People queue up outside a Covid19 testing van in New Delhi (Express photo/Praveen Khanna) Coronavirus India News Live Updates: The phase-III human clinical trial of the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University, and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), began at the state-run Sassoon General Hospital in Maharashtra on Monday. “We have started the phase-III trials of the vaccine (candidate Covishield). We will administer dose to 150 to 200 volunteers,” PTI quoted Dr Muralidhar Tambe, Dean, Sassoon General Hospital, as saying.
With 86,961 new cases, the infection tally in India gas risen to 54.87 lakh. As many as 1130 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours pushing the toll in the country to 86,961. Of the 54,87,581 infections in the country, 10,03,299 are active cases, while 43,96,399 patients have already been cured.
Globally, over 30.8 million have been infected, of which, nearly 21 million have recovered so far. At least 958,400 people have succumbed to the virus so far. While casualties in the US approached 200,000, China has found coronavirus particles on the packaging of frozen squid tentacles from Russia. Britain is at a “critical point” in the coronavirus pandemic and data on cases are heading in the “wrong direction,” Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty is expected to warn on Monday, as concern mounts that a second lockdown may be needed.
A family wearing face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus travels on a motorcycle in Hyderabad (AP)
As many as 814 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand on Monday, taking the state's case tally to 41,777, while 10 more people died, according to official data. Among the fresh cases, Dehradun district reported the maximum (309), followed by Nainital (111), Haridwar (110), Udham Singh Nagar (95), Almora (74), Pauri (24), Tehri (23), Uttarkashi (22), Rudraprayag (15), Champawat (13), Chamoli (nine), Bageshwar (five) and Pitgoragarh (four), a state health department bulletin said. (PTI)
Meanwhile, the government has exempted transport vehicles carrying and delivering oxygen from permit requirements till March 31, 2021. "This has been done as oxygen is an important item required for the treatment of Covid-19," the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said.
The phase-III human clinical trial of the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University, and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), began at the state-run Sassoon General Hospital in Maharashtra on Monday. "We have started the phase-III trials of the vaccine (candidate Covishield). We will administer dose to 150 to 200 volunteers," PTI quoted Dr Muralidhar Tambe, Dean, Sassoon General Hospital, as saying. Earlier this month, the SII had paused the clinical trials of the vaccine candidate in the country because of "an unexplained illness" in a participant in the study. However, on September 15, the DCGI gave permission to the SII to resume clinical trial of the vaccine.
Kerala reported 2,910 COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the infection count to 1,38,631 after 25,848 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. The dip in positive cases comes after the state had detected over 4,000 cases in the last four days consecutively. The state also reported 18 more coronavirus deaths, taking the toll to 553, Health minister K K Shailaja said. Of the positive cases, 36 had come from abroad and 133 from other states. A total of 2,653 people were infected through contact, while the source of infection of 313 were not known. Among those who tested positive today were 88 health workers, including 31 from the state capital. With the samples of3,022 testing negative, 39,285 people are presently undergoing treatment and 98,724 have so far recovered.
Only a few students turned up to attend special classes in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday as schools for higher classes reopened after a gap of over six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the union territory administration said. Principal Secretary, School Education and Skill Development, Asgar Hassan Samoon said the reopening of schools was not meant for regular classes.
"I was on a visit to Reasi district and only five to seven students were present in different schools and attending the special meetings with their teachers meant to clear their doubts," Director School Education, Jammu, Anuradha Gupta told PTI.
She said the school management has been directed to devise a mechanism to ensure the students make the best of the opportunity and come out with a roster to fulfill the requirement of the students.
The decision of the government to reopen the schools came under sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the National Conference and the Congress, who questioned the rationale behind the opening of school from classes 9 to 12 amid the pandemic.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency response meeting, a so-called COBRA meeting, on Tuesday to discuss what next steps may be needed to tackle a resurgence in the coronavirus pandemic, his spokesman said on Monday.
Johnson will also talk to the leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales on Monday, after spending much of the weekend in meetings with members of his cabinet top team of ministers, his scientific advisers and other officials.
"Tomorrow morning is an opportunity for COBRA to discuss what next steps may be required in the coronavirus response," the spokesman said.
More than six months after it was closed down for visitors due to Covid-19, the Taj Mahal Monday finally opened its door for the tourists again. Keeping the ongoing pandemic in mind, the number of visitors per day has been restricted to 5000 by authorities. The tourists are also allowed to be taken in two-shifts of 2,500 each with the tickets being sold online or through the ASI phone app only. More details here.
Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech resigned on Monday following criticism of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic after a surge in cases.
Before the start of the summer, the government lifted almost all restrictions imposed during the first wave of the pandemic.
The number of infections has doubled this month and has grown at the second-fastest rate in Europe in recent weeks, behind Spain. Prime Minister Andrej Babis thanked Vojtech for his work in a Twitter message.
Vojtech had been heavily criticised over the new wave of infections although some opposition politicians saw him as a scapegoat for the government.
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,” Jain told PTI.
Most of these patients are those who seek ICU facilities. There are 1,500 such patients undergoing treatment in Delhi, he said. The minister also disclosed that the authorities have been collecting data of non-resident patients separately.
The recovery rate of Covid-19 cases in India has crossed the 80 per cent 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 per cent 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.
The Union Home Ministry on Monday said the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi’s Nizamuddin locality in March led to the coronavirus infection spreading to “many persons”. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said in the Rajya Sabha that Delhi Police arrested 233 Tablighi Jamaat members and 2,361 people have been evacuated from the organisation’s headquarters since March 29. “However, regarding Jamaat Chief Maulana Mohd Saad, the investigation is underway,” he said in a written reply.
Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Monday he had submitted his resignation following criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as the central European country sees a surge in cases. Prime Minister Andrej Babis thanked Vojtech for his work in a message on his twitter account, saying he could have been remembered as the country's best health minister if he did not have to use all his energy to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The Czech Republic has reported growth in coronavirus confirmed cases at Europe's second fastest pace in recent weeks, behind Spain, after the country lifted just before summer almost all measures taken during the first wave of the pandemic.In the past 14 days, the Czechs had 193 cases per 100,000 people, according to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
With a jump of over 20,000 Covid-19 cases over the past week in the state, several districts including Raipur have announced a week-long lockdown from Monday. The state capital has also been declared a containment zone till September 28. The number of cases in the state rose from around 63,000 on Sept 13 to over 86,000 on Sept 20.
In view of the sharp rise in cases, Collectors of Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Raigarh, and 6 other districts decided to impose a complete lockdown. Few districts like Janjgir-Champa have declared partial lockdowns. According to an order passed for Raipur, vehicles of those found violating the lockdown will be confiscated. Only pharmacies will be allowed to stay open. Stores selling milk can operate for two hours.
The Punjab government on Saturday allowed the opening of higher education institutions from September 21 for PhD scholars and postgraduate students pursuing technical and professional courses requiring experimental work. However, schools, colleges, and coaching centres will remain closed in the states. The guidelines were issued in compliance with the directives of the current phase of the coronavirus lockdown issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. According to detailed guidelines issued by Special Chief Secretary (Home) Satish Chandra, open-air theatres will be allowed to function with strict adherence to social distancing norms.
World leaders will come together, virtually, on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the deadly coronavirus pandemic challenges the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member world body. As COVID-19, which emerged in China late last year, began to spread around the world, forcing millions of people to shelter at home and dealing a devastating economic blow, countries turned inward and diplomats say the United Nations struggled to assert itself.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Reuters that the pandemic has exposed the world's fragilities. He plans to tell world leaders on Monday that they need to work together at a time when there is a surplus of multilateral challenges and deficit of solutions. The 15-member Security Council took months to back a call by Guterres for a global ceasefire - to allow countries to focus on fighting COVID-19 - due to bickering between the world's biggest powers: China and the United States.
With 86,961 new cases, the infection tally in India gas risen to 54.87 lakh. As many as 1130 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours pushing the toll in the country to 86,961. Of the 54,87,581 infections in the country, 10,03,299 are active cases, while 43,96,399 patients have already been cured.
India has provided a $250-million grant to the Maldives to help it mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic’s devastating effect on its tourism-based economy. The sum, around Rs 1,825 crore as per the current exchange rate, was provided via Treasury Bond sale to State Bank of India (SBI), Male with a tenure of 10 years for repayment, the Indian embassy in Male said Sunday. This came after a request by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday lifted all coronavirus restrictions across the country, except in second-wave hotspot Auckland, as the number of new infections slowed to a trickle. Some restrictions were also eased in Auckland to allow gatherings of up to 100 people, but the country's biggest city needed more time before all curbs could be lifted, Ardern said.
"Our actions collectively have managed to get the virus under control," she told reporters in Auckland. "This was the centre of the outbreak and that's why that caution is needed here."New Zealand, a nation of five million, appeared to have halted community transmission of COVID-19 earlier this year, but a fresh outbreak in Auckland in August prompted the government to place the city back in lockdown. The country recorded no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, keeping its total number of confirmed cases at 1,464, with 25 deaths, far below many other countries.
Lebanon hit a third consecutive day of record virus cases as Health Minister Hamad Hassan proposes a two-week lockdown, Associated Press reported. Political gridlock after the devastating Beirut port explosion on Aug. 31, a previous lockdown and a shrinking economy are likely to make any solution more difficult. Lebanon reported 1,006 new cases Sunday, for a total of 29,303.
Gujarat BJP MLA Madhu Shrivastav, who is known for his flamboyance as much as his controversial statements and actions, has embarrassed the ruling party once again. Shrivastav, who recently recovered from the coronavirus, flouted safety protocols as he danced and sang bhajans along with his supporters inside a crowded temple in Gajrawdi area in Vadodara.
A video of Shrivastav is being widely shared on social media, where the MLA, who has acted in self-produced Gujarati films, is seen inside the temple dancing to the tune of the bhajans as his supporters cheer him. Except for two musicians, no one, including the temple priest, is seen wearing masks.