Coronavirus cases in India: The total death count in India rose to 92,290 due to COVID-19. (File)
India's COVID-19 case count crossed the 58-lakh mark with a spike of 86,052 new cases. A total of 1,141 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.
The total case count now stands at 58,18,571 including 9,70,116 active cases, 47,56,165 cured/discharged/migrated. The total death count in India rose to 92,290, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
Globally, India has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases, behind the United States where infections crossed 7 million on Thursday.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases:
Before He Tested Positive, S P Balasubrahmanyam Composed A Song On Coronavirus
Ironically, before he tested positive for coronavirus, singer S P Balasubrahmanyam composed music and sung a Tamil song to create awareness about the deadly pathogen with the lyrics brimming with confidence that mankind would eventually win over the pandemic. "I composed this number. Let us listen to this... it is not more musical, it is more lyrical," he had said months ago and his foreword to the song, written by renowned lyricist Vairamuthu.
Popularly known as SPB, he had in the three-minute plus video post urged his fans to pay attention to the depth and import of the words and act accordingly to help prevent the virus spread. The song that begins with "Corona, Corona," goes on to explain that though the virus was pretty small in size, smaller than an atom, it was deadly like an atom bomb and it infected people stealthily.
Varun Dhawan Gets Himself Tested For COVID-19On Fridays, we are usually in the TGIF mood but not actor Varun Dhawan, who decided to start prepping for returning to work. Varun Dhawan was last seen in Street Dancer 3D and his upcoming movie is Coolie No 1, the shooting schedule of which was wrapped in February. For those wondering about Varun's new project, which prompted him to resume work, looks like will have to wait. Varun however is taking all precautions around going back to work in the time of coronavirus. He even got himself tested for the virus, a glimpse of which he shared on his Instagram post. Sharing a photo of himself along with a healthcare personnel in PPE kit, Varun wrote: "Returning to work. With all precautions. Do gaz ki doori. Mask hai zaroori. Swipe to see my test (it always stings). Thank you to all the medical personnel."
Read Coronavirus: How To Use A Fabric Face Mask- 10 Points To NoteCoronavirus: Fabric face masks are supposed to be worn by people who have no symptoms that are related to COVID-19. This includes dry cough, breathlessness, fever and loss of sense of taste or smell to name a few. These masks also need to be worn if you are in a place where COVID-19 outbreak is widespread, where physical distancing of at least one metre cannot be achieved. Social workers, cashiers, servers must all wear fabric face masks. If you are travelling in public transport or are in your workplace, a grocery store or any other crowded environment, then too wearing a face mask is important, mentions the World Health Organization.
Read Coronavirus News: Rajasthan Asks Private Hospitals In 6 District Headquarters To Reserve 30% Beds For COVID Patients
Amid rising cases of the coronavirus in Rajasthan, the state government today asked private hospitals, located at six district headquarters, to reserve 30 per cent beds for COVID-19 patients, reported news agency PTI. Principal Secretary for Health Akhil Arora issued an order to this effect today.
Coronavirus News: Family Of 3 J&K Medics, Who Died Of COVID, Given Assistance Under Centre's Insurance Scheme
The families of two doctors and a healthcare worker from Jammu and Kashmir, who died due to COVID-19 contracted while on duty, have been provided assistance under a central government scheme to grant an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. The doctors are from Pulwama and Bandipora and the healthcare worker is from Baramulla.
Coronavirus News: Mumbai Reports 1,876 New COVID-19 Cases, 48 Deaths
With 1,876 people testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday, Mumbai's infection count reached 1,94,177, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, reported news agency PTI. The death count due to the virus in the country's financial capital rose to 8,703 with 48 new fatalities, it said. The number of recoveries in the city climbed to 1,56,807 after 1,169 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day.
Coronavirus News: One More COVID Death In Noida Takes District's Fatality Count To 51
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded one more COVID-19 fatality today, pushing the district's death count to 51, official data showed, reported news agency PTI. Another 242 people tested positive for coronavirus that took the district's case tally to 12,253, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period. The number of active cases rose to 1,723 from 1,699 on Thursday, it showed.
Coronavirus News: Maharashtra's COVID-19 Count Crosses 13 Lakh-Mark With Over 34,000 Deaths
Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally rose to 13,00,757 today with the single-day addition of 17,794 cases, the state health department said, reported news agency PTI. With the death of 416 patients during the day, the fatality count in the state mounted to 34,761, it said. 19,592 patients were discharged today after treatment, which took the number of recoveries in the state to 9,92,806. There are 2,72,775 active cases in Maharashtra at present, the department said.
Coronavirus News: Testing Of COVID-19 Samples In Tamil Nadu Hits New High
Single day COVID-19 tests in Tamil Nadu hit a new high today with 94,877 samples, while 5,679 cases took the tally to 5,69,370, the state health department said, reported news agency PTI. 72 more fatalities pushed the count to 9,148 The record samples tested today took the cumulative number of specimens examined so far to 69,10,521. As many as 5,626 people were discharged from various facilities after getting cured, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,13,836.
Coronavirus News: Odisha Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Odisha's Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera today said that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and urged all those who came in contact with him to get tested, reported news agency PTI. Mr Behera said that he has some symptoms and is in home isolation. I have tested COVID positive today. Hence I request all my friends and associates who came in contact with me in last 7 days to test and isolate themselves, he said on social media. The minister said that his health condition is stable at present.
Coronavirus News: Andhra Pradesh Reports 8,695 Recoveries, 7,073 Fresh COVID-19 Cases
Andhra Pradesh added 7,073 new cases of COVID-19, taking the overall tally to 6,61,458 today, reported news agency PTI. The latest bulletin said the total recoveries touched 5,88,169 after 8,695 were discharged today. Also, 48 fatalities were reported in 24 hours, increasing the overall count to 5,606. Chittoor and Prakasam reported eight fresh casualties each while Anantapuramu reported six.
Coronavirus News: Contribution Of AIIMS Monumental In COVID Pandemic, Says Health Minister Harsh Vardhan
In these unprecedented times of the coronavirus pandemic, the contribution of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is monumental in ensuring smooth delivery of medical services through tele-medicine and tele-consultations, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said today, reported news agency ANI. While inaugurating the 65th Foundation Day celebrations of AIIMS, the health minister expressed his gratitude for the institution's huge contribution during the COVID pandemic. "More than five million patients have been infected with coronavirus but the healthcare system of India has shown great efficiency in not only providing diagnostic and management facilities but also in keeping the mortality at minimum and recovery at maximum," Dr Vardhan said.
Coronavirus News: India's COVID-19 Recoveries Cross 47.5 Lakh In Steep Upward Trend
On a day when India registered the highest number of tests in a single day with nearly 15 lakhs tests in 24 hours, the trend of high recoveries continues unabated, reported news agency ANI. More than 47.5 lakh patients have recovered so far while 81,177 patients recovered in the past 24 hours. Recovered cases have exceeded active cases by nearly 38 lakhs till date. Spurred by this number of recoveries, the national recovery rate continues to follow a rising curve. It stands at 81.74 per cent today.
Coronavirus News: UP Records 4,519 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, 84 Deaths
Uttar Pradesh reported 4,519 fresh cases of coronavirus and 84 deaths today, taking the infection tally to 3,78,533, officials said, reported news agency PTI. The COVID-19 death count mounted to 5,450 in the state, they said. "As many as 4,519 fresh coronavirus cases were reported in the state in the past 24 hours. While 3,13,686 patients have so far been discharged, the number of active cases in the state stands at 59,397," Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters. "The death count due to the infection has risen to 5,450," he said.
Coronavirus News: Record Number Of Nearly 15 Lakh COVID Tests Conducted In One Day
India has scaled a historic peak in the fight against COVID-19. For the first time, a record number of nearly 15 lakh COVID tests were conducted in a single day, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday, reported news agency ANI. "With 14,92,409 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, the cumulative tests have touched nearly seven crore (6,89,28,440). This exponential surge in the daily testing capacities strongly demonstrates the determined escalation of the testing infrastructure in the country. The last one crore tests were conducted in merely nine days. The Tests Per Million (TPM) stand at 49,948 as of today," the Ministry said in a press statement.
WHO's support for coronavirus vaccine emergency use programme: China
The World Health Organization gave China its support and understanding to start administering experimental coronavirus vaccines to people while clinical trials were still underway, a Chinese health official said on Friday.
China launched its emergency programme in July, having communicated with the WHO in late June, according to Zheng Zhongwei, a National Health Commission official.
Hundreds of thousands essential workers and other limited groups of people considered at high risk of infection have been given the vaccine, even though its efficacy and safety had not been fully established as Phase 3 clinical trials were incomplete.
Some northern hemisphere countries having difficulty sourcing more flu vaccines: WHO
Some northern hemisphere countries are having trouble obtaining additional flu vaccines amid increased demand, but health workers and elderly should be prioritised in case of any shortages, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
"Some countries are having trouble sourcing additional vaccine," Ann Moen, WHO chief of influenza preparedness and response, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva, declining to name any.
Over 80% in Britain not following COVID-19 self-isolation rules: Study
Over 80% of people in Britain are not adhering to self-isolation guidelines when they have COVID-19 symptoms or had contact with someone who has tested positive, a study has found.
A majority were also unable to identify the symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The research raises major questions about the effectiveness of England's Test and Trace programme as Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to keep a lid on rising infection numbers with new restrictions.
Telangana records over 1.81 lakh COVID-19 cases
The surge in coronavirus cases continued in Telangana with the state reporting 2,381 new cases, pushing the state's tally to 1.81 lakh.
The death count rose to 1,080 with 10 more people dying due to the virus in a day, a state government bulletin said.
China's annual production capacity of COVID-19 vaccines expected to reach 610 million doses
China's annual production capacity of COVID-19 vaccines is expected to reach 610 million doses by end-2020, the country's National Health Commission said.
Production capacity of the vaccines is forecast to reach 1 billion doses per year by 2021, Zheng Zhongwei Director General of the Development Centre for Medical Science and Technology of the commission, told a news briefing.
Mizoram's COVID-19 count rises to 1,786
Twenty-six people, including five Assam Rifles personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, pushing the state's virus caseload to 1,786, an official said.
Of the 26 cases, 24 were reported from Aizawl district and one each from Kolasib and Mami districts, the official said.
He said that 23 cases were confirmed at Zoram Medical College (ZMC), 2 at Kolasib and Mamit district hospitals with the help of TrueNat machines and one person was diagnosed at Lengpui airport through Rapid Antigen Test.
Odisha's COVID-19 case count crosses 2 lakh-mark
Odisha's COVID-19 count breached the 2 lakh-mark on Friday as 4,208 more people tested positive for the infection, while 15 fresh deaths pushed the state's coronavirus death count to 767, a health official said.
The new infections, reported from all the 30 districts, have taken the state's caseload to 2,01,096, he said.
Brazil postpones world's biggest carnival due to COVID-19
Rio de Janeiro's world-famous carnival parades became the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic Thursday as officials announced they were indefinitely postponing the February 2021 edition, with Brazil still reeling from Covid-19.
Rio's carnival, the world's biggest, is an epidemiologist's nightmare in a pandemic: an extended festival of tightly packed crowds dancing through the streets and flocking to the city's iconic "Sambadrome" for massive parades featuring scantily clad dancers, small armies of drummers and all-night partying at close quarters.
The event draws millions of tourists from around Brazil and the world to the beachside city each year.
Jharkhand reports 1,349 new COVID-19 cases
Jharkhand's COVID-19 case count rose to 76,438 as 1,349 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Four more patients died due to the infection, taking the state's coronavirus death toll to 652, he said.
Jharkhand now has 12,841 active COVID-19 cases, while 62,945 people have been cured of the disease so far, the official said.
The state has tested 23,482 samples for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, he added.
French PM raises specter of reconfinement as COVID-19 cases rise
France's prime minister warned on Thursday that the government could be forced to reconfine areas if the number of COVID-19 cases did not improve in the coming weeks and defended tough restrictions taken on Wednesday.
"It's a race against time," Jean Castex said on France 2 television. "The public must be attentive and prudent. If we don't act we could find ourselves in a situation similar to spring."
When asked whether France was heading towards a new confinement, Castex said the government did not want to, but left the door open if the situation worsened. "It could mean reconfinement," he said. "The measures we have taken are to anticipate."
Novavax initiates late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial in UK
Novavax Inc started a late-stage trial of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom in partnership with the government's Vaccines Taskforce, sending the company's shares up 6% after the bell.
The study is expected to enroll up to 10,000 participants aged between 18 and 84 years and comes after the vaccine candidate produced high levels of antibodies against the novel coronavirus in a small, early-stage clinical trial.
Record infections in France as restrictions spark outcry
France reported a new record for daily coronavirus infections, a day after the government announced new restrictions on bars and restaurants in major cities which have provoked an outcry from local politicians and business owners.
Figures from Public Health France showed that 16,096 people had tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, a record -- though experts advise that testing during the first coronavirus wave in March-April captured only a fraction of cases.
India's COVID-19 case count crosses 58-lakh mark
India's COVID-19 case count crossed the 58-lakh mark with a spike of 86,052 new cases. A total of 1,141 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.
The total case count now stands at 58,18,571 including 9,70,116 active cases, 47,56,165 cured/discharged/migrated. The total death count in India rose to 92,290, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
US coronavirus cases surpass 7 million
The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States topped 7 million on Thursday - more than 20% of the world's total - as Midwest states reported spikes in COVID-19 infections in September, according to a Reuters tally.
The latest milestone comes just days after the nation surpassed over 200,000 COVID-19 deaths, the world's highest death toll from the virus.
Each day, over 700 people die in the United States from COVID-19.
75% new COVID-19 cases concentrated in 10 states: Centre
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that 75 per cent of new cases of coronavirus in the country are concentrated in 10 States and Union Territories so as 74 per cent of new recoveries.
In a tweet, the Ministry said: "75 per cent of new cases in the country are concentrated in 10 States/UTs. 10 States/UTs also account for 74 per cent of new recoveries. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are among these, reporting higher number of recoveries and new COVID-19 cases too."
Karnataka Increases RT-PCR Testing To Check Covid Mortality RateThe BS Yediyurappa-led Karnataka government has directed its officials to increase RT-PCR testing - considered the gold standard for COVID-19 detection - across the state. The decision was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on "effective testing, tracing, treatment and surveillance" to bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control during a meeting with chief minister of seven states, including Karnataka, that have the highest coronavirus cases in the country.
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