Coronavirus news highlights: India's Covid-19 tally reaches 56-lakh-mark; death toll nears 90,000

India's Covid-19 cases tally crosses the 56-lakh mark, and death toll stands at 89,942. India's recovery rate of Covid-19 cases has crossed the 80 per cent mark, and currently stands at 45,68,479. The Ministry of Health said that India's Covid-19 cases share is 17.7% of global infections, while those who have recuperated are 19.5% of total recoveries in the world.

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India has highest 19.5% share in global Covid-19 recoveries, 17.7% of cases in world: Centre

India has the highest number of recoveries in the world and for the past four days, the number of people who recuperated from Covid-19 daily was more than new instances of the infection reported each day, the government said on Tuesday.

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Coronavirus has struck staff of UN, its HQ & regional structures just like everyone else. Russia ready to provide UN with all necessary qualified assistance. We're offering to provide our vaccine free of charge for voluntary vaccination of staff of UN & its offices: Vladimir Putin. - ANI

Covid-19: Active cases drop by 27,000 for the first time, but experts remain worried

Six days after India reported one million plus active corona positive cases, the number of such cases dropped by more than 27,000 for the first time in the last 24 hours.

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Airlines call for Covid-19 tests before all international flights

Global airlines called on Tuesday for airport Covid-19 tests for all departing international passengers to replace the quarantines they blame for exacerbating the travel slump.

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Karnataka govt aims to bring Covid-19 mortality rate below 1%, not suppressing figures: K Sudhakar

The Covid-19 mortality rate in Karnataka was decreasing and the aim was to bring it below one per cent, the state government informed the assembly on Tuesday, even as the opposition Congress accused it of suppressing figures.

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There was no requirement for mandatory Covid-19 test during Trump's India visit: Govt

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, in a written reply to a query in Rajya Sabha, said the mandatory screening for Covid-19 of all international passengers arriving in India was implemented from March 4.

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Karnataka reports 6,974 Covid-19 cases, 9,073 discharges and 83 deaths

Covid-19 pandemic forces Nobel Foundation to cancel live prize ceremony

The winners of this year's Nobel Prizes will not get their medals and diplomas presented to them at Stockholm's concert hall as usual due to the coronavirus pandemic, the award organisers said on Tuesday.

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1,402 new Covid-19 cases, 1,321 discharges & 16 deaths reported in Gujarat in the last 24 hours. Positive cases tally rises to 1,26,169 till date, including 16,402 active cases, 1,09,619 recoveries & 3,355 deaths: Govt of Gujarat - ANI

Maharashtra Covid-19 tally rises to 12,42,770 with 18,390 new cases; 20,206 patients discharged

20,206 patients discharged today; 9,36,554 Covid-19 patients discharged after full recovery until today; Recovery rate in the state is 75.36%

18,390 new cases in the state today

392 Covid-19 deaths reported in the state today. Case fatality rate in the state: 2.69%

Out of 60,17,284 laboratory samples, 12,42,770 have been tested positive (20.65%) for Covid-19 until today.

Currently 18,70,200 people are in home quarantine and 34,982 people are in institutional quarantine.

West Bengal reports 3,182 new Covid-19 cases, 3,047 discharges and 62 deaths today. The total cases in the state rise to 2,31,484, including 2,02,030 discharges and 4,483 deaths. Active cases stand at 24,971: WB Govt - ANI

Punjab reported 1,498 new Covid-19 cases, 1,718 recoveries and 66 deaths today, taking total cases to 1,01,341 including 77,127 discharges, 2,926 deaths and 21,288 active cases: State Health Department - ANI

Air tickets booked before and during coronavirus lockdown refundable, DGCA tells SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court that people who have booked air tickets during the lockdown are entitled to immediate refunds.

In case the tickets were booked prior to the lockdown up to May 24, the refund would be governed by the credit shell and incentive scheme, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told the top court.

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Delhi reported 3,816 new Covid-19 cases (out of 59,013 tests), 3,097 recoveries & 37 today, taking total cases to 2,53,075 including 2,16,401 recoveries & 5,051 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 31,623: State Health Department - ANI

Tamil Nadu reported 5,337 new Covid-19 cases, 5,406 discharges and 76 deaths today, taking total number of positive cases to 5,52,674 till date, including 4,97,377 discharged cases, 46,350 active cases and 8,947 deaths: Govt of Tamil Nadu - ANI

Kerala reported 4,125 new coronavirus cases and 19 deaths today, taking active cases to 40,382 and death toll to 572: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan - ANI

Lockdown woes: Over one crore migrant labourers returned to home states on foot

The Centre on Tuesday said that more than one crore migrant labourers returned to their home states on foot during March-June 2020, including those who travelled during the Covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdown.

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All Covid-19 beds at GMCH, Ponda hospital full: Goa minister

The Goa government on Tuesday said all beds reserved for Covid-19 patients at state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital and sub-district hospital in Ponda are occupied and arrangements are being made to increase the bed capacity.

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Testing has to be increased in Punjab to identify asymptomatic people: Health Ministry

Testing has to be increased in Punjab to identify asymptomatic people. We can't chase the virus until we catch them. Information on hospital facilities must be proactively made public; it'll instill confidence in people: Secretary, Health Ministry, on rise in Punjab's Covid-19 cases. - ANI

236 police personnel of Maharashtra Police tested positive for Covid-19 & 7 died in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections in the state force to 21,574 including 3,548 active cases, 17,797 recovered cases and 229 deaths.- ANI

EU medicine regulator in contact with 38 makers of potential Covid-19 vaccines

The European Medicines Agency has been in contact this month with 38 makers of potential Covid-19 vaccines, an official at the EU drugs regulator said on Tuesday.

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Total Covid-19 cases in Puducherry stand at 23,684, including 4,757 active cases. 18,454 patients have recovered, while the death toll is 473 - ANI

How Indian cold chain companies are gearing up to deliver Covid-19 vaccines

With the Covid-19 vaccine expected to roll out early next year, Indian cold chain operators are gearing up to ensure an efficient logistics network.

Transporting the vaccines safely to the masses will be one of the biggest hurdles to cross, once the vaccine has been developed, as they require very specific temperature conditions, some as low as minus 80 degrees Celcius.

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Popular India game arcade shuts down as pandemic hits business

Popular Indian gaming and entertainment centre operator Smaaash Entertainment is shutting down, according to an internal email and sources in the company, as few choose to hang out in its arcades amid surging coronavirus cases.

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India's Covid-19 cases share is 17.7% of global infections, while those who have recuperated are 19.5% of total recoveries in world: Govt

New probe that mimics coronavirus may speed up drug discovery

Scientists have developed a new tool that mimics how the novel coronavirus which causes Covid-19 enters and infects cells, an advance that could potentially speed up the search for treatments against the deadly disease.

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India has nearly 45 lakh recoveries from Covid-19, and active cases come up to less than one-fifth of total cases: Health Ministry

India seeing more recoveries than new Covid-19 cases, says Health Ministry

Covid-19-induced CO2 emission reduction not yet detectable in atmosphere: Study

The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has not yet changed despite the restrictions of social life caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study which calls for better models to quantify the ability of land and ocean ecosystems in trapping released greenhouse gases.

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PM Narendra Modi to chair Covid-19 review meeting with CMs of 7 high-burden states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level virtual meeting with chief ministers and health ministers of seven high-burden states on Wednesday to review the Covid-19 situation.

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Bihar reported 1,609 new Covid-19 cases on 21st September, taking the total active cases in the state to 14,770: State Health Department - ANI

Russia to register second Covid-19 vaccine by October 15

Russia expects to register a second potential vaccine against Covid-19 by October15, the TASS news agency cited Russian consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor as saying on Tuesday.

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Covid-19: India records over 1 lakh single-day recoveries for first time, fresh cases dip below 76k

India reported over 1 lakh coronavirus recoveries in a single-day for the first time, improving the recovery rate to 80.86 per cent, while fresh cases also dropped below 76,000 after two weeks, according to the Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

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'We're confident', Russia to share legal risks of Covid-19 vaccine

Russia is so confident in its Covid-19 vaccine that it will shoulder some of the legal liability should anything go wrong, rather than requiring buyers to take on the full risk, the head of the state fund bankrolling the project told Reuters.

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South Korea suspends flu shots in setback for winter Covid-19 preparations.Read more

Player tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of French Open qualifier

One woman who was entered in French Open qualifying tested positive for the coronavirus and was dropped from the field.The French tennis federation did not identify the player, who it said must isolate for seven days.

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Covid-19 vaccine verdicts loom as next big market risk

Optimism that vaccines are on the way to end the coronavirus pandemic has been a major factor in this year’s USstock resurgence. That will face a critical test in coming weeks, as investors await clinical data on whether they actually work.

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Airline travel shifts toward last-minute bookings, domestic trips: Skyscanner

The air travel market has shifted toward last-minute bookings, one-way flights and more domestic trips as consumers grapple with fast-moving changes due to the coronavirus pandemic, a report from online search and booking site Skyscanner shows.

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Hong Kong Disneyland to reopen on September 25

Hong Kong's Disneyland said on today it will reopen on September 25 to a reduced number of visitors and limited days, with enhanced health measures after the latest wave of coronavirus infections forced it to close again in mid July.

HC stays Delhi govt decision to reserve 80 pc ICU beds for Covid-19 patients in 33 pvt hospitals

The Delhi High Court Tuesday stayed the AAP government’s order directing 33 big private hospitals to reserve 80 per cent of ICU beds for Covid-19 patients, holding that the decision appeared to be arbitrary and unreasonable.

Justice Navin Chawla said prima facie Delhi government's September 13 order is “arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of fundamental rights of citizens” guaranteed under the Constitution.

The court issued notices and sought responses of the Delhi government and the Centre on a plea by 'Association of Healthcare Providers' to quash the order to reserve 80 per cent ICU beds for Covid-19 patients.

Two over 90-year-old Covid-19 patients recover in Odisha

Two nonagenarian Covid-19 patients have been cured of the highly infectious disease in Odisha, bringing cheers to the medical fraternity in the eastern state.The two patients -- Satchidananda Mohanty and Dhirendranath Das -- both aged 91, were admitted to dedicated Covid-19 hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar respectively.Both the men were admitted to the hospitals on September 5 after being diagnosed with the disease. They were discharged on Sunday night.

Pakistan has reported 582 new cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of infections in the country to 306,886, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of National Health Services said Pakistan also reported the death of four more patients due to which the coronavirus death toll stands at 6,424.

"The current infection cases stands at 306,886 while the death toll has surged to 6,424," the health ministry said in a statement.

Students adjust their protective masks as they get their temperature checked before entering a class as schools reopen amid thecoronavirusdisease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Karachi,Pakistan. Credit: Reuters Photo.

South Korea suspended free flu shots on Tuesday after reports of problems in storing the vaccinations during transportation, disrupting plans to pre-emptively ease the burden on a healthcare system already strained bycoronavirusoutbreaks.

The country, which has seen a spike in Covid-19 cases since August, planned to procure 20 per centmore flu vaccines for the winter than the previous year to jab 30 million people. It had planned to start free inoculation on Tuesday for some 19 million eligible people.

Over 9.33 lakh Covid-19 samples tested in the last 24 hours, according to the ICMR.

Speaking two days ahead of the Fit India anniversary, which is held on September 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "In times of Covid-19, fitness has become an even more important aspect of life"

People stroll along the promenade at Marine Drive, amidst thecoronavirusdisease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Mumbai,India, September 22, 2020. Credit: Reuters Photo

Donald Trump panicked in the face of Covid-19: Joe Biden

US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has slammed President Donald Trump over his handling of the coronavirus which has so far claimed over 2,00,000 lives with nearly 700,000 confirmed cases in the country.

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More than 1 lakh (1,01,468) new recoveries have been registered in the last 24 hours in the country. With this, the total number of recoveries are nearly 45 lakh (44,97,867). This has resulted in the recovery rate touching 80.86%: Ministry of Health

India needs to invest Rs 3-5k crore to create enough Covid-19 vaccine, says Zydus Cadila Chairman

As the world waits expectantly for Covid-19 vaccine, Zydus Cadila Chairman Pankaj R Patel said India would need to invest between Rs 3,000-5,000 crore to create additional facilities for making a huge number of vaccines required for the Indian population.

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4,189 new Covid-19 cases, 3,704 recoveries and 11 deaths reported in Odisha till September 21.

The total number of cases rise to 1,88,311 including 1,49,379 recoveries, 38,158 active cases and 721 deaths: State Health Department

Is Coronavirus affecting the hearts of college athletes?

In a new study of 26 college athletes who tested positive for the coronavirus, four later showed signs of inflammation in their heart muscles. The study, published in JAMA Cardiology, was small and limited but tees up the issue of whether Covid-19, although primarily a respiratory disease, might also affect the hearts of infected people, even if they are young, strapping and otherwise healthy.

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World leaders to mark 75th United Nations anniversary as Covid-19 challenges organisation

World leaders came together, virtually, on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the deadly coronavirus pandemic and tensions between the United States and China challenge the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member body.

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Marathi actor Ashalata Wabgaonkar succumbs to Covid-19

Veteran Ashalata Wabgaonkar passed away after losing a battle to Covid-19 on Tuesday at age 79. She passed away at a private hospital in Satara, where she was undergoing treatment for the past few days.

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The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,821 to 274,158, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.

People attend a Love World Peace Parade from Brandenburg gate to Victory Column on the occasion of World Peace Day, amid thecoronavirusdisease outbreak, in Berlin,Germany. Credit: Reuters Photo.

Airline denies mother, 2-year-old son on flight after he refuses to wear mask

A New Hampshire woman was not allowed to stay on an American Airlines flight with her 2-year-old son because he would not wear a mask, stoking a discussion about how to balance compassion with rules designed to keep others safe.

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Relatives of dead Covid-19 patient allege negligence of BIMS staff led to death

Staff of Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences-District Hospital faced the ire of relatives of a patient who passed away during treatment Monday night.

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India sets record 1,01,468 recoveries today, total number of recoveries rise to 44,97,867

US cruises vow Covid-19 testing for all before sailing

Major cruise lines say they will test all passengers and crew for Covid-19 prior to boarding as part of their plan for resuming sailing in the Americas.

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75,083 new Covid-19 cases and 1,053 deaths reported in India

India's Covid-19case tally crosses 55-lakh mark with a spike of 75,083 new cases & 1,053 deaths in last 24 hours. The total case tally stands at 55, 62,664 including 9,75,861 active cases, 44,97,868 cured/discharged/migrated & 88,935 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Pubs, eateries in UK to close by 10 pm after Covid-19 spike

All pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues across the whole of England must start closing at 10 pmfrom Thursday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson tackles a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

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Does wearing glasses protect you from coronavirus?

When researchers in China were analyzing hospital data of patients with Covid-19, they noticed an odd trend: Very few of the sick patients regularly wore glasses.

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Advice on virus transmission vanishes from CDC website

Just days after publishing significant new guidance on airborne transmission of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday withdrew the advice, saying only that it had been “posted in error” on the agency’s website.

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Privacy concerns as India pushes digital health plan, ID

India's government is using the coronavirus pandemic to push its plan to digitise the health records and data of its 1.3 billion people, despite concerns about privacy and increased surveillance, technology and human rights experts say.

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Karnataka reports 7,339 Covid-19 cases; 9,925 patients recover

Karnataka reported 7,339 new Covid-19cases and 122 deaths on Monday. With this, the active case count is 95,335 and death toll touched 8,145, excluding 19 who died due to non-Covid-19 reasons. Monday's 9,925 discharges took the total number of recov...

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United States nears grim milestone of 2,00,000 Covid-19 deaths

The death toll from the spread of the coronavirus in the United States was approaching over 2,00,000 on Monday, by the far the highest number of any nation.

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A worker sprays disinfectant at Taj Mahal after it re-opened for public following being shut for over six months, amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Agra. Credit: PTI Photo

United Kingdom raises coronavirus alert as infections rise 'exponentially', heightened curbs from September 24

The UK government has raised its coronavirus alert level from three to four, which indicates that the transmission of the virus is high and rising "exponentially".

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'India needs to invest Rs 3-5k crore to create enough Covid-19 vaccine'

As the world waits expectantly for Covid-19 vaccine, Zydus Cadila Chairman Pankaj R Patel said India would need to invest between Rs 3,000-5,000 crore to create additional facilities for making a huge number of vaccines required for the Indian popula...

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Release of a safe, effective Covid-19 vaccine likely in early 2021,say experts, Indian govt

Track live updates of the coronavirus vaccine here.

'India has no local infrastructure to go beyond immunizing babies and pregnant women'

India, which is host to some of the front-runner vaccine clinical trials, currently has no local infrastructure in place to go beyond immunizing babies and pregnant women,said Gagandeep Kang, professor of microbiology at the Vellore-based Christian Medical College and a member of the WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.

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Coronavirus Worldometer | 15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic

This data from Worldometer lists the countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

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DH Radio | The Lead: Voices of corona warriors from the Bommanahalli Covid-19 Command Centre

Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on September 22

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India's recovery rate is at an high of over 80 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health

India recorded very high single day Recoveries since the last 3 days

More than 90,000 Covid-19patients have been cured and discharged from home/facility isolation and hospitals every single day.

Domestic airlines bounce back as bookings rise

Domestic air travel is witnessing green shoots of recovery with a five-time growth in the number of daily passengers since the restart of operations on May 25.

According to data available with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 1,49,371 domestic passengers flew across the country and 1,384 flights took off and landed.

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Karnataka's Covid-19 outbreak may peak in January: Study

Scientists who have been conducting a predictive analysis of the Covid-19 outbreak have cautioned that the latest mathematical analysis of the outbreak predicts that 50% of the population is set to get infected by January 2021.

This analysis incorporates findings from serosurveys conducted in India and in Europe, notably about how many potential unknown Covid-19 cases there are for every case which is found.

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Aarogya Setu app has more than 15.7 crore registered users: Sanjay Dhotre

Aarogya Setu, the biggest Covid-19 contact tracing app in the world, has more than 15.7 crore registered users, Parliament was informed on Monday.

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Phase 3 human clinical trials of Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine begins in Pune

The phase-III human clinical trial of the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University, and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), began at the state-run Sassoon General Hospital here in Maharashtra on Monday, a senior official said.

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Good morning readers and welcome to our live coverage of coronavirus cases in India.The country's Covid-19 case tally stands at 55,50,320 including 44,76,595 recoveries & 88,813 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. India's recovery rate of Covid-19 cases has crossed the 80 per cent mark. Meanwhile, phase 3 human trials of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine have begun in Pune. Stay tuned for live updates.