Coronavirus Highlights: Covaxin is India's indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine
Covaxin, India's indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine, may be cleared by the World Health Organisation as early as next week when the UN agency and an independent group of experts meet. This comes almost a week after WHO delayed the emergency use authorisation (EUA) for Covaxin as the global body sent more technical queries to its manufacturer, Bharat Biotech.
"WHO & an independent group of experts are scheduled to meet next week to carry out the risk/benefit assessment and come to a final decision whether to grant Emergency Use Listing to Covaxin," WHO tweeted on Tuesday.
Bharat Biotech "has been submitting data to the WHO on a rolling basis and submitted additional info at WHO's request on 27 September", another tweet read.
Meanwhile, India reported 18,833 cases in the last 24 hours, which is marginally higher than Tuesday's figure when the country reported the lowest single-day rise in Covid cases (18,346) since early March. The country also reported 278 deaths over the same period. The active cases declined to 2,46,687, the lowest in 203 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
UK Lifts Travel Advisory Against All But Essential Travel For 32 CountriesThe UK government's travel advisory warning against "all but essential travel" on public health grounds was updated on Wednesday to lift COVID-19 related restrictions for 32 countries, including Bangladesh and Malaysia.
India was not among the countries covered by this complete travel ban, which impacts travellers' ability to access travel insurance. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the change means people will be able to travel to a larger number of destinations with greater ease.
"These rule tweaks will make travelling more straightforward, supporting businesses and families right across Britain - and allow more of us to see friends and loved ones with greater peace of mind," said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
COVID-19 News Updates: Puducherry Congress MP tests positive for Covid-19
Congress Lok Sabha MP from Puducherry, V Vaithilingam was admitted to the state-run JIPMER on Wednesday after he tested positive for Covid-19, a senior official said.
Director of Health G Sriramulu told PTI that Vaithilingam, also a former Chief Minister of the Union Territory, had mild symptoms and there was nothing to worry.
COVID-19 News Updates: Bengaluru civic body issues strict Covid guidelines for Durga Puja
In a guideline issued by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for Durga Puja in Navratri, the municipal body has said the idol size shall not exceed four feet and there shall not be more than 50 people at a time during prayers.
The municipal body said only one idol of Goddess Durga should be installed per ward with the permission of the respective Joint Commissioner of the zone. The puja associations must strictly monitor and adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour.
The BBMP also prohibited the distribution of sweets, fruits and flowers. It further said the association shall issue invitation cards for guests with specific timing slots so as to not breach 100 numbers at a time.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Tamil Nadu logs 1,432 fresh COVID-19 cases, 25 deaths in past 24 hours
Tamil Nadu reported 1,432 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total caseload to 26,72,843 till date, while 25 deaths took the death count to 35,707.
Recoveries eclipsed new cases, with 1,519 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours. There are now 16,637 active infections in the state, a health department bulletin said.
COVID-19 News Updates: Dasara festival to be celebrated in Mangaluru as per Covid guidelines
Dakshina Kannada district administration has issued an order urging the public to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines during the celebration of Dasara Festival from October 7 to 16.
As per the order, more than 400 people cannot gather in the programmes. Social distancing should be strictly followed in the programmes connected with the celebrations.
Everyone, including the temple priests and staff of the temples, should adhere to the guidelines, the order said.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Mumbai reports 629 new Covid cases, highest daily spike since July 14Mumbai today reported 629 new Covid cases, the highest daily spike in the city since July 14, along with 7 related deaths. The active cases in the city stand at 4519, while the positivity rate is 1.58%.
Maharashtra on the whole reported 2,876 fresh cases and 90 deaths in the last 24 hours, with a 1.9% positivity rate. The state currently has 33,181 active cases.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Karnataka logs 523 new COVID-19 cases, 9 deathsKarnataka logged 523 fresh COVID-19 cases and nine deaths today, taking the total number of infections to 29,79,331 and the death count to 37,854.
621 people recovered from coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,29,629.
The total number of active cases in the state is 11,819.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Delhi records 26 fresh COVID-19 cases, zero deaths
Delhi reported 26 fresh COVID-19 cases today with a positivity rate of 0.04 per cent, according to the health bulletin issued by the city government.
The national capital recorded no coronavirus-related fatalities in the last 24 hours, the bulletin said.
Delhi has recorded only one death due to the infection in October so far. Last month, five people succumbed to the viral disease.
COVID-19 News Updates: West Bengal government issues Covid guidelines for Durga Puja
Coronavirus Live Updates: At current vaccination rate, 37% of India's population will be fully vaccinated by December 2021
Coronavirus Live Updates: Andhra Pradesh reports 800 fresh Covid cases, 9 deaths in past 24 hours
Coronavirus Live Updates: Ladakh reports 5 new Covid cases, no new deaths in 24 hours
Ladakh has recorded five fresh COVID-19 cases, and no new Covid-related deaths, officials said today.
The total Covid cases in the union territory stand at 20,830 while the overall recoveries in Ladakh went up to 20,661, they said. The number of active cases in the union territory reached 52.
Ladakh has registered 207 Covid-related deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.
Russia Reports More Than 900 Covid Deaths In 24 Hours For First TimeRussia on Wednesday reported more than 900 daily coronavirus deaths for the first time, as the country struggles with stubbornly high infection rates driven by the Delta variant and low vaccination rates.
A government tally recorded 929 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, Russia's highest daily virus death toll since the outbreak of the pandemic.
No Annual Durga Puja Carnival In Bengal For 2nd Year Over Covid The West Bengal government, for the second year in a row, has decided to cancel the annual Durga Puja carnival, which involves display of the city's top pandal themes before idol immersion, and urged the people of the state to strictly abide by COVID-19 protocols.
In an order issued recently, the state has made wearing of masks and carrying of hand sanitisers mandatory for all revellers, while also underlining that cultural programmes will not be allowed anywhere near the marquees.
Active COVID-19 Cases In India Lowest In 203 Days India added 18,833 new coronavirus infections taking the country's tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,38,71,881, while the active cases declined to 2,46,687, the lowest in 203 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The number of deaths climbed to 4,49,538 with 278 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections remained below 30,000 for the 12th straight day.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: 255 New COVID-19 Cases In Thane, 4 Deaths
Thane has reported 255 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 5,60,622 on Wednesday. Besides these new cases added on Tuesday, four people also died of the viral infection, which pushed the fatality count in the district to 11,424. The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 2.03 per cent.
Kerala Issues Guidelines To Reopen Schools From November 1
Kerala Health Minister Veena George and Minister for Public Education V Sivankutty on Tuesday handed over the guidelines to the Cheif Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the reopening of school from November 1 in Kerala amid COVID-19.
The freshly issued guidelines stated that the schools would be reopened in hybrid mode. The current online classes would continue for children who are unable to reach school directly.
The guideline stated that in the first phase, the children in each class would be divided into batches to limit the number of children in classes. However, the guidelines stated that such batch adjustment is not mandatory in schools with less number of students.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Misinformation On Covid, Vaccines "Resulting In People Dying", WHO Warns The World Health Organization's Covid-19 chief warned Tuesday "We're not out of the woods" in the fight against the pandemic, even if many people thought it was nearly over.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the technical lead for WHO's Covid-19, said last week 3.1 million known new cases were reported to the UN health agency, and 54,000 more deaths -- though the true numbers would be much higher.
"The situation is still incredibly dynamic. And it's dynamic because we don't have control over this virus," she said during a live presentation on the WHO's social media channels.
India's Cumulative Covid Vaccination Coverage Crosses 92 Crore Doses
India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 92 crores on Tuesday, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. More than 54 lakh Vaccine doses were administered on Tuesday till 7 pm.
"In a significant achievement, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 92 Crore landmark milestone (92,11,80,022) today. More than 54 lakh (54,08,420) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm on Tuesday," read a press statement from the Ministry.
Spain To Give Third Dose Of Covid Vaccine To 70 Year-OldsSpain's health ministry said Thursday it would give third doses of coronavirus vaccines to the over-70s, hoping to improve their protection against Covid-19.
The National Public Health Commission has decided to offer the booster jab vaccinations from late October to elderly people who received a second vaccine dose more than six months ago, the ministry said in a statement.
Spain had until now only offered third doses to care home residents and some people with compromised immune systems.
"The aim is to increase protection of the most vulnerable," the ministry said.
Central Team In Mizoram To Assess Covid Situation Amid Rise In CasesA four-member central team, led by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) consultant-epidemiologist Dr Vinita Gupta, arrived in Aizawl on Tuesday to assess the COVID-19 situation, amid the surge in infections in the state, an official statement in Aizawl said.
Shortly after the team's arrival in the state capital on Tuesday, its members held a meeting with officials of State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), chief medical officers (CMOs) of Aizawl East and Aizawl West and discussed ways to combat the situation.
The team will hold another virtual meeting with chief medical officers of various districts on Wednesday to review the measures being taken to control the spread of the disease across the state, the statement said.