Corona Updates You Must Track: Maharashtra COVID-19 Tally Crosses 6-Lakh Mark, India Conducts Nearly 9 Lakh Tests

India cases and toll: India added 55,079 new cases to its coronavirus tally in the last 24 hours. The country has, so far, recorded 27,02,742 cases of coronavirus—6,73,166 active cases, 19,77,779 recoveries and 51,797 deaths, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The daily rise in cases has shown a marginal decline as compared to the nearly 67,000 daily cases reported last Wednesday (13 August). In the last 24 hours, 876 people succumbed to the disease across the country. A record 8,99,864 COVID-19 tests were conducted on Monday.

Maharashtra crosses 6-lakh mark: Maharashtra recorded yet another grim milestone on Tuesday when its coronavirus tally crossed the 6-lakh mark. South Africa, which is fifth on the global list of worst-affected countries by the pandemic, has recorded 5,89,886 cases of coronavirus, as per Worldometer stats. The western state’s COVID-19 death toll stands at 20,265; South Africa has reported 11,982 deaths so far.

Maharashtra added 8,493 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the count to 6,04,358. A day before, the state had recorded 11,111 new cases of coronavirus. There are 1,55,579 active cases while 4,28,514 people have recovered from the illness in Maharashtra.

COVID-19 tracker for 18 August. Source: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB

Tracking Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine: According to The Indian Express report, the Indian embassy in Moscow is “engaging” with the Russian medical research institute which has developed the COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V. The report quotes a government source as saying that the Indian mission in Moscow is “awaiting the safety and efficacy data of this vaccine for COVID-19”. 

Global corona update: The global COVID-19 tally has moved up to 2,20,49,449 with 1,47,91,865 recoveries and 7,77,440 deaths, as per Worldometer. Of the 64,80,144 currently infected patients, 62,074 are critical. The US remains the worst-affected country by the virus in terms of sheer numbers—56,12,027 total cases, including 1,73,716 deaths.

In New Zealand, which had declared itself COVID-free in June, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country’s parliamentary elections will be pushed by four weeks from 19 September to 17 October due to re-emergence of the virus, particularly in Auckland.

Italy, one of the worst-hit countries by the coronavirus in Europe, has ordered a three-week closure of discos following an uptick in fresh cases, AFP reported. Wearing of masks is also mandatory in public areas, from 6 pm to 6 am.