National Coronavirus news updates Sep 20

Kerala: Three Covid-19 deaths were reported in the state till noon today, taking the death toll to 492. A probe has been launched into the incident of handing over of the dead body of an Adivasi woman mistakenly for that of a Covid fatality in Palakkad district hospital. Authorities came to know about the grave mistake after the cremation of the body. Meanwhile, widespread protests defying all Covid protocols continued for the seventh day across the state by the opposition parties seeking the resignation of Minister K T Jaleel. Covid positive cases crossed the 4000 mark and touched 4351 yesterday. At present, 34,314 patients are undergoing treatment and a total of 2,13,595 people under observation across the state.

Tamil Nadu:Ricovr Healthcare Inc., a US-based rapid diagnostics platform company, and IIT-Madras have developed a point-of-care Covid-19 antigen test that can provide results in five minutes using saliva samples. Sixty-three doctors have died due to Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu, of whom 12 are from Chennai, according to data released by the Indian Medical Association Headquarters, Delhi. As Tamil Nadu reported 5,560 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the Health Minister, C Vijayabaskar, in a press statement, said over 45,000 children, who tested positive in the State, had been treated so far.
Karnataka:Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday appealed to Union Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman to accept recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission for a special grant of Rs 5,495 crore for Karnataka, on account of reduced devolution. As new Covid-19 cases continue to be reported unabated, Karnataka is poised to touch seven lakh cases and witness 11,200 deaths by October 12, according to a study. Covid mortality analysis of patients in Victoria Hospital found that of 370 deaths due to Covid-19, 71 were within 12 hours of admission and 32 were within 24 hours of admission; the hospital has treated 5,000 Covid patients so far.
Andhra Pradesh:Government has given the green signal to run city bus services in the State from tomorrow. In the first phase, buses will run in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada following Covid rules. Only 60 per cent of the passengers will be allowed on the bus. Over 5,000 candidates appeared for the Andhra Pradesh Engineering Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (AP-EAMCET) 2020 Engineering from Telangana on day one.Section 144 imposed in Amalapuram division for three days from today as part of measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Telangana:2043 new cases, 1802 recoveries & 11 deaths reported in the last 24 hours; out of 2043 cases, 314 cases reported from GHMC. Total cases: 1,67,046; Active cases: 30,673; Deaths: 1016; Discharges :1,35,357. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Hyderabad researchers have standardised a colour-based assay for visual detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 30 minutes. TIFR researchers on Friday said the Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) assay has emerged as a viable alternative to meet the need for quick and reliable testing methods.
Maharashtra: Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) authorities have eased travel restrictions from today for commuters travelling between Mumbai and Pune and other places by intercity air-conditioned (AC) and non-AC buses. MSRTC has started operating its buses with full passenger capacity as part of the easing of restrictions amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Earlier, the buses were operated up to a 50% passenger capacity. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Energy Minister NitinRaut has tested positive for Covid, becoming the 9th Minister of the state cabinet to contract the infection.
Gujarat: Gujarat recorded the highest single day spike in Covid-19 with 1,379 cases, taking the tally to 1,19,088, while 14 more deaths pushed the toll to 3,273, health officials said on Thursday. Surat reported 280 cases, Ahmedabad 171 Rajkot 145, Jamnagar 129 and Vadodara 127.
Rajasthan: The state government has issued orders to provide the services of specialist doctors to treat the infected who have comorbidities or underlying diseases, which have been the major cause for mortalities. Till now, specialists such as heart, kidneys, brain and other organs were not directly involved in Covid treatment. But from now on, the infected, admitted to RUHS Hospital and Jaipuria Hospital, will get the services of specialists from SMS Medical College.
Madhya Pradesh: In Madhya Pradesh, services of pass-outs of post-graduate courses from government autonomous medical colleges have been taken for COVID-19 work on temporary basis. The State Government has decided to merge the work period of services rendered during the Covid period with the period of compulsory rural service to be done after they pass the post-graduate course. The Government has also extended the service period of junior doctors on Covid 19 duty till December on honorarium basis.
Arunachal Pradesh: In Arunachal Pradesh 159 new positive cases have been detected. Currently there are 1871 active cases in the state. The recovery rate in the state is now 72.5 percent.
Manipur: In Manipur 110 persons tested Covid19 positive in the state. There were 18 recoveries with 77.5 percent recovery rate and at present there are 1840 active cases.In the state, 3 patient expired due to Covid19 complications taking the toll in the state to 51.
Mizoram: 28 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Mizoram yesterday. Total cases reached to 1534 and active cases stand at 585.
Meghalaya: In Meghalaya the total active COVID-19 cases reached to 1983. Among them 363 are from BSF and Armed Forces. Total recovered cases are 2342
Nagaland: In Nagaland 43 fresh COVID-19 positive cases were detected on Thursday, of which 24 are from Dimapur, 18 in Kohima and 1 from Mon.