Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey on Tuesday told the Rajya Sabha that only 10 States — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu , Chhattisgarh, Telengana, Odisha, Assam and Kerala — contribute 77% of active cases in the country.
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:
Minister discharged from hospital
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister Sevoor S. Ramachandran, who had tested positive for COVID-19, was discharged from Apollo Hospitals on Wednesday.
A press release issued by the hospital said the Minister was discharged after successful treatment and complete cure from COVID-19. He was admitted to the hospital on September 8 for COVID-19 treatment.
17 new cases push COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 3,574
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 3,574 as 17 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Eight new patients have travel history, while nine infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
The fresh infections have taken the number of active coronavirus cases in the archipelago to 204, the official said.
Forty more people were cured of the disease, taking the total number of recoveries in the Union Territory to 3,318, he said.
Fifty-two patients have succumbed to the infection in the islands so far, the official said.
The administration has so far sent 46,823 samples for COVID-19 tests, of which 46,639 reports have been received and 184 are awaited, he added. — PTI
Delhi: 45% jump in number of containment zones in last 10 days; home isolation cases up by 50%
There has been an increase of 45 per cent in the number of containment zones in the national capital in the last 10 days, while home isolation cases of COVID-19 also jumped by over 50 per cent to reach 16,576 during the period, according to official data.
Between September 6 and 15, the city recorded over 4,000 daily fresh cases on six days, with September 12 registering 4,321 infections, the highest single-day spike here till date.
Since the beginning of this month, both new cases and active cases have shown a steady rise, resulting in an increase in the number of containment zones and home isolation cases also.
Also, Delhi Metro services resumed in a graded manner from September 7-12. DMRC authorities have appealed to masses to take metro only if urgently needed, and said they “should not assume that everything is normal again“.
The number of home-isolation cases of COVID-19 on September 5 stood at 10,514 and it rose to 16,576 on September 15, according to figures shared by the Delhi health department.
There were 1,076 containment zones on September 6, which increased to 1560 on September 15. — PTI
Increase RT-PCR testing capacity as COVID-19 cases shoot up: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday suggested that the AAP government increase the RT-PCR test capacity to the maximum possible to detect COVID-19 infection, as Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) were only 60% accurate.
The High Court asked an expert committee, set by the Lieutenant Governor, to convene a meeting on priority basis to consider the extent to which capacity of testing by RT-PCR should be ramped up. At present, the sanctioned strength of conducting RT-PCR is 14,000 per day in Delhi.
The High Court expressed concern over continuous rise in COVID-19 cases, with nearly 4,500 new infections reported on Tuesday.
“Having regard to the fact that results of RAT are 60% accurate, leaving grave doubt about infection in those who are asymptomatic, we are of the firm view that RT-PCR should be the way forward,” said a Bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad.
The court directed the Delhi government to file a status report along with a report of the committee in this regard and listed the matter for further hearing on September 30.
The Bench also noted that in the week from September 8 to 15, the testing done through RT-PCR was less than one fourth of the total number of tests and rest was done by the RAT process.
It asked the Delhi government to place on record before the next date of hearing, the results of the third sero-survey conducted by it in September along with the comparison report with the previous two surveys.
The court was informed that out of 435 mohalla clinics in Delhi, 400 were functional and 50-60 of them were conducting COVID-19 testing after completing their OPDs.
The Bench said it was of the view that not only mohalla clinics, but community centres shall also be roped in for setting up testing facilities as cases of COVID-19 are shooting up on a daily basis and on Tuesday 4,473 fresh cases have come up in Delhi, taking the tally to more than 2.25 lakh.
The court said as RAT mostly gives false negative reports, why the government should wait for it and then go to the next level of RT-PCR. Instead, it should shore up to RT-PCR capacity. - PTI
AFI requests government to give COVID-19 vaccine priority to Olympic-bound athletes
Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Wednesday said it has requested the government to give priority to Olympic-bound athletes when a COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Several countries, including India, are trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine. The Indian government is considering inoculating the front line workers, army personnel and certain categories first.
“We have already discussed this with the government and told them we will need it (vaccine) for our athletes going to the Olympics,” AFI President Adille Sumariwalla said during a webinar.
“We need to make sure once the vaccine comes out, they (Olympic-bound athletes) should be amongst the first batches to get it and the discussion regarding that has already happened,” he added.
Asked if any player is apprehensive about getting inoculated, like tennis star Novak Djokovic, or if the vaccine could cause problem with dope control, national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand said the athletes are looking forward to it.
“I don’t think there will be an issue with the athletes, they are just waiting for the vaccine to come. There will be trails which will ensure the players are feeling confident when they take the vaccine,” Gopichand said. - PTI
RDIF ties up with Dr. Reddy’s for Sputnik V vaccine
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has tied up with pharma major Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for clinical trials as well as distribution of its Sputnik V vaccine in India.
It intends to supply to Dr. Reddy’s 100 million doses of the vaccine. Deliveries could potentially begin in late 2020, subject to completion of successful trials and registration of the vaccine by regulatory authorities in the country.
The Sputnik V vaccine, which the RDIF in a statement said is based on well-studied human adenoviral vector platform with proven safety, is undergoing clinical trials for the coronavirus pandemic.
RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said, “India is amongst most severely impacted countries from COVID 19. We believe our human adenovirus dual vector platform will provide a safe and scientifically validated option to India in the battle against COVID 19.”
Noting that Dr. Reddy’s has a very well established and respected presence in Russia for over 25 years, he said RDIF partners will receive an effective and safe drug to fight the coronavirus.
The platform of human adenoviral vectors, which is the core of the Russian vaccine, has been tested in more than 250 clinical studies over decades, and it has been found safe with no potential negative long-term consequences, he said.
Dr. Reddy’s co-chairman and managing director G.V.Prasad said the Phase I and II clinical trials of the vaccine have shown promising results. “We will be conducting Phase-III trials in India to ensure safety and efficacy for the Indian population and to meet the requirements of the Indian regulators. Sputnik V vaccine could provide a credible option in our fight against COVID 19 in India.”
Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered on August 11 by the Ministry of Health of Russia. It is the world’s first registered vaccine against COVID-19 based on the human adenoviral vectors platform.
Earlier this month, a research paper on the results of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine was published in The Lancet, one of the leading international medical journals, demonstrating no serious adverse effects and a stable immune response in 100% of participants. Post-registration clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine involving 40,000 volunteers were currently underway.
More than 55,000 volunteers have applied to take part in post-registration trials. The first results of these trials are expected to be published in October-November 2020, the release said. Deputy Chief Physician for Anesthesiology and Reanimation at Hospital No. 52 in Moscow Sergey Tsarenko said, “The main criteria for evaluating a vaccine are safety and efficacy. In Sputnik V, safety is ensured by the use of human adenoviral vectors, which we repeatedly encounter throughout our lives. Efficacy is achieved by using two different human adenoviruses sequentially, which differentiates this platform.” - N. Ravi Kumar
Record 82,961 recoveries in a day, a quarter from Maharashtra alone; recovery rate 78.53%
A record 82,961 new COVID-19 recoveries were reported on Wednesday, almost a quarter of them from Maharashtra alone, pushing the overall figures close to 39.5 lakh and the recovery rate to 78.53%, Health Ministry data showed.
In its figures updated at 8 a.m. Wednesday, the ministry said the number of active cases stands at 9,95,933 (or 19.84% of the total caseload), while the number of recovered patients is 39,42,360.
It said that nearly 59% of the new recoveries came from five states -- 23.41% from Maharashtra (19, 423 recoveries); and a cumulative 35.5% from Andhra Pradesh (9,628 recoveries), Karnataka (7,406), Uttar Pradesh (6,680) and Tamil Nadu (5,735)
A record 82,961 patients recovered and were discharged from home/facility isolation and hospitals in a day, according to the ministry’s data updated at 8 a.m.
The number of recovered patients so far exceeds that of the active cases by nearly four times (3.96), or in absolute terms by 29,46,427 cases, the ministry said.
“The 7-day moving average of the recoveries shows a consistent increase,” the ministry said.
27 states and union territories are reporting recovery rates of more than 70%, the ministry highlighted.
“Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu compose close to 60% of the active cases,” the ministry said.
With more than 20,000 new cases in a span of 24 hours, Maharashtra is also leading the cases tally, followed by Andhra Pradesh (8,846) and Karnataka (7,576).
India’s tally of COVID-19 cases galloped past 50 lakh Wednesday, just 11 days after it crossed 40 lakh, with 90,123 infections reported in a day.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 50,20,359, while the death toll climbed to 82,066 with a record 1,290 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, the updated data showed. - PTI
Uttarakhand hospital issues ‘fake’ COVID-free certificates, probe ordered
A government hospital in Uttarakhand allegedly issued OPD slips to people certifying that they have no symptoms of COVID-19, without conducting an RT-PCR test, prompting the administration to launch an inquiry into the matter.
The matter came to light on Wednesday at SPS Government Hospital, Rishikesh where a doctor was doing this for money, officials at the hospital said requesting anonymity.
They also produced a sample of one such OPD slip issued by the doctor bearing his signature and the stamp of the hospital as a proof.
When contacted Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash on Wednesday said a detailed enquiry is being ordered into the matter. - PTI
Centre approved anti-viral medicines to treat COVID-19 patients, says SC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said there was an approval by the Central government on use of Remdesivir and Fabiparivir as medicines to treat COVID-19.
The top court was hearing a plea seeking registration of an FIR by the CBI against ten Indian pharmaceutical firms for manufacturing and selling these two medicines for treating COVID-19 patients allegedly without valid licences.
Former MP C.P. Radhakrishnan tests positive for COVID-19
Former Coimbatore MP and senior leader of the BJP C.P. Radhakrishnan tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
A resident of Tiruppur, the 63-year-old leader had mild symptoms and was admitted to a private hospital at Kovilpalayam near Coimbatore for treatment on Wednesday morning, according to BJP sources. “Am in good hands. With your prayers, blessings & well wishes will be back to normal very soon. (sic),” he said in a tweet.
Delhi BJP chief tests positive for COVID-19
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi president Adesh Gupta has tested positive for COVID-19.
Mr. Gupta has previously tested negative but got tested again due to ill-health conditions over a week. As many as 17 staff staying at the party’s state headquarters on Pant Marg had tested positive on Tuesday.
Mr. Gupta, who was suffering from viral fever for a week before getting himself tested again, took to Twitter requesting everyone he had come in contact with to also get tested.
Joint mobile teams will enforce safety norms in Pondy: Bedi
Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on Wednesday said joint mobile teams comprising police, revenue and municipal officials would be constituted to ensure enforcement of COVID-19 safety norms and prevention of violations of the protocols in the union territory.
The teams would serve legal notices, leading to prosecution and impose penalties on violators during festivals and social gatherings.
In her whatsapp message, the former IPS officer said, .
“Times ahead are challenging. Festivals and ceremonies in air conditioned closed halls would be a big risk for all breathing the same air even when one wears mask.”
5.4 crore COVID-19 samples tested; 40 lakh people under surveillance: Govt
As many as 5.4 crore samples have been tested for coronavirus and 40 lakh people are under surveillance, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also said India is testing about one million samples a day at 1,697 laboratories across the country.
“As on September 10, a total of about 40 lakh persons have been kept under surveillance. A total of 5.4 crore samples have been tested so far,” he said in a written reply to a question.
Aurobindo collaborates with CSIR for COVID-19 vaccine
Aurobindo Pharma said it will undertake clinical development and commercialisation of COVID-19 vaccines being developed by three CSIR laboratories.
Separately, it is also developing a vaccine for the virus through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary Auro Vaccines, a project supported by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
Cases of COVID-19, dengue co-infection rising
Fumigation in progress at a north Delhi locality to combat dengue. | Photo Credit: Ravi Choudhary
Delhi is registering a rise in co-infection of dengue and COVID-19 with doctors now warning that this combination could enhance the severity of both diseases.
“Most cases of COVID-19 and dengue are asymptomatic (about 80%), and in a setting of co-infection one disease might enhance the severity of the other,” Ashutosh Biswas, professor of Medicine at AIIMS-Delhi, told The Hindu.
Arunachal CM tests positive for COVID-19
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu tested positive for COVID-19 a day after meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.
“I had undergone Covid test RT-PCR and have tested positive for Covid19. I am asymptomatic and feeling healthy. However as per SOP and safety of others, I am self-isolating myself and request everyone who came in contact with me to adhere to the SOP,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
In 11 days, COVID-19 cases in India cross 50-lakh mark from 40 lakh
India’s COVID-19 tally of cases galloped past 50 lakh, just 11 days after it crossed 40 lakh, with 90,123 infections being reported in a day, while recoveries surged to 39,42,360 on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 50,20,359, while the death toll climbed to 82,066 with a record 1,290 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed.
India’s COVID-19 cases jumped from 10 lakh to 20 lakh in 21 days. Then it took 16 more days to race past 30 lakh, 13 days more to cross the 40-lakh mark and 11 days to go past 50 lakh.
It took 110 days for the COVID-19 cases in the country to reach one lakh while it had taken 59 days more to go past the 10-lakh post.
- PTI
Serum Institute gets DCGI nod to resume clinical trial of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine
A research scientist works inside a laboratory of India's Serum Institute, the world's largest maker of vaccines, which is working on vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pune. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) V.G. Somani has gave permission to Serum Institute of India (SII) to resume clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the country while revoking its earlier order of suspending any new recruitment for phase two and three trial.
Jharkhand slashes COVID-19 test rate at private labs to ₹1,500
The Jharkhand government on Tuesday slashed the maximum price of RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 to be charged by private laboratories to ₹1,500, officials said.
The state government on June 29 had capped the rate at ₹2,400.
The decision was taken in view of the fall in rates of the kits and related items required to conduct the tests, officials said.
Action will be taken against any private lab that charges more than the fixed rate, as per an order issued by the government.
- PTI
Case reporting drops as doctors strike
With government doctors in Karnataka on a strike, fewer number of COVID-19 positive cases and discharges were recorded in the State on Tuesday. Many doctors across the State have decided not to update the reports till the government meets their demands.
While the doctors are treating patients and attending to other duties, they are not uploading reports related to COVID-19 and under the National Health Mission.
India has been able to ‘distribute the curve’ of COVID-19 infection due to ‘very effective lockdown’: ICMR
Amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases, the government on Tuesday said India learnt from the experience of nations that suffered high mortalities and was able to “distribute the curve” of coronavirus infection due to a “very effective” lockdown and avoid the “huge peak” those countries had in terms of deaths.
Insurance scheme for health workers extended for 6 months
Health workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) gear await to collect swab samples from patients during the coronavirus screening process held at Porur in Chennai on September 15, 2020 | Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19’ has now been extended for another 180 days, said the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday.
The scheme was announced on March 30 for 90 days and was extended for 90 days (up to Sept. 25).
Telangana's daily COVID bulletin finally brought up to date
Certain figures in the Telangana media bulletin, which had strangely remained constant for more than two weeks, finally appear to have been updated. However, the data of people who died of COVID-19 and due to co-morbidities remains unchanged since one-and-a-half months.