In May, India potentially had 6.4 million COVID-19 infections and for every confirmed case, 82 to 130 infections went undetected, according to the results of the first sero survey conducted by over 50 scientists of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other institutions.
Manoj Murhekar, Director of the National Institute of Epidemiology, the lead author of the study, told The Hindu that the proportion today of those confirmed and those who had probably been exposed to the infection would be still be high but significantly reduced from May.
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:
Shripad Naik discharged
Union AYUSH Minister and Goa Lok Sabha MP Shripad Naik was on Saturday discharged from hospital after recovering from the novel coronavirus infection.
He was admitted in a private hospital here on August 12.
Naik, en route to his house, visited a temple along with a team of doctors that included former chief of Indian Medical Association’s Goa unit Dr Shekhar Salkar.
Over 1 lakh cancer patients have received treatment in Tamil Nadu since March, Minister says
A total of 1,31,352 persons received cancer-related medical treatment in outpatient departments in government hospitals and government medical college hospitals in the State from March to date, according to Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar. Of these patients, 48,647 were admitted for treatment.
In a press release, the Minister said efforts were being taken to provide uninterrupted medical care for cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pandemic to delay reopening of Jagannath temple
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection among the priests is delaying the reopening of the world famous Shree Jagannath Temple.
As many as 167 sevayats (priests) have contracted the virus thus far. Seventy of them, who are yet to recover, are either in home isolation or in COVID care centres. Four sevayats have lost their lives to the disease.
The number of infected sevayats is likely to be much more as many have taken tests without informing the SJTA and some are admitted in private hospitals in Puri and Bhubaneswar.
Double lung transplant on COVID patient
A double lung transplant surgery was successfully performed on a 32-year-old COVID patient at the main branch of KIMS Hospital in the city on Friday.
The patient, Rizwan from Chandigarh, was suffering from sarcoidosis that affected his lungs and deteriorated his health condition rapidly. A double lung transplant was the only permanent option for cure.
The situation worsened when the patient contracted coronavirus while awaiting his double lung transplant. His oxygen requirement increased in these circumstances from 15 litres a minute to 50 litres a minute for the past eight weeks.
DMRC deploys flying squads across stations to keep check on violators
Following complaints on social media from commuters pertaining to co-passengers not wearing masks and adhering to social distancing norms, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday said they have deployed flying squads across corridors to carry out random checks.
The officials said with the flying squad in place, around 150 passengers were “counselled” and ₹200 fine was imposed on 92 passengers each for “creating nuisance".
Building capital buffers, managing liquidity crucial for MFIs: RBI article
As COVID-19 is likely to pose financial risks for microfinance institutions (MFIs), there is a need to build capital buffers and manage cash positions for micro lenders to protect their balance sheets from any disruptions, according to an article published in RBI’s monthly bulletin.
The article, prepared by Snimardeep Singh of Department of Supervision, Reserve Bank of India, said though COVID-19 presents new challenges and significant financial risks for the microfinance sector, it also presents an opportunity to build long-term resilience.
The article termed COVID-19 as the biggest tail risk event in a long time.
- PTI
Dabbawalas ask to be allowed travel on local trains
Mumbai’s dabbawalas or lunch-box carriers have urged the Maharashtra government to permit them to travel in local trains, which are currently running in a restricted manner in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, an official said on Saturday.
Access to local trains will enable dabbawalas to resume their business with full capacity, said Subhash Talekar, president of Mumbai Dabbawala Association.
At present, only people employed in essential services are allowed to travel in suburban trains.
“Dabbawalas are also part of essential services are they deliver food to Mumbaikars. And since most officers are now functioning with reduced capacity, people have been asking us to deliver their meals,” Mr. Talekar said.
Currently, dabbawalas who can reach south Mumbai area on their cycles are able to deliver food to offices, he said, adding that meals are being delivered in keeping with all COVID-19 safety norms.
- PTI
42-year-old succumbs to COVID-19 in Manipur
Dr. Khoirom Shasheekumar Mangang, deputy director of Health and Family Welfare department, said a 42-years-old woman died due to COVID-19 in JN Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday night. With this the number of COVID-19 fatality in Manipur has gone up to 45.
There were reports of conflicting COVID-19 test results. One such instance was that of a migrant worker residing at Paonam Leikai, Naga Mapal, whose first report from Babina Diagnostic centre, Imphal, came positive, but the subsequent second test declared him negative.
A specialist in Imphal told The Hindu that this was not necessarily a case of human error. He said, “There are some factors for such conflicting reports, like whether the samples were collected from nose or mouth, the time gap between the two tests and some others.”
- Iboyaima Laithangbam
Adelaide Oval’s onsite hotel to serve as biosecure bubble for Australia ahead of series against India
The Adelaide Oval’s onsite hotel is set to serve as biosecure bubble for the Australian men’s squad ahead of the high-profile Test series against India later this year, according to media reports.
Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Saturday that its national squad would return form the current tour of the U.K. to Adelaide for its mandatory quarantine period and preparation for the upcoming home season, a report in cricket.com.au said.
Those players not involved in the Indian Premier League, as well as coaching and support staff, will make the Adelaide Oval their home once the white-ball tour of England concludes following Wednesday’s third ODI in Manchester.
They can train throughout their quarantine period at the new Oval Hotel based at Adelaide Oval.
3 policemen suspended after 2 prisoners escape from COVID-19 hospital in U.P.
Three constables, from whose custody two prisoners escaped from a COVID-19 hospital in Chitrakoot, have been suspended, police said on Saturday.
Undertrials Rajju Yadav and Brijlal, who are accused in a rape case, were admitted to the hospital in Koh on September 7. On Thursday early morning, they escaped by breaking the windows of the hospital’s toilet. Brijlal was apprehended late on Thursday night.
Police constables Ashish Kumar, Deepak Kumar and Vijaypal have been suspended prime facie for laxity in connection with the escape of two prisoners from Koh’s COVID-19 hospital, Superintendent of Police, Chitrakoot, Ankit Mittal said on Saturday.
- PTI
60% of total recoveries concentrated in 5 States
With a record 81,533 people recuperating from COVID-19 in a day, India’s total recoveries on Saturday surged to 36,24,196 of which 60% of the cases are from five States - Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
India’s COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.66% while the recovery rate has risen to 77.77%, according to the Union Health Ministry.
- PTI
Antarctica is still free of COVID-19. Can it stay that way?
At this very moment a vast world exists that’s free of the coronavirus, where people can mingle without masks and watch the pandemic unfold from thousands of miles away.
That world is Antarctica, the only continent without COVID-19.
Now, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in weeks or months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them.
- AP
PM Modi's new slogan urges that the pandemic be taken seriously
Cautioning people against lowering their guard till an effective anti-coronavirus medicine is developed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday came up with a slogan in Hindi to drive home his point.
He said, ‘Jab tak dawai nahi, tab tak dhilai nahi’ (No carelessness till a medicine is found).
Mr. Modi gave this slogan while addressing the virtual housewarming ceremony of 1.75 lakh houses built in rural parts of Madhya Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
“Jab tak dawai nahi, tab tak dhilai nahi. Do gaj ki doori, mask hai jaroori (Face mask and maintainting distance of two yards is necessary),” he said.
- PTI
Signs of COVID-19 cases stabilising in Puducherry: Collector
There are signs of COVID-19 cases stabilising in the Union Territory after the isolation of more patients was possible due to the increase in testing, District Collector cum Secretary Health, T. Arun has said.
“The positivity rate was around 35% some time in third week of August but in the last few days, we were able to bring it down to around 20%. This was made possible due to the increase in testing and other interventions in containment zones. But it is too early to conclude that the spread of coronavirus has been contained in the UT,” Mr. Arun told The Hindu.
Testing of people, which had crossed 2,000 per day on September 8, has touched almost 3,800 now. Data released by the Health Department on Saturday morning showed that as many as 3,792 people were tested in the last 24 hours. Of those tested on Saturday, 419 were positive. In the last six days alone around 16,000 people were tested for COVID- 19 in the Union Territory. So far, the Health Department has tested 95,919 people in the U.T., he added.
Telangana docs perform India’s first double lung transplant on COVID-19 patient
Doctors at a hospital in Hyderaba claimed to have successfully performed the country’s first double lung transplant surgery on a 32-year-old COVID-19 patient, who was suffering from sarcoidosis that affected his lungs.
The team of doctors led by Dr. Sandeep Attawar performed the complex procedure on the man from Chandigarh, a release from Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) here said.
After recovery, the patient was discharged on Friday.
- PTI
COVID-19 cases in India cross 46-lakh mark
India’s COVID-19 caseload raced past 46 lakh with a record 97,570 infections being reported in a day, while 36,24,196 people have recuperated so far taking the national recovery rate to 77.77% on Saturday, according to Union Health Ministry data.
The total number of coronavirus cases mounted to 46,59,984, while the death toll climbed to 77,472 with 1,201 people succumbing to the infection in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate due to the coronavirus infection has further dropped to 1.66%. There are 9,58,316 active cases of COVID-19 in the country which comprises 20.56% of the total caseload.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and it went past 40 lakh on September 5.
- PTI
Many endemic species sighted in T.N. during lockdown
The lockdown forced people to largely remain within the confines of their homes, but it was life as usual for birds and a good number of them were sighted by bird watchers here and in other parts of Tamil Nadu.
At least 80 bird species in June and about 83 in July were spotted in the Pallikaranai Marsh, the last remaining wetland in the city, which also attracts migratory birds, according to the Tamil Nadu Forest department.
Members of the Salem Ornithological Foundation (SOF) have recorded 81 endemic bird species in the city in western Tamil Nadu during the COVID-19 lockdown.
With a steep decline in noise pollution and industrial and other human activities coming to a halt, the call or song of birds fill our ears, said wildlife activist K Mohan Raj.
- PTI
HC reduces number of Benches holding physical hearings as COVID-19 cases rise in Delhi
The Delhi High Court on Saturday said it has reduced the number of Benches that would be holding physical hearings due to the “alarming” rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital and majority of lawyers preferring virtual hearings.
According to a note issued by the office of Registrar General Manoj Jain, a full court of the judges of the Delhi High Court deliberated on continuing with physical hearings, which were started from September 1, and decided not to discontinue them completely.
The full court decided that physical hearings would be conducted each day, from September 15 onwards, by one Division Bench and two single judge Benches on rotation. Till now, two Division Benches and three single judge Benches were holding physical courts on rotational basis.
- PTI
Govt.’s ‘well planned fight’ against COVID has put India in ‘abyss of GDP reduction’: Rahul
Taking a dig at the government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said its “well planned fight” against coronavirus has allegedly put India in an “abyss” of GDP reduction of 24%, 12 crore job losses, 15.5 lakh crore additional stressed loans and globally highest daily COVID-19 cases and deaths.
But for the government of India and the media “sab changa si (all is well)”, the former Congress chief said.
Oxford vaccine: DCGI directs Serum Institute of India to suspend recruitment for trials
The Drugs Controller General Of India (DCGI) has directed that there should be no new recruitment for the Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials of the Oxford University’s Covishield vaccine candidate, being manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII) along with pharma major AstraZeneca.
The SII has also been asked to increase the safety monitoring of the subjects who have already been vaccinated as part of the trial and submit the plan and report.
The latest order comes after it asked SII to pause trials of the vaccine candidate following a U.K. volunteer showing potentially adverse symptoms.
Chennai Corpn. to ramp up surveillance in 15,000 streets
The Greater Chennai Corporation will intensify active surveillance in at least 15,000 streets that have not reported any cases so far.
Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash said that over 60% of the 39,000 streets in the 15 zones of the city had registered COVID-19 cases during the pandemic.
City health officer Jagadeesan said the civic body would increase testing in areas that had not registered COVID-19 cases so far. “We will increase the number of fever clinics. Door-to-door surveillance will also be stepped up in such streets,” he said.
New cases have been reported in zones such as Adyar, in streets that have so far not seen any infections. For instance, streets in areas such as Velachery are now seeing COVID-19 cases for the first time. Some of the 987 cases reported on Friday were from streets that had not reported infections so far.
DMRC deploys flying squads across stations to keep check on violators
Following complaints on social media from commuters pertaining to co-passengers not wearing masks and adhering to social distancing norms, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday said they have deployed flying squads across corridors to carry out random checks.
The officials said with the flying squad in place, around 150 passengers were “counselled” and ₹200 fine was imposed on 92 passengers each for “creating nuisance".
Poor response to renewal of bar licences in Gurugram
Around one-third of the bar owners in Millennium City have sought the renewal of the licences since the government decided to grant permission to serve them liquor to the guests starting from this month. Cyber Hub has been hit hard with uncertainty over the opening of the offices in its surroundings.
Of the 91 bars and hotels in the West Zone of the Gurugram Excise Department, including Cyber Hub, only 35 have applied for the renewal of licences since September 1. The department has so far issued licences to 22 of them. Similarly, the East Zone, comprising Sector 29 commercial area and Golf Course Road, has received 66 applications for renewal and 29 of these have been approved. The East Zone has 196 bars and hotels. Eight and 12 bars in West and East Zones respectively had already surrendered their licences before September 1.
Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (Excise, West) Anirudh Sharma told The Hindu that the government had not fixed any deadline for the renewal of the licences keeping in view the unprecedented situation of the pandemic and that its approach was pro-business.
Host of safety measures in place for conducting NEET in T.N.
This year, a host of added precautions and safety norms have been put in place in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, for thee conduct of the NEET examination in Tamil Nadu.
Till last year, candidates were expected to report to the centres an hour in advance. This year, candidates have been allotted staggered shifts to enter the centre from 11 a.m. The exam will begin at 2 p.m.
Candidates can carry a transparent water bottle and a 50-ml sanitizer bottle into the centre and wear masks and gloves. Every year, the candidates are checked and frisked. But this time, body pat frisking will not be done.
A metal detector, with a long handle, will be used. This will be done after a temperature check of the candidate is done with a thermal temperature gun at the entrance.
India votes in favour of UNGA resolution calling for multilateral cooperation
India, along with 168 nations, voted in favour of a COVID-19 resolution in the UN General Assembly that reaffirms international cooperation to respond to one of the greatest global challenges and acknowledges the World Health Organisation’s key leadership role in responding to the outbreak, a reference the U.S. objected to as it opposed the resolution.
The Omnibus Resolution on Comprehensive and Coordinated Response to the COVID-19 pandemic was overwhelmingly adopted by the 193-member General Assembly Friday, with 169 nations voting in favour of the resolution that recognised the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the greatest global challenges in the history of the United Nations .
The U.S. and Israel voted against the resolution and Ukraine and Hungary abstained.
₹500 fine for not wearing face mask in Thane city
In view of the rising coronavirus cases, those not wearing face masks in Thane city of Maharashtra will be fined ₹500. Thane Municipal Commissioner Vipin Sharma issued an order to this effect on Friday night.
Till Friday night, Thane city recorded 29,463 coronavirus positive cases and 885 deaths.
Other municipal corporations in Thane district issued similar orders recently. The administration of neighbouring Palghar district also instructed the people to use face masks.
- PTI
UN General Assembly adopts pandemic resolution
The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution on tackling the coronavirus pandemic over objections from the United States and Israel, which protested a successful last-minute Cuban amendment that strongly urges countries to oppose unilateral economic, financial or trade sanctions.
The world body adopted the resolution Friday by a vote of 169-2. It was a strong show of unity by the UN’s most representative body in addressing the coronavirus, though many countries had hoped for adoption by consensus.
The resolution is not legally binding. It calls for intensified international cooperation and solidarity to contain, mitigate and overcome the pandemic and it urges member states to enable all countries to have unhindered timely access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable diagnosis, therapeutics, medicines and vaccines.
- AP
Maharashtra hits new peak of 24,886 cases
Maharashtra recorded 24,886 fresh COVID-19 cases on Friday, its highest single-day spike yet, taking its total tally to 10,15,681.
With 442 more deaths, of which 393 were reported on Friday and 49 from an earlier period, the State’s death toll has risen to 28,724.
The number of active cases has now risen to 2,71,566. With 14,308 patients being discharged, the total recoveries has surged to 7,15,023. “The State’s recovery rate stands at 70.4%, while its case fatality rate has marginally reduced to 2.83%,” said State Surveillance Officer Dr. Pradeep Awate.
Delhi Metro resumes full services
Delhi Metro resumed its full services on Saturday with the Airport Express Line reopening after a hiatus of over 170 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All corridors of the Metro network are now in operation and the timing of services will follow the pre-COVID-19 schedule of 6 a.m to 11 p.m.
On Monday, the Delhi Metro had resumed services with curtailed operation of the Yellow Line and Rapid Metro.
The Metro services were shut on March 22 to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Postpone pilgrimage to Tirumala: TTD
The Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) has appealed to devotees in Tamil Nadu to postpone their pilgrimage during the Tamil month of Purattasi in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the non-availability of online darshan tickets for many dates in September.
Special Invitee to the TTD Board of Trustees and Local Advisory Committee president A.J. Sekhar said, since darshan tickets were being issued only online and booking had already been done for most of the dates, the devotees should consider postponing pilgrimage to Tirumala this season.
“Those who are able to get ₹300 special darshan confirmed online tickets are welcome to visit Tirumala by road or the Alipiri footpath,” he said.
Private schools ask parents to be invigilators for online tests
Along with work from home, household chores and monitoring online classes for their children, parents have a new responsibility.
With no clarity on when normal academic activities will resume, private school managements have begun conducting online tests for students. What’s more? They have taken parents into confidence, asking them to don the role of invigilators and ensure that their children do not cheat in the tests. Though teachers will be monitoring the test online, parents have been asked to support them.
Assam's monetary aid for cremating COVID-19 victims
The Assam government has decided to pay up to ₹5,000 each for the last rites of COVID-19 patients whose relatives refuse to receive the body or cannot bear cremation expenses.
The amount, according to requirement, would be paid to the administration of a district from the funds provided by the State unit of the National Health Mission, an order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department said on Thursday.
“This is in view of the difficulties communicated by the deputy commissioners regarding the cremation of COVID positive patients,” said Samir K. Sinha, Principal Secretary for Health and Family Welfare.
Diamond industry hit hard by pandemic
The once bustling city of Surat has come under unprecedented slowdown in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as all three sectors driving the city — diamond, realty and textiles — are a shambles, rendering lakhs of people jobless.
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the industry globally, hitting the supply chain and shutting the jewellery sector. But Surat has bore the brunt because it is the largest cluster where nearly 90% of the cutting and polishing work is done.