People queue up outside a Covid19 testing van in New Delhi (Express photo/Praveen Khanna) Coronavirus India News Live Updates: 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.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday told Lok Sabha that the announcement of lockdown was not sudden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had prepared the nation for it through the Janata Curfew on March 22. “Five different studies have spoken about how many lives were saved due to the lockdown. If the lockdown was not used properly and things were not monitored, the dedicated 17,000 covid facilities would not have come up,” he said adding that three vaccines in India were at an advanced stage and that the government was already working on a detailed strategy of distributing and administering the vaccine once it is out.
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)
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.