A sero survey done to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 in Karnataka has found that while 16.4% of the 15,624 samples studied have developed antibodies against COVID, 12.7% was found to have current (active) infection.
In a separate development, as per the latest government guidelines by the Maharashtra government, yoga institutes, and indoor sports facilities such as badminton, tennis, squash courts, and indoor shooting ranges outside containment zones will also be allowed to operate from Thursday.
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:
Universities, colleges to re-open in Punjab from November 16
The Punjab government on Thursday decided to re-open universities and colleges in the areas outside COVID-19 containment zones from November 16 in the State.
An official spokesperson said classes for final year students of universities and colleges under the medical education and research department would commence from November 9.
The educational institutions in the State were closed from March 24 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
- PTI
Kerala govt to offer financial aid to struggling artists due to COVID-19 restrictions
The Kerala government has announced a financial assistance of ₹1000 to artists and performers facing crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic as there was no programme or work for them due to the restrictions imposed.
A cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, decided to disburse Rs 1,000 each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as assistance to 30,000 artists who are suffering due to the COVID-19 restrictions and have not received any other financial aid.
“The artists, who had not received any assistance so far, will be given ₹1000 each. The government will spend Rs three crore for the purpose,” Cultural Affairs Minister, A K Balan said.
- PTI
India-made COVID-19 vaccine could be launched as early as Feb: govt scientist
An Indian government-backed COVID-19 vaccine could be launched as early as February - months earlier than expected - as last-stage trials begin this month and studies have so far showed it is safe and effective, a senior government scientist told Reuters.
Bharat Biotech, a private company that is developing COVAXIN with the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), had earlier hoped to launch it only in the second quarter of next year.
“The vaccine has shown good efficacy,” senior ICMR scientist Rajni Kant, who is also a member of its COVID-19 task-force, said at the research body's New Delhi headquarters on Thursday.
“It is expected that by the beginning of next year, February or March, something would be available.”
- PTI
Delhi can soon become ‘corona capital’, AAP govt going haywire on pandemic: HC
The Delhi High Court Thursday expressed displeasure over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital and observed that the city could soon become ‘corona capital of the country’.
A Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said the Delhi government has gone completely haywire on the pandemic.
The Bench said the AAP government took the health of citizens for a ride and it will deal with it separately.
- PTI
Johns Hopkins, IIHMR University to offer online courses on ‘vaccine economics’
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has partnered with IIHMR University in Jaipur to offer two online courses on “vaccine economics” for policymakers and programme managers to educate them on optimising vaccine coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to IIHMR University, the courses have already received 400 applications, out of which 230 participants from the field of immunisation and vaccine delivery have been short-listed.
The participants are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Somalia.
- PTI
Active cases of COVID-19 less than 6 lakh for seven consecutive days: Health Ministry
The number of active cases of COVID-19 has been less than 6 lakh for seven consecutive days with 27 states and UTs having less than 20,000 active cases, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.
In a statement, the Ministry said India continues to report a steady trend of declining active cases of COVID-19 which presently stands at 5,27,962.
“The active cases are less than 6 lakh for the last seven consecutive days. Twenty-seven States and UTs have less than 20,000 active cases and 10 States/UTs account for 78% of the total active cases in the country. Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi and West Bengal together account for more than 51% of the active cases,” it said.
- PTI
India’s COVID-19 caseload mounts to 83.64 lakh with 50,210 new cases
India’s COVID-19 tally climbed to 83.64 lakh with 50,210 new cases in a day, while 77,11,809 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 92.20%, according to the Union Health Ministry data on Thursday.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 83,64,086 and the death toll climbed to 1,24,315, with the virus claiming 704 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate was recorded at 1.49%. There are 5,27,962 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 6.31% of the total caseload, the data stated.
- PTI
Theatres, swimming pools to open in Maharashtra today
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday allowed cinema halls, drama theatres and multiplexes situated outside containment zones in the State to reopen from Thursday. The establishments can function at 50% capacity and no eatables will be allowed inside.
The State Cultural Affairs Department and local authorities will issue the standard operating procedure (SOP). The move to reopen theatres and multiplexes comes after a number of delegations met with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Cultural Affairs Minister Amit Deshmukh.
16.4% have developed antibodies against COVID-19 in Karnataka
A sero survey done to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 in Karnataka has found that while 16.4% of the 15,624 samples studied have developed antibodies against COVID, 12.7% was found to have current (active) infection.
Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar, releasing the findings on Wednesday, said the overall adjusted prevalence of COVID-19 in the State was 27.3% (combined IgG and active infection).
150 teachers test positive in Chittoor district
Just three days after educational institutions reopened, there is lot of uneasiness and tension among parents in Chittoor district as 150 teachers of government schools tested positive to the COVID-19 virus, followed by nine students. The figure is likely to up in the next three days when more results are awaited.
The teachers who had tested positive to the virus were mostly from Srikalahasti, Tirupati, Madanapalle, Chittoor, Punganur, Palamaner and Ramasamudram mandals. The incidence is being felt equally in both rural and urban areas.
More commuters allowed to travel by workmen special trains
Southern Railway has allowed more commuters to travel in the workmen special suburban trains.
In a circular issued on Wednesday by the Commercial Branch, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, Southern Railway allowed employees of some more organisations to travel in these trains, besides the essential services workers and government employees.
Homes turn science labs during pandemic times
If arts and sports classes go online, can science labs too be set up at home? Yes, believes the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Kozhikode, which recently persuaded over thousand students from a school here to set up little home-based labs to make science learning more effective. D. Divya, science faculty, DIET, Kozhikode, says the project is part of the ‘Schoolinoppam’ project being implemented in two schools each in 15 educational sub-districts in Kozhikode.
“COVID-19 is changing our teaching methods in different ways. Though classes are being held online, children are finding it difficult to do scientific experiments as they do not have access to labs. Children in Classes 5 to 7 are being asked to use substances that are easily available in their surroundings and set up small labs at home,” she says.