The Indian pandemic: an update

Total number of cases: 456,183. Total number of deaths: 14,476. Total recoveries: 258,684. Among the worst-hit countries, we have the fastest growing number of cases. Karnataka is mulling a new lockdown in response to a spike. The state has now reported 100-plus cases for three days in a row.

More testing: Meanwhile, the medical authorities now plan to test everyone displaying symptoms across the country. Until now, it was restricted to symptomatic individuals in hotspots and hospitals, and contacts of confirmed cases.

Adjusting the death rate: A new study out of Tamil Nadu suggests that our death rate—number of deaths as a percent of total cases—is far higher than believed. The reason: “[T]he death reported today was due to an infection that began 4 weeks back. Therefore, they say, to understand the true virulence of the disease, we need to divide the deaths with cases 4 weeks back.” Using that method, our fatality rate would jump from 3.22% to 9.9%. An “adjusted” rate also allows us to respond faster to sudden surges.

Air India in trouble: The airline has been flying special flights to evacuate Indians stuck in other parts of the world. US authorities say that it has also been using these flights to make a quick buck—by selling tickets to the aam janta. This violates the mutual ban on commercial flights between the countries. The result: “closer scrutiny” of those Vande Bharat trips to the US. New Delhi says it is now considering opening up the borders to US airlines.

Baba Ramdev in trouble: The baba grandly announced the release of a “plant-based” cure for Corona called Coronil: “We’ve prepared the first ayurvedic trial-based medicine for Covid-19. We conducted a clinical study and found 69% of the patients recovered in three days, 100% recovered in seven days.” What he failed to mention: 100% of the participants had mild or zero symptoms. To its credit, the much-maligned Ayush Ministry has told the Baba to cease and desist.

A must read: A Mint deep dive shows that the pandemic has drained state revenues, and they are “nearly broke.” Example: “In mid-April, less than three weeks into the nationwide lockdown, Karnataka said the state had cash reserves for a maximum of 45 days.”

China vs India: An agreement to disagree?

• Top level commanders held a 10-hour meeting on the border. Indian “sources” version of the outcome: a “mutual consensus to disengage.” 
• Also: “Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both the sides.”
• The Chinese Foreign Ministry version: :”[T]he two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the outstanding issues and agreed to take necessary measures to cool down the situation.” 
• The spokesperson flatly refused to comment on the prospect of disengagement. The Telegraph has more.
• Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar—who is in Moscow at a tripartite meeting that includes China—pointedly declared: “Respecting international law, recognising the legitimate interests of partners, supporting multilateralism and promoting common good are the only ways of building a durable world order.” 
• His counterpart’s response: the three countries should “properly handle the sensitive factors in bilateral relations and maintain the overall situation of mutual relations.” 
• On a related note: India is however getting super-tough with Pakistan. It has asked Islamabad to reduce the staff of its High Commission in New Delhi by 50%—and plans to do the same at its own mission in Islamabad. 
• The trigger: the abduction of two Indian embassy staffers in Islamabad—which we explained here.

Djokovic has tested positive…

Surprising nobody! He is now the fourth person to contract Covid at a superspreader event organized by the tennis player himself—an exhibition tournament in Croatia. Three other players at the same event have also tested positive: Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki. Djokovic has previously declared that he will not take a vaccine—even if it is available—in order to compete. His statement:

“Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with. I am hoping things will ease with time so we can all resume lives the way they were… I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyone's health situation and that everyone will be fine."

Pure mayhem in Puri

The Supreme Court first banned the annual Rath Yatra, and then changed its mind—but stipulated the need for strict social distancing. The event went kinda like this… 

World’s fastest computer is not an IBM…

But a Japanese machine called Fugaku. It beat the current record holder—IBM’s Summit—by carrying out 2.8 times more calculations per second. Fugaku is already working on the frontlines of the pandemic by simulating how droplets spread in office spaces with partitions installed or in packed trains with the windows open. (BBC News)

Cheating Netflix can be hazardous for you

A newly released ‘top ten’ list by McAfee India rated which illegal downloads posed the greatest risk to your computer. The #1 TV series: Netflix series 'Delhi Crime’. The #1 movie: 'Mardaani 2’, currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Other series on the list: ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, ‘Panchayat’, ‘Akoori’, ‘Fauda’, ‘Ghoul’, ‘Mindhunter’, ‘Narcos’, ‘Devlok’ and ‘Lost’. In related news: Your Netflix viewing is back to normal. Streaming platforms around the world had reduced the video quality of their content to ease the burden on broadband. That lockdown measure has now ended.

Times of India hits new low

The newspaper published one of its sensationalist crime stories—this one of a man who killed his estranged wife, mother-in-law and himself. And its staff blithely scraped a photo of the tragic couple from their Facebook page—printing it both on their website and in print. Then this happened. (h/t Arun Bothra)