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

Highest Single Day Raise Of Over 14,000 Cases

India recorded it's highest single day raise in COVID- 19 cases as it recorded over 14,516 new cases on June 20. 

With 411 new deaths, the total number of deaths surged to 12,948 in the country. 

MHA Recommends Capping Of Private Hospital Prices In Delhi

A Ministry of Home Affairs committee constituted to control the burgeoning costs of private hospitals in the capital has recommended capping of prices for services in private hospitals. 

The committee headed by Niti Aayog's Dr. VK Paul has reduced the rate for isolation beds and ICU beds with and without ventilators at almost two thirds of the existing rates in private hospitals.

From Rs 24,000-25,000 for isolation beds, the rates have been reduced to Rs 8,000-10,000. The rates have been reduced from Rs 34,000-43,000 to Rs 13,000-15,000 for ICU beds without ventilator while  ICU beds with ventilators, that earlier cost Rs 44,000-54,000 a bed a day, have been recommended to be charged at Rs 15,000-18,000 a bed a day.

The committee has also said that these rates will include PPE costs.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's Condition Deteriorates

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's condition has worsened and has been shifted to the ICU two days after testing positive for COVID-19, reports PTI. "We have put him fully on oxygen support as his Spo2 level had fallen to 89 at one point, normal level is about 95. Also, he has been diagnosed with pneumonia, so we are shifting him to an ICU at the hospital," a senior official of the hospital told PTI.

India Reports Highest One-Day Spike In New COVID-19 Cases

India recorded 13,586 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, a new one-day record, as the total case count rose to 3,80,532. The death toll stands at 12,573 after 336 patients died due to the disease. 2,04,710 patients have been discharged so far.

Globally, the total case count stands at 85,78,283 and the death toll is at 4,56,286.

WHO Stops Hydroxychloroquine Trial

The World Health Organisation today announced that it will stop trials of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a treatment for COVID-19 under the Solidarity Trial. The decision was made after evidence suggested that HCQ does not lead to reduced mortality rate of hospitalised patients. However, the suspension does not apply to the use or evaluation of HCQ in pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis in patients exposed to COVID-19, the WHO said.

COVID-19 Spreads Quicker When People Live Together Than SARS And MERS

A study published in The Lancet has found evidence that COVID-19 spreads easily in households and where people live in close proximity. The researchers identified 195 close-contact groups in the Chinese city of Guangzhou between January 7 and February 18, 2020 and found out that the novel coronavirus can spread even before an infected person shows any symptoms.

The researchers, however, also stated that the study has limitations and is based on assumptions including about the length of incubation period, the infectivuty of asymptomatic infections during their incubation period and the researcher's inability to reliably quantify the infectivity of asymptomatic infections.

Beijing Reports Drop In New Cases; South Korea Records 59 New Cases

Beijing reported a drop in new cases following a second outbreak of COVID-19 in the Chinese capital. The city recorded 21 new cases on Thursday, down from 31 on Wednesday, reports AP. China has recorded 83,293 COVID-19 cases and 4,634 deaths since the outbreak began in Wuhan in 2019.

South Korea, on the other hand, reported 59 new cases with 39 of them reported in the Seoul its metropolitan area due to increasing economic activity and an easing of physical distancing norms. The country has reported 12,257 cases including 280 deaths.

India Records Highest One-day Spike In New COVID-19 Cases

India added a record 12,881 new COVID-19 cases as the total case count rose to 3,66,946. The death toll stands at 12,237 after 334 COVID-19 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

The global case count stands at 8,403,599 while the death toll is 4,51,383.  The USA continues to remain the worst hit country with 22,34,471 cases and 1,19,941 deaths reported so far.

AAP MLA Atishi tested positive for COVID-19

Aam Aadmi Party legislator from Kalkaji in Delhi, Atishi, has tested positive for COVID-19. She is the third MLA from the union territory to test positive for the disease, the other two being MLA Vishesh Ravi from Karol Bagh and Rajkumar Anand from Patel Nagar.

AIIB approves $750 million loan to India

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has approved a $750 million loan to India to finance its COVID-19 response; to help India battle the impact of the disease on vulnerable households. The Beijing-based institution has the backing of the Asian Development Bank. In April, the ADB too approved $1.5 billion to fight the pandemic.