India saw a record single-day jump of 40,425 COVID-19 cases, pushing its tally past the 11-lakh mark on Monday, while the total number of recoveries crossed 7 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The death toll due to the disease rose to 27,497 with 681 fatalities reported in one day.
Here is a list of State Helpline numbers. You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here.
Here are the latest updates:
3.50 p.m. | Uttar Pradesh
Allow home quarantine only if coronavirus protocols followed: UP CM to officials
Stressing that a large number of asymptomatic coronavirus patients are still hiding their infection, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday asked officials to allow home quarantine only if all protocols related to the disease are followed.
At a meeting with senior officials, the CM directed that home quarantine permission should be given only on compliance of the already set protocol for it, an official release said.
Fearing that there may be a spurt in cases as a large number of asymptomatic people are hiding their infection, the CM said it will be essential that the patient and his family complies with the protocol.
Besides, he said people should be apprised of the necessary precautions for which an awareness campaign should also be launched with the help of the print, electronic and social media.
He said the use of masks and social distancing norms should be strictly followed. – PTI
3.30 p.m. | Tripura
Over hundred BSF personnel among 223 new COVID-19 cases in Tripura
Tripura has detected 223 new cases of COVID-19, taking the state’s tally to 2,892, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said.
Of the new cases, 101 were detected among BSF personnel, he said.
There are 1,114 active cases in the state at present, while 1,759 people have recovered.
Five people have so far died and 14 patients have migrated to other states.
Among the new cases are six people who returned to the state on flights, Deb said on Sunday night.
Thirty of them tested positive after coming in contact with COVID-19 patients and 179 were found positive in antigen tests, he said.
Only eight of the new patients have symptoms, he added.
The Chief Minister said to tackle the pandemic the government is focusing on testing, tracing and treatment. – PTI
3.15 p.m. | London
U.K. firm declares positive results from COVID-19 protein treatment
A U.K.-based biotech company on Monday declared positive “breakthrough” results from a clinical trial of a protein-based treatment for COVID-19, which “greatly” reduced patients requiring intensive care.
Synairgen said its SNG001 formulation uses a protein called interferon beta, which the body produces when it gets a viral infection, and is inhaled directly into the lungs of patients with coronavirus, using a nebuliser, in the hope that it will stimulate an immune response.
“This assessment of SNG001 in COVID-19 patients could signal a major breakthrough in the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, said Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, a respiratory drug discovery and development company which originated from research at the University of Southampton.
We are all delighted with the trial results announced today, which showed that SNG001 greatly reduced the number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients who progressed from ‘requiring oxygen’ to ‘requiring ventilation’ It also showed that patients who received SNG001 were at least twice as likely to recover to the point where their everyday activities were not compromised through having been infected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), he said.
In addition, SNG001 significantly reduced breathlessness, one of the main symptoms of severe COVID-19, the company said, which is now focused on working with the regulators and other key groups to progress the potential COVID-19 treatment as rapidly as possible.
The trials showed that the average time coronavirus patients spent in hospital was reduced by a third, for those receiving the new drug — down from an average of nine days to six days. – PTI
3.00 pm
Mylan launches generic version of Remdesivir in India for COVID-19 patients
Pharma major Mylan on Monday said it has commercially launched the generic version of Remdesivir drug under the brand name ‘Desrem’ in India. It is priced at ₹4,800 per 100 mg vial.
Mylan will manufacture Desrem in its injectable facility in Bengaluru, which will work to service the demand in India and other export markets where Mylan has received a licence from Gilead for the commercialisation of Remdesivir
Hetero and Cipla have already launched their generic versions of Remdesivir in India.
2.30 p.m. | Bihar
In a first, 2 private hospitals in Patna get nod for COVID treatment as cases surge
Two private hospitals in Patna were given the approval on Monday to treat COVID-19 patients amid the rising number of cases in the city.
Earlier, only government hospitals were allowed to treat COVID-19 cases here.
Patna District Magistrate Kumar Ravi has allowed Ruban Hospital and Paras Hospital to set up corona wards with 25 beds each to treat COVID-19 patients, an official statement said.
Applications have been received from several other private hospitals seeking approval for treating patients and a decision will be taken after proper review and verification, it said.
The corona wards at the two hospitals are likely to start functioning in a day or two, sources said.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is the local MP, had on Sunday urged state health minister Mangal Pandey to allow COVID-19 treatment at private hospitals to ease the pressure on government facilities.
There are four dedicated hospitals in the state for treating COVID-19 patients, including two in Patna. – PTI
2.15 p.m. | Kerala
Second plasma bank in Kerala set up in Wayanad
Kerala’s second plasma bank has been set up at the Wayanad district hospital at nearby Mananthavady, close on the heels of a similar facility being launched at Manjeri in Malappuram.
The District Medical Officer DrR Renuka, who inaugurated the plasma bank on Sunday, said the convalescent plasma therapy has been found effective for treating the critical COVID-19 patients.
Health authorities said the donors of plasma sh