Top 10 Covid-19 updates: WHO says virus’ impact will be felt for long; global recoveries top 1 crore
Here’s a look at the biggest coronavirus developments of the day.
- India on Friday reported a record 55,078 new coronavirus cases, taking the overall tally to 16,38,870. The toll rose to 35,747 with 779 more deaths. More than 10.57 lakh people in India have recovered. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said India’s doubling rate was now 21 days and that the recovery rate was up to 64.5%.
- Maharashtra registered 10,320 coronavirus and 265 deaths on Friday, taking the total tally of infections in the state to 4,22,118 and the toll to 14,994. Tamil Nadu reported 5,881 new cases and 97 deaths on Friday, taking the total tally of infections in the state to 2,45,859. The toll rose to 3,935. Delhi, meanwhile, recorded 1,195 new coronavirus cases and 27 deaths, according to a health bulletin released by the government on Friday evening. With this, the tally rose to 1,35,598 and the toll stood at 3,963.
- The global coronavirus outbreak is the sort of disaster whose effects will last far into the future, World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday. The World Health Organization had said on Thursday that younger people who are “letting down their guard” amid the coronavirus pandemic to enjoy the summer holidays are partly contributing to rising cases in some countries. The global health body warned young people that they were not invincible.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation extended the suspension of international flights in the country till August 31. While domestic flights resumed in India from May 25, the ban imposed on international flights is in place for more than four months. The DGCA barred international flights from March 23.
- The Supreme Court directed the Centre to ensure that frontline health workers are paid salaries on time amid the coronavirus crisis. The Centre told the court that Maharashtra, Punjab, Tripura and Karnataka had not complied with its earlier order. The court asked the Centre to take steps under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, if states fail to comply.
- The Supreme Court also gave states three weeks to file replies about compliance of earlier directions in the suo motu case on the migrant crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio quarantined himself at his home after a few of his staff members in his residential complex tested positive for the coronavirus.
- Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy announced that the lockdown in the Union Territory will be extended till August 31, but with relaxation in restrictions. The Himachal Pradesh government, meanwhile, extended lockdown to tackle coronavirus crisis in containment zones till August 31.
- The Indian government announced that coronavirus containment zones can be denotified 14 days after discharge of the last confirmed case of coronavirus, instead of the previously mandatory 28 days.
- The global coronavirus count crossed 1.73 crore, while the toll went up to 6,74,038, according to the Johns Hopkins University. More than one crore people across the world have recovered.