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

Pune's Sassoon Hospital Reports India's First Case Of Mother-Baby COVID-19 Transmission

Pune's Sassoon General Hospital has reported India's first mother to baby transmission of COVID-19, reports PTI. "Whereas vertical transmission means when the baby is in the uterus itself and the mother has an infection, (she may be) either symptomatic or asymptomatic,and she can transfer the infection through the placenta to the baby," Dr Aarti Kinikar told PTI.

"The baby went through a stormy course but after three weeks both mother and baby have been discharged and are doing well," Dr Kinikar told BOOM.

1,955 Active COVID-19 Cases In Maharashtra Police

The Maharashtra Police has reported 1,955 active COVID-19 cases among its personnel including 207 officers. The total case count stands at 8,722 while 97 personnel have died due to the disease.

India Adds 47k New COVID-19 Cases

India reported 47,703 new COVID-19 cases taking the total case count to 14,83,156. The number of active cases rose by 11,874 to stand at 4,96,988. 952743 patients have been cured or discharged so far, an increase of 35,175 patients in the last 24 hours. The death toll rose to 33,425 after 654 patients died due to the disease.

PM Modi Inaugurates Three High-throughput ICMR Labs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today e-inaugurated three ICMR labs with a capacity to test 10,000 samples each in a day. The labs have been set up at ICMR facilities in Noida, Mumbai and Kolkata. PM Modi had spoken about these labs in his Mann Ki Baat address.

Tamil Nadu Launches Free Mask Program To Combat COVID-19

Tamil Nadu has launched a free mask distribution scheme to all ration card holders to fight COVID-19, reports PTI. The initial phase of the scheme, which was launched by CM K Palaniswami, 4.44 crore reusable masks costing Rs 30.07 crore will be provided to 69.09 lakh families in town panchayats, municipalities and corporations barring the Greater Chennai Corporation.

India Reports Record One-day Rise In New COVID-19 Cases

India reported 49,931 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, a record one-day increase, as the total case count rose to 14,35,453. The number of active cases stands at 4,85,114 while 9,17,567 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll rose to 32,771 after 708 patients died due to the disease.

Hyderabad Mayor Tests Positive For COVID-19

Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. He stated that he was asymptomatic and has already pledged to donate plasma. His family and he took rapid antigen tests through which everybody else has tested negative. 

The city reported 641 new cases on July 26. 

Sikkim Reports First COVID-19 Death

Sikkim reported its first COVID-19 death on Sunday, July 26. The 74-year-old man was suffering from comorbidities according to state health officials. 

Itolizumab Not To Be Included In Clinical Managment Of COVID-19

The National Task Force for COVID-19 has decided to not include Biocon's Itolizumab in the clinical management protocols for COVID-19 due to lack of evidence, PTI reported.

Although approved for "restricted emergency use" by the Drugs Controller General of India, the monoclonal antibody used to treat psoriasis and produced by Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's Biocon, did not find favour with the task force. Officials told PTI that they feel there is not enough evidence to support that the drug reduces cytokine storms in patients.  

Over 3,000 COVID-19 Patients Untraceable In Bangalore

Around 3,000 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 in the newly emerging hotspot of Bangalore are untraceable according to the city's municipal corporation. 

The city which was hailed for curbing the virus in the months of April and May reported 2,036 cases on Saturday.