headlines that matter
First, the India numbers
- We added 12,881 cases in a single day—the largest ever jump. The total now: 366,000.
- Total number of deaths: 12,237. We reported a whopping 2,003 new fatalities on Monday—the most in a day, which now makes us #8 in the world.
- The reason for this sudden spike: delayed reporting from Maharashtra and Delhi. Their numbers increased overnight to 5,537 and 1,837 respectively. Our death rate: 3.4%.
- Unlock 2.0: In a meeting with 21 chief ministers and heads of Union territories, the PM definitively ruled out another national lockdown—and moved into “phase 2” of opening up the country.
- So how does the government plan to achieve this at a time of soaring numbers? A ramped up track, trace and treat strategy.
- Also: ramping up Covid treatment facilities. A spiritual centre—the size of 22 football fields—is being repurposed as a care facility. It will have over 10,000 beds.
- Also converting its sports stadiums and exhibition centres: Bangalore—which will add 20,000 beds.
- Last but not least: 503 Covid care coaches in special isolation trains. Check out the video here.
New Zealand calls in the army
PM Jacinda Ardern has called the detection of two new cases of Covid an “unacceptable failure”—and has asked the country’s defence forces to oversee the quarantine of international travellers. Reminder: Two women who returned from the UK were not tested for Covid, and got an early release from quarantine—sparking fears of a new outbreak. (Guardian)
Bollywood fallout from Rajput’s death contd.
Case filed against KJo, Ekta: An advocate has filed a complaint in Bihar accusing them and five other people for abetting Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide: “In the complaint, I have alleged that Sushant Singh Rajput was removed from around seven films and some of his films were not released. Such a situation was created which forced him to take the extreme step.”
Arbaaz Khan strikes back: Salman’s brother says his family will take legal action against Dabangg director Abhinav Kashyap—who accused them of “gaslighting, exploitation and bullying” in a Facebook post. Abhinav’s more famous brother, Anurag Kashyap’s response: “More than two years ago, Abhinav had told me clearly to stay out of his business and it’s not my place to comment on anything he says or does.”
More bad news for KJo: His past is coming back to haunt him in the form of an excerpt from Ayushmann Khurrana’s autobiography, ‘Cracking the Code’—which recounts this encounter when Khurrana was an unknown rookie:
“Karan gave me the landline number to his office when I met him. I should have taken a hint there and then. But I was so excited! I even planned exactly when I would make the call: sometime around 11:30 am, so he’d be done with breakfast and available to talk..The next day I dialled the number they’d given me. They said Karan wasn’t in office. The day after that I called again. They said he was busy. And finally, my bubble burst when, the subsequent day, they told me bluntly ‘We only work with stars, and can’t work with you’.”
Point to note: When Khurrana later recounted the incident on ‘Koffee with Karan’, KJo merrily replied, “I gave you the right number. That was very sweet of me! I must’ve thought that you have potential.”
The latest Covid gyaan is here
A new Covid blood test: is being advertised as a "game-changer"—and claims to detect 98% of cases, including those without symptoms. Also, it sounds easier to endure than a nasty throat or nasal swab: "Patients would be asked to prick their finger at home. After which, they would send a dried blood spot card to a laboratory for testing."
Mixed news about antibodies: New research looked at blood plasma samples of recovered Covid patients. This is what it found:
“Overall, around 88% of the people generated varying levels of antibodies to the virus. But only about 10% of them had high levels that were able to neutralize the lab-based version of the COVID-19 virus—and, on the other side of the spectrum, 17% had almost no antibody response to their infection.”
This wide deviation in the human body’s response to the virus suggests that immunity in Covid recoveries is not a done deal—and many may not produce enough antibodies to achieve immunity.
A new chargeable face mask: Israelis have invented a reusable self-disinfecting face mask. It kills the virus with heat by drawing power from a mobile phone charger. What it’s solving for: Disposable masks are not economical or environmentally friendly.
Getting back on pre-Covid track
The US Open which will go ahead as scheduled in August but with zero spectators. And the TV soap ‘Bold and the Beautiful’, which will begin shooting on Wednesday. Not getting back on track: airlines—many of whom will no longer serve alcohol, even on long-haul flights.
A recipe for Tik Tok success
Gushing over President Xi will get you mucho love on Tik Tok. One Texas songwriter’s follower account skyrocketed from 2,000 to 90,000 in just one month. The reason: he made an adoring vid that called Xi ‘my president’. The company called the idea of rewarding pro-China content “ridiculous”—but that hasn’t stopped hordes of users to make fawning vids in hopes of getting followers. (Wall Street Journal)