As Unlock 2.0 began, India reported 18,653 new cases of coronavirus and 507 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 5,85,493 with around 17,400 deaths. There are 2,20,114 active cases and around 3,47,978 people have recovered from the disease. Around 59.43% of people have recovered so far.
Maharashtra remains the most affected in the country by this epidemic. Section-144 has been imposed in Mumbai till 15 July by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, prohibiting any presence or movement of one or more persons in public places or gathering of any sort anywhere, including religious places subject to certain conditions. As a result, Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has decided not to hold any of its famous Ganesh Chaturthi festivities this year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Maharashtra’s coronavirus case tally rose to 1,79,714 with addition of 5,537 new patients, while the death toll mounted by 198, including 75 deaths in Mumbai; the death toll in the state rose to 8,053. Maharashtra, which has the maximum number of coronavirus cases in the country, has extended the lockdown till 31July.
Tamil Nadu surpassed Delhi to regain the second spot among the list of worst-hit states by the Covid-19 pandemic. Tamil Nadu Health department officials said that 3,882 new coronavirus cases and 63 deaths were reported in the state, taking the total number of cases to 94,049 and 1,264 deaths. The tally includes 39,856 active cases and 52,926 discharged/cured.
Delhi ranked third in being affected by the coronavirus in the country after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal said that the situation in the capital is improving and is “not as terrible” as predicted a month ago. Kejriwal further said that the number of recoveries in the city is increasing and that the coronavirus situation is now under control. The capital reported 2,442 new Covid-19 cases and 61 deaths, taking the total number of cases and death toll to 89,802 and 2,803, respectively. In the last 24 hours, 1,644 more people have recovered.
“It was predicted that by 30 June, Delhi would have 1 lakh cases out of which 60,000 would be active cases, but today we only have 26,000 active cases. This is the result of everyone’s hard work. We have been able to control the situation. The situation is improving in Delhi in the last few days. However, there is no room for complacency. This virus is unpredictable. We must continue our efforts with more vigour,” Kejriwal said.
Meanwhile, Union health secretary Preeti Sudan and ICMR director general Balram Bhargava wrote to state governments and Union territories to increase testing. The letter stated, “It is strongly advised that you should take all possible steps to ensure full capacity utilization of all Covid-19 testing laboratories in the State/UT.”