Coronavirus news highlights: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka witness dip in daily Covid-19 cases

India's Covid-19 tally on Saturday crossed 78.6 lakh cases and the death toll touched 1,18,464. High caseload states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been recording a steady dip in their daily tally while Kerala continues to post high numbers. India's active cases remain below 7 lakh for the second consecutive day. Active cases now comprise only 8.71% of the total positive cases of the country.

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Tamil Nadu Covid-19 cases drop below 3,000 mark, recoveries at 4,024

Signalling a further slide in daily fresh infections,TamilNaduon Saturday recorded 2,886 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 7,06,136, the health department said.

As many as 35 people succumbed to the virus, taking the death toll to 10,893.

The state has been witnessing a steady decline in the number of new infections over the past few days.

On October 18,TamilNadusaw the daily new cases dropping below the 4,000 mark, months after hovering around the 5,000 mark.

PTI

8,253 Covid-19 cases, 25 deaths reported in Kerala

Keralaon Saturday reported 8,253 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total infection count to 3,73,148, while 25 fatalities pushed the toll to 1,306.

Out of the new cases today, 7,084 people contracted the virus through contacts, 163 came from outside the state, while the source of infection of 939 patients was not known, Health Minister K K Shailaja said in a release.

As many as 67 health workers were among those infected, she said. Active cases stood at 97,147.

PTI

Credit: PTI File Photo

Delhi airport starts Covid-19 testing for international departures: Genestrings

International passengers taking their flights from the Delhi airport can now get themselves tested forCovid-19right before their departure, said Genestrings Diagnostic Center which operates the testing lab at the airport, on Saturday.

TheCovid-19testing facility, which started operating on September 12 at the Delhi airport, was available only for arrival passengers till date.

"The facility has now been extended to air travellers leavingIndiafor other countries. Notably, international travel rules require passengers travelling from one country to another to produce COVID negative reports," said a press release by Genestrings.

PTI

Highest one-day discharge of 3,753 Covid-19 patients takes Bengal's total number of recoveries to 3,02,340; tally rises to 3,45,574 with 4,148 fresh cases of infection: Health Department

Delhi reports 4,116 new Covid-19 cases, 3614 recoveries/discharges/migrations and 36 deaths in the last 24 hours. The COVID tally here rises to 3,52,520, including 3,19,828 recoveries/discharges/migrations and 6225 deaths. Active cases stand at 26,467.

Credit: Reuters Photo

Uttarakhand government issues SOPs, ahead of the resumption of studies for Class 10 and 12 in residential schools of the state, from 2nd November 2020.

Karnataka reported 4,471 new Covid-19 cases (2,251 cases in Bengaluru Urban), 7,153 discharges, and 52 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases now stand at 7,98,378 including 86,749 active cases, 7,00,737 discharges and 10,873 deaths.

Maharashtra reports 6,417 new Covid-19 cases, 10,004 recoveries and 137 deaths, as per their Public Health Department. The COVID tally of the state rises to 16,38,961, including 14,55,107 recoveries and 43,152 deaths. Active cases 1,40,194.

People throng a market a day before the Hindu festival of Dussehra amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease in Mumbai. Credit: Reuters Photo

Sarayna Biswas, 6, wearing a face mask and dressed as Kumari wearing gold, takes part in a ritual during the Durga Puja festival celebrations at a pandal, or a temporary platform, amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Kolkata. Credit: Reuters

Covid-19 escalated into 'syndemic' for chronic disease patients, says study

Scientists have assessed the synergistic impact ofCovid-19on people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes in low and middle-income countries such asIndia, and found that there has never been a more dangerous time for them than the ongoing pandemic.

According to the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, people with NCDs are more vulnerable to catching and dying fromCovid-19, while their exposure to NCD risk factors -- such as substance abuse, social isolation and unhealthy diets -- has increased during the pandemic.

The researchers, including Shradha S Parsekar from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, also found thatCovid-19disrupted essential public health services which people with NCDs rely on to manage their conditions.

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WATCH | Delhi: ITBP organised musical chair and other recreational activities at Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre & Hospital, Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Chhatarpur today to keep patients engaged and motivated on Navaratri and ITBP Raising Day.

Countries battle rising coronavirus cases as WHO sees 'exponential' rise

Populations weary of social isolation and economic hardship have pushed back against fresh restrictions to slow the resurgent virus' spread, including overnight clashes in hard-hit Naples between Italian police and hundreds of protesters.

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pitches for free Covid-19 vaccine throughout India

Emphasising that all people are troubled by the virus, he said that it is the right of the citizens of the country that they get proper treatment. "The whole country should get a free Covid-19 vaccine. It is the right of the entire country. All the people are troubled by the coronavirus, so the vaccine should be free for the country," Kejriwal said.

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US sets coronavirus infection record; deaths near 2,24,000

The seven-day rolling average for new daily Covid-19 cases in the U.S. surpassed 61,140 Thursday, compared with 44,647 two weeks ago. The record was reached on July 22 when the rolling average was 67,293 in the midst of a summer outbreak driven largely by surges of the virus in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California.

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Covid-19 death toll in Uttar Pradesh rises to 6,854 with 25 more fatalities, while 2,277 fresh cases push the infection tally to 4,68,238: Official

61% of Covid-19 recoveries reported from six states/UTs: Health ministry

About 61 per cent of the total recovered cases from Covid-19 are from six states and UTs of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.

Around 70,16,046 people have so far recuperated from the disease, pushing the national recovery rate to 89.78 per cent on Saturday, it said.

While Maharashtra recorded 20.6 per cent of the total recoveries, 10.9 per cent recovered cases were from Andhra Pradesh, 9.9 per cent from Karnataka, 9.4 per cent from Tamil Nadu, 6.1 per cent from Uttar Pradesh and 4.1 per cent from Delhi, it said.

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India's active cases remain below 7 lakh for second consecutive day. Active cases now comprise only 8.71% of the total positive cases of the country.

The entire country should get the vaccine for free, it is everyone's right. We will see when the vaccine comes, what it's like and how much it costs: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on being asked if his government would provide vaccine for free to residents.

Madhya Pradesh govt decides to allow visitors for jail inmates starting November 1, almost eight months after suspending prison visits due to Covid-19

Former Maharashtra chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis tests positive for Covid-19

People throng a market a day before the Hindu festival of Dussehra amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease in Mumbai, India. Credit: Reuters Photo

Polish President Andrzej Duda infected with coronavirus, but is feeling good: Minister

Polish President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus and is subject to quarantine but is feeling good, presidential minister Blazej Spychalski announced on Saturday.

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61% of Covid-19 recoveries reported from six states/UTs: Health ministry

About 61 per cent of the total recovered cases from Covid-19 are from six states and UTs of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.

Around 70,16,046 people have so far recuperated from the disease, pushing the national recovery rate to 89.78 per cent on Saturday, it said.

Czech Republic's coronavirus daily tally tops 15,000 for first time

The Czech Republic reported 15,252 new cases of coronavirus for October23, its highest daily tally, as the country faces Europe's fastest spread of the infection.

The total number of cases rose to 238,323 in the country of 10.7 million, with 126 new deaths taking that total to 1,971.

Puducherry registers 128 new Covid-19 cases, two more deaths

Puducherry clocked 128 fresh cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday taking the overall tally to 34,112 while two people died of the disease, pushing the toll to 586.

Sri Lanka closes 2 harbours after 609 coronavirus positive cases

Authorities in Sri Lanka on Saturday closed at least two fishery harbours and many stalls after a surge of 609 cases linked to the country's main fish market.

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A healthcare worker wearing a protective gear collects blood sample from a man, who has recovered from the coronavirus disease, during a plasma donation camp inside a classroom at a slum in Mumbai. Credit: Reuters Photo

Europe, WHO sound alarm over resurgent coronavirus crisis

The European Union's disease control agency has joined frantic health workers to sound the alarm over a coronavirus surge across the continent, as the World Health Organization warned of an "exponential" rise in infections.

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Odisha reports 1,695 new Covid-19 infections and 15 deaths. Total cases stand at 2,79,582 out of which 18,882 are active cases. Death toll is 1,229.

Asia second region to exceed 10 million coronavirus cases

Asia surpassed 10 million infections of the new coronavirus on Saturday, the second-heaviest regional toll in the world, according to a Reuters tally, as cases continue to mount in India despite a slowdown and sharp declines elsewhere.

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North Korea says yellow dust from China might spread coronavirus; warns people to stay indoors

North Korea has warned its citizens to stay indoors, saying seasonal yellow dust blowing in from China might carry the new coronavirus into the country.

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Japan mulls $95.5 billion extra budget to counter coronavirus: Report

Japan's government is considering compiling an extra budget worth around $95.5 billion to offset the economic drag caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Mainichi newspaper reported on Saturday.

Biocon's Covid-19 vaccine to be ready by June, says Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Report

As billions of people await Covid-19 vaccine in the fight against the pandemic, Biocon's Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is hopeful that the company's vaccine will be ready by June next year, according to a report by Mint.

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Bullfighting halts: Covid-19 did what animal rights activists couldn't

In a matter of months, the novel coronavirus achieved something that animal rights activists failed to do in decades: put a halt to bullfighting in Peru.

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Bulgarian PM, three ministers in Covid-19 isolation

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and three ministers from his government will have to stay in isolation after a deputy minister who they had been in contact with tested positive for coronavirus, health authorities said late on Friday.

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With 650 new deaths, India's Covid-19 death toll stands at 1,17,956.

A total of 67,549 recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries above 70-lakh mark.

India sees 53,370 new Covid-19 cases; tally breaches 78-lakh mark

Total 10,13,82,564 samples tested for Covid-19 up to 23rd October. Of these, 12,69,479 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Italy may impose lockdown as Covid-19 cases hit new record

Italy's Campania region, based on the southern city of Naples, said on Friday it would impose a lockdown to tame the coronavirus and urged the whole country to follow suit as new infections hit a record high.

Campania has already closed most of its schools and imposed a nighttime curfew, and in the evening police used tear gas in Naples against hundreds of people protesting against the prospect of even tougher measures.

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Autopsy of Covid-19 victim shows no coronavirus on skin surface, but in throat

The first autopsy of a 61-year-old Covid-19 victim in Bengaluru, conducted 16 to 18 hours after death, has shown that the virus was absent on the skin surface but was present in the nose, mouth and throat.

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28 new Covid-19 cases reported in Mizoram, taking the total number of cases to 2,387

The number of active cases is at 198 while 2,189 people have been discharged so far.

No death reported in the state till date.

Plasma Therapy: Avoid unproven Covid-19 treatments, experts caution doctors

Top medical experts on Friday cautioned practising doctors not to succumb to unproven and investigational treatments that are being permitted throughout the world as an emergency to tackle Covid-19, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) published its study.

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AstraZeneca resumes US Covid-19 vaccine trial; J&J could restart next week

AstraZeneca Plc has resumed the US trial of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine after approval by regulators, and Johnson & Johnson is preparing to resume its trial on Monday or Tuesday, the companies said on Friday.

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61% sceptical of taking Covid-19 vaccine; 23% tired of pandemic restrictions in India: Survey

Nearly 61% of persons surveyed in India have said they were sceptical about the Covid-19 vaccine and will not rush to take it next year even if it is available.

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OPINION | Coronavirus vaccine for votes? BJP stoops low

While ‘cash for votes’ is all too familiar in the country, the BJP has introduced a new inducement -- ‘vaccine for votes’ -- in the Bihar elections in an obvious attempt to exploit the electorate’s fear over a pandemic that has cumulatively affected over 7.5 million people in the country and taken over 117,000 lives so far. Releasing the party’s poll manifesto, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the people of Bihar would be provided Covid-19 vaccination free of cost.

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Karnataka to do pooled coronavirus tests to cut costs

The state government hopes to save costs on Covid testing by adopting pooled sampling. In this process, instead of testing just one sample in one test tube, five samples are used.

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Riders without masks assault doctor when asked to take Covid-19 test

A doctor taking the Covid test of vehicle users not wearing masks was assaulted by two riders in North Bengaluru on Thursday, police said. The doctor initially filed a police complaint but forgave the riders after they apologised.

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