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

Antibody Testing Kits Developed By NIV Pune

The National Institute of Virology in Pune has developed and validated the indigenious IgG Elisa test 'COVID KAVACH ELISA" for antibody detection for COVID-19. 

The test was validated at two sites in Mumbai and was found to correctly identify those with antibodies (sensitivity) and those without the antibodies (specificity).

The ICMR is partnering with Zydus Cadilla  for mass scale production of the ELISA test which can test 90 samples in a run of 2.5 hours.  

Aarogya Setu App Is The Safest App Ever Built: Ajay Sahni

Ajay Sahni, chairman of Empowered Group 9 has claimed that the Aarogya Setu app is the safest app ever developed. Sahni said, "Privacy is one of the key elements of the app. When anyone signs up, we provide a unique randomised number which is then used instead of their names. Only the users who have tested positive, their information is stored in the systems. Data is deleted from devices after 30 days, data on the server is deleted after 45 days and data of people who have tested positive is deleted after 60 days."

Aarogya Setu App Has Helped Identified 13,000 cases: Ajay Sahni

Ajay Sahni, chairman of Empowered Group 9 has said that the Aarogya Setu app has helped identify 13,000 COVID-19 cases. Sahni also said that 1.4 lakh users have been identified as people who have been in contact with the 13,000 COVID-19 patients using the Aarogya Setu app. "The people who test positive, we track their movements over the last 15 days and then combine that with people who have done self-assessment and reported symptoms through the app. Then we forward the information to prevent the creation of hotspots to state and district authorities. 697 potential hotspots have been identified and shared with states and districts," Sahni added.

Wuhan And South Korea Reported Fresh Cases

South Korean officials are searching for thousands of people who may have been infected in a cluster of cases linked to nightclubs and bars in the capital Seoul.

Officials reported 35 new cases as of midnight on Sunday, the second consecutive day of new cases of that magnitude and the highest numbers in more than a month.

Wuhan the epicentre of the virus has also reported 6 fresh cases. 

4000 Indians Flown Back To Country; 468 Shramik Trains Operated

Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said that 4,000 Indians have been brought back to the country by 23 flights. 5 lakh migrants have been transported to their home states by 468 special trains. 

25,000 Firms Have Started Working In Maharashtra

Maharashtra Industries Minister Subash Desai has stated that around  six lakh people employed in various sectors had resumed work amid easing of restrictions in the lockdown in place for the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Around 25 thousand firms have resumed operations in the state. 

MHA Requests For Smooth Movement Of Medical And Para-Medical Staff

Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla wrote to the Chief Secretaries of State ministries permitting the movement of medical professionals and para-medical personnel. 

The medical professionals are also carrying out non COVID-emergencies along with the normal routine of immunization programmes  and other vector diseases. 

Private clinics and nursing homes should be allowed to function during the same. 

Smooth movement of ambulances should also be facilitated in the country

(Editor's note: A previous version of this buzz referred to the Home Secretary as Chief Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs. The error has been rectified) 

WB To Allow Tea Gardens To Function With 50% Staff

The West Bengal government has issued a clarification that they will permit tea gardens to function with 50% staff and allow activities such as plucking. 

Social distancing norms are to be followed during the same. 

1 Lakh Migrants Returned To UP On Their Own

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi of the UP government said that about 1 lakh migrants reached their homes in UP by their own. Awasthi also said that 184 trains have brought 2.24 lakh migrants to UP.

468 Shramik Special Trains Operated: Railways

The railways have operated 468 Shramik Special trains since May 1, 2020 reports PTI. According to officials, more than 5 lakh stranded migrants have been ferried home by the trains. Uttar Pradesh (172 trains) and Bihar (100 trains) have seen the most trains terminated while Gujarat and Kerala have seen the most number of trains originating.