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

IIT Kanpur Develops N95 Alternative

IIT Kanpur has developed positive pressure respirator system (PPRS) an alternative to deal with the scarcity of N95 masks. These PPRS can be worn as a part of PPE kits. 

Rate Of Doubling Cases In Maharashtra Decrease

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope stated that the rate of doubling of cases in Maharashtra has decreased to 3 days from 2 days collectively and decreased to 6 days in some pockets of the state. 

India Supplying HCQ To 55 Countries

India is supplying hydroxychloroquine to 55 countries such as United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russia, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Seychelles, Oman, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Uganda, Egypt, Armenia, Senegal, Algeria, Jamaica, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Netherlands, Slovenia, Uruguay, Ecuador among others. 

ICMR's Response For Claims Of Less Testing

In the press conference held on April 16, the Indian Council of Medical Research when asked about whether India was testing lesser in comparison to other countries stated that in India, one positive case emerged from 24 tests while in other countries they emerged in lesser tests. Dr. Gangakhedkar stated that 1 from 11.4 tests in Japan, 1 from 6.7 cases in Italy, 1 from 5.3 tests in USA, and 1 from 3.4 tests in UK tested positive. Their positivity rate was higher than that of India's.  

India Reports 379 New Cases, 6 New Deaths

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported 379 new cases and 6 new deaths bringing the country's total to 12759 cases and 420 deaths. Delhi and Gujarat reported new deaths.

WHO Polio Surveillance Team To Assist MOHFW

The World Health Organization is supporting India by providing its polio surveillance team to assist with the COVID-19 surveillance efforts. 

27 Districts Have Not Reported New Positive Cases In Past 14 Days

Mahe in Puducherry has not reported any new cases in the past 28 days due to extreme containment measures in the district. Along with Puducherry, 26 districts in 16 other States and UTs have not reported any cases in the past 14 days.

Rapid Testing Kits Only For Surveillance: ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research stated that the Rapid Testing Kits that arrived from China are only for screening and not for early diagnosis. These tests will check for the presence of antibodies in the body. They do not assure that a person will not be infected by the disease, according to Dr. Gangakhedkar from the ICMR. 

A pizza delivery boy has tested positive for coronavirus in the capital. The Delhi government tracked 72 families that the boy had delievered to and quarantined them.

  

Bill And Melinda Gates Announce More Funding

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced an additional 150 million dollars of funding for the World Health Organization to fight the current pandemic. 

This comes in the wake of the US deciding to cut the funding to the WHO