Coronavirus Highlights: India's COVID-19 Case Count Crosses 58-Lakh Mark

Before He Tested Positive, S P Balasubrahmanyam Composed A Song On Coronavirus
Ironically, before he tested positive for coronavirus, singer S P Balasubrahmanyam composed music and sung a Tamil song to create awareness about the deadly pathogen with the lyrics brimming with confidence that mankind would eventually win over the pandemic. "I composed this number. Let us listen to this... it is not more musical, it is more lyrical," he had said months ago and his foreword to the song, written by renowned lyricist Vairamuthu.

Popularly known as SPB, he had in the three-minute plus video post urged his fans to pay attention to the depth and import of the words and act accordingly to help prevent the virus spread. The song that begins with "Corona, Corona," goes on to explain that though the virus was pretty small in size, smaller than an atom, it was deadly like an atom bomb and it infected people stealthily.

Varun Dhawan Gets Himself Tested For COVID-19
On Fridays, we are usually in the TGIF mood but not actor Varun Dhawan, who decided to start prepping for returning to work. Varun Dhawan was last seen in Street Dancer 3D and his upcoming movie is Coolie No 1, the shooting schedule of which was wrapped in February. For those wondering about Varun's new project, which prompted him to resume work, looks like will have to wait. Varun however is taking all precautions around going back to work in the time of coronavirus. He even got himself tested for the virus, a glimpse of which he shared on his Instagram post. Sharing a photo of himself along with a healthcare personnel in PPE kit, Varun wrote: "Returning to work. With all precautions. Do gaz ki doori. Mask hai zaroori. Swipe to see my test (it always stings). Thank you to all the medical personnel." Read

Coronavirus: How To Use A Fabric Face Mask- 10 Points To Note
Coronavirus: Fabric face masks are supposed to be worn by people who have no symptoms that are related to COVID-19. This includes dry cough, breathlessness, fever and loss of sense of taste or smell to name a few. These masks also need to be worn if you are in a place where COVID-19 outbreak is widespread, where physical distancing of at least one metre cannot be achieved. Social workers, cashiers, servers must all wear fabric face masks. If you are travelling in public transport or are in your workplace, a grocery store or any other crowded environment, then too wearing a face mask is important, mentions the World Health Organization. Read

Coronavirus News: Rajasthan Asks Private Hospitals In 6 District Headquarters To Reserve 30% Beds For COVID Patients
Amid rising cases of the coronavirus in Rajasthan, the state government today asked private hospitals, located at six district headquarters, to reserve 30 per cent beds for COVID-19 patients, reported news agency PTI. Principal Secretary for Health Akhil Arora issued an order to this effect today.

Coronavirus News: Family Of 3 J&K Medics, Who Died Of COVID, Given Assistance Under Centre's Insurance Scheme
The families of two doctors and a healthcare worker from Jammu and Kashmir, who died due to COVID-19 contracted while on duty, have been provided assistance under a central government scheme to grant an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. The doctors are from Pulwama and Bandipora and the healthcare worker is from Baramulla.

Coronavirus News: Mumbai Reports 1,876 New COVID-19 Cases, 48 Deaths
With 1,876 people testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday, Mumbai's infection count reached 1,94,177, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, reported news agency PTI. The death count due to the virus in the country's financial capital rose to 8,703 with 48 new fatalities, it said. The number of recoveries in the city climbed to 1,56,807 after 1,169 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day.

Coronavirus News: One More COVID Death In Noida Takes District's Fatality Count To 51
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded one more COVID-19 fatality today, pushing the district's death count to 51, official data showed, reported news agency PTI. Another 242 people tested positive for coronavirus that took the district's case tally to 12,253, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period. The number of active cases rose to 1,723 from 1,699 on Thursday, it showed.

Coronavirus News: Maharashtra's COVID-19 Count Crosses 13 Lakh-Mark With Over 34,000 Deaths
Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally rose to 13,00,757 today with the single-day addition of 17,794 cases, the state health department said, reported news agency PTI. With the death of 416 patients during the day, the fatality count in the state mounted to 34,761, it said. 19,592 patients were discharged today after treatment, which took the number of recoveries in the state to 9,92,806. There are 2,72,775 active cases in Maharashtra at present, the department said.

Coronavirus News: Testing Of COVID-19 Samples In Tamil Nadu Hits New High
Single day COVID-19 tests in Tamil Nadu hit a new high today with 94,877 samples, while 5,679 cases took the tally to 5,69,370, the state health department said, reported news agency PTI. 72 more fatalities pushed the count to 9,148 The record samples tested today took the cumulative number of specimens examined so far to 69,10,521. As many as 5,626 people were discharged from various facilities after getting cured, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,13,836.

Coronavirus News: Odisha Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Odisha's Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera today said that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and urged all those who came in contact with him to get tested, reported news agency PTI. Mr Behera said that he has some symptoms and is in home isolation. I have tested COVID positive today. Hence I request all my friends and associates who came in contact with me in last 7 days to test and isolate themselves, he said on social media. The minister said that his health condition is stable at present.

Coronavirus News: Andhra Pradesh Reports 8,695 Recoveries, 7,073 Fresh COVID-19 Cases
Andhra Pradesh added 7,073 new cases of COVID-19, taking the overall tally to 6,61,458 today, reported news agency PTI. The latest bulletin said the total recoveries touched 5,88,169 after 8,695 were discharged today. Also, 48 fatalities were reported in 24 hours, increasing the overall count to 5,606. Chittoor and Prakasam reported eight fresh casualties each while Anantapuramu reported six.

Coronavirus News: Contribution Of AIIMS Monumental In COVID Pandemic, Says Health Minister Harsh Vardhan
In these unprecedented times of the coronavirus pandemic, the contribution of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is monumental in ensuring smooth delivery of medical services through tele-medicine and tele-consultations, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said today, reported news agency ANI. While inaugurating the 65th Foundation Day celebrations of AIIMS, the health minister expressed his gratitude for the institution's huge contribution during the COVID pandemic. "More than five million patients have been infected with coronavirus but the healthcare system of India has shown great efficiency in not only providing diagnostic and management facilities but also in keeping the mortality at minimum and recovery at maximum," Dr Vardhan said.

Coronavirus News: India's COVID-19 Recoveries Cross 47.5 Lakh In Steep Upward Trend
On a day when India registered the highest number of tests in a single day with nearly 15 lakhs tests in 24 hours, the trend of high recoveries continues unabated, reported news agency ANI. More than 47.5 lakh patients have recovered so far while 81,177 patients recovered in the past 24 hours. Recovered cases have exceeded active cases by nearly 38 lakhs till date. Spurred by this number of recoveries, the national recovery rate continues to follow a rising curve. It stands at 81.74 per cent today.

Coronavirus News: UP Records 4,519 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, 84 Deaths
Uttar Pradesh reported 4,519 fresh cases of coronavirus and 84 deaths today, taking the infection tally to 3,78,533, officials said, reported news agency PTI. The COVID-19 death count mounted to 5,450 in the state, they said. "As many as 4,519 fresh coronavirus cases were reported in the state in the past 24 hours. While 3,13,686 patients have so far been discharged, the number of active cases in the state stands at 59,397," Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters. "The death count due to the infection has risen to 5,450," he said.

Coronavirus News: Record Number Of Nearly 15 Lakh COVID Tests Conducted In One Day
India has scaled a historic peak in the fight against COVID-19. For the first time, a record number of nearly 15 lakh COVID tests were conducted in a single day, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday, reported news agency ANI. "With 14,92,409 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, the cumulative tests have touched nearly seven crore (6,89,28,440). This exponential surge in the daily testing capacities strongly demonstrates the determined escalation of the testing infrastructure in the country. The last one crore tests were conducted in merely nine days. The Tests Per Million (TPM) stand at 49,948 as of today," the Ministry said in a press statement.