India's COVID-19 testing hits record high of over 6 lakh samples in 24 hours

India has achieved another milestone in its fight against COVID-19 by conducting over six lakh tests in the last 24 hours, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday (MoHFW).

"India achieves another landmark. More than 6 lakh tests done in 24 hours," the Ministry tweeted.

Stressing on its strategy to contain COVID-19 spread in the country, it said that it will continue to implement the strategy of comprehensive testing, tracking and treatment to effectively tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

"The objective is to raise the testing capacity to 10 lakhs tests per day in the medium term," the MoHFW said in a subsequent tweet.

(Photo: A health worker wearing PPE collects samples from a man for COVID-19 rapid antigen testing, in Patna on Thursday)

The Information and Public Relations department of Bihar government on Wednesday dubbed a purported order specifying the extension of the lockdown till August 16 as fake.

The purported letter has been widely circulated on social media.

The Information and Public Relations Department said from its official Twitter handle, "A letter dated 29.07.20 with regard to Lockdown order is being circulated in social media. Home Department, Government of Bihar has clarified that this is fake. All should ignore the content of this fake letter."

The Odisha Government has released as many as 16,789 prisoners from various jails across the state during the period of four months, from March 20 to July 28 in view of the present scenario of COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision has been taken by following the Supreme Court directive to all the States and Union Territories to decongest the jails to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

As per the statement released by Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services, Odisha "Total 16,639 Undertrial Prisoners (UTPs) and 150 Convicts have been released between March 20 and July 28 from Five Circles including Berhampur, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Baripada and Mirzapur, as part of decongestion measures of jails following the recommendation of High-powered Committee on the direction of Apex Court"

"As directed by the high-powered committee, the Undertrial Review Committee of 30 districts having District Judges, District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Secretary DLSA and Jail Superintendents as members had taken a conscious decision on merit for ensuring decongestion of Jails," the statement added.

The Supreme Court has issued directives to the States and UTs on March 23 to consider the release of Undertrials and prisoners charged or convicted for crimes where the maximum punishment is less than seven years to decongest jails amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the directives of Apex Court, Odisha Government had formed a High-powered committee on March 26 to identify the prisoners who can be released on parole or temporary bail-in wake of COVID-19.

Whenever you feel your mask is bothersome and you want to remove it, spare a thought for those doctors, those nurses; think of our Corona warriors. You will find them wearing masks for hours together, diligently working to save our lives- sometimes wearing masks for a span of eight to ten hours. 

In a unique effort, IIT Kharagpur researchers claim to have developed a novel technology for COVID-19 rapid test. 

The device is said to be ultra-portable device and aims to becoming an affordable solution for COVID-19 testing. It will cost just Rs 400.

It will have a customized smartphone application that will disseminate test results within 1 hour, without requiring manual interpretation.

The device is said to have produced results with remarkable accuracy.

Mass screenings for symptoms of COVID-19 using 'smart helmets' were conducted on Thursday by Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) volunteers along with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai.

According to Rushikesh Tawde, who has conducted the screenings, the smart helmet is controlled using a watch and can check temperatures from a distance of up to 10 feet.

"We have been conducting tests for the last two weeks and over 17,000 people have been screened so far. This is the most efficient method to conduct mass screening and to ensure that people with COVID-19 are not spreading the virus to the people around them. So far there are four helmets in Maharashtra, two in Mumbai and two in Pune," Tawde said.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Neelu Jain, a medical officer volunteer of the BJS said that the helmet is equipped with a thermal camera which enables it to screen 13 people at a time.

"Earlier, we used to use the thermal gun to check temperatures. That could only screen about 200-300 people in an hour. With the portable smart helmet, over 5,000 people can be screened in the same time frame. This is a much more efficient way to conduct temperature checks as it can be done from a safe distance, without the risk of infection," she said.

With 10 more COVID-19 cases reported in Himachal Pradesh, the tally of coronavirus cases has reached 1,641 in the state on Tuesday.

According to the official data, there are 547 active cases, 1,067 recoveries, and 10 deaths in the state.

Around 15 patients have also migrated from the state.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said that the COVID-19 recovery rate in the national capital has reached 84% with a total of 1,04,918 patients cured of the virus.

"Yesterday, 954 new cases were reported in Delhi. So far, the total number of 1,23,747 cases have been reported in the city. However, 1,784 people recovered from COVID-19 yesterday, which was a lot more than the number of new cases," the Minister told reporters here.

According to the Minister, the decline in the number of cases is due to more awareness among the people.

"We are fully prepared for any eventuality. Nobody knows how this virus will behave. Any assumption can fail anytime. People are getting more aware. A penalty on not wearing a mask has been imposed. A mask can prevent the spread of the virus by 80%," he said.

With over 37,000 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count on Tuesday crossed the 11.55 lakh-mark, while the death toll has crossed the 28,000-mark as well.

At 9:30 AM on this day, the COVID-19 tally in the country has reached 11,55,191 cases, which include 4,02,529 active cases; 7,24,578 cured, discharged, or migrated patients, and 28,084 deaths.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as many as 37,148 new COVID-19 cases and 587 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, marking a significant spike.

UP government is likely to allow home isolation with certain conditions. The decision has been taken in the view of the rising number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday asked officials to allow home quarantine only if all protocols related to the disease are followed.

The chief minister directed officials that home quarantine permission should be given only on compliance of the already set protocol for it, an official release said.

There'll be a 2-day complete lockdown every week from this week. In current week, on Thursday&Saturday the state govt imposes, in addition to running broad based containment zone approach, a complete lockdown all over the state: West Bengal Home Secy Alapan Bandyopadhyay

COVID19 is spreading and increasingly it is being considered that it is spreading in community. After discussion with scientists and experts, the idea is being drawn that there are transmission in some groups: Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay

All Banks in the state of West Bengal henceforth to remain closed on Saturday and Sunday. They will maintain 5-day week. Customers services to be provided on working days from 10 am to 2.00 pm.