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With a 32 per cent one-day jump in the number of new coronavirus infections, India recorded 38,617 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, government data shows.
India also saw 474 Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours, taking its overall fatalities to 1,30,993. So far, the country has recorded a total of 89.12 Covid cases so far since the January outbreak.
The national daily Covid case rise in the last 24 hours reflects increased testing, which finally touched 9.3 lakh after dropping to about 8 lakh over the weekend because of Diwali festivities. It pushed up the positivity rate to 4.1 per cent.
Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Wednesday said that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate was found to be 95 per cent effective in the final analysis of the Phase 3 trial, adding it had the required two-months of safety data and would apply for emergency US authorization within days.
The drugmaker said the efficacy of the vaccine developed with German partner BioNTech SE was consistent across age and ethnicity demographics, and that there were no major side effects, a sign that the immunization could be employed broadly around the world.
The study reached 170 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with the vaccine candidate BNT162b2 demonstrating 95 per cent efficacy beginning 28 days after the first dose, Pfizer said.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases:
COVID-19: US virus death count passes 250,000, New York closes schools
US states and cities are imposing a raft of new restrictions, including home confinement, the closure of indoor dining and a limit on gatherings as cases soar across the country.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city's 1,800 public schools would revert to remote learning beginning Thursday after the Big Apple recorded a seven-day average positivity rate of three percent.
"We must fight back the second wave of Covid-19," he said.
US coronavirus deaths passed a quarter of a million people Wednesday as New York announced it would close schools to battle a rise in infections and protests in Europe against restrictions turned violent.
America has now registered 250,029 fatalities, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University, by far the highest national death toll.
US states and cities are imposing a raft of new restrictions, including home confinement, the closure of indoor dining and a limit on gatherings as cases soar across the country.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city's 1,800 public schools would revert to remote learning beginning Thursday after the Big Apple recorded a seven-day average positivity rate of three percent.
"We must fight back the second wave of Covid-19," he said.
COVID-19: Virus wave must be fought without vaccines, says WHO
The World Health Organization's emergencies director warned Wednesday that vaccines would not arrive in time to defeat the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The WHO's Michael Ryan said vaccines should not be seen as a "unicorn" magic solution -- and countries battling a resurgence of the virus would once again have to "climb this mountain" without them.
"I think it's at least four to six months before we have significant levels of vaccination going on anywhere," he said, during a public question and answer session live on social media.
Despite recent promising announcements from final-phase candidate vaccine trials, "We're not there with vaccines yet," said Ryan.
"Many countries are going through this wave, and they're going to go through this wave, and continue through this wave, without vaccines.
"We need to understand and internalise that, and realise: we have got to climb this mountain this time, without vaccines."
The World Health Organization's emergencies director warned Wednesday that vaccines would not arrive in time to defeat the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The WHO's Michael Ryan said vaccines should not be seen as a "unicorn" magic solution -- and countries battling a resurgence of the virus would once again have to "climb this mountain" without them.
"I think it's at least four to six months before we have significant levels of vaccination going on anywhere," he said, during a public question and answer session live on social media.
Despite recent promising announcements from final-phase candidate vaccine trials, "We're not there with vaccines yet," said Ryan.
"Many countries are going through this wave, and they're going to go through this wave, and continue through this wave, without vaccines.
"We need to understand and internalise that, and realise: we have got to climb this mountain this time, without vaccines."
Coronavirus news: Delhi Covid hospitals allowed to engage MBBS students, interns to assist duty doctors
In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the national capital, the Delhi government on Wednesday allowed COVID-19 designated hospitals to engage fourth and fifth-year MBBS students, interns, and BDS doctors to assist duty doctors in controlling the pandemic.
According to an official order, the fourth-year and fifth-year MBBS students and dental doctors will assist duty doctors at the honorarium of Rs 1,000 for an 8-hour shift and Rs 2,000 for a 12-hour shift per day.
"In view of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased demand of ICU beds and medical HR in the hospitals of GNCTD Delhi for management of COVID-19, all MDs/Directors of COVID Hospitals of GNCTD are permitted to engage 4th and 5th-year MBBS students, Interns and BDS pass doctors to assist the duty doctors at the honorarium of Rs 1,000 (8 hrs shift) and Rs 2,000 (12 hrs shift) per day by exercising powers delegated to them Under Section 50 of Disaster Management Act," the order said.
In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the national capital, the Delhi government on Wednesday allowed COVID-19 designated hospitals to engage fourth and fifth-year MBBS students, interns, and BDS doctors to assist duty doctors in controlling the pandemic.
According to an official order, the fourth-year and fifth-year MBBS students and dental doctors will assist duty doctors at the honorarium of Rs 1,000 for an 8-hour shift and Rs 2,000 for a 12-hour shift per day.
"In view of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased demand of ICU beds and medical HR in the hospitals of GNCTD Delhi for management of COVID-19, all MDs/Directors of COVID Hospitals of GNCTD are permitted to engage 4th and 5th-year MBBS students, Interns and BDS pass doctors to assist the duty doctors at the honorarium of Rs 1,000 (8 hrs shift) and Rs 2,000 (12 hrs shift) per day by exercising powers delegated to them Under Section 50 of Disaster Management Act," the order said.
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine deliveries could start "Before Christmas"
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech could secure emergency US and European authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine next month after final trial results showed it had a 95% success rate and no serious side effects, the drugmakers said on Wednesday.
The vaccine's efficacy was found to be consistent across different ages and ethnicities - a promising sign given the disease has disproportionately hurt the elderly and certain groups including Black people.
The US Food and Drug Administration could grant emergency-use by the middle of December, BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin told Reuters TV. Conditional approval in the European Union could be secured in the second half of December, he added.
"If all goes well I could imagine that we gain approval in the second half of December and start deliveries before Christmas, but really only if all goes positively," he said.
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech could secure emergency US and European authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine next month after final trial results showed it had a 95% success rate and no serious side effects, the drugmakers said on Wednesday.
The vaccine's efficacy was found to be consistent across different ages and ethnicities - a promising sign given the disease has disproportionately hurt the elderly and certain groups including Black people.
The US Food and Drug Administration could grant emergency-use by the middle of December, BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin told Reuters TV. Conditional approval in the European Union could be secured in the second half of December, he added.
"If all goes well I could imagine that we gain approval in the second half of December and start deliveries before Christmas, but really only if all goes positively," he said.
Ensure private hospitals follow government rates in treating COVID patients: Ashok Gehlot to officials
He said pulse oximeters will be provided to the Asha sahyoginis (health workers) across the state so that people can check their oxygen level.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asked officials on Wednesday to ensure that treatment to COVID-19 patients in private hospitals is provided at the rate fixed by the state government.
He said the administration and the medical department should make sure that the COVID-19 patients admitted in private hospitals face no inconvenience.
Chairing a review meeting, the chief minister said the number of coronavirus cases is likely to increase in the coming days due to cold and other conditions and looking at this situation, the number of ICU beds and other facilities at both government and private hospitals should be enhanced.
COVID-19: Bengal reports 3,668 new cases, 4,429 more recoveries
At least 3,668 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Bengal, raising the tally to
At least 3,668 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Bengal, raising the tally to
4,41,885, while 54 fresh fatalities pushed the toll to 7,820, a health department official said on Wednesday.
As many as 4,429 people recuperated from the disease, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 4,07,769, he said.
The discharge rate stands at 92.28 per cent. Of the 54 deaths, 19 fatalities were reported from North 24 Parganas, 11 from Kolkata, five from Hooghly, four from Howrah and two from South 24 Parganas.
Thirty-nine have died due to comorbidities, where COVID-19 was "incidental", the official said.
Coronavirus news: Odisha Chief Minister designates special hospital for frontline COVID-19 workers
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik designated a special hospital for Covid-19 warriors and held a review meeting to take stock of the coronavirus situation in Odisha.
In a letter, addressed to the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET), and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Deputy Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department stated that the Odisha government is pleased to designate the Aditya Ashwini COVID-19 Hospital for the treatment of doctors and frontline warriors against the virus.
The Odisha government has designated a special hospital for the treatment of doctors and front line healthcare workers and aims to provide them better health care facilities.
Later during the day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a review meeting to take stock of the Covid-19 situation in the state.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik designated a special hospital for Covid-19 warriors and held a review meeting to take stock of the coronavirus situation in Odisha.
In a letter, addressed to the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET), and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Deputy Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department stated that the Odisha government is pleased to designate the Aditya Ashwini COVID-19 Hospital for the treatment of doctors and frontline warriors against the virus.
The Odisha government has designated a special hospital for the treatment of doctors and front line healthcare workers and aims to provide them better health care facilities.
Later during the day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a review meeting to take stock of the Covid-19 situation in the state.
COVID-19: Assam reports 3 more deaths, 169 new cases
Assam's COVID-19 death count rose to 969 after three more persons including a 14-year-old boy succumbed to the disease on Wednesday, while 169 new cases took the tally to 2,10,865, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
As fewer positive cases have been reported in the past one month, the state government decided that there will be no need for mandatory COVID-19 testing for air passengers travelling within Assam and those travelling to other Northeastern states from next week, the minister said.
Besides, COVID-19 test for incoming flight passengers will be done in the Guwahati airport itself instead of the COVID Screening Centre set up at the Sarusajai Stadium from next week, he said.
"Sad to share the demise of three #COVID patients today.........Condolences and prayers," Sarma tweeted.
Two of the three deaths were reported from Kamrup Rural district and one Tinsukia.
COVID-19: Odisha reports 868 new cases, 15 fresh fatalities
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 3,10,920 on Wednesday as 868 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Fifteen more patients succumbed to the disease, pushing the coastal state's coronavirus death count to 1,575, he said adding that the states case fatality ratio (CFR) stands at 0.50 per cent.
The state also registered recovery of 1,303 patients taking the total number of cured people to 3,01,777, which is 97.05 per cent of the caseload.
As many as 502 new cases were reported from quarantine centres, while 366 infections were detected during contact tracing, the official said.
Khurda district, under which Bhubaneswar falls, reported the highest number of new cases at 102, followed by Sundergarh (82) and Cuttack (65), he said.
COVID-19: Sikkim logs 3 more deaths, 29 fresh cases
Sikkim's COVID-19 death count increased to 95 with three more persons succumbing to the disease on Wednesday, while 29 fresh cases of infection took the tally to 4,577, an official said.
Sikkim now has 300 active cases, while 4,098 patients have recovered from the disease so far and 84 others have migrated to other states, he said.
Of the fresh cases, 22 were reported from East Sikkim, six from South Sikkim and one from West Sikkim.
Delhi's COVID-19 Cases Cross 5 lakh, Highest Deaths In A Single Day At 131Delhi recorded 7,486 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the infection tally in the city to over 5 lakh, while 133 new fatalities, the highest single-day count till date, pushed the number of deaths to 7,943, authorities said." itemprop="description
COVID hospitals of Delhi govt are permitted to engage 4th & 5th year MBBS students, Interns & BDS doctors to assist duty doctors at honorarium of Rs 1000 (8 hrs shift) & Rs 2000 (12 hrs shift) per day. In case of interns, honorarium would be over & above their stipend:Delhi govt pic.twitter.com/q3r5mg6a8n
- ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2020
7,486 new positive cases 6,901 recoveries and 131 deaths reported in Delhi in the last 24 hours. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi stands at 5,03,084 including 42,458 active cases, 4,52,683 recoveries and 7,943 deaths
Jharkhand reports 251 new COVID-19 cases, 280 recoveries/discharges and 3 deaths today. Total cases in the state rise to 1,06,742, including 1,03,171 recoveries/discharges and 934 deaths. Active cases stand at 2,637
Jharkhand: Ranchi gearing up for #ChhathPuja celebrations; visuals from earlier today
- ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2020
The state government yesterday allowed Chhath Puja at river banks & ponds with COVID19 guidelines pic.twitter.com/f3V5P2S3lg
Assam's COVID-19 case tally stands at 2,10,865 including 2,06,608 recoveries, 3,285 active cases and 969 deaths: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
COVID-19 tally in West Bengal rises to 4,41,885 with 3,668 new cases, 54 fresh fatalities push count to 7,820, news agency PTI reported quoting health department
Mumbai reports 871 new COVID-19 cases, 1372 recoveries/discharges and 16 deaths today. Total cases here rise to 2,71,525, including 2,48,711 recoveries/discharges and 10,612 deaths. The active cases stand at 8,658, news agency ANI reported
Government Undertook 3-Pronged Approach To Tackle Covid: Health Secretary
A three-pronged approach was undertaken by the government to tackle COVID-19 which was based upon strengthening health systems and forging new partnerships, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Wednesday said.
Speaking at the inaugural session at Asia Health 2020 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, he said a "whole of society and whole of government approach" with strong leadership, communication and decisions based on science was undertaken by the government.
"The second approach was strengthening health systems by building on past efforts, by relying on current strategies, by deploying new technology, by strengthening existing partnerships and forging new partnerships. The third approach was the digital initiatives undertaken by the union government to help in our fight against COVID," he said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: No Question Hour In Odisha's Assembly Winter Session
Odisha Assembly Speaker SN Patro on Wednesday said that the 40-day winter session of the House will commence from November 20 and sit for truncated hours in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic without the Question Hour.
The Question Hour, during which lawmakers ask questions to the government on key issues, was scrapped in the monsoon session of the House too.
At an all-party meeting convened by the Speaker ahead of the session, opposition parties such as the BJP and the Congress wondered what is the harm in holding the Question Hour if the Assembly could conduct other businesses maintaining COVID-19 protocol.
As on the earlier occasion, all the persons including MLAs will have to test negative for COVID-19 in order to get an entry into the Assembly building during the session, Mr Patro said.
Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally reaches 17,57,520 with 5,011 fresh cases; 100 new deaths take count to 46,202, news agency PTI reported quoting Health Department
Coronavirus LIVE: Rajasthan Records 12 More COVID-19 Deaths, 2,178 New Cases
Twelve more coronavirus-related fatalities were reported in Rajasthan, taking the death count to 2,101 on Wednesday, while 2,178 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 2,32,358, according to an official report.
Two deaths each were reported from Jaipur and Jodhpur and one each from Ajmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jalore, Kota, Nagaur, Pali and Sikar.
A maximum of 468 new COVID-19 cases were reported from Jaipur, followed by Jodhpur 302, Ajmer 150, Alwar 125 and Kota 114. Pali recorded 76 fresh cases, Udaipur 75, Sikar 71, Ganganagar 72 and Nagaur 68, among others.
There are 19,478 active cases in the state, while a total of 2,10,779 patients have recovered from the disease so far, the report added.
Karnataka reports 1,791 new COVID-19 cases, 1,947 discharges and 21 deaths today. Total cases in the state rise to 8,65,931, including 8,29,188 discharges and 11,578 deaths. Active cases stand at 25,146, news agency ANI reported.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: 3 New Covid Cases In Dharavi, Tally Reaches 3,626
Dharavi reported three new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the tally of infections in the slum area of Mumbai to 3,626, a civic official said.
On Tuesday, two new coronavirus cases were found in the slum colony, which was once a COVID-19 hotspot.
The official said the number of active COVID-19 cases in Dharavi remained unchanged at eight.
Out of the total 3,626 cases reported so far, 3,307 patients have recovered, the official said.
Dharavi, which is spread over 2.5 sq km area and houses nearly 6.5 lakh people, reported its first coronavirus case on April 1.
It later emerged as a prominent COVID-19 hotspot in the city, before the cases were successfully brought under control with coordinated efforts by various stake-holders.
Andhra Pradesh reports 1,236 new COVID-19 cases taking the total positive cases in the state to 8,57,395 . There are 16,516 active cases and 8,33,980 recovered cases in the state; the death count is at 6,899, news agency ANI reported quoting State Health Department
Swiss Sound Alarm As ICU Beds Dill Up With Covid Patients
A top Swiss medical association has sounded the alarm over saturated intensive care units across Switzerland as the second wave of Covid-19 infections takes a heavy number.
"Swiss intensive care units are at the limit of their regular bed capacity," the Swiss Society for Intensive Care Medicine (SSMI) warned in a statement issued Tuesday.
It said the 876 ICU beds for adults that it certifies across the wealthy Alpine nation "are practically all full".
More beds have meanwhile been added, and the Swiss military has been called in to support efforts in several cantons.
Pfizer Vaccine 95% Effective In Final Analysis, To Seek Approval In Days
Pharmaceutical major Pfizer said on Wednesday its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 95% effective in the final analysis and the company plans to seek regulatory approval within days.
Pharmaceutical major Pfizer said on Wednesday its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 95% effective in the final analysis and the company plans to seek regulatory approval within days.
COVID-19 LIVE Updates: "Enough Beds Available For Covid Patients In Ahmedabad," Says Official
There is no need to panic even though coronavirus cases have risen in Ahmedabad city as 40 per cent beds in COVID-19 hospitals are unoccupied, a senior Gujarat government official said on Wednesday.
After reviewing the situation at a meeting with civic officials, Additional Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar Gupta also said that social media rumours about plans to impose another lockdown are baseless.
Mr Gupta has been been appointed as Officer On Special Duty by the state government to oversee the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's efforts to deal with the pandemic.
"Rumours about (fresh) lockdown are baseless. I appeal people not to believe them. In Ahmedabad, we have alloted 7,279 beds at seven government and 76 private hospitals for COVID-19 patients.
"Of these, 2,848 beds, that is 40 per cent, are still available," Mr Gupta said in a statement.
As many as 2,347 beds are available in government hospitals and 501 beds in the private hospitals, he added.
On Tuesday, 218 new cases of coronavirus infection were found in the city.
The sudden spike was the result of people's movement in the festival season, said Mr Gupta.
Another reason for the increase was that people are not wearing masks and following social distancing, he said.
Around 500 coronavirus patients from other districts as well as neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Ahmedabad, said the release.
The AMC has set up 200 centres across the city where people can get tested free, it added.
Around 25,000 "corona warriors" including doctors and para-medical staff have been deployed for tackling the pandemic in the city, Mr Gupta said.
Europe Sees First Dip In COVID-19 Cases In Months, But Deaths Up: WHO
The number of new Covid-19 cases declined last week for the first time in over three months, but deaths in the region continued to climb, WHO data showed Wednesday.
In total, nearly four million cases of the novel coronavirus were registered worldwide during the week ending Sunday, and almost 60,000 people died from the disease during the same period, the World Health Organization said.
Europe, which on Tuesday saw its total number of coronavirus infections climb past 15 million, remained the hardest-hit region.
Last week it accounted for 46 per cent of the new global cases and 49 per cent of the deaths, the UN health agency's weekly epidemiological update showed.
With 1.84 million new cases registered, the caseload across the region remained staggeringly high, but WHO noted that "in the past week, for the first time in over three months, the region observed a decline of 10 per cent in weekly cases."
Coronavirus Latest News: UP's Covid Tally Rises To 5,16,616 With 2,390 Fresh Cases
Uttar Pradesh's COVID-19 case count mounted to 5,16,616 on Wednesday with 2,390 fresh infections, while the death count climbed to 7,441 with 29 more fatalities, officials said.
The number of active cases in the state stands at 21,954, they said. "The state reported 2,390 new cases in the past 24 hours, while 2,529 people were discharged during the same period," Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.
The state has 21,954 active cases and the number of those who recovered from the infection is 4,87,221, he said.
Twenty-nine more people succumbed to the virus, taking the death count to 7,441.
The state has a recovery rate of 94.31 per cent, Mr Prasad said, adding that with a fresh wave of COVID-19 in Delhi, the health department appeals to people of the state to remain cautious.
On Tuesday, 1,21,362 samples were tested. The total number of samples tested till date stands at over 1.73 crore, he said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Lockdown At Night Lifted In Puducherry
All-night lockdown from 10 pm to 6 am that was in force here for some months now in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic was lifted on Wednesday. Collector T Arun announced this through an order passed today.
The revocation was part of the relaxation of restrictions the government had imposed in keeping with the guidelines of the Union Home Ministry in the context of the COVID-19 situation.
Mr Arun told PTI that industries, shops and establishments, hotels, restaurants, theatres and bars could now be open and function as per normal permissible times subject to the licence conditions mentioned in the Shops and Establishment Act, Municipality and Excise Acts.
He said the beach road would be open round the clock from today as there was flow of tourists.
However, he said norms such as wearing of masks, maintenance of social distancing and hand-washing would continue.
Coronavirus LIVE: Goa Government To Issue New SOP For Hotels Amid Tourist Season
The Goa government is drawing up a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for hotels amid the ongoing tourist season, state health minister Vishwajit Rane said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Mr Rane said that coastal state will not seal its borders to keep out tourists.
"We are in the process of issuing guidelines for hotels, which will make it mandatory for them to reserve one room as an isolation room on their property," the minister said.
Any guest who tests positive for coronavirus, but is asymptomatic, can be put up in the isolation room on hotel premises, he said.
Mr Rane further said that constant monitoring of patients in home isolation has brought down the COVID-19 mortality rate in the state.
"We don't get patients in a breathless stage any more, as we are monitoring their health in home isolation," he said.
Referring to Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha's statement about poor health infrastructure in Goa, Mr Rane offered a tour of the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital to show the robust infrastructure put in place by the Goa government.
"People in Delhi have to pay for their treatment, while Goa is the only state that provides free treatment for COVID-19," he said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India Reports Less Than 50,000 Daily New Cases For Eleventh Consecutive Day
India on Wednesday reported less than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases for the eleventh consecutive day with 38,617 new cases in the last 24 hours, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
With 44,739 new recoveries, the number of new recoveries has exceeded daily new cases for the last month and a half.
The recovery rate has improved to 93.52 per cent, while the total recovered cases stand at 83,35,109. "74.98 per cent of the new recoveries are contributed by ten states/Union Territories (UTs).
With 6,620 persons recovering from the infection, Kerala witnessed the most number of recoveries, followed by Maharashtra with 5,123 recoveries and Delhi with 4,421.
About 76.15 per cent of the new cases were reported from ten states and UTs.
Delhi reported 6,396 cases in the last 24 hours while Kerala recorded 5,792 new cases.
As many as 474 fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours, out of which, 78.9 per cent are from ten states and UTs.
Bengaluru's COVID-19 Fatality Rate Lowest Among Major Indian Cities: Karnataka Health Minister
Bengaluru's coronavirus case fatality rate of 1.1 per cent was the lowest among all major cities in the country, Karnataka Health Minister Sudhakar K said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Karnataka recorded 1,336 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 8.64 lakh and the toll to 11,557 in the state.
"Bengaluru's COVID-19 case fatality rate (1.1 per cent) is the lowest among all major cities in India. With 3,36,880 recoveries and 17,707 active cases as on Tuesday, city's recovery rate stands at a healthy 93.94 per cent and active rate stands at 4.93 per cent", he tweeted.
Union Health Ministry on Wednesday reported a single day rise of 38,617 new COVID-19 cases and 474 fatalities pushing India's virus caseload to 89.12 lakh and count to 1.30 lakh.
It's a precautionary step as there's been a rise in COVID-19 cases. The border is open and there are no restrictions. The check is a random targetted group sampling to get an assessment, it has been done earlier too. Tests can be further increased: Suhas LY, Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate.
Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's meeting on Delhi coronavirus situation on November 15, a slew of measures underway.
Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's meeting on Delhi #COVID19 situation on Nov 15, a slew of measures underway. DRDO to add 250 ICU beds to its already existing 250 ICU beds & also to create 35 BIPAP beds in next 3 to 4 days at its COVID hospital near Delhi airport: MHA pic.twitter.com/olh93PdnEM
- ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2020
Lockdown Not A Solution To Fight COVID-19: Manish Sisodia
Delhi government has no intentions of imposing a lockdown. We believe lockdown is not a solution in the fight against COVID-19. The solution is -better hospital management and better medical systems. Delhi govt has managed the medical system well and will do it in future too: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Coronavirus News: US Approves First COVID-19 Self-Testing Kit, Results Within 30 Minutes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it had approved the first COVID-19 self-testing kit for home use that provides results within 30 minutes. The single-use test, made by Lucira Health, has been given emergency use authorization for home use with self-collected nasal swab samples in individuals aged 14 and older who are suspected of COVID-19 by their health care provider, the FDA said.
50 People Allowed At Weddings In Delhi, 200-Limit Revised To Tackle Covid
No more than 50 people will be allowed at weddings in Delhi as the state government revised the 200-limit amid surge in coronavirus cases. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke about fresh measures to check the spread of highly infectious virus, which has affected over 4.95 lakh people in the city so far. Read Here
Coronavirus: Odisha Reports 868 New COVID-19 Cases
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 3,10,920 on Wednesday as 868 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Fifteen more patients succumbed to the infection, pushing the coastal state's coronavirus death toll to 1,575, he said.
Coronavirus: Noida Begins Random COVID-19 Tests At Borders For People Coming From Delhi
Gautam Buddh Nagar health officials were on Wednesday deployed at two key Noida-Delhi borders where they started random COVID-19 testing of people coming from the national capital. The random testing of inward coming people was announced by District Magistrate Suhas L Y on Tuesday after a meeting with senior administration and health officials amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in Delhi. Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Deepak Ohri said teams of health officials are present at the borders at Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) Flyway and at Chilla - the two key entry points to Noida from the national capital.
Puducherry Reports No COVID-19 Deaths For 5th Consecutive Day
No fresh coronavirus related deaths were reported in Puducherry for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday. However, 56 new infections were recorded, taking the total number of those infected by the virus to 36,465 in the union territory. Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release that the new cases were identified at the end of the examination of 3,583 samples in the last 24 hours ending at 10 am on Wednesday.
Bengaluru's COVID-19 Fatality Rate Lowest Among Major Indian Cities: Health Minister
Bengaluru's COVID-19 case fatality rate (1.1 per cent) is the lowest among all major cities in the country, Karnataka Health Minister Sudhakar K said on Wednesday. "With 3,36,880 recoveries and 17,707 active cases as on Tuesday, city''s recovery rate stands at a healthy 93.94 per cent and active rate stands at 4.93 per cent", he tweeted. On Tuesday, Karnataka reported 1,336 new cases of COVID- 19 and 16 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 8,64,140 and the death toll to 11,557 in the State.
COVID-19 News: 5 Deaths, 948 New COVID-19 Cases In Telangana
Telangana recorded 948 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the total caseload to 2.59 lakh, while the toll rose to 1,415 with five more fatalities. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for 154 of the 948 fresh cases, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri 83, Rangareddy 76 and other districts, a state government bulletin said on Wednesday, providing data as of 8 PM on November 17.
17 New COVID-19 Cases In Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Tally Rises To 4,574
Seventeen more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, pushing the union territory''s coronavirus caseload to 4,574, a health official said on Wednesday.
32 Per Cent Jump In One-Day Cases, India Covid Tally Past 89 Lakh
With a 32 per cent one-day jump in the number of new coronavirus infections, India recorded 38,617 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, government data shows. India also saw 474 Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours, taking its overall fatalities to 1,30,993. So far, the country has recorded a total of 89.12 Covid cases so far since the January outbreak.
Increased Testing Capacity, ICU Beds Will Help Fight Covid In Delhi: Centre
Doubling COVID-19 testing capacity to 1 to 1.2 lakh and increasing ICU beds to over 6,000 are among the decisions taken by the government to tackle the spike in coronavirus infections in Delhi, the Centre said. A decision has also been taken to increase house to house surveillance of active cases in containment zones and other vulnerable pockets for which 7,000-8,000 teams will be put on this exercise, an increase from the existing 3,000 teams that are currently involved.
Uttar Pradesh government issues advisory for the festival of Chhath Puja in the wake of Coronavirus.
Uttar Pradesh govt issues advisory for the festival of #ChhathPuja in the wake of #COVID19
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 18, 2020
Devotees be urged to perform rituals at their homes or near their homes, as much as possible. Arrangements be made by local admn at the traditional spots near rivers/ponds for the puja. pic.twitter.com/ig5n4cTeVL
COVID-19: Mizoram Reports 37 New COVID-19 Cases
Mizoram reports 37 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total cases here to 3,481, including 2,972 discharges and 5 deaths. Active cases stand at 504.
Coronavirus: Arvind Kejriwal Seeks To Shut Delhi Markets Emerging As Covid Hotspots
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that his government has sought the Centre's go-ahead to allow it to shut for a few days markets that may emerge as COVID-19 hotspots amid a coronavirus surge in the national capital. The state is also looking at reducing the number of people allowed for weddings back to 50. Mr Kejriwal's remarks come a day after his government said that the city would not be put under another lockdown, adding that a third wave of COVID-19 had already peaked out.
UN Releases USD 100 Million To Avert Famine During Pandemic
The United Nations said Tuesday it is releasing $100 million in aid for seven countries that include Ethiopia to help them avoid famine because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
"India Examining Strategy": Centre On Pfizer Covid Vaccine Constraints
The cold-chain requirement for the anti-coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by Pfizer at a temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius poses a big challenge, but the government is examining the possibilities if at all the vaccine has to be obtained by India, it said on Tuesday.
The government further said a national scheme on COVID-19 vaccine distribution is in its final stages of preparation.
At a press briefing, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul, who also heads the National Task Force on COVID-19, said sufficient doses of the vaccine, as required for the Indian population, will not be available, but the government is looking at the possibilities and will work out a strategy for its procurement and distribution in case it gets the regulatory approvals.
Mr Paul, however, reminded that the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine in the country might take some months.
"The arrangement of cold-chains for storing the vaccine developed by Pfizer at a low temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius is a big challenge and it will not be easy for any nation. But then, if at all it has to be obtained, we are examining what we need to do...and will work out a strategy," he said.
Delhi Records 6,396 New Covid Cases, 99 Deaths
Delhi logged nearly double the number of fresh coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours as the number of tests went up. From 3,797 cases yesterday, the city recorded 6,396 cases as the number of tests went up from 30,000 to 49,031. The number of deaths remained at 99, the same as yesterday -- taking the total to 7,812. Read more
