COVID: Punjab CM Orders Daily Night Curfew; Biggest Spike in Maha
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Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday, 20 August, ordered the extension of weekend lockdown along with a daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am in all the 167 cities or towns of the state from Friday.
The CM has also ordered a total ban on all gatherings, except weddings and funerals, across the state till 31 August, reported ANI, quoting the CM’s office.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Thursday reported 14,492 new COVID-19 cases and 326 fatalities, taking the tally in the state to 6,43,289 and the death toll to 21,359. This is the biggest one-day spike in cases in the state.
- Earlier on Thursday, India reported 69,652 new cases of coronavirus, in what is the biggest one-day spike, taking the tally in the country to 28,36,926
- Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has tested positive for COVID-19
- Veteran DMK orator and former Tamil Nadu minister A Rahman Khan, who recently recovered from COVID-19, passed away on Thursday, PTI reported
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COVID-19 Patient Kills Self in Moradabad
A COVID-19 patient who was admitted at the COVID care centre in Teerthanker Mahaveer University of Moradabad allegedly died by suicide.
“We are checking the CCTV footage. Investigation is underway,” Ashok Kumar, SP Crime told ANI.
Over 9 Lakh Samples Tested in India in 24 Hours
More than 9 lakh COVID-19 tests were conducted in India in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified.
With Biggest Spike of 69,652, India’s COVID Tally Crosses 28 Lakh
With a spike of 69,652 cases in the last 24 hours, the total tally of COVID19 casrs in the country rose to 28,36,926 on Thursday, 20 August. The figure includes 6,86,395 active cases, 20,96,665 cured/discharged/migrated and 53,866 deaths.
Kerala Doctors Move HC Over Salaries
18 junior government doctors working for containing the spread COVID-19 pandemic have approached the Kerala High Court, seeking a direction to the government to disburse their salaries along with arrears immediately, ANI reported.
True Extent of COVID's Destruction Still Unclear: Jaishankar
Speaking at the 6th Roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the extent of the destruction due to COVID-19 still remains unclear.
“World faces an unprecedented challenge. None of us have seen a crisis of this proportion before. Even after several months, the true extent of its destruction remains unclear,” he said, as quoted by ANI.
“Impact of COVID-19 has been beyond our collective imagination. Current estimates put cumulative loss in the range of $5.8 to $8.8 trillion or approx 6.5 or 9.7% of the global GDP. The contraction of world economy being predicted will surely be largest since great depression,” he said.
“As we come out of this pandemic, let us be clear on one fact that the world will never be the same again- that means new thinking, fresh ideas, more imagination and greater openness, we need to go beyond orthodoxes,” Jaisjankar added.
29 New Cases in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh recorded at least 29 new COVID-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the state's COVID tally to 4,440 cases including 1,340 active cases, 3,039 recoveries and 19 deaths.
Water Minister Shekhawat Tests Positive
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat tests positive for COVID-19 positive.
Over 9.18 Lakh Tests for COVID-19 in One Day: Health Ministry
A record number of 9,18,470 tests for COVID-19 were conducted in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Thursday, adding that the tests per million (TPM) figure has risen to 23,668.
The recovery rate in the country, meanwhile, stands at 73.91 percent.
Veteran DMK Orator Rahman Khan Passes Away After Recently Recovering From COVID
Veteran DMK orator and former Tamil Nadu minister A Rahman Khan, who recently recovered from COVID-19, passed away on Thursday, PTI reported
26 Volunteers Who Helped During Kerala Plane Crash Rescue Ops Test COVID +Ve
As many as 26 volunteers, who rushed to the Air-India Express plane crash site in Kerala's Kozhikode and evacuated injured passengers on 7 August, have tested positive for COVID-19, an official was quoted by PTI as saying on Thursday.
1,215 New COVID-19 Cases in Delhi; Tally Rises to Over 1.57 Lakh
Delhi on Thursday reported 1,215 new COVID-19 cases and 22 fatalities, taking the tally in the national capital to 1,57,354 and the death toll to 4,257. As many as 1,059 patients also recovered or were discharged on Thursday.
Punjab CM Orders Daily Night Curfew in Urban Areas
Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered the extension of weekend lockdown along with a daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am in all the 167 cities or towns of the state from Friday.
The CM has also ordered a total ban on all gatherings, except weddings and funerals, across the state till 31 August, reported ANI, quoting the CM’s office.
Government and private offices will be allowed to work at 50 percent of the capacity till the end of the month, the CMO further said.
5,986 New COVID-19 Cases in TN; Tally Rises to Over 3.61 Lakh
Tamil Nadu on Thursday reported 5,986 new COVID-19 cases and 116 fatalities, taking the tally in the state to 3,61,435 and the death toll to 6,239.
14,492 New COVID-19 Cases in Maharashtra in Biggest 1-Day Spike
Maharashtra on Thursday reported 14,492 new COVID-19 cases and 326 fatalities, taking the tally in the state to 6,43,289 and the death toll to 21,359. This is the biggest one-day spike in cases in the state. As many as 12,243 recoveries were also reported on Thursday.
Looking to Partner With India for Producing Sputnik V Vaccine: Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO
Russia is looking to partner with India for producing the COVID-19 vaccine ‘Sputnik V’, Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund said on Thursday, reported PTI.
The vaccine, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin a few days back, has been subject to international skepticism over the procedure for its approval.