India now 5th worst-hit by COVID-19; toll rises to 6,642
294 more die in 24 hours; total infections cross 230,000; hospitals will be punished if patients turned away: Kejriwal; TN reports over cross cases for sixth straight day
Coronavirus cases in India on Saturday surpassed Spain’s tally, and became the fifth worst-hit country in the world affected by the pandemic.
John Hopkins University data showed the total number of confirmed cases in the world’s largest democracy stands at 243,733, with Spain at 240,978.
Earlier in the day, India overtook Italy and climbed to the 6th position with 9,887 new coronavirus cases in the biggest one-day spike so far. Another 294 died, taking the total to 6,642. The country has a total of over 230,000 coronavirus cases. Maharashtra continues to lead the national tally with over 80,000. Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat follow. Cases in the national capital are on a rapid rise, reaching 26,334.
Death toll has reached 708. Delhi government has added five new areas under the list of containment zones. The total is now 163. Authorities have decontained 59 areas so far.
Responding to complaints that some patients were turned back from city hospitals, Chief
Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the hospitals will be punished.
“You will not be spared. You will have to take coronavirus patient who is coming to the hospital for the treatment. Denying treatment to any patient is non-negotiable.” No one showing symptoms should be turned away, he said.
But Delhi Health Department on Saturday ordered hospitals to discharge all mild and asymptomatic patients of the novel coronavirus with 24 hours of the admission and report them to district surveillance, suggesting that there is a shortage of beds.
These patients are recommended to be kept under home isolation or coronavirus care centres or hospital centres if their places are not suitable for home isolation.
The order also specifies that admitted coronavirus patients should be kept in isolation.
Five employees of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), headquartered in Khan Market, have tested positive, following which the building in the Loknayak Bhawan in south Delhi’s upscale Khan Market area was sealed for 48 hours.
On Thursday, a floor of the office was sealed for two days after a staff member tested positive. On Friday, the entire office was sanitised and will now remain sealed on Saturday and Sunday.
TN JUDGES: Tamil Nadu continued to cross 1,000 fresh infections for sixth straight day, health officials said on Saturday morning. The highest ever single-day spike of 1,438 cases on Friday took the total tally of cases to 28,694. The COVID-19 death toll also rose to 232 after 12 more fatalities were reported in the state in a 24-hour gap.
Among the new cases was three judges of the Madras High Court.
The court restricted its functioning. Only select cases would be taken up for hearing from Monday. Only two Division Benches and three single judges would hear cases through video conferencing from their residences.
Sources also said that minimal number of court staff would be deployed for official work. This is also applicable to subordinate courts.
Also, the entry to the High Court premises is prohibited till June 30.
Closed during the lockdown period with judges hearing cases through video conferencing from their residence, the High Court resumed regular hearings only on June 1, it is to be noted.
However, following the coronavirus infection among Judges and court staff, the HC has decided to revert to virtual hearings from the houses of judges.
At the same time, a group of researchers at Tamil Nadu’s prestigious Dr MGR Medical University has told the government in a report that virus cases in Chennai could hit 150,000 by July.
The team used mathematical projections, which showed that up to 1,600 deaths could occur in the city by July second week at the current rate of growth. The COVID-19 cases are expected to peak in mid-october, officials said.
The university, which manages the medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, has submitted its report to the government.
Its projections have been employed by the government for COVID-19 preparedness, according to media reports.