Coronavirus India Updates: 2.6 Lakh New Covid Cases; 1,501 Covid Deaths
Track all the news and developments around the second Covid wave in India here.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
India continued to report record number of new coronavirus cases, even as state governments ramp up restrictions amid shortage of hospital beds, critical drugs and oxygen supplies.
2.61 lakh people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry's update at 8:00 a.m. India's total Covid-19 caseload rose to 1.47 crore, while the number of active cases surged past the 18-lakh-mark to a new record.
India has now reported more than 2 lakh daily cases for four days in a row.
Key Figures
Total number of confirmed cases: 1,47,88,109
Active cases: 18,01,316
Total cured/discharged/migrated: 1,28,09,643
Total deaths: 1,77,150
New infections in 24 hours: 2,61,500
Recoveries in a day: 1,38,423
Deaths in a single day: 1,501
The number of coronavirus-linked deaths is the highest India has reported since June 17, when the single-day death toll hit 2,003 after some states reported reconciled mortality data.
Manmohan Singh Writes To Prime Minister Modi On Covid Crisis
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that ramping up vaccination was the key to managing the second wave.
"The key to our fight against Covid-19 must be ramping up the vaccination effort. We must resist the temptation to look at the absolute numbers being vaccinated, and focus instead on the percentage of the population vaccinated," Singh said in his letter.
The veteran Congress leader made five suggestions in his letter to Modi, noting that with the right policy design, India can do "much better and very quickly".
Read more about the Manmohan Singh's five suggestions, here.
Government To Double Remdesivir Production
The Narendra Modi government plans to double the production of antiviral drug remdesivir over the next 15 days, Minister of State of Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh L Mandaviya said on Twitter.
India currently produces 1.5 lakh vials of remdesivir per day. Production will be doubled to 3 lakh vials per day in the next 15 days.
Have given permission to 20 plants to produce remdesivir.
Drug companies have reduced retail prices & patients will benefit from it.
(Source: PTI)
India's Emerging Covid-19 Hotspots
Seven states reported over 10,000 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry's 8:00 a.m. update.
Maharashtra continues to be the epicentre of India's second wave, adding over 67,000 cases. Uttar Pradesh reported nearly 30,000 new cases, while Delhi reported over 24,000 cases.
Government Steps Up Efforts To Address Hospital Beds Shortage
The Narendra Modi government has written to all central ministries and public sector enterprises under them to dedicate their hospital beds for Covid-19 management in states and union territories.
Less Than 100 ICU Beds Vacant In Delhi: Kejriwal
Less than 100 intensive care unit beds are vacant in Delhi hospitals, and the situation is worsening every moment, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjiwal, according to ANI.
Delhi reported 25,500 new Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, and the positivity rate has increased to nearly 30% from 24% in the last 24 hours, Kerjiwal said in a press conference.
There are 10,000 beds in Delhi, including that of central government, of which, 1,800 beds are currently reserved for Covid patients. I request Centre to allot 7,000 of 10,000 beds in view of severe cases.Arvind Kerjiwal, Chief Minister, Delhi
Rahul Gandhi Cancels Rallies In West Bengal
Rahul Gandhi cancelled all his public rallies in poll-bound West Bengal.
The Congress leader also advised all other politicians to think about the consequences of holding large public rallies, even as Covid-19 cases surge across the country.
The Congress has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for holding political rallies despite the sharp spike in fresh Covid-19 infections.
Global Covid Death Toll Crosses 30 Lakh
Covid-19 deaths worldwide exceeded 30 lakh, according to Johns Hopkins University data, while cases crossed 10.44 crore, as of Sunday morning.
The burden is being increasingly borne by developing nations, including Brazil, Mexico and Peru. The U.S. recorded the highest number of new infections in a week as cases continue to surge, particularly in the Midwest.
Pfizer Inc. will increase supplies of its Covid-19 vaccine for Japan by the end of September, the country’s vaccine czar said on local TV. South Africa’s health regulator asked the government to lift the pause on administering Johnson & Johnson vaccines provided certain conditions are met.