scorecardresearch
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
Advertisement

Coronavirus India HIGHLIGHTS: Possibility of Covid-19 reinfection if antibodies reduce in five months, says ICMR

With 46,790 new cases reported across the country, the coronavirus infection has now affected close to 7.6 million people in India. As many as 587 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 1,15,197.

By: Express Web Desk
New Delhi | Updated: October 21, 2020 09:41 IST
Delhi: Over 400 Covid-19 deaths in a week, pollution adds to the worryThere are 39,795 active cases in the city, out of which 25,321 are under home isolation and 8,180 admitted to hospitals. (Express file photo by Amit Mehra)

The Health Ministry in its briefing on Tuesday said that India has the largest number of COVID-19 recovered cases in the world. The ministry added that while many countries have reported a surge, India has recorded 310 cases per million in the last seven days, which is among the lowest globally. Six states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal – account for 64% of the country’s total active cases. ICMR director-general Balram Bhargava said that there is a possibility of reinfection if antibodies reduce in any person in five months. “That is why it is important to wear masks and take precautions even if one was infected earlier”, he added.

In his seventh address to the nation since the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said the lockdown might have been lifted in the country but the “virus is still out there”. “In this festive season, markets are bright again but we need to remember that the lockdown might have ended but Covid-19 still persists. With efforts of every Indian over last 7-8 months, India is in a stable situation we must not let it deteriorate,” PM Modi said.

Meanwhile, Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the national transporter will allow women to travel on suburban trains in Mumbai from October 21 between 11 am to 3 pm and after 7 pm. “We were always ready and with the receipt of letter from Maharashtra Govt today, we have allowed this travel,” Goyal said in a tweet. Railway officials said that before the lockdown, 24 lakh women commuters used the suburban railway system daily. Suburban train services were shut down on March 23. Partial resumption of services was announced on June 15. However, only those deemed to be essential service providers are allowed to board these trains after being allotted a special pass.

With 46,790 new cases reported across the country, the coronavirus infection has now affected close to 7.6 million people in India. As many as 587 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 1,15,197. Of the 75,97,063 cases, 7,48, 538 cases are still active, while recoveries stand at 66,33,328. It was in July when India had reported a spike of 48,513 single-day coronavirus cases. The infections in India have increased since then, going up to over 97,000 one-day cases in September.

Live Blog

Read coromavirus highlights from across India

22:20 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Centre considering removing plasma therapy from COVID-19 clinical management protocol

The Centre is considering to remove convalescent plasma therapy from the national clinical management protocol for COVID-19, a top ICMR official said on Tuesday. Presently, the use of off-label convalescent plasma for treating COVID-19 patients in the moderate stage of the illness is allowed under “investigational therapies”.

However, a randomised controlled trial, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on 464 patients in 39 hospitals in 25 districts across 14 states and UTs has shown that plasma therapy does not reduce mortality or prevent progression of COVID-19 from moderate to severe.

At a press conference, ICMR Director General Balaram Bhargava said, “We have had discussions in the national taskforce and we are in discussion with the joint monitoring group that this (convalescent plasma therapy) may be deleted from the national guidelines. The discussion is ongoing and more or less we are reaching towards that.”

22:11 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Safety, well-being of all Indians priority of Modi govt: Amit Shah

Asserting that security and well-being of Indians was a top priority for the Modi government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asked everyone to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal on COVID-19, saying only a united and determined India can overcome this pandemic crisis.

Shah's appeal came soon after the Prime Minister, in an address to the nation, asked people to follow the COVID-19 guidelines, saying this is not the time to be careless as the virus is still around and even a small negligence can dampen the festive spirit. "Safety and well-being of Indians has been a top priority for the Modi government. And saving lives of the citizens in this battle against coronavirus has been a prime responsibility of the Modi government. In his address to the nation today, Prime Minister Modi has reiterated this resolve," Shah tweeted in Hindi.

22:10 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Mumbai records 1,090 new coronavirus cases, lowest this month

Mumbai reported 1,090 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, taking the tally of cases to 2,44,262, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The death toll in the city due to COVID-19 reached 9,821 with 45 fresh fatalities. Mumbai has 18,444 active COVID-19 cases at present, the BMC said. Tuesday's spike in the cases was lowest so far this month, data showed. On Monday, the city had recorded 1,233 new cases. So far 13.74 lakh coronavirus tests have been conducted in the city.

21:50 (IST)20 Oct 2020
City of London lays out reinvention roadmap to bounce back from COVID-19

The City of London, or the financial hub of the UK capital, on Tuesday set out its vision for reinvention to bounce back stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. A new report published by the City of London Corporation, London Recharged: Our vision for London in 2025', sets out detailed recommendations to maintain its position as a world-leading business hub and aid the City's recovery and enhance its long-term competitiveness by focusing on innovation, collaboration, inclusivity and sustainability. "The capital's success throughout history has been a story of constant reinvention. It is more important than ever that London adapts quickly to today's challenges so that it remains a place where people want to work, live and visit tomorrow, said William Russell, the 692nd Lord Mayor of the City of London. This report sets out detailed measures that can help the capital thrive and evolve as we get through the current pandemic. A vibrant London will help to drive our recovery forwards as we work with the rest of the UK," he said.

20:55 (IST)20 Oct 2020
41 more COVID deaths take Delhi's toll to 6,081; infection tally 3.36 lakh

The national capital recorded 41 COVID-19 fatalities on Tuesday taking the death toll to 6,081, while 3,579 fresh cases took the infection tally to over 3.36 lakh, authorities said. These fresh cases were detected due to the 56,593 tests conducted the previous day, according to the health bulletin shared by the Delhi Chief Minister's Office on its Twitter handle. Forty-one more fatalities have been recorded, taking the death toll to 6,081, according to the latest bulletin. The tally of active cases on Tuesday rose to 23,922 from 22,570 the previous day. The total number of cases has climbed to 3,36,750, the bulletin added.

20:54 (IST)20 Oct 2020
101 cops succumbed to COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh so far: DGP

Over a 100 police personnel have succumbed to coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh so far, Director General of Police D G Sawang said here on Tuesday. In all 13,229 personnel had been affected by COVID-19 so far and of them 101 died, he said on the eve of Police Commemoration Day. The DGP said 3,780 personnel with moderate risk and 1,334 with high risk were kept under watch with the help of Unit Medical Officers. All the personnel who have crossed 50 and 55 years of age and suffering from co-morbidities were advised to either work from home or kept on indoor, (police) station duties, he added.

20:15 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Tamil Nadu COVID-19 tally inches towards 7 lakh; logs 3,094 new cases

Tamil Nadu on Tuesday recorded a further dip in the number of COVID-19 cases with 3,094 people testing positive for the virus, pushing the tally to 6,94,030. As many as 50 people have succumbed to the virus taking the death toll to 10,741, a bulletin issued by the health department said. The total number of recoveries continued to outnumber new infections with 4,403 people getting discharged, aggregating to 6,46,555. Active cases including those in isolation were at 36,734. Testing of samples on Tuesday stood at 80,371 cumulatively taking the tally to 91,12,067 specimens being examined till date, the bulletin said.

19:42 (IST)20 Oct 2020
No paucity, India in 'extremely comfortable position' in oxygen supply: Health Ministry

There has been no scarcity of medical oxygen in the last 10 months as daily production capacity was enhanced to 6,862 metric tonnes by September and projected to further increase to 7,191 metric tonnes by the end of October, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. At a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the Centre, as a part of proactive interventions, has begun the process of installing oxygen generation plants in 246 hospitals 18 states and union territories in the first phase, out of which 67 were at various stages of completion.

In the second phase, such plants would be installed in 150 more hospitals across 30 states and UTs, he said while stressing that India was in a "comfortable position" in terms of oxygen availability. "There has been no shortage of oxygen in the last 10 months. There is no paucity at present also. We are in an extremely comfortable position," Bhushan added.

19:12 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Heathrow Airport begins rapid Covid-19 tests for flyers out of UK

Heathrow Airport in London, one of the world's largest aviation hubs, on Tuesday launched new pre-departure rapid COVID-19 testing facilities for travellers flying out of the UK. The private test costs 80 pounds and aims to provide departing passengers with their results in around 60 minutes.

The airport said its new test-on-departure process is aimed at helping passengers leaving the UK to meet requirements of governments worldwide alongside reassuring travellers that everyone who has boarded their plane will have only been allowed to do so by showing a negative test result.

"Many other countries are already using testing to keep their borders safe while restarting trade and travel. These facilities will make it easier for passengers going to those countries to get a test and have the potential to provide a service for arriving passengers," said Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye.

18:43 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Latest updates on Covid-19 from around the world

  • 46,790 new cases, 587 deaths reported in India; lowest Covid count in three months
  • Possibility of Covid-19 reinfection if antibodies reduce in five months, says ICMR
  • Six states account for 64% of the country's total active cases: Health Ministry
  • COVID-19 case fatality rate declines from 1.77% to 1.52%
  • Women allowed to travel in local trains from October 21 in Maharashtra
  • Turkey's daily COVID-19 patients top 2,000, at early-May levels
  • California says it will independently review coronavirus vaccine
  • Violations of virus restrictions blamed for Pakistan death rise
  • UK sets deadline for Manchester to accept virus restrictions
  • Argentina passes 1 million cases as virus hits Latin America

18:41 (IST)20 Oct 2020
‘It’s festival time, even small negligence can bring us grief’: Top quotes from PM Modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation Tuesday urging people to wear masks and be more careful, especially with festivities around the corner. PM Modi warned that while the lockdown may have been lifted in the country, the “virus is still out there”. 

“In this festive season, markets are bright again but we need to remember that the lockdown might have ended but Covid-19 still persists. With efforts of every Indian over last 7-8 months, India is in a stable situation we must not let it deteriorate,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

“Many people have stopped taking precautions now. This is not right. If you are careless, walking out without a mask, then you are putting yourself, your family, your family’s children, the elderly in as much trouble,” he added.

18:22 (IST)20 Oct 2020
PM Modi warns against complacency as Covid cases decline in the country

PM Modi concludes his address to the nation. In his short speech, the PM warned against complacency as Covid cases decline in the country, and asked citizens to be careful in the festive period. "Jab tak davai nahi, tab tak dhilayi nahi."

18:16 (IST)20 Oct 2020
PM Modi quotes Ramcharitmaanas, Kabir to drive home message

PM Modi quotes Kabir, says the poet had said one should not rest till crops are brought home from the field. Similarly, we should not relax till Covid is brought under control. PM also quoted Ramcharitmaanas as saying an enemy, a mistake and an ailment should never be underestimated. Hence, we too should not underestimate Covid threat.

18:12 (IST)20 Oct 2020
PM Modi: India's death rate at per million population is 83

'In India, the death rate at per million population is 83. On the contrary, in several countries such as US, UK and Brazil, the number is over 600. India has been successful in saving lives of its citizens better than more prosperous countries', Prime Minister Modi said in his address to the nation. He also added, “In this festive season, markets are bright again but we need to remember that the lockdown might have ended but Covid-19 still persists. With efforts of every Indian over last 7-8 months, India is in a stable situation we must not let it deteriorate.'

18:06 (IST)20 Oct 2020
‘Lockdown may have been over, but virus is still there': PM Modi

Addressing the nation over Covid-19 crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said that the lockdown may have been lifted in the country but warned saying that the “virus is still out there”.

17:47 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Delhi: Rise in home isolation cases again; pollution, festive season could be factors, say experts

The number of COVID-19 patients under home isolation in Delhi has steadily increased by a margin of 1,804 in the last six days, with experts saying that opening of cinema halls, pollution and greater public activity in the festive season could be the possible factors behind it. On October 18, the number of people under home quarantine stood at 13,742 with 2,770 containment zones in the city. On Monday, the count rose to 14,164 and 2782 respectively, according to official data.

The national capital recorded 31 COVID-19 fatalities on Monday, taking the death toll to 6,040, while 2,154 fresh cases took the infection tally to over 3.33 lakh. After showing a gradual decline since September 22, except on two days, the number of patients under home quarantine had again risen on October 1, the count being 15,899. However, from October 2-13 the cases of home isolation gradually dipped, except on two days when it registered a minimal rise. On October 2 the count was 15,852, which came down to 12,176 on October 13, as per official data. (PTI)

17:21 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Women allowed to travel in local trains from October 21 in Maharashtra

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the national transporter will allow women to travel on suburban trains in Mumbai from October 21 between 11 am to 3 pm and after 7 pm. "I am happy to announce that Railways will allow women to travel on suburban trains from 21 Oct between 11 am to 3 pm & after 7 pm. We were always ready and with the receipt of letter from Maharashtra Govt today, we have allowed this travel," Goyal said in a tweet.

16:58 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Possibility of Covid-19 reinfection if antibodies reduce in five months, says ICMR

"If antibodies reduce in any person in five months, then there is a possibility of reinfection. That is why it is important to wear mask and take precautions even if one was infected earlier", said ICMR's Balram Bhargava Tuesday.

16:46 (IST)20 Oct 2020
WHO solidarity trial is a 30-country trial in which India has been a participant: ICMR

WHO solidarity trial is a 30-country trial in which India has been a participant and interim results of this have been put on the website, which has not yet been peer-reviewed. However, we find that these drugs are not performing as good as it was expected, said ICMR's Balram Bhargava.

16:23 (IST)20 Oct 2020
New COVID-19 cases reported in last 24 hours below 50,000 after 84 days: Health Ministry

COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined from 1.77 per cent on September 1 to 1.52 per cent as on date, said Health Ministry in its briefing on Tuesday. New COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours were below 50,000 after a gap of 84 days, the Health Ministry added. For the first time since July end, India recorded less than 50,000 new infections of novel coronavirus on Monday. The 47,000 cases detected on Monday was the lowest in nearly three months.

16:21 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Six states account for 64% of the country's total active cases: Health Ministry

Six states - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal - account for 64% of the country's total active cases, said Health Ministry Tuesday. The ministry added that over 9.6 crore COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far; cumulative, weekly, daily positivity rates are 7.9 per cent, 6 per cent, 4.5 per cent respectively.

16:19 (IST)20 Oct 2020
India has recorded 310 cases per million in last seven days, which is among the lowest globally: Health Ministry

'We have the largest number of COVID19 recovered cases in the world and we stand second in terms of number of tests conducted in any country,' said Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry. He further added that while many countries have reported a surge, India has recorded 310 cases per million in the last seven days, which is among the lowest globally.

16:18 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Virus violations blamed for Pakistan death rise

A Cabinet minister says Pakistan has witnessed a 140% increase in fatalities from COVID-19 in recent weeks due to widespread violations of social distancing rules. Asad Umar, the planning and development minister who oversees Pakistan's response to coronavirus, warned on Twitter "we will lose both lives and livelihoods if people did not adhere to social distancing rules."

His comments on Tuesday came shortly after the military-backed Command and Operations Centre reported 14 deaths and 625 new cases in the past 24 hours. Prime Minister Imran Khan had warned on Monday that Pakistan's big cities could face a second wave of COVID-19 in the coming weeks because of increasing pollution in winter. Pakistan has reported 324,084 cases, including 6,673 COVID-19 deaths. (AP)

15:52 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Pain in ears while wearing masks? This Bengal girl has a solution

A class XII student from West Bengal’s Purba (East) Bardhaman district has won a national science competition award for her innovative ‘ear pressure reduction tool’ that she has designed keeping frontline Covid-19 workers in mind.

Digantika Bose of Vidyasagar Smriti Vidyamandir Branch 2 in Memari is among the nine children who received the Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Awards 2020.

“Health workers, people and many others have to wear face masks for long periods of time This leads to constant pressure and pain in the ears. To solve this problem, I designed these bands with the help of discarded plastic or flexible board,” the 17-year-old said.

15:23 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Israel to start human trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate 'Brilife' by Oct-end

The human trial of Israel's COVID-19 vaccine candidate 'Brilife' will begin by the end of this month, with the Defence Minister terming it a "very significant moment" and "source of national pride" that could bring great news for the country and the world. The prospective vaccine is being developed by the Israel Institute of Biological Research (IIBR) that was established in 1952 as part of the Israel Defence Forces' Science Corps, and later became a civilian organisation. Israel had claimed in August that it already has the vaccine against the coronavirus "in hand" but it has to go through regulatory processes that would begin with human trials following the autumn holidays.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Monday visited the IIBR and described the process of beginning human trials as a "very significant moment" and "source of national pride" that can bring great news for Israel and the rest of the world. He was briefed on relevant details related to the vaccine's production and the anticipated timetable. (PTI)

15:02 (IST)20 Oct 2020
California says it will independently review coronavirus vaccine

A California panel of experts will independently review the safety of new coronavirus vaccines and initial plans for distribution, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday.

The 11-person panel specializing in topics such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and infectious disease will review any vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration before it is distributed to state residents, Newsom told a news conference. “These are top health experts that will independently review any FDA-approved vaccines,” he said. “We will do our own independently reviewed process with our world-class experts that just happen to live here in the state of California.”

The U.S. government’s efforts to speed development of a COVID-19 vaccine - and promises by U.S. President Donald Trump that one could be available prior to the Nov. 3 presidential election - has led to concerns of political interference in the regulatory process at the expense of safety. The FDA has vowed to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines before approving them.

New York will conduct a similar review of federally approved vaccines, Governor Andrew Cuomo said last month.

The California panel will review the vaccine’s safety regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, Newsom said. (Reuters)

14:49 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Belgium may need to return to full COVID lockdown: Expert

Belgium could be returning to full lockdown if there is no reversal of the surge in COVID-19 infections and hospital admissions, a senior Belgian virologist said in a newspaper interview on Tuesday."We would then have to consider even more restrictive measures, which could resemble a lockdown like the one imposed in March and April," Yves Van Laethem told La Derniere Heure. Van Laethem, who addresses national news conferences on the COVID-19 situation, said only an eventual vaccine or effective treatment would overcome the pandemic. As cases surge again in Europe, Ireland imposed some of Europe's toughest COVID-19 constraints on Monday, while Wales is set to begin a two-week "fire-break" lockdown on Friday.

14:32 (IST)20 Oct 2020
47,000 new cases on Monday, lowest since July

The sharp drops in daily numbers on Mondays are nothing unusual. They have become a familiar pattern now, because of the low testing on Sunday. But even then, the fall in the detection of new cases this week is much greater than expected. This Sunday, 8.59 lakh tests were conducted, against the normal range of 10 to 11 lakh tests every day. When between eight and nine lakh tests per day was the norm, India was detecting well over 60,000 cases.

The continuous decline in the number of new cases has meant that, after two and half months, India has stopped reporting the highest number of cases in the world. For the last three days, the United States, which is in the midst of a resurgence, has reported more new infections than India. There is a resurgence of cases in several countries of Europe as well.

14:07 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Turkey's daily COVID-19 patients top 2,000, at early-May levels

Turkey's daily number of new coronavirus cases surpassed 2,000 on Monday, reaching levels last seen in early May when restrictions on businesses and households were in place. Data from the Health Ministry showed another 2,026 people with COVID-19 symptoms had been diagnosed, as Ankara continues to report only symptomatic cases. The ministry changed the wording on its daily reports from "cases" to "patients" on July 29. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the daily number includes only those who show symptoms.The ministry had said earlier that 1,958 patients were diagnosed on Monday but later updated the data. There were 2,253 cases on May 6. The total number of patients stood at 349,519 as of Monday, the data showed

13:26 (IST)20 Oct 2020
PM Narendra Modi to address nation at 6 pm today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation today. Taking to Twitter, the prime minister wrote, "Will be sharing a message with my fellow citizens at 6 PM this evening." While the prime minister has not specified what his address will be about, it is likely that he will speak about the coronavirus situation in the country.

12:32 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Kerala nursing officer suspended after audio clip points to ‘negligence behind deaths’

A nursing officer at a government medical college in Kochi has been suspended after an audio clip — sent by the officer to her colleagues ahead of the Central team’s visit — revealed that a patient died gasping for oxygen and several others could have been killed due to negligence inside the Covid ward of the hospital.

After the audio clip was circulated on social media, the family of the patient, T K Haris, approached the police seeking action against alleged negligence that led to the patient’s death on July 30. The medical education director probed the incident at the behest of Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja, and suspended nursing officer Jalaja Devi.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the issue is a “serious one” and “would dent the image of the state’s health sector”.

12:03 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Schools open in Noida but Covid fear and wary parents mean thin attendance on Day 1

Most private schools in Noida and Greater Noida remained shut on Monday as parents decided not to send children to attend classes despite comprehensive Covid protocols in place. A few private schools, which opened Monday, reported low turnout. Schools in Noida and Greater Noida had shut in March.

As part of Covid measures in schools, security guards have been positioned at the entrance of each gate to check temperature of students and sanitise their hands. Classes for students in 9th and 10th are being held from 8-11 am while for 11th and 12th students, classes are held from 12-3 pm.

Meanwhile, we also have a quixplained on the sops for reopening schools. So, what changes for students? And for staff? What has the Centre said on attendance for students? What about assessments? Here is the standard operating procedure, put out by the Education Ministry.

11:16 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Global cases top 40.2 million: Covid-19 news from across the world

  • Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the US government could authorize emergency use of its Covid-19 vaccine in December if it gets positive interim results in November from a large clinical trial, Wall Street Journal reported.
  • Chief Executive Carrie Lam said “conditions” weren’t right for Hong Kong to further relax social distancing measures, and that authorities would brief regarding the latest on the restrictions later Tuesday.
  • The governments of Japan and China will agree to resume business travel between the countries as soon as this week, Yomiuri reports, citing an unidentified Japanese government official.
  • Non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in Ireland will close their doors for at least six weeks, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said. Travel will be further restricted, with people told to stay within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from home.
  • Officials at the World Health Organization reiterated the importance of adhering to quarantine rules for those who test positive and those who have come in contact with a positive case, as Europe faces a surge in numbers.
  • The Philippines shortened curfew hours in Manila and eased the stay-at-home order to further reopen its economy.
The Wisconsin National Guard test residents for Covid-19 in Milwaukee (Bloomberg)

10:43 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Delhi Metro: 144 passengers fined in last 6 days for violating COVID-19 norms

The Delhi Police has issued 144 challans to metro passengers for violating COVID-19 guidelines in the last six days, officials said on Tuesday. The police personnel at metro stations have been conducting a drive to check the violation of COVID-19 guidelines. Passengers who were not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing were fined, they said. In the last six days, a total of 3,691 trains were checked and 144 challans issued to passengers for violating the guidelines to control the pandemic, said Jitendra Mani, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Metro). 

10:12 (IST)20 Oct 2020
46,790 new cases, 587 deaths reported in India

With 46,790 new cases reported across the country, the coronavirus infection has now affected close to 7.6 million people in India. As many as 587 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 1,15,197. Of the 75,97,063 cases, 7,48, 538 cases are still active, while recoveries stand at 66,33,328. The coronavirus epidemic in India may have already peaked and, if the usage of masks and physical distancing measures continue at the current level, the disease will likely “run its course” by February next year, a government-appointed committee of scientists has said.

09:31 (IST)20 Oct 2020
UK to start one-hour COVID-19 tests at airport: Report

Passengers travelling to Hong Kong and Italy from Britain’s Heathrow Airport will undergo a one-hour coronavirus test before flying out of the United Kingdom under plans to open up international travel, The Times reported on Tuesday. Rapid tests will be introduced from Tuesday at Heathrow Airport to allow travellers to enter countries where a negative COVID-19 test result is needed to skip quarantine, the newspaper said. Passengers require to book a test in advance at a cost of 80 pounds ($103), The Times said.

05:44 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Gujarat covid tally crosses 1.61 lakh: Lowest single-day surge recorded in 3 months

Recording the lowest single-day surge in nearly three months, Gujarat’s tally reached 1.61 lakh, while eight others succumbed to the disease across the state. Read More

05:27 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Active Covid cases up to 34,584 in West Bengal: Record 3,992 cases added, free fall in recovery rate continues

The decline in West Bengal’s Covid-19 recovery rate continued on Monday as the state registered a record increase in cases for the fifth straight day as 3,992 infections pushed up the case count to 3,25,028. The discharge rate, which at one point was nearing 88 per cent, is now down to 87.48 per cent. Read More

01:28 (IST)20 Oct 2020
With decline in Covid-19 patients, containment zones in PMC area down to 33

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) revised the number of containment zones on Monday. There are now 33 zones in the city after the civic administration deleted 33 zones from the previous list and added 11 new ones. Read More

00:40 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Pune: Higher severity lengthens post-Covid recovery time in some patients, say doctors

Patients of coronavirus infection (Covid-19) in the moderate to severe category are taking a longer time to recover. Complaints of post-Covid fatigue and anxiety are common among those who were in home quarantine or had mild symptoms, while patients who have had a longer hospital stay face other challenges like extended need for oxygen due to lung damage, and counselling. Read More

00:09 (IST)20 Oct 2020
Day after reporting 0 deaths, 8 lose their lives to Covid in Haryana

A day after Haryana reported zero deaths due to Covid-19, eight patients lost their lives to the novel virus in the last 24 hours, said the Monday health bulletin. The state reported 1,201 new cases while 1,160 patients recovered. The state’s Covid toll went up to 1,648 Monday evening. Read More

22:42 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Half of Indians may have had coronavirus by February, govt panel estimates

At least half of India’s 1.3 billion people are likely to have been infected with the new coronavirus by next February, helping slow the spread of the disease, a member of a federal government committee tasked with providing projections said on Monday. “Our mathematical model estimates that around 30% of the population is currently infected and it could go up to 50% by February,” Manindra Agrawal, a professor at the Indian Institute for Technology in Kanpur and a committee member, told Reuters.

The committee’s estimate for the current spread of the virus is much higher than the federal government’s serological surveys, which showed that only around 14 per cent of the population had been infected, as of September. But Agrawal said serological surveys might not be able to get sampling absolutely correct because of the sheer size of the population that they were surveying. (Reuters)

22:28 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Photo of goddess Durga reimagined as a doctor killing ‘coronasur’ goes viral

West Bengal is all set to celebrate the annual festival of Durga Puja despite the pandemic, and photos of an idol depicted as a doctor killing the ‘coronasur’ has taken social media by storm. The photos show goddess Durga, depicted as a doctor wearing a lab coat and equipped with a stethoscope, killing a coronavirus-shaped Mahisasur. Instead of the traditional trident, the goddess seen holding a giant syringe that is being used to kill the demon. The goddess’s four children have been depicted as other frontline Covid-warriors. While Ganesh has been depicted as a police officer, Lakshmi has been dressed as a nurse, Saraswati has been represented a teacher, Kartik has been portrayed as a cleaner. Read more here

22:16 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Gujarat made remarkable strides in COVID-19 management: Dr Harsh Vardhan

From being one of the states most severely affected by COVID-19 to having a recovery rate of 90.57 per cent which is higher than the national average, Gujarat has made remarkable strides, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday. He also congratulated the state for conducting 77,785 COVID-19 tests per million population against the country's average of 68,901.

Interacting with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitinbhai Patel along with district collectors and health officials of the state and the Centre, Vardhan reiterated that winter months and the long festive season could threaten the gains made against COVID-19.

"Active cases are currently around 7,72,000 which has been less than 10 lakh for close to a month. As many as 55,722 cases were reported in a day while 66,399 cases were discharged. Doubling time has been diluted to 86.3 days and the country will soon cross the figure of 10 crore cumulative tests," the health minister was quoted as saying in an official release. (PTI)

22:03 (IST)19 Oct 2020
No Durga Puja pandals in Delhi's CR Park this year

No Durga Puja pandals will be allowed to set up in Delhi's CR Park due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the puja in the main temple will be held with the entry of around 50 people, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Monday. The Greater Kailash legislator said the decision was taken in view of a huge number of senior citizen population in the area. However, Bharadwaj said the residents will do the traditional kalash pooja.

"Most of the population of CR Park and members of puja committees are senior citizens and it is important that they remain indoors and avoid contact with unknown people in pandals," the MLA said. "Only for religious reasons, a small kalash puja/ghat puja will be attended by 10-15 committee members. This will ensure continuity of puja by those Samitis," according to a statement issued by Bharadwaj.

21:56 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Purported audio clip of nurse on "medical negligence" goes viral; Kerala govt orders probe

A purported audio clip of a senior nursing staff narrating alleged negligence in connecting the ventilator 'leading' to the death of a COVID-19 patient at a state-run hospital in Kochi triggered an outrage, prompting the Kerala government to order a probe on Monday, reported news agency PTI. 

In the WhatsApp audio clip, allegedly sent to her fellow staff members at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kalamassery, the staff is heard saying that 'misplacement' of the ventilator tubes led to the death of the man on July 20 in the intensive care unit.

The family of the patient petitioned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking action while the hospital authorities dismissed as baseless the remarks in the audio clip which went viral on social media and demanded action against those who circulated it.

Vijayan said the government would look into the issue and assured necessary steps and Health Minister K K Shailaja directed the Medical Education Director to carry out a detailed inquiry and submit a report speedily. In a statement, the Health Minister's office said the nursing officer will be suspended pending enquiry.

21:45 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Chennai's new COVID-19 cases slides below 1,000 mark again

In welcome signs, the fresh and active COVID-19 cases continued to slide in Tamil Nadu with the state on Monday recording just above 3,500 infections and a little over 38,000 people remaining under treatment. The state capital too saw fresh cases falling below the 1,000 mark after a gap of 25 days. The 3,536 new infections on Monday took the state's COVID-19 tally to 6,90,936 while the death toll mounted to 10,691 with 49 more fatalities, the Health department said. The active cases stood at 38,093, reflecting the continuing trend of robust recoveries in the state.

21:09 (IST)19 Oct 2020
5,984 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, 15,069 recover

Maharashtra on Monday recorded 5,984 new coronavirus cases, the lowest spike in the last several weeks, which took its caseload to 16,01,365, a health official said. 125 fatalities took the COVID-19 death toll in the state to 42,240, he added. On the other hand, 15,069 patients were discharged during the day, taking the number of recoveries in the state to 13,84,879. There are 1,73,759active cases. 81,85,778 people have been tested so far.

19:53 (IST)19 Oct 2020
31 more fatalities take Delhi's COVID-19 death toll to 6,040; infection tally 3.33 lakh

The national capital recorded 31 more fatalities on Monday, taking the COVID-19 death toll to 6,040, while 2,154 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to over 3.33 lakh, authorities said. The relatively low number of fresh cases came out of the 36,445 tests conducted the previous day. Thirty-one more fatalities have been recorded, taking the death toll to 6,040, the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department said. The tally of active cases on Monday dropped slightly to 22,570 from 23,292 the previous day. The total number of cases has climbed to 3,33,171, the bulletin added. (PTI)

18:38 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Israeli hospital hosts wedding of COVID-19 patient's son

An Israeli man hospitalized with the coronavirus has been granted the rare chance to take part in his son's wedding after the Jerusalem hospital hosted the ceremony on its grounds, beneath the man's hospital room window. A video of Sunday's event by the Hadassah Medical Center showed the bride, escorted by two women holding candles, walking to a traditional wedding canopy set up on the hospital campus.

As a live singer crooned Hebrew music, the couple, from an ultra-Orthodox family in the southern Israeli city of Arad, was surrounded by their guests, a handful of ultra-Orthodox men wearing masks, as well as several photographers. Looking on from a window above the ceremony was the groom's father, 56, who has been hospitalised in serious condition with COVID-19 since September, according to the hospital. In the video, he is seen with an oxygen mask on his face, lying in a hospital bed near the window, which was draped with colorful balloons. (AP)

17:35 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Meet the 14-year-old Indian-American, whose discovery may help in the treatment of Covid-19

As the whole world eagerly awaits for a vaccine to offer protection against the novel coronavirus, a discovery by a 14-year-old Indian American teen might show a way forward. Anika Chebrolu, an eighth-grader from Frisco in Texas, has won the 3M Young Scientist Challenge which is regarded as the US’ premier middle school science competition, for her work that could provide a potential therapy to Covid-19. According to the 3M Challenge website, Chebrolu’s work uses an in-silico methodology to discover a lead molecule that can selectively bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Read more here

17:12 (IST)19 Oct 2020
'Silent' mutations that helped novel coronavirus thrive identified

Researchers have identified a number of 'silent' mutations in the roughly 30,000 letters of the novel coronavirus's genetic code that helped it thrive once it made the leap from bats and other wildlife to humans -- and possibly set the stage for the global pandemic. The subtle changes involved how the virus folded its RNA molecules or genetic material within human cells, according to the researchers.

The finding, published in the journal PeerJ, could lead to new molecular targets for treating or preventing COVID-19. The researchers used statistical methods to identify adaptive changes that arose in the SARS-CoV-2 genome in humans, but not in closely related coronaviruses found in bats and pangolins.

"We're trying to figure out what made this virus so unique," said Alejandro Berrio, a postdoctoral associate in biologist Greg Wray's lab at Duke University in the US. (PTI)

17:07 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Iran again breaks its single-day record for virus deaths

Iran recorded its worst day of new deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with 337 confirmed dead on Monday. The grim milestone represents a significant spike from the previous single-day death toll record of 279. The Health Ministry also announced 4,251 new infections, pushing the total count to 534,630.

Fatalities have soared in recent weeks, as authorities struggle to contain the virus's spread months into the pandemic. Health officials say the capital, Tehran, has run out of intensive care beds. The Islamic Republic has seen the worst outbreak in the Middle East with a death toll that topped 30,000 this week. The government has resisted a total lockdown to salvage its devastated economy, already weakened by unprecedented US sanctions. (AP)

16:05 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Nearly all Mideast economies hit by pandemic recession, says IMF

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed nearly all Mideast nations into the throes of an economic recession this year, yet some rebound is expected as all but two — Lebanon and Oman — are expected to see some level of economic growth next year, according to a report published on Monday by the International Monetary Fund.

The IMF projects the Lebanese economy will see one of the region's sharpest economic contractions this year at 25%. The pandemic has only pushed the country further to the brink after a wave of anti-government anger before the virus struck. Lebanese demonstrators were protesting government corruption, foreign exchange shortages, hyperinflation, constant electricity cuts and increasing poverty. The currency has dropped by 70% compared to the end of last year, with people struggling to afford basic goods. 

While Mideast nations have seen fewer confirmed cases and deaths from the virus than countries in Europe and the US, the region still faces challenges in containing the disease. "Risks of a worse-than-projected scenario loom large, particularly given recent surges in COVID-19 infections in many countries around the world that have reopened," the IMF warned.

16:03 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Six staffers of DCW's helpline test positive

Six employees of the Delhi Commission for Women's 181 helpline have tested positive for COVID-19, the women panel said Monday. The helpine operates from Naraina area where 36 counsellors work, news agency PTI reported quoting a statement by the commission. Two of the six employees who have tested COVID-19 positive are supervisors, while four are helpline counsellors, it said. All of them have been put under home isolation and the office has been thoroughly sanitised. 

DCW chief Swati Maliwal said, "We've attended lakhs of calls on our helpline in the last five years. Even during the lockdown, our team was constantly helping the people in need. Six of our employees have tested positive for COVID-19 so far but still, the work of the helpline hasn't suffered. Proper sanitisation and social distancing are being ensured."

During the lockdown, the helpline was functional 24x7 and there was also a spike in the number of calls received, the statement said. "Even in this challenging time, the helpline is working round the clock without failure. With the help of this helpline, the DCW has helped thousands of women seeking help in the cases of domestic violence, illicit sale of liquor, prostitution activities and many other crimes," it stated.

15:46 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal to be no-entry zones for revelers: Calcutta High Court

Amid fear of a surge in Covid-19 cases in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court on Monday said Durga Puja pandals would be no-entry zones for visitors. The High Court said revelers would not be allowed within a five-metre distance for small pandals and 10 metre for big pandals. Only organisers or committee members would be allowed inside the pandals, the HC ordered, limiting the number to 25 for big pandals and 15 for the smaller ones. The HC also asked each puja committee to submit a blueprint on crowd management.

The order comes days after the High Court directed Durga Puja organisers to spend 75 per cent of the Rs 50,000 grant given by the Mamata Banerjee government on the procurement of Covid-19 protection equipment like sanitisers and masks while the rest of the amount must be spent on strengthening public-police bonding.

15:23 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Gujarat govt to take everyone's opinion on reopening of schools

Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama on Monday said his department will seek everyone's opinion before taking a final decision on reopening schools in the state, news agency PTI reported. Talking to reporters in Gandhinagar, Chudasama indicated that schools cannot remain shut forever.

ma indicated that schools cannot remain shut forever. Schools and colleges have been closed in the state since the outbreak of COVID-19. Many educational institutions are conducting online classes and exams to continue with the academic session. "In the coming days, we will seek opinion and suggestions from parents, students, owners of schools, teachers and prominent educationists. The health department's opinion will be important in this regard," he added.

15:07 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Covid across the globe: Slovenia declares epidemic as virus cases rise

Slovenia has formally declared an epidemic of the coronavirus amid a major surge in infections. The 30-day period starting Monday allows the government to impose further restrictions to combat the outbreak. It was not immediately clear what the measures will be.

So far, Slovenia has tightened face mask rules, curbed the work of bars and restaurants and switched most schoolchildren and university students from classroom to online teaching. (AP)

15:02 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says Haj 2021 will depend on national, internation covid protocols

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that the decision on Haj 2021 will be taken after the Saudi government finalises the call on the pilgrimage, keeping in mind the national and international protocols against the novel coronavirus infection, news agency PTI reported. Chairing a review meeting in New Delhi, Naqvi said that the pilgrimage is scheduled for June-July 2021. He added that the Haj Committee of India as well as other Indian agencies will formally announce the application process and other related preparations for the pilgrimage after a decision is taken by the Saudi Arabian government.

14:53 (IST)19 Oct 2020
Eight members of Karnataka Dy CM's family test Covid positive

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol has said eight members of his family have contracted coronavirus including his son Dr Gopal Karjol, who is on ventilator for the past 23 days. In a long Twitter post, Karjol explained his inability to take up a long journey to physically monitor the flood situation in Bagalkote and Kalaburagi.

"My son Dr Gopal Karjol is on ventilator for the past 23 days (due to coronavirus). My wife recently came out of the hospital after recovering from the coronavirus infection. I too recovered from COVID after staying in the hospital for 19 days. In all, eight members of my family had contracted coronavirus," Karjol said in his post.

Coronavirus India Live Updates: Ramleela artists of Sector 17 ride bicycles to spread awareness to wear masks onthe road towards Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh on Sunday. (Express photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

Officials at the World Health Organization reiterated the importance of adhering to quarantine rules for those who test positive and those who have come in contact with a positive case, as Europe faces a surge in numbers. Globally, the infections have topped 40.2 million, with over 1.1 million deaths. Soaring cases in US battleground states pose a challenge for President Donald Trump two weeks before the election.

The reasons for the continuous decline in coronavirus infection numbers since last month have not been clear. The numbers have fallen sharply – even though travel restrictions have eased, economic and other activities have resumed and, to a large extent, normalcy has returned.

There has also been no reduction in the number of tests, nor has the disease prevalence in the population reached a stage where ‘herd immunity’ would have to be factored in. The use of face masks, and physical distancing are far from being universal.

The government-appointed scientific committee has not spelt out the possible reasons for the decline in coronavirus numbers. But two of its members offered insights into what could be happening.

“A recent case study of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu published in the journal Science a few weeks ago showed that almost 70 per cent of infected people were not passing the disease to others. The virus was spreading only through a small set of people who are referred to as super-spreaders,” Prof Manindra Agrawal, a member of the committee, told The Indian Express.

  • news-guard-logo
  • The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.
  • news-guard-logo-with-title
First uploaded on: 19-10-2020 at 09:59 IST
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
close