The proposal for free distribution of foodgrain was approved by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday.

Under the initiative, five kg of wheat will be provided per person every month.

Each family will be given 10 kg of wheat and 2 kg of gram per month. The decision was taken after a survey of the families. The foodgrain will be provided through the public distribution system.

Source: PTI

Maharashtra’s total tally is likely to touch the 1-lakh cases mark tonight at a time when the state, which is home to India’s financial hub, is trying to open up its economy like the rest of the nation.

• Maharashtra reports 3,607 new coronavirus cases on June 11; total tally rises to 97,648
• Maharashtra reports 152 deaths, taking the state's death toll to 3,590

Source: Public Health Department, Maharashtra