Corona Updates You Must Track: Record Single-Day Surge In Fresh Cases, Tamil Nadu Crosses 50,000-Mark

India’s battle with coronavirus disease continues as the country recorded 12,881 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day surge so far. With 1.60 lakh active cases, 1.94 lakh recoveries and 12,237 deaths, India’s COVID-19 tally now stands at 3.67 lakh cases. Globally, the US’ death toll has crossed its toll during the First World War.

Track all the updates on developments related to coronavirus, in India and globally, here:   

India cases and toll: India coronavirus count rose to nearly 3.67 lakh cases on Thursday morning with 1.60 lakh active cases, 1.94 lakh recoveries and 12,237 deaths, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. India added a record 12,881 fresh COVID-19 cases to its tally in the last 24 hours while 334 succumbed to the disease during the same period. On Wednesday, India conducted more than 1.65 lakh tests for COVID-19.

How is Delhi faring: In a breather for Delhiites, a central expert panel has suggested lowering the COVID-19 testing rates from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,400. Delhi has currently 27,741 active cases while 1,904 people have lost their lives to the virus or co-morbidities. Of the 47,102 confirmed coronavirus cases so far, 17,457 have recovered. Meanwhile, Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain has tested positive for COVID-19. Kalkaji MLA Atishi too has tested positive for the disease.

Tamil Nadu crosses 50,000-mark: Tamil Nadu became the second state after Maharashtra to cross the 50,000-mark for confirmed coronavirus cases. On Thursday, the southern state’s coronavirus count stood at 50,193 cases with 21,993 active cases, 27,624 recoveries and 576 deaths. On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu recorded its highest single-day surge with 2,174 fresh coronavirus cases. Four districts in the state, including Chennai, are gearing for a 12-day intense lockdown starting Friday (19 June).

Source: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB

Where Maharashtra stands: Maharashtra’s COVID-19 tally continues to surge with the state reporting more than 1.16 lakh confirmed cases so far. The state added 3,307 new coronavirus cases and 114 deaths in the last 24 hours. On Thursday morning, Maharashtra had 51,935 active cases, 59,166 recoveries and 5,651 deaths. The state alone accounts for more than 30 per cent of the total confirmed coronavirus cases reported across the country.      

Coronavirus vaccine update: A day after a widely-used drug to treat asthma, dexamethasone, emerged as one of the first life-saving drugs against COVID-19 deaths, Russia has also started clinical trials of a vaccine for coronavirus disease. According to an AP report, two forms of the vaccine, as powder and as liquid, will be tested on two groups of volunteers.

Meanwhile, according to researchers in the UK, dexamethasone, which is already used in India to treat sepsis, can cut the risk of deaths by a third among COVID-19 patients on ventilator support and by a fifth among those on oxygen.

Global corona update: SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for coronavirus disease, continues to wreak havoc across continents. Globally, the COVID-19 tally is now at 84.06 lakh confirmed cases with 44.15 lakh recoveries and 4.15 lakh deaths, according to worldometer, a website that tracks coronavirus cases.

The US, which has reported more than 22.34 lakh confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1.19 lakh deaths, has officially crossed its death toll during the First World War where the country lost 1,16,516 Americans. Brazil, the second worst-hit country by virus, has reported more than 9.60 lakh confirmed cases and 46,665 deaths.