Abantika Ghosh

Used for ages against TB, the BCG vaccine is newly under the spotlight. One study claims a link between low COVID-19 spread and wide BCG coverage, another dismisses it. A look at BCG, and the new discussion.

Of the 141 new cases in the Capital, 129 are people evacuated from Markaz Nizamuddin, the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat, where a congregation of over 4,000 was held last month.

While Kerala, which was among the earliest to report COVID-19 cases and has at least two of these hotspots, has already started using these rapid tests, other states like Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh have been pushing for it.

India coronavirus lockdown: Within the government, a “limited lockdown” in some areas is an option that seems to be gaining ground, at this point.

States have been pushing for rapid tests on plasma; ICMR has resisted, yielded and qualified its stance. How are such tests different from PCR tests on swab, and what are the arguments for and against each?

Coronavirus Cases in India Latest Updates: The number of people who have been infected with the novel coronavirus rose to 2,069 today, while 53 deaths have been reported. Multiple states have reported positive cases linked to those who attended the Nizamabad Markaz event.

Earlier in the day, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in its first statement on the issue, said 154 COVID-19 cases across the country had been traced to the Delhi meet.

As per the guidelines on clinical management of COVID-19 issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, patients with mild symptoms, “may not” require hospitalisation “unless there is a concern for rapid deterioration”.

Till April 1, 8.53 lakh cases of COVID-19 had been reported world-wide, with 41,887 deaths. China has seen 82,295 cases and 3,310 deaths.

Coronavirus Cases in India latest updates: Three resident doctors working in government hospitals in Delhi are among the healthcare professionals who have been tested positive in the national capital.

With 146 positive cases, including two deaths, being reported in the last 24 hours, the total count has gone up to 1,397 (124 recovered, 35 dead).

Handwashing for 20 seconds at least kills the virus. When using a sanitiser, it should ideally have an alcohol content of 60% or more.

Earlier this month, India had also recommended use of HCQ as a prophylactic in medical workers managing coronavirus patients and caregivers at home, leading to a huge surge in demand.

The trial will recruit 108 people between March and December. It will be partnered by Hong Kong-listed biotech firm CanSino Biologics, the journal noted.

Coronavirus Cases in India State-Wise Latest Update: On Monday, India registered the sharpest spike in coronavirus cases -- 227 people tested positive over the last 24 hours, taking the total to 1,251. Of these 102 people have been cured and 35 have died.

Of these, two — Dilshad Garden and Nizamuddin — are in Delhi, the others being Noida, Meerut, Bhilwara, Ahmedabad, Kasaragod, Pathanamthitta, Mumbai and Pune. In the last 24 hours, 227 cases and five deaths have been reported.

India Coronavirus Latest News Update, 30 March: The nationwide coronavirus death toll climbed to 32 while the number of cases spiked to 1251 as the lockdown to entered its sixth day. Meanwhile, the government said that there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown.

At the daily briefing, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, did not give details of those who died in the last 24 hours, but said that “most cases of death have seen old age and co-morbidity play a very major role.”

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined that this was the only way to fight COVID-19, the Home Ministry directed states to ensure effective sealing of the borders.