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

Ahmedabad Medical Association Moves Gujarat HC To Ask State To Increase Testing

The Ahmedabad Medical Association has moved the Gujarat High Court to ask the state to increase the number of COVID-19 tests in the state, reports PTI. The AMA, in its petition, said that the current daily testing rate of 6,000 tests is inadequate and needs to be at least five times that of Delhi's daily testing rate of 23,000.The AMA said 19 of Gujarat's 33 districts do not have laboratories that can conduct RT-PCR tests.

Data Shows Mumbai's COVID-19 Recovery Rate Better Than National Average

According to data released by the Union and Maharashtra governments shows that Mumbai's COVID-19 recovery rate is higher than the national average despite the high number of cases, reports PTI. India's recovery rate stands at 63% while Mumbai, which has reported 92,137 cases so far, has a 70% recovery rate. Maharashtra's recovery rate stands at 55%.

India Reports Nearly 35k New COVID-19 Cases

According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India reported 34,884 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours to take the total case count to 10,38,716. The number of active cases stands at 3,58,692 while 6,53,750 patients have been cured or discharged. The death toll rose to 26,273 after 671 patients succumbed to COVID-19.

Kerala Confirms COVID-19 Community Transmission

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayai Vijayan on Friday confirmed that community transmission has begun in Kerala after Poonthura and Pulluvila in Thiruvananthapuram reported a surge in new cases. The state has reported 10,725 COVID-19 cases as of July 16 and has witnessed 37 deaths.

India's Total COVID-19 Case Count Crosses 10 Lakh; Death Toll Exceeds 25k

India's total COVID-19 case count crossed 10 Lakh after a record one-day rise in new cases. The total case count stands at 10,03,832 after 34,965 people tested positive. The number of active cases stands at 3,42,473 while 6,35,756 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll stands at 25,602 after 687 patients succumbed to the disease.

Maharashtra Records Highest Number Of Cases

Maharashtra with 8641 cases reported its highest one-day-spike on July 16 taking the state's total number of cases to 2.84 lakh. 

With 1584 new cases, Pune Municipal Corporation reported the highest number of cases. 

The state reported 266 new deaths, most of which came from Mumbai (56). 

Poet Activist Varavara Rao Tests Positive For COVID-19

Jailed Telugu activist Varavara Rao, 81, has tested positive for COVID-19 at JJ Hospital in Mumbai. As the hospital is a non- COVID facility, he will be shifted to a COVID hospital soon. According to doctors at JJ, he's not showing any symptoms of the disease. 

Rao who has been in Taloja jail since 2018 complained of giddiness and was taken to JJ Hospital on July 14.  He challenged the rejection of his  temporary bail application on medical grounds by the special NIA court in the Mumbai High court on June 26. 

Rao was arrested for his alleged role with Naxal organizations for organising  the Elgar Parishad which was held on January 1, 2018. 

France Makes Masks Mandatory In Enclosed Spaces

French President Emmanuel Macron has made wearing masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces as the country is reopening. 

This also comes at a time when France is seeing new cases as the country has reopened restaurants and beaches. 

Karnataka Reports Highest One-day Rise In Cases

Karnataka reported 3,176 new COVID-19 cases, the highest one-day spike in the state so far as the total case count rose to 47,253. 87 patients died due to the disease as the death toll rose to 928. Bengaluru has reported 22,944 cases and 438 deaths.

India Reports Record 30k Rise In COVID-19 Cases

India reported a record one-day rise in COVID-19 after 32,695 people tested positive in the last 24 hours. The total case count stands at 9,68,867 of which 3,31,146 are active cases while 6,12,814 patients have been cured or discharged. The death toll stands at 24,915 after 606 patients succumbed to COVID-19.