Corona Updates You Must Track: India Records Nearly 70,000 Cases In A Day, Delhi Sero Survey Shows 29% Exposed To Virus

India cases and toll: India’s coronavirus tally rose to 28,36,925 on Thursday morning with 69,652 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The daily cases reported on Wednesday are the highest for the country so far.

Further, 977 people across the country succumbed to the disease. India currently has 6,86,395 active cases of coronavirus while 20,96,664 people have recovered from the illness. The country’s COVID-19 death toll has reached 53,866.

There are encouraging signs too. The overall positivity rate for COVID-19 has started declining for the first time since May, reported The Indian Express. After hitting a peak of 9.01 per cent on 9 August, the report said, the positivity rate has started declining and has now come down to 8.72 per cent.

Meanwhile, India conducted 9,18,470 tests for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Delhi second sero survey results out: Over 29 per cent Delhi residents have been exposed to COVID-19, as per the findings of the second sero survey conducted in the national capital between 1 and 7 August. A total of 15,000 samples were collected for this survey. The first sero survey had found that nearly 23 per cent of Delhi’s population was exposed to the virus.

Record spike in Maharashtra: Maharashtra reported 13,165 cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the biggest surge in daily cases so far. The state’s coronavirus tally has climbed to 6,28,642 with 1,60,728 active cases, 4,46,881 recoveries and 21,033 fatalities. On Wednesday, 346 people succumbed to the disease across the state.

COVID-19 tracker for 20 August. Source: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB

Health Ministry guidelines for eye care facilities: The Health Ministry on Wednesday issued guidelines for eye care facilities to avoid and minimize the spread of COVID-19. Eye care facilities in containment zones will remain closed. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet should be maintained as far as possible and masks/face covers are mandatory, said the guidelines. “Tele-counselling and teleconsultation should be encouraged to lessen patient visits and/or appointment system can be followed to call patients needing examination/eye investigations/procedures,” the guidelines state.

Global corona update: The global COVID-19 tally has surged to 2,25,80,296 with 1,53,01,278 recoveries and 7,91,002 deaths, as per Worldometer. Currently, there are 64,88,016 infected patients across the globe with 61,741 in critical condition. The US with 57,00,931 cases of coronavirus and 1,76,337 deaths leads the global tally, followed by Brazil, which has recorded 34,60,413 COVID-19 cases and 1,11,189 deaths.

The US’ top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci said that the government will not make any future COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. “You don’t want to mandate and try and force anyone to take a vaccine. We’ve never done that,” said Fauci at a video talk organized by George Washington University, reported AFP.

Meanwhile, Spain, one of the worst-affected countries by the pandemic in Europe, has reported a fresh surge in cases. The country reported 3,715 fresh cases on Wednesday, a new high since the strict lockdown was lifted in late June, reported Al Jazeera.