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

Hong Kong Postpones September Elections Due To COVID-19 Pandemic

Hong Kong has postponed the parliamentary elections to be held in September by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports BBC. Hong Kong has reported more than 3,000 cases with 27 deaths and has reported more than 100 new cases daily for the past 10 days. However, opposition member and pro-democracy activists are accusing the government of using the pandemic to prevent people from voting. "This postponement is entirely made based on public safety reasons, there were no political considerations," said Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Vietnam Records First COVID-19 Death

Vietnam has recorded its first COVID-19 fatality after a 70-year-old man from Hoi An city succumbed to the disease, reports BBC. The South East Asian country has been praised widely for its response to the pandemic having reported just 509 cases so far according to the COVID-19 database maintained by the Johns Hopkins University.

India Reports Record 55,078 New COVID-19 Cases

India reported a record one-day rise in new COVID-19 cases after 55,078 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The total cases have risen to 16,38,870 with the active case count at 5,45,318 while 10,57,805 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll has risen to 35,747 after 779 patients died over the past 24 hours.

Young People Driving COVID-19 Spikes In Some Countries: WHO

Young people letting their guard down are causing spikes in COVID-19 cases said WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Young people can be infected, young people can die, and young people can transmit the virus to others," said Dr Ghebreyesus and urged young people to take precautions to protect themselves and everyone else as well.

Maharashtra reports highest one-day spike of 11,147 COVID-19 cases

Maharashtra reported 11,147 new COVID-19 cases to take the total case count to 4,11,798. The number of active cases stands at 1,48,150 while 2,48,615 patients have been cured or discharged so far. 266 patients died due to the disease as the death toll rose to 14,729.

Herd immunity can’t be a strategic option in India: Health Ministry

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan while addressing a press conference said that, "Herd Immunity in a country of the size and population of India cannot be a strategic choice or option. It can only be achieved through immunisation but that is in the future, but for now, we have to follow COVID appropriate behavior,"

US Sees Quarterly Fall In GDP At 32.9%

The US economy shrank an annualised 32.9% in the June quarter, its steepest fall on record since the World War 2. This statistic comes as another 1.43 million Americans filed for unemployment last week. In 2008, GDP shrank 8.9% and 10% in 1958 during the Eisenhower recession.

Maharashtra To Start Largest Plasma Trial

Maharashtra is set to start the largest convalescent plasma therapy trial with 472 patients under Project Platina in 21 medical colleges across the state. The state government has decided to pay 2,000 rupees to every donor as an incentive so as to encourage more donors to come forward and donate plasma. 

The ICMR had earlier done a trial with 452 patients whose analysis is still underway. 

UK Might Increase Isolation To Ten Days

With European countries seeing a new surge in infections, UK plans to increase isolation period to ten days instead of the existing seven days for people exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. 

Priest, Policemen At Ram Janmabhoomi Test Positive

Sixteen policemen on duty at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex along with the chief priest's assistant at the Ram temple in Ayodhya have tested positive for COVID-19. This, however, does not affect the programme which will be held as scheduled on August 5.