Corona Updates You Must Track: Bihar, Bengal Show Surge, Expert Panel On Vaccine Distribution To Meet Tomorrow

India cases and toll: India recorded 53,601 cases of coronavirus and 871 deaths on Monday. With this, India’s coronavirus tally has reached 22,68,675, including 45,257 deaths, according to the data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. India currently has 6,39,929 active cases of coronavirus against 15,83,489 recoveries.

According to a report by The Times of India, India has reported the maximum number of cases globally this month, till 9 August. Against 5,19,351 cases in India, the US reported 4,93,376 and Brazil 3,69,284 cases during the same period. On Monday, India conducted 6,98,290 tests for COVID-19.

Quarantine period of doctors to be treated as ‘on duty’:  The Health Ministry has directed states to consider the quarantine period of doctors and health workers as ‘on duty’ during the coronavirus pandemic. According to a PTI report, the decision was conveyed to chief secretaries of states and UTs and AIIMS directors and medical superintendents of central government hospitals through a letter dated 6 August.

Expert panel to meet to decide COVID-19 vaccine distribution: An expert committee on COVID-19 vaccine administration in India will meet on 12 August. This panel is headed by NITI Aayog member Dr V. K. Paul. This committee, as per a PTI report, will devise a strategy for various aspects of vaccine administration once it is developed, like cold chain logistics and training people who will administer the vaccine.

COVID-19 tracker for 11 August. Source: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB

Bihar, Bengal show steady surge in cases: Even as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh report the maximum cases in India on a daily basis, the eastern states of West Bengal and Bihar too have shown a steady increase. On Monday, Bihar recorded 3,099 cases of coronavirus while West Bengal reported 2,905 cases. Bihar’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 82,550 with 28,065 active cases, 54,088 recoveries and 397 deaths. West Bengal’s coronavirus count has reached 98,459 with 26,031 active cases, 70,328 recoveries and 2,100 deaths.  

Global corona update: The global COVID-19 count has climbed to 2,02,57,466 with 1,31,21,562 recoveries and 7,38,956 deaths, as per Worldometer. Of the 63,96,948 active cases of coronavirus, 64,541 are critical. The US continues to lead the global table with 52,51,446 coronavirus cases and 1,66,192 deaths.

Brazil has 30,57,470 cases of coronavirus, including 1,01,857 deaths. Mexico has been witnessing a steady rise in cases—the country has recorded 4,85,836 cases of coronavirus with 53,003 deaths.