Coronavirus India summary: cases, deaths and news - 19 June
Coronavirus live India: latest Covid-19 news - 19 June
India Covid-19 update: 02:30 IST on Friday 19 June (23:00 CEST Fri 19 June)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 8,566,787 cases have been detected worldwide, with 457,362 deaths and 4,207,671 people have recovered.
In India, there have been 380,532 cases confirmed, 12,573 people have died and 204,711 people have recovered from the virus.
Fresh feed
Thank you for joining us today. We will continue our coverage across at our new feed for Saturday 20 June.
A second chance for Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has the second highest numbers recorded after Maharashtra (over 1,20,500). Delhi closely follows with nearly 50,000 cases. The number of new cases recorded in Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai, has been steadily rising.
Covid-19's political disruption
prominent voices in the Gulf have spoken out against rising Islamophobia in India and among some members of the Indian diaspora. After a cluster of Covid-19 cases was traced to a gathering of Muslim missionaries in New Delhi in mid-March, Muslims around the country were subjected to a wave of verbal and physical abuse.
Biggest Covid-19 hospital
Another look at the preparations being made to deal with the volume of patients expected.
Johnson & Johnson drops skin-whitening creams
Johnson & has decided to stop selling skin-whitening creams popular in Asia and the Middle East, it said on Friday, after such products have come under renewed social pressure in recent weeks amid a global debate about racial inequality.
Johnson & Johnson will stop selling its Clean & Clear Fairness line of products, sold in India, a spokeswoman told Reuters. It was reported earlier this month that it would drop its Neutrogena Fine Fairness line, available in Asia and the Middle East.
"Conversations over the past few weeks highlighted that some product names or claims on our dark spot reducer products represent fairness or white as better than your own unique skin tone," Johnson & Johnson said. "This was never our intention – healthy skin is beautiful skin."
Gurugram likely to consider fixed Covid-19 treatment charges
As a committee formed by the Centre has capped the charges for Covid-19 treatment in Delhi’s private hospitals, the Gurugram administration on Friday said that the national capital’s price packages would have “an influence” on the proposed rates for treatment in the district.
India reports record rise in coronavirus cases as major city locks down
India reported a record daily jump in the number of novel coronavirus cases on Friday as the southern city of Chennai locked down following fresh outbreaks there.
Given India's high population density, experts have long worried that a sustained COVID-19 outbreak would lead to pressure on its stretched healthcare system.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lifted most restrictions that were part of a nearly three-month nationwide lockdown on June 8, despite the continuing rise in cases.
Data from India's federal health ministry on Friday showed an additional 13,500 cases over the previous 24 hours, with over 300 deaths.
India now lags only the United States, Brazil and Russia in total number of infections and has reported four times more than China, which has a similar size population and is where the virus originated late last year.
India's Modi says border is secure after deadly clash with China
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India's borders were secure and the military was capable of defending them, after 20 Indian soldiers were killed this week in a frontier clash with Chinese troops.
"Nobody has entered our borders or captured our posts," Modi said in a televised statement at the end of an all-party meeting called by his government to discuss the clash.
Modi said India would continue to develop its border infrastructure rapidly, and would not bow down to external pressure.
WHO issues key principals to tackle Covid-19
Find, isolate, test and care... the key pillars outlined by the World Health Organisation in tackling the virus.
Kerala cases up to almost 3,000
The southwestern state reported 118 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday.
A medical professional wearing personal protective equipment collects a nasal swab with a rapid antigen test (RAT) for the Covid-19 coronavirus at a testing centre after the government eased a nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus in New Delhi on June 19, 2020. (Photo by Prakash SINGH / AFP)
India preparing for half a million Covid-19 cases
India forecasts up to 550,000 coronavirus cases by the end of July and is building the world's largest temporary hospital in readiness.
A drone being used by police to monitor activities of people and to spread awareness announcements is pictured after a lockdown was reimposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Chennai on June 19, 2020. The epidemic has badly hit India's densely populated major cities and Chennai in the south has ordered a new lockdown from June 19 because of a surge in cases. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
Plasma treatment success
Andhra Pradesh has reported the first successful use of plasma treatment to alleviate the symptoms of Covid-19 in a 45-year-old patient.
High-altitude life saver
Outside Online take a look at dexamethasone, the steroid found to reduce Covid-19 deaths by a third for patients on ventilators in a study, the Recovery trial, in Oxford, UK.
The drug has long been used in the world of high-altitude mountaineering: “The Recovery study showed no benefit among patients who did not require respiratory assistance, suggesting dex is only effective if someone’s lungs are in severe distress—a similar effect, albeit under different circumstances, to the way it has saved mountaineers in trouble high on a peak. Spanish-speaking guides call dex levanta muertos for the way it “brings life to a dead person,” Argentine Everest guide Damian Benegas once told me.
Not all positive news though: “I actually think, despite all of the attention it’s gotten in the media, it’s too early to comment on whether this is going to have an effect on patient care,” says Andy Luks, a pulmonary and critical-care physician at the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center.
Chennai imposes new lockdown
Commuters wait as police personnel check for valid travel credentials after a lockdown was reimposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Chennai. The epidemic has badly hit India's densely populated major cities and Chennai in the south has ordered a new lockdown from June 19 because of a surge in cases. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
Government asks West Bengal hospitals to waive fees
As cases rise above 5,000 in the state, the central government has requested private hospitals do not charge for Covid-19 treatments.
'Mask Day' rally in Bangalore
An Indian policeman wearing a face mask takes part in the 'Mask Day' rally in Bangalore on Thursday. Hundreds of medical staff, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) workers and policemen took part in the rally to raise awareness about the use of masks and sanitisers, washing hands with soap and maintaining social distance.
(Photo: EFE/EPA/JAGADEESH NV)
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
All the information you need to understand the coronavirus and ways to stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Coronavirus live India updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live, India-focused coverage of the coronavirus, which has now registered nearly 8.5 million cases and just over 450,000 deaths worldwide, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. We'll endeavour to bring you the latest developments and numbers as they emerge throughout Friday.