Hyderabad: India recorded over 22,752 new cases and 482 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the total tally to 7,42,417 with 20,642 deaths. Here are the important COVID-19 news from across the country.
Delhi
The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has directed all government and private COVID-19 hospitals to obtain feedback from COVID-19 survivors and their opinion on donating blood plasma at the time of discharge from the medical centres.
The feedback form will have questions about cleanliness, food, doctors' services at the hospital, blood group and underlying conditions.
Gujarat
In capital city Ahmedabad, a show-cause notice has been issued to a private hospital for charging higher rates than prescribed by the government. The civic body has requisitioned 50 per cent of the total beds in more than 50 private hospitals for treatment of coronavirus patients, and also capped the cost of treatment.
The civic body is also on a mission to screen 'super spreaders' in 48 wards in the city. During a similar drive conducted in May, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation had screened over 33,000 'super spreaders' and found 700 of them positive.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Valsad district became the first state minister to have contracted the viral infection.
Rajasthan
After a brief spell during which no new COVID-19 infections, the Pratapgarh district is now facing a spurt in cases which are closely linked to the district jail. According to reports, two prisoners released from the jail have turned out to be positive, taking the total infected numbers to 126.
The infected include a judge and the two released prisoners. The total COVID-19 cases in the district now stand at 141. Following this, four barracks of the jail have been turned into isolation wards.
Meanwhile, a prisoner who tested negative has been shifted back to the district jail.
Jharkhand
Drinking and Sanitation Minister Mithilesh Thakur has tested positive for COVID-19. Thakur is the first minister in Chief Minister Soren's cabinet to have tested positive.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has quarantined himself at his Ranchi residence as he recently came in contact with Thakur. Soren has also urged staff members of the Chief Minister's Office to go into home quarantine.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA Mathura Mahato also tested positive today. The state has reported 3,056 COVID-19 cases, of which, 952 are active and 22 patients have died.
Bihar
A complete lockdown has been ordered in Patna from July 10 to July 16 due to a sudden spurt in novel coronavirus cases. The order to this effect was issued by Patna District Magistrate Kumar Ravi. Except for the essential services, markets, offices and other commercial activities will be prohibited during the lockdown period.
The decision comes on a day Bihar reported its highest single-day spike of 749 cases, of which Patna alone accounted for 235. The state's tally now stands at 13,274.
Karnataka
Highest spike of 2062 positive cases reported in Karnataka with Bengaluru recording 1148 cases in a single day taking the total number of cases to 28877. With 54 deaths on Wednesday, total fatalities have gone up to 470.
Uttarakhand
Three more COVID-19 patients died in Uttarakhand that saw the state's pandemic tally rise to 3,258 with the detection of 28 new cases, as per the state government's bulletin.
Uttar Pradesh
The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh crossed the 30,000-mark on Wednesday as 1,188 fresh cases were reported in the state, with 18 new deaths in the last 24 hours.
Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said 31,156 people have tested positive for the disease in the state, he said.
Odisha
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Odisha crossed the 10,624 with 527 fresh infections, while the toll climbed to 48, a health department official said. A total of 303 patients recovered in the last 24 hours.
