Covid-19 cases in India: Kerala reported majority of new cases in India, 13,834, and 95 deaths. (File)
India reported 24,354 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, a slight decrease of 8.8 per cent from Friday. The majority of cases were reported from Kerala -- 13,834 new cases in 24 hours.
India's active caseload stands at 2,73,889, lowest in 197 days, which accounts for less than 0.81 per cent of total cases -- lowest since March 2020. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.86 per cent, highest since March 2020. At least 25,455 recoveries in the last 24 hours took the total number of recoveries to 3,30,68,599.
A total of 89.74 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.
Kerala reported majority of new cases in India, 13,834, and 95 deaths, taking the infection count to 46,94,719 and the death count to 25,182. Delhi recorded 32 fresh COVID-19 cases and no death while the positivity rate in the city currently stands at 0.05 per cent. There are 409 active Covid cases in the national capital.
Here are the Highlights on coronavirus (COVID-19):
India Records 22,842 New COVID-19 Cases, 6% Lower Than Yesterday
India reported 22,842 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, a slight decrease of six per cent from yesterday. The country also reported 244 deaths.
Assam Reports 246 New COVID-19 Cases, 4 DeathsAssam on Saturday reported 246 fresh COVID-19 cases, 272 recoveries and four deaths.
As per the state''s health department, the cumulative caseload reached 6,02,712, which includes 2,971 active cases.
Chhattisgarh Reports 8 COVID-19 Cases
Chhattisgarh's coronavirus infection tally rose to 10,05,387 on Saturday with addition of eight cases, while the death count remained unchanged at 13,566, a health official said.
The number of recoveries rose to 9,91,556 after four people were discharged from hospitals and 16 completed home isolation during the day.
There are 265 active cases in the state.
Raipur, Durg and Raigarh districts recorded two new cases each, while Bastar and Kanker recorded one case each.
No new case was reported in remaining 23 districts of the state.
Delhi records 33 new Covid cases
Delhi on Saturday recorded one death due to COVID-19 and 33 fresh cases with a positivity rate of 0.05 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.
Only five fatalities due to coronavirus infection were reported last month, one each on September 7, September 16 and September 17, and two on September 28, according to official figures.
This is the first fatality due to coronavirus infection recorded in October this year in Delhi. The death toll due to the coronavirus infection in the national capital now stands at 25,088.
Kerala Cinema Halls To Open From October 25, Colleges From 18th
Movie theatres and auditoriums will reopen from October 25 with 50 per cent occupancy for those who have taken two doses of any coronavirus vaccine, the state government said on Saturday in an order announcing the relaxation of several COVID-19 restrictions.
Fully vaccinated students will also be allowed to go to college from October 18, the order said.
A high-level COVID-19 evaluation meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijaya also decided that the number of people for weddings and funerals be increased to 50.
Theatres and auditoriums in Kerala have remained shut for over one and half years since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Global Covid Deaths Hit 5 Million As Delta Variant Sweeps The World
Worldwide deaths related to COVID-19 surpassed 5 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, as the Delta variant causes a surge in death, mainly among the unvaccinated.
More than half of the world has yet to receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data.
It took almost over a year for the COVID-19 deaths to hit 2.5 million, while the next 2.5 million deaths were recorded in 236 days, according to a Reuters analysis
More than half of all global deaths reported on a seven-day average were in the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and India.
Malaysia in talks to procure Merck's COVID-19 pills
Malaysia is in talks to procure an experimental antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co for COVID-19 treatment, the health minister said on Saturday.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in a tweet that he has started negotiations to procure the new drugs, referring to a Reuters story on Friday that the pill developed by Merck could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalised for those most at risk of contracting severe COVID-19. "As we transition to living with COVID, we will be adding new, innovative treatment options to our arsenal in addition to vaccines," he said.
Australia reports 2,357 new COVID-19 cases as vaccination push continuesAustralia reported 2,357 new cases of the Delta coronavirus variant on Saturday, as the push to vaccinate the country's population continues in order to end lockdowns and allow for the reopening of international borders. An 18-month ban on international travel is set to be gradually lifted from next month for some states when 80% of people aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated.
Fifty-five percent of Australians were fully inoculated as of Friday, but nearly 80% have received at least one shot.
Mizoram issues new COVID-19 guidelines with more relaxationsThe Mizoram government has issued new COVID-19 guidelines with a few more relaxations to ease economic and other activities in Aizawl Municipality Corporation (AMC) area and other parts of the state. The new guidelines will come into effect on October 3 and will remain in force in the state till October 16.
The new order allowed the re-opening of churches in COVID-19 affected AMC area and also in other parts of the state only on Sunday and Sabbath (Saturday) during daytime with 50 per cent seating capacity.
Puducherry registers 82 new cases of COVID-19Puducherry recorded 82 new cases of coronavirus during the last twenty-four hours, raising the overall tally to 1.26 lakh. The new cases identified at the end of examination of 5,012 samples were spread over Puducherry 50, Karaikal 21, Yanam 3 and Mahe 8.
The active cases were 767 of whom 110 were undergoing treatment in hospitals while the remaining 657 patients were in home isolation.
Over 88.14 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses provided to states till now: Health MinistryMore than 88.14 crores (88,14,50,515) COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to the states and union territories so far by the centre through free of cost channel and through direct state procurement, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to the ministry, over 5,28,28,050 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states/UTs to be administered.
The ministry stated that the Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country.
Maharashtra's Thane records 293 new COVID-19 cases
With the addition of 293 coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 5,59,644, while the death of three patients took the count to 11,413, an official said. These cases and fatalities were reported on Friday.
"I got Covishield from India": President of the 76th UN General Assembly Abdulla ShahidPresident of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid has said he had received the two doses of the Covishield vaccine manufactured in India, as have a "large portion" of other countries around the world.
The Covishield vaccine, which has been developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, is manufactured in India by Pune-based Serum Institute of India.
"On vaccines, that''s a very technical question you have asked me. I got Covishield from India, I''ve got the two doses. I don''t know how many countries would say that Covishield is acceptable or not, but a large portion of the countries have got Covishield," Mr Shahid said.
Global COVID-19 deaths hit 5 million as Delta variant sweeps the worldWorldwide deaths related to COVID-19 surpassed 5 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, as the Delta variant causes a surge in fatalities, mainly among the unvaccinated. More than half of the world has yet to receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data.
It took almost over a year for the COVID-19 death count to hit 2.5 million, while the next 2.5 million deaths were recorded in 236 days, according to a Reuters analysis. More than half of all global deaths reported on a seven-day average were in the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and India. Globally an average of 8,000 deaths were reported daily over the last week, accounting for five deaths every minute.
Australia reports 2,355 new COVID-19 cases as vaccination push continuesAustralia reported 2,355 new cases of the Delta coronavirus variant on Saturday, as the push to vaccinate the country's population continues in order to end lockdowns and allow for the reopening of international borders.
An 18-month ban on international travel is set to be gradually lifted from next month for some states when 80% of people aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated.
Fifty-five percent of Australians were fully inoculated as of October 1, but nearly 80% have received at least one shot.
Covid vaccine to be mandatory for California students
Covid vaccinations will be compulsory for all students in California, the state's governor announced Friday -- a first in the United States, where vaccine hesitancy has slowed efforts to end the pandemic. The plan will be phased in as Food and Drug Administration regulators grant full approval for use in younger age groups.
California "will require our kids to get the Covid-19 vaccine to come to school," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "Our schools already require vaccines for measles, mumps and more. Why? Because vaccines work. This is about keeping our kids safe and healthy."
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been granted full FDA approval for those age 16 and up.
US surpasses 700,000 Covid deaths: ReportUS fatalities from Covid-19 surpassed 700,000 on Friday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, a toll roughly equivalent to the population of the nation's capital Washington.
After a heavily criticized early response to the pandemic, the United States has since organized effective vaccine roll-outs, but nonetheless finds itself having notched 700,258 deaths, the most fatalities in the world, far ahead of other frontrunners such as Brazil and India.
Haryana Records 18 New Covid Cases, No Deaths
Haryana recorded 18 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, according to the health department's daily bulletin. No Covid-related death was reported.
West Bengal Records 13 New Deaths, 708 Fresh CasesWest Bengal's Covid death count reached 18,806 on Friday with 13 new fatalities, while 708 fresh cases pushed the tally to 15,69,778, a bulletin released by the state Health Department said.
Kolkata and North 24 Parganas recorded four deaths each, the bulletin said.
The number of active cases in the state was 7,571, it said.