COVID-19 news from across the nation

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has withdrawn his latest order for a five-day institutional quarantine for COVID-19 patients in the national capital following the opposition by the Kejriwal government. Meanwhile, a senior BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh tested COVID-19 positive hours after he cast his vote for the Rajya Sabha polls in the state and attended party meetings. The legislator's wife has also tested positive for the infection.

Hyderabad: The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 12,948 in the country on Saturday and the number of coronavirus cases climbed to 3,95,048 with as many as 1,68,269 active cases. A total of 2,13,830 patients have also been discharged till date.

COVID-19 cases in India

Delhi

After opposition by the Kejriwal government, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has withdrawn his latest order for a five-day institutional quarantine for COVID-19 patients in the national capital.

The chief minister is learnt to have told the L-G that people would avoid getting tested for the disease fearing they would be sent off to an institutional quarantine facility for five days.

Baijal on Friday had ordered a five-day mandatory institutional quarantine for every Covid-19 patient under home isolation in Delhi.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Police has reported 140 new COVID-19 cases and one death among its personnel in the last 48 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the force to 3,960, according to a statement released by the Maharashtra Police on Saturday.

The policeman was admitted at the King Edward Memorial Hospital of Mumbai and was under treatment for the last 10 days.

At least, 2,925 police personnel have recovered so far from the disease in the state.

Out of the total 2,349 Mumbai Police staff found coronavirus positive in the city, 31 have died due to the deadly infection so far.

Karnataka

A state health department’s projection based on the current pace of spread indicates that the number of COVID-19 cases in the state will hit the 1-lakh mark by August 15. This projection is based on the doubling rate which took into account the current rate of positive cases, transmission potential and an average number of secondary infections produced by a typical COVID-positive case in a population where everyone is susceptible.

It further said that the estimation is based on the current trend while cases are rising across the state. If there is any improvement from the present situation, the least they expect is between 50,000 and 60,000 cases.

Tamil Nadu

Narayanaswamy Balakrishnan, president of TVS Sundram Fasteners Ltd, passed away due to COVID-19 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the state on Saturday reported 2,396 COVID-19 cases and 39 deaths taking the tally to 56,845, while the toll stood at 704.

The total cases include 64 returnees from other countries and states. Those dead include 33 with comorbidities and five without comorbidities. The active cases are 24,822 and 1,045 got discharged on Saturday.

Madhya Pradesh

A senior BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh tested COVID-19 positive hours after he cast his vote for the Rajya Sabha polls in the state and attended party meetings. The legislator's wife has also tested positive for the infection.

He is the second legislator in Madhya Pradesh, who was tested coronavirus positive.

The MLA's infection triggered panic among other MLAs with some of them reaching hospitals to get themselves tested.

At least five BJP MLAs, who interacted with the Javad MLA over the last couple of days, and their drivers and gunmen were among 15 people who got themselves tested on Saturday at J P Hospital in Bhopal.

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government capped the charges for coronavirus testing and treatment of COVID-19 patients in private labs and hospitals.

The government fixed Rs. 2,200 for the testing of samples by private labs. No private hospital shall charge more than Rs. 2,000 per day for normal bed and Rs. 4,000 for ICU bed with a ventilator.

The decisions to regulate the charges were taken in a review meeting chaired by chief minister Ashok Gehlot. He asked the officials to take stern action if any private lab or hospital charges more than these prices.

Health minister Raghu Sharma, chief secretary DB Gupta and other senior officials were present in the review meeting.

Uttarakhand

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had a virtual meeting with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar about the upcoming Kanwar yatra.

As per the report, in the meeting, there was a collective agreement that the yatra should be postponed this year, as the coronavirus continues to create havoc in the country. The same proposal has also been received from Kanwar Sangh and all the Saints.