ADVERTISEMENT

Coronavirus India Updates: Total Covid-19 At 17,656, More Than 1,500 New Cases In 24 Hours

Track latest news updates and developments on how the coronavirus situation is evolving in India here

A medic collects a swab sample of a man from a new swab testing cabin at Podar hospital in Worli during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Mumbai. (Source: PTI)
A medic collects a swab sample of a man from a new swab testing cabin at Podar hospital in Worli during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Mumbai. (Source: PTI)
LIVE FEED
Latest First
  • Oldest First

India reported a fresh spike in confirmed Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours as the total infections in the country rose to 17,656 by Monday evening. Yet, it also reported over 500 new recoveries.

The country added 1,540 new cases over the last 24 hours—it’s biggest single day addition, according to data from the health ministry as of 5:00 p.m.

The country has also reported 2,842 cases who've recovered and 559 deaths. In the last 24 hours, there have been 541 recoveries and 40 deaths.

A total of 4,01,586 samples from about 3,83,985 individuals have been tested as of 9 p.m. on April 19, India’s apex body for biomedical research and policy said in a statement. About 27,824 samples were tested for Covid 19 on Sunday, and 1,135 were positive.

Global Update:

Signs emerged that the global pandemic is easing as hot spots in Europe reported the smallest increases in fatalities in weeks, while New York appeared to be “on the other side” of the outbreak.

Globally, total confirmed cases topped 2.4 million with deaths at 165,000, according to John Hopkins data.

Mumbai Cases Cross 3,000: Maharashtra Government

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Mumbai reached 3,032 on Monday night—contributing almost two-thirds of the total cases in the state.

There have been seven deaths in Mumbai over the last 24 hours. Total deaths related to Covid-19 in the city stands at 139.

Maharashtra has 4,666 confirmed cases and 232 recorded deaths.

ADVERTISEMENT

India Adds 1,540 New Cases

India added 1,540 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the total tally to 17,656 in the country.

  • Active cases: 14,255
  • Cured/discharged/migrated: 2,842
  • Deaths: 559

Source: Health Ministry (As of April 20, 5 p.m.)


ICMR Reacts To West Bengal's Allegation Of Faulty Test Kits

Responding to allegations made by the West Bengal Health Department that their supplied test kits were faulty, the ICMR said the following:

“We received a grievance that in West Bengal, RT-PCR kits are not working properly. The BGI Kit is U.S. FDA Approved and have good quality standard, but there is only issue that it should be stored under 20 degrees temperature. The complaint was the technician had to carry out multiple repeat tests. It could be a case the kits were kept at room temperature.”

ADVERTISEMENT

80 Out Of 100 Cases Asymptomatic, Says ICMR

In every 100 cases of the Covid-19 infection, 80 are likely to be asymptomatic (without symptoms), according to the Indian Council of Medical Research in today’s press briefing. The statement was made based on global data assessments, Joint health Secretary Lav Agarwal later added.

15 percent of the cases convert into severe cases and may need oxygen support while 5 percent of the cases can convert into critical cases, Agarwal said.

Addressing quality concerns of the rapid antibody test, ICMR Chief epidemiologist RR Gangakhedkar said that they are not used for Individual testing and is neither a confirmatory test. They can however be used for surveillance. We have just a started the testing and only batch has come in. All these kits are CE-IVD approved.


India’s Doubling Rate Improves To 7.5 Days From 3.4 Before Lockdown: Lav Agarwal

India’s doubling rate - the number of days it takes for cases to double in a given region - has improved to 7.5 days from 3.4 days, Joint Secretary of Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said today.

States with less 20 days Doubling rate

  • Delhi-8.5 days,
  • Karnataka-9.2 days,
  • Telangana-9.4 days,
  • Andhra Pradesh-10.6 days,
  • J&K (UT)- 11.5 days,
  • Punjab- 13.1 days,
  • Chattisgarh - 13.3 days,
  • Tamil Nadu-14 days.
  • Bihar-16.4 days.

Between 20 days to 30 days:

  • A&N - 20.1 days,
  • Haryana - 21 days.
  • Himachal Pradesh - 24.5 days,
  • Chandigarh - 25.4 days,
  • Assam - 25.8 days.
  • Uttarakhand - 26.6 days.
  • Ladakh (UT) - 26.6 days.

More than 30 days:

  • Odisha - 39.8 days.
  • Kerala - 72.2 days.

Other key Highlights:

  • About 2546 people have recovered taking our recovery rate to 14.75 percent.
  • Since yesterday, 1553 additional cases have been reported.
  • Total confirmed cases are now at 17,265. 35 new deaths have also been reported in the country in the last 24 hours.
  • India has expressed willingness to collaborate with other nations for vaccine and drug development with G-20 nations.
  • There are three districts - Mahe (Puducherry), Kodaggu (Karnataka) & Pauri Garhwal (Uttrakhand) have not reported any fresh cases during the last 28 days.
ADVERTISEMENT