updates on coronavirus in India

New Delhi:

Covid has infected 2.29 crore people in India, with 3.29 lakh fresh cases in the last 24 hour amid growing concerns of patients contracting a deadly fungal infection. The death count has touched 2,49,992 with 3,876 more people dying of the infection.

Here are the top 10 updates on coronavirus in India:

1. Though Maharashtra is the worst-affected state with over 51.38 lakh cases, Mumbai on Monday recorded a steep drop in new COVID-19 cases at 1,794, the lowest single-day count in nearly two months.
2. After Maharashtra, the hardest-hit states are Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi.
3. Karnataka on Monday logged 39,305 cases, taking the caseload to over 19.73 lakh, while 596 more deaths took the total fatalities to 19,372. Bengaluru Urban district reported 16,747 infections, a decline by about 4,000 cases compared to Sunday.
4. Delhi continued to witness a dip in new infections with 12,651 cases in the last 24 hours. The positivity rat is 19.10 per cent, the lowest since April 16. 
5. In Kerala, 27,487 tested positive for the virus on Monday and 65 Covid patients died. 72 panchayats have a positivity rate of over 50 per cent. The state government has regulated and standardised Covid treatment rates for private hospitals. 
6. In Tamil Nadu, 28,978 people tested positive on Monday and 232 Covid patients died. 7,149 of the fresh infections are from Chennai.
7. Dozens of bodies, feared to be Covid victims, washed up on the banks of the Ganga in Bihar's Buxar on Monday. 75 people lost their lives to COVID-19 in Bihar on Monday, raising the death count in the state to 3,357.
8. In West Bengal, coronavirus infections rose to ZXXX with YYYY new cases on Monday.
9. Assam on Monday saw 5,803 Covid cases. 77 patients died on the same day.
10. The World Health Organization on Monday labelled the Covid variant spreading in India as a "variant of concern".

Black Fungus infection

New Delhi:

The government has told doctors to look out for signs of mucormycosis or "black fungus" in COVID-19 patients as hospitals report a rise in cases of the rare but potentially fatal infection.

Here are the top 10 facts on the Black Fungus infection:

1. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said at the weekend that doctors treating COVID-19 patients, diabetics and those with compromised immune systems should watch for early symptoms including sinus pain or nasal blockage on one side of the face, one-sided headache, swelling or numbness, toothache and loosening of teeth.
2. The disease, which can lead to blackening or discolouration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing blood, is strongly linked to diabetes.
3. Covid-19 patients more susceptible to contracting the fungal infection include those who used steroids during their virus treatment, and those who had prolonged stays in hospital ICUs, the ICMR added.
4. And diabetes can in turn be exacerbated by steroids such as dexamethasone, used to treat severe COVID-19. "There have been cases reported in several other countries - including the UK, the US, France, Austria, Brazil and Mexico, but the volume is much bigger in India," David Denning, a professor at Manchester University and an expert at the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections charity, told news agency Reuters.
5. Media reports have pointed to cases in Maharashtra and state capital Mumbai, and Gujarat. Aparna Mukherjee, a scientist at ICMR, said, "It's not something to panic about, but you have to be aware of when to seek consultation."
6. Arunaloke Chakrabarti, head of the Centre of Advanced Research in Medical Mycology in Chandigarh, said that even before COVID-19, mucormycosis was more common in India than in most countries, "partly because of the millions who have diabetes".
7. P Suresh, head of opthalmology at Fortis Hospital in Mulund, Mumbai, said his hospital had treated at least 10 such patients in the past two weeks, roughly twice as many as in the entire year before the pandemic. All had been infected with COVID-19 and most were diabetic or had received immunosuppressant drugs. Some had died, and some had lost their eyesight, he said.
8. The Health Ministry on Sunday released an advisory on how to treat the infection. "The cases of mucormycosis infection in Covid-19 patients post-recovery is nearly four to five times than those reported before the pandemic," Ahmedabad-based infectious diseases specialist Atul Patel, a member of the state's COVID-19 taskforce, told news agency AFP.
9. Some 300 cases have been reported so far in four cities in Gujarat, including its largest Ahmedabad, according to data from state-run hospitals. The state ordered government hospitals to set up separate treatment wards for patients infected with "black fungus" amid the rise in cases.
10. Treatment involves surgically removing all dead and infected tissue and administering a course of anti-fungal therapy. But Yogesh Dabholkar, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Mumbai's DY Patil Hospital, told AFP that the drugs used to treat those infected with the fungus were expensive.

Daily GK updates 6 may 2021

06 May 2021
-------------------------------
06th May 2021 Daily GK Update: Read Daily GK, Current Affairs for Bank Exam

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 06th May 2021 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

State News

1. Odisha announces Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana

• Odisha government has announced Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana for journalists. Odisha has declared the journalists as frontline Covid warriors. It will benet more than 6500 journalists of the state.
• Under the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana, a health insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to each Journalist. Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh will be provided to the families of journalists who died from COVID-19 while performing duty.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik and Governor is Ganeshi Lal.

2. Nation’s first ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ unveiled in Mumbai

• The Nation’s first ‘Drive in Vaccination Center’ was inaugurated by MP Rahul Shewale in Mumbai. This center has been set up in the parking lot of Kohinoor Square Tower at Dadar.
• This first of its kind ‘Drive-in Vaccination Center’ facility has been made available to the citizens at a time when people with disabilities are facing difficulties in getting to the vaccination center.
• The center also provides transportation facilities to the citizens who do not have their own vehicles. The vaccination has been started and the facility is available for all sections of society.
• MP Rahul Shewale informed that this facility will be provided in other multi-parking lots in the city, after assessing the success of this first project.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
• Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai.
• Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

Banking News

3. RBI Announces Term Liquidity Facility of Rs. 50,000 Crore For Healthcare

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has announced a Covid-19 healthcare package of Rs 50,000 crore, for lending to entities such as vaccine makers, medical equipment suppliers, hospitals and related sectors, besides the patients in need of funds for treatment.
• The new on-tap special liquidity facility of Rs 50,000 crore will be made available to the banks at the repo rate, for access to emergency health security amid the economic stress due to the second wave of Covid-19 in India.
• Banks can give loans under this facility till March 31, 2022. This Covid loan will be provided for a tenure of up to 3 years and will be classified as a priority sector loan till repayment or maturity.

Economy News

4. S&P Revises India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 9.8% for FY22

• The US-based S&P Global Ratings has lowered the GDP growth forecast of the Indian economy to 9.8 per cent for the financial year 2021-22 (FY22).
• The US-based rating agency in March had an 11 per cent GDP growth forecast for India for April 2021-March 2022 fiscal. on account of a fast economic reopening and fiscal stimulus.

Appointments News

5. RM Sundaram appointed as Director of Indian Institute of Rice Research

• Raman Meenakshi Sundaram has been appointed as Director of the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), an arm of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Prior to this elevation, he was working as Principal Scientist (Biotechnology) at the institute crop Improvement Section.
• He is a scientist of global repute working in the area of rice biotechnology, molecular breeding, and genomics and has over 160 research papers in national and international journals of repute and has published several books, book chapters and popular articles.

6. Vijay Goel takes over as CMD of THDCIL

• THDC India Ltd has announced that Vijay Goel assumed as chairman and managing director.
• His appointment will come into effect from May 1, 2021.
• He joined the company in 1990 as a senior personnel officer (SPO) from NHPC Ltd. He has more than 35 years of varied experience in the field of human resource management.

Summits and Conferences News

7. India, UK unveil 10 year roadmap for Bilateral Trade Partnership

• The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson held a virtual Summit meeting.
• During the Summit meeting, both the leaders unveiled an ambitious 10-year road map to elevate the India-UK bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced a new India-UK trade investment worth £1 billion.
• These pacts were in areas such as migration and mobility, digital and technology, telecommunications, energy and medicines, counter-terrorism, besides agreeing to boost collaboration in dealing with climate change through a new partnership on renewables and power.
• They also launched Enhanced Trade Partnership, which included negotiation for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), including consideration of an interim trade agreement to deliver early gains.
• The two nations set an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

Awards News

8. Singer Pink bags Icon Award at Billboard Music Awards

• Singer Pink will be honoured with the Icon Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs).
• The award aims to recognize artists who have achieved success on the Billboard charts and left an indelible impact on music.
• Pink joins previous honourees that include Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cher, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Garth Brooks.

Sports Days

9. AICF launches Checkmate Covid Initiative

• The All India Chess Federation has launched the 'Checkmate Covid Initiative' to help the chess community affected by the pandemic.
• The initiative was launched at an online event in the presence of FIDE (World Chess Federation) president Arkady Dvorkovich, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, World Rapid Chess Champion Koneru Humpy, AICF president Sanjay Kapoor and secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.
• The idea is to not just help the chess community affected by COVID through financial aid, but also have a team of doctors that works round-the-clock to provide the right assistance.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• All India Chess Federation President: Sanjay Kapoor;
• All India Chess Federation Headquarters location: Chennai;
• All India Chess Federation Founded: 1951.

Important Days

10. International No Diet Day: 06 May

• International No Diet Day is observed on May 6, and its symbol is a light blue ribbon. It is an annual celebration of body acceptance, including fat acceptance and body shape diversity.
• It means recognising that your body is beautiful exactly as it is and worry less about your weight, body shape and more about being healthy and active.
• The day is dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle with a focus on health at any size and in raising awareness of the potential dangers of dieting and the unlikelihood of success.

Obituaries News

11. V Kalyanam, Mahatma Gandhi's Former Personal Secretary, Passes Away

• Mahatma Gandhi's former personal secretary V Kalyanam passed away. He was Gandhi's personal secretary from 1943 to 1948, when the Mahatma was assassinated.
• Kalyanam was preserving letters written by Gandhiji, a cheque bearing his sign and other literature associated with him. He was proficient in Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil and English. A staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he was also associated with Rajaji in the 1960s.

Miscellaneous News

12. The World’s Longest Pedestrian Bridge Opens in Portugal

• The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge named "Arouca" was opened in Portugal, according to a press release by UNESCO's Arouca World Geopark.
• The Arouca Bridge offers a half-kilometre (almost 1,700-foot) walk across its span, along a metal walkway suspended from cables. Some 175 meters (574 feet) below, the Paiva River flows through a waterfall.
• The bridge hangs on steel cables strung between V-shaped concrete towers and connects the banks of the Paiva River. The record-breaking bridge took several years to build and was designed by Portuguese studio Itecons. It was constructed by Conduril and cost about $2.8 million (2.3 million euros).

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Portugal President: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa;

• Portugal Capital: Lisbon;
• Portugal Currency: Euro.