Coronavirus India: news summary for Sunday 2 August
Coronavirus India: live updates 2 August
India Covid-19 update: 03:30 IST on Monday 3 August (00:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 17,855,729 cases have been detected worldwide, with 679,794 deaths and 10,598,327 people recovered.
In India, there have been 1,750,723 confirmed cases and 37,364 deaths, with 1,145,629 people recovered from the virus.
Scroll through some of the recent coronavirus-related articles:
2020 IPL: start & final date, venues confirmed for season in UAE
The delayed 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) is to get underway on 19 September, pending clearance from the country's government, with games to be played in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
This year's edition of the Twenty20 tournament was originally due to start in March, only to be postponed indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic. With Covid-19 cases continuing to rise in the country, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had already revealed plans to stage the entire competition in the United Arab Emirates later in the year.
Following a video conference between members of the IPL's governing council on Sunday, a statement signed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced further details regarding the 53-day event, including venues, updated regulations and key dates.
The final is due to be played on 10 November and there will be 10 double-headers during the round-robin stage, though a full fixture list is yet to be released. The UAE has staged the IPL previously, co-hosting the 2014 season due to a clash with India's general election.
"The governing council also discussed the comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs), which will be finalised and published in due course, including the agencies to execute and deliver a bio-secure environment for safe and successful conduct of IPL 2020 Season," the statement read.
"The governing council also reviewed the player regulations for replacement players for 2020 season."
Plans must be given green light by Indian government
The IPL governing council plans to hold a meeting with all franchises in the near future, while the proposals must be ratified by the Indian government.
The Women's T20 Challenge will also take place in the UAE, with three teams playing four matches during the same week as the IPL play-offs.
Nearly 10,000 new cases in Maharashtra
Maharashtra, India's worst-affected state, has reported 9,509 new coronavirus infections, taking its total case count to 441,228. There have also been 260 new deaths.
BioVyzr: the futuristic helmet to protect against Covid-19
Canadian company Vyzr has designed a type of diving helmet that purifies air and has N95 filters to protect the wearer from Covid-19 and other diseases.
Elderly women watch as a technician sprays chemicals to sanitise a room as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus at a private old-age home in Kolkata. (Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP)
"The virus is not of natural origin and did not emerge in Wuhan"
Li-Meng Yan, a virologist who fled to the US, has claimed that China deliberately withheld information and that Covid-19 is not a naturally occurring virus.
India's interior minister tests positive, hospitalised
India's Interior Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that he had tested positive for coronavirus and had been admitted to hospital.
Amit Shah, a close aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and one of the country's most powerful politicians, heads a key ministry that has been at the forefront of managing India's coronavirus outbreak.
'I request all of you who came in contact with me in the last few days to isolate yourselves and get tested,' Shah said in a tweet.
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation guidance to travellers
The guidelines that become operational on 8 August have not been met with complete approval.
The current pandemic amid other challenges
Floods, which are a recurring phenomenon in the northeast Indian state of Assam, have hit the state heavily this year but healthcare workers have risen to the occasion serving the people by battling both flood and novel coronavirus disease pandemic.
The floods have affected around 2.9 million people across 26 districts covering about 80 percent of Assam’s total area (till 24 July). As many as 103 people have died and the state is staring at massive crops, livestock, and infrastructure losses.
Finding the balance
As coronavirus cases continue apace in India, help is often needed to battle psychological challenges.
110-year-old woman recovers from Covid-19
Watch the joy as this Indian woman was discharged from hospital after recovering in just five days.
UP minister Kamal Rani Varun dies of coronavirus
Uttar Pradesh minister Kamal Rani Varun, who had earlier tested positive for the novel coronavirus, died due to the infection in Lucknow on Sunday.
Kamal Rani Varun, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, had earlier tested positive for the new coronavirus on July 18. She died at a hospital in Lucknow battling the deadly disease.
Kamal Rani Varun served as Minister of Technical Education in the Uttar Pradesh government.
Fourth consecutive day sees +50,000
India's coronavirus tally on Sunday crossed the 17 lakh mark with a spike of over 54,000 fresh cases 853 deaths in the past 24 hours beginning Saturday. As more people tested positive for the infection, India' single-day Covid-19 tally on Saturday stood at 54,736.
According to Union health ministry data updated at 8 am on Sunday, India's coronavirus tally has mounted to 17,50,724 including 5,67,730 active cases. A total of 11,45,630 people has so far cured of the infection and 37,364 people have died since India reported its first fatality due to coronavirus.
Indians investing in gold during economic downturn
Indians are returning to one of their oldest assets amid a raging pandemic that was preceded by a banking crisis, reports the BBC's Nidhi Rai. According to a World Gold Council estimate from last year, total gold reserves across Indian homes were about 25,000 tonnes - the largest in any country. Gold prices surged 28% this year to more than 50,000 rupees ($668; £515) per 10 grams.
Districts with over 1,000 Covid-19 cases shoots from 5 to 200 in three months
Data shows the number of districts which reported over 1,000 Covid-19 cases has rose from five to 206 during the last three months. India Today Data Intelligence Unit (DIU) mapped 717 districts and categorised them into red (over 1,000 cases), orange (100-1,000 cases) and green zones (up to 99 cases). As of April 28, of the total 717 districts analysed, only one per cent of them had reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases. Three months later, nearly 30 per cent of India's districts are in the red zone.
Kuwait bans international flights from India
Kuwait has banned commercial flights to 31 countries, including India, it said that it regarded as high risk due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Saturday. Flights from countries including Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Spain, China, Iran, Brazil, Mexico, Italy and Iraq have been banned until further notice.
Covid-19 patient jumps to death
A day after testing positive for Covid-19, a 31-year-old man jumped from a third floor window to his death at the Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) hospital in Agartala.
The patient from Muhuripur village in South District was admitted at the state-run hospital on Friday showing symptoms of the virus. During his admission, he underwent a mandatory rapid antigen test in the hospital and he was detected Covid-19 positive, the Hindustan Times reports. The patient was believed have been suffering from depression.
Assam police to donate plasma
A plasma donation camp organised by the Assam Police in collaboration with the State Health department and National Health Mission was held today at Guwahati's GMCH Auditorium, NDTV reports. Out of the total 67 personnel, 43 have been found eligible for donating plasma.
Measures in place as Delhi gyms prepare to reopen
(The Hindu) From increasing the number of slots to capping the number of members in each slot, and asking clients to carry their own basic gear, gyms and fitness centres across the city have drawn up a host of measures to be followed once they reopen under Unlock 3 guidelines.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on July 29 had said that yoga institutes and gymnasiums will be allowed to function from August 5 for which the SOPs would be released by the Health Ministry. Capacity will be limited and sessions will be staggered to reduce exposure to the virus.
Welcome to our live India blog
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus in India. We launch our live blog this Sunday morning, 2 August, as India's case numbers edge towards 1.7 million.
We'll be bringing you the latest news and reaction from across the Indian states over the course of the day, as well as keeping you up to the date with latest figures.