Coronavirus India Updates: States Announce Partial Lockdowns As India Tops 7.6 Lakh Cases
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Coronavirus infections in India have topped 7.5 lakh as the country continues to report over 20,000 cases on a daily basis, prompting the authorities to put several cities, districts and states under renewed lockdowns.
India added nearly 25,000 Covid-19 cases in just 24 hours to peg the total tally at over 7.69 lakh, according to the Health Ministry’s 8 a.m. update on July 9. Over 4.7 lakh of these cases have been declared as cured or discharged.
The Madhya Pradesh government decided to enforce a complete lockdown across the state on Sundays due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in some districts during the past week. Bihar imposed fresh lockdowns in several regions including the worst-hit Patna district.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too said that a lockdown will be imposed in containment zones in West Bengal for seven days from 5 p.m. Thursday. The situation will be reviewed after the seven days and the next course of action will be decided, she said.
Key Numbers:
- Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 7,67,296
- Active cases: 2,69,789
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 4,76,378
- Deaths: 21,129
- New cases in a day: 24,879
- One-day recoveries: 19,547
- One-day deaths: 487
Global Update
The U.S. surpassed 3 million infections to account for more than a quarter of cases worldwide. California and Texas recorded surging cases and deaths. Mexico had its biggest daily jump in infections as the virus ravages the Americas. Iran reported its deadliest day, while South Africa’s health minister warned of a scarcity of intensive-care beds.
Globally, total cases have topped 12 million while deaths have exceeded 548,000.
Track latest news and updates on the pandemic in India, here:
Most Deaths In People Between 60-75 Years Of Age
India today said that most deaths due to Covid-19 were among the population that was between 60 to 75 years of age.
39% of Covid-19 deaths were in the 60-57 age group, which forms 8% of the total population, the health ministry said in a press briefing.
India Says It Has Managed Pandemic Well
India today asserted that the country's has managed the Covid-19 outbreak "relatively well" given the size of its population.
"Today we have 538 cases per million population, as per WHO situation report," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare representative Rajesh Bhushan said in a press briefing today. "Cases per million population in U.S. and Peru is 17 times more than what it is in India."
Bhushan said that India's death per million population is also among the lowest in the world. "We have 15 deaths per million population, compared to other countries where the same number is 40 times higher."
He noted that the gap between active and recovered cases has been progressively increasing. It shows that the country has been able to manage the situation without unduly burdening the health infrastructure, he said.
Watch: Prime Minister's Address
India Has Lowest Rate of Cases, Deaths Per Million, Says Government Of India
Bihar Health Minister On Alleged Mishandling Of Bodies In Nalanda Hospital
Covid-19 Centres Facing Problems Power Disruption In Three Arunachal Districts
A fault in a key transmission line has disrupted power supply in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh since Sunday afternoon, posing a serious challenge for the authorities to manage Covid-19 care centres, a minister has said.
The Khatalguri-Deomali 220-kilovolt line tripped due to a technical snag at 4.32 pm on Sunday, disrupting power supply in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, Public Health Engineering & Water Supply Minister Wangki Lowang said.
"No alternative arrangements are available to supply power to these three districts," he said on Wednesday.
Lowang said that the executive engineer concerned has given assurance that the power supply would be restored within two to three days.
"I have apprised Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who is also the power minister, of the critical situation and urged him to take urgent steps for restoration of electricity supply to end sufferings of the people," Lowang said.
Power problem has affected functioning of the Covid facilities in these districts, the minister said.
The hospitals have generators but there is lack of manpower in these facilities to operate them, official sources said.
Source: PTI
Over 2.6 Samples Tested On July 8
A total of 1,07,40,832 samples have been tested for the Covid-19 strain of coronavirus infection as of July 8. Of these, 2,67,061 samples were tested yesterday, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research.
State-Wise Breakup
Clinical Trials For Ayurvedic Formulations Against Covid-19 To Be Initiated In India, U.S.
Ayurvedic practitioners and researchers in India and the US are planning to initiate joint clinical trials for Ayurveda formulations against the novel coronavirus, the Indian envoy here has said.
In a virtual interaction with a group of eminent Indian-American scientists, academicians, and doctors on Wednesday, Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said the vast network of institutional engagements have brought scientific communities between the two countries together in the fight against Covid-19.
Our Institutions have also been collaborating to promote Ayurveda through joint research, teaching and training programs. Ayurvedic practitioners and researchers in both the countries are planning to initiate joint clinical trials of Ayurvedic formulations against Covid-19, Sandhu said.
Our scientists have been exchanging knowledge and research resources on this front, he said.
The Indo-U.S. Science Technology Forum has always been instrumental in promoting excellence in science, technology, and innovation through collaborative activities. To address Covid-19-related challenges, the IUSSTF had given a call to support joint research and start-up engagements. Large number of proposals are being reviewed on fast track mode by the experts on both the sides, he said.
Indian pharmaceutical companies are global leaders in producing affordable low-cost medicines and vaccines and will play an important role in the fight against this pandemic, Sandhu said.
According to the ambassador, there are at least three ongoing collaborations between Indian vaccine companies with U.S.-based institutions.
Source: PTI
Lockdown In Containment Zones In Bengal For Seven Days From 5 p.m. Thursday
Lockdown will be imposed in containment zones in West Bengal for seven days from 5 p.m. Thursday to check the surge in novel coronavirus cases, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.
The situation will be reviewed after the seven days and the next course of action will be decided, she said at the state secretariat here.
"This lockdown in containment zones in West Bengal will continue for seven days from 5 p.m. Thursday. Will review the situation after seven days and then decide next course of action on lockdown," the chief minister said.
If it is seen that the number of cases are coming down during this period, then some relaxations will be announced, Banerjee said. She urged people to maintain physical distance and wear face masks.
Source: PTI