Sunday, 19 July 2020

Daily Corona updates 18 July 2020

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Coronavirus India Live News Update: COVID-19 Recoveries Outnumber Active Cases By Over 3 Lakh, Says Centre
Coronavirus Cases India: India's recovery rate is at 62.93 per cent.
New Delhi:

Over 23,600 people have been cured from coronavirus in the last 24 hours and recovered cases surpassed the active cases by more than 3 lakh, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.

"The last 24 hours saw a sharp increase of 23,672 COVID patients recovering. The gap between recovered patients and active COVID-19 cases has further increased to 3,04,043. The total number of recovered cases is 6,77,422. The recovery rate as of now is at 62.86 per cent," said the ministry adding that the medical attention is being provided to all the 3,73,379 active cases, in hospitals and home isolation.

India's coronavirus tally surged to 10.77 lakh cases this morning after 38,902 new patients were registered in the last 24 hours, the country's biggest single-day jump in fresh infections, the Union Health Ministry said this morning. In the last 24 hours, 543 deaths linked to the highly contagious illness were reported, taking the COVID-19 death count to 26,816.

Maharashtra continues to report the highest number of cases, followed by Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.

India is the third country to record more than one million coronavirus cases, behind only the United States and Brazil.

Here are the Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases:

Coronavirus Live Updates: Over 23,600 people have been cured from coronavirus in the last 24 hours and recovered cases surpassed the active cases by more than 3 lakh, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.

Jul 19, 2020 23:31:22 (IST)
Coronavirus news: Emirates' Repatriation Flights From 4 More Cities To Dubai Till July 26
The Emirates airlines on Sunday said it will operate repatriation flights from four additional Indian cities of Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata to Dubai till July 26.

The Dubai-based airline had on July 11 announced that it would be operating special repatriation flights from Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between July 12 and July 26.

The airline will now be operating repatriation flights to Dubai from a total of nine Indian cities till July 26.

In a press release on Sunday, the airline clarified that the repatriation flights between Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Dubai are permitted to carry eligible passengers on both the directions.
Jul 19, 2020 23:18:37 (IST)
COVID-19: Telangana reports 1,296 new cases, 6 deaths
As many as 1,296 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths were reported in Telangana on Sunday, according to the State Government's Director of Public Health and Family Welfare.

A total of 12,519 samples were tested for the virus out of which 1,296 tested positive, taking the total count to 45,076.

Of the 45,076 positive cases of coronavirus, 32,438 cases are cured/discharged and 415 deaths have been reported. Currently, 12,224 COVID-19 patients have been isolated and are being treated.
Jul 19, 2020 23:01:06 (IST)
India's COVID-19 recovery rate now 62.86%
The number of recovered COVID-19 patients exceeds India's active caseload by 3,04,043 as on Sunday with 6.77 lakh people having recuperated from the disease so far, the Union Health Ministry said.

There has been a "sharp increase" of 23,672 COVID-19 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the highest in a day, according to the ministry's updated data updated at 8 AM.

"The total number of recovered cases is 6,77,422. The recovery rate as of now is at 62.86 per cent," the ministry said.

India's COVID-19 case fatality rate is "progressively falling" and is currently at 2.49 per cent, which is one of the lowest in the world, the ministry said on Sunday, crediting efficient clinical management of hospitalised cases for it.
Jul 19, 2020 22:56:45 (IST)
COVID-19: Haryana reports 617 new positive cases
As many as 617 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Haryana on Sunday, said the State Health Department.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has reached 26,164, including 6,022. While 19,793 coronavirus cases are recovered/discharged, the death count stands at 349.

With the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's total COVID-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Jul 19, 2020 22:51:16 (IST)
Coronavirus news: 70 COVID-19 cases reported in Assam Raj Bhavan
Seventy COVID-19 cases have been reported from Assam's Raj Bhavan in Guwahati, already declared a containment zone, an official said on Sunday.

Of the 70 cases, 27 were detected Saturday night and the rest tested positive since July 1, the Raj Bhavan official said.

The entire Raj Bhavan campus was declared a containment zone on July 4 after two staff members of the governor''s office tested positive.

Governor Jagadish Mukhi, his wife Prem Mukhi and 176 employees including security personnel deployed at Raj Bhavan and their family members were tested on July 1 after two Personal Security Officers had earlier tested positive.

Among those tested on July 1, two staff members were found positive while the governor and his wife tested negative.
Jul 19, 2020 22:44:06 (IST)
Coronavirus news: Goa reports 173 new COVID-19 cases
As many as 173 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Goa, taking the total number of cases to 3,657 in the state on Sunday.

According to the state directorate health services, the total number of COVID-19 cases includes 1,417 active cases, 2,218 recovered cases and 22 deaths.

With the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's total COVID-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

The death count has gone up to 26,816 with 543 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.The Health Ministry said the total number of cases includes 3,73,379 active cases and 6,77,423 patients have been cured/discharged/migrated, reported news agency ANI.
Jul 19, 2020 22:32:27 (IST)
COVID-19: Gujarat reports 965 fresh cases
A total of 965 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 20 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the state's tally of positive coronavirus cases to 48,441, the state's health department informed on Sunday.

The total figure includes 11,412 active cases and 34,882 recoveries.

So far, 2,147 lives have been claimed by the infectious virus.

Meanwhile, with the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India''s total COVID-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Sunday.
Jul 19, 2020 22:24:04 (IST)
Coronavirus: Himachal Pradesh COVID-19 count stands at 1,483
The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Himachal Pradesh stood at 1,483 on Sunday.

According to the official data, there are 420 active cases, 1,037 recoveries and nine deaths in the state.

With the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's total COVID-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

The death count has gone up to 26,816 with 543 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.The Health Ministry said the total number of cases includes 3,73,379 active cases and 6,77,423 patients have been cured/discharged/migrated.
Jul 19, 2020 22:03:03 (IST)
COVID-19 Cases In Gujarat's Surat district cross 10,000-mark
Surat in Gujarat reported 285 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, highest for any district in the state for the day, which pushed its tally beyond the 10,000-mark, the health department said.

The district's case count now stands at 10,258, it said.

With nine deaths, the district's COVID-19 fatality count was also the highest in the state on Sunday. With this, its number of victims has now gone up to 435.

Surat city reported 206 new cases, while rural areas in the district recorded 79.

Six of the nine deaths were reported from the city, and three from the district, the health department said in a release.

With 207 patients getting discharged during the day, the tally of recovered patients in the district rose to 6,315.

Among those discharged on Sunday was a 29-year-old woman, who recovered from the infection after nearly a month-and-a-half as she also suffered from TB, local health officials said.
Jul 19, 2020 21:54:43 (IST)
Coronavirus: Ahmedabad's COVID-19 tally up by 212 to 24,375; six more dead
The number of coronavirus positive cases in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat mounted to 24,375 with the addition of 212 patients on Sunday, the state health department said.

The fatality count in the district rose to 1,547 as the virus claimed six more lives, it said.

As many as 167 patients were discharged in the district on Sunday, which pushed the tally of recovered patients to 19,008.

The number of single-day cases in the district crossed the 200-mark after a gap of over two weeks, with Ahmedabad city reporting 186 cases and rural parts 26 new cases Sunday.

There are now 203 micro-containment areas in Ahmedabad city, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said.

According to the civic body, the city's recovery rate has improved to 79.7 per cent and the fatality rate is 6.5 per cent.
Jul 19, 2020 21:48:38 (IST)
COVID-19: Highest single-day spike of 701 cases in J&K
Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday recorded the highest single-day spike of 701 COVID-19 positive cases, while the death count due to the disease reached 244 with eight fresh fatalities, officials said.

Among the fresh cases, 100 were recorded from the Jammu region and 60 from the Kashmir Valley, they said.

"Eight persons, who were COVID-19 positive, died over the past 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir," the officials said, adding while seven deaths took place in the valley, one death was reported in the Jammu region.

The death count due to COVID-19 has reached 244 -- 225 in the valley and 19 in the Jammu region, they said.

The union territory recorded the highest single-day spike of 701 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, the officials said.
Jul 19, 2020 21:38:09 (IST)
Over 9,500 Coronavirus Cases In Maharashtra In Highest Single-Day Spike
Maharashtra today reported 9,518 coronavirus cases in the highest single-day spike. Some 258 died in the last 24 hours, government data shows. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra is now 3,10,455. The fatalities stand at 11,854." itemprop="description
Jul 19, 2020 21:29:35 (IST)
Coronavirus: Health Minister urges recovered COVID-19 patients to donate plasma
Despite India having one of the highest COVID-19 recovery rates, plasma donation by recovered patients is yet to pick up, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said Sunday, urging people to come forward to help fight the pandemic.

Mr Vardhan launched a plasma donation campaign at the AIIMS hospital here during an event co-organised by Delhi police, where 26 police personnel who have recovered from COVID-19 volunteered to donate their blood plasma, the health ministry said.

Mr Vardhan said it's "very sad" that a dozen Delhi police personnel died due to the coronavirus but they are "doing a great job" deploying personnel to contain the spread.
Jul 19, 2020 20:36:13 (IST)
Over 4,000 Coronavirus Cases In Karnataka In Highest Single-Day Spike, Total Crosses 60,000
Over 4,000 coronavirus cases in Karnataka in highest single-day spike, total crosses 60,000" itemprop="description
Jul 19, 2020 20:28:51 (IST)
COVID-19: Kerala reports 821 new positive cases
As many as 821 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Kerala on Sunday.

"There are 7,063 active cases and 5,373 patients have recovered to date in the state," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

With the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Sunday.

The death count has gone up to 26,816 with 543 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.
Jul 19, 2020 19:49:08 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Logs Single Day High Of 4,979 COVID Cases, Tally Over 1.70 Lakh
Tamil Nadu on Sunday reported a new single day high of 4,979 fresh COVID-19 cases as the overall tally crossed 1.70 lakh while 78 fatalities propelled the death count to 2,481.

As many as 52,993 COVID samples were tested, the highest so far in a day, and the cumulative tests so far touched 19,32,492, a Health department bulletin said.

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said the city civic body was the first in the country to have conducted five lakh RT-PCR tests.

Till July 18 from March, five lakh tests were conducted, he said adding sample testing has been increased to 13,000 per day from about 4,500 (in recent times) in the Corporation areas.
Jul 19, 2020 19:35:04 (IST)
COVID-19: 1,412 new positive cases in Bihar
As many as 1,412 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Bihar, informed the State Health Department on Sunday. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 26,379.

"A total of 16,597 patients have been cured so far. The present number of active patients of COVID-19 is 9,602. The recovery percentage of corona patients in Bihar is 62.91," tweeted the health department.

With the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's total COVID-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Jul 19, 2020 19:20:38 (IST)
Coronavirus news: PM Modi speaks to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister over COVID scenario
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on the COVID-19 prevention measures and aspects related to treatment in the state, where the infection count has crossed 1.65 lakh, the government said.

During the phone conversation, Palaniswami apprised PM Modi that 48,000 coronavirus tests - a national high - were being done daily (average) in Tamil Nadu, an official release said.

The Prime Minister was briefed about the COVID prevention measures and information related to treatment for people who have tested positive.

The state government has been taking all steps for prevention of virus spread and to facilitate an early return to normalcy, the statement quoted Palaniswami as having told PM Modi.
Jul 19, 2020 19:18:16 (IST)
Tamil Nadu reports new single day high of 4,979 COVID cases, tally crosses 1.70 lakh while 78 fatalities push count to 2,481, according to government data.
Jul 19, 2020 19:09:22 (IST)
Coronavirus: North Goa hospital prepares for COVID-19 vaccine trials
A North Goa-based private hospital will begin the process of human trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

Redkar Hospital, located in North Goa's Pernem taluka, is amongst the 12 facilities that are listed for human trials of Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited.

"We will select ten volunteers from Goa whose swab samples would be sent to Delhi before starting the actual trials on them tomorrow," said Dhananjay Lad, who is heading the trials at Redkar Hospital, told PTI.

"We are not randomizing. We are first checking their eligibility for the tests. We will be conducting the trials after we get reports from Delhi," he said.
Jul 19, 2020 18:54 (IST)
COVID-19: 1,211 fresh cases, 31 deaths in Delhi in last 24 hours
Delhi has recorded 1,211 fresh coronavirus cases, the lowest in over a month, and 31 deaths due to the disease in the last 24 hours, authorities said on Sunday.

On June 8, the city had recorded 1,007 cases.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi is now 1,22,793. The death count due to the disease is 3,628, according to the latest Delhi health department bulletin.

As many as 1,03,134 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far, while there are 16,031 active cases, it said.

The bulletin said that as many as 5,762 RT-PCR tests and 14,444 rapid-antigen tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. A total of 8,18,989 tests have been conducted till date, which is 43,104 tests per million population, it said.
Jul 19, 2020 18:37:51 (IST)
COVID-19: Hong Kong leader says coronavirus now spreading "out of control"
The deadly coronavirus is spreading out of control in Hong Kong with a record 100 new cases confirmed, the finance hub's leader said Sunday as she tightened social distancing measures to tackle the sudden surge in infections.

The finance hub was one of the first places to be struck by the virus when it emerged from central China.

But the city had impressive success in tackling the disease, all but ending local transmissions by late June.

However, in the last two weeks, infections have spiked once more and doctors fear the new outbreak is now spreading undetected in the densely packed territory of 7.5 million people.
Jul 19, 2020 18:30:05 (IST)
Coronavirus news: Central Team In Bihar To Review COVID-19 Situation
A three-member central team reached here on Sunday to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in Bihar, which has witnessed a surge in novel coronavirus cases, an official said.

The team sent by the Union health ministry is being led by Luv Agarwal, who is a joint secretary in the ministry. The director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr S K Singh, and Associate Professor of Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Neeraj Nishchal are also part of the team.

The team will hold meetings with authorities of the health department and other officials concerned to discuss ways to contain the spread of the disease, the official said.
Jul 19, 2020 18:00:36 (IST)
COVID-19: UP's tally rises to 49,247 with 2,211 new cases
The COVID-19 tally in Uttar Pradesh rose to 49,247 on Sunday with the highest single-day jump of 2,211 fresh cases, while the death count reached 1,146 after 38 fatalities were reported in the state, according to a statement.

Eight fatalities were reported from Kanpur, four from Bareilly and three from Rampur, it said.

Lucknow, Prayagraj, Sambhal, Gonda, Ballia and Hamirpur reported two deaths each, while Meerut, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Etawah, Maharajganj, Bhadohi, Jhansi and Mahoba registered one death each, the statement issued by the UP government said.

On Saturday, the COVID-10 tally in the state had reached 47,036. With 2,211 fresh infections, the total number of cases has now risen to 49,247. However, the Uttar Pradesh government in the statement has put the number of fresh cases at 2,250, reported news agency PTI.

Jul 19, 2020 17:42:59 (IST)
Coronavirus news: Delhi Sikh body starts free ambulance service for COVID-19 patients
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has started free ambulance service for COVID-19 patients in need of mobility support in the national capital.

In the first phase, 12 ambulances equipped with "ultra-modern medical facilities" have been rolled out for this purpose, the Sikh body said.

DSGMC President, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, said more ambulances will be made available as and when required.

At present, the ambulance service is available in north, south, east, west and central Delhi.
Jul 19, 2020 17:21:50 (IST)
COVID-19: Jharkhand's COVID-19 count rises to 5,399
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jharkhand rose to 5,399 including 2,695 active cases, said State Health Department on Sunday.

A total of 2,656 have been recovered/discharged, and 48 deaths, informed the health department.

With the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's total COVID-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Sunday.

The death count has gone up to 26,816 with 543 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.

Jul 19, 2020 17:08:38 (IST)
COVID-19: 1 more death, 125 new cases in Noida
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Sunday recorded one more coronavirus-related fatality, while 125 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in the district, official data showed.

The death toll has now reached 39, while the total number of COVID-19 cases in the district rose to 4,144, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period.

The number of active cases stood at 973, as 99 more patients got discharged from hospitals after recovery since Saturday, the data showed.

Jul 19, 2020 16:40:48 (IST)
COVID-19: Puducherry reports 109 new cases
Puducherry on Sunday recorded as many as 109 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total in the Union Territory to 1,999, the health department of the UT said.

This includes 817 active cases 1,154 discharges and 28 deaths, the department added.

Across the country, there are 1,07,7618 confirmed cases. As many as 6,77,423 have recovered, while 26,816 have succumbed to the virus.
Jul 19, 2020 15:46:38 (IST)
Coronavirus: Total lockdown in Arunachal's Capital Complex extended till August 3
The Arunachal Pradesh government has extended the total lockdown in the Capital Complex for another two weeks in the wake of the spurt in COVID-19 cases in the region, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar announced on Sunday.

The restrictions, which were imposed till Monday evening, have been extended till 5 am on August 3, he said addressing a virtual press conference.

The state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu took the decision on Friday after reviewing the scenario in the capital region, he added.

Mr Kumar said the reason it was extended for two more weeks was the surge in COVID-19 cases.

"The district administration needs more time to control the local transmission by undertaking antigen tests on all primary and secondary contacts of the COVID-19 patients, he said, justifying the extension.

The chief secretary said no movement of people and vehicles, other than those of essential services, will be allowed during the period, reported news agency PTI.
Jul 19, 2020 15:39:32 (IST)
Coronavirus: Seven Indian pharma players race to develop COVID-19 vaccine
At least seven Indian pharma companies are working to develop a vaccine against coronavirus as they join global efforts to find a preventive to check the spread of the deadly virus that has already infected more than 14 million globally.

Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute, Zydus Cadila, Panacea Biotec, Indian Immunologicals, Mynvax and Biological E are among the domestic pharma firms working on the coronavirus vaccines in India.

Vaccines normally require years of testing and additional time to produce at scale, but scientists are hoping to develop a coronavirus vaccine within months because of the pandemic.
Jul 19, 2020 15:13:15 (IST)
Indore COVID-19 Case Count Crosses 6,000-Mark

As many as 129 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Indore in the last 24 hours, taking the tally in Madhya Pradesh's worst-hit district to 6,035, an official said on Sunday, reports PTI.
Jul 19, 2020 13:37:36 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Odisha's COVID-19 Caseload Crosses 17,000-Mark

Odisha's COVID-19 caseload crossed the 17,000-mark on Sunday with 736 more people testing positive for the infection, while five fresh fatalities pushed the death toll due to the disease in the state to 91, a health official said, reports PTI.
Jul 19, 2020 13:33:59 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Rajasthan Records 193 New COVID-19 Cases

A total of 193 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths were reported in Rajasthan on Sunday, taking the state count of coronavirus cases to 28,693. "193 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths have been reported in Rajasthan till 10:30 am today, taking total cases to 28,693," said State Health Department, reports PTI.

Jul 19, 2020 12:55:26 (IST)
Panaji Wears Deserted Look Amid COVID-19 Lockdown In Goa

Streets in Panaji wore a deserted look on the third day of complete lockdown in the state on Sunday. The state government has announced ''Janata Curfew'' between 8 pm and 6 am till August 10 and complete lockdown for this weekend in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases, reports ANI.
Jul 19, 2020 12:20:34 (IST)
UK Set To Roll Out Speedy Finger-Prick COVID-19 Tests: Report

The UK government is planning to roll out millions of free coronavirus antibody tests which generate instant results following finger-prick after successful secret trials, according to a UK media report, reports PTI.
Jul 19, 2020 11:28:58 (IST)
AIIMS Panel Allows Human Trial Of India's First Coronavirus Vaccine

The AIIMS Ethics Committee on Saturday gave its nod for a human clinical trial of the indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin following which the premier hospital is likely to begin the exercise by enrolling healthy volunteers from Monday, reports PTI.

Jul 19, 2020 11:28:58 (IST)
AIIMS Panel Allows Human Trial Of India's First Coronavirus Vaccine

The AIIMS Ethics Committee on Saturday gave its nod for a human clinical trial of the indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin following which the premier hospital is likely to begin the exercise by enrolling healthy volunteers from Monday, reports PTI.

Jul 19, 2020 10:06:27 (IST)
India's Coronavirus Tally Surged To 10.77 Lakh Cases

India's coronavirus tally surged to 10.77 lakh cases this morning after 38,902 new patients were registered in the last 24 hours, the country's biggest single-day jump in fresh infections, the Union Health Ministry said this morning.
Jul 19, 2020 07:44 (IST)
A Doctor And His WhatsApp Groups Behind Kerala's First Plasma Bank

A doctor in Kerala's Malappuram district created a WhatsApp group in March, when the cases of highly contagious coronavirus began to spread in the country, to interact with COVID patients. Dr Shinas Babu, a nodal officer for COVID-19 in Manjeri Medical college in the district, now manages four such WhatsApp groups - a mix of those infected and those who have recovered. Read Here
Jul 19, 2020 07:37:09 (IST)
Delhi COVID-19 Recoveries Cross 1 Lakh, 1,475 New Cases In A Day

Delhi on Saturday reported a single-day coronavirus spike of 1,475 cases which took its aggregate to 1,21,582 cases. This is the eighth consecutive day that the national capital has recorded the daily COVID-19 increase within the range of 1,000-2,000 cases. The city's total recoveries stood at 1,01,274 with 1,973 people getting cured in the last 24 hours.
Jul 19, 2020 07:21:13 (IST)
Bengaluru Hospitals Told To Admit Only "Moderately, Severely Ill Patients"

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, hospitals have been directed to admit only patients with moderate or severe symptoms. Mild and asymptomatic cases are to be referred to COVID-19 care centres or encouraged to stay in home isolation, the government said Saturday. Read Here
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Daily news 18 July 2020

International News

1. Ossouka Raponda appointed as 1st woman PM of Gabon

  • Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda has been appointed as the first woman prime minister of Gabon.
  • She is the 12th PM of the country and succeeds Julien Nkoghe Bekale.
  • Prior to holding this position, Ossouka Raponda served as Defence Minister since February 2019.
  • Her appointment is the fourth cabinet reshuffle by the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba since January 2019.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Gabon Capital: Libreville; Currency of Gabon: Central African CFA franc.

State News

2. Uttarakhand govt to generate electricity from waste

  • The Uttarakhand government has decided to convert waste generated in the state to electricity under an initiative titled ‘Waste to Energy’.
  • According to Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB), this waste can generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity and curb pollution.
  • The scheme also aims to solve the problem of unavailability of landfills to dispose of the solid waste across the hill state with has 10 out if 13 districts as hill areas.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Chief Minister of Uttarakhand: Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya.

Agreement & MoUs

3. CBSE ties up with IBM to integrate AI curriculum

  • The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has integrated a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) course for class XI and XII in the current academic year (2020-2021).
  • The curriculum was developed in collaboration with IBM (International Business Machines Corporation).
  • The IBM AI curriculum is a part of CBSE’s Social Empowerment through Work Education and Action (SEWA) program.
  • The IBM AI curriculum is structured around a course framework for students consisting of base strands of knowledge (basics, history, applications), skills (design thinking, computational thinking, data fluency, critical thinking) and values (ethical decision making, bias) in AI.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • CBSE Chairman: Manoj Ahuja.
  • CBSE Head Office: Delhi.
  • IBM Executive Chairman​: Virginia M. Rometty.
  • IBM Chief Executive Officer: Arvind Krishna.
  • IBM Headquarters: New York, United States of America.

Appointments News

4. Roshni Nadar Malhotra becomes new chairman of HCL Tech

  • India's wealthiest woman, Roshni Nadar Malhotra becomes the new chairman of Noida-based IT company, HCL Technologies.
  • The appointment of non-executive director Roshni Nadar Malhotra to the new role takes effect immediately. She will replace her father, Shiv Nadar. Shiv Nadar will continue to be HCL Tech's managing director, with the designation as the chief strategy officer.

Awards & Rewards

5. CPJ International Press Freedom Award 2020 announced

  • The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has announced the recipients of the International Press Freedom Awards 2020 include Shahidul Alam from Bangladesh, Mohammad Mosaed from Iran, Dapo Olorunyomi from Nigeria and Svetlana Prokopyeva from Russia.
  • All four journalists have faced arrests or criminal prosecution in reprisal for their reporting.
  • In addition to them, lawyer Amal Clooney will be honoured with the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award 2020.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • CPJ Headquarters: New York, US.
  • CPJ Executive Director: Joel Simon.

Ranks and Reports

6. India ranks 3rd in Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020

  • India is the third top-most country in the Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020.
  • The annual Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI) report was released by the US-based property consultant Cushman & Wakefield, to rank the most suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in Europe, Americas, and the Asia-Pacific.
  • Each of the countries has been assessed in four key areas: Bouncebackability, Conditions, Costs and Risks.
  • China and the United States retain the top two positions respectively in MRI 2020, while India has moved one place higher from the previous edition of the report, to rank third in MRI 2020.

Sports News

7. Real Madrid clinch record 34th La Liga title

  • Spanish professional football club, Real Madrid has been crowned La Liga Champions for the 34th time after defeating Villarreal 2–1 at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, with one match remaining.
  • Karim Benzema was the leading scorer for a 2-1 victory against Villarreal.

Important Days

8. Nelson Mandela International Day celebrated on 18 July

  • The United Nations observes 18 July every year as Nelson Mandela International Day.
  • The day acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.
  • Nelson Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945.
  • Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Obituaries

9. Arjuna awardee para-athlete Ramesh Tikaram passes away

  • Arjuna awardee, para-athlete and para-badminton player, Ramesh Tikaram passed away due to COVID-19.
  • He won many medals in shotput and Javelin throw including an international meet in Nottingham in 1995.
  • He was awarded the Arjuna Award for his excellence in para-athletics and badminton in 2002.
  • He became the founder secretary of the Badminton Sports Association of India for the Challenged, now known as the Para-Badminton Association of India in 2000.

Miscellaneous News

10. Priyanka Chopra Jonas appointed as ambassador for TIFF 2020

  • Bollywood actor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been chosen as the ambassador of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2020.
  • Priyanka has joined the list of 50 celebrated filmmakers and actors who are invited as the ambassadors of the TIFF.
  • Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has also been chosen for TIFF 2020.

Friday, 17 July 2020

Daily news 17 july 2020

National News

1. DCGI approves India's 1st homemade Pneumonia vaccine

  • Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved India's first fully indigenously developed Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine (Pneumonia vaccine).
  • The vaccine will be utilized for active immunization against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by “Streptococcus pneumonia” among infants.
  • The vaccine has been developed by Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, Pune. It is India's first indigenously developed vaccine in the field of pneumonia.

2. Digital Indo-Italian Business Mission on Food Processing

  • Opening session of the Digital Indo-Italian Business Mission on Food Processing has commenced virtually.
  • The two-day event will include digital conferences, trade fair and B2B meetings.
  • Opening session of the mission was addressed by the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
  • The Digital Indo-Italian Business Mission will witness the participation of 23 Italian companies and will conduct virtual exhibition of their products & services and also participate in the Business (B2B) Meetings with the end users and other industry players in India.
  • Meetings and the webinars across the key areas such as Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals, Milk & Dairy processing, Packaging & Bottling will also held during the virtual session.

3. First on-line NISHTHA programme launched in Andhra Pradesh

  • First on-line NISHTHA programme has been launched by the Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' and Minister of State for HRD Shri Sanjay Dhotre in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Online NISHTHA programme has been launched for 1200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh, hence making it the first ever state in the country.
  • NISHTHA has been customized for online mode because of COVID-19 pandemic situation which has affected the conduct of this programme in face-to-face mode.
  • Online NISHTHA programme would be conducted through DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
  • National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) is a capacity building programme that was launched by the government of India on 21st August, 2019 to improve the quality of school education through Integrated Teacher Training.

4. NABARD launches development projects in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched development projects in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  • The projects worth Rs 44 lakhs aims to strengthen the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat through rural entrepreneurship.
  • As part of the project, there would be focus on the formation and skill development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to promote rural entrepreneurship at micro level.
  • As part of the initiative, NABARD will conduct 385 village-level programmes and also offer training to leaders of newly formed SHGs with a sum of more than Rs 10 lakh.
  • Training for Mushroom Cultivation and Bamboo Handicrafts making will be provided to the women attached to SHGs in Little Andaman.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Chairman of National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development: G R Chintala.
  • Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Admiral D K Joshi.

International News

5. Pakistan & China signs agreement for "Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project"

  • Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for the 700 MW Azad Pattan hydel power project on the Jhelum river in Sudhoti district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
  • The $1.5-billion project is the second power project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
  • The first agreement, for the 1,100 MW Kohala project, was signed on June 23. That project, worth $2.3 billion, too will come upon the Jhelum near Muzaffarabad.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan.
  • President of Pakistan: Arif Alvi.
  • Capital of Pakistan: Islamabad.
  • China Capital: Beijing; Currency of China: Renminbi.
  • President of China: Xi Jinping.

State News

6. Telangana Police rolls out "CybHer" campaign

  • The Women Safety Wing, Telangana State Police has launched the "CybHer" campaign in association with the Legal Aid Centre, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad.
  • The "CybHer" campaign has been rolled out to tackle cybercrime against children and women in the state. It is a month long virtual campaign which will make cyberspace safe for both women and children.
  • "CybHer" campaign will create awareness and offer proactive measures to help them stay alert and not become a victim of cyberattacks.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Chief Minister of Telangana: K Chandrasekhar Rao; Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Agreements & MoUs

7. UNICEF India partners with SAP India for employability of young people

  • UNICEF India has partnered with SAP India to offer career counselling to young people in the country. The partnership between the two aims to improve the employability skills of young people in a COVID-19 as well as post COVID-19 era.
  • Under this initiative, UNICEF has collaborated with YuWaah (Generation Unlimited) to offer digital education as well as occupational skillset to the underserved young people of India.
  • The UNICEF – YuWaah – SAP India partnership has a prime objective to empower young people, to utilize their creativity, problem-solving and leadership assets, to improve their own lives as well of their communities.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Executive Director of UNICEF: Henrietta H. Fore.

Awards & Rewards

8. Marcus Rashford receives honorary degree from University of Manchester

  • The 22-year-old England football player, Marcus Rashford becomes the youngest ever recipient of an honorary degree from The University of Manchester.
  • He will receive the degree in recognition of his achievements as a footballer and as a passionate campaigner against child poverty.
  • Rashford's collaboration with FareShare, a poverty and food waste charity, has led to £20million being raised in financial and food donations.

Sports News

9. IOC postpones 2022 Dakar Youth Olympics to 2026

  • The Senegal and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have "mutually agreed" to postpone the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to be held in Dakar in 2022.
  • The Youth Olympic Games will now be held in 2026.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Senegal Capital: Dakar.
  • Senegal Currency: West African CFA Franc.
  • International Olympic Committee Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach.

Defence News

10. DRDO develops P7 Heavy Drop System for IL 76 aircraft

  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed the P7 Heavy Drop System. It is capable of para dropping military stores up to 7-ton weight class from IL 76 aircraft.
  • The design of this fully indigenous system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a Research & Development (R&D) lab of DRDO based in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
  • P7 Heavy Drop System system has been made under the Make in India programme. It’s a platform system manufactured by L&T (Larsen & Toubro) while parachutes manufactured by Ordnance Factory.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi.
  • DRDO Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy.

Science & Technology

11. IIT Madras start-up developed a portable hospital called "MediCAB"

  • Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) start-up Modulus Housing, has developed a portable hospital unit called ‘MediCAB’.
  • MediCAB can be installed anywhere within two hours by four people. It has been launched recently in Wayanad District of Kerala where the units are being deployed to treat COVID19 Patients.
  • The Medicab is foldable and is composed of four zones: a doctor’s room, an isolation room, a medical room/ward and a twin-bed ICU, maintained at negative pressure. It aims to decentralize the approach to detect, screen, identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients in their local communities through these portable microstructures.

Books & Authors

12. Chief Minister Pema Khandu releases book on endangered tribe

  • The book titled ‘The Tangams: An Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically Endangered Group of Arunachal Pradesh’ was released by Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
  • Book is based on the Tangams, a critically endangered speech community of Arunachal Pradesh domiciled at Kugging village, Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The book has been published by Centre for Endangered Languages, Rajiv Gandhi University and Himalayan Publishers, New Delhi.

Important Days

13. World Day for International Justice celebrated on 17th July

  • World Day for International Justice is observed on 17th July every year.
  • The day is being observed every year to recognise the strengthening system of international justice and also to promote the rights of the victims.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • International Criminal Court HQ: The Hague, Netherlands.
  • International Criminal Court President: Chile Eboe-Osuji.
  • International Criminal Court Established: 2002.

Obituaries

14. Maharashtra’s first woman SEC Neela Satyanarayan passes away

  • First woman State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Maharashtra Neela Satyanarayan passed away. She was a 1972 batch IAS officer.
  • Neela Satyanarayan was appointed as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Maharashtra in 2009 after her brief tenure as an additional chief secretary of Revenue Department. She served as the SEC of Maharashtra till 05 July 2014.
  • Neela Satyanarayan has also penned books such as Vanava and Ek Purna Ek Apurna along with several collections of poetry. She has also composed music for a film.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

15. Acharya Shree Purushottam Priyadasji Swamishree passes away

  • Acharya Shree Purushottam Priyadasji Swamishree passed away due to COVID-19.
  • He was the head of Swaminarayan Sanstha. He was the fifth heir in the lineage of ascetic acharyas.
  • He was presently incumbent Acharya of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi.