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

North Korea Reports Suspected COVID-19 Case, Declares Emergency

North Korea reported a suspected case of COVID-19. A man who defected to South Korea three years ago and has now illegally entered the country through the border town of Kaesong in North Korea exhibited COVID-19 symptoms. If confirmed, the man could be the first case of COVID-19 in the country. 

State media KCNA news reported ruler Kim Jong Un called for an urgent meeting and declared an emergency. He is also stated to have said that the virus could have entered the country. North Korea has not reported any cases so far but had enforced strict quarantine and lockdown restrictions which were gradually being eased. 

India Reports More Than 48 Thousand Cases For Third Straight Day

In the last 24 hours, India has reported 48,661 new cases of COVID-19 raising the total number of cases in the country to 13,85,522. India has been reporting over 48 thousand cases since three days. The death toll stands at 32,063 after the country reported 705 new deaths. 

Over 36,145 people even recovered in the last 24 hours, the highest in a day yet. The current number of recovered patients is at 8,85,577 while the active cases have increased to 4,67,882.

Tamil Nadu's COVID-19 Case Count Crosses 2 Lakh

Tamil Nadu reported 6,988 new COVID-19 cases today as the total case count crossed the 2 lakh mark. Of the 2,06,737 cases, 52,273 are active cases while 1,51,055 patients have been cured or discharged so far. 89 patients died due the disease today taking the death toll to 3,409. The state has conducted 22,87,334 tests so far with 64,315 tests being conducted today.

Delhi's Total Case Count Nears 1.3 Lakh Mark

Delhi reported 1,142 new COVID-19 cases today taking the total case count to 1,29,531. The number of active cases stands at 12,657 while 1,13,068 patients have been cured or discharged so far. 29 patients succumbed to the disease taking the death toll to 3,806.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tests Positive For COVID-19

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced in a tweet. Chouhan is the first Indian CM to test positive for the disease. Chouhan said he will quarantine himself until he gets better.

India Reports 48,916 New COVID-19 Cases

India reported 48,916 new COVID-19 cases to take the total case count to 13,36,861. The number of active cases stands at 4,56,071 while 8,49,431 patients have been cured or discharged so far. 757 patients died due to the disease as the death toll rose to 31,358.

No Herd Immunity Against Virus Yet: WHO Chief Scientist

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organisation's Chief Scientist, has said that herd immunity against the novel coronavirus hasn't developed yet. According to Dr Swaminathan, only 5%-10% of the population in countries hit hardest by COVID-19 have developed anti-bodies. To develop herd immunity, at least 50%-60% of the population needs to be immune to the virus. "As there are waves of this infection going through countries, people are going to develop antibodies and those people will hopefully be immune for sometime so they will also act as barriers and brakes to the spread," she said.

Tamil Nadu Reports 6,785 New Cases; Karnataka Reports 5,007 Cases

Tamil Nadu has reported 6,785 new COVID-19 cases on Friday taking the total case count to 1,99,749. The death toll rose to 3,320 after 88 patients succumbed to the disease. The active case count stands at 53,132.

5,007 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Karnataka as the total case count rose to 85,870. 110 patients died due to the disease as the death toll rose to 1,724.

Mumbai To Start Antigen Testing For Frontline Workers

Frontline workers in Mumbai will be administered antigen tests the BMC announced today. In a statement, the corporation said that all "COVID-19 warriors" will be tested for the virus through the rapid antigen test according to ICMR standards. Those who would be tested include workers from the health, sanitation and waste management departments. Police personnel and workers working in COVID-19 health care and isolation services will also be tested as will volunteers from NGOs working to fight the virus.

IPL To Be Held In UAE From September 19 To November 8: Chairman Brijesh Patel

The 2020 Indian Premier League will be held in the UAE from September 19 with the final to be held on November 8, IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel told PTI. The IPL Governing Council will meet next week to finalise the details and approve the schedule with the BCCI already informing the franchises about the plan.

"We are making the SOP and it will be ready in a few days. To allow crowd or not depends on the UAE government. Anyway social distancing has to be maintained. We have left it for their government to decide on that. Will also be writing to the UAE board formally," Patel said. The UAE houses three cricket stadiums in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.