The US has become the first country in the world with more than one million coronavirus cases. It recorded more than 2,200 deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, according to the latest John Hopkins University tally, reports news agency AFP.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India crossed the 30,000 mark on Tuesday while that of fatalities due to the pandemic neared 1,000 mark, as the country maintained a precarious grip on a disease that officials fear could peak over the next couple of months.
Meanwhile, China’s top scientists on Tuesday said that Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), cannot be stopped and will continue to cause seasonal infections like the flu. The seasonal flu kills between 300,000 and 650,000 people around the world every year, according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates.
Here are the latest updates on coronavirus outbreak from India and the world:
10:26 AM IST: Only 3 out of 529 media persons tested Covid-19 positive: Kejriwal
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday praised media’s role in the fight against Covid-19 and expressed happiness that only three mediapersons have tested positive for the disease in the national capital so far.
“Am so happy to share only 3 out of 529 media persons tested have been detected positive. My best wishes to all of you. Your work is very important esp during a pandemic. Those who have been detected positive, I am praying for your speedy recovery,” he tweeted.
10:10 AM IST: Corona control room set up in UP Assembly
A special control room has been set up in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly to provide a platform to the MLAs to register their suggestions and complaints related to the state government’s fight against Covid-19, reports news agency IANS. Assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit said that the decision to this effect was taken on the advice of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during his last video conferencing with the presiding officers of the State Assemblies.
10:02 AM IST: As Covid-19 lockdown eases, Asian markets rise again
Asian markets rise again, buoyed by a further easing of coronavirus lockdown measures, as the crude market’s rollercoaster ride sees US benchmark WTI surge more than 15 percent, boosted by bargain-buying, reports news agency AFP.
09:36 AM IST: Rajasthan’s Covid-19 numbers rise to 2,383 with 19 new cases
Nineteen more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Rajasthan, taking the total number of cases to 2,383, according to ANI. Out of the 19 new cases, five are from Jaipur, 11 from Ajmer, one each from Udaipur, Banswara and Jodhpur, as per the state’s health department release
09:18 AM IST: Long queues of vehicles seen at Delhi-Gurugram border
Long queue of vehicles were seen at Delhi-Gurugram border on Wednesday morning as police personnel checked passes of people commuting through the route, as a preventive measure against Covid-19.
09:01 AM IST: One new case reported from Bhubaneswar, Odisha tally rises to 119
A 77-year-old man has tested positive for Covid-19 in Bhubaneswar, said Odisha’s health department, according to news agency ANI. He is a close contact of a previous positive case and contact tracing is on. With this, the total positive cases in the state stand at 119.
08:49 AM IST: India’s death toll from Covid-19 crosses 1,000-mark
India’s death toll from Covid-19 crossed the 1,000-mark on Wednesday, according to figures released by the Union health ministry at 8 am. There are 22,629 active cases in the country, 7,695 patients have been cured/ discharged while the death toll has now risen to 1,007.
08:20 AM IST: US considering coronavirus testing on some international flights: Trump
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States was considering having passengers on international flights from coronavirus hot spots be tested for the virus, reports Reuters. “We’re looking at doing it on the international flights coming out of areas that are heavily infected,” Trump said at a White House event. He said his administration was working with airlines on the plan, which could happen “in the very near future.” He said Brazil was one of the countries “getting to that category” of being a hot spot.
07:36 AM IST: Vehicles with essential goods, banking services exempted: Faridabad Dy Commissioner
Faridabad deputy commissioner’s order also said that vehicles engaged in the movement of essential goods and banking services will be exempted. Order to remain in effect till 3rd May 2020.
07:34 AM IST: Entry bans travel of govt employees, common people into Faridabad
Haryana has banned travel of government employees and common people from neighbouring states and districts to Faridabad district, reports ANI. Only doctors, paramedical staff, police and bank employees will be permitted on producing their identity cards, till 12 pm today, Faridabad’s deputy commissioner Yash Pal said.
07:11 AM IST: Portals of Kedarnath open, devotees not allowed ‘darshan’ due to Covid-19
The portals of the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand were opened at 6:10 am today. ‘Darshan’ for the devotees is not allowed at the temple as of now because of the coronavirus pandemic: ANI
07:03 AM IST: Oil prices climb as storage fills less rapidly than feared
Oil prices climbed on Wednesday, trimming some of this week’s steep losses after US stockpiles rose less than expected and hopes grew for demand to pick up as some European countries and US cities moved to ease coronavirus lockdowns, reports Reuters.
06:48 AM IST: More than 2,200 US coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: Report
The number of daily deaths from coronavirus rose again in the US Tuesday, a tally from Johns Hopkins University showed, as the country’s total fatalities surpassed those of Americans in the Vietnam War. In a 24-hour period to 8:30 pm (0030 GMT), there were 2,207 additional deaths, the Baltimore-based university said, after the daily toll had fallen to around 1,300 on Sunday and Monday. The total number of US deaths from new coronavirus have reached 58,351, passing the 58,220 which the National Archives records as US losses from combat and other causes, including accidents, in the years-long Southeast Asian war.
06:42 AM IST: US first country with over 1 million Covid-19 cases
The US on Tuesday became the first country in the world to have more than one million cases of coronavirus. The number of people infected by the coronavirus in the United States crossed one million and the fatalities jumped to nearly 59,000, reports news agency PTI. It accounts for nearly one-third of the 3.1 million cases globally.
