LIVE! Sonia Gandhi's condition improving: Hospital

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Fri, 31 July 2020

Sonia Gandhi's condition improving: Hospital

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21:07 Sonia Gandhi's condition improving: Hospital

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who has been admitted to a private facility here, is showing improvement in her condition, hospital authorities said on Friday.

Gandhi was admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Thursday evening for routine tests, according to a health bulletin.

'Her investigations are being carried out and she is showing satisfactory improvement,' the hospital said in a fresh bulletin.

'Her condition is currently stable.' -- PTI

20:18 international flights suspended till Aug 31

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday said the suspension of scheduled international flights to and from the country has been extended till August 31.

Earlier, overseas flights were suspended till July 31.

'The government has decided to extend the suspension on the scheduled international commercial passenger services to/ from India up to 2359 hours IST of 31st August,' the DGCA said in statement.

This restriction will not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA. -- PTI

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Friday rejected the Aam Aadmi Party government's decision to allow hotels and weekly markets under Unlock 3, official sources said.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to be 'fragile' and the threat is still 'far from over', the lieutenant governor has taken this decision, they said.

On Thursday, the Arvind Kejriwal government decided to allow hotels to reopen in the city.

It also allowed weekly bazaars (markets) on a trial basis for seven days with social distancing and all necessary COVID 19-appropriate measures in place. -- PTI

P Hemalata, wife of jailed activist and poet Varavara Rao, has issued the following statement:

As per the Bombay high court's direction to Nanavati Hospital on July 28 to permit Varavara Raos family to visit him, subject to Hospital protocols and Governments norms in respect of Covid patients, we, the family members were allowed to speak to him in a video conference, as protocols do not permit personal visits.

Thus, through video conference we interacted with Varavara Rao for about 20 minutes in the afternoon of Friday, July 31.

He looked much more frail and weak and his physical condition did not seem to be well.

More worrying was his psychological status. He did not answer many of our questions on his health directly.

We do not know whether he was able to understand our anxious queries. He spoke whatever he wanted to speak.

Much of his talk was from his subconscious memories from decades ago, but not related to the present.

Thus his disorientation, confusion, loss of memory, inability to grasp the present and incoherence seem to continue still.

For over 60 years, he has been a public intellectual, an eloquent, much sought-after public speaker with perfect memory.

Now he is reduced to a man searching for words and incoherent. He has been a gregarious person, a voracious reader and prolific writer.

With todays video conference, we are convinced that lack of people around him, lack of papers and books to read and lack of writing facilities are harming his both physical and psychological health.

Release and allowing him to be among his own people is the only remedy he requires now.

And hence, after todays interaction with him, with much more urgency,

1. We request the government of Maharashtra and government of India to remove hurdles on granting bail to him to improve his health,

2. We request the hospital authorities to continue to administer better treatment, not only for Covid and neurological issues, but also to other ailments,

3. We appeal to people in general, writers, intellectuals and civil society leaders to demand Varavara Raos release, at least on bail, as soon as possible so that his family takes care and do everything possible to improve his health.

Pakistan's security forces opened fire on protesters demanding the reopening of a border crossing with Afghanistan, killing at least three people and wounding 30 others, security sources said on Friday.

The Chaman border crossing in Balochistan was closed due to coronavirus outbreak, leaving more than 100,000 people in the area jobless.

The border crossing was reopened on Wednesday to allow people from both sides to travel to their native areas to celebrate Eid.

But the crossing remains closed for wage labourers who travel to Afghanistan by day and return home by the evening.

A large number of people gathered and staged a sit-in at Friendship Gate on Thursday demanding the opening of the border crossing.

Frontier Corps (FC) personnel told them that the gate would not be opened until shifting of the protesters from the site.

The protesters became violent and attacked the offices of the FC and other government agencies located at the Friendship Gate.

Police opened fire on protesters, killing at least three people, including a woman and injuring around 20, sources said.

Tensions continued on the second day with an unruly mob again clashing with security forces on Friday.

Security forces resorted to aerial firing, leaving 10 people injured, they said.

Balochistan's home minister Zia Langove visited the Chaman border on Friday and condemned the incidents of violence.

It is the responsibility of the government to provide employment to the people but there will be no compromise on security matters, he said. -- PTI

Rajasthan Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi on Friday moved the Supreme Court against high court order of July 24 asking the assembly speaker to defer disqualification proceeding against sacked deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs.

The chief whip has moved the top court two days after the assembly speaker C P Joshi filed the appeal against the July 24 Rajasthan high court order.

The plea filed through advocate Varun Chopra said that the high court order is ex facie unconstitutional, illegal and in the teeth of the law laid down by this court in 1992 verdict in the case of Kihoto Hollohon.

The 1992 judgment had held that the speaker has the authority to decide the disqualification proceedings and judicial intervention in the process is not permissible.

The Rajasthan Assembly Speaker on July 29 had moved the top court challenging the July 24 order of the high court which had directed maintenance of status quo on the disqualification notice issued to 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.

In his petition, Speaker C P Joshi, has sought stay on the Rajasthan high court's order contending that it is ex facie unconstitutional and is a direct intrusion into the domain exclusively reserved for the Speaker under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Speaker's plea, settled by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Vivek Tankha, has also sought stay on further proceedings in the matter pending before the high court.

The Speaker's plea, filed through advocate Sunil Fernandes, claimed that the high court's order is a direct interference in the proceedings of the House' under the Tenth Schedule which is prohibited under Article 212 of the Constitution.

On July 27, the top court had allowed the Assembly Speaker to withdraw his plea against the high court's July 21 order asking him to defer till July 24 the disqualification proceedings against these MLAs.

The assembly Speaker had issued the notice to these MLAs on July 14 after the ruling Congress had complained to him that the legislators had defied a whip to attend two legislature party meetings.

The high court had passed the order on the plea filed by these MLAs who have challenged the disqualification notice issued to them. -- PTI

Monsoon is likely to be normal in the second half of the four-month rainfall season, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday.

In its Long Range Forecast for the rainfall during second half (August-September) of the 2020 Southwest Monsoon, the IMD said August is likely to receive rainfall that is 97 per cent of the Long Period Average.

"Quantitatively, the rainfall over the country as a whole during the second half of the season is likely to be 104 per cent of LPA with a model error of plus/minus 8 per cent," the IMD said.

The Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1961-2010 is 88 centimetres.

Monsoon in the range of 96-104 per cent of the LPA is considered normal.

The official rainfall season in the country is from June 1 to September 30. -- PTI

18:09 DU session to begin from August 10

The Delhi University has said that it will begin the 2020-2021 academic session from August 10 with online classes for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The university had announced summer vacations till August 9.

In a notification on Thursday, it said, "The Academic Session 2020-2021 of the university will commence from August 10 with start of online classes for the III, V and VII semester of UG courses and III semester of PG courses subject to the prevailing pandemic or any other exigency."

The Delhi University will be holding online open book exams from August 10 for final year students, amid opposition from students and teachers.

They have been demanding that exams be scrapped and students be promoted on the basis of past performance and internal assessment.

The university has graded first and second year students on the basis of their internal assessment and their performance in the previous semester. -- PTI

17:26 Sushant death: ED files money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case in connection with the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, officials said on Friday.

The central probe agency has taken cognisance of a Bihar Police first investigation report (FIR) registered against actress Rhea Chakraborty and some others to slap criminal charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in its complaint, they said.

The officials said an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) has been filed in the case related to the death of the actor and alleged financial irregularities being suspected to have been done against the deceased.

The ED had recently sought the FIR copy from the Bihar Police.

Rajput's father Krishna Kumar Singh, 74, had on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against Chakraborty, her family members and six others on charges of alleged abetment to suicide of his son.

Singh has accused Chakraborty, a budding TV and film actress, of having befriended his son in May 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career.

The ED will probe allegations of alleged mishandling of Rajput's money and his bank accounts.

The agency will probe if anyone used Rajput's income for money laundering and creating illegal assets, the officials said.

The Mumbai Police is already probing Rajput's death. Rajput, 34, who had starred in films such as Chichhore, Kai Po Che and Kedarnath, was found hanging in his apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14. -- PTI

16:51 Mehbooba's detention under PSA extended

JUST IN: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's detention under Public Safety Act extended by three months.

More details awaited. -- ANI

15:57 Invite Dalit seer to Ayodhya event: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Friday favoured that an invitation be extended to Dalit Mahamandelshwar Kanhaiya Prabhunandan Giri for the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it would have some impact on the Constitutional intention of setting a casteless society.

This comes after reports in the media that Giri was unhappy over not being invited to the event.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the temple is slated for August 5.

In a tweet, the BSP supremo said, In view of the complaint of Dalit Mahamandelshwar Swami Kanhaiya Prabhunanadan Giri, it would have been better if he was also invited to the bhoomi pujan ceremony in Ayodhya on August 5 along with 200 other saints.

This could have had some impact on the Constitutional intention of establishing a casteless society in the country.

However, she went on the say that, Instead of getting into all this,the Dalit samaj, which has been suffering neglect, contempt and injustice, should focus more on their labour and deeds for their salvation and in this case too they need to follow the path shown by Dr B R Ambedkar.

After a protracted legal tussle, the Supreme Court had on November 9 last year paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple by a Trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot an alternative 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a 'prominent' place in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh. -- PTI

Image only for representation

14:48 9 dead in Andhra after consuming sanitiser

At least nine people died after allegedly consuming sanitiser in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh on Friday, police said.

Prakasam district Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kaushal, who visited Kurichedu mandal headquarters, said the people had been consuming sanitiser for the past few days, mixing it with water and soft drinks.

"We are also investigating whether they laced the sanitiser with any other toxic substances," the SP said.

"Their family members say these people have been takinbg sanitiser for the past ten days. We are sending the sanitiser stocks, being sold in the area, for examination," the SP added.

Kurichedu is currently under lockdown due to spurt in coronavirus cases and as such the liquor vends are also shut for the past few days.

Habitual tipplers, however, were said to be consuming sanitiser that has alcohol content, apart from illicitly distilled arrack.

Two beggars near a temple were the first to fall victim on Thursday night.

While one of them was found dead at the spot, another died in the government hospital in Darsi town, police said.

A third person was also taken to the Darsi hospital late on Thursday night after he fell unconscious but he was declared brought dead.

Six others who took ill after allegedly consuming sanitiser, succumbed on Friday morning.

A couple of other persons, who also complained of some problems after consuming sanitiser, were undergoing treatment at their residences in the village, the police added. -- PTI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday said that the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, scheduled to be held on August 5, is not required amid the COVID-19 pandemic and could be organised later when things normalised.

He also rejected Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's suggestion for 'e-bhoomi pujan' and said the ground-breaking ceremony should be held with great fervour.

Speaking to a Marathi news channel, the MNS chief said, "The bhoomi pujan is not required at this time as people are in a different mindset right now. It could have been held after two months when things normalise. People would have enjoyed the ceremony then."

According to the members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Ayodhya on August 5 for the bhoomi pujan to begin the construction of the Ram temple.

Thackeray also found faults in the way the state government handled the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra and said that it was necessary to allay people's fears regarding the disease.

"It is important to help people come out of this fear. The restrictions imposed by the state government, news on TV channels and messages on WhatsApp have all led to a kind of chaos. You need to make people feel relaxed," Thackeray added.

Expressing concerns over the financial crisis and job losses in the state, the MNS chief made a strong pitch for resumption of economic activities.

When asked about his cousin Uddhav Thackeray's performance as a CM, the MNS chief said he had seen the Shiv Sena president 'only on TV'.

"I could not see his work in the last four-and-a-half to five months," he added. -- PTI

13:48 Prez gives racing cycle to budding cyclist

President Ram Nath Kovind gifted a racing bicycle to a struggling school boy who dreams of excelling as a cyclist, Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a release.

The President wished Riyaz to become an international champion of cycling race and realise his dream through his hard work.

Riyaz, a student of Class 9 at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya at Anand Vihar in Delhi, originally belongs to Madhubani district of Bihar, the release said.

His family members -- his parents, two sisters and one brother -- live in Madhubani, while Riyaz stays in a rented accommodation in Maharajpur, Ghaziabad, it said.

To supplement his father's paltry income as a cook, the boy in his free time works in an eatery in Ghaziabad as a dishwasher.

Riyaz's passion is cycling, and he practises hard after studies and work.

In 2017, he won the bronze medal in the Delhi State Cycling Championship, the release said.

He went on to participate in a school games event in Guwahati, according to the district magistrate, Ghaziabad, and achieved the fourth rank at the national level.

Riyaz regularly trains at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi and had to depend on a borrowed sports cycle for his practice, the release said.

The President came to know of Riyaz's story of struggle through reports in the media. Complimenting Riyaz for his achievements defying all odds, Kovind wished him best in the life and said that his story should serve as worthy of emulation for the country's youth who must come forward for nation-building by dint of their dedication, hard work, courage and honesty, it said.

IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind gifts a bicycle to Riyaz. Photograph: Rashtrapati Bhavan

12:36 Being forced to speak against Rhea: Witness

A close friend of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and a crucial witness in his death case, Siddharth Pithani has written to Mumbai Police alleging that he received phone calls from family members of the late actor and anonymous numbers and is allegedly being 'pressured' to give a statement against Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty.

In an email to Mumbai Police on July 28 he claimed to have received at least three phone calls from the late actor's family where according to Siddharth, they asked him to give a statement against Chakraborty about her expenses when she was with Rajput at his home.

He also alleged that family members of Sushant, including his sister Meetu Singh and relative O P Singh, called him July 22 on a conference call where another unknown number had also joined and again on July 27, a similar call was received by him asking him to give statement against Rhea.

He also alleged that he is being asked to give a statement on issues he wasn't aware of.

'I received conference phone calls from the family members of Sushant Singh (Rajput). Mr OP Singh and Meetu Singh and an unknown number on July 22 and they asked me questions regarding Rhea Chakraborty and her expenses during her stay at Mount Blanc with Sushant,' the e-mail read.

'I am pressurised to comply and record statements against Rhea, the things which I am not aware of,' the email added.

The mail of Siddharth has also been included by Rhea in her petition in Supreme Court filed to get the Bihar FIR transferred to Mumbai.

A team of Bihar Police that arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, recorded statements of two persons, including actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sister, on Wednesday in connection with the case.

An FIR was filed by Sushant Singh Rajput's father against actor Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on Tuesday.

Bihar police have recorded more statements now.

They recorded the statement of Ankita Lokhande and the doctor who was treating Sushant.

Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai residence on June 14.

According to the Maharashtra police, statements of 41 people, including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra have been recorded in the investigation so far. -- ANI

The Delhi high court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to former Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) chairman Zafarul Islam Khan in a sedition case.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, granted the relief to the 72-year-old Khan after the police said he was no longer required for further investigation.

Khan's tenure in the commission expired recently.

The court was hearing a plea by Khan, through advocate Vrinda Grover, seeking anticipatory bail in the sedition case lodged against him, citing his age, health issues and risk of contracting COVID-19.

On April 28, Khan published through his official page on social media a post that allegedly had seditious and hateful comments.

On May 2, based on a complaint, the Delhi Police Special Cell lodged a first information report against Khan under sections 124A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for the alleged offences of sedition and promoting feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language. -- PTI

The Delhi high court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to former Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) chairman Zafarul Islam Khan in a sedition case.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, granted the relief to the 72-year-old Khan after the police said he was no longer required for further investigation.

Khan's tenure in the commission expired recently.

On April 28, Khan published through his official page on social media a post that allegedly had seditious and hateful comments.

11:38 Why everyone must oppose Hany Babus arrest

'One need not talk about the academic excellence of Hany Babu and his achievements as a scholar or his popularity as a teacher to call his arrest most foul. I do not even need to talk about his dogged campaign against diluting caste-based reservation policies.

'It should be enough for a Hany Babu, an independent mind, a free citizen to be allowed to lead an unfettered life, to criticise and oppose a government he thinks is unfit for the nation. It should not be left to the usual suspects to speak for him. It is the duty of all teachers, students and others to stand up against this most atrocious campaign that independent India is witnessing against its best minds. If we fail now, we may lose India forever.'

Apoorvanand tells it like it is, on Scroll.in, here.

11:31 China reports over 100 Covid cases for 3rd day

China has reported 127 new confirmed coronavirus cases, crossing the hundred-mark for the third consecutive day as the infections continued to surge in Uyghur Muslim-majority Xinjiang province.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Friday that among the fresh 127 cases reported on Thursday, 123 were domestically transmitted.

This is the third consecutive day China reported over 100 cases after stemming the spread of the virus after it first surfaced in central China's Wuhan city in December last year, the NHC said.

Xinjiang reported 112 domestically transmitted cases while Liaoning Province reported 11, the NHC added.

Also on Thursday, 11 new asymptomatic cases, including five from outside the mainland, were reported and 36 asymptomatic cases were re-categorised as confirmed cases.

The commission said 246 asymptomatic cases, including 93 from outside the mainland, were still under medical observation.

No deaths related to the disease were reported on Thursday, the commission said.

One new suspected case, which was imported from outside the mainland, was reported in Shanghai.

As of Thursday, the overall confirmed cases on the mainland reached 84,292, including 684 patients who were still being treated, with 41 in severe condition.

Altogether 78,974 people have been discharged after recovery, and 4,634 died of the disease, the commission said. -- PTI

The Ganeshotsav Mandals and people in containment zones will have to immerse idols in a metallic tank inside the containment zone on the occasion of Ganeshotsav and Ganpati Visarjan, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Similarly, people who are living in buildings which are sealed will have to immerse the idols at home or inside the building, said BMC on Friday.

"People/Ganeshotsav Mandals in containment zones will have to immerse idols in a metallic tank or something else inside containment zone itself. Also, people living in buildings which are sealed must immerse idols at their homes," said the BMC in an order.

Ganeshotsav Mandals in containment zones cannot take out the idols for immersion as they did earlier.

Earlier, there were no specific guidelines for the immersions of idols in containment zones or sealed buildings. The rest of the guidelines remain the same for containment zones and sealed buildings.

-- ANI

India has achieved another grim milestone in terms of the number of Covid-19 fatalities. The country is already recording over 50,000 daily cases (the number stood at 55,078 on Friday) which has taken the countrywide tally to over 1.6 million (16,38,870 to be exact).

Another 779 deaths in the last 24 hours took the number of fatalities in India to 35,747. It has now replaced Italy to reach at the fifth place in terms of the number of fatalities, according to World Health Organisation.

The countries ahead of India are the United States (1,48,640 fatalities), Brazil (88,539 fatalities), the United Kingdom (45,961 fatalities) and Mexico (44,876 fatalities), according to WHO data.

According to the health ministry, the fatality rate in the country has dropped to 2.21 per cent.

The recoveries too have increased in the country. The number of recovered patient crossed the one million-mark on Thursday and is now 1.9 times the total active cases.

US President Donald Trump is likely to travel to New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly session in September, the only world leader to address this year's virtual high-level week in person, the US envoy to the UN said.

"We're hoping that President Trump will actually be speaking in person in the General Assembly. He will be the only world leader to be speaking in person," US Ambassador Kelly Craft said Thursday at a virtual briefing.

Craft added that with the UN commemorating its 75th anniversary this year, 'that makes it even more special that we really take the virtual and amplify it to be able to celebrate the 75th and obviously we're going to be focused on human rights issues, on transparency, accountability because anytime during COVID where the American taxpayers have really stepped up on a personal level, it's now.'

For the first time in the UN's 75-year history, the annual General Assembly session will be held virtually and Heads of State and Government will not be physically attending the annual gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic.

World leaders will submit pre-recorded video statements for the high-level week, the 193-member organisation had decided last week.

US is the host country of the United Nations and there is a possibility that Trump could travel to New York to address the General Debate of the 75th session of the Assembly on September 22.

The US is traditionally the second speaker at the debate after Brazil. This would be Trump's final address to the General Assembly of the first term of his presidency before the US heads into elections in November and Trump could use the UN platform to highlight his foreign policy achievements while also tout his campaign agenda.

-- PTI

Indias overall coronavirus tally has surged past the 16 lakh-mark with the number of recovered patients climbing to over 10 lakh.

As per the Union health ministry, recovered Covid-19 patients in India is now 1.9 times the total active cases while the fatality rate has dropped to 2.21 per cent.

According to the Union health ministry data, India recorded the highest single-day spike of 55,079 positive cases and 779 deaths in the last 24 hours.

India has achieved another milestone in its fight against COVID-19 by conducting over six lakh tests in the last 24 hours, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.

"India achieves another landmark. More than 6 lakh tests done in 24 hours," the Ministry tweeted.

Stressing on its strategy to contain COVID-19 spread in the country, it said that it will continue to implement the strategy of comprehensive testing, tracking and treatment to effectively tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

"The objective is to raise the testing capacity to 10 lakhs tests per day in the medium term," the MoHFW said in a subsequent tweet.

08:35 Gehlot camp MLAs may shift to Jaisalmer today

MLAs who support Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot may be leaving for Jaisalmer today, sources said, adding that the final decision will be taken at a cabinet meeting at 10 am.

All MLAs have been asked to prepare their identification cards in advance, and they may be shifted to either Marriott Hotel or Suryagarh Resort, sources said.

Ministers are expected to stay back and take over work. Two charter planes trips will transport all MLAs to Jaisalmer, who are to be taken to the airport in buses.

The first charter plane will leave for Jaisalmer at 11.45 am, the other 3.30 pm. Jaisalmer police has been alerted of the developments ahead.

After a long series of back and forths, both Governor Kalraj Mishra and CM Gehlot finally agreeing on a date when the Assembly will be convened -- August 14.

On July 13, Congress had shifted its MLAs to Jaipur's Fairmont Hotel alleging a ploy by the BJP to topple the government by breaking away its lawmakers. Previously addressing the Congress Legislature Party meeting held on Thursday, Gehlot had told the MLAs that they would have to stay at the Hotel Fairmont in Jaipur till August 14.

07:49 First dog that tested COVID +ve dies in NYC

A German shepherd in New York that had the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a dog in the US has died.

Robert and Allison Mahoney of Staten Island told National Geographic that their 7-year-old shepherd, Buddy, developed breathing problems in mid-April after Robert had been sick with the coronavirus for several weeks. A veterinarian tested Buddy in May and found him positive for the virus.

The US Department of Agriculture reported in June that a German shepherd in New York state was the first dog in the country to test positive for COVID-19, but did not identify the owners.

Buddy's health declined steadily after he developed breathing problems and thick nasal mucus in April. He was euthanised on July 11 after he started vomiting clotted blood, the Mahoneys told National Geographic.

It's unknown if the coronavirus played a role in his death. Blood tests indicated Buddy likely had lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, veterinarians told the family.

A spokesman for the New York City Department of Health said arrangements were made to take the dog's body for a necropsy but when the instructions were shared with the veterinarian, the body had already been cremated.

A USDA database of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in animals in the United States includes 12 dogs, 10 cats, a tiger and a lion. The agency says there is currently no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the coronavirus but it appears the virus can spread from people to animals in some situations.

01:42 Over a million tests conducted in Delhi so far

Delhi has conducted over 10 lakh coronavirus tests so far, nearly half of which were done in the last 30 days, data shows.

According to a health department bulletin on Thursday, 10,13,694 tests have been conducted in the national capital so far -- accounting for 53,352 tests per million population.

Last month saw the daily coronavirus figures touching the range of 2,000-3,000.

With the situation deteriorating, Delhi ramped up testing.

According to the data, July saw 3.82 lakh rapid antigen tests.

The number of rapid antigen tests being conducted on a daily basis is more than double of RT-PCR tests.

Experts feel the rapid antigen test has changed the script for the national capital due to its affordability, quicker result and its ability to serve as a fast diagnostic tool.

Delhi started conducting rapid antigen tests on June 18. Delhi has 56 labs -- 22 government and 34 private -- which are carrying out RT-PCR tests to detect COVID-19.

The coronavirus tally in Delhi went past 1.34 lakh and the death toll from the disease climbed to 3,936 on Thursday. -- PTI

IMAGE: A health worker in personal protective equipment (PPE) collects a nasal sample from a woman for the COVID-19 test, at a local health center in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

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