Coronavirus LIVE Updates: World Still at the Beginning of Pandemic, Warns WHO Expert; Trump Says Covid-19 Will Go Away Without Vaccine

UK Will Do Whatever it Takes to Get COVID Testing Working, Minister Says | Britain will do whatever it takes to get the COVID testing system working properly, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said. "We'll do whatever it takes to make sure we have that capacity," he told BBC TV. "We know where the pressure points are, we are piloting new walk-in test centres.

Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai Tests Positive For Covid-19 | Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai tweets that he tested positive for Covid-19 and is in home isolation, being asymptomatic.

ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸದ ಹುಡುಗನಿಗೆ ನಿನ್ನೆ ಕೋವಿಡ್-19 ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೊಂಕು ದೃಢಪಟ್ಟಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಸಹ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಗೆ ಒಳಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ನನಗೂ ಸಹ ಸೊಂಕು ದೃಢಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು, ಯಾವುದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ರೋಗ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳು ಇರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಹಾಗೂ ಆರೋಗ್ಯವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕವಾಗಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ.#COVID19India

— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) September 16, 2020

UK’s Boris Johnson is Set to Face Grilling Today | The UK’s Boris Johnson is set to face a grilling over the “failure” of the country’s test and trace system from MPs at prime minister’s questions (PMQs) today. As the system struggles to cope with soaring demand, people in the worst-hit areas of the UK have been turning up at accident and emergency departments at hospitals to ask for a Covid-19 test.

Ukraine Reports a Record 76 Coronavirus-related Deaths | In Ukraine, a record 76 coronavirus-related deaths were registered in the past 24 hours, the national security council said. The country’s previous record – 72 – was registered last week. The council said 162,660 cases were recorded in the country as of 16 September, with 3,340 deaths and 72,324 people recovered.

WATCH | India Struggles With Medical Oxygen Manufacturing & Supply As COVID-19 Cases Reaches 5-million Mark

Czech Republic Reported 1,677 New Cases | The Czech Republic reported 1,677 new coronavirus cases– its highest daily count since the beginning of the pandemic. As of Monday evening, health ministry data showed the overall number of cases in the country – which has a population of 10.7 million – stood at 38,896.

Odisha Reports Over 4,000 New Cases | As many as 4,270 new COVID-19 cases were reported, 3,714 recoveries and 11 deaths were reported in Odisha. The total number of cases now stands at 1,62,920 so far, including 1,25,738 recoveries, 36,473 active cases and 656 deaths. 

While there’s no clear definition of what constitutes an epidemic wave, a wave by definition would imply a rising number of sick individuals, a defined peak, and then a decline.

Nearly a fifth of South Africans Contracted Covid-19 | Nearly a fifth of South Africans may have contracted coronavirus, the country’s health minister has said. South Africa has recorded 650,749 cases, but the actual number of infections could be “about 12 million”, Zweli Mkhize said.

UPDATE | The government of the state of Victoria in Australia is facing three class-action lawsuits over the lockdowns imposed during Melbourne’s second wave of coronavirus, with potentially thousands of plaintiffs seeking damages. Victoria reported 42 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and eight people died of Covid in the preceding 24 hours.

Suga, 71, won an easy victory, taking 314 votes of 462 valid ballots cast in the lower house of parliament, where his ruling Liberal Democratic Party holds a commanding majority with its coalition…

Confirmed Cases in Germany Increase by 1,901 | The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,901 to 263,663, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed. The reported death toll rose by six to 9,368, the tally showed.

Mexico Reported 4,771 Fresh Cases | Mexico reported 4,771 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 629 additional fatalities, bringing its totals to 676,487 infections and 71,678 deaths, according to updated Health Ministry data. The government has said the real number of infected people is likely to be significantly higher than the confirmed cases.

The DCGI, however, put certain conditions like taking extra care during screening, providing additional information in informed consent and close monitoring for adverse events during follow-up of the…

Mainland China Reported 12 New Covid-19 Cases | Mainland China reported 12 new Covid-19 cases on September 15, up from 8 a day earlier, the country’s national health authority said. The National Health Commission said in a statement that all of the new cases were imported infections involving travellers from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic infections rose to 16 from nine a day earlier, but China does not count them as confirmed cases.

Reaching Herd Immunity in a Viral Pandemic | The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought "herd immunity" to the public consciousness, kindling hope the phenomenon can help slow or even end the outbreak. Herd immunity refers to a large portion of a community developing a degree of immunity to a virus, thereby reducing person-to-person spread. As a result, the whole community gains protection, not just those who are immune.

Today's Data Highlights

- India crosses 5 million cases. 4 million to 5 million in 13 days. 4 states (Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) account for 53% of total cases in India. 

- New cases again over 90k after 83.8k the previous day.

- 1290 new deaths of which 515 from Maharashtra alone. 15th consecutive day of more than 1k daily deaths 

- High of about 83k new recoveries. India's recovery rate is now at 78.5%

- Over 2 lakh COVID-19 deaths in USA (21% of global deaths)

Telangana recorded 2,273 COVID-19 cases, 2,260 recoveries and 12 deaths yesterday, taking total cases to 1,62,844 including 1,31,447 recoveries, 996 deaths and 30,401 active cases

Restrictions to Curb the Spread of Coronavirus in UK | Restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus in the UK has driven stress, anxiety and depression far above normal levels and may do again in coming months if widespread lockdowns are re-imposed, researchers say. A major study into the mental health impact of the pandemic found that in the early stages of lockdown 57% of those who took part reported symptoms of anxiety, with 64% recording common signs of depression.

Here's the state-wise distribution of cases

India's Covid-19 Tally Crosses 50 lakh-mark, 1,290 Deaths Recorded in 24 Hours | India's case tally crosses 50-lakh mark with a spike of 90,123 new cases & 1,290 deaths in last 24 hours. The total case tally stands at 50,20,360 including 9,95,933 active cases, 39,42,361 cured/discharged/migrated & 82,066  deaths. 

5,94,29,115 samples tested up to 15th September for COVID19. Of these, 11,16,842 samples tested yesterday stated the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Half the World’s Schoolchildren are Still Unable to Attend Classrooms | Around 872 million – more than half of whom have not been able to study remotely – are not allowed to attend school in person due to Pandemic, UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore said.

Gyms, Yoga Centre Reopens in National Capital, Owners Exercise Precautions | Gyms re-opened in the national capital on September 14, months after they were closed across the country in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. 

Delhi: Gyms re-opened in the national capital on 14th Sept, months after they were closed across the country in the wake of #COVID19 pandemic. Trainer of a gym in the city says, "Gyms were closed for a long time so we were facing problems. The charges are a little high now." pic.twitter.com/76NFdCfAus

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2020

U.N. Aviation Task Force Eyes Recommendation on Covid-19 Testing by Late October |  UN-led aviation task force aims to make a recommendation by late October on the use of COVID-19 testing to reduce long quarantine requirements that have decimated air travel, two sources said, following a meeting of the group on Tuesday. Airlines and airports have asked the task force to recommend countries accept a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from passengers within 48 hours of traveling from countries with high COVID-19 infection rates as an alternative to 14-day quarantines.

With medical officers refusing to share COVID-19 reports with the government, there was under-reporting of cases in some districts on Tuesday, like- Bagalkote reporting zero cases, Udupi 1 and lesser…

UK's Creaking Covid-19 Test System Puts Health Services at Risk | Britain's testing system for COVID-19 was creaking as a bottleneck prevented people including medics from getting a test, with the government saying it may take weeks to resolve the problem. In an attempt to slow one of the highest coronavirus death tolls in the West, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised in May to create a "world beating" system to test and trace people exposed to the virus.

China Suspends Poultry Imports from Second U.S. Plant Over Covid-19 | China has suspended imports from an OK Foods poultry plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas, because of coronavirus cases among workers, the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council said. China, the world's top meat importer, has blocked products from some plants in foreign countries as part of an all-out effort to control the spread of COVID-19.

Haryana reports 2,493 new Covid-19 cases and 26 deaths on September 15, taking the total number of cases to 98,622 including 77,166 recoveries and 1,026 deaths. There are 20,430 active cases. 

Trump Says Covid-19 will 'Go Way' Because of 'Herd Mentality' | US President Donald Trump has given a town hall in which he said that Covid-19 would go away without a vaccine. This would happen because of “herd mentality,” he said. It is unclear whether he meant herd immunity, as he repeated the phrase several times.