Coronavirus update: Glitches in Bengal test kits

The National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases April 20, 2020 admitted that kits to test for novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) supplied to West Bengal have glitches, the Hindu daily reported. 

• Switzerland-based Novartis AG has an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration to for randomised trials of anit-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patientsm news agency Reuters reported.
• India’s tally of cases positivr to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) reached 17,656 on April 20 evening, according to the Union health ministry.
• The death toll was at 559.
• There were 14,255 active cases.
• Only Sikkim and the Union territories of Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu as well as Dadra and Nagar Haveli were free from the outbreak map.
• Maharashtra’s death toll reached 223 amid 4,203 cases.

• Government of India has opposed the Kerala administration’s move to let some sectors resume business, saying that would dliute the nationwide lockdown, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
• News agency Reuters earlier reported that Maharashtra, the most-affected state, would allow some sectors to start functioning.
• Doctors without Borders said one of its aid workers died of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria.
• The Spanish government April 20, 2020 said its 24-hour death toll has dropped below 400, news agency AFP reported.
• In Africa, Egypt has recorded more than 3,000 cases positive to the virus SARS-CoV-2.
• Tunisia Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh extended lockdown until May 4, Reuters reported.
• Zimbabwe too extended the lockdown by two weeks.
• There have been protests in the United States, calling for the lifitng of COVID-19-related restrictions.
• New Zealand has decided to relax restrictive measures next week, Reuters reported.
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said there would be some relaxaion for select districts in his state amid the lockdown, PTI reported.
• The Tamil Nadu government has decided to continue prohibtory measures through May 3.
• Minute traces of the novel coronavirus have been found in non-potable water in Paris, the Press Trust of India reported quoting city officials.
• The West Bengal government, criticised for not testing enough, has alleged that it has been forwarded “defective” kits. It has urged the Indian Council of Medical Research to probe into the matter.
• Tughlaqabad Extension has emerged Delhi’s third-biggest hotspot after 38 people from a place were found positive to the virus.
• Several staff members at Afghanistan’s presidential palace have been found infected, the BBC reported.
• China, whose economy has been hurt badly by the outbreak, plans to keep several commercial establishments open until midnight through June and hold a shopping festival in Shanghai to boost consumption, London-based Guardian daily reported.
• India lost 543 lives to the COVID-19, as of April 20, 2020 morning, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• Maharashtra has had 223 deaths from 4,203 cases positive to the virus SARS-CoV-2.
• Madhya Pradesh’s death toll was at 70 from 1,407 cases. 
• In Gujarat, 63 have died amid 1,743 cases.
• Delhi’s death toll was 45 from 2,003 cases.
• There were 13,295 active cases. 
• World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said APril 19, 2020 that lifting lockdowns would not signify the end of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, but “just the beginning of the next phase”. 
• The Union home ministry April 19, 2020 took back its approval to e-tailers for letting them sell and deliver non-essential items.
• The country has had 17,265 people testing positive for the virus SARS-CoV-2.
• The entire metropolitan areas of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad were designated as containment zones April 19.
• The global tally was at 2.4 million, leading to 165,058 deaths.
• The proportion of patients serious / critical was at 3 per cent, down a percentage point from most of last week.
• The United States has lost 40,555 lives so far amid nearly 0.8 million cases.
• Italy’s toll was at 23.660 from 178,972 cases.
• Spain had 20,453 dead from 198,674 cases.

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