Coronavirus in India: The country now has 9.66 lakh active cases of coronavirus. (File)
India reported 86,508 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours taking its coronavirus tally past the 57-lakh mark, shows the Health Ministry's COVID-19 data; the country reported 1,129 deaths in this period.
With 87,374 people having beaten COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the number of total recoveries remained more than the number of new infections for the sixth consecutive day, the data shows. The total coronavirus recoveries now stands at 46,74,987. The overall recovery rate in the country has crossed 81 per cent.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the need to increase focus on "effective testing, tracing, treatment and surveillance" to bring the coronavirus outbreak in the country under control. In his virtual review meet with Chief Ministers of seven states with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country this evening, he also spoke of the need for clear messaging to dispel rumours about testing.
"Effective messaging is also necessary because most COVID19 infections are without symptoms," PM Modi said. "In such a situation, rumours may rise. It might raise doubts in the minds of the people that testing is bad. Some people also make mistake of underestimating the severity of infection," he added.
Here are the live updates on Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases:
Congress MLA Narayan Rao Dies Of COVID-19 In Bengaluru
Congress MLA B Narayan Rao, who was undergoing treatment for coronavirus, died on Thursday, news agency PTI reported. Mr Rao was admitted on September 1 after being diagnosed with severe COVID-19 infection, Manipal Hospital Director Dr Manish Rai said in a statement.
COVID-19+ Woman Delivers Quadruplets In UP, One Baby On VentilatorA coronavirus positive woman delivered four babies at BRD Medical College in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district, officials said on Thursday.
"While three babies are healthy, the fourth one is on a ventilator. The mother is also healthy," BRD Medical College Principal Ganesh Kumar said.
The 26-year-old woman, a resident of Deoria district's Gauri Bazar, reached the medical college's trauma centre on Tuesday night and tested positive there.
With the efficient team of doctors and paramedical staff, the woman delivered the quadruplets on Wednesday, he said.
Read Singer SP Balasubrahmanyam On Maximum Life Support; Kamal Haasan Visits HospitalCelebrated singer S P Balasubrahmanyam is on maximum life support after his condition deteriorated in the last 24 hours, Chennai's MGM Healthcare hospital said in a medical bulletin on Thursday. The singer's close friend, actor Kamal Haasan, visited the hospital on Thursday night. SPB, as the singer is fondly called, has been in hospital since August 5 after testing positive for COVID-19. The 74-year-old singer no longer has the coronavirus - he tested negative on September 8 - but he could not be taken off the ventilator because of the condition of his lungs, Mr Balasubrahmanyam's son S P Charan said earlier this month.
Read Does Covid Spread From The Dead? Bhopal AIIMS' Deep-Dive To Find OutA team of scientists from AIIMS in Bhopal is conducting a research to check whether coronavirus infection can spread from the bodies of people who have died due to the highly contagious viral infection.
There have been reports of people - even by families - not giving dignified burial or cremation to those who have died of COVID-19 due to fear of infection. In July, eight bodies believed to be of those who died of COVID-19 and wrapped in plastic sheets were seen being tossed into a common pit for burial in a disturbing video in Karnataka's Ballari district.
"Initial findings haven't revealed presence of the virus on the body's surface or its multiplication on the body's surface, which is in line with the scientific point of view," AIIMS-Bhopal Director Professor Sarman Singh told NDTV.
Read Chhattisgarh records 2,272 new COVID-19 cases, 10 deathsWith 2,272 new COVID-19 cases and 10 more deaths, Chhattisgarh's total count rose to 95,623 and the count to 752 on Thursday, a health official said.
A total of 589 people were discharged from various hospitals following their recovery, while 1,471 patients completed their home isolation during the day, taking the tally of recoveries to 58,833, he said.
The state now has 36,038 active cases, he said.
4,568 Police personnel tested positive for coronavirus in Assam
At least 4,568 Assam Police personnel have tested positive for coronavirus so far, according to GP Singh, ADGP L&O.
"September 24th 2020 - Assam Police 4,568 personnel have tested positive till date. 4,367 have recovered. The recovery rate is upwards of 95 per cent. 3,549 have rejoined duties. Unfortunately, we've lost twenty colleagues till date," tweeted GP Singh, ADGP L&O.
With a spike of 86,508 new cases and 1,129 deaths, India's COVID-19 count reached 57,32,519 on Thursday, which includes 9,66,382 active cases, and 46,74,988 cured, discharged, or migrated patients, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
COVID-19: Karnataka reports 7,710 new cases, tally rises to 5,48,557
Karnataka on Thursday reported 7,710 new cases for novel coronavirus, along with 6,748 discharges.
According to the state health department, 65 people died due to the pathogen today.
A total of 5,48,557 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state so far.
Of which, there are 95,549 active cases, 4,44,658 patients were discharged and 8,331 people have died due to the virus.
With a spike of 86,508 new cases and 1,129 deaths, India''s COVID-19 count reached 57,32,519 on Thursday, which includes 9,66,382 active cases, 46,74,988 cured, discharged, or migrated patients, and 91,149 deaths, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
183 new coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad, three deathsAhmedabad reported 183 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, raising the number of cases
in the district to 35,671, the Gujarat health department said.
The district also reported three COVID-19 deaths, increasing the death count to 1,810, it said.
With 123 patients being discharged during the day, the recoveries in the district rose to 29,617, it said.
Ahmedabad city reported 156 new cases while the rural parts reported 27.
All the three deaths were reported in the city.
Pune reports 3,521 new COVID-19 cases, 78 deathsPune district reported 3,521 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking its COVID-19
count to 2,65,204 on Thursday, a health official said.
He said the death count rose to 6,032 with 78 more patients dying due to the infection in the western Maharashtra district.
Also, 1,328 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, the official said.
"Of the 3,521 cases, 1,512 were reported from areas under Pune Municipal Corporation limits, where the tally rose to 1,37,330.
"With 784 cases, Pimpri-Chinchwad's count increased to73,260," he said.
Nashik records 1,176 COVID-19 cases, 2,310 recoveries; 24 dieThe count of COVID-19 cases in Nashik district of Maharashtra crossed the 68,000-mark and
rose to 68,829 on Thursday with the addition of 1,176 new patients, health officials said.
The virus claimed 24 more lives, which took the death count in the district to 1,249, they said.
Of these, 10 victims were from areas within Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits, 12 from other parts of the district, one from Malegaon town and one from outside the district who was receiving treatment here, the officials said.
Goa reports 673 new COVID-19 cases, 490 recoveries; 7 deathsAs many as 673 new cases of the COVID-19 infection were reported in Goa on Thursday, taking
the statewide tally to 30,552, a health department official said.
He said 490 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, raising the number of recovered cases to 24,347.
Seven patients died due to the infection, pushing up the death count to 383 in the coastal state, the official said.
In all, 2,111 samples were tested of which 673 came out positive, he said.
684 fresh COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand, 13 patients die due to infectionAs many as 684 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand on Thursday taking the state's pandemic tally to 44,404 while 13 more infected people died at different hospitals, the government health bulletin stated.
Dehradun district reported the highest number of 161 positive cases, Udham Singh Nagar 131, Almora 114, Haridwar 80, Nainital 58, Uttarkashi 42, Pauri 32, Pithoragarh 27, Chamoli 17, Rudraprayag 14, Champawat 5 and Bageshwar 3, the state health department bulletin said.
Meanwhile, 13 more COVID patients died in the state taking the toll to 542, it said.
2,304 new coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh, 45 deaths, 2,327 recoverMadhya Pradesh on Thursday saw 2,304 new coronavirus cases being reported, which took the
case count in the state to 1,15,361, the health department said.
The death count due to the pandemic went up to 2,122 with 45 fatalities during the past 24 hours, it said in a statement in the evening.
Eight persons died in Indore, five in Gwalior, two each in Bhopal, Jabalpur, Morena, Neemuch, Shahdol, Damoh, Khandwa, Rajgarh and Tikamgarh, one each from Khargone, Ujjain, Sagar, Dhar, Ratlam, Barwani, Rewa, Sehore, Hoshangabad, Satna, Dewas, Katni, Shajapur and Harda.
2,327 patients were discharged after treatment during the day, taking the recoveries in the state to 90,495.
62 more fatalities push West Bengal's COVID-19 toll to 4,606West Bengal's COVID-19 death count jumped to 4,606 on Thursday with 62 more fatalities,
while 3,196 new infections pushed the coronavirus tally to 2,37,869, a bulletin issued by the health department said.
Since Wednesday, 3,014 patients have recovered from the disease, bettering the discharge rate to 87.46 per cent.
The number of active cases stood at 25,221, it said.
In the past 24 hours, 43,432 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the state, the bulletin added.
Nagaland reports more recoveries than new COVID-19 casesSingle-day recoveries outnumbered new COVID-19 cases in Nagaland on Thursday as 89 people were cured of the disease and 59 tested positive for the infection, Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom said.
The fresh infections pushed the state's tally to 5,730.
"State reported 89 recoveries of COVID-19 patients 45 from Kohima, 39 from Dimapur, 3 from Zunheboto and 2 from Tuensang," the minister said on Twitter.
The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients in the state is currently at 80.24 per cent, Health Department Additional Director Dr Denis Hangsing said.
19,164 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, 459 deathsMaharashtra's coronavirus case tally rose to 12,82,963 on Thursday with addition of 19,164
cases, the state health department said.
With 459 fatalities being reported during the day, the death count in the state reached 34,345, it said.
A total of 17,185 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the recoveries in the state to 9,73,214, it said, adding that the state now has 2,74,993 active cases.
Mumbai reported 2,163 new cases during the day, which pushed its overall case count to 1,92,427, while its death count rose to 8,658 with 54 new fatalities.
Pune added 1,572 COVID-19 cases, raising its tally to 1,47,634, while 26 deaths took death count to 3,355.
Gujarat reports 1,408 new COVID-19 cases; 1,410 dischargedGujarat's coronavirus tally rose to 1,28,949 with the addition of 1,408 new cases on
Thursday, the state health department said.
With 14 more deaths, the COVID-19 toll in the state increased to 3,384, it said.
At the same time, as many as 1,410 patients were discharged from hospitals, raising the number of recovered cases to 1,09,211, the department said in a release.
With this, the state's recovery rate rose to 84.69 per cent, it said.
A total of 61,904 COVID-19 tests were conducted in a single day at a rate of 952.37 tests per day per million population, the release said.
Tamil Nadu records 5,692 new COVID-19 cases; 66 deathsTamil Nadu recorded 5,692 fresh COVID-19 cases and 66 deaths, taking total infection count to
5,63,591 and the count to 9,076 on Thursday, the state Health department said.
As many as 5,470 people were discharged from various healthcare facilities after getting cured, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,08,210.
The number of active cases stood at 46,405, a bulletin issued by the department said.
A total of 90,607 samples were tested on Thursday as the cumulative number of specimens examined so far to 68,15,644.
52 deaths, 7855 new COVID-19 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh
As many as 52 deaths and 7,855 new COVID-19 cases have been reported from Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours, the state health department informed on Thursday.
With this, the total number of cases in the state stands at 6,54,385, including 69,353 active cases and 5,79,474 recoveries, So far, 5,558 deaths have been reported in the state.
Meanwhile, with a spike of 86,508 new cases and 1,129 deaths in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count reached 57,32,519 on Thursday.
3,834 fresh cases push Delhi's coronavirus tally to 2,60,623With 3,834 fresh coronavirus cases, Delhi's infection tally breached the 2.60-lakh mark on Thursday, while the death count mounted to 5,123, authorities said.
Thirty-six fatalities due to COVID-19 were recorded in the last 24 hours.
The infection tally in the national capital now stood at 2,60,623.
According to the Delhi government's health bulletin, 59,183 tests -- 9,814 RTPCR/CBNAAT/True Nat tests and 49,369 rapid antigen tests -- were conducted.
The number of containment zones was now 2,059.
Maharashtra Police records 161 new COVID-19 cases
As many as 161 personnel of the Maharashtra Police have tested positive for COVID-19 and one died in the last 24 hours.
According to the police, the total number of coronavirus cases in the state force has gone up to 21,988. This includes 3,381 active cases, while 18,372 people suffering from the infection have recovered and 235 have lost their lives due to the virus.
"161 police personnel of Maharashtra Police tested positive for #COVID19 and 1 died in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections in the state force to 21,988 including 3,381 active cases, 18,372 recovered cases, and 235 deaths," the Maharashtra Police has said.
3,834 fresh cases push Delhi's coronavirus tally to 2,60,623; death count due to COVID-19 mounts to 5,123: Authorities.
Kerala's Covid single day surge crosses 6000; tally breaches 1.50 lakh markKerala's single day COVID-19 cases soared to 6,324 on Thursday, the highest so far, as the total infection count crossed the 1.50 lakh mark.
On Wednesday, the state had reported 5376 positive cases.
As the state government increased the sample testing in the last 24 hours to 54,989, the positive cases have crossed 6,000 for the first time.
So far, 26,00,359 samples have been tested.
The state's infection tally has touched 1,53,456, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
While 3,168 recovered from the infection today, the active cases are 45,919 and so far 1,07,850 have been discharged after treatment.
The state also reported 21 deaths, which occurred since September 19, due to Covid, taking the count to 613.
9,78,448 people dead across the world from coronavirus: ReportThe novel coronavirus has killed at least 978,448 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Thursday.
At least 31,975,020 cases of coronavirus have been registered. Of these, at least 21,891,500 are now considered recovered.
On Wednesday, 6,318 new deaths and 304,210 new cases were recorded worldwide. Based on latest reports, the countries with the most new deaths were United States with 1,228 new deaths, followed by India with 1,129 and Brazil with 869.
The United States is the worst-hit country with 201,910 deaths from 6,934,233 cases. At least 2,670,256 people have been declared recovered.
After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil with 138,977 deaths from 4,624,885 cases, India with 91,149 deaths from 5,732,518 cases, Mexico with 74,949 deaths from 710,049 cases, and United Kingdom with 41,862 deaths from 409,729 cases.
COVID-19 patients' family will be tested at doorstep: MinisterThe Tamil Nadu government has taken steps to identify those with coronavirus by going
door-to-door to contain the spread of the infection in the district, state Municipal Administration Minister, S P Velumani said Thursday.
For this purpose, 20 mobile testing vehicles would be used. The vehicles would have a lab technician, a nurse and a health worker, he said during a review meeting of COVID-19 situation with senior officials of various departments.
He said the ambulances would go to houses of those who had already tested COVID-19 positive, and test their family members and others in contact.
The Minister further said those testing positive would be sent for treatment. This would help control the spread, he said.
61 more COVID-19 cases reported in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh recorded 61 new cases for the novel coronavirus on Thursday, according to the state health department.
Out of 13,110 patients infected so far, 9,173 have recovered, 3,771 active cases persist and the death count stands at 141.
Solan district here has witnessed the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases (2,726), out of which 763 are still active.
Seven districts haven't reported any new cases in the last 24 hours while the recovery rate has increased with 236 patients cured since last fortnight. Shimla had the highest number of fresh cases, 31, while Sirmour accounted for 93 recoveries in the past 24 hours.
Centre allows states to spend up to 50% of disaster response fund to fight COVID-19The Centre has allowed states to spend up to 50 per cent money from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to boost infrastructure such as quarantine facilities, testing laboratories, oxygen generation plants and purchase of ventilators and PPE kits to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told chief ministers of the seven worst affected states on Wednesday that his government has increased the states' limit to spend the SDRF to boost infrastructure to fight the pandemic.
In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, the Union Home Ministry said that it has partially modified list of items and norms of assistance for containment measures of COVID-19, eligible from SDRF by way of special one-time dispensation with the overall capping of 50 per cent for the financial year 2020-21.
The areas where the states can spend up to 50 per cent of the SDRF include quarantine, sample collection and screening facilities.
UP records 4,674 fresh COVID-19 cases, 67 more deathsUttar Pradesh's COVID-19 tally climbed to 3,84,277 on Thursday with 4,674 fresh cases, while the death toll mounted to 5,366 as 67 more people succumbed to the disease.
The number of active cases in the state stands at 61,300, officials said.
"As many as 4,674 fresh coronavirus cases were reported in the state in the past 24 hours," Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.
"While 3,17,611 patients were treated and discharged, the number of active cases in the state is 61,300. The death toll due to the infection rose to 5,366," he said.
For the past one week, the number of fresh cases is less than the number of people discharged after treatment, Mr Prasad said.
Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde tests COVID-19 positive
Maharashtra Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said he has tested positive for coronavirus, and urged all those who came in contact with him to get themselves tested.
Mr Shinde attended the state cabinet meeting earlier this week.
He is the 13th state minister to be infected by the disease.
"I conducted my COVID-19 test yesterday and have tested positive. Health is fine thanks to the blessings of you all. Requesting all who came in my contact over the past some days to take proper care and get themselves tested," the minister tweeted.
UAE reopens all seven regions to foreign visitors
The United Arab Emirates will resume issuing visas to foreign visitors to all seven of its regions as of Thursday after a six-month suspension imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported.
Dubai, the region's tourism and business hub and one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, had already lifted its own visa ban in July.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship said in a statement carried in state media that the decision was taken as part of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the Gulf state as well as efforts to support economic recovery plans.
16 deaths, 4,340 more COVID-19 cases in Odisha
As many as 4,340 new COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths have been reported from Odisha in the last 24 hours, the State Health Department informed on Thursday.
Odisha's COVID-19 tally now stands at 1,96,888 cases, including 38,818 active cases and 1,57,265 recoveries.
As many as 752 fatalities have been reported so far.
Israel toughens second lockdown as virus cases surge
Israel toughened its coronavirus measures on Thursday as a second nationwide lockdown now nearing its second week failed to bring down the world's highest infection rate.
The new rules will close the vast majority of workplaces, shutter markets and further limit prayers and demonstrations.
"Over the past two days, we've heard from experts that if we don't take immediate and harsh measures, we'll reach an abyss," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday, at the start of a cabinet meeting to thrash out the new measures.
The government's latest move comes as the country is poised to enter the second week of a three-week lockdown imposed last Friday, which included the closure of schools and restrictions on work and leisure.
75% of 86,508 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours concentrated in 10 states/Union territories: Health ministry
Seventy-five per cent of the 86,508 COVID-19 cases reported in a span of 24 hours in the country are concentrated in 10 states and Union territories, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Chhattisgarh, the health ministry said on Thursday.
Maharashtra continues to top this list. It has alone contributed to more than 21,000 cases, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka with more than 7,000 and 6,000 coronavirus cases, respectively.
The ten states and UTs are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, the ministry said.
Tripura reports 451 new COVID-19 cases, 7 more fatalities
At least 451 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Tripura on Thursday, pushing the tally in the state to 23,789, a health department official said.
The death toll rose to 257 with seven more people succumbing to the infection, he said.
West Tripura district, of which state capital Agartala is a part, has accounted for 142 of the 257 COVID-19 deaths, the official said.
COVID-19:Daily new recoveries surpass new cases for six days
Nearly 74 per cent of the new COVID-19 recoveries are from 10 states and UT, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, UP, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.
Daily new recoveries in India have surpassed the new cases of coronavirus infection for the the last six days and the country's total COVID-19 recoveries have surged to 46.7 lakh exceeding active cases by more than 37 lakh.
A total 87,374 people have recuperated in a span of 24 hours in the country, while the number of new confirmed cases reported is 86,508, according to the data updated at 8 am.
With its focussed strategies and effective people-centric measures, India is reporting exponential increase in recoveries, the ministry said.
Odisha logs highest-one-day spike of 4,340 COVID-19 cases, record 16 fatalities
Odisha on Thursday registered its highest single-day spike of 4,340 COVID-19 cases, which raised the tally to 1,96,888, while record 16
fatalities pushed the death toll in the coastal state to 752,
a senior health department official said.
Of the 4,340 fresh cases, 2,517 were reported from various quarantine centres, and the rest were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Khurda, of which state capital Bhubaneswar is a part, accounted for the maximum number of new cases at 653, followed by Cuttack at 567 and Puri at 203. Seventeen other districts recorded over 100 cases each in the last 24 hours.
COVID-19 tally breaches 8K-mark in Arunachal with highest one-day spike of 289 cases
Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday reported its highest single-day spike of 289 COVID-19 cases, which took the tally in the northeastern state to 8,133, a senior health department official said.
Barring 21, all new patients are asymptomatic and have been shifted to COVID-19 care centres, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr L Jampa said.
"Ten security personnel -- six from the Assam Rifles, two from the Indo Tibetan Border Police, one each from the Army and the Indian Reserve Battalion -- are among the new patients," the SSO said.
Of the 289 fresh cases, 173 were reported from the Capital Complex region, 17 from Changlang, 13 from East Siang, nine each from Papumpare and Pakke Kessang, eight each from Namsai, Lohit, and West Siang, seven from Upper Subansiri and six each from Anjaw, Longding, Upper Siang and West Kameng.
Puducherry adds 668 fresh COVID-19 cases, overall tally rises to 24,895
Puducherry on Thursday logged 668 new COVID-19 cases taking the overall tally to 24,895, a top Health department official said.
As many six patients including four women succumbed to the infection during the last 24 hours ending 10 am today taking the toll to 487, Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said.
The 668 new cases were identified at the end of examination of 5,945 samples, he added.
Of the 24,895 coronavirus cases in the union territory, there were 5,097 active cases while 19,311 patients had recovered and were discharged apart from 487 fatalities.
The Health department Director said so far 1,55,025 samples were tested and of them 1,25,215 samples tested negative.
Jharkhand reports 1,141 new COVID-19 cases, 7 more fatalities
Seven more people succumbed to COVID-19 in Jharkhand, pushing the death toll to 648, while 1,141 fresh cases raised the tally in the state to 75,089, a senior health department official said on Thursday.
Jharkhand currently has 12,882 active cases, while 61,559 have recovered so far.
As many as 21,755 samples were tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the official added.
Telangana reports 2,176 new COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths
Telangana reported 2,176 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally of positive infections to 1,79,246, while the death toll rose to 1,070 with eight more fatalities, the State government said.
Out of the 2,176 fresh cases, 308 were recorded in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), followed by Rangareddy (168), Medchal Malkajgiri (151), Nalgonda (136), Karimnagar (120) and other districts, a government bulletin said on Thursday, providing data as of 8 pm on September 23.
The cumulative recovered cases stood at 1,48,139, while 30,037 were under treatment.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands COVID-19 tally rises to 3,712
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 3,712 on Thursday as 21 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Twenty new patients were detected during contact tracing, while one has travel history, he said.
Fifteen more people have been cured of the disease, the official said.
The Union territory now has 166 active coronavirus cases, while 3,494 people have recovered from the disease and 52 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said.
UK To Host "Human Challenge" Trials For COVID-19 Vaccines: Report
Britain is planning to host clinical trials where volunteers are deliberately infected with the new coronavirus to test the effectiveness of vaccine candidates, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people involved in the project.
So-called "challenge trials" are expected to begin in January at a quarantine facility in London, the report said, adding that about 2,000 participants had signed up through a U.S.-based advocacy group, 1Day Sooner.
Coronavirus Mutating, Potentially Evolving, Shows Study Amid US SurgeScientists in Houston on Wednesday released a study of more than 5,000 genetic sequences of the coronavirus, which reveals the virus's continual accumulation of mutations, one of which may have made it more contagious.
That mutation is associated with a higher viral load among patients upon initial diagnosis, the researchers found.
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JustIn| Over 57 lakh COVID-19 cases in India, 86,508 fresh cases; 1,129 deaths in 24 hours, 91,149 total deaths
COVID-19: International travellers to be tested by RAT on arrival for home isolation, says Punjab Minister
International travellers, who do not submit a negative COVID-19 test report on arrival at Airport in India, will be tested by Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) kits for the infection, said Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu.
If Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) comes negative for COVID-19, Sidhu said that the person may opt for home qurantine.
After tested by RAT, these people will get tested for COVID-19 on the fifth day of arrival by RT-PCR as per protocol at their respective districts. When reports come and if they test negative, their home quarantine will end.
2,061 inmates, 421 jail staff test COVID-19 positive in Maharashtra prisons
As many as 2,061 inmates and 421 jail staff have been tested positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra prisons so far, according to the state Prison Department on Wednesday.
Six inmates and five jail staff have succumbed to the disease till Wednesday. The highest number of positive cases has been reported at Pune's Yerawada Central Prison, where 261 inmates and 43 staff tested positive for the disease.
Meanwhile, 1,767 inmates and 372 jail staff recovered from the infection and have been discharged as well.
COVID-19: West Bengal government extends period of austerity measures till March 2021
The West Bengal government has decided to extend the period of austerity measures taken to meet the expenditure for tackling the coronavirus pandemic from this September to March 31 next year.
"The validity of this department memorandum specifying additional austerity measures to be followed by all state government and semi state government offices to tackle the huge unforeseen expenditure for combating Covid-19 disease in our state extended upto September 30.
"Now, the validity of the memorandum is further extended upto March 31 or until further order, whichever is earlier," a finance department said in an order on Tuesday.
Testing, Tracing, Treatment, PM's Message To States Hit Worst By CovidPrime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the need to increase focus on "effective testing, tracing, treatment and surveillance" to bring the coronavirus outbreak in the country under control. In his virtual meet with Chief Ministers of seven states with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country this evening, he also spoke of the need for clear messaging to dispel rumours about testing.
"Effective messaging is also necessary because most COVID19 infections are without symptoms," PM Modi said. "In such a situation, rumours may rise. It might raise doubts in the minds of the people that testing is bad. Some people also make mistake of underestimating the severity of infection," he added.
The states attending today's meet include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab. More than 63 per of the active cases in the country are concentrated in these seven states, reported news agency Press Trust of India quoting government officials.
UP Government Allows Trial Of COVID-19 Vaccine "Covaxin" In Lucknow, GorakhpurThe Uttar Pradesh Government on Wednesday allowed the phase-3 trial of anti-COVID-19 vaccine "Covaxin" in Lucknow and Gorakhpur. The vaccine is currently being tested by Bharat Biotech Ltd in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad conveyed the government's permission to test the anti-COVID-19 vaccine in the two cities through a letter to Bharat Biotech International Limited's director V Krishna Mohan.
"Kindly refer to your letter dated September 19, 2020, for permission and facilitation to initiate the COVAXIN Phase 3 Efficacy and Safety clinical trials in Uttar Pradesh. It has been decided to allow Bharat Biotech to conduct Phase-3 trial in Lucknow and Gorakhpur," Mr Prasad said in his letter.
COVID-19: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Asks Centre To Share 50 Per Cent Of RT-PCR Test CostTamil Nadu on Wednesday reported 5,325 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 5,57,999 while the death count mounted to 9,010 with 63 more fatalities.
With 5,363 patients getting discharged from various hospitals, the cumulative number of cured people breached the five lakh mark.
The state has tested (RT-PCR) 67,25,037 samples, including 84,979 on Wednesday, and Chief Minister K Palaniswami urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a virtual meet on the pandemic situation to fund at least 50 per cent of the cost of the tests, an official release said.
The positivity rate in the state has come down from a high of 10.47 per cent in July to 6.2 per cent currently, he said.
West Bengal's COVID-19 Count Tops 4,500-Mark With 61 More DeathsWest Bengal's COVID-19 death count surged past the 4,500-mark on Wednesday after 61 more patients died due to the virus, even as the coronavirus tally went up to 2,34,673 with 3,189 fresh cases, the health department said in a bulletin.
The state has so far reported 4,544 COVID-19 fatalities.
Twelve deaths were reported from the metropolis, while North 24 Parganas accounted for 11 fatalities, it said, adding, 49 people died due comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental.
4 Lucknow Hospitals Get Notice For Covid-Protocol ViolationFour private hospitals were issued notices on Wednesday for alleged non-adherence to COVID protocols after the recent deaths of 48 coronavirus patients, an official said.
"In some hospitals, cases have been detected where, prime facie, the protocols (for treating patients) were not followed. And, when they went to COVID hospital after being referred, they died," an official of the Lucknow district administration said.
A notice has been issued to the hospitals under the Epidemic Diseases Act and they have to send details, according to the official.
"The protocol for the non-COVID hospital is that if any patient in serious condition arrives there, then he/she should be put in the holding/trial area and the treatment should begin," an official said.
At that point of time, a COVID-19 test is done and if the result is negative, then full-fledged treatment of the patient begins. Else, the person is shifted to a COVID hospital, the official said.
Medical examination of things will also be done and case history of patients will also be looked into, the official said.