The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has completed its second national sero-survey to gauge the prevalence of COVID-19. The first survey was conducted in May across 400 districts and about 28,000 were sampled — most of them in rural India — to gauge the spread of the infection.
The Health Minister said it would take substantive time for herd immunity to develop so as to be able to cover about 70% of the population. “Hence the focus of the government is primarily towards putting together a strategy that combines containment and hospital management,” he said.
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:
Karnataka CM hints at curtailing legislature session, LoP wants extension
Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa hinted at curtailing the eight-day long Monsoon Session of the State legislature that began on Monday, saying he will discuss with Opposition leaders about ending it soon after discussion on important necessary issues, due to the COVID pandemic.
The session is actually scheduled till September 30.
“I will sit and talk with the leaders of the Opposition, even the Parliament session is likely to be curtailed. Due to COVID reasons, about 55-60 MLA aren’t able to come and attend the proceedings,” Mr. Yediyurappa said.
Speaking to reporters, he said “I will appeal to the opposition that in such a situation let’s discuss a few important issues that are necessary and try to end as soon as possible, let’s see how they (Opposition) will cooperate.” - PTI
Drug used to treat coronavirus infections in cats may be effective against COVID-19: Study
A drug used to treat deadly coronavirus infections in cats could potentially be an effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the global coronavirus pandemic, according to a study.
The finding, published in the journal Nature Communications, paves the way for human clinical trials of the drug, a protease inhibitor called GC376.
“This drug is very likely to work in humans, so we are encouraged that it will be an effective treatment for COVID-19 patients,” said Joanne Lemieux, a professor at the University of Alberta in Canada.
However, the researchers said clinical trials will need to run their course before anyone can be sure that the drug is both safe and effective for treating COVID-19 in humans. - PTI
COVID cases could rise exponentially, says U.K. medical advisor
Britain’s top medical adviser says the country has, in a very bad sense , turned a corner on COVID-19 infection rates, with figures suggesting there will be an exponential growth in the disease unless action is taken.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty told the public today that rates are going in the wrong direction amid expectations the government is preparing to announce new measures to control the pandemic. He says we have in a very bad sense, literally turned a corner”, after weeks of increasing infection rates.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson huddled with ministers over the weekend to discuss how the government will respond to the recent rise in cases, which has pushed infection rates to levels last seen in May. Later this week the government is expected to announce a slate of short-term restrictions that will act as a circuit breaker to slow the spread of the disease. - AP
Amid COVID-19 outbreak, five-day Gujarat Assembly session begins
The five-day session of the Gujarat Assembly began today amid precautions for the coronavirus outbreak. Staffers, legislators and mediapersons who will cover proceedings have been tested for the infection, while entry for outsiders has been banned.
Four MLAs, comprising three from the Congress and one from BJP, have been detected with the infection, and so have some Assembly personnel in tests conducted over the past couple of days. Speaker Rajendra Trivedi ordered seating changes to stop any chances of the virus spreading, with one MLA occupying one bench, while several legislators have been given seats in the visitors’ galleries.
Coronavirus tests for reporters covering the House proceedings have been made free of cost by the state government. - PTI
Kerala startup, U.S. foundation tie up for new ventilator
A Kerala-based startup is part of a consortium that has tied up with a U.S.-based not-for-profit organisation to launch an affordable ventilator to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19.
Located in SmartCity Kochi, Sinergia Media Labs (simelabs) under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), along with Ionics3DP, Chennai, and Aruvii, Singapore, has tied up with the Project Prana Foundation of Massachusetts, USA.
The tie-up is to operationalise the individualised system for augmenting ventilator capacity which enables patient-specific therapy in several nations the worldover, a KSUM statement said here on Monday. The low-cost emergency device is capable of ventilating two subjects simultaneously. - PTI
Fire breaks out at COVID-19 hospital in Odisha, 127 patients evacuated
A fire broke out at a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Jagatpur town in Odisha’s Cuttack district today, fire officials said. No loss of human life has been reported so far, DG (Fire Service) Satyajit Mohanty said.
A total of 127 coronavirus patients, being treated at the hospital, were evacuated and shifted to other medical establishments, he said. The fire broke out in the afternoon at the ICU on the ground floor, Dr Samita Mohanty said.
Senior officials, including Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cuttack Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Chief District Medical Officer have reached the spot and are coordinating the rescue and evacuation operation. - PTI
20 mobile COVID-19 test vehicles flagged off
To bring more people under COVID-19 testing network, Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani has flagged off 20 mobile testing vehicles here.
The vehicles were necessary considering the increasing number of coronavirus cases in Coimbatore district of late, and would help identify those affected so that treatment can be given at the earliest, Mr. Velumani told reporters on the sidelines of the flagging-off function at Sundakkaputhur.
The mobile units would have medical kits, qualified nurses and health workers, he said. - PTI
'30% of COVID-19 patients in Delhi hospitals from other states'
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said 30 per cent of the COVID-19 patients admitted to Delhi hospitals are from other states.
He also said that non-residents of Delhi have been occupying most of the ICU beds in private hospitals.
“People coming from outside prefer private hospitals. They make up their mind in advance. These patients go directly to these four-five hospitals they have heard of... such as Max, Apollo and Fortis. That’s why ICU beds at these hospitals are full,” Mr. Jain told reporters.
Now, govt says it’s collecting data on migrant workers from States
A week after the Labour and Employment Ministry informed the Lok Sabha that there was no data available of the number of migrant workers who died during the lockdown, the Ministry told the Rajya Sabha on Monday that it was collecting the data from States and Union Territories.
Czech Republic Health Minister resigns amid virus surge
The Czech Republic’s Health Minister has resigned amid a record rise of coronavirus infections. Adam Vojtech says his move should create space for a new approach to the pandemic.
The country coped well with infections in the spring but has been facing a record surge of new confirmed cases over the past week. On Thursday, the day-to-day increase of new cases was higher than 3,000.
It is not immediately clear who will replace Vojtech, who was under pressure from the opposition to resign.
- AP
Uttarakhand to have single-day Assembly session on Sept. 23, no Question Hour
Dehradun, Sep 21 (PTI) The upcoming Monsoon Session of the Uttarakhand Assembly will be limited to just a day and there will be no Question Hour, Deputy Speaker Raghunath Singh said here, attributing the decision to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the State.
As per the original schedule, the session was to be held from September 23-25.
“In view of the coronavirus crisis, the Business Advisory Committee of the State Assembly has decided to limit the session to a single day on September 23 and do away with the Question Hour,” Singh said. Only written replies to questions of public interest will be given by the government, the Deputy Speaker said.
- PTI
COVID-19 recovery rate in India crosses 80% mark
India’s recovery rate of COVID-19 cases has crossed the 80% mark with over 90,000 recoveries recorded for the third consecutive day, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.
In a statement, the ministry said 93,356 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours.
“India has crossed the significant landmark of more than 80% national recovery rate. On a continuous stretch of high recoveries, India has also reported more than 90,000 recoveries for the third day in succession,” the Ministry said in the statement.
12 States and U.T.s have registered recovery rate of more than the national average and 79% of the new recovered cases are from 10 States and U.T.s.
- PTI
Mizoram allows private hospitals, labs to conduct COVID-19 tests
The Mizoram government has allowed private hospitals and laboratories to examine samples for COVID-19 to accelerate the testing process, a ruling MNF legislator said on Monday.
Only designated government hospitals were permitted to test samples for coronavirus till now.
As per the Mizoram Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2020, notified in the official gazette recently, private hospitals and laboratories having the necessary facilities can collect samples and test them for coronavirus, MLA and State Health and Family Welfare Board vice-chairman, Dr. Z.R. Thiamsanga, said.
- PTI
Madras University students unable to log in to write exams
The first day of online exams for final year end-semester students of the University of Madras on Monday was marred by technical glitches.
Many students complained that they could not download the question paper. The students had only one hour to download the same.
A B.Com student’s relative said she had been trying to download the question paper without success. She sent the link to her relatives in a bid to access the same. Another student from a college in Chromepet, who also faced the same difficulty, said the link did not open. Later his college forwarded the question paper to him.
The University decided to offer online exams, following instructions from the State government and the University Grants Commission, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. Students could log in from their home and take the test. Around 60,000 students will be taking exams each day for five days from Monday.
91 Indians return to M.P. from UAE in special flight
An Air India flight carrying 91 Indians, who were stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the COVID-19 outbreak, arrived in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, early Monday morning, an official said.
As part of the central government’s Vande Bharat mission, the flight from Dubai landed at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport at 4.15 a.m., said Amit Malakar, Indore district’s nodal officer for COVID-19 prevention.
“A total of 91 passengers, including 27 from Indore and 64 from other places, came back to their home country by the special flight,” he said.
CSK batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad back in training after clearing two COVID-19 tests
Chennai Super Kings batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad is back in training ahead of Tuesday’s IPL game against Rajasthan Royals after clearing the two mandatory COVID-19 tests.
The 23-year-old cricketer from Maharashtra had tested positive for COVID-19 and was in quarantine for two weeks. He missed CSK’s tournament opener against defending champions Mumbai Indians on Saturday.
“The first thing you wanna see on a Monday morning. Look who’s back! Smiling face with heart-shaped eyes #Ruturaj #WhistlePodu #Yellove,” CSK posted on its twitter handle on Monday along with a picture of the batsman.
- PTI
Jimmy Kimmel delivers first pandemic-era monologue at Emmys 2020 to fake audience
Jimmy Kimmel returned to the hosting duties of Emmys 2020, his opening monologue for the virtual television award ceremony was all about having fun in the pandemic.
Kimmel, who has previously hosted the 64th and 68th editions in 2012 and 2016, started this year’s ceremony by welcoming the audiences at home to Pand-Emmys .
Wow, it’s great to finally see people again. Thank you for risking everything to be here. Thank me for risking everything to be here. You know what they say, ‘You can’t have a virus without a host’, Kimmel said in what looked like a usual monologue, full of laughter and reaction shots of a star-studded audience.
The host, however, soon revealed that the audience laughter and celebrity shots were from the previous ceremonies.
- PTI
Himachal Minister recovers from COVID-19, rejoins office
Himachal Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur recovered from coronavirus and rejoined office in the Secretariat on Monday.
In a Facebook post, the 70-year-old leader said, “I have come to my office (Secretariat) after several days following my full recovery.”
The seven-time MLA from Mandi’s Dharampur assembly segment could not attend the recently concluded monsoon session of the State Assembly after he tested positive on September 3, four days ahead of the 12-day monsoon session which began on September 7.
- PTI
Madhya Pradesh HC tells State, political workers to follow COVID-19 norms
The Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed political workers and State government officials to abide by the COVID-19 protocol prescribed for regulating congregations.
A Division Bench of Justices Sheel Nagu and Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava on September 18 expected the protocol to be “strictly abided by” at least until the next date of hearing of a public interest litigation filed by lawyer Ashish Pratap Singh.
The court observed, law, whether statutory or in the shape of executive instructions, deserved respect and obedience, “as much from a common man as from a leader, a political functionary and even the head of State.” The Justices said they were reminded of the maxim “Be you ever so high, the Law is above you.”
Five players ruled out of French Open qualifying
Two players in the qualifying rounds for the French Open have tested positive for the coronavirus, the French Tennis Federation said, while three others have been in close contact with a coach who also tested positive.
The FFT said on Sunday in a statement that all five players will isolate for a period of seven days, and none of them will participate in the qualifiers starting Monday for the September 27-October 11 tournament.
- AP
MNS leaders board suburban trains to protest curbs
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders on Monday travelled in local trains, currently available only for essential services staff, as part of a protest to demand that the services be made available for common citizens also.
The Raj Thackeray-led party undertook the “savinay kaydebhang (civil disobedience) protest after its repeated demands to allow the general public to travel in local trains in Mumbai and suburbs.
At present, only certain sections, including the essential services staff and government employees, are allowed to travel in local trains.
- PTI
CDC acknowledges aerosols as ‘main way’ of coronavirus spread
In a major development, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its guidelines to acknowledge that the “main way” the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) spreads is through aerosols.
The updated guidance on September 18 says that the virus most commonly spreads through “respiratory droplets or small particles, such as those in aerosols, produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes”.
The CDC elaborates saying that these “particles can be inhaled into the nose, mouth, airways, and lungs and cause infection. This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads”.
Partial lockdown lifted in Aizawl
The Mizoram government has lifted the partial lockdown from the Aizawl city area, an official said on Monday.
The partial lockdown which was imposed in Aizawl city area on September 10 to contain the spread of COVID-19 was lifted on Sunday midnight, the official said.
The State government on Sunday also issued a modification to a clause in the unlock guidelines according to which three entry or exit points at Vairengte and Bairabi on the Mizoram-Assam border and Kanhmun on the state border with Tripura will be opened 24x7 for vehicles carrying commodities and passengers. Earlier, the three entry points - Vairengte, Bairabi and Kanhmun were opened for passenger carrying vehicles only on Monday, Thursday and Saturday between 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- PTI
Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi fears upsurge in child labour as pandemic shrivels economy
As the pandemic pummels the economy, pushing millions of people into poverty, families are under pressure to put their children to work to make ends meet.
“The biggest threat is that millions of children may fall back into slavery, trafficking, child labour, child marriage,” said Mr. Satyarthi who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his work to combat child labour and child trafficking in India.
While rates of child labour have declined over the last few years, about 10.1 million children are still in some form of servitude in India, according to the United Nations children's agency UNICEF.
New Zealand to begin lifting virus restrictions
All remaining virus restrictions will be lifted across much of New Zealand from late Monday with the exception of the largest city, Auckland, which will continue to have some restrictions for at least another 16 days.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement on Monday after meeting with top lawmakers. The nation of 5 million people reimposed some restrictions last month after the Auckland outbreak, which now appears to be under control.
Under the plan, maximum gathering sizes in Auckland will be increased from 10 to 100 on Wednesday and then caps removed two weeks after that.
- AP
Mainland China reports 12 new COVID-19 cases
Mainland China reported 12 new COVID-19 cases on Sept. 20, up from 10 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Monday.
The National Health Commission said in a statement all new cases were imported infections involving travellers from overseas. It also reported 25 new asymptomatic infections, up from 21 a day earlier, though China does not classify these symptomless patients as confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in mainland China now stands at 85,291, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.
- Reuters
86,961 new COVID-19 cases in India; death toll mounts to 87,882
India’s COVID-19 tally reached 54.88 lakh with 86,961 people being infected in the past 24 hours, while 43,96,399 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 80.12% on Sunday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 54,87,580, while the death toll climbed to 87,882 with the infection claiming 1,130 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate due to coronavirus has further declined to 1.6%. There are 10,03,299 active cases in the country as of now, which comprises 18.28% of the total caseload, the data stated.
- PTI
COVID-19 claims first health worker in Kerala
The State recorded the first death of a doctor due to COVID-19 on Sunday. The medical practitioner, aged 73 years, succumbed to the infection less than a week after he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
The doctor from Jubilee Nagar Road in Kallattumukku here used to run a private clinic at Attakulangara. He has been attending to patients till September 12 and diagnosed with COVID-19 two days later.
As his condition deteriorated after he developed pneumonia, he was kept on ventilator support in a private hospital. The deceased had co-morbidities, including diabetes and heart diseases. He succumbed to the disease early Sunday. However, this death has not been included in the official death toll released by the Health Department on Sunday.
India, Maldives will support each other in fight against health, economic impact of COVID-19: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and Maldives as close friends and neighbours will continue to support each other in their fight against the health and economic impact of COVID-19.
Mr. Modi was responding to a tweet by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in which he expressed his thanks to the Prime Minister for India’s financial assistance to his country.
“India has always risen to the occasion whenever Maldives needed a friend. My sincere thanks to PM @narendramodi , government and people of India for their neighborly spirit and generosity following the official handover of USD250 million as financial assistance today,” Mr. Solih said.
Mr. Modi replied, “Appreciate your warm sentiments, President @ibusolih! As close friends and neighbours, India and Maldives will continue to support each other in our fight against the health and economic impact of COVID-19.”
- PTI
Special committee to study long-term effects of COVID-19
The Karnataka government has decided to constitute a special technical committee to study the long-term effects of COVID-19 by monitoring the health of those who have recovered from the infection after contracting the virus.
The move comes in the backdrop of an increasing number of reports of people, who were discharged after successfully battling COVID-19, returning to hospitals with various health conditions and complications.
K. Sudhakar, Medical Education and COVID-19 in charge Minister, said that the committee will consist of medical experts. In a tweet, he said that the government will evaluate patients based on whether they had mild or severe symptoms with special focus on people with comorbidities.
Courts in Karnataka to reopen substantially in a phased manner from September 28
The High Court of Karnataka has decided to substantially reopen all courts in the taluks and districts of the State in three phases starting from September 28, and has issued a special Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the functioning of courts.
While courts in 55 taluks identified over different districts will be reopened on September 28, all the courts in 15 districts will be open from October 5. The other courts in the remaining districts will be reopened on October 12, according to the special SOP.
All these courts will list only 30 cases a day — 15 each in the forenoon and afternoon sessions — and there will be separate enclosures for the witnesses inside the court complexes to wait for their turn to enter and record their statements.
Eleven zones of Chennai city register a positive growth rate in cases
The number of city zones reporting a positive growth rate of new COVID-19 cases has increased from five to 11 in the past seven days. Compared to the negative growth rate last week, the Greater Chennai Corporation has registered a positive growth rate of 0.5% this week.
Officials said the number of cases was stable in the city, with a few pockets in some zones.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will know the impact of the relaxations soon. We are testing 10 persons for every positive case in a neighbourhood,” an official said.
Alandur has registered the highest increase in new cases with 5.3% in the past seven days while Valasaravakkam registered a decline during the same period.
20 write test in isolation rooms in Kurnool
The recruitment test for the ward and village secretariat staff was conducted amid COVID-19 fears by taking all precautionary measures on Sunday. Twenty candidates in Kurnool wrote the test in special isolation rooms in two sessions.
In all, 55,768 candidates applied for the test at 194 centres, but 42,586 took the test recording 76.36% attendance. The district administration made all arrangements for the test to be conducted till September 26 to fill 1,276 posts. In all, 85,910 candidates had applied.
In the morning session at Kurnool 14 candidates wrote the test in isolation rooms. While eight were COVID-19 positive, six were found having temperature in thermal screening. In Adoni Arts and Science College one patient took the test with the invigilator too attending by wearing a PPE kit. In Kurnool city in the afternoon, three patients and two having temperature took the test in isolation rooms.
HC refuses to stay conduct of Class X exams for special children
The Madras High Court on Sunday refused to stay the conduct of Class X private examinations for special children, after the State informed the court that all 1,410 candidates with special abilities and 609 scribes had tested negative for COVID-19.
Justices M.M. Sundresh and R. Hemalatha said they were not inclined to interfere, at the eleventh hour, with the examinations scheduled to be held between Monday and Friday with all safety precautions, as ordered by them early this month.
The judges took the decision following an urgent review petition moved by Balakrishnan Subramaniyan, father of a 24-year-old suffering from cerebral palsy in Tiruchi. His PIL petition was disposed of by the same Bench on September 3. The court had then directed the government authorities to ensure that all special children wanting to write the Class X examinations as private candidates, and their scribes, are subjected to COVID-19 tests at least two days before the examinations.