Coronavirus Live Updates: India's tally goes past 10.3 Lakh

Coronavirus Live Updates: India's tally goes past 10.3 Lakh

The number of coronavirus infections in India will double by August 10 if greater action isn't taken, the leader of the county's main opposition party has warned.

India has reported 34,884 more coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, taking the national total to 1,038,716, as government officials scramble to reimpose lockdown measures in an attempt to slow the spread of the outbreak

The Health Ministry also reported 671 more fatalities. A total of 26,273 people in India have died from COVID-19.

As in many other countries, the actual numbers in India are thought to be much higher, due to a number of reasons that include limited access to testing.

Around a dozen states have put high-risk areas under lockdown and are only allowing essential food supplies and health services to enter. 

Leader of the country's main opposition Congress party Rahul Gandhi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take concrete action to slow the spread. At the current rate, Gandhi said, the number of infections will double to 2 million by August 10.

10:41 AM, 18th Jul

16 more cases in China

China's National Health Commission has confirmed 16 more cases of COVID-19 in the country's far-west Xinjiang region, on top of the first case in a new outbreak that was discovered yesterday.

The outbreak in the city of Urumqi is the most recent to appear since China largely succeeded in containing the spread of the virus within its borders since March. The largest outbreak occurred last month in Beijing, where over 330 people were infected. 

Authorities in Urumqi have reduced public transport and taxi service and closed off some residential communities, Chinese media reported. They have also introduced restrictions on people leaving the city.

China has been accused of carrying out human rights violations in Xinjiang, the home to the largely Muslim Uighur ethnic community. There is a strong security presence in the area, which China says is necessary for preventing acts of terrorism.

09:39 AM, 18th Jul

Coronavirus in the Australia dropped by over half

New cases of coronavirus in the Australian state of Victoria have dropped by over half over the past day, in what Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton called a "relief."

New infections fell from a record high of 428 reported Friday to 217 on Saturday. The Health Department also reported the deaths of two more Victorians, bringing state fatalities to 34 and Australia's national death toll to 118.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said he was encouraged by the drop in infections but warned against jumping to conclusions."We'd want to see a pattern where there's stability and then a decrease,'' he said.

He called on residents in the state capital of Melbourne to continue abiding by a six-week lockdown, saying that "being bored is much better than being in intensive care." expressed concern over the fact that 234 imported cases were reported between June 20 and July 27. 

08:38 AM, 18th Jul

Hong Kong has set new regulations for travelers

Hong Kong has set new regulations for travelers arriving from countries deemed at high risk for the coronavirus. These arrivals will be required to present an official certificate proving they have tested negative for the coronavirus. 

The new measures will into effect at midnight local time next Saturday. 

Hong Kong announced the regulation as the city grapples with a new wave of infections that has seen dozens of new cases reported daily. 

The new conditions affect travelers who have visited Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and South Africa in the 14 days prior to arriving in Hong Kong. 

Travelers will have to provide a letter or certificate stating the healthcare provider or laboratory who ran the test that shows the negative result, as well as an official letter from a government verifying the legitimacy of the testing facility. Confirmation of a hotel booking for 14 days is also required. 

Aircraft operators will be required to present a document to Hong Kong's Department of Health before arrival that confirms travelers being checked in for flights to Hong Kong have produced the relevant forms.  

Hong Kong has reported 1,714 cases of coronavirus including 11 deaths. Officials have expressed concern over the fact that 234 imported cases were reported between June 20 and July 27. 

07:37 AM, 18th Jul

COVID-19 cases in Germany has risen by 529 to 201,372

The total tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Germany has risen by 529 to 201,372, according to the latest figures from Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases.

The country reported one new death taking the toll to 9,083.   

Yesterday, Germany had registered 583 cases and four deaths.