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

India's Death Toll Crosses 5,000 Mark

India's COVID-19 death toll crossed the 5,000 mark after 193 patients succumbed to the disease to take the toll to 5,164 deaths. India also recorded its highest one-day spike in positive cases after adding 8,380 cases to take the total case count to 1,82,143.

ICMR Asks States To Conduct IgG Antibody Test

ICMR advises States to conduct sero-survey to measure Coronavirus exposure in the population using IgG ELISA Test.

IgG antibodies generally start appearing after two weeks of onset of infection, once the individual has recovered after infection and last for several months. Therefore, the IgG test is not useful for detecting acute infection but indicates episode of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the past.

The sero-survey would be conducted using an IgG ELISA kit. Scientists at ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune have developed and validated an indigenous IgG ELISA test for antibody detection for SARS-CoV-2. To fast track production and increase availability of the IgG ELISA test, ICMR has transferred this technology to many pharma companies viz. Zydus Cadila, J Mitra & Company, Meril Diagnostics, Voxtur Bio, Trivitron Healthcare, Karwah Enterprises, Avecon Healthcare, etc. The technology has been transferred to various entities without exclusivity clause and therefore can be further shared with others as per demand and capability.

Lockdown Extended In Containment Zones Till June 30: MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs today announced the extension of the COVID-19 lockdown in containment zones till June 30, 2020. The MHA has also released a guideline for phased reopening of the lockdown in other zones. Containment zones will be demarcated by district authorities.

In phase 1, places of worship, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls will be allowed to open from June 8.

In phase 2, states and Union Territories may consult parents and other stakeholder regarding the reopening of schools and educational institutions from July. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will prepare an SOP for the same.

In phase 3, international air travel and metro rail services will be allowed. Cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theaters, bars, assembly halls, auditoriums will also be allowed to resume operations. Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious functions will also be allowed.

A night curfew will be implemented across the country from 9 pm to 5 am except for essential services.

States and Union Territories can prohibit certain activities outside containment zones as deemed necessary.

Air India Delhi-Moscow Flight Returns As Pilot Tests COVID-19 Positive

An Air India flight from Delhi to Moscow had to return to Delhi midway after the ground team found out that one of the pilots had tested positive for COVID-19, reports PTI. "When the A320 plane, which did not have any passengers as it was heading to Moscow to bring back stranded Indians under Vande Bharat Mission, had reached Uzbekistan's airspace, our team on ground realised that one of the pilots had tested COVID-positive," senior Air India officials said.

Donald Trump Terminates US' Relationship With WHO

US President Donald Trump announced that he would be terminating the US' relationship with the World Health Organisation. "We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly, but they have refused to act. Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating the relationship," Trump said.

Trump also blamed China for not reporting WHO officials about the coronavirus in time and said that China's financial contribution to the WHO was not enough. He said that the US will be diverting the $450 million it paid the WHO to deserving public health organisations across the world.

India's Total Case Count Rises By Almost 8,000

According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India recorded it's highest one-day spike in positive cases after adding 7,964 cases. The total number of cases is at 1,73,763. 211 patients died due to COVID-19 to take the death toll to 4,917.

Health Ministry Refuses Info For RTI Asking Info About Equipment Purchase

The Union Health Ministry has refused to share the amount of money spent on equipment purchase to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, stating that such data does not come under the definition of "information" to be provided under the Right to Information Act

COVID-19 Could Cause USD 8.5 Trillion Loss In Global Output: UN Secretary General

The UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic will cause hunger and famine of historic proportions and lead to a loss of USD 8.5 trillion in global output.

It could be the steepest recession since the Great Depression. 

2020 Boston Marathon Cancelled

The 124th Boston Marathon which was postponed from April to September 14 stands cancelled and is  going to be held virtually between September 7 and 14.

All registered participants will be offered a full refund for their entry fee, and the race will be replaced by a virtual event in which participants can earn their finisher's medal by verifying that they ran 26.2 miles on their own within a six-hour time period.

West Bengal Minister Tests Positive

West Bengal's State Fire Services minister Sujit Bose has been advised home quarantine after he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19. 

Their domestic worker first tested positive after which the minister and his wife were also tested.