Health workers prepare to conduct rapid-antigen methodology Covid-19 tests from a testing vehicle at a healthcare center in New Delhi. (Photographer: T. Narayan/Bloomberg)
6 years ago
Jul 31, 2020
Track news and developments around the Covid-19 outbreak in India here.
The cases of #COVID19 infection have increased in Madhya Pradesh, but the recovery rate has improved. We have adequate treatment facilities in the state: Narottam Mishra, Home Minister, Madhya Pradesh pic.twitter.com/GCJuEVgfB7
More than 6 lakh tests done in 24 hours. Ministry of Health continues to implement strategy of comprehensive testing, tracking&treatment to effectively tackle pandemic. The objective is to raise testing capacity to 10 lakhs tests per day in medium term: Health Ministry. #COVID19pic.twitter.com/Eqlper1abT
Gujarat: Kader Shaikh, a businessman from Surat, after recovering from Coronavirus, has turned his office space at Shreyam Complex into a #COVID19 facility with 85 beds, to provide free treatment to poor. pic.twitter.com/kVcLotzUfT
All religious places in Rajasthan will be allowed to open for public from Sept. 1 as a part of Covid-19 Unlock 3.0 guidelines announced on Thursday.
The Department of Home will release separate guidelines for religious places considering the Covid-19 situation, an official statement said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has instructed all district collectors to start preparations to open religious places with social distancing and health protocols. Gehlot also asked gram panchayats to select ''Gram Rakshak'' in villages by Aug. 31.
The Chief Minister said these village guards will serve as a bridge between the police and the public to help in effective monitoring of the criminal activities and build public trust in police. Chief Minister on Thursday also reviewed the Unlock-3 guidelines and Covid-19 status in a meeting.
Gehlot said the death rate due to the Coronavirus infection in July has been less than one percent. He said saving lives of the people of the state from coronavirus has been a top priority of the government. The Chief Minister also said the secretary in-charge will go on a two-day tour from Aug. 31 to take stock of the situation to ensure better monitoring of the Covid-19 pandemic in districts.
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca repeated its promise not to profit from a Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic as it reported it was on track with late-stage trials for the treatment.
Such promises were boosted by strong sales across its range of treatments during lockdown.
Sales jumped by 14% to $12.6 billion in the first six months of 2020 and were helped by strong trading in new medicines, as well as cancer and respiratory medication.
Despite the good earnings, CEO Pascal Soriot said he remained cautious amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. “If we have learned one thing with this virus, it is that it is unpredictable,'' he said. “And so we need to remain cautious.”
He said the company was on track to make 2 billion doses of the vaccine at a few dollars a dose. It also concluded three more deals for distribution - should the vaccine work.
