Delhi, 26 JUL 2020
Highest ever recoveries registered in a single day; more than 36,000 patients discharged; Recoveries outnumber active COVID cases by more than 4 lakh
Recovery rate touches new high, nearly 64% today
Yesterday recorded the highest ever recoveries in a single day. 36,145 COVID-19 patients were cured and discharged in the last 24 hours. This has taken the total number of recovered cases to 8,85,576. The recovery rate has achieved another high of fast approaching 64%. It stands at 63.92% today. This means more patients are recovering thus maintaining the steadily widening difference between recovered and active COVID-19 patients. This gap has crossed 4 lakh and currently stands at 4,17,694. Recovered cases are 1.89 times the active cases (4,67,882). For the first time a record number of more than 4,40,000 tests have been conducted in a single day. With 4,42,263 samples tested in the last 24 hours, the number of Test Per Million has further increased to 11,805 and cumulative testing to 1,62,91,331. For the first time a record number of more than 4,40,000 tests have been conducted in a single day. With 4,42,263 samples tested in the last 24 hours, the number of Test Per Million (TPM) has further increased to 11,805 and cumulative testing to 1,62,91,331.
PM to launch High Throughput COVID-19 testing facilities on 27 July
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch high throughput COVID-19 testing facilities on 27th July via video conferencing. These facilities will ramp up testing capacity in the country and help in strengthening early detection and treatment, thus assisting in controlling the spread of the pandemic. These three high-throughput testing facilities have been set up strategically at ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida; ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai; and ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, and will be able to test over 10,000 samples in a day. These labs will also reduce turn-around-time and exposure of lab personnel to infectious clinical materials.
English rendering of PM’s address in the 14th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat 2.0’ on 26.07.2020
“My dear countrymen, Namaskar. Today, is the 26th of July, a very special day…It is Kargil Vijay Diwas. It was on this very day 21 years ago, our Army unfurled the flag of victory in the battle of Kargil………….
Over the last few months, the way the country fought against Corona unitedly, has proven many apprehensions wrong. Today, the recovery rate in our country is better compared to other countries; the mortality rate in the context of Corona in our country is much less as well, compared to most countries, of course, the loss of even one life is saddening, but India has also succeeded in saving the lives of millions of her people. But friends, the hazards of Corona are far from being over. At many places, it is spreading fast. We need to be extra vigilant. We have to bear in mind that Corona is as fatal today as it was in the beginning – that’s why we have to be fully cautions. Wearing a face mask, using a gamchcha or a light towel to cover, two yard distancing, frequently washing hands, avoiding spitting anywhere, taking full care of hygiene & sanitation- these are our weapons to protect us from Corona. There are times when masks cause inconvenience, one feels like removing them from the face- especially during a conversation. When a mask is required the most, we tend to remove it. At such times, I urge you that whenever you feel your mask is bothersome and you want to remove it, spare a thought for those doctors, those nurses; think of our Corona warriors. You will find them wearing masks for hours together, diligently working to save our lives- sometimes wearing masks for a span of eight to ten hours……..”
Vice President expresses anguish over stigmatizing Corona virus patients and denial of dignified last rites to COVID-19 victims
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today expressed his anguish over instances of stigmatizing COVID-19 patients and denial of dignified farewell to people, who succumbed to the virus. He said such incidents were totally uncalled for and urged the local communities and the society at large to prevent the recurrence of such happenings. In a Facebook post, Shri Naidu said “The need of the hour is to fight prejudice and nip it in the bud. Otherwise, it can become more toxic than fake news and misinformation”. Urging everybody to treat COVID-19 patients with understanding and empathy, he said “It should be remembered that nobody is totally safe and the invisible virus can infect anybody”. Referring to instances, where people opposed providing burial space to those who died of COVID-19, he said it was totally unacceptable and goes against the age-old Indian traditions of being solidarity with bereaved family members. Shri Naidu urged the health authorities and the media to take up special campaigns to promote awareness and educate people on all the facts relating to the Corona virus and its transmission.
INPUTS FROM FIELD
Arunachal Pradesh: In Arunachal Pradesh, the rapid response teams found 35 people covid positive after antigen test in the Itanagar Capital Region. Deputy commissioner, Itanagar Capital Region issues guidelines for truck drivers entering in the state of Arunachal. Drivers carrying negative test report (not older than five days) will be permitted to enter.
Manipur: In Manipur, a meeting of the COVID-19 State Consultative Committee under Chief Minister Shri N Biren Singh in the chair adopted a decision to tighten the ongoing lockdown. Manipur government enacts ‘The Manipur Epidemic Diseases (Enforcement of COVID-19 Guidelines) Regulation, 2020. Those who violate quarantine guidelines and protocol will be fined Rs 1,000.
Mizoram: In Mizoram, 10 recovered Covid-19 patients discharged today. Now the total cases stand at 361 in the state with 168 active cases and 193 have been discharged so far.
Nagaland: In Nagaland, 50 new cases of COVID-19 have been detected. 28 in Kohima, 13 in Mon & 9 in Dimapur district. Total positive cases in Nagaland stands at 1339 with 794 active cases and 541 recoveries.
Sikkim: Sikkim government issues notification for extending lockdown till 1st August 2020 due to spike in Covid cases in the State.
Kerala: State saw five more Covid deaths today taking the toll to 64. Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases in most of the districts continue to surge drastically with considerable number of contact cases. Following the rapid increase in cases in Kozhikode, the district administration had issued an order for total lockdown in the district on Sundays. Vehicular traffic will be restricted in Kollam from tomorrow as part of containment strategy, in view of spike in contact cases. Kerala recorded the highest single-day spike in Covid cases, with 1,103 new cases yesterday. 838 were cases of local transmission. The state also registered its highest ever recovery of 1,049 yesterday. Currently, 9,420 patients are undergoing treatment and 54 lakh people under observation across the state.
Tamil Nadu: Puducherry Health Minister said that the number of Covid-19 cases in the UT is expected to rise to 6000 cases by the end of August and that the UT would be require more beds. On the last Sunday of intense lockdown this month in TN, essential services including health care services remain open as sanitary workers continued their clean-up work, and personnel of civic bodies conducted door-to-door surveys to detect people with flu like symptom. Very few volunteers come forward to donate plasma; In Chennai, for instance, of the over 85,000 recovered patients, only a mere 15 have come forward as donors.TN Covid tally touches new high as the State reported 6,988 fresh cases and 89 deaths yesterday, driving up the tally to 2,06,737 and the toll to 3,409.
Karnataka: 36 Railway cops test positive for Covid-19 in Bengaluru; one more employee succumbs to virus taking the overall toll of employees in the SW Railway Zone due to Covid-19 to five. Floods add to Covid crisis in Karnataka; accommodating people hit by floods at the community centres will be a big challenge for the administration as the number of Covid cases in the State continue to surge. The number of Covid-19 cases continued to rise in Karnataka with the State hitting the 90,000-plus mark with 5,072 cases yesterday, bringing the total tally to 90,942 cases. Active cases is 55,388 and death toll reach 1796 in the State.
Andhra Pradesh: State urged citizens to use ‘Covid-19 Andhra Pradesh’, a smartphone app, to connect with essential health services in the fight against Covid-19. Details regarding Covid hospitals, quarantine centres, testing centres and daily media bulletins can be accessed in this app. Hospitals in the state are going to be equipped with an additional 10 thousand ventilators; while there are already 22,500 oxygen beds are available. Madanapalle in Chittoor district will observe lockdown till August 2 amid rise in Covid cases. State released 2020-21 academic year calendar. Admissions in schools will start from July 27. Government hopes to reopen schools from September 5. 7813 new cases & 52 deaths reported yesterday as total cases rise to 88,671 with 44,431 active cases and death toll reaching 985.
Telangana: Doctors urge CM KCR to fast-track new Osmania Hospital buildings. Registered Medical Practitioners (RMP) and Pharmaceutical Medicine Programme (PMP) doctors met the Health Minister Eatala Rajender and offered their services in controlling the spread of Coronavirus in the State. 1593 new cases, 998 recoveries & 08 deaths reported on Saturday; out of 1593 cases, 641 cases reported from GHMC. Total cases 54,059; Active cases: 12,264; Deaths: 463; Discharges: 41,332.
Punjab: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced that government schools in the state will not charge any admission, re-admission and tuition fee from students for the 2020-21 academic session on account of the Covid crisis.
Haryana: While appreciating the potential and contribution of Haryana in the field of sports, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Kiren Rijiju announced that Panchkula in Haryana will host the 4th edition of ‘Khelo India Youth Games-2021’. The Union Minister said that due to COVID-19 crisis, ‘Khelo India Youth Games-2020’ will not be organized this year. Therefore the next edition of this tournament will be organized in Panchkula.
Himachal Pradesh: Governor Shri Bandaru Dattatraya held a video conference with the Director of PGIMER, Chandigarh Dr. Jagat Ram to discuss about the COVID-19 situation in Himachal Pradesh and sought suggestions regarding containing the spread of this pandemic in the state. He said that keeping in view the rise in COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh, PGIMER, Chandigarh should send a team of observers to the state to study the COVID Care Centres and hold discussions with the doctors of the state and send a report to the state regarding further improvements.
Maharashtra: State continues to witness a surge in COVID-19 cases. The state reported 9,251 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to 3,66,368. While this may not be the highest single day spike, the state has been reporting above 9,000 cases daily in the recent past.
Gujarat: The state on Saturday logged the highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases with 1,081 new infections, taking the total count to 54,712 while 22 patients died, including 11 in Surat, the state health department said.The death count in the state now stands at 2,305. Yesterday 782 patients were discharged after recovery, raising the number of recovered cases in the state to 39,612, it said.
Rajasthan: Government has issued fresh guidelines on Covid 19 testing in the state. According to new guidelines, it is mandatory for testing labs to provide the COVID-19 testing results within 24 hours. It is also now mandatory to submit Aadhar Card number in the RT-PCR App for the person being tested for coronavirus.The state has put in place the capacity to test more than 40,000 COVID-19 samples in a day.