Coronavirus India Updates: Tally Tops 23 Lakh As Health Ministry Touts Recovery Rate

Coronavirus infections in India continue to race ahead with the country adding at least a lakh new cases every two days now.

India added more than 60,000 cases in a matter of 24 hours, taking the total tally to 23.2 lakh in the world’s third-worst infected country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on Aug. 11. This includes over 46,000 deaths and more than 16.3 lakh patients who have recovered.

That’s the fifth time India has reported over 60,000 cases in a day.

This comes at a time when the country’s Health Ministry is trying to convince people of the government’s success in handling the Covid-19 crisis. Effective clinical management of coronavirus cases has resulted in the rise of recovery rate to nearly 70%, while the case fatality rate has fallen below 2% for the first time since the lockdown was imposed on March 25, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press briefing, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the active Covid-19 cases, which comprised 88.83% of the total caseload on March 31, have reduced to 28.21% as on date.

Key figures:

• Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 23,29,638
• Active cases: 6,43,948
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 16,39,599
• Deaths: 46,091
• Fresh cases in 24 hours: 60,963
• One-day recoveries: 56,110
• One-day deaths: 834

Global Update

Moderna Inc. reached a deal with the U.S. to manufacture and distribute 100 million doses of its experimental vaccine as part of the government’s effort to stockpile doses from promising trials. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his government has cleared the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine for use, even before clinical testing has finished.

Globally, total cases topped 20.1 million with over 738,000 dead.

Track news and developments around the outbreak in India here.

Half of the world's youth population are subject to anxiety or depression-causing circumstances and more than a third are uncertain of their future career prospects due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a survey by the International Labour Organization.

The ILO's 'Youth and Covid-19: impacts on jobs, education, rights and mental well-being' survey found that if urgent action is not taken, youths are at the risk of suffering severe and long-lasting adverse impacts from the pandemic.

Source: PTI

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is undergoing treatment for Covid-19 infection at a private hospital here has tested negative and will be discharged tomorrow, his office said on Wednesday.

The Leader of Opposition in the state assembly has "completely recovered", a statement said. It said, "according to doctors the throat swab and blood test conducted for the second time, have come negative."

The 71-year-old leader was admitted to Manipal Hospital hospital on August 4. Siddaramaiah had fever only during the initial two days, other than that he had no symptoms of the infection. "Doctors have said that Siddaramaiah will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow," the statement added.

His son and Congress MLA from Varuna Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah had tested positive for Covid-19 on Aug.7. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa who was also undergoing treatment for Covid infection at the same Manipal Hospital was discharged on Monday after recovery, he is currently under self-quarantine at home.

Source: PTI

Nearly 51% of the excess amount charged by hospitals from Covid-19 patients has been refunded by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra, the civic body said on Wednesday.

Following complaints of overcharging, KDMC Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryavanshi ordered an audit of all hospitals within the civic limits treating Covid-19 patients.

It was found in the audit that as many as 15 hospitals in Kalyan and Dombivli areas charged an excess amount of Rs 31.45 lakh from patients who availed medical treatment there.

The corporation issued show-cause notices to those hospitals and has till now recovered from them Rs 16.15 lakh which has refunded to the patients concerned, KDMC said in a release.

The municipal corporation also said it has issued a show-cause notice to a private hospital in Kalyan for violation of instructions on the reservation of 80 per cent beds for patients and having fixed rates for treatment.

Source: PTI

Two more people from Muzaffarnagar have died of COVID-19, taking the death toll in the district to 22, and 43 new cases of the infection have been detected here, officials said on Wednesday.

A woman from Gandhinagar locality and a man from Gandhi Colony were shifted to a Meerut hospital, where they died Tuesday evening, Chief Medical Officer Praveen Chopda said.

Forty-three more people, including 14 inmates of the district jail, have tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, the officials said, adding that the number of active cases in the district now stands at 236.

Source: PTI

Rajasthan Royals' fielding coach Dishant Yagnik has tested positive for Covid-19, the IPL franchise announced on Wednesday, days before leaving for the UAE to take part in the lucrative league.

The 13th edition of Indian Premier League is set to take place in the UAE from Sept. 19 to Nov. 10.

"Rajasthan Royals would like to inform that their fielding coach Dishant Yagnik has tested positive for Covid-19," the franchise said in a statement. "The test was undertaken keeping in mind that the team members need to assemble in Mumbai next week for their flight to the UAE.

"The franchise implemented an extra test for all players, support staff and management travelling to the UAE in addition to the two tests recommended by BCCI, to ensure as robust a process as possible."

Yagnik is currently in his hometown Udaipur and has been advised to get admitted to a hospital for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Source: PTI