Coronavirus: India’s recovery over 87%; central teams to visit five states with surge in new cases
India’s tally rose to 73.70 lakh after more than 63,000 new cases were reported in a day.
The Union health ministry on Friday deployed high-level central teams to Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, which were reporting a surge in the coronavirus infection. The teams will assist the states in testing, surveillance, strengthening containment, boosting control measures and infection prevention and efficient clinical management of the positive cases.
India’s tally rose to 73,70,468 on Friday as the country reported 63,371 new cases in a day. The country’s toll rises by 895 to 1,12,161. India’s active cases stood at 8,04,528 while the recoveries reached 64,53,779. The recovery rate stood at 87.56% and the death rate was 1.52%.
United States presidential candidate Joe Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris suspended travel on Thursday after her communications director tested positive for Covid-19, the campaign manager said. A non-staff flight crew member also tested positive. Campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon added that Harris need not quarantine as she did not come into contact with either person, but would campaign virtually “out of an abundance of caution”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen went into isolation after one of her close staffers tested positive for COVID-19. Leyen tested negative later.
Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 3.88 crore people and killed 10,97,359, according to Johns Hopkins University. The worldwide recoveries crossed 2.68 crore.
The national helpline number for the coronavirus is 011-23978046, and a toll-free number 1075.
Live updates
1.39 pm: Vietnam cancels its 2020 Formula One Grand Prix in view of the coronavirus pandemic, reports AFP. The organisers have not yet issued a new date for the race.
1.30 pm: The fourth edition of Ultimate Table Tennis is postponed to next year over health and safety concerns of players amid the coronavirus pandemic, reports PTI. The league was originally set to be held in India from August 14 to 31.
1.27 pm: Odisha reports 2,138 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the state’s tally to 2,64,149, reports ANI. The toll stands at 1,104 with 15 new fatalities and the number of active cases is 24,457.
1.18 pm: The Union health ministry deploys high-level central teams to Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, which are reporting a surge in the coronavirus infection, according to ANI. The teams will assist the states in testing, strengthening containment, surveillance, boosting control measures and infection prevention and efficient clinical management of the positive cases.
1.13 pm: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says Pakistan and Afghanistan have fared better than India in handling the outbreak of the coronavirus. The Congress leader was reiterating his criticism of the Centre over the International Monetary Fund’s estimate that India’s per capita Gross Domestic Product will shrink 10.3% till March 31, 2021.
1.10 pm: Former Tamil Nadu MLA and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam Treasurer P Vetrivel dies because of the Covid-19 infection at a private hospital in Chennai, reports The Indian Express.
12.55 pm: An article published in a journal by United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that a 13-year-old girl infected 11 relatives with the coronavirus across four states despite testing negative two days before a family vacation.
12.45 pm: Japanese multinational company Fujifilm says it is seeking approval of its flu drug Avigan as a treatment of the coronavirus, reports Reuters. The move comes after a late-stage study showed that the drug reduced recovery times for patients with non-severe symptoms.
12.42 pm: A study published in journal The Lancet shows that one of China’s leading Covid-19 vaccine candidates, called BBIBP-CorV, was found to be safe and it also elicited immune response during an early phase human trial, reports PTI.
11.07 am: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tests negative for the coronavirus, Reuters reports.
11.00 am: Jharkhand reports 583 new cases on Friday, taking its tally to 94,952, PTI reports. The state’s toll rises by eight to 820.
10.56 am: Singer Kumar Sanu tests positive for the coronavirus, his team says.
10.52 am: Polling officials will carry coronavirus kits for conducting the bye-elections to two Assembly segments in Odisha on November 3, PTI reports.
9.55 am: Telangana reported 1,554 new cases on Thursday, taking case count to 2,19,224, reports ANI. The toll in state rose to 1,256.
Telangana recorded 1,554 #COVID19 cases, 1,435 recoveries and 7 deaths yesterday, taking total cases to 2,19,224 including 1,94,653 recoveries, 1,256 deaths and 23,203 active cases: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/ACMYm3A99k
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2020
9.46 am: A clinical trial by the World Health Organization finds that remdesivir had little or no effect on coronavirus patients’ chances of survival or duration of hospital stay, Reuters reports.
Also read:
Covid-19: Remdesivir does not reduce deaths or hospital stay, shows WHO study
9.43 am: France reported a record 30,621 new cases on Thursday, according to Reuters. The country’s tally rose to 8,09,684. The toll stood at 33,125.
9.40 am: A US Department of Defense study released on Thursday shows that the risk of exposure to the coronavirus on planes is very low, Reuters reports. The study finds that when a seated passenger is wearing a mask, 0.003% of the air particles within the breathing zone around the head are contagious.
9.37 am: The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission asks doctors to not leave the city during the four days of Durga Puja, amid concerns of a surge in Covid-19 cases, PTI reports.
9.35 am: India’s coronavirus tests cross 9.22 crore.
COVID-19 Testing Update. For more details visit: https://t.co/dI1pqwfbRz @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes #ICMRFIGHTSCOVID19 #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #CoronaUpdatesInIndia #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/z0sQRK81PP
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) October 16, 2020
9.23 am: India’s tally rises to 73,70,468 as it reports 63,371 new cases in a day. The country’s toll rises by 895 to 1,12,161.
9.18 am: Movie halls across India saw lukewarm response as opened for the first time since March on Thursday, PTI reports.
9.14 am: In India, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam will reopen from October 21, PTI reports. It has been closed since March due to the coronavirus crisis.
9.11 am: Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris suspends travel through the coming weekend after two people who were around her test positive for the coronavirus, The Washington Post reports.
8.59 am: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen went into isolation on Thursday after one of her close staffers tested positive for COVID-19. She had to leave a summit of European Union leaders. She has tested negative.
I have just been informed that a member of my front office has tested positive to COVID-19 this morning. I myself have tested negative.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 15, 2020
However as a precaution I am immediately leaving the European Council to go into self-isolation.
8.40 am: India continues to register one of the lowest deaths per million population globally, says Centre.
Enhanced medical infrastructure, strengthened critical care capacities of ICU doctors, adherence to Standard Treatment Protocol, and tireless efforts of doctors, paramedics & various #COVID19 warriors have collectively resulted in these outcomes.
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) October 16, 2020
8.35 am: Gir National Park in Gujarat reopens for tourists with Covid-19 protocols, reports ANI.
#Gujarat: Gir National Park and Sanctuary re-opens for tourists with #COVID19 protocols pic.twitter.com/mGpwknuuck
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2020
8.30 am: Sikkim reports 41 fresh cases, case count mounts to 3,500, reports PTI. The toll stands at 59.