Maharashtra tally touches 14,541; Virus cases in Mumbai at 9,310

On Monday, Maharashtra recorded a jump of 1,567 fresh Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, taking the total tally of the State to 14,541.

But State health department claims that Maharashtra has recorded only 771 fresh cases, and added 796 cases reported in the last few days that was updated on the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) website.

Maharashtra also reported 35 fatalities, taking the toll to 583. Mumbai alone recorded 510 fresh cases, soaring the Coronavirus count in the city itself to 9,310, while the toll rose to 361 with 18 deaths on Monday.

Maharashtra started referring only to figures from the ICMR portal as per the Centre’s directive and so the difference is adjusted, shared a  State health department officials.

Maharashtra also entered the third phase of the lockdown from Monday with some relaxations, even in the red zones, to boost up the stalled economy. However, the administration is faced with the tall order of keeping COVID-19 cases under control, especially in hotspots—Mumbai, Pune, and Thane regions.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the administration to confirm the strict implementation of the lockdown.

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Maharashtra to use TB machine for early diagnosis of coronavirus

Maharashtra Govt has decided to use tuberculosis (TB) machine for early diagnosis of people with acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2), which supposedly causes COVID-19.

Presently, Maharashtra conducts a molecular test — cartridge-based macromolecule amplification tests (CBNAAT) – using the GeneXpert technology to diagnose TB. The CBNAAT detects tubercle bacillus, the bacteria which causes TB. However, the personalized test for Covid-19 will detect the E gene (found in RNA of coronaviruses) and the N2 gene (specific to SARS-CoV2) within the samples. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved the utilization of US-grown technology to detect Covid-19.

The machine can test four samples at a time and declare leads to 45 minutes. “To run the diagnosis, we'd like a special sort of cartridge. At present, testing for TB involves the extraction of DNA from the sample. The new cartridge will extract the RNA from Covid-19 samples,” said Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, secretary of Medical Education and medicines Department (MEDD).

The government possesses 10,000 COVID cartridges from the Centre. The testing will start by the top of in the week. All district hospitals which have CBNAAT can apply to ICMR for permission for testing. Sion hospital is getting to apply for the same.

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With 349 new cases, Delhi's Covid-19 count nears 4,900-mark

Novel Coronavirus cases in Delhi soared to 4,898 on Monday with 349 fresh infections being reported during a day, consistent with the govt authorities. However, no fresh fatalities were reported.

Till Sunday night, the number of cases of the deadly COVID-19 stood at 4,549, including 64 deaths.

Delhi had registered its highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases with 427 new infections being reported on Sunday.

Of the entire 64 fatalities to date, 33 of them or 51 per cent were aged 60 and above, Twenty of them were aged between 50-59 and 11 were aged but 50 years, officials said.