Coronavirus live updates: Assam eases curbs; weekend lockdowns to stay

With this number, the total recovered Covid-19 patients have touched nearly 17 lakhs (16,95,982) today. The case fatality rate has further improved to 1.96%: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Slamming the Bihar government, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday accused it of "lying" and "manipulating" the Covid-19 numbers in the state. While addressing a press conference here at the party office, he said, "There used to be 3,000-3,500 Covid-19 cases when there 10,000 tests were being conducted. Now when the state is testing 75,000 samples for Covid-19 even then these numbers are restricted to 4,000. This means that the government is lying and manipulating. Chief minister Nitish Kumar is focusing on the increasing number of rapid Antigen testing to save his face." "As per the Bihar government data, on an average 6,100 RT-PCR tests are being conducted which means that only 10 per cent of the total Covid-19 tests are being conducted through the RT-PCR method. We demand an increase in RT-PCR testing," he added.

The Mahant is in Mathura where he had gone for the Janamashtami celebrations. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the district officials to take proper care of the seer. Adityanath has also spoken to medical experts and the Mahant is likely to be shifted to Medanta hospital later in the day.

Over 3.04 crore N95 masks, more than 1.28 crore PPE kits and over 10.83 crore HCQ tablets have been distributed among the States, Union Territories and central institutions, free of cost by the central government since March 11, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday. In a release, the Ministry said that a total of 22,533 'Make in India' ventilators have also been delivered to various States, Union Territories and central institutions by the centre. "Since March 11, the Union Government has distributed more than 3.04 crore N95 masks and more than 1.28 crore PPE kits to States/UTs /Central Institutions, free of cost. Also, more than 10.83 crore HCQ tablets have been distributed to them. In addition, 22,533 'Make in India' ventilators have been delivered to various States / UTs / Central Institutions. The Centre is also ensuring its installation and commissioning," the release said.

Ukraine recorded a record daily jump of 1,592 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the national council of security and defence said on Thursday. The number of infections has increased sharply in Ukraine in the past two months as authorities have eased some restrictions, allowing cafes, churches and public transport to reopen.