Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Govt for First Time Admits Community Transmission in India, Health Minister Says It’s Limited to ‘Some Districts’

Madhya Pradesh Covid-19 Tally Update | A total of 1,030 new Covid-19 cases and 20 deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh today. The total number of cases in the state rose to 1,60,188 and the death toll reached 2,773. The tally includes 1,44,134 recovered cases and 13,281 active cases.

7,012 New Coronavirus Cases in Karnataka | Latest health bulletin shows Karnataka reported 7,012 new coronavirus cases and 51 deaths today, taking total number of cases in the state to 7,65,586 and death toll to 10,478. The tally includes 1,09,264 active cases, 6,45,825 discharged cases.

Tamil Nadu Reports 3,914 More Covid-19 Cases | Tamil Nadu reported 3,914 new coronavirus cases and 56 deaths today, taking the total number of cases to 6,87,400 and death toll to 10,642. The tally includes 6,37,637 recovered cases and 39,121 active cases.

3,986 Covid-19 Cases in Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh reports 3,986 more coronavirus cases today taking total cases to 7,83,132. The tally includes 36,474 active cases and 7,40,229 recovered cases. The death toll stands at 6,429.

Kerala Covid-19 Update | Kerala reported 7,631 new coronavirus cases. The state has 95,200 active cases and 2,45,399 recovered cases. 

No New Cases in Mizoram | No new coronavirus cases were reported in Mizoram over the last 24 hours, while 3 patients recovered in the state. Total number of positive cases in the state stand at 2,253. The tally includes 105 active patients and 2,253 discharged cases. No death reported in the state till date.

The government panel has also said that if norms are adhered to, there is a possibility of the pandemic being controlled by early next year.

Bihar Records 1,152 New Covid-19 Cases | Health officials reported 1,152 new coronavirus cases in Bihar in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,04,212. The tally includes 1,92,594 recovered cases, 10,621 active cases and 996 deaths.

The admission came at a time when several states, the latest being West Bengal, speaking about having entered the third stage of the pandemic, that is community transmission.

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Delhi Reports 3,299 New Covid-19 Cases | A total of 3,299 new coronavirus cases and 28 deaths were reported in Delhi today, taking the total number of cases in the national capital to 3,31,017. The tally includes 3,01,716 recovered cases and 23,292 active cases. The death toll rose to 6,009.

UPDATE | A case has been registered against Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla and 32 others in Bayana police station for holding Mahapanchayat in Rajasthan's Bharatpur yesterday in violation of Covid-19 protocols.

The Health Minister also refuted China's claims that the origin of the novel coronavirus could have been any other place in the world than Wuhan. "There is no evidence to validate the claims that the outbreak occurred at multiple points globally," he said, adding that Wuhan remains recognised as the site where the first coronavirus case was reported.

UPDATE | Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on said there is no evidence that can validate claims on global multiple focal points for the COVID-19 outbreak, amid China claiming that the coronavirus broke out simultaneously in several countries last year.

According to doctors, respiratory illnesses like viral influenza increase with a spike in pollution levels as poor air quality leads to inflammation in the lungs making it more vulnerable for the virus to penetrate.

India Witnessing Community Transmisssion: Health Ministry | In a first, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that India is witnessing community transmission, adding that "it is limited to some districts and states."

India Witnessing Community Transmisssion: Health Ministry | In a first, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that India is witnessing community transmission, adding that "it is limited to some districts and states."

Mumbai Metro Gives Sneak Peak Before Reopening Services | Mumbai Metro to resume operations from tomorrow after months of lockdown; preparations underway.

Keeping all sanitation protocols in mind, we’re ready to welcome back Mumbaikars from tomorrow with a safe, secure and hygienic manner. Here's a sneak peek of what your new metro journeys will look like. #YourMetroSafeMetro #MetroSeChalonaMumbai pic.twitter.com/zkxPVjutTZ

— Mumbai Metro (@MumMetro) October 18, 2020

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'Long Covid' Linked to Organ Impairment in Young People Without Pre-existing Conditions: Study | Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have assessed more than 200 people infected with the novel coronavirus and found that there was significant evidence of heart, lung, liver and pancreas impairment four months post-Covid-19 in young individuals without risk factors or pre-existing disease. According to the researchers, including Sandeep Kapur from Mayo Clinic Healthcare, the average age of the participants was 44, and they completed the assessments 105-160 days after initial symptoms. They said the prevalence of pre-existing conditions such as obesity and hypertension was low among the participants, and only 18 per cent of the individuals had been hospitalised with Covid-19.

The panel used the real-time dataset to make forecasts on the transmission, to gauge effect of the lockdown, migrations and also project future scenarios based on the unlocking measures being followed…

As tourism industry opens up in Goa, popular pubs have been seen flouting Covid-19 norms. From unregulated  parties to no social distancing being maintained, it has led to a massive fear that cases could increase in the coastal state. Most importantly, tourists seen without masks and no checks being done by the local district administration. 

Around seven months after it was closed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the doors of Sabarimala temple were open for devotees from October 16, albeit with certain restrictions.

The Phase 3 trials of Covid-19 vaccine are being conducted for over thousands of volunteers, nearly about 30,000: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Mumbai Monorail services resume, months after they were stopped in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

Mumbai Monorail services resume, months after they were stopped in the wake of #COVID19 pandemic.

"We've developed internal SOP. 'No mask-no entry' is being followed. Services will continue from 7:03-11:40 am & 4:03-9:24 pm," Rohan Salukhe, a senior official of the services says pic.twitter.com/zVxKX3hl7c

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2020

At present in India, there are no clinical trials on a nasal spray vaccine for Covid-19. However, the Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune, is working on a vaccine for coronavirus and is expected to begin clinical trials by end of this year: Dr Harsh Vardhan.

I have decided to keep my celebrations subdued. There is so much suffering across the world due to the pandemic. We must all let charity take precedence, donate with a large heart to the underprivileged. Find poor people in your neighbourhood. Buy their children new clothes, sweets and articles of need, you'll feel good. As we worship Maa Shakti in her nine avatars, I hope to see more empowered women and a society free of discrimination and atrocities against women: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, in his 'Sunday Samvaad'.

This Navratri, I urge you to be mindful of your role in defeating Covid-19. As we bow down in prayer, we must keep sacrifice of lakhs of Corona warriors in our thoughts, those who've lost their lives and those who're battling the dreaded disease for saving us: Union Health Minister.

Kerala Spike Occured During Onam: Vardhan | Kerala was initially portrayed as a model of dealing with Covid-19 as between January to May, it had reported only 499 cases, mostly in Kasargod district but subsequently its caseload increased due to inter and intra-state movement of persons and goods. Moreover, during Onam festivities in the month of August-September (from August 22 to September 2), there were huge congregations where people collected in large numbers without adequate precautions. 

The government has sanctioned $394 million for building 56 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for affordable health care. Emphasising on PM Modi's call for 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat', Vardhan said the government will introduce production-linked incentive scheme for the pharma sector that will make the sector more dependent on APIs and will gradually make it self-reliant.