The COVID-19 challenge isn't over yet, the Union Health Ministry said in a press conference. "While the overall situation in the country has improved, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Karnataka still have high active case load," the Ministry added. "The second wave isn’t over and we still have districts in the red zone," the Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 92.60 crore on October 6, the Union Health Ministry said. More than 40 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday till 8:30 PM.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
Maharashtra govt to launch 'Mission Kawach Kundal' to ramp up COVID-19 vaccination: Health minister Rajesh Tope
Maharashtra will undertake a special vaccination drive against coronavirus from October 8 to 14, with a target of inoculating 15 lakh people everyday, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday.
The 'Mission Kawach Kundal' is being undertaken as the Centre has set a target to inoculate 100 crore people by October 15, Mr. Tope told reporters, adding that Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a discussion with him over this on Wednesday.
Mr. Tope said Mr. Mandaviya told him that Maharashtra should play a greater role in this initiative and also assured him that there will be no shortage of vaccines for the state. - PTI
Russia's infections reach the highest level so far this year
Russia's daily coronavirus infections soared Thursday to their highest level so far this year as authorities have struggled to control a surge in new cases amid a slow pace in vaccinations and few restrictions in place.
The daily coronavirus death toll topped 900 for a second straight day, with 924 new deaths reported Thursday — a day after reaching a record 929.
Russia already has Europe's highest death toll in the pandemic — topping 213,000 — and a conservative way of calculating the number suggests the actual number could be even higher. - AP
Religious places reopen in Maharashtra; CM visits Mumbai temple on first day of Navratri
After remaining closed for nearly six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, religious places reopened in Maharashtra on Thursday, with devotees seen visiting various temples and mosques in Mumbai and other places since early morning.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackarey along with his wife Rashmi Thackeray and two sons Aaditya and Tejas visited the Mumba Devi temple here around 8.45 am and offered prayer to the Goddess, as the reopening of religious places coincided with the beginning of the nine-day Navratri festival.
Since early morning, devotees were seen visiting various temples in the state capital Mumbai while adhering to the mask and social distancing norms.
Mosques in the city also witnessed a steady stream of the faithful since morning.
The CM and his family members, all wearing masks and following the social distancing rule, were there in the Mumba Devi temple premises for about half-an-hour. - PTI
Over 93.94 cr Covid vaccine doses sent to states, UTs so far: Govt
More than 93.94 crore Covid vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union Territories so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.
Over 7.64 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs for inoculation, it said.
The Union government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country, the ministry said in a statement. - PTI
Health Ministry press conference
The overall COVID-19 situation has improved.
Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Karnataka still have a high active case load. The second wave isn’t over and we still have districts in the red zone.
The COVID-19 challenge isn’t over yet.
- Bindu Shajan Perappadan
PTI adds:
India still reporting as high as 20,000 infections a day; Kerala recorded 50% of total cases last week: Govt.
Kerala has over 1 lakh active COVID-19 cases currently; 4 states have active cases between 10,000 and 50,000.
Government says 34 districts across nine states and UTs reporting weekly positivity rate of more than 10 %.
Government says 28 districts across 12 states, UTs reporting weekly positivity rate between 5 and 10 %.
Goverment warns people of COVID-19 surge during festival, wedding season
Dasara festivities begin in Mysuru amid COVID-19 restrictions
The famous 10-day long Dasara festivities commenced in this palace city on October 7 with religious fervour, amid the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic for the second consecutive year.
Celebrated as 'Nada Habba' (State festival), the festivities began with senior political leader and former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna and Chief Minister B Basavaraj Bommai along with other dignitaries showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru royals, atop the Chamundi Hill. -PTI
Modi inaugurates 35 PSA oxygen plants established under PM CARES fund
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated 35 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants established under the PM CARES fund across 35 states and union territories in an event at AIIMS Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.
With this, all districts of the country will now have commissioned PSA oxygen plants, the PMO has said.
PM Modi inaugurates 35 PSA oxygen plants established under PM CARES fund
Uzbekistan starts producing Russian Sputnik V vaccine
Uzbekistan has started producing the Russian-developed Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine domestically in a joint project with Russia, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's office said on October 7.
The Central Asian nation also manufactures the Chinese-developed ZF-UZ-VAC2001 vaccine on its territory.
Finland pauses use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in young men
Finland will pause the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for men born in 1991 and later due to reports of a rare cardiovascular side effect, the institute for health and welfare said on October 7.
Swedish and Danish health officials had announced on October 6 afternoon they would pause the use of the Moderna vaccine for all young adults and children. -Reuters
Moderna plans mRNA vaccine factory in Africa
Moderna plans to invest about $500 million to build a factory in Africa to make up to 500 million doses of mRNA vaccines each year, including its COVID-19 shot, as pressure grows on the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture drugs on the continent.
Moderna's proposed site will also include bottling and packaging capabilities. The company said it would begin the process of deciding the country and location soon. -Reuters
WHO working to get COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea
The World Health Organisation is working to ship COVID-19 medical supplies into North Korea, a possible sign that the North is easing one of the world's strictest pandemic border closures to receive outside help.
WHO said in a weekly monitoring report that it has started the shipment of essential COVID-19 medical supplies through the Chinese port of Dalian for “strategic stockpiling and further dispatch” to North Korea. WHO officials on Thursday didn't immediately respond to requests for more details, including what those supplies were and whether they had yet reached North Korea. -AP
Malaysia buys 150,000 courses of Merck's COVID-19 pill
Malaysia has struck a deal with U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co to buy 150,000 courses of its experimental antiviral pill, the health ministry said on October 7, joining other Asian countries in a rush to secure supplies.
Molnupiravir, which would be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19 if it gets regulatory approval, could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalised for those most at risk of contracting severe COVID-19, clinical data has shown. -Reuters
Merck and Singapore sign deal on COVID-19 antiviral pill
Pharmaceutical company Merck announced on October 6 a supply and purchase agreement with Singapore that will ensure it access to its experimental oral COVID-19 antiviral drug, the latest Asian country aiming to get supplies.
The drug Molnupiravir is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the coronavirus and would be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19. Merck is seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the pill. -Reuters
Temples in Maharashtra open after more than a year
After a COVID-19-induced hiatus of more than a year, religious places across Maharashtra opened their doors to devotees on Thursday with several big temple trusts making online booking compulsory in a bid to preclude overcrowding.
Also read: Maharashtra BJP launches protest for reopening temple
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who, along with his wife Rashmi Thackeray and State Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray, offered worship at Mumbai’s Mumba Devi Temple, cautioned the public to strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
COVID-19: Religious places in Maharashtra open doors after more than a year
Prohibitory orders imposed for annual Maa Kalua Yatra
The Ganjam district administration has imposed prohibitory orders in an area here to prevent crowds during the annual Maa Kalua Yatra, an official said.
Section 144 of the CrPC will be from the Kalua temple to a pandal in Gosani Nuagam, the official said on Wednesday.
The prohibitory order has been imposed as there were apprehensions of possible spread of COVID-19 infection, Berhampur Sub-Collector Keerti Vasan said. -PTI
U.S. cannot stop issuing visas during travel bans, federal judge rules
A U.S. federal judge has declared it unlawful for the State Department to use travel bans issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as a reason to stop processing visas for otherwise eligible travellers that include technology professionals from India, according to a media report.
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of private individuals and a coalition of immigration law firms with support from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), over the State Department's refusal to issue visas during the pandemic, Northjersey.com reported. -PTI
Active COVID-19 cases in country lowest in 204 days
With 22,431 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,38,94,312, while the active cases declined to 2,44,198, the lowest in 204 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on October 7.
The death toll climbed to 4,49,856 with 318 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 30,000 for 13 straight days.
The active cases comprise 0.72% of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.95%t, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said. -PTI
India has won Covid battle; govt effectively managed pandemic: Indigo CEO
India has won the battle against COVID-19 and the virus will be history by 2023, IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta said on October 5 as he lauded the Indian government for doing a "very good" job of dealing with the pandemic.
A study conducted by researchers of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Imperial College London has stated that rise in tourism and mass congregations due to social, religious or political events can lead to a surge in COVID-19 cases, worsening an anticipated third wave scenario in India. -PTI
Sydney to exit COVID-19 lockdown next week after vaccination rate hits 70%
COVID-19 restrictions will be eased further in Sydney from October 11 , authorities said, as Australia's largest city looks set to exit a nearly four-month lockdown after hitting its 70% full vaccination target.
Fully vaccinated people in New South Wales (NSW) State will be able to leave their homes for any reason including visiting pubs, retail stores, cinemas and gyms, which will reopen under strict social distancing rules. -Reuters
Venezuela says IMF has not delivered COVID-19 funds amid dispute
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on October 6 that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not yet delivered funds under a program to help countries battle the COVID-19 pandemic, amid a dispute over the government's legitimacy.
In August, the IMF authorized Venezuela to receive around $5 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) as part of a $650 billion global effort to boost liquidity for the world's most vulnerable countries, but said it could not use them. -Reuters
Airlifting of vaccine will continue during closure of Pune airport: IAF
The Indian Air Force on October 6 said it will ensure that transportation of Covishield vaccine will not be disrupted during a planned 14-day closure of the runway at the Pune International Airport.
The airport authorities on October 5 informed that it will remain closed from October 16 to 29 as the IAF will be undertaking runway resurfacing work.
The aerodrome is part of the the Air Force's Lohegaon base. -PTI
U.K. lifts travel advisory against all but essential travel for 32 countries
The U.K. government’s travel advisory warning against "all but essential travel" on public health grounds was updated on October 6 to lift COVID-19 related restrictions for 32 countries, including Bangladesh and Malaysia.
India was not among the countries covered by this complete travel ban, which impacts travellers’ ability to access travel insurance. The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the change means people will be able to travel to a larger number of destinations with greater ease. -PTI
Italy says mRNA COVID jab effectiveness stable after 7 months, but not for all
Seven months after the second dose, there is no reduction in the efficacy of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in the general population in Italy, while a slight decline is seen for some specific groups, the National Health Institute (ISS) said on October 6.
The report led by ISS and the health ministry examined data up to August 29 from more than 29 million people who had received two doses of an mRNA vaccine such as those produced by Pfizer and Moderna. -Reuters
Brazil clears travelers from the U.K., South Africa and India to enter the country
Brazil has lifted a restriction that blocked people coming from the United Kingdom, South Africa and India from entering the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a decision published in the country's official gazette late on October 5.
The South American country said the measure applies to travelers arriving by air. They will only need to show a negative test for the coronavirus, which means vaccination proof is not required. -Reuters
Bharat Biotech submits clinical trial data of Covaxin in children to CDSCO
Bharat Biotech, which completed the Phase 2/3 trials of COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for use in children under 18 years of age, has submitted the data to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for its verification and subsequent approval for Emergency Use Authorisation for the jab, company sources said on October 6.
"Covaxin clinical trial data of 2-18 years age group has been submitted to CDSCO...This is feasible due to the safety of the manufacturing platform and empirical evidence from Phase 1,2 and 3 clinical trials in adults," sources told PTI. -PTI
China to provide medical assistance, 1 million vaccines to Nepal to tackle possible third COVID-19 wave: Minister
China will provide Nepal medical assistance worth 5 million RMB (USD 775,590) and an additional 1 million anti-COVID-19 vaccines to help the country tackle a possible third wave of the pandemic, Minister of State for Health Umesh Shrestha announced on October 5.
The announcement by Mr. Shresta came after his meeting with Chinese ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi during which various matters related to health affairs of the country were discussed. -PTI
Sweden, Denmark pause Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for younger age groups
Sweden and Denmark said on October 5 they are pausing the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for younger age groups after reports of possible rare side effects.
The Swedish health agency said it would pause using the shot for people born in 1991 and later as data pointed to an increase of myocarditis and pericarditis among youths and young adults that had been vaccinated. Those conditions involve an inflammation of the heart or its lining. -Reuters
Canada to put federal workers who refuse COVID-19 vaccination on unpaid leave
Canada's federal employees who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are not exempt from getting the shots will be put on administrative leave without pay, officials said on October 5, while domestic air, train and cruise ship travelers and workers will soon have to show proof of vaccination.
Federal employees will be required to show proof of vaccination through an online portal by October 29. Workers and travelers on trains, planes and cruise ships operating domestically must show they have been inoculated by October 30. -Reuters
Sudan receives 500,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine
Sudan on October 6 received more than 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer, the first batch of a U.S. donation of 1.27 million doses through the COVAX facility, UNICEF said in a statement.
Sudan has administered 1.5 million vaccine doses to date, UNICEF said. The country's population is around 42.3 million. -Reuters
U.A.E. claims to have ‘overcome’ COVID crisis
The United Arab Emirates declared on October 6 that it has overcome the COVID-19 crisis, recording its lowest number of infections this month since summer last year.
“I wanted to assure you all that our lives must go back to normal,” said Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in footage published by the official WAM new agency.
“There are some changes in how we work, in our families’ studies or our personal lives... but we thank God for everything,” said the de facto UAE ruler.
UAE claims to have ‘overcome’ COVID crisis
Domestic air-passenger traffic rises 2-3% in Sept. from August, says Icra
India’s domestic air-passenger traffic grew marginally by 2-3% to about 69 lakh in September as compared with about 67 lakh in August, credit rating agency Icra said on October 6.
When compared year-on-year (Y-o-Y), air-passenger traffic growth stood at about 74% in the month under review over September 2020.
Airlines witnessed about 61,100 departures in September as compared with 39,628 in the same month of 2020, it said, adding that on a sequential basis, the number of departures in the month gone by were higher by about 6%, as COVID-19 infections demonstrated a downward trajectory.
Domestic air-passenger traffic rises 2-3% in Sept. from August, says Icra
Jharkhand CM inaugurates 27 PSA plants built under PM CARES fund
Chief Minister Hemant Soren on October 6 inaugurated 27 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants, built under the PM CARES fund, in 19 districts of Jharkhand.
The move comes a day before the scheduled inauguration of several PSA units by Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the country at a programme to be held at AIIMS Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. -PTI
Zimbabwe reopens bars, but only for vaccinated drinkers
Zimbabwe is allowing bars to reopen for the first time in more than a year, but only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to take a swig from inside the premises.
The southern African country closed pubs and nightclubs in March 2020 as part of restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and had ignored pleas by owners to ease the restrictions to rescue their collapsing businesses. -AP
27 PSA oxygen plants inaugurated in Delhi
The Delhi government on October 6 inaugurated 27 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generating plants and two cryogenic oxygen refilling plants in State-run hospitals across the capital.
The PSA plants can generate 31 metric tonnes of the life-saving gas a day, while the cryogenic refilling plants have a cumulative capacity of 12 metric tonnes. -PTI
COVID-19 side effect may include redness of hands, feet: Study
Redness and inflammation in the hands and feet, referred to as COVID-19 toe condition, may be one of the side effects of COVID-19, a new study published in the ‘British Journal of Dermatology’ has noted.
Scientists studying the skin condition believe it could be the human immune system's response to the virus which causes COVID-19 and usually develops within one to four weeks of being infected. It can result in fingers and toes becoming swollen or changing colour and also causes some chilblain-type lesions. -PTI
