India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 87.28 lakh on Friday with a single-day increase of 44,879 cases, while the recoveries surged to 81,15,580, pushing the national recovery rate to 92.97%, according to the Union Health Ministry.
However, the number of active cases in the country comprise just 5.55% of the total caseload, the data stated.
Here are the updates:
COVID-19 negative report mandatory for teachers and students ahead of opening of colleges
A COVID-19 RT-PCR negative test report will be mandatory for all the teachers, students and non-teaching staff with the Karnataka government deciding to reopen the degree, medical and engineering colleges.
After eight months of COVID-19 induced lockdown, the Karnataka government has decided to start the degree, engineering and diploma colleges from November 17 and Medical, nursing, AYUSH and paramedical colleges from December 1.
In view of the reopening of colleges, the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Pankaj Kumar Pandey passed the order making RT-PCR test report mandatory.
“As per SoP issued from Government of Karnataka, all teachers, students and non-teaching staff members of colleges and hostels shall produce a COVID-19 RT-PCR negative test report, which is done within 72 hours before the day of joining,” the Order said. - PTI
Health authorities ask people not to lower guard
Health authorities in Telangana on Friday told the people not to lower the guard against COVID-19. Follow all precautions during the Deepavali festival and the wedding season this month to prevent the spread of the infectious disease, they said.
Swine flu and other flu may also spread during the winter season in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, State Director of Public Health G. Srinivas Rao said.
He suggested that people celebrate Deepavali by lighting 'diyas’ and stay away from firecrackers as they contribute to rise in air pollution. “Our appeal to people is in view of COVID-19 and public health. We need to control air pollution from rising further in our city and Telangana. People need to cooperate for this. The firecrackers which we burst traditionally should be kept off, as bursting them increases the air pollution,” he told reporters.
Because of the rise in pollution, respiratory illnesses increase among those who have low immunity, especially old people and children, he said. The air pollution may also add to the COVID-19 severity, he said.
Mr. Rao said precautions against COVID-19 should be taken at least for the next three months as there is hope of a vaccine or a permanent treatment being available then. - PTI
No cultural celebrations inside Delhi jails this Deepavali owing to COVID-19 restrictions
Cultural programmes as part of Deepavali celebrations will not be held inside jails in the national capital this year owing to restrictions imposed due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, officials said. However, candles will be lit inside the jails and inmates will be provided special diets, officials said.
The Delhi Prisons comprises of Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli jails. Deepavali, a festival of lights, will be celebrated on Saturday.
“This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, no cultural programmes will be organised in jails during the celebrations of Diwali,” Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel said.
The jail authorities said the inmates of Central Jail No.4 of Tihar have been painting and decorating earthen diyas. These diyas are usually purchased from outside, painted by the prisoners and later sold through the shops in the jail complex. The candles will be lit inside the jails. The inmates will be given special diets which differs jail wise, a senior official said.
According to the latest data shared by the jail administration, 109 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, out of whom 95 have recovered, two have died and 12 are undergoing treatment. Besides the inmates, of the 266 prison staff who tested positive for the virus, 231 have recovered, while there are 35 active cases at present. - PTI
Ensure compliance of COVID-19 norms during festival season: UP CM
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed the officials to ensure compliance of all necessary precautions during the festival season in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
He also asked the officials to continue with special awareness drives for checking the spread of the infection.
The Chief Minister, in a meeting with senior officials, asked them to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the festival season from Diwali to Chhath when people in large numbers meet each other, an official release said. -PTI
Israel signs deal with Pfizer for potential COVID-19 vaccine
Israel signed a deal with Pfizer Inc on Friday to receive 8 million doses of the drugmaker's potential COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, enough to cover close to half of Israel's population.
Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE confirmed a deal was forthcoming in a statement on Thursday but did not disclose financial details. There was no immediate comment from the two companies on Friday.
The agreement still requires approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Israel's Health Ministry, Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said. Pfizer is expected to apply for approval this month, he added.
Medical colleges in Karnataka to open from Dec 1
The Government has decided to reopen all medical, dental, AYUSH, paramedical, nursing and pharmacy colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) from December 1.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education K Sudhakar has requested the administration of all colleges and students to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the government.
COVID-19 situation in Delhi should come under control in 7-10 days: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the COVID-19 situation in the national capital should come under control in seven to 10 days and that his government is taking several steps in this regard.
Mr. Kejriwal also said that pollution is the “biggest” reason behind the spike in coronavirus cases in the city.
“COVID-19 cases have been increasing for the last few days. I am also concerned about it. We have been taking all appropriate measures to control it. We are considering taking more steps next week. I think the situation should come under control in 7 to 10 days and the cases should start decreasing,” he said during a press conference.
“Pollution is biggest reason behind the spike in COVID-19 cases in Delhi. We had situation under control until October 20,” the CM said.
Habibul Bashar tests positive for COVID-19
Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar has tested positive for the dreaded COVID-19 and is currently in home quarantine, according to a report here.
Bashar, a current national selector, is the latest to get infected following positive test results of Test captain Mominul Haque and all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad earlier this week.
“I was really careful, but still I got infected,” Bashar told Bangla Tribune.
Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam to be low-key affair this year
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tiruvannamalai district administration has announced that devotees will not be allowed inside the Tiruvannamalai temple on the day of Karthigai Deepam, falling on November 29, or gather on the streets to witness the lighting of the Deepam.
The Tiruvannamalai Deepam festival is scheduled to be held from November 17 to December 3. The festival usually draws lakhs of devotees from across the country. This year, the festival will start with the flag hoisting on November 20. On November 29, the Bharani Deepam will be lit inside the Arunachaleshwarar temple at 4 a.m and the Karthigai Deepam will be lit on top of the hill at 6 p.m.
Diwali’s message carries special significance this year as world responds to COVID-19: Morrison
Extending Diwali greetings to Indians across the globe and in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the festival’s message carries “a special significance” this year as the world is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the most dramatic shock in generations.
Diwali, which symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, will be celebrated on Saturday.
“Most years, we often think of this dispelling of darkness as a theoretical concept rather than something that is experienced and overcome. This year, Diwali’s message has a special significance,” Mr. Morrison said in a video message released recently.
No let up in COVID-19 tests in State, second wave likely in Jan-Feb: Maharashtra govt.
Anticipating a second COVID-19 wave in January-February, the Maharashtra government has asked the authorities to ensure there is no complacency in testing and said labs should be functional in every district and municipal corporation limits.
A circular from the Government’s health services directorate dated November 11 said a second wave of the pandemic is likely in January-February.
The second wave is expected based on what is happening in Europe, it said.
Delhi govt. gets leeway on ICU beds for COVID patients
A person being tested for COVID-19 virus in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed the city government to reserve 80% ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals in view of the situation in the Capital where “cases are spiralling daily”.
A Bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad vacated a single judge’s interim order staying the AAP government decision.
The High Court took note of the submission made by Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain that the data collated by the Delhi government show that the occupancy strength of even 20% ICU beds segregated for non-COVID-19 patients is only to the extent of 75%.
Air passengers asked to use biowaste bins to dispose PPE
Passengers arriving at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Monday.
Air passengers using Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) have been asked to use biowaste bins to dispose personal protective equipment (PPE). In a press release, the KIA has said that 139 biowaste bins of different sizes have placed at different points for disposing of PPE.
“Currently, used PPE is found strewn across the airport campus, posing a health hazard to both passengers and staff. BLR airport collects almost 800 to 1,000 kg of biowaste a day. In an effort to reduce COVID-19-related PPE waste, BIAL is managing the disposal of biowaste in a scientific manner, as stipulated by the government,” stated the release.
‘Is govt. ready to prosecute leaders who paid fine for not wearing mask?’
Is the State government prepared to launch criminal prosecutions against political leaders who paid fines by accepting their violation of COVID-19 norms of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing during political rallies?
The Karnataka High Court posed this question to the government while stating that many of the political leaders have paid fine for not wearing masks during rallies held as part of the campaign for the bypolls held to State Assembly in the city.
“If the [political] persons concerned have paid the fine, they have admitted to their violation. Therefore, failure of the State to prosecute them will have a serious consequence...,” a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty observed.
Madras Crocodile Bank reopens after lockdown
Visitors at the recently reopened Madras Crocodile Bank | Photo Credit: Gnaneswar Ch
The Madras Crocodile Bank and Centre for Herpetology had been sorely missed by Chennaiites during lockdown. The team knew this, but did not realise the extent of it till they opened their gates on Tuesday. “One of the first families to step in were regular visitors. The parents had been waiting to check in on the spectacled Caiman crocodile that they regularly adopt, but their nine-year-old was excited to see the new ones,” says Gnaneswar Ch, coordinator of the bank’s snakebite mitigation project.
“The new ones” are four Cuban crocodiles, two African slender-snouted crocodiles and the already popular saltie Ally. All long-time young residents, they had not been ready for public viewing back in March, when the bank last welcomed in visitors before closing the gates due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Come November, and they have freshly done-up pens of their own and are raking up fans already.