Coronavirus India Updates: India Reports More Recoveries Than New Cases In A First
Track all Covid-19 related news and updates from India, here.
Covid-19 cases in India rushed past the 27-lakh mark but also showed signs of some improvement as authorities, for the first time, reported more recoveries than fresh cases in a day.
The country added over 55,000 new cases in a matter of 24 hours, taking the total tally to over 27.02 lakh, according to the health ministry’s update as of 8:00 am on Aug. 18. This includes over 51,700 deaths and more than 19.7 lakh patients who have recovered.
This is the second time India has reported less than 60,000 new cases in a week. At the same time, recoveries per day have increased to nearly 58,000 today.
Key figures:
- Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 27,02,742
- Active cases: 6,73,166
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 19,77,779
- Deaths: 51,797
- Fresh cases in 24 hours: 55,079
- One-day recoveries: 57,937
- One-day deaths: 876
The still high pace of new cases can be partially attributed to the government’s increased testing efforts. Laboratories across India tested nearly 9 lakh samples yesterday - the highest number so far.
Active cases seem to be rising at a lower pace now - another encouraging sign.
India’s Covid-19 fatality rate has fallen to 1.93%, among the lowest globally, the health ministry said on Sunday. The recovery rate stands at nearly 72%. Aggresive testing, tracking and treatment have contributed to the high percentage of recoveries, it said.
Global Update
Hard-hit U.S. states including Arizona, California and Florida showed signs that their outbreaks are easing after a summer surge. The challenges to bringing college students back to campus were underscored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which switched to online learning after a rapid jump in cases.
Globally, the virus has now infected nearly 21.7 million people globally with the death toll at 776,000.
Track all Covid-19 related news and updates for India, here.
Odisha’s Covid-19 Situation Likely To Improve In Mid-September: ILS
Amid the spike in Covid-19 cases in Odisha, the city-based Institute of Life Sciences under the central government's Department of Biotechnology, said that the coronavirus situation in the state is likely to improve from the second week of September.
This was stated by ILS director Dr Ajay Parida.
He claimed that the situation will gradually normalise after reaching the peak in the first week of September. "This (fall in cases) has happened in Ganjam district and will occur in other parts of the state," Dr Parida said on Monday, adding that testing, tracing and isolation are the three major factors to contain the spread of the infection in the community.
He said despite the spike in Covid-19 cases, the state continues to maintain a high rate of recoveries and low rate of fatalities. "This is a good sign," Parida said, adding that the positivity rate is also on decline with increase in the number of tests.
"The positivity and fatality rates in Odisha is much below the national average", he said. The ILS director, however, expressed apprehensions over re-emergence of the virus.
"Though the rate of spread of Covid-19 had come down in Kerala, it again surfaced in that state. Going by this analysis, one cannot accurately predict complete eradication of the infection," he said.
Source: PTI
Manipur Health Minister Gives Medical Kits To Truck Drivers
Manipur Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar Singh distributed medical kits to truck drivers and helpers at Keithelmanbi bazar in Imphal West district. The minister praised truck drivers for bringing essential commodities and medicines to the northeastern state during the lockdown and also during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The medical kits comprising hand sanitiser, face mask, face shields were given to drivers of trucks plying along the Imphal-Jiribam Road on Monday, a press release issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations said.
The minister said that maintaining the standard operating procedures by every one of us including truck drivers and helpers is necessary to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
The minister said the Health department will provide all necessary help to truck drivers and helpers.
National Sports Awards Likely To Be Held Virtually Due To Covid-19 Pandemic
In a first, this year's National Sports Awards ceremony is likely to be held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with all the winners logging in from their respective places to hear their names being announced on Aug. 29.
The National Sports Day is celebrated on Aug. 29, the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. "The sports awards function this year is likely to be an online function. As per the Government of India instructions, the awardees will also be announced on the morning of the day of the function," a Sports Ministry source told PTI on Monday.
The pandemic had in June forced the ministry to extend the deadline for submission of online applications for the awards.
It also allowed athletes to self-nominate in view of the "difficulties" being faced by them in finding people who can recommend their names amid the lockdown. The self-nomination has resulted in a huge number of applicants for the awards.
Source: PTI
Jharkhand Reports 843 New Covid-19 Cases, 11 More Deaths
Jharkhand on Monday reported 843 new cases of Covid-19, taking the tally to 24,067, officials said. Eleven more patients died in the state, following which the toll increased to 255, they said.
So far, 15,348 people have recovered from the disease. There are 8,464 active cases in the state at present, they added.
During the last 24 hours, the state tested 16,682 samples for Covid-19.
Source: PTI
India Tests Nearly Highest Number Of Samples On Aug. 17: ICMR
Indian authorities have tested nearly 9 lakh samples yesterday - the highest number of samples to best within 24 hours - as the country ramps up its fight against the infection.