Corona Updates You Must Track: Biggest Jump In Daily Cases; India Conducts Record Tests For COVID-19

India cases and toll: India’s COVID-19 tally rose to nearly 24 lakh on Thursday with the biggest jump in single-day figures. The country is rapidly closing in on the gap with Brazil, the second worst-hit nation by the pandemic, which has recorded a little over 31.70 lakh cases of coronavirus till now.

On Thursday, India’s coronavirus count stood at 23,96,636 with 6,53,622 active cases, 16,95,982 recoveries and 47,033 deaths, as per the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. India’s recovery rate for the infection has gone up to 70 per cent.

In the last 24 hours, India reported 66,999 cases of coronavirus, the biggest single-day spike, and 942 deaths. A total of 8,30,391 tests for COVID-19 were conducted across India on Wednesday, the highest so far.

Don’t procure COVID vaccines on your own, states told: The expert panel on COVID-19 vaccine administration in India, which met on Wednesday, has asked states to not procure vaccines for COVID-19 on their own. The panel said that India’s domestic production capacity and the supplies procured through Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, should be sufficient to meet the country’s demand, reported The Economic Times.

COVID-19 tracker for 13 August. Source: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB

Global corona update: The coronavirus pandemic has affected all major economies of the world and shows no signs of slowing down. The global COVID-19 tally has climbed to 2,08,06,973 with 1,37,06,688 recoveries and 7,47,258 deaths, according to Worldometer.

The US with 53,60,302 cases of coronavirus, including 1,69,131 deaths, is the worst-affected country by the pandemic, followed by Brazil and India. While Mexico’s rising tally (4,98,380 on Thursday morning) remains a concern, Peru too has been reporting a steady surge in the cases of coronavirus. The South American country has recorded 4,98,555 coronavirus cases and 21,713 deaths—markets and banks have been the points for the spreading of the infection.

Story of hope and kindness: The coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected the vulnerable and underprivileged sections of the society. Sandeep Kumar, founder of Chandigarh-based NGO Open Eye Foundation, realized that immediately after the nationwide lockdown was enforced. He started getting requests from people to help them with study material.

Kumar’s NGO, which he founded in December 2016, collects used and old books from various houses and then distributes them among those who cannot afford them. “During the lockdown, people used to call for study material but distribution via a scooter was not feasible. However, I have got a minivan now … We also give away masks and sanitary napkins along with study materials,” Kumar told ANI. During the lockdown, Kumar’s NGO provided nearly 10,000 books to underprivileged children.