U.S. President Donald Trump, the most recent addition to a slew of world leaders who have been infected by coronavirus, has been moved to a military hospital on Saturday. Mr. Trump said that the treatment is "going well, I think."
India, meanwhile, saw a single-day spike of 79,476 infections and 1,069 fatalities on Monday, according to the Union Ministry update. 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:
Delhi Prisons department urges Govt. to extend convicts’ emergency parole
The Delhi Prisons department has requested the city government to extend the emergency parole granted to convicts by one month in view of the existing COVID-19 situation, officials said on Saturday.
In a letter to the home department, it said the emergency parole can be given considering the current pandemic situation.
According to the officials, there are currently 4,250 such inmates, comprising 3,100 undertrials on interim bail and 1,150 convicts on emergency parole, who are out of jails as part of the prisons department’s recent decongestion drive.
“We have written to the government to extend emergency parole of convicts by one month,” a senior jail official said.
- PTI
India maintains top global ranking with maximum COVID-19 recoveries, lowest mortality rate
India continues to occupy the top global position with the maximum number of COVID-19 recoveries and accounts for 21% of the recovered cases worldwide, while its share in the total cases stands at 18.6%, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.
India has also maintained its global position with one of the lowest COVID-19 case fatality rates (CFR) when compared to several other countries.
While the global CFR stands at 2.97% as on date, the comparative figure for India is 1.56%, it said.
The deaths per million population in India is one of the lowest in the world. While the global average is 130 deaths per million population, India is reporting 73 deaths per million population, the ministry said.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 54,27,706, with 75,628 recovering in a span of 24 hours, pushing the national recovery rate to 83.84%, according to the ministry data updated at 8 a.m. on Saturday. - PTI
Trump doing well, undergoing Remdesivir therapy: WH doctor
US President Donald Trump, who was shifted to a military hospital after being tested positive for COVID-19, is undergoing Remdesivir therapy and is “doing well”, the White House physician has said.
The Trump administration had issued an emergency use authorisation for Remdesivir earlier this year after the drug showed moderate effectiveness in improving outcomes for patients who were hospitalised with the coronavirus.
“This evening, I am happy to report that the President is doing well, Conley said in a health bulletin on Friday night, the first after the president was moved to the military hospital as a precautionary measure.
He is not requiring any supplemental oxygen, but in consultation with specialists we have elected to initiate Remdesivir therapy. He has completed his first dose and is resting comfortably, he said. - PTI
UP Deputy CM tests positive for coronavirus infection
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has tested positive for COVID-19.
After testing positive for the infection, the Minister urged everyone, who came in his contact in the last few days, get themselves tested for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves.
Maurya, 51, who holds the portfolio of PWD ministry, said in a tweet, "After the initial symptoms of corona infection, I got myself tested. My report has come positive today. I request you all who came in my contact in the last few days to go to the nearest health centre and get yourself tested and follow the COVID rules." - PTI
Dr Reddy’s seeks DCGI nod for conducting phase-3 clinical trial of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V
The Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has applied to the Drugs Controller General of India for permission to conduct phase-3 human clinical trials of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V against COVID-19 in India, sources said.
The Indian pharma giant has collaborated with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V as well as its distribution.
Upon regulatory approval in India, RDIF will supply to drugmaker Dr Reddy’s 100 million doses of the vaccine, the firm said last month.
Sources said it would be multi-centre, observer-blind, randomised controlled study.
The phase-3 trial of Sputnik V is underway in Russia since September 1 on around 40,000 subjects, they added. - PTI