Kathmandu, Aug 18

Here are the biggest Covid-19 developments of the day.

1. The number of deaths in India crossed the 50,000-mark on Monday after 941 people died in 24 hours. The toll is now 50,921. India also reported 57,981 cases in 24 hours, taking the total count to 26,47,663. There are now 6,76,900 active cases, while as many as 19,19,842 people have recovered.
2. Four people at Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar’s residence have tested positive for the coronavirus. “Two people, including a cook, and two security guards at Pawar’s ‘Silver Oak’ residence here have tested positive for coronavirus,” said Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope. He added that Pawar’s test results have come out negative, but he will be asked not to go on any state tour for next some days.  
3. The Supreme Court dismissed a petition to postpone the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and Joint Entrance Examination amid the coronavirus outbreak. The court ruled that the two examinations would be held in September as per the schedule.  
4.   A serological survey conducted in five sub-wards in Pune has revealed that 51.5% of those surveyed have antibodies for the coronavirus. These sub-wards have seen the highest incidences of coronavirus cases, the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research said on Monday.
5.   Tamil Nadu recorded 5,890 new cases, 120 deaths and 5,667 recoveries on Monday. The state’s tally is now 3,43,945. In total, 2,83,937 people have recovered, and there are 54,122 active cases. Meanwhile, officials said that Punjab’s Covid-19 has almost doubled in 16 days. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he was not averse to taking harsher measures to slow the spread of Covid-19.
6. Trinamool Congress MLA Samaresh Das, who had tested positive for the coronavirus, died at a hospital in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district. He was 76.
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has denied to give information related to the PM CARES Fund – set up in March– in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic – to a Right to Information activist, saying it would “disproportionately divert the resources”.
8.   The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala opened for prayers, but devotees will not be allowed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The temple will remain open till August 21 and only the usual rituals will be conducted, said the Travancore Devaswom Board.  
9. The number of deaths in the US crossed 1,70,000. The toll now stands at 1,70,052 after 483 people died on Sunday. The country has so far recorded 54.03 lakh cases – a number that experts warn may be lower than the actual figure as America has not yet increased testing.  
10. Globally, the coronavirus has infected 2.17 crore people and claimed over 7.76 lakh lives, according to the Johns Hopkins University’s tracker. More than 1.37 crore people have recovered so far.