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

Russia And India In Talks For Sputnik V

Russia has reached out to India for mass manufacturing of the Sputnik-V vaccine as well as its Phase III trials in the country, shared Dr. Vinod Paul, member of the NITI Aayog in the health ministry press conference on Tuesday. 

Russia intends to collaborate with India to produce the vaccine through its manufacturing channels as India is known to be the land of mass vaccine development. Phase III trials of Sputnik V may also be conducted in the country if approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, said Dr. Paul. 

No Prescription Required For COVID-19 Testing In Delhi

The Delhi High Court ruled on Tuesday that testing for COVID-19 within Delhi can now be conducted without a doctor's prescription and on demand even if the person does not show any symptoms. The citizens only need to present their Aadhaar card as residential proof of staying in Delhi and a form from the ICMR portal. 

On July 7, Mumbai was the first city to remove the need for a doctor's prescription for testing for COVID-19. 

Punjab To Provide COVID-19 Care Kits For Patients In Home Isolation

Punjab government is going to provide COVID-19 care kits comprising of an oximeter, a thermometer, medicines, sanitizer as well as masks to all the patients opting for home isolation after testing positive, the government said in a statement. 

The kit costing Rs.1,700 will be given to these patients for free. Steamers, vitamin C and D medicines are also a part of the kit. The state reported more than 2000 cases in the last 24 hours- the highest reported by the state, so far. 

Uttar Pradesh And Uttarakhand Politicians Succumb To COVID-19

 Gyan Singh Negi, BJP leader and minister of state in Uttarakhand and SRS Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh MLC succumbed to COVID-19, party leaders from the respective states announced on Twitter. 

While Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat tweeted condolences for Negi, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted about Yadav's demise. 

Fitch Projects India's Economy To Contract By 10.5%

Fitch Ratings has projected India's economy to contract by 10.5% for the fiscal year ending in March 2021. The agency had earlier projected India's economy to contract by 5%. A lengthy and stringent lockdown which saw visits to retail and recreation venues fall very sharply is one of the causes for the contraction. Fitch added that it predicts a majority of economies to rebound strongly in the third quarter of the fiscal year following the reopening of economies.

India Reports 75,809 New COVID-19 Cases

After reporting more than 90,000 new cases for two consecutive days, India has reported 75,809 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count stands as 42,80,422 of which 8,83,697 are active cases while 33,23,950 patients have been cured or discharged.

The death toll has risen to 72,775 after 1,133 patients died due to the disease.

SP Balasubrahmanyam Tests Negative For COVID-19

Singer SP Balasubrahmanyam has tested negative for COVID-19 but continues to be on ventilator support, his son SP Charan said in an Instagram post. Charan said that the veteran singer's lungs haven't healed enough for him to be taken off the ventilator. Charan added that a small celebration was held over the weekend for Balasubrahmanyam and his wife's anniversary. Charan also said that Balasubrahmanyam is doing well and has been watching cricket and tennis matches on his tablet.

Attorney General KK Venugopal In Self-quarantine

Attorney General KK Venugopal is in self-quarantine after one of his staff members tested positive, reports PTI. The government has sought for adjournments in matters that AG Venugopal is scheduled to attend.

India Overtakes Brazil To Become Second-worst Hit Country

India has surpassed Brazil's total case count to become the second-worst hit country after the USA. According to the Johns Hopkins University, India, with 42,04, 613 cases, has surpassed Brazil's total case count of 41,37,521. The US, with 62,76,365 cases, is the worst-hit country by COVID-19.

India Reports 90,000 New COVID-19 Cases For Second Successive Day

India has reported 90,802 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest one-day spike in cases so far. Of the 42,04,613 total cases, 8,82,542 are active cases while 32,50,429 people have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll has risen to 71,642 after 1,016 patients died due to the disease.