Coronavirus India Updates: Tally Tops 3.4 Lakh; Modi Says Green Shoots Visible In The Economy

More than 3.4 lakh people have been infected by the Covid-19 strain of coronavirus in India, with the total number of deaths set to cross the 10,000-mark. At the same time, one-day recoveries spike to over 10,000 cases.

India added over 10,667 cases in the 24 hours preceding the Health Ministry’s 8 a.m. update on June 16, taking the total tally to 3,43,091.

Key Numbers

• Total number of confirmed cases: 3,43,091
• Active cases: 1,53,178
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 1,80,012
• Deaths: 9,900

Authorities reported 10,667 new cases, 380 deaths and 10,215 recoveries in the 24 hour period.

Home Minister Amit Shah held an all-party meeting on Monday, in light of the increasing number of cases in Delhi, where he said that the Delhi government will start conducting 18,000 tests per day by June 20.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold talks with state chief ministers this week amid the continued spread of the virus in the country. Even with the rising cases, authorities continued to assert that there is no community transmission in India.

The Supreme Court has, however, taken cognisance of the increase in cases and issued notices to Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on their handling of the pandemic.

Global Update

New outbreaks in the U.S. have some states considering whether to pause reopenings. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for local governments to reinforce social-distancing guidelines following complaints about outdoor bar patrons congregating in large groups without masks.

Retail outlets in England selling non-essential items opened on Monday for the first time since March. French President Emmanuel Macron said the pace of emerging from the lockdown will accelerate, and Singapore prepared to ease curbs.

Globally, cases passed 79 lakh, while deaths exceeded 4.33 lakh, as of this morning.

Track news and developments around the Covid-19 pandemic in India here.

Maharashtra today reported that the state's death toll has been revised upwards to 5,537 as it accounted for additional fatalities following a review.

A total of 1,328 older deaths are being reported today, the public health department said. Of this, 862 were from Mumbai while 466 were from the rest of the state.

The state added 2,701 new cases today taking the total tally to 1,13,445 cases.

Green shoots are visible in the economy now, Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi said in his interaction with state chief ministers on the Covid-19 issue.

Here are the highlights of what the prime minister had to say:

• Power consumption has begun to rise again
• Fertiliser sale in May 2020 double that of last May
• Kharif sowing us 12% higher than last year
• 2-wheeler production has reached 70% of pre-lockdown levels
• Retail digital payments are back to pre-lockdown levels
• After three months of decline, exports in June back to last year’s pre-Covid levels
• Rise in road toll collections indicate growth in economic activity

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was admitted to a hospital On Monday night with Covid-like symptoms of breathlessness. He is being tested for the virus.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal replied to the tweet, lauding Jain’s efforts to fight the virus int he national capital.

India has the world’s fourth highest Covid-19 recoveries, according to data by Johns Hopkins University and Health Ministry of India.

While rising recoveries is positive, the absolute number alone does not tell the full story since India also has the fourth highest confirmed cases in the world, making it statistically natural to have higher number of recoveries.

Doctors can still prescribe anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to patients, U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar said, hours after the FDA withdrew the emergency use authorisation of chloroquine and HCQ in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

The US Food and Drug Administration's decision came on Monday after it concluded that the anti-malarial drugs may not be effective to cure the virus infections and lead to greater risks than any potential benefits.

"At this point, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are just like any other approved drug in the United States. They may be used in hospital, they may be used in out-patient, they may be used at home, all subject to a doctor's prescription," Azar said.

The FDA said its decision in this regard was based on new information, including clinical trial data results, that have led it conclude that the drugs may not be effective in treating COVID-19 and that its potential benefits for such use do not outweigh its known and potential risks.

Source: PTI