Highlights: Pune's Covid-19 tally crosses 130k; 2,724 new cases reported

Pune's coronavirus tally reached 1,32,293 on Wednesday after 2,724 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, a health official said. The death toll reached 3,290 with 90 more patients succumbing to the infection and 1,089 patients were discharged from hospitals, he added, reports PTI.

As many as 176 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Himachal Pradesh, taking the total number of cases in the state to 4,412. This is the second highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases in the state. On August 13, the state registered its highest single-day spike of 180 cases, reports PTI.

Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that Bangladesh will be a priority recipient for the Covid-19 vaccine developed in India. Dhaka today said it is ready to hold trials of the potential Covid-19 vaccines being developed by India, reports ANI.

The number of people in Florida confirmed to have died from Covid-19 surpassed 10,000 on Wednesday, as teachers and state officials argued in court over whether brick-and-mortar schools should be forced to reopen this month. Florida reported 174 deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total number of deaths for residents and non-residents to at least 10,067, the fifth highest in the United States, reports AP.

Haryana recorded its highest jump of 994 novel coronavirus cases, taking the tally near the 50,000 mark on Wednesday, while the toll rose to 567 with 10 more deaths, the health department said. It was for the third straight day that the state had a record spike in cases, reports PTI.

Uttar Pradesh minister Atul Garg's condition is stable and he is recuperating well from coronavirus, hospital officials said on Wednesday. The minister of state for health and family welfare was admitted to the private Yashoda Superspeciality Hospital, Kaushambi in Ghazibad, after he said he has tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, reports PTI.

Gujarat's Covid-19 tally rose to 82,087 with the addition of 1,145 new cases on Wednesday, while 17 more patients succumbed to the infection, the state health department said. With 17 fatalities, the state's death toll rose to 2,839, it said, reports PTI.

Total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bengal reached 1,25,922 after 3,169 new cases and 53 deaths were reported today. The death toll has reached 2,581 while active cases stand at 27,678, reports ANI.

West Bengal reports 3,169 new #COVID19 cases and 53 deaths today. The total number of cases rises to 1,25,922 and the death toll stands at 2,581. There are 27,678 active cases: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/w5UqcIDeIY

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2020

As many as 8,642 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Karnataka, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,49,590 which includes 81,097 active cases, 1,64,150 discharges and 4,327 deaths, reports ANI.

8,642 new #COVID19 cases (including 2,804 cases from Bengaluru Urban), 7,201 discharges and 126 deaths reported in Karnataka today. The total number of cases rises to 2,49,590 including 81,097 active cases, 1,64,150 discharges and 4,327 deaths: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/8DbPCyb8ZE

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2020

Maharashtra registered its highest ever single-day spike of 13,165 Covid-19 cases. The state's tally has now reached 628,642. 346 fresh deaths have taken the toll to over 21,000.

Wall Street stocks were mixed early Wednesday following the prior session's records, while big-box retailer Target surged after announcing strong results. A day after hitting its first record since February, the broad-based S&P 500 edged up 0.1 percent to 3,392.77, reports AFP.

The European Commission will reroute 53 million euros earmarked for Belarus away from the government and towards civil society, victims of the state crackdown on protesters and the country's fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the bloc's executive arm, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

Forty-three people, including 18 jail inmates, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday, an official said. The fresh patients included six bank employees. According to the official, the number of active cases in the district now stands at 336, reports PTI.

The number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai's slum-dominated Dharavi area rose to 2,680 on Wednesday with four new patients coming to light, said a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official. The area, considered to be Asia's largest slum, reported a rise of four cases on the third consecutive day, reports PTI.

Delhi's Covid-19 tally climbed to 1,56,139 after nearly 1,400 cases were reported in the last 24 hours. 1,320 fresh recoveries have taken the total recovered cases to 1,40,767 and the death toll stands at 4,235, reports ANI.

Delhi reports 1,398 new #COVID19 cases, 1,320 recoveries and 9 deaths over the last 24 hours.

Total number of cases now at 1,56,139 including 1,40,767
dischraged/recovered/migrated patients, 11,137 active cases and 4,235 deaths. pic.twitter.com/bMfVnTKXZL

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2020