Coronavirus India Updates: Total Cases Near 3.7 Lakh With 12,881 Reported In A Single Day
Track news and developments around the Covid-19 pandemic in India here.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
The Covid-19 infection rate in India shows no signs of abating as the world’s fourth-worst affected nation reported the biggest single-day spike in cases on Thursday.
India added nearly 13,000 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 3,66,946 in Asia’s third-largest economy, according to Health Ministry’s update on June 18.
Key Numbers
- Active cases: 1,60,384
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 1,94,325
- Deaths: 12,237
Indian authorities reported 12,881 new cases, 334 deaths and 7,390 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Global Update
The global coronavirus cases top 8.3 million, including more than 447,500 deaths.
U.S. states, including Texas, Florida and Arizona reported a jump in cases, increasing concerns about a new wave of infections. New York City, once the outbreak’s epicenter, is moving toward additional reopening next week.
Beijing’s growing outbreak is posing a new test for Chinese President Xi Jinping. A German meatpacking plant was ordered to shut after hundreds of workers became infected, adding to a string of outbreaks at European slaughterhouses.
Indonesia surpassed Singapore as having the most cases in Southeast Asia. Iran may bring back lockdowns after a surge of infections.
Track news and developments around the Covid-19 pandemic in India here...
BMC Gives Last Chance To Hospitals To Disclose Unreported Deaths
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has said that hospitals in the greater Mumbai area will have a "last and final chance" to disclose any death cases which are pending to be reported for more than 48 hours.
Failure to do so will result in action under the Epidemic Act of 1897, the minicipal commissioner said in a notice.
Mumbai had earlier revised its death toll to report 862 additional fatalities that had previously gone unreported. Currently, it said that there are no pending unreported deaths with any of the hospitals.
Centre Targets 6 Lakh Rapid Covid-19 Tests In Delhi; To Add 500 Ventilators, 650 Ambulances
The Centre plans to conduct six lakh rapid antigen Covid-19 tests in Delhi at 169 new facilities being set up in the capital where 50,000 kits have already been supplied, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday.
He also said the central government is going to provide 500 additional ventilators and 650 ambulances to hospitals in Delhi, which has seen a spike in number of coronavirus cases over the past few days.
"From today onwards, 169 testing centres will be operational in Delhi where rapid antigen methodology will be used. We have targeted to conduct six lakh tests. People living in containment zones and relatives of the positive cases can go for test in any of these centres," Reddy told reporters here.
The Union Minister of State for Home said that as of now 50,000 rapid testing kits procured from South Korea have been sent to these 169 testing centres.
He said Delhi currently has 431 ventilators and the central government will provide 500 more to hospitals in the city.
Similarly, the central government will provide 650 ambulances to add to the 350 that the city already has, he said.
"Because of the (coronavirus) situation, people of Delhi were gripped with tension. So, the Central government took the matter seriously," he said.
Reddy said that following a directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and under the leadership of Home Minister Amit Shah, the Centre and the Delhi government took certain decisions for the benefit of the people of the capital.
Source: PTI
Delhi Caps Price Of Covid-19 Test
Four BRTF personnel Test Positive In Arunachal Pradesh
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Arunachal Pradesh has crossed the 100-mark with four Border Roads Task Force personnel testing positive for the infection, a senior health official said on Thursday.
The four new cases have taken the virus count in the northeastern state to 103, of which 93 are active and ten persons have recovered, he said.
The fresh cases have been reported from quarantine centres in Lower Dibang Valley, Namsai, Tirap and Lower Siang districts. The patients are asymptomatic and have been admitted to Covid-19 care centres of the BRTF, State Surveillance Officer, Dr L Jampa, said.
The new patients had recently returned to Arunachal Pradesh from other states.
(Source: PTI)
Sisodia Takes Charge Of Health, PWD Ministries In Delhi
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday took over charge of health, public works, power and other departments held by his cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain, who has tested positive for Covid-19, an official said.
Jain was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital early Tuesday after running high fever and suffering a sudden drop in oxygen level. The 55-year-old leader’s result came coronavirus positive on Wednesday evening after a second test.
Jain will remain the cabinet minister without any portfolio in the Arvind Kejriwal government until he recovers.
(Source: PTI)
Karnataka Ministers Celebrate 'Mask Day'
Fith Cuts India's Rating Outlook
Fitch Ratings revises the outlook on India's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating to 'Negative' from 'Stable', while affirming the country’s rating at 'BBB-'.
“The coronavirus pandemic has significantly weakened India's growth outlook for this year and exposed the challenges associated with a high public-debt burden,” Fitch said in the release. “Fitch expects economic activity to contract by 5% in the fiscal year ending March 2021 (FY21) from the strict lockdown measures imposed since 25 March 2020, before rebounding by 9.5% in FY22.”
Biggest Single-Day Spike In Cases
India reported 12,881 new cases of coronavirus infection in a single day to take the total tally to 3,66,946. That’s the most number of cases reported in a 24 hour period. Authorities also recorded 334 deaths and 7,390 recoveries during the same period.
- Active cases: 1,60,384
- Cured/discharged/migrated: 1,94,325
- Deaths: 12,237
Source: Health Ministry (June 18, as of 8 a.m.)