Health Ministry said that India's COVID recovery rate is increasing day by day. (Representational)
India recorded 37,724 new COVID-19 cases today taking the total count of cases to 11,92,915, including 28,732 deaths, according to the government data. A total of 648 people died due to COVID-19-related symptoms in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra remains the worst affected state with a total of 3,27,031 cases. The second worst-hit state, Tamil Nadu reported a total of 1,75,678 COVID-19 cases while Delhi reported cumulative 1,25,096 cases.
The Union Health Ministry said that the country's COVID-19 recovery rate is increasing day by day and on Tuesday it was 62.72 per cent.
The country's fatality rate also dropped significantly to 2.43 per cent from 3.36 per cent on June 17 due to effective clinical management of coronavirus cases, the Centre said, asserting the country has handled the pandemic "relatively well".
In India, the COVID-19 deaths per million population stand at 20.4 per million which is amongst lowest in the world, Rajesh Bhushan, officer on special duty in the Union health ministry, said.
Here are the Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases:
COVID-19: Kamal Nath writes to election body, suggests bypolls by using ballot papers
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and state Congress president Kamal Nath wrote to the Election Commission, suggesting that the upcoming Assembly bypolls should be conducted using ballot papers in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
Bye-elections are due on 26 seats which fell vacant following resignations of 24 Congress MLAs and death of two legislators earlier.
In March this year, 22 Congress MLAs resigned from the state Assembly paving way for BJP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan to take over as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister for the fourth time.
Coronavirus news: Kerala Chief Minister clarifies state's COVID-19 discharge policyKerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday clarified that the state's discharge policy regarding COVID-19 patients is different from the existing policies at the national level and in other states.
During a press conference, the Chief Minister said, "As per the national policy, a patient is discharged after 10 days of admission if there are no minor symptoms. Most states follow this method. Initially in Kerala, a patient was discharged only after two consecutive negative test results."
He said that tests have been made mandatory in asymptomatic cases as well in the updated guidelines by the Department of Health, which were published yesterday.
"Kerala has always followed a policy of discharging patients only after they test negative. The policy is to ensure the safety of the community and to prevent the further spread of the disease. In the third phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in the state, the numbers have been increasing rapidly and today it has cross 1,000," the Chief Minister said.
COVID-19: Assam's tally crosses 27,000-mark with 972 new cases
With 972 new coronavirus cases reported in Assam on Wednesday, the tally of people infected with the virus in the state has climbed to 27,744.
Out of these new cases, 354 cases were recorded from Kamrup (M) and 51 from Jorhat.The total number of cases include 19,350 discharged cases, 8325 active cases and 66 deaths.
"972 new COVID-19 patients in Assam today. Out of these, 354 cases were recorded from Kamrup (M) and 51 from Jorhat. Total number of cases stands at 2774, including 19350 discharged cases, 8325 active cases and 66 deaths," State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed on Wednesday.
Coronavirus news: Uddhav Thackeray chairs meet of medical experts to address COVID-19 challenge in Maharashtra
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday chaired a meet of medical experts from various streams of medical treatment to address the COVID-19 challenge in the state.
Experts from Indian Medical Association (IMA) were there alongside experts from Ayurveda, Yunani Medicine, Homeopathy, etc.
The Chief Minister emphasised that all these ways of treatment are important and effective in the treatment of COVID-19.
"All should come together and finalise a list of their suggestions for treatment of COVID-19 and give that to state's task force dealing with the prevention and cure of COVID-19," Mr Thackeray said.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister has requested all experts to give their suggestions in two parts. The first part of their suggestion will contain the preventive measures and the second part of their suggestions will have the treatment protocol for COVID-19.
COVID-19: 54 fresh cases reported in Nagaland, tally rises to 1,084
Fifty-four more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagaland, taking the state's coronavirus tally to 1,084 on Wednesday, Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom said.
Out of the new cases, 23 were detected in Dimapur, 19 in Kohima, seven in Zunheboto, two each in Mon and Mokokchung and one in Peren district, he said.
Nagaland has 598 active cases now, while 486 have recovered from the disease, health officials said.
Dimapur district accounted for the highest 432 cases, followed by 250 in Peren, 217 in Kohima, 99 in Mon, 44 in Tuensang, 17 in Phek, 12 in Zunheboto, nine in Mokokchung, three in Longleng and one in Wokha.
Kiphire is the only district that does not report any positive case to date.
COVID-19: Odisha to curtail capital expenditure in non-priority sector
To fulfill the financial requirements for COVID-19 management in the state, the Odisha government will restrict the capital expenditure in non-priority sectors from the budgetary allocation of different departments for the financial year 2020-21.
The decision regarding this was taken at the Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss COVID management and the future course of action.
"In view of the evolving COVID-19 situation and future financial need to tackle public health emergency, there will be rationalisation of expenditure at the government level, because our priorities are to save life and livelihood. Expenditures relating to health, social security, employment generation, livelihood, agriculture, horticulture, animal resources development sectors will be given priority. Especially, there will be no compromise for required expenditure in the health sector," Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said at the meeting.
COVID-19: 6,045 new cases in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh has reported 6,045 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the total count of cases to 64,713.
According to the state Health Department, there are 31,763 active cases in the state while the number of discharged patients stands at 32,127.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 stand at 823 in the state after 65 more patients succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours.
With 37,724 cases and 648 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India stands at 11,92,915.
COVID-19: Jharkhand reports 439 new cases, 3 more die
Jharkhand on Wednesday reported 439 new cases of COVID-19, while three more people died due to the disease, as per the bulletin issued by the state government.
One of the deceased was from Koderma, while the others were from Ranchi, it said.
The state's death count stands at 64.
There are 3,570 active cases in the state, with the infection tally rising to 6,682, it said.
A total of 3,048 people have so far recovered and discharged from hospitals, the bulletin said.
COVID-19: Assam records 972 fresh cases, infection tally reaches 27,744
Two persons died due to COVID-19 infection in Assam on Wednesday, taking the death toll to 66, while 972 fresh cases were reported in the state, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The state's infection tally stands at 27,744, he said.
Two patients, aged 54 and 47 years, from Jorhat and Kamrup Metro, respectively, died on Wednesday.
"Two more patients lost the battle against #COVID19 today taking total death count in Assam to 66. My thoughts and prayers are with their families," the minister tweeted.
Out of the 972 new COVID19 positive cases reported in Assam, 354 cases were recorded from Kamrup Metropolitan and 51 from Jorhat district.
COVID-19 case count in Maharashtra's Amravati reaches 1,485
The number of COVID-19 cases in Amravati district of Maharashtra is about to reach the 1,500- mark as 69 new patients found on Wednesday alone took the tally to 1,485, health officials said.
The district has so far reported 42 deaths, they said.
A total of 88 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day following recovery. This took the number of such people in the district to 986.
The count of active patients stands at 457, including 14 being treated in Nagpur, the officials said.
Coronavirus news: Nearly 78% beds for COVID-19 patients lying vacant in Delhi hospitals, says AAP
The Delhi government on Wednesday said nearly 78 per cent beds for coronavirus patients are lying vacant in government and private hospitals of the city.
The national capital recorded 1,227 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the infection tally to 1,26,323.
Delhi hospitals have a total of 15,475 beds for COVID-19 patients, out of which, only 3,342 beds are occupied, indicating that nearly 78.40 per cent beds are available, according to the city government's health bulletin.
As many as 7,966 patients are in home isolation, it said.
Nearly 7,500 beds are lying vacant, out of nearly 10,000 beds, available in COVID care centres and health centres, the bulletin said.
Odisha To Go For Austerity Amid Coronavirus Pandemic: Report
Amid resources crunch caused by the COVID-19 crisis, the Odisha government on Wednesday decided to slash new expenditures in non-priority sectors and to go for fund mobilisation for the war against pandemic, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Chandigarh to take fresh view on weekend curfewThe Chandigarh Union Territory Administration on Wednesday said it will take a "fresh view" on imposing weekend curfew after Punjab and Haryana did not give consent to its proposal.
"It was felt that since Mohali and Panchkula have not agreed for a tri-city closure on weekend, a fresh view on this issue will be taken in the next week," said an official release.
The proposal for weekend curfew was also discussed with doctors, officers, traders associations and political leaders, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Punjab to procure 7 RNA-extraction machines to spur COVID testing facilityThe Punjab government on Wednesday decided to procure seven automatic RNA-extraction machines to equip viral testing labs in the state to boost their COVID-19 testing capacity.
Three such labs are already operational at government medical colleges in Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot and four were set up recently in Mohali, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting, held through video conference and chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: 65 per cent decline in Odisha road accident deaths during lockdownWith a steep fall in the number of road accidents during COVID-19 lockdown, Odisha has registered a sharp decline in deaths due to road mishaps, an official said.
The number of such deaths fell by 65 per cent between March 25 and May 31, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Punjab Chief Minister issues directions for framing guidelines for shooting films, songs amid COVID-19 pandemicPunjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed the Chief Secretary to formulate guidelines for shooting of films, songs and shows amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chief Minister's directive came after three Punjabi singers/actors made a representation to him through a video conference shortly after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Lockdown to be imposed in Bhopal for 10 days
Coronavirus news: Himachal Chief Minister in self-quarantine after deputy secretary in his office tests positive for virusHimachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said he was going into self-quarantine after a deputy secretary in his office tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.
"As per coronavirus protocol, I am going to quarantine myself," Mr Thakur told the media before leaving his office for his residence according to news agency PTI.
Coronavirus news: 29 fresh COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Chandigarh today
Coronavirus news: Goa's decision to allow home quarantine of families right, says AAPThe Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday termed the Goa government's decision to allow the coronavirus positive asymptomatic families to be home quarantined as a "right step".
The party, however, alleged that the government was forced to take this decision as it has failed to create necessary facilities in hospitals for the rising number of patients, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: With five new COVID-19 cases, Dharavi count reaches 2,507The tally of COVID-19 cases in slum sprawl Dharavi mounted to 2,507 on Wednesday with five new detections, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
With 2,116 patients recovering so far, the largest slum colony, once a COVID-19 hotspot, now has only 141 active cases.
The first case was reported in Dharavi in April 1 this year. The case count crossed the 2,500-mark on July 21, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for the novel coronavirus again Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has had another positive result for the novel coronavirus in the third test he has taken since falling ill on July 7, a secretariat of the Communications Ministry said on Wednesday according to news agency Reuters.
"The test carried out on the president yesterday, on the 21st, showed a positive result," a statement said. "President Bolsonaro is still in good condition, accompanied by the presidency's medical team," it added.
Coronavirus news: Chinese COVID-19 vaccine starts final tests in BrazilA Chinese-made vaccine against the new coronavirus entered the final stage of testing Tuesday in Brazil, where volunteers received the first doses of what officials hope will be a game-changer in the pandemic.
The vaccine, developed by private Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, became the third in the world to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans -- the last step before regulatory approval.
"We're living in unique and historic times, and that's why I wanted to be part of this trial," said the 27-year-old doctor who received the first dose at the Clinical Hospital of Sao Paulo.
Her name was withheld for confidentiality, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: Another 3,000 COVID-19 deaths likely in Sweden, says health agencySwedish health officials said Tuesday that another 3,000 deaths from the novel coronavirus were likely in the country, known for its controversial softer approach to curbing the spread and much higher death toll than its neighbours.
The projection comes from one of three potential scenarios presented in a report from the country's Public Health Agency on Tuesday.
In the worst scenario, where COVID-19 was expected to follow a traditional pandemic trajectory, over 4,400 more deaths related to the virus could follow, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: Tokyo governor tells residents to stay home over holiday as virus surges Tokyo's governor on Wednesday urged residents of the Japanese capital to stay at home during an upcoming four-day holiday weekend, as the number of new local coronavirus cases surged.
The city is on its highest coronavirus alert level, with experts warning infections appear to be spreading rapidly and widely, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: Police seize fake COVID kits in international trafficking crackdown Police have seized 17,000 fake COVID-19 testing kits discovered in raids against illicit food and drink products across dozens of countries, Interpol said Wednesday.
Officials seized $40 million (34.5 million euros) worth of fake or substandard products in 77 countries, and arrested 407 people in the operation, carried out from December 2019 to June 2020, AFP reported.
Coronavirus news: With new 200 cases, Tokyo's coronavirus count surpasses 10,000Tokyo has recorded over 200 new cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours, bringing the capital's count to more than 10,000, Governor Koike Yuriko said on Wednesday.
The Japanese capital has been registering more than 100 cases per day for 14 days in a row, with the highest daily increment of 293 being confirmed last week, ANI reported.
Coronavirus news: With 254 new cases, Tripura's COVID-19 tally rises to 3,346; death count mounts to 8Tripura's COVID-19 tally rose to 3,346 on Wednesday as the state reported its highest single-day spike of 254 fresh cases, officials said.
One more patient succumbed to the infection, taking the death count due to the coronavirus to eight in the northeastern state, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: COVID-19 recovery rate rises to 63.13 per cent with record 28,472 patients recuperating in 24 hoursIndia's COVID-19 recovery rate rose to 63.13 per cent on Wednesday with a record 28,472 patients recuperating from the disease in 24 hours, while the case fatality rate further dropped to 2.41 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said.
According to the ministry data updated at 8 am, recoveries have surged to 7,53,049 exceeding active cases of coronavirus infection by 3,41,916, PTI reported.
Coronavirus news: Police, health department organise plasma screening camp in J&KJammu and Kashmir Police in association with Department of Health and Medical Education at Kashmir Nursing Home in Srinagar, organised a Plasma Screening Camp on Wednesday.
According to Dilbagh Singh, Director General (DG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, around 26 police personnel who recovered from COVID-19 donated their blood plasma at the camp, ANI reported.
Coronavirus news: No parade, cultural programmes of children on Independence Day in Madhya Pradesh due to pandemicWith the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no parade and cultural programmes of children in Madhya Pradesh this Independence Day on August 15.
After the state's cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra shared the details of the plan, ANI reported.
Coronavirus news: Philippines records six new coronavirus deaths, 1,594 more cases
The Philippines' health ministry on Wednesday reported six new coronavirus deaths and 1,594 additional infections, the seventh straight day when confirmed cases have topped 1,000.
In a bulletin, the ministry said total deaths had reached 1,843, while confirmed cases rose to 72,269, Reuters reported.
Coronavirus: Doctors Dance With Patients At Covid Care Centre In Delhi's Akshardham
Days after Delhi's Corona Warrior doctors did stress-busting, immunity-boosting yoga with COVID-19 patients, visuals of them dancing with patients have brought cheer to the country even as its total case count came close to 12 lakh. The clip of doctors shaking a leg with recovering coronavirus patients at a Covid Care Centre in the national capital's Akshardham area has been shared widely on the internet.
Read here Nepal Opens After 120 Days Of Lockdown
Vehicular movement on Nepal's roads commenced from Wednesday with the Himalayan country lifting its 4-month nationwide lockdown from Tuesday midnight, owning to a decline in the number of coronavirus cases, reports ANI.
With 254 New Cases, Tripura's COVID-19 Tally Rises To 3,346
Tripura's COVID-19 tally rose to 3,346 on Wednesday as the state reported its highest single-day spike of 254 fresh cases, officials said, reports PTI.
Coronavirus News: Nagaland Reports 57 New COVID-19 Cases
Nagaland reported 57 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, according to the State Health Minister. Of the 513 samples tested, 57 positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, said S Pangnyu Phom, the State Health Minister, reports ANI.
Indian-Origin Singapore Nurse Gets President's Award For COVID Services
A 59-year-old Indian-origin nurse in Singapore has been conferred with the President's Award for Nurses for serving on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kala Narayanasamy was among the five nurses given the award, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday, reports PTI.
1,078 New COVID-19 Cases Reported In Odisha
A total of 1,078 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths were reported in Odisha in the last 24 hours, the state's health department informed.
Coronavirus: 266 More COVID-19 Cases In Rajasthan
266 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported from Rajasthan in the last 24 hours, the State''s Health Department said on Wednesday. The total number of cases in Rajasthan now stands at 31,599, including 8,129 active cases and 22,889 recoveries, reports ANI.
One More Dies Of COVID-19 In Puducherry, Tally Reaches 2,300
A 54-year-old man died of coronavirus here and 124 new cases were reported on Wednesday, taking the aggregate of the infections in the union territory to 2,300, reports PTI.
Goa government Failed To Take Scientific Measures To Contain COVID-19: Congress
Attacking the BJP government in Goa, state Congress President Girish Chodankar has said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has "lost control" on the administration and failed to take scientific measures to control the spread of coronavirus, reports ANI.
COVID-19: New Academic Session In Goa Likely From September
The Goa education department is expecting to start the new academic session from September this year, state education director Santosh Amonkar has said. The annual academic session in Goa begins in the first week of June, but it has been delayed this year due to the outbreak of COVID-19, reports PTI.
Coronavirus News: Karnataka To Regulate Remdesivir Supply To Private Hospitals
Karnataka's COVID-19 task force on Tuesday decided that the state government will regulate the supply of Remdesivir, the drug used in the treatment of coronavirus infected patients, to private hospitals to check black marketing and hoarding, reports PTI.
$200-Million Decision To Make Untested COVID-19 Vaccine Took 30 Minutes
The coronavirus vaccine developed at the Oxford University will be in India by November and will ultimately cost Rs 1,000, said the Indian firm partnering the UK researchers. The manufacturing of the Covishield vaccine had started parallelly with the clinical trials, the first phase of which got positive results. Adar Poonawala, the chief of the Serum Institute of India told NDTV that the decision to push in 200 million dollars into an untested drug took exactly 30 minutes -- the risks were compounded by the fact that that if the clinical trials in the remaining phases do not get good results, the entire stock has to be destroyed.
Read here 37,724 Fresh COVID-19 Cases In 24 Hours Take India's Tally To 11,92,915
India recorded 37,724 new COVID-19 cases today taking the total count of cases to 11,92,915, including 28,732 deaths, according to the government data. A total of 648 people died due to COVID-19-related symptoms in the last 24 hours.
Andhra Government Plans To Reopen Schools From September 5
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to restart schools from September 5, however, the final decision will be taken based on the situation when the date approaches, reports ANI.
US Leading In COVID-19 Testing With 50 Million, India Second, Says Trump
The United States is leading the world in terms of COVID-19 testing and India is at second position, President Donald Trump said while giving an update on his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, reports PTI.
PMIS Disease Detected In Mumbai Children With COVID-19, Doctors Worried
Eighteen out of the nearly 100 coronavirus positive children admitted to Mumbai's Wadia hospital have shown symptoms of Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, a Kawasaki disease-type ailment, in a major cause of worry for doctors. The malady, first discovered by Japanese paediatrician Tomisku Kawasaki, causes fever, skin rash, redness of eyes, fatigue and diarrhoea and can be fatal if untreated.
Read here 7-Day Paid Quarantine For International Passengers Arriving At Delhi Airport
In view of the ongoing COVID-19 scenario, all passengers arriving by international flights at the Delhi Airport will have to undergo seven days of institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by one-week of home quarantine, reports ANI.
Coronavirus: Congress leader alleges lack of transparency in Telangana regarding COVID-19 situation
Congress leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy on Tuesday alleged that there is a lack of transparency by Telangana government with regard to releasing the COVID-19 bulletin.
"We have been saying from the beginning that there is lack of transparency. The bulletins that are been put by the Telangana Government do not follow any standard proforma and the information is put out very selectively. Nowhere in the country and world have there this kind of lack of transparency," the Congress leader told ANI.
"I do not know who the state government is trying to fool. The data that is available is not complete for any meaningful decisions to be taken," he added.
Mr Reddy said that he was "happy" that the High Court is "taking an interest in making things right".
COVID-19: Stimulus package has made big difference to companies coping with lockdown effects, says Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that green shoots were visible in the economy and the stimulus package provided by the government has made a big difference to companies coping up with effects of lockdown enforced to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Addressing the India Ideas Summit organised by the US-India Business Council through video conferencing, she said that Finance Ministry and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) were working together and 3.9 per cent of GDP has been infused as liquidity in the Indian economy.
"Indicators show green shoots in the economy. Power consumption has gone up, businesses have got more traction. The stimulus has made a big difference for companies coping with the effects of the lockdown," she said.
The minister said agriculture and infrastructure were among the sectors included in the stimulus package.
Coronavirus news: File affidavit in court with all fourtacts on COVID-19 issues, says Telangana Chief Minister
A day after Telangana High Court expressed displeasure over non-implementation of its earlier orders on COVID-19 related issues, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday directed officials to file an affidavit with all facts on tests and treatment and other relevant information.
The court had on July 20 directed senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, to appear before it on July 28 in connection with the matter.
The court had expressed unhappiness over the lesser number of COVID-19 tests being done, as compared to other states, pulled up the government and asked why it was not providing all details in the COVID-19 cases daily bulletin.
Coronavirus news: Oxford partner targets year end for COVID-19 vaccine
A coronavirus vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca should be available globally "at cost price" by year end, the firm's director general said Tuesday.
"Our objective is to bring the vaccine to everybody, (and) equally to do so on a not-for-profit basis so we shall be providing the vaccine at cost price," Pascal Soriot told RTL radio.
"At cost price that will be about 2.5 euros ($2.8) per unit.
"We hope to be able to produce a vaccine by the end of the year... perhaps a little earlier if all goes well" on the back of phase three results expected in the autumn, Soriot added in an interview.
Early results of a closely watched Phase 1/2 trial published this week in The Lancet suggest the vaccine candidate is safe and induces an immune response.
US group Johnson & Johnson has also vowed to deliver a vaccine at "non-profit" pricing.
COVID-19 news: Karnataka to regulate Remdesivir supply to pvt hospitals to check black marketing
Karnataka's COVID-19 task force on Tuesday decided that the state government will regulate the supply of Remdesivir, the drug used in the treatment of coronavirus infected patients, to private hospitals to check black marketing and hoarding.
"Remdesivir which is currently available in the government hospitals will be supplied to private hospitals through the government. This will help curb black marketing of this drug," Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar's office said in a release.
Along with Sudhakar, other task force members, including Health Minister Sriramulu, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan and Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar attended the meeting.However Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai was not part of it as he was out of Bengaluru.