Coronavirus live updates: Offices, shops to remain shut in Haryana on weekends

The mutant form of the novel coronavirus reported from Malaysia as being 10 times more infectious ? is not a concern for India as it is widely prevalent here and isn't any more virulent than the strain originating in Wuhan, say scientists.

Doctors and clinical investigators involved in treating coronavirus infection have claimed that there was no evidence of the disease recurring in people who have recovered from it. However, Dr Giridhar Babu, who is part of ICMR's research task force on Epidemiology and Surveillance, said it is difficult to say confidently where or not there is relapse in recovered patients as some signs post-recovery can be confused with COVID-19 symptoms.

The World Health Organization's Europe office said it has begun discussions with Russia to try to obtain more information about the experimental Covid-19 vaccine the country recently approved.

With a record 9,18,470 tests been being done in a day, the cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of Covid-19 in India have reached 3.26 crore even as the national positivity rate has fallen below 8 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said. With constantly increasing testing numbers, there has been a commensurate fall in the positivity rate, the ministry said.

As many as 26 volunteers who reached the Air-India Express plane crash site in Kozhikode, 48 km from here, and evacuated the injured passengers on August 7, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Rajasthan reported 690 fresh Covid infections and five deaths due to the disease on Thursday, taking the caseload to 65,979 and the number of fatalities to 915, according to an official report. Three deaths were reported from Jaipur and one each from Ajmer and Bikaner. Ajmer recorded the maximum number of fresh coronavirus infections at 138.

The minister said in a tweet that he underwent a coronavirus test after experiencing symptoms of the infection. On the advice of doctors he is getting admitted to a hospital, the minister said. "I underwent a coronavirus test after developing symptoms and the report has come positive. I am getting hospitalised on the advice of doctors. I request all who have come in my contact in the past days to isolate themselves and get tested," Shekhawat tweeted in Hindi.

Noting the examination and procedures related to ophthalmology involves close interactions with the patient, the ministry said the guidelines are aimed at minimising the spread of Covid-19 infection among ophthalmologists, ophthalmic assistants/technicians, nurses, support staff, patients and their attendants. According to the 'Guidelines on Safe Ophthalmology Practices in Covid-19 Scenario', eye drops should be put in the patient's eye by a nursing or paramedical staff with a no-touch technique.