Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday tested positive for Covid-19, following which he isolated himself. Another shocking news came when Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi also tested Covid positive and was taken to AIIMS, Delhi. As per reports, his condition is critical.
Meanwhile, India’s Covid-19 tally crossed the 50-lakh mark with a spike of 90,123 new cases and 1,290 deaths in the last 24 hours.
According to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University, the number of people who caught the infection in the first fortnight of the month was more than twice the number of new infections in US — the second worst hit country. It is worth mentioning that India added 1 million Covid cases in a record time of 11 days in September.
After testing Covid positive, Gadkari tweeted, “Yesterday, I was feeling weak and consulted my doctor. During the course of my check up, I have been tested Covid-19 positive. I am at present doing well with the blessings and good wishes of all. I have isolated myself. I request everyone who has come in my contact to be careful and follow the protocol.”
The total case tally in the country stands at 50,20,360 including 9,95,933 active cases, 39,42,361 recoveries and 82,066 deaths. India logged in the highest number of single-day recoveries with 82,961 recoveries in the last 24 hours. A total of 82,961 patients were cured and discharged, steeply pushing the recovery rate to 78.53 per cent.
As many as 23,365 new Covid-19 cases and 474 deaths were reported in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours. A total of 17,559 patients were discharged. Total cases in the state rose to 11,21,221 including 30,883 deaths and 7,92,832 patients discharged. Active cases stand at 2,97,125 in the state. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi rose to 2,30,269 with 4,473 new positive cases and 33 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The numbers of active and recovered cases are 30,914 and 1,94,516 respectively. The death toll stands at 4,839 in Delhi.
A total of 8,835 new Covid-19 cases, 10,845 recoveries, and 64 deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases is now at 5,92,760 including 90,279 active cases, 4,97,376 recoveries, and 5,105 deaths so far. West Bengal re- ported 3,237 new Covid-19 cases and 61 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 2,12,383 including 1,84,113 discharges, 24,147 active cases, and 4,123 deaths.
Meanwhile, the total Covid cases in Haryana crossed the one lakh-mark on Wednesday. The state recorded 2694 fresh cases and 19 fatalities in the last 24 hours. The total tally now stands at 1,01,316 and death toll at 1045. Uttar Pradesh recorded 6337 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. 4690 people have lost their lives so far in the state. The active cases in the state now is above 67,000. The total tally in the state now stands at 3,30,265. Around 2,58,573 people have also recovered in the state.
As many as 110 new Co- vid-19 cases, 103 recoveries, and 1 death were reported in Manipur in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state stands at 8,320, including 1,751 active cases, 6,521 recovered cases, and 48 deaths. Punjab recorded 2,717 new Covid-19 cases and 78 deaths, taking the total number of cases to 87,184 including 63,570 recoveries, 21,022 active cases, and 2,592 deaths.
A total of 1,540 fresh Covid-19 cases reported in Uttarakhand in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state now stands at 35,947 including 24,277 recoveries, 11,068 active cases, and 447 deaths. Chandigarh reported 366 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 8,958 including 3,171 active cases, 101 deaths, and 5,683 cured cases.
Kerala reported 3,830 new Covid-19 cases, 2,263 recoveries, and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours. Count of active cases now stands at 32,709, while 84,608 patients have recovered till now. A total of 1,590 new Covid-19 cases–832 from Jammu divi- sion and 758 from Kashmir division, 747 recoveries, and 11 deaths reported in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases now at 58,244 including 19,503 active cases, 37,809 recoveries, and 932 deaths. Himachal Pradesh recorded 178 new Covid-19 cases and 18 recoveries, taking total cases to 10,513, including 6,435 recovered cases, 3,960 active cases, and 89 deaths.
Meanwhile, the Russian Direct Investment Fund on Wednesday confirmed reaching an agreement to supply 100 million doses of Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V to India’s Dr Reddy’s Laboratories. Last week, the Russian Health Ministry announced that the first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine against Covid-19 has been released into civil circulation. The Russian health ministry registered the first vaccine against Covid-19, named Sputnik V, on 11 August.
With agency inputs