Coronavirus news highlights: Bengal sees highest spike of 3,865 new cases; K’taka reports 7,184 new infections

India sees 62,212 new Covid-19 cases as tally crosses 74-lakh mark, 837 deaths in the last 24 hours. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total case tally stands at 74,32,680 including 7,95,087 active cases, 65,24,595 recoveries and 1,12,998 deaths.

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Metro ops to operate at 3rd of pre-Covid passenger capacity

Metro train services will be only half of the pre-Covid-19 levels and will operate at a third of the passenger capacity once the services restart next week, a top official said on Saturday.

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Global coronavirus cases rise by one-day record of 4,00,000

Global coronavirus cases rose by more than 400,000 for the first time late on Friday, a record one-day increase as much of Europe enacts new restrictions to curb the outbreak.

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Slovakia to test whole country for coronavirus: Igor Matovic

Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic said Saturday the eurozone member will test every resident ages 10 and up for the coronavirus, amid an uptick in infections.

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Jharkhand reports 542 new Covid-19 cases, 501 discharges and 8 deaths today

Total cases at 95,967 including 88,559 discharges, 832 deaths and 6,576 active cases

Punjab registers 19 more Covid-19 deaths, 427 new cases

The Covid-19 death toll in Punjab rose to 3,999 on Saturday after 19 more people succumbed to the disease, while 427 new cases took the infection tally to 1,27,154, according to a medical bulletin.

Haryana's Covid-19 tally rises to 1,49,081 with 1,148 fresh cases, while death toll climbs to 1,640 with six more fatalities: State health department bulletin

3,259 new Covid-19 cases, 35 deaths and 3,154 recoveries reported in Delhi today.

Total cases rise to 3,27,718 including 2,98,853 recoveries and 5,981 deaths. Active cases stand at 22,884.

Highest single-day spike of 3,865 fresh cases takes West Bengal's Covid-19 tally to 3,17,053; death toll mounts to 5,992 with 61 more fatalities.

Maharashtra reports 10,259 new Covid-19 cases which takes state's caseload to 15,86,321; death toll reaches 41,965 as 250 patients succumb.

Uttarakhand reports 606 new Covid-19 cases today, 665 patients cured. Total cases in the state rise to 57,648 including 50,820 recoveries and 924 deaths

1,222 new Covid-19 cases and 18 deaths reported in Madhya Pradesh today.

Total cases in the State rise to 1,59,158 including 2,753 deaths and 1,42,707 recoveries so far. Active cases stand at 13,698

Gujarat's coronavirus case count rises to 1,58,635 with 1,161 new cases; death toll reaches 3,629 with nine more fatalities

Rajasthan's Covid-19 tally rises to 1,71,281 with 1,992 fresh cases; death toll climbs to 1,735 as 12 more people succumb to the disease.

Manipur records 426 new Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths today; the total number of positive cases in the State stands at 15,141 including 11,443 recoveries, 3,587 active cases and 111 deaths

Andhra Pradesh reports 3,676 new Covid-19 cases today taking total positive cases to 7,79,146 including 37,102 active cases, 7,35,638 recoveries and 6,406 deaths

Karnataka reports 7,184 new Covid-19 cases, 8,893 discharges, and 71 deaths today.

Total cases in the State rise to 7,58,574 including 1,10,647 active cases, 6,37,481 discharges and 10,427 deaths

Nepal’s Covid-19 tally nears 1,30,000

15 new Covid-19 cases reported in the Dharavi area of Mumbai today, taking the total number of cases to 3,400 including 140 active cases & 2,954 discharges: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

54 new Covid-19 cases reported in Chandigarh today; total cases rise to 13,582. The death toll is at 207

Tamil Nadu reports 57 deaths and 4,295 new Covid-19 cases today, taking the total number of cases in the State to 6,83,486. The death toll is at 10,586.

6,32,708 people have been discharged in the State so far including 5,005 people discharges today

Kerala reports 9,016 new Covid-19 cases pushing the total active patients to 96,004.

The state has recorded 1,139 deaths while 2,36,989 people have recovered from the infection.

Divided world is failing Covid-19 test, says frustrated UN chief

A divided world has failed to rise to the challenge of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday and warned concerted action was needed to prevent millions of people being pushed into poverty and hunger.

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PM Narendra Modi cautions against complacency in Covid-19 fight; directs full preparedness for vaccine distribution

Calling for full preparedness to ensure speedy access to Covid-19 vaccines for every citizen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday suggested developing a vaccine delivery system on the lines of conduct of polls and disaster management while involving all levels of government and citizen groups.

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Congenital heart defects may not increase severe Covid-19 risk: Study

Adults and children born with heart defects had a lower-than-expected possibility of developing moderate or severe Covid-19 symptoms, according to a new study which cautioned that elderly patients with similar congenital conditions might have a different risk profile.

Rahul Gandhi to pay 2-day visit to Wayanad from October 19 to review coronavirus situation

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will pay a two day visit to Wayanad from October 19 to review the Covid-19 pandemic situation in his parliamentary constituency, a senior party leader said here on Saturday.

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No new Covid-19 cases reported in Mizoram over the last 24 hours, while 4 patients recovered in the state. Total cases stand at 2,245, out of which 108 are active patients. 2,137 people have been discharged so far. No death reported in the state till date

South Africa passes 7,00,000 coronavirus cases

The number of people in South Africa who have tested positive for coronavirus has topped 7,00,000, official figures showed overnight, another grim milestone for the continent's worst-hit country.

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Scientists develop new method to block coronavirus replication

Scientists have laid out an approach to block a protein that the novel coronavirus uses to cut and disable crucial components of the immune system and to produce copies of itself, an advance that may lead to new drugs against Covid-19.

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Madhya Pradesh bypoll: Congress manifesto promises help to Covid-19 victims' kin

Madhya Pradesh Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the upcoming state Assembly bypolls, in which it promised to provide help to the families of those who died of coronavirus if it returned to power in the state.

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Dr Reddy's gets DCGI nod to conduct Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine phase 2/3 human trails

Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd and Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia's sovereign wealth fund, on Saturday announced that they have received approval from the Drug Control General of India to conduct an adaptive phase 2/3 human clinical trial for Sputnik V vaccine in India.

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PM appeals for social distancing, Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and self-restraint during festival season

PM suggests developing vaccine delivery system on lines of conduct of polls, involving all levels of governments and citizen groups.

Covid-19 review meeting: PM Modi notes steady decline in daily cases and growth rate

Two pan-India studies on Covid-19 virus genome suggest virus is genetically stable, no major mutation in it: PMO

PM Narendra Modi chairs Covid-19 review meeting; cautions against complacency, calls for keeping up efforts to contain pandemic

Three vaccines in advanced stages of development in India, out of which 2 are in Phase II, one is in Phase-III: PMO statement

Uttar Pradesh's Covid-19 tally crosses 4.52 lakh with 2,880 new cases

A total of 4,11,611 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment, including 3,528 in the last 24 hours, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Amit Mohan Prasad said.

British Covid-19 testing adviser calls for 'circuit-breaker' lockdown

A professor who has advised the British government on its Covid-19 testing programme said on Saturday a short nationwide lockdown was needed due to "eye-watering" levels of infection in parts of England.

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Fastest-ever growth in global novel coronavirus cases as US tops 8 million

Covid-19 cases in the United States topped eight million Friday as the world saw the highest-ever number reported in a single day, while European countries tightened measures to control the pandemic's spread.

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Iran's death toll from coronavirus above 30,000: Health ministry

Iran's new coronavirus death toll has risen by 253 to 30,123, the health ministry said on Saturday, as the number of confirmed cases spiked to 526,490 in the hardest-hit Middle Eastern country.

India to conduct trials of Russia's Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd have received renewed approval to conduct late-stage clinical trials in India of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine, the sovereign wealth fund said on Saturday.

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Kerala Covid-19 patient getting infested with maggots sparks row

A Covid-19 patient at Thiruvananthapuram government medical college hospital was found infested with maggots, and the suspension of a doctor and two nurses in connection with the case has triggered a stir by doctors and nurses.

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Won’t seek vaccine authorisation before mid-November: Pfizer

The chief executive of Pfizer said on Friday that the company would not apply for emergency authorisation of its Covid-19 vaccine before the third week of November, ruling out President Donald Trump’s assertion that a vaccine would be ready before Election Day on November 3.

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Roche plans to sell Covid-19 antigen lab tests by end of 2020

Roche plans to start selling a higher-volume Covid-19 antigen test for laboratories by the end of the year as the Swiss drugmaker expands diagnostics for the pandemic.

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Uttarakhand schools set to reopen from November 1, parents remain worried amid rising Covid-19 cases

With schools set to reopen in Uttarakhand for classes X and XII on November 1 after a gap of more than seven months, most parents are feeling insecure as Covid-19 cases are still rising in the state.

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Pakistan Cricket Board warns of expulsion after breach of Covid-19 protocols

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) warned players and officials of expulsion if they breach Covid-19 protocols after 12 people violated the "bio-secure bubble" at the ongoing National Twenty20 Cup in Rawalpindi.

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Merkel urges Germans to reduce contacts and travel to curb coronavirus

Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans on Saturday to curb social contacts and keep travel to a minimum, making a personal appeal after the federal and state governments struggled to agree on ways to contain a second wave of coronavirus infection.

"We have to do everything to prevent the virus from spreading out of control. Every day counts," Merkel said in her weekly video podcast.

PCB warns of expulsion after breach of Covid-19 protocols

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) warned players and officials of expulsion if they breach Covid-19 protocols after 12 people violated the "bio-secure bubble" at the ongoing National Twenty20 Cup in Rawalpindi.

Nine players and three officials tested negative for the new coronavirus after they were found to have spent time outside the bubble area near their hotel.

Poland reports record rise in daily coronavirus cases

Poland reported a record 9,622 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, according to health ministry data published on Twitter, as the country reimposed some restrictions to fight the pandemic.

Poland has now recorded 167,230 confirmed coronavirus cases and 3,524 deaths.

Italy's Lombardy region takes new coronavirus measures

Italy's northern Lombardy region, where the European coronavirus outbreak began in late February, has taken new measures to contain rebounding infections, limiting bar service and alcohol sales, banning contact sports and closing bingo parlors.

The regional government late Friday also called for high schools to adopt hybrid schedules with students alternating in-person with online learning.

Scientists develop new method to block coronavirus replication

Scientists have laid out an approach to block a protein that the novel coronavirus uses to cut and disable crucial components of the immune system and to produce copies of itself, an advance that may lead to new drugs against Covid-19.

The researchers, including those from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) in the US, developed two molecules that inhibit the molecular "scissor" enzyme used by the coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2-PLpro.

Ukraine's new daily coronavirus cases exceed 6,000

Ukraine registered a record 6,410 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the national security council said on Saturday, up from a previous record of 5,992 reported on Friday.

The council said 109 patients had died in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic.

Indonesia reports 4,301 new coronavirus cases, 84 deaths

Tripura reports 134 new Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths

At least 134 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Tripura on Saturday, pushing the tally in the state to 29,327 a health department official said.

The death toll rose to 323 with three more persons succumbing to the infection, he said.

West Tripura district, of which state capital Agartala is a part, has accounted for 171 of the 320 Covid-19 deaths, the official said

Sinovac coronavirus vaccine offered by Chinese city for emergency use costs $60

A Chinese city is offering Sinovac Biotech's experimental Covid-19 vaccine to essential workers and other high-risk groups as part of a national programme for about $60.

The eastern city of Jiaxing's center for disease control and prevention (CDC) said in a statement on WeChat that two doses of the vaccine candidate, called CoronaVac, will cost 200 yuan ($29.75) per dose and that vaccinations for key groups including medical professionals have begun.

Czech Republic's daily Covid-19 infections top 11,000 for first time

The Czech Republic, facing Europe's biggest surge in new coronavirus infections per capita, reported 11,105 Covid-19 cases on Friday, its largest single-day tally so far of the pandemic, Health Ministry data showed on Saturday.

Active caseload below 8 lakh for the first time after 1.5 months: Ministry of Health

Austrian foreign minister tests positive for Covid-19 after EU meeting

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has tested positive for the coronavirus and might have caught it at a meeting with his European Union counterparts on Monday, a spokeswoman for his ministry said on Saturday.

"As a precautionary measure all members of the government will be tested on Saturday. It is suspected that Schallenberg might have been infected at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday," the spokeswoman said, adding that Schallenberg was symptom-free and had a routine test.

Ukraine's new daily coronavirus cases exceed 6,000

Ukraine registered a record 6,410 newCovid-19cases in the past 24 hours, the national security council said on Saturday, up from a previous record of 5,992 reported on Friday.

The council said 109 patients had died in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic.

Dasara festivities begin in Mysuru amid Covid-19 shadow

The famous 10-day long Dasara festivities commenced in this palace city on Saturday with religious fervour, amid the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic. Celebrated as 'Nada Habba' (state festival), the festivities began with Dr C N Manjunath, Director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bengaluru and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru royals, atop Chamundi Hill.

Three more succumb to coronavirus in Pondy, toll rises to 574

Three more people, including a 65-year old woman, died of Covis-19 on Saturday, pushing the toll in the union territory to 574.

Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release that 222 fresh cases at the end of examination of 4,209 samples were reported today, raising the overall tally to 32,978. Kumar said the total active cases were 4,420 and 27,984 patients recovered and were discharged so far from hospitals.

Nine deaths, 1,451 new Covid-19 cases in Telangana

Telangana clocked 1,451 fresh coronavirus cases,taking the tally to 2.20 lakh, even as the recovery rate in the state rose to over 89 per cent. The toll mounted to 1,265 with nine more fatalities.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for 235 of the 1,451 fresh cases, followed by Rangareddy 104, Medchal Malkajgiri 101 and other districts, a state government bulletin said on Saturday

Melbourne closer to easing Covid-19 restrictions

Australia's Victoria state has reported just one new case of Covid-19 and no deaths as the city of Melbourne moves closer towards the easing of some lifestyle restrictions.

The state's coronavirus death toll remains at 816 and the Australian total is 904. Melbourne residents are expecting Covid-19 restrictions to be eased on Sunday but it is unclear how much freedom will be regained.

Firefighters wearing protective suits pray before a disinfection operation, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Kuala Lumpur

Reuters Photo

Thailand reports first local coronavirus cases in over a month

Thailand has recorded its first two locally transmitted cases of the coronavirus in more than one month, the Covid-19 administration center said on Saturday.

It said in its daily report that the cases were among two Myanmar nationals living near the border with Myanmar, where infections have been surging recently.

198 new Covid-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh; tally rises to 13,169

At least 198 more people, including two security personnel, have tested positive for Covid-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, pushing the coronavirus caseload in the state to 13,169, a senior health official said on Saturday.

Of the 198 new cases, 72 were reported from the Capital Complex region, Changlang (25), West Siang (21), East Siang (19), Tirap (10) and Lower Dibang Valley (8).

Australia's coronavirus hotspot records single case

Australia's coronavirus hotspot of Victoria recorded a single case of the disease on Saturday - the lowest daily number since early June - and no deaths, with the state's top health official saying the figures were "one-der-ful".

Victoria's capital Melbourne, which has been the epicentre of the country's Covid-19 outbreak, is in its third month of a stringent lockdown and Premier Daniel Andrews is due to update plans to ease restrictions across the state on Sunday.

India reports 62,212 new Covid-19 infections; active cases dip below 8 lakh

Sabarimala temple opens for devotees amid Covid-19

The famed Lord Ayyappa temple here opened to devotees Saturday morning after remaining closed for over six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a few worshippers wearing masks and carryingCovid-19negative certificate offering prayers.

The temple, which opened for the monthly puja on Friday evening, will allow pilgrims to offer prayers till October 21.

Rapid antigen tests are being conducted at Nilackal for those not carrying a negative test report forCovid-19.

Covid-19 cases surge in Wisconsin ahead of Donald Trump rally

Wisconsin has recently become an epicenter of the pandemic in the United States.

On Friday, the state's department of health services reported grim records as daily Covid-19 cases reached 3,861 and the seven-day average of new confirmed cases topped 3,000 for the first time.

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Mainland China reports 13 new Covid-19 cases vs 24 a day earlier

China reported 13 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for Oct. 16, compared with 24 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Saturday.

All of the new infections were imported, according to a statement by the National Health Commission.

With iffy wifi, Venezuelan school kids struggle to join classes

Thumbing his mobile phone, Jonathan Figueroa sits on his doorstep in a desperate daily quest for a Wifi signal to download his homework.

Battered by the coronavirus pandemic and economic collapse, Venezuela's lost generation of schoolchildren have little chance of linking up regularly with online classes given the country's fickle internet coverage.

A waiter cleans a table of a restaurant a few minutes before the start of the late-night curfew due to restrictions against the spread of the coronavirus disease in Lille, France.

Reuters Photo

France reports over 25,000 new coronavirus infections in past 24 hours

The French health ministry reported 25,086 new confirmed coronavirus cases in past 24 hours on Friday, after reporting a record 30,621 on Thursday.

It also reported that 122 people had died from coronavirus infection in hospitals in the past 24 hours, compared with 88 on Thursday. Including deaths in retirement homes - which are often reported in multi-day batches - the death toll increased by 178 on Friday.

US Jewish leaders call Covid-19 rules 'blatantly anti-Semitic'

Three Rockland County Jewish congregations are suing New York state and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying he engaged in a “streak of anti-Semitic discrimination” with a recent crackdown on religious gatherings to reduce the state's coronavirus infection rate.

Apollo Hospitals to deliver up to 10 lakh Covid-19 vaccines daily across India

Apollo Hospitals will deliver up to 10 lakh Covid-19 vaccines daily by leveraging its pan-India medical infrastructure, the group said.

The hospital chain has 19 medicine supply hubs with cold chain facilities, 70 hospitals, over 400 clinics, 500 corporate health centres and 4,000 pharmacies, besides a digital platform.

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Sikkim reports 31 fresh Covid-19 cases

Sikkim reported 31 fresh novel coronavirus cases in the past one day taking the tally in the state to 3531, an official said.

A total of 3096 people have recovered from the disease, while the number of fatalities is 59 so far, state IEC member Sonam Bhutia said.

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