Coronavirus Cases In India: India's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 79,46,429 (File)
The new coronavirus cases reported in India in a span of 24 hours remained below 45,000, even as the total COVID-19 caseload inched closer to 80 lakh, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday.
Total active cases stand at 6,10,803 after a decrease of 15,054 in the last 24 hours. Total cured cases stand at 72,59,509 with 58,439 new discharges in the last 24 hours.
With 1,32,069 total active cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state by COVID-19 in the country. While 14,78,496 patients have recovered from the disease in the state, 43,463 have died so far.
Meanwhile, a total of 10,54,87,680 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to October 27. Of these 10,66,786 samples were tested yesterday, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases:
788 new COVID19 cases and 15 deaths reported in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday. The total number of COVID19 cases in the state stands at 1,69, 271 including 1,00,94 active cases, 1,56,264 recovered cases and 2,913 deaths so far: State Government
Jharkhand reports 345 new COVID-19 cases, 452 recoveries/discharges and 4 deaths on Wednesday.
Total cases in the State rise to 1,00,569, including 94,326 recoveries/discharges and 880 deaths.
Active cases stand at 5,363
Assam reports 448 new COVID-19 cases and 1,487 discharges on Wednesday.
Total cases in the State rise to 2,05,237, including 1,92,514 discharges and 917 deaths. Active cases at 11,803: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Andaman and Nicobar reports 15 new COVID-19 cases and 20 recoveries today.
Total number of cases in the Union Territory rise to 4,289 including 192 active cases, 58 deaths and 4,039 recoveries: Andaman and Nicobar Administration
Mumbai adds 1,354 COVID-19 patients; active cases below 19000
Mumbai's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,54,242 with the addition of 1,354 new cases, while 31 fresh deaths took the toll to 10,153 on Wednesday, the city civic body said.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) updated data, 1,716 patients were discharged from hospitals in the past 24 hours following recovery.
The daily count of COVID-19 cases in the city again crossed the 1,300-mark after being under 1,000 for two consecutive days - Monday and Tuesday.
On Tuesday, 801 new cases and 23 fatalities were reported in the city.
According to the civic body, Mumbai has 18,984 active COVID-19 cases at present after 1,716 patients were discharged from hospitals in a span of 24 hours following recovery.
Gujarat records 980 COVID-19 cases, 1,107 recoveries; 6 die
The tally of coronavirus cases in Gujarat rose to 1,70,053 with the addition of 980 new patients on Wednesday, while recoveries continued to outstrip fresh infections with 1,107 more people getting discharged, the state health department said.
The state's recovery rate improved to 89.97 per cent with 1,107 COVID-19 patients getting discharged from hospitals during the day, it said.
With this, the number of recovered cases in the state rose to 1,52,995, the health department said.
As many as six more COVID-19 patients died in the state, pushing the toll to 3,704, said the department in a release.
There are a total of 13,354 active cases in the state as on date of which 63 patients are on ventilators, it said.
West Bengal reports record 3,925 COVID-19 recoveries, 60 deaths
West Bengal on Wednesday recorded the highest single-day recovery of 3,925 COVID-19 patients, taking the the total number of those cured to 3,17,928, a bulletin issued by the health department said.
The discharge rate has now improved to 87.90 per cent.
Meanwhile, the death toll mounted to 6,664 with 60 more people succumbing to the virus, it said.
The coronavirus tally, too, rose to 3,61,703 as 3,924 people tested positive since Tuesday.
Lift travel restrictions in Mumbai trains in non-peak hours: Maharashtra to railways
The Maharashtra government has proposed to the railway authorities that general public be allowed to travel by Mumbai local trains during non-peak hours, officials said on Wednesday.
The proposal will be forwarded to the Railway Board, said a railway official.
At present only certain categories of persons including essential services staff are allowed to travel by local trains, Mumbai's lifeline, in view of the coronavirus threat.
In a letter to the Railways, the state government suggested that any person holding a valid ticket be allowed to board local trains till 7.30 in the morning, between 11 am to 4 pm and between 8 pm till the end of the day.
Union Minister Smriti Irani Tests Positive For CoronavirusUnion Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said she has tested positive for the coronavirus.
"It is rare for me to search for words while making an announcement; hence here's me keeping it simple - I've tested positive for #COVID and would request those who came in contact with me to get themselves tested at the earliest," she wrote.
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COVID-19: UP reports 2,049 new cases, 18 deaths
With 2,049 fresh cases, the COVID-19 tally of Uttar Pradesh rose to 4,76,034 on Wednesday while the death toll due to the disease reached 6,958 as 18 more people succumbed to the virus.
"In the last 24 hours, 2,049 fresh cases were detected while 2,742 people were discharged. The number of active cases in the state is 25,487 while 4,43,589 patients have been treated and discharged.
The death toll due to the disease has reached 6,958 with 18 fresh deaths," Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.
The total number of cases has reached 4,76,034 and the recovery rate of the state is 93.18 per cent, he said.
"The number of active cases has come down by 63 per cent since Sep 17 when the state had its peak of over 68 thousand cases," the officer said.
Europe faces tougher virus curbs but Melbourne lifts lockdown
People in France and Germany were bracing Wednesday for tough new curbs on their daily lives as Europe struggled to contain an alarming surge in coronavirus cases with winter looming.
The deepening gloom across the continent contrasted with the jubilation in Australia's second city of Melbourne where champagne corks popped to celebrate the end of a months-long lockdown.
The pandemic has unleashed devastation across the global economy since emerging in China at the end of last year.
And in the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment, countries are being forced to impose widely unpopular Covid-19 restrictions that have sparked violent clashes in Italy.
Situation not normal, don't lower guard: Delhi's 1st COVID patient
With experts predicting a major surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming months in Delhi, the city's first coronavirus patient on Wednesday cautioned people to stay indoors as much as possible during the festive season while emphasising that the situation is "not back to normal".
Rohit Datta, who was diagnosed with the infection on March 1, made an appeal to the masses to "not lower our guard" by getting into a casual festive mode.
"I was diagnosed with COVID-19 at a time when the virus had already wreaked havoc in China and a few other countries. I was the first patient in Delhi. So much fear and uncertainty was there at that time. Despite all the research, the virus is still unpredictable," the 46-year-old told PTI over the phone.
Poland reports record rise in daily coronavirus cases and deaths
Poland reported a record 18,820 new coronavirus infections and 236 deaths on Wednesday, the health ministry said, as hospitals faced shortages, in some cases turning patients away, while mass protests against an abortion ruling continued.
The ministry said that as of Wednesday, COVID-19 patients occupied 13,931 hospital beds and were using 1,150 ventilators, compared with 13,291 and 1,078 respectively a day earlier.
Poland has seen widespread protests following a ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal last Thursday that amounts to a near-total ban on abortion in the predominantly Catholic nation. Many Poles will not show up to work on Wednesday, taking part in a sixth day of protest against the ruling.
The opposition and the protesters say the court has acted on behalf of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has in the past stepped back from efforts to tighten abortion rules. PiS denies that and calls for an end to the demonstrations.
South African President Ramaphosa in self-quarantine
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has gone into self-quarantine after learning that a guest at a charity dinner he attended tested positive for coronavirus, his office said Wednesday.
"President Cyril Ramaphosa has begun a period of self-quarantine," acting spokesman Tyrone Seale said in a statement.
"The President is showing no symptoms at this time and will, in line with COVID-19 health advice, be tested should symptoms manifest."
According to his office, Ramaphosa on Saturday attended a fundraising dinner of the Adopt-a-School Foundation.
One of the guests tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, prompting Ramaphosa to go into self-quarantine on Wednesday.
COVID-19: Schools in Delhi to remain closed till further orders
All schools in Delhi will continue to be closed till further orders in view of the COVID-19 situation, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Wednesday.
Parents are not in favour of reopening schools either, Mr Sisodia said at an online press conference.
The Delhi government had earlier announced that schools will remain closed till October 31.
"We keep getting feedback from parents that they are really concerned about whether it is safe to reopen schools. It is not. Wherever schools have reopened, COVID-19 cases among children have risen. So we have decided that as of now schools in the national capital will not reopen. They will continue to be closed till further orders," Mr Sisodia said.
Private schools in Noida struggle for attendance as parents still wary of COVID-19
Private schools in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar are struggling to get students of classes 9 to 12 back in classrooms as parents continue to feel unsafe to send their wards for physical classes due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Private schools recorded a mere 14 per cent attendance of students on Tuesday, while government and aided schools clocked 39 per cent in Noida and Greater Noida, according to government officials.
After a seven-month hiatus due to the pandemic, the state government had allowed reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12 from October 19, District Inspector Of Schools (DIOS) Neeraj Kumar Pandey said.
"Online classes are fine but they do not have the gravity of a physical classroom. Once the time passes, it won't be possible to recover the academic loss," Mr Pandey told PTI, adding that his concern was chiefly for students in Class 12 who would be facing qualifying examinations after school to get into colleges.
Hong Kong bars Air India flights for fourth time as passengers test positive for COVID-19
Hong Kong has banned Air India flights from Mumbai till November 10 after a few passengers on its flight earlier this week tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
This is the fourth time that Air India flights from India have been banned by the Hong Kong government for bringing passengers who tested positive for the infection after arrival.
Previous bans were on the airline's Delhi-Hong Kong flights during September 20-October 3 and August 18-August 31 and October 17-October 30.
Passengers from India can arrive in Hong Kong only if they have a COVID-19 negative certificate from a test done within 72 hours prior to the journey, according to rules issued by the Hong Kong government in July.
COVID-19: Mizoram reports first fatalityMizoram, the only state which had not reported any COVID-19 fatality so far, registered its first coronavirus death on Wednesday as a 62-year-old man succumbed to the infection at a hospital near Aizawl, a health official said.
The patient was undergoing treatment for 10 days at the state-run Zoram Medical College, its medical superintendent, Dr H C Laldina, told PTI.
The man, who resided in Aizawl, was also suffering from a heart ailment, he said.
Mizoram had reported its first coronavirus case on March 24 as a 52-year-old pastor, with a travel history to the Netherlands, tested positive for the infection.
He was discharged from the ZMC after 45 days of intensive treatment.
COVID-19: Tripura registers 160 new cases, 202 more recoveriesSingle-day recoveries outnumbered new COVID-19 cases in Tripura, as 160 more people
tested positive for the infection while 202 more people were cured of the disease on Wednesday, a health official said.
The new cases have pushed the northeastern state's COVID-19 caseload to 30,453, he said.
Tripura now has 1,757 active coronavirus cases, while 28,332 people have recovered from the disease and 341 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, the official said, adding 23 patients have migrated to other states.
COVID-19: Schools to remain closed in Delhi till next order
Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday announced that all government and private schools in the national capital to remain closed until next order.
Schools in the national capital are closed since March, days before the lockdown was announced to curb the coronavirus transmission.
Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia said the Delhi Government has decided to increase 1,330 seats in colleges that are under the IP University.
COVID-19: Odisha reports 1,540 new cases, 12 fresh fatalities
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 2,85,482 on Wednesday as 1,540 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Twelve fresh fatalities pushed the coastal state's coronavirus death count to 1,284, he said.
As many as 886 new cases were reported in quarantine centres, while 654 infections were detected during contact tracing, the official said.
Khurda district, under which Bhubaneswar falls, reported the highest number of new cases at 208, followed by Sundergarh (111) and Angul (100), he said.
Two fresh fatalities each were reported in Khurda, Jharsuguda and Nuapada districts, and one each in Nabarangpur, Puri, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Cuttack and Ganjam districts, the official said.
Ganjam has so far reported the highest number of coronavirus fatalities at 228, followed by Khurda (221) and Cuttack (106), he said.
States Urged To Take National Approach Towards Vaccine Criteria: CentreState governments have been urged to take a national approach towards engaging with companies and deciding the criteria for COVID-19 vaccination, the Centre said on Tuesday, asserting that in order to deliver the vaccine to priority groups, there is no problem in terms of resources.
Responding to a question over the BJP's election manifesto promising free coronavirus vaccine for everyone in Bihar, Dr V K Paul, NITI Aayog member (Health), who also heads the National Task Force on COVID-19, at a press briefing said that resources will not be an issue in ensuring access to vaccines as and when it becomes available.
"Overall we can say with responsibility that resources will not be an issue in ensuring access to vaccines. We have requested state governments to wait for overall picture to become clear and to take a national approach towards engaging the companies and deciding the criteria for vaccination. The state governments have made these statements and they should be respected," Dr Paul said.
COVID-19: Pfizer Says It Could Still Deliver A Vaccine In 2020Pfizer executives expressed measured optimism Tuesday over the prospect of providing a coronavirus vaccine in 2020 as the pharma giant reported lower third-quarter profits due to disruption in healthcare that dented drug demand.
Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said the drug giant could supply some 40 million doses in the United States in 2020 if clinical testing proceeds as expected and regulators approve a vaccine.
"If all goes well, we will be ready to distribute an initial number of doses," said Bourla, who pointed to a US government contract for Pfizer to supply 40 million doses by the end of this year and 100 million doses by March 2021.
COVID-19: Arunachal reports 81 new cases, 1 fresh fatalityArunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 14,472 on Wednesday as 81 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
An undertrial prisoner lodged in Jully Central Jail succumbed to the infection at a hospital on Tuesday, taking the state's coronavirus death toll to 36, he said.
The 61-year-old man was admitted to the hospital on October 19. He died due to septic shock, State Surveillance Officer, Dr Lobsang Jampa said, adding the state has reported 18 coronavirus deaths this month.
The Capital Complex region reported the highest number of new cases at 18, followed by East Siang (13) and West Siang (12), he said.
"Two healthcare workers from Lower Dibang valley district are among the new patients," Jampa said.
Arunachal Pradesh now has 2,139 active coronavirus cases, while 12,297 people have been cured of the disease so far, taking the recovery rate among the COVID-19 patients in the state to 84.97 per cent.
COVID-19: Telangana adds 1,481 fresh cases, 4 fatalitiesWith 1,481 new cases, Telangana's coronavirus tally reached 2.34 lakh while fourmore deaths
pushed the toll in the state to 1,319.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 279, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri 138 and Rangareddy 111 districts, a government bulletin said on Wednesday providing data as of 8 PM on October 27.
As many as 17,916 are under treatment and40,081samples were tested on October 27.
Cumulatively 41.55 lakh samples have been tested. The samples tested per million population was 1,11,649, the bulletin said.
COVID-19: 80 new cases push Mizoram's tally to 2,607Mizoram's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,607 on Wednesday as 80 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Twenty-seven school students, the majority of them staying in hostels, 11 Army jawans, and one Mizoram Armed Police (MAP) personnel are among the new patients, he said.
The Army jawans and the MAP personnel had returned from other states, the official said.
Aizawl district reported the highest number of new cases at 76, followed by two in Lawngtlai and one each in Khawzawl and Saitual districts, he said.
Sixty-three of the 80 new cases have been locally transmitted, the official said.
COVID-19: 21 new cases push tally of Andamans to 4,274The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 4,274 on Wednesday as 21 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Five new patients have travel history, while 16 infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Twenty-two more people have been cured of the disease, the official said.
The Union territory now has 197 active coronavirus cases, while 4,019 people have recovered from the disease and 58 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said.
With a jump of 43,893 fresh infections in a day, India's tally neared 80 lakh on Wednesday, government data showed. The country's caseload stood at 79,90,322 while the total death count climbed to 1,20,010 with 508 fatalities in the last 24 hours, it said.
Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally crosses 1 lakh-mark; death count mounts to 876
Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally crossed the 1 lakh-mark on Wednesday as 318 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
The new cases have taken the state's caseload to 1,00,224, he said.
Four more people have succumbed to the infection, pushing the state's coronavirus death count to 876, the official said.
Jharkhand now has 5,474 active cases, while 93,874 people have been cured of the disease so far, he said.
The state has tested 22,162 samples for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the official said.
Number of COVID-19 cases in Mexico tops 900,000
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mexico has topped 900,000, with more than 89,000 deaths, a senior health official reported.
"In the past day, 643 new deaths and 5,942 new cases of COVID-19 have been registered in the system," Jose Luis Alomia, director of epidemiology at the Mexican Ministry of Health, said at a press conference broadcast on the agency''s Twitter.
The total number of confirmed cases has reached 901,268, with another 52,428 people awaiting test results.
Joe Biden insists he'll tackle virus as Trump pushes "super-recovery"Joe Biden flayed Donald Trump on Tuesday with accusations the US President has surrendered to a surging pandemic, as the Democrat took his campaign to the Republican stronghold of Georgia one week before the US election.
While the former vice president went on electoral offense, seeking to expand the campaign map and his state-by-state path to victory on November 3, Trump barnstormed the Midwest in a last-gasp bid to shore up states that voted for him in 2016 but which polls show are tilting Biden's way.
And with the campaign narrowing down to its final days, Biden tapped one of his top surrogates, popular former president Barack Obama, to deliver a closing argument for Democrats in Florida, a must-win swing state for Trump if he is to defy the odds and earn reelection.
Manipur reported 180 new COVID-19 infections today, taking the total cases to 17,604 out of which 4,246 are active cases. Total number of deaths stands at 150.
Meghalaya's COVID-19 Tally Rises To 9,136 With 70 More CasesMeghalaya reported 70 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the tally to 9,136, a senior health official said on Tuesday.
With the death of one more person, the state''s toll has risen to 82, he said.
East Khasi Hills, comprising the state capital, continues to be the worst-affected district with 41 new cases and 802 overall.
Meghalaya now has 1,411 active cases, the official said.
A total of 1.98 lakh samples have been tested so far in the northeastern state.
Mizoram Could Face Shortage Of Medical Facilities In Case Of More COVID-19 Patients Requiring Ventilation: MinisterMizoram Health Minister R Lalthangliana on Tuesday said the state could face shortage of medical facilities if the number of symptomatic patients needing ventilation increases.
He said at least four patients are under ventilation at the Intensive Care Unit in Zoram Medical College (ZMC), the state's lone dedicated COVID-19 hospital.
Noting that the recent spike in coronavirus cases is considered as an indication of community spread, the minister said the state government has already announced a "No Tolerance Fortnight" in Mizoram from Monday and lockdown in Aizawl from Tuesday.
The no tolerance drive will be observed till November 9 while the lockdown in Aizawl municipal area till November 3.
Mr Lalthangliana said at least 485 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the state since October 1 and 166 of them were symptomatic.
He said the state government has set up 14 dedicated COVID-19 health centres in all the districts to treat patients who develop mild and moderate symptoms and to keep under observation people, who are suspected to be infected with the virus.
Besides, "several" coronavirus care centres have also been set up, where asymptomatic patients are kept, the minister added.