Covid vaccine: DCGI has allowed Serum Institute to restart its phase two and three clinical trials
Coronavirus Latest Updates: India's COVID-19 case tally has crossed the 50-lakh mark with a spike of 90,123 new cases and 1,290 deaths - the highest the country has seen in 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said. The total number of people who have died because of the disease now stands at 80,776. The country now has a total of 50,20,359 coronavirus cases, including 9,95,933 active cases (20.08 per cent of the total caseload), the data stated.
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr VG Somani on Tuesday gave permission to Serum Institute of India to resume clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the country while revoking its earlier order of suspending any new recruitment for phase two and three trial.
The DCGI, however, put certain conditions like taking extra care during screening, providing additional information in informed consent and close monitoring for adverse events during follow-up of the study which have to be "scrupulously" followed by Serum Institute of India (SII).
The DCGI had on September 11 directed Serum Institute of India to suspend any new recruitment in the phase two and three clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate till further orders in the backdrop of pharma giant AstraZeneca pausing the clinical trials in other countries because of "an unexplained illness" in a participant in the study.
Here are the Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases:
Coronavirus update: Couple create ruckus at COVID testing centre
A couple were booked for allegedly creating ruckus at a COVID-19 testing centre, damaging patients' samples and testing kits in Ambegaon area on Wednesday.
Both, incidentally, tested positive for the viral infection, PTI reported.
The couple, who were visiting the centre at Laxmibai Hazare Hostel for an antigen test, lost their temper when civic employees asked them to stand in a queue, said an official of the Bharti Vidyapeeth police station.
Coronavirus update: 61 more COVID-19 patients die in Bengal; 3,237 new cases detected
Sixty-one people died due to COVID-19 in West Bengal on Wednesday pushing the death count to 4,123, the state health department said in a bulletin.
Coronavirus update: Odisha reports record 4,270 new COVID-19 cases, 11 fresh fatalities
Odisha registered its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as 4,270 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Coronavirus update: Chandigarh Mayor Raj Bala Malik tests COVID-19 positive
Chandigarh Mayor Raj Bala Malik on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19. Posting on Twitter Ms Malik requested those who came in contact with her in the last three days to isolate themselves and get tested if they showed any symptoms of the virus.
Coronavirus update: Pune district records 4,656 new COVID-19 casesPune district reported 4,656 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its count to 2,35,852 on Wednesday, a health official said.
Coronavirus update: Assam's COVID death count rises to 511, recovery rate crosses 80 per cent
The COVID-19 death count in Assam crossed the 500-mark with 19 more fatalities on Wednesday, while 2,394 fresh cases took the tally to 1,48,969, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Coronavirus update: Delhi records highest single-day spike of 4,473 COVID-19 cases; tally reaches 2.3 lakh
Delhi registered a record single-day spike of 4,473 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the city's infection tally to over 2.3 lakh, while 33 more deaths were reported, authorities said.
Coronavirus update: No ban on COVID-19 patients' movement to Bhubaneswar, Odisha government clarifies
The Odisha government on Wednesday said that it has asked district authorities to strengthen COVID-19 care facilities at the local level, but did not put any ban on the movement of patients to Bhubaneswar and
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Coronavirus update: Calcutta High Court Allows Family Of COVID-19 Victims To Perform Last RitesThe Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed that the body of a COVID-19 patient will be handed over to the family for cremation after completion of hospital formalities, provided post mortem of the dead body is not required.
Observing that the right to dignity and fair treatment under Article 21 of the Constitution is not only available to a living person but also to his body after his demise, the court said that it is of the view that the right to live a dignified life extends up to the point of death including the dignified procedure of death.
Coronavirus update: Soth Africa to "cautiously" reopen borders as lockdown easesSouth Africa will reopen its borders to most countries next month, the president said Wednesday, part of a wider easing of anti-coronavirus measures announced as figures continue to improve.
The continent's most industrialised economy shuttered its borders at the start of a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 to limit the spread of the virus.
Coronavirus update: 23,365 more COVID-19 cases reported in Maharashtra
A total of 23,365 new COVID-19 cases and 474 deaths were reported in Maharashtra on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 11,21,221 in the state. According to the health department, a total of 17,559 patients were discharged today.
Coronavirus update: Chhattisgarh records 3,189 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths
Chhattisgarh reported 3,189 new COVID-19 cases and 23 more fatalities, taking the statewide tally to 73,966 and the count to 611 on Wednesday, a health official said.
The Union Territory of Ladakh reported 36 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths today; 19 patients cured and discharged: Department of Information & Public Relations, Ladakh
Jharkhand reports 1,618 new COVID-19 cases and 8 deaths, taking total cases to 66,074 including 51,357 recoveries and 579 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 14,138: State Health Department
Assam reported 2,394 COVID-19 cases today, taking total cases to 1,48,969 including 1,16,900 recoveries, 31,555 active cases and 511 deaths: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
More than 9,700 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka; Active cases go past 1 lakh again
Karnataka on Wednesday reported 9,725 new COVID-19 cases and 70 deaths, taking the total infections to 4.84 lakh and the deaths to 7,536.
The day also saw 6,583 patients getting discharged after recovery, while the total number of active cases in the state once again crossed one lakh mark, the Health department said. Of the fresh cases, as many as 3,571 were from Bengaluru Urban district.
Cumulatively 4,84,990 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 7,536 deaths and 3,75,809 discharges, a health department bulletin said.
Maharashtra's coronavirus count rises by 23,365
Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally rose to 11,21,221 on Wednesday with the single-day addition of 23,365 cases, the state health department said. Due to the death of 474 patients during the day, the fatality count in the state mounted to 30,883, it said.
A total of 17,559 patients were discharged on Wednesday after treatment, taking the number of recoveries in the state to 7,92,832, it said, adding that the state now has 2,97,125 active cases.
Mumbai city reported 2,378 positive cases during the day, which pushed its overall case count to 1,75,974, while its deaths rose to 8,280, of which 50 were reported on Wednesday.
Recoveries eclipse fresh COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu for 11th day in a row
Recoveries outnumbered fresh COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu for the 11th straight day on Wednesday with the cumulative number of those cured rising to 4.64 lakh, while the infection count mounted to 5.19 lakh.
The state added 5,652 fresh cases taking the tally to 5,19,860 while the death toll mounted to 8,559with 57 more fatalities, a government bulletin said.
The day saw 5,768 patients getting discharged from various hospitals as the trend of recovering eclipsing new cases continued since September 6. Totally 4,64,668 people have got cured and the active cases stood at 46,633.
Kerala logs single-day highest spike of 3,830 COVID-19 cases
A single-day highest ever spike of 3,830 COVID-19 cases in Kerala took the state's infection count to 1,17,863 on Wednesday, the government said.
The state also recorded 14 deaths, taking the deaths due to the disease to 480, Health Minister KK Shailaja said. "Out of those infected today, 49 came from abroad, 153 from other states while 3,562 contracted the virus through contacts. At least 66 health workers are also infected," she said.
Mumbai's Dharavi records 15 new COVID-19 cases
The COVID-19 tally in Mumbai's slum colony Dharavi rose to 2,960 on Wednesday with the addition of 15 new cases, the city civic body said.
On Tuesday, seven new cases were found in the slum-dominated area.
A senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said 2,545 patients from Dharavi have already recovered from the infection and discharged from hospitals. The civic body has, however, stopped sharing death figures from Dharavi for the past few months.
Janta curfew in Nagpur on next Saturdays and Sundays: Mayor
Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Nagpur Mayor Sandip Joshi on Wednesday said "Janta curfew" would be observed in the city on Saturdays and Sundays during remaining two weeks of this month.
"A meeting will be convened after September 30 to decide whether the curfew will be extended," Joshi told reporters after attending a meeting with municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B, corporators and local representatives.
Nagpur district on Wednesday registered 2,052 new coronavirus cases, taking its tally to 57,482, the local administration said.
Stop playing on back foot while tackling COVID-19: Gujarat High Court to state government
The Gujarat High Court has asked the state government to "stop playing on the back foot", after noting that it has been caught unawares by the rise in COVID-19 cases in certain cities.
In its order on a suo motu (of its own accord) plea on the COVID-19 situation, a division bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala directed the state government to issue appropriate orders to the concerned authorities "to put all the districts across the state on high alert" and take action to curb the surge of cases by following the "Ahmedabad model".
Noida reports 223 new COVID-19 cases
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Wednesday recorded 223 new COVID-19 cases, taking the district's infection tally to 10,705, official data showed.
The number of active cases rose to 1,966 from 1,928 on Tuesday, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period.
On the brighter side, 185 more patients got discharged during the period and the total number of recoveries in the district reached 8,691, the data showed.
Jammu and Kashmir records 1,590 new COVID-19 cases, total count reaches 58,244
Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday recorded 1,590 fresh COVID-19 cases, while 18 deaths took place in the last 24 hours, officials said.
The total number of cases in the union territory has now risen to 58,244 and the deaths increased to 932, they said.
"The UT recorded 1,590 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours with 832 in Jammu and 768 in Kashmir valley," the officials said.
Delhi records highest single-day spike of 4,473 COVID-19 cases
Delhi records highest single-day spike of 4,473 COVID-19 cases pushing caseload to over 2.30 lakh, deaths rise to 4,839: Authorities
Lower COVID-19 cases in East and West Godavari districts; 8,835 cases in Andhra Pradesh
The two Godavari districts, East and West, continued to witness a virulent spread of coronavirus while most other districts in Andhra Pradesh seemed to be gradually lowering their numbers as the state reported 8,835 fresh cases on Wednesday.
The latest COVID-19 bulletin said 10,845 patients had fully recovered in 24 hours ending 9 AM on Wednesday, while 64 more have died. The states COVID-19 table now showed a total of 5,92,760 positive cases, 4,97,376 recoveries and 5,105 deaths. The active cases came down further to 90,279, according to the bulletin.
Odisha health department issues COVID-19 precautionary measures for Assembly session
The Health and Family Welfare Department of Odisha government has issued precautionary measures for prevention and containment of the novel coronavirus during the monsoon session of the state Legislative Assembly starting on September 29.
Speaker SN Patro called a meeting on September 7 with the authorities where it was decided that Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will provide all infrastructure and Health Department will deploy required doctors and medical staff with testing materials etc in Assembly premises so that all facilities are in position before testing.
The Speaker also directed to observe precautionary measures during the session of the Legislative Assembly in view of the prevailing situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delhi: 45% jump in number of containment zones in last 10 days; home isolation cases up by 50%
There has been an increase of 45 per cent in the number of containment zones in the national capital in the last 10 days, while home isolation cases of COVID-19 also jumped by over 50 per cent to reach 16,576 during the period, according to official data.
Between September 6 and 15, the city recorded over 4,000 daily fresh cases on six days, with September 12 registering 4,321 infections, the highest single-day spike here till date.
Delhi Metro services also resumed in a graded manner from September 7-12.
17 new cases push COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 3,574
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 3,574 on Wednesday as 17 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Eight new patients have travel history, while nine infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
The fresh infections have taken the number of active coronavirus cases in the archipelago to 204, the official said.
76 fresh COVID-19 cases take Himachal Pradesh's tally to 10,412
The COVID-19 deaths in Himachal Pradesh rose to 90 on Wednesday with one more fatality, while 76 fresh cases pushed the infection tally in the state to 10,412, officials said.
One COVID-19 death was reported from Kangra district, Special Secretary, Health, Nipun Jindal said.
Solan and Kangra each accounts for 19 of the total COVID-19 deaths in the state, followed by Shimla (14), Mandi (11), Una (nine), Sirmaur (six), Hamirpur and Chamba (five each), and Kullu and Bilaspur (one each).
COVID-19 negative certificate not needed to enter Himachal Pradesh: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday said the COVID-19 negative certificate will not be needed to enter the state from now onwards.
Mr Thakur added that the move would result in reviving the state economy as more tourists will now be able to come to Himachal Pradesh.
"Now that the state has opened its borders, no registration will be required to enter and exit the state. The tourism business will be opening after this and this will help to revive the economy of the region. After the monsoon season, tourism will start as the tourist arrival begins here after monsoon," he said.
Russia to sell Sputnik-V vaccine to Dr Reddy's Laboratories in India: Report
Russia's sovereign wealth fund has said it will supply India's Dr Reddy's Laboratories with 100 million doses of the Sputnik-V vaccine against COVID-19 once it receives regulatory approval in the country.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) added that it had agreed to cooperate on clinical trials and the distribution of the vaccine with the firm.
Rajasthan reports 7 more COVID-19 deaths, count rises to 1,271
Rajasthan recorded seven more coronavirus-related deaths, taking the overall count in the state to 1,271, according to a health department bulletin.
The state also reported 802 new cases today, which pushed the total number of infections to 1,06,700, of whom 17,541 people are under treatment, it said. So far, 86,333 people have been discharged after treatment.
In Jaipur, the death toll from the coronavirus infection has reached 304 till now.
Indonesia reports biggest daily rise in coronavirus cases
Indonesia reported its biggest daily rise in coronavirus infections with 3,963 new cases on Wednesday, data from the country's health ministry showed. Indonesia has now reported 228,993 infections.
The data added 135 new COVID-19 related deaths, taking the total to 9,100, the biggest death count in Southeast Asia.
Long Queues As Coronavirus Testing Crisis Hits UKAmid growing anger over a bottleneck in Britain's creaking coronavirus testing system, the government promised on Wednesday to do whatever it takes to boost laboratory capacity that has left people across the land with no way to get a COVID-19 test.
Positive results in phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trials: China
China and the United Arab Emirates have seen some positive results in their Phase III COVID-19 vaccine trials, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The United Arab Emirates on Monday granted emergency approval for use of a coronavirus vaccine, six weeks after human trials in the Gulf Arab state started.
EU chief calls for "European Health Union" amid pandemic
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, urged EU members to build a stronger health union on Wednesday, promising a biomedical research agency and a global summit.
In her first annual State of the European Union address, Von der Leyen said the coronavirus pandemic had underlined the need for closer cooperation. "The people of Europe are still suffering," she said.
Delhi BJP chief tests positive for coronavirus
Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said he has tested positive for COVID-19.
"Last week, I took a COVID test after having light fever. Its report was negative. I was tested again since I was feeling unwell. The report has now come as positive," he tweeted in Hindi.
Mr Gupta said he was in quarantine during the last week and advised those who had come in his contact to get themselves tested.
Over 30 vaccine candidates supported, 3 in advance trials: Centre
The government says more than 30 vaccine candidates for coronavirus have been supported, and three of them are in advance stages of trials now, while four are in advanced pre-clinical development stage.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also told the Rajya Sabha that 13 clinical trials of repurposed drugs have been undertaken to build a portfolio of therapeutic options for COVID-19 patients.
"More than 30 vaccine candidates have been supported which are in different stages of development, 3 candidates are in advanced stage of Phase I, II, III trials and more than 4 are in advanced pre-clinical development stage," he said.
No data on death, injury to people during lockdown: Centre
The Centre said it has no data on death or injury caused to people in enforcing the countrywide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy's written reply in Rajya Sabha came in response to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's question in this regard.
Social distancing globally won't help combat COVID-19; world needs multilateralism: UN
Social distancing at the global level will not help as no country could combat COVID-19 alone, President of the UN General Assembly's 75th session Volkan Bozkir has said, asserting that multilateralism is the "panacea" to all the problems in the world.
Mr Bozkir, addressing the UN ambassadors and delegates, said that since the beginning of the crisis earlier this year, critics of multilateralism have become more vocal and the pandemic has been used to justify unilateral steps and weaken the rules-based international system.
Congress wants scientific basis behind lockdown decision
Congress MP Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha says the health minister on Tuesday said that the decision to impose lockdown prevented approximately 14 to 29 lakh COVID-19 cases and 37,000-78,000 deaths, says "The House must be informed what is the scientific basis on which we've reached this conclusion," he questioned.
Arunachal Pradesh reports 170 new Covid-19 cases
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 case count rose to 6,466 as 170 more people, including 24 security personnel, tested positive for the virus, a health department official has said.
The COVID-19 death count rose to 13 in the northeastern state after two people in Changlang district died due to the infection, State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
Telangana reports 2,273 new COVID-19 cases
As many as 2,273 new COVID-19 positive cases and 12 deaths were reported in Telangana, taking the total number of cases to 1,62,844, informed the State Health Department.
According to the health department, the total number of cases include 1,31,447 recoveries and 996 deaths so far.
At present, there are 30,401 active cases in the state. The recovery rate stands at 80.71 per cent, while the death rate is 0.61 per cent.
Coronavirus cases cross 50 lakh-mark in India
India's COVID-19 case tally crosses 50-lakh mark with a spike of 90,123 new cases and 1,290 deaths in last 24 hours - the highest in the country in 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry has said.
The total number of coronavirus cases now stands at 50,20,360, including 9,95,933 active cases as India's recovery rate rose to 78.28 per cent. A total of 39,42,361 patients stand cured.
PM insurance scheme for health workers extended for 90 days
The "Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19", which was announced on March 30 this year for 90 days, has been extended for a further period of 90 days.
"The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19 was extended for a further period of 90 days i.e. up to September 25. The scheme has now been extended for another 180 days i.e. 6 months," according to a government release.
The scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and therefore, at risk of being infected. It also includes accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19.
RJD leader gives zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha over COVID-19 and impact on migrants
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha has given zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over COVID-19 and its impacts on the migrant workforce.
Bahujan Samaj Party MP Veer Singh has given a zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over "increase in unemployment due to lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic."
Coronavirus pushed 37 million into extreme poverty: Gates Foundation
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed almost 37 million people into extreme poverty besides reversing the progress made in the health sector for past several decades, a report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said. It said the "widest-ranging catastrophe" - the one that has hit every country regardless of the actual spread of the disease - is economic.
Citing a projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the report said the global economy will lose $12 trillion or more by the end of 2021 despite spending of $18 trillion in trying to stimulate growth around the world.
Japan commits $165 million to WHO's global coronavirus vaccine programme
Japan said on Tuesday it has committed 17.2 billion yen ($165 million) in funds for its participation in the World Health Organization's COVID-19 vaccine programme.
The programme, known as COVAX, is aimed at helping buy and fairly distribute vaccination shots against the novel coronavirus around the world. But some countries which have secured their own supplies through bilateral deals, including the United States, have said they will not join.
The funds are part of a 1.64 trillion yen reserve intended to bolster the government's response to the virus, a government document showed.
Donald Trump says coronavirus vaccine could be ready in a month
US President Donald Trump has said that a coronavirus vaccine may be available within a month -- an acceleration of even his own surprisingly optimistic predictions -- but added that the pandemic could go away by itself.
"We're very close to having a vaccine," he told a town hall question-and-answer session with voters in Pennsylvania.
"We're within weeks of getting it you know -- could be three weeks, four weeks," he said.
Coronavirus update: 8,846 more COVID-19 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh
A total of 8,846 more cases for novel coronavirus were reported in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday which took the tally to 5,83,925 in the state.
According to the data, a total of 70,511 samples were tested on Tuesday.
Coronavirus update: 7,576 new COVID-19 cases reported from Karnataka
A total of 7,576 new COVID-19 cases and 97 deaths were reported in Karnataka on Tuesday, said state's health department.
"With the addition of new cases, the total number in the coronavirus cases in the state reached 4,75,265, with 98,536 active COVID-19 cases and 3,69,229 discharges," the state health department said.