Top 10 Covid-19 updates: Maharashtra records 11,119 cases; Tamil Nadu’s tally nears 3.50 lakh-mark
A look at the biggest Covid-19 developments of the day.
- The number of coronavirus cases in India rose by 55,079 to 27,02,742 on Tuesday. The toll rose to 51,797 after 826 more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. As many as 19,77,779 people in India have recovered from the coronavirus so far.
- Maharashtra registered 11,119 new coronavirus cases, 9,356 recoveries and 422 deaths, taking state’s tally of infections – which is the highest in the country – to 6,15,477. The toll stood at 20,687. Tamil Nadu recorded 5,709 coronavirus cases and 121 deaths in 24 hours, taking the state’s tally to 3,49,654 and the toll to 6,007. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh became the third state after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to cross the three lakh-mark, after the state recorded 9,652 new coronavirus infections, taking the tally to 3,06,261. The toll rose by 88 to 2,820.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on Monday night admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. Shah, who had contracted the coronavirus, had tested negative on August 14. Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Atul Garg tested positive for the infection.
- The Supreme Court has ruled that the PM CARES Fund, set up in March in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic by the prime minister’s office, cannot be directed to be deposited or transferred to the National Disaster Relief Fund. While disposing the petition, the court added that there was no need for a fresh national disaster relief plan for the pandemic.
- The Election Commission said that it will come up with “broad guidelines” for holding polls within the next three days, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The poll panel said the matter of issuing guidelines for Assembly elections and bye-elections during the “Covid-19 period” was discussed at a meeting earlier in the day.
- Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India has begun negotiations with 13 more countries to establish air bubble arrangements for international flight services. The countries include Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
- The Supreme Court has reserved its judgement on a bunch of petitions that challenged the University Grants Commission’s directive to conclude final year exams by September 30 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The court gave three days to all parties to submit their written arguments.
- The condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus on August 10, is unchanged and he continues to be on ventilator support, the Army’s Research and Referral hospital said.
- Nearly 50 lakh salaried persons lost their jobs in July, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy has said. This was the impact of a continuing partial lockdown imposed to combat the coronavirus pandemic. India began its “Unlock” procedure on June 1, to restart all economic activities.
- Globally, the coronavirus has infected 2,19,12,218 people and claimed over 7.74 lakh lives, according to the Johns Hopkins University’s tracker. More than 1.39 crore people have recovered from the infection so far.