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India corona cases up by a million in 11 days

September 16, 2020
A team of health workers takes swab samples for COVID-19 test of Civic Center staff in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Courtesy photo
A team of health workers takes swab samples for COVID-19 test of Civic Center staff in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Courtesy photo



NEW DELHI — India’s COVID-19 tally crossed 5 million-mark Wednesday, just 11 days after it crossed 4 million, with 90,123 cases being reported in a day, while total recoveries rose to 3.94 million according to data from the Union Health Ministry.

The total coronavirus cases in the country now stand at 50,20,359, while the death toll rose to 82,066, with at least 1,290 fatalities in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 a.m. Wednesday showed. There are 995,933 active cases of COVID-19 in the country, comprising 19.84 percent of the total caseload, the data stated.

As the country’s coronavirus tally crossed 5 million, the Congress asked the government to tell the nation how the pandemic will be controlled.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala compared the battle against COVID-19 to Mahabharata and said, “Mahabharata of coronavirus pandemic is on, but the Modi government is missing.”

MJeanwhile, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to seal an entire building if 10 or more coronavirus cases are found there.

The BMC’s health department issued the revised protocols on Tuesday after civic authorities chief Iqbal Singh Chahal held a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation.

From Aug. 14 to Sept. 14, Covid cases in Mumbai have rose from 127,000 to 172,000, up by 34 percent. In the same period, sealed buildings’ number has gone up from 5,631 to 8,637, up by 53 percent.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Last week, I took a COVID test after having light fever. Its report was negative. I was tested again since I was feeling unwell. The report has now come as positive,” he tweeted in Hindi.

Gupta said he was already in quarantine during last week and advised those who had come in contact with him to get themselves tested.

In the southern state of Karnataka, two more ministers — Basavaraj Bommai and K. Gopalaiah — in the Yediyurappa Cabinet have tested positive for coronavirus.

Home Minister Bommai tweeted on Wednesday that he has contracted the virus. “Our domestic help at home was found infected by the coronavirus yesterday. So, I too underwent a test and found positive for the virus,” he said.

Bommai said he was asymptomatic and healthy but he has isolated himself at home as a precautionary measure. — Agencies


September 16, 2020
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