Coronavirus India summary: cases, deaths, news - 22 April
Coronavirus live India: latest Covid-19 news - Wednesday 22 April
India coronavirus update at 00:00 CEST (03:30 IST) on Thursday 23 April
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 2,628,894 cases have been detected worldwide, with 182,740 deaths and 707,331 people now recovered.
In India there have been 21,370 cases with 652 deaths. 3,976 people have recovered from the virus.
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India suspends coronavirus antibody tests after questions over reliability
(Reuters) India has ordered a pause in testing for antibodies to the coronavirus because of concern over the accuracy, health officials said on Wednesday, complicating the fight against the epidemic as its tally of cases nears 20,000.
India trails many countries in conducting the standard swab tests to determine the presence of the novel coronavirus because of limited testing equipment and protective gear for medical workers.
Early this month, health authorities approved blood tests for coronavirus antibodies as a faster way to bolster the screening effort and ordered more than a half billion testing kits from China.
But the chief of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr R.R. Gangakhedkar, said he had asked health authorities to temporarily stop the tests for antibodies because of conflicting results.
"This is a first-generation test developed in just three-and-a-half months and needs refinement, the variations cannot be ignored," he said. Federal health experts have been sent to help authorities in states to validate the equipment.
Some European countries, including Spain, have also complained about the quality of the Chinese-supplied kits. A Chinese embassy spokeswoman in Delhi said she had seen reports about the tests and that they in were touch with Indian authorities to provide assistance.
"China attaches great importance to the quality of exported medical products," Ji Rong said in a tweet. India has detected 19,983 cases of the coronavirus, after an increase of nearly 1,000 cases in one day, according to government data. There have been 640 deaths, still a small number compared with tolls in many other countries, but officials say the infections could rise once a nearly six-week lockdown is lifted on May 3.
Kerala's state government says that any expatriate looking to move back to the area should have with them a coronavirus test result that proves they are negative.
Make your own mask
The Times of India (via their Twitter banner) are encouraging citizens to make their own masks at home as a tool to stem coronavirus from spreading.
India suspends coronavirus antibody tests after questions over reliability
India has ordered a pause in testing for antibodies to the coronavirus because of concern over the accuracy, health officials said on Wednesday, complicating the fight against the epidemic as its tally of cases nears 20,000.
India trails many countries in conducting the standard swab tests to determine the presence of the novel coronavirus because of limited testing equipment and protective gear for medical workers.
Early this month, health authorities approved blood tests for coronavirus antibodies as a faster way to bolster the screening effort and ordered more than a half billion testing kits from China.
But the chief of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr R.R. Gangakhedkar, said he had asked health authorities to temporarily stop the tests for antibodies because of conflicting results.
Gates commends Modi
Bill Gates has written to Indian PM Narendra Modi on commending him for his leadership in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in India.
India battles supply snags in race to build affordable ventilators
Indian medical device makers, racing to churn out ventilators as domestic COVID-19 cases spike, have been beset by supply bottlenecks, cost overruns and labour shortages that are delaying their efforts to produce an affordable device.
Ventilators help patients breathe and are seen as critical given severe COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia and lung damage.
Experts warn India may run out of devices as it has fewer than 50,000 and may need 20 times that in a peak infection scenario.
Companies, including Bengaluru-based Dynamatic, startup Nocca Robotics and New Delhi's AgVa Healthcare, are rushing to fill the expected supply gap with stripped-down ventilators, priced between $33 and $7,000.
Top-end ventilators can cost up to $16,000 in India. But with many countries boosting output and India forced into a lockdown, components and labour are in short supply, leading to production delays of up to two weeks.
(via Reuters)
Some are calling karma
At least five of the 17 people arrested for the attack on healthcare workers have tested positive for Covid-19. More than 70 police have had to be quarantined after coming into contact.
Masking the spread
This joint venture aims to provide as many people as possible that needs them with masks.
Coronavirus in India: how to apply for the curfew e-pass by state
Get your e-pass
Since India was placed under a three-week lockdown on 24 March, movement has been restricted but some state governments are issuing e-passes online.
Doctors to be protected
The Indian Medical Association was planning to stage protests against assaults on some doctors and healthcare workers engaged in Covid-19 duties. But Union Home Minister Amit Shah has told them of the appreciation felt towards their good work and assured their security
India coronavirus update at 11:00 CEST (14:30 IST) on Wednesday 22 April
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 2,573,143 cases have been detected worldwide, with 177,602 deaths and 688,129 people now recovered.
In India there have been 20,178 cases with 645 deaths. 3,976 people have recovered from the virus.
Coronavirus live India coverage: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog on the coronavirus pandemic, with a special focus on the latest developments in India. We'll do our very best to bring you the major news and numbers as they emerge throughout the day.