Coronavirus LIVE Update: India's Cases Rise To 59,92,532; 94,503 Dead

ICMR Conducting Serological Survey Across India

Speaking at a press briefing, Director-General ICMR Dr Balram Bhargava said that the ICMR is conducting a serological survey to determine the proportion of the population that has been infected by SARS-CoV-2.

The survey is being conducted with the aim of answering three questions: What percentage of the general population has been infected? Who are at a higher risk of being infected? Which are the areas where containment efforts need to be strengthened?

The results are based on the surveys conducted five-six weeks into the lockdown. A total of 28,595 households were visited in 65 districts for collection of blood samples. A total of 736 districts have been surveyed so far. 0.73% of the respondents in the survey had been exposed to the coronavirus. The risk of infection in urban areas and urban slums is 1.09 and 1.89 times higher than rural areas. Infection fatality has been recorded at 0.08%.

Dr Bharagava said that physical distancing, use of face masks, hand hygiene and cough etiquette must be followed strictly.

No Community Transmission In India: ICMR Chief

In the COVID-19 press conference held on June 11, 2020, Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director of the Indian Council of Medical Research clarified that India has not yet reached the stage of community transmission. 

He further added that the WHO has also not defined what community transmission is clearly. 

Sabarimala Temple To Remain Closed For Devotees

Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Thursday said that the Sabarimala Temple will not be opened for devotees for monthly prayers. The decision was taken following a meeting between Surendran and the Thantri (head priest) K.M. Mohanaru.

India's COVID-19 Death Toll Crosses 8,000-mark; Record One-day Spike In New Cases

A record 357 COVID-19 deaths took the death toll in India beyond 8,000 to 8,102 deaths. India also reported it's highest one-day increase in cases so far as 9,996 new patients took the total case count to 2,86,579.

Expert Claims Australia On Course To Eradicate Coronavirus By July

Australia is on course to eradicating the novel coronavirus in the country by the end of July, a public health official tells Reuters. Bill Rawlinson, a senior medical virologist with New South Wales Health said, "Our view has been that we had hoped that by June/July that we would see coronavirus largely disappearing from the country, so this is pretty much on track." Australia has recorded 7,265 COVID-19 cases so far and has reported 102 deaths due to the disease.

DMK MLA J Anbazhagan Succumbs To COVID-19

DMK MLA J Anbazhagan died on Wednesday due to COVID-19, the hospital where he was undergoing treatment said in a statement. Anbazhagan, a three-time MLA from the Chepauk constituency, was 62 years old. DMK chief MK Stalin, Chief Minister E Palaniswami and deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam condoled Anbazhagan's death.

India Adds Nearly 10,000 COVID-19 For 7th Day In A Row

According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India added more than 9,000 cases for the seventh day in a row. The total case count rose by 9,985 cases to 2,76,583. The death toll increased by 279 to 7,745 deaths. India is the fifth-worst hit country in the world after the USA, Brazil, Russia and the UK.

BMC Deputy Commissioner Dies Due To COVID-19

BMC Deputy Commissioner (Special Engineering) Shirish Dixit died on June 8 due to COVID-19, the BMC said in a statement. Dixit, who was the Chief Engineer of Water Supply Department of BMC, is survived by a wife and a daughter. The BMC has also announced that it will provide an ex-gratia assistance of ₹ 50,00,000 to the family of any BMC employee who dies due to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Cases In North-Eastern States Rise

The number of COVID-19 cases in the north eastern states are rising after months of reporting almost no cases. With the union government operating Shramik special trains allowing migrants to return to their home states, the number of COVID-19 cases in the north east are steadily rising. Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland have the most number of cases with 838, 224 and 115 respectively. The only casualty among the eight states has been reported in Meghalaya. Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported 33 cases but all have been discharged so far while Lakshadweep has remained untouched by the virus.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Test Negative For COVID-19

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has tested negative for COVID-19. Kejriwal has been self-isolating since complaining of throat ache and fever.