Coronavirus India Updates: Total Cases Top 3.8 Lakh; Over 12,500 Dead

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who has tested positive for COVID19, put on oxygen support after his lung infection increases: Office of Delhi Health Minister
(file pic) pic.twitter.com/RLnOeky0W4

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

A high-powered committee, set up by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has recommended fixing the cost of an Covid-19 isolation bed in any hospital in Delhi in the range of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 and an ICU bed with ventilator at Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 per day, the Home Ministry said on Friday.

The committee, under the chairmanship of VK Paul, Member NITI Aayog, was constituted on Sunday to ensure the availability of 60 per cent beds by private hospitals at lower rates and fix the rate of corona testing and treatment.

"The committee has recommended Rs 8,000-10,000, 13,000-15,000 & 15,000-18,000 including PPE costs for isolation bed, ICUs without & with ventilator respectively to all hospitals as compared to the current charges of Rs 24,000-25,000, 34,000-43,000 & 44,000-54,000 (excluding PPE cost)," a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

Source: PTI

While coughing, fever and difficulty in breathing are common symptoms of Covid-19, a new case study has found that pink eye is also a reason to be tested for the disease.

The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, determined that conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis can also be primary symptoms of Covid-19.

The researchers noted that in March, a 29-year-old woman arrived at the Royal Alexandra Hospital's Eye Institute of Alberta with a severe case of conjunctivitis and minimal respiratory symptoms.

After the patient had undergone several days of treatment with little improvement -- and after it had been determined that the woman had recently returned home from Asia -- a resident ordered a Covid-19 test.

The test came back positive, according to the researchers.

"What is interesting in this case, and perhaps very different to how it had been recognised at that specific time, was that the main presentation of the illness was not a respiratory symptom. It was the eye," said Carlos Solarte, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta in Canada.

Source: PTI

No new case of novel coronavirus was registered in Mizoram in the last 24 hours, government sources said on Friday.

According to a statement by the Department of Information and Public Relations, all 814 samples tested at Zoram Medical College on Thursday have reported negative for Covid-19.

Of the 814 samples, 260 were from Lunglei district, 171 from Champhai, 89 from Serchhip, 87 from Lawngtlai, 69 from Aizawl, 72 from Saitual, 60 from Khawzawl and six from patients undergoing treatment at ZMC, the statement maintained.

Eight Covid-19 patients will be discharged from the medical college on Friday, as they have tested negative twice for the disease, an official said.

They will be officially declared "recovered" upon discharge from the hospital.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in Mizoram continues to stand at 130, of which 121 are active patients.

Source: PTI

Tamil Nadu: Lockdown to remain imposed til June 30 in 4 districts of the state - Chennai, along with its neighbouring districts Chengalpet, Kancheepuram & Thiruvallur - in the wake of the rise in number of #COVID19 positive cases. Visuals from NSK Nagar(Anna Arch)area in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/cyLj3aZqMC

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

Global Update

Covid-19 cases surged in Latin America, with Mexico seeing a daily record of new infections and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro saying he would “radicalize” lockdown measures in Caracas. In Asia, Beijing’s airports canceled hundreds of flights amid a new virus outbreak in the city, even as Japan reportedly mulled easing travel restrictions with Taiwan.

As cases jumped in America’s Sun Belt, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he may order a quarantine for visitors from Florida. Texas infections were up by a record, and California made masks mandatory.

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