Coronavirus India Updates: Total Tally Tops 6 Lakh As Cases Continue To Mount

A review of studies has found major weaknesses in the evidence base for diagnostic accuracy of Covid-19 antibody tests, particularly for point-of-care tests performed directly with a patient, outside a laboratory, and does not support their continued use.

Serological tests to detect antibodies against Covid-19 could improve diagnosis and may be useful tools for monitoring levels of infection in a population, but it is important to formally evaluate whether there is sufficient evidence that they are accurate, the researchers said.

The study, published in The BMJ, set out to determine the diagnostic accuracy of antibody tests for Covid-19.

The researchers, including those from Harvard Medical School in the U.S. and University of British Columbia, Canada, searched medical databases and preprint servers from Jan. 1 to April 30, for studies measuring sensitivity and specificity of a Covid-19 antibody test compared with a control test.

Source: PTI

A 10-day complete lockdown has been enforced from Thursday in Thane and two other civic administration limits adjoining Mumbai city to contain the spread of coronavirus, officials said.

Essential services and medical emergencies are exempted from the lockdown, while inter-city buses, autorickshaws and taxis will not be allowed to operate in these civic limits, they said.

The Thane Municipal Corporation, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation and Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, all part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, jointly decided on the complete lockdown for next 10 days in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in these areas, the officials said.

Source: PTI

Navi Mumbai will go under total lockdown for the next ten days till July 13, the municipal corporation said today.

Transportation of essential goods and perishable items will be allowed. Public transport services will not be allowed.

This comes soon after NMMC declared 10 additional areas as containment zones and stepped up screening efforts.

The total no. of people being tested for #COVID19 tests in the country will soon touch one crore. This has been possible due to removal of all bottlenecks by GoI. Various steps taken by Central Government have paved the way for enhanced testing for COVID-19: Government of India

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2020

The Telangana High Court has expressed dissatisfaction over a report filed by the state government on Covid-19 tests being conducted in the state.

The court hearing a batch of PILs on Wednesday also sought to know why detailed information with regard to coronavirus cases being put out by the government was not being made available to the public.

Expressing displeasure over details filed by the Telangana Public Health director, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, directed the state government to file a detailed report on the present Covid-19 situation in the state by July 17.

The bench also said it would summon the chief secretary and other senior officials concerned to appear before it personally if the report is not received.

When contacted, Advocate-General BS Prasad said they will comply with the court's direction.

The court was hearing a batch of Public Interest Litigations filed by Professor PL Vishweshwar Rao and others on the number of coronavirus tests being conducted in the state, medical infrastructure and also a direction to the state government on a detailed Covid-19 health bulletin to the public.

The court also directed the government to furnish the report on the finding of the central committee that has visited the state capital Hyderabad recently. Telangana had yesterday reported 1,018 fresh Covid-19 cases and seven fatalities,taking the tally in the state to 17,357 and death toll to 267.

Source: PTI

5800 vehicles seized in last 2 days, in connection with violation of #CoronavirusLockdown norms. On 30th June, 3508 vehicles were seized and on 1st July, 2369 vehicles were seized: Mumbai Police pic.twitter.com/osIkFdQdZQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2020

Mumbai police on Wednesday issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in the city, restricting movement of people in public places, and said the measure was taken to check the spread of Covid-19.

The order says curbs on movement for non-essential work came into force from Wednesday and shall remain so till July 15, unless withdrawn earlier.

Global Update

Mexico overtook Spain in coronavirus deaths and is now the sixth hardest hit nation, while Australian police are probing alleged security lapses at Melbourne hotels used to quarantine overseas arrivals, including claims guards slept with guests. The latest surge in U.S. cases spurred areas including New York City and California to pull back on reopenings and more local governments instituted mask requirements. Apple Inc. will close more stores and McDonald’s Corp. paused resuming dine-in services.

Global cases pass 10.6 million; Deaths top 514,000.

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