Coronavirus news highlights: India breaches 67 lakh total Covid-19 cases; MMR worst-affected place in country

The country's caseload went past 67 lakh, and the death toll climbed to 1,03,820 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. India's active caseload at 13.75% of total positive cases, with 10 states accounting for 77% of all active cases. Stay tuned for more updates.

Track live updates of coronavirus cases in India today here.

Jharkhand reports 847 new Covid-19 cases, 1246 recoveries & discharges and 10 deaths today. Total cases in the state rise to 88,873, including 78,089 recoveries & discharged and 757 deaths. Active cases stand at 10,027: Government of Jharkhand - ANI

Karnataka, Kerala witnessed increasing number of Covid-19 active cases over last four weeks: Health Ministry

Karnataka and Kerala are the two southern states with a clear increasing trend inCovid-19cases seen during the last month, while Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu exhibit a definitive declining trend.

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1184 new Covid-19 cases detected in the state today. Total cases 1,88,902, including 1,53,488 recoveries and 778 deaths. Active cases 34,633: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma - ANI

Congress veteran Motilal Vora tests positive for Covid-19, admitted to AIIMS

Veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital, sources close to him said.

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Maharashtra reports 12,258 new Covid-19 cases, 370 deaths

17,141 patients discharged today; 11,79,726 Covid-19 patients discharged after full recovery until today; Recovery rate in the state is 80.48%

12,258 new cases in the state today

370 Covid-19 deaths reported in the state today. Case fatality rate in the state: 2.64%

Out of 72,41,376 laboratory samples, 14,65,911 have been tested positive (20.24%) for Covid-19 until today.

Currently 22,38,351 people are in home quarantine and 25,828 people are in institutional quarantine.

Railways to restore system of issuing second reservation charts 30 minutes before departure of trains

The Indian Railways on Tuesday said that it has decided to restore earlier system of preparation of second reservation charts between 30 minutes to 5 minutes before the scheduled train departure time from October 10.

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Donald Trump compares pandemic to flu season, further undermining public health messages

A day after exhorting Americans to overcome their fear of the pandemic, an ailing President Donald Trump cast the crisis as a state-of-mind problem Tuesday morning, saying the country is “learning to live” with the virus — and likening it, as he is done in the past, to the flu.

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Karnataka reports 9,993 new Covid-19 cases, 91 deaths

Covid-19 vaccine may be ready by year-end: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

A vaccine against Covid-19 may be ready by year-end, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, without elaborating.

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With over 5 lakh Covid-19 cases, Mumbai's MMR worst affected in India

With five-lakh plus cases and more than 16,000 deaths, the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) continues to be the worst affected Covid-19 hotspot in Maharashtra and India.

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Delhi reports 2,676 new Covid-19, 39 deaths and 2,997 recoveries in last 24 hours. Total cases in the state rise to 2,95,236, including 5,581 deaths and 2,66,935 recoveries. Active cases stand at 22,720: Government of Delhi - ANI

Worst phase of Covid-19 in India may be over, says doctor

Eight months into the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, the worst phase in India seems to be over, saidDr ISGilada, an infectious diseases specialist and a leading HIV/AIDS consultant.

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After pineapple and lemon juice, Tripura CM's bamboo rice mantra to boost immunity during Covid-19

After cookies from bamboo shoots and free distribution of pineapple juice, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has launched rice prepared from bamboo seeds, which according to him helps in boosting immunity and thereby fight Covid-19.

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Festive events to be permitted only outside containment zones; Health Ministry issues SOPs

With the festive season posing a major challenge during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Union Health Ministry has issued guidelines for large gatherings, including ensuring adequate area for events with a detailed site map and proper markings to maintain social distancing and not allowing touching of idols and holy books, to prevent the spread of infection.

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GSK to widen Covid-19 antibody treatment trial after safety clearance

GlaxoSmithKline and partner Vir Biotechnology will expand their trial of an experimental antibody to treat Covid-19 after initial use by a group of volunteers did not raise any safety concerns.

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Tamil Nadu reported 5,017 new Covid-19 cases, 5,548 recoveries & 71 deaths today, taking total positive cases to 6,30,408, including 5,75,212 discharged cases, 9,917 deaths & 45,279 active cases: State Health Department - ANI

Boris Johnson was 'too fat' when fighting Covid-19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was too fat when he became gravely ill with Covid-19 and that he has since lost 26 pounds (11.79 kg).

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10 states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh account for 77% of the active cases in the country: Health Secretary on Covid-19 situation - ANI

It is too early to take a call on the trend of active Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, whether it is stabilising or not, we need to observe for more time: Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan - ANI

Active cases below 10 lakh for the last 2 weeks; the recovery rate is at 84%: Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry on Covid-19 situation- ANI

The average daily Covid-19 positivity rate has been coming down. New recoveries have been more than new cases in the recent days:Rajesh Bhushan

Vaunted White House Covid-19 testing couldn't protect Trump

The vaunted Covid-19 testing operation of the White House proved woefully insufficient in protecting the president and those who work for him at the White House, as evidenced by a string of positive tests over the past week for Trump, his wife and others in their orbit.

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Indian lab THSTI to be one of the six assessment centres for Covid-19 vaccine candidates

India'sTranslational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) has now been recognised by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) as one of the six global network of laboratories for a centralised assessment of Covid-19 vaccines, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) said.

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World looking up to Indian ways of life amid Covid-19: Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said the entire world is adopting the basic element of Indian ways of life for its growth and sustenance amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Delhi past peak of 2nd Covid-19 wave, says CM Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the national capital is past the peak of the second wave of coronavirus and the situation has been controlled to a large extent.

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QAnon conspiracies go global in pandemic 'perfect storm'

Powered by fear, anger and big tech's algorithms, the QAnon conspiracy movement has exploded from the US political fringe into the global mainstream during the pandemic.

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New testing method can diagnose Covid-19 in just 30 minutes

Scientists have developed a new method that allows anyone to easily and quickly detect Covid-19 in just 30 minutes, and is as accurate as the current PCR diagnostic test.

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1,265 new Covid-19 cases have been reported on 5th October. Taking total count of active cases in Bihar to 12,524: State Health Department - ANI

A day after CBI raids, Congress’ Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh says he has tested positive for Covid-19

India crosses 8.1 crore cumulative Covid-19 tests; more than 10.89 lakh tests conducted over the last 24 hours: MoHFW

Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala says he has tested positive for Covid-19: ANI

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Sidhu tests positive for Covid-19: Health Minister's Office - ANI

MoHFW issues SOP on preventive measures to contain spread of Covid-19 during festivity events like religious worship, fairs, rallies, exhibitions, cultural functions, processions

How Facebook and Twitter handled Trump’s ‘Don’t Be Afraid of Covid’ post

Facebook and Twitter have pledged to keep their networks safe from misinformation about the coronavirus to protect the public’s health. But Monday, the sites were tested when President Donald Trump posted that people should not be afraid of the disea...

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Donald Trump's doctor leans on health privacy law to duck questions

President Donald Trump's doctor leaned on a federal health privacy law Monday to duck certain questions about the president's treatment for Covid-19, while readily sharing other details of his patient's condition.

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Covid-19 cases soar among extreme poor in Paris: Study

More than half the people living in extreme poverty in the Paris region, in particular migrants, have been infected with the new coronavirus, the French aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday.

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Himachal Pradesh reports 36 new Covid-19cases, 198 cured cases since 9 pm bulletin yesterday. Total positive cases in the state stand at 16,069, including 12,831 recoveries, 2,991 active cases & 222 deaths: State Health Department, Govt of Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)

White House makes no effort in contact tracing 'superspreader' Rose Garden event

Despite almost daily disclosures of new coronavirus infections among President Donald Trump’s close associates, the White House is making little effort to investigate the scope and source of its outbreak.

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India's active caseload at 13.75% of total positive cases now, according to theUnion Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Commuters wearing facemasks as a preventative measure against coronavirus wait for public bus along a street in New Delhi. Credit: PTI

India's services sector slump eased in September, but job losses balloon

The plunge in India's services sector activity eased considerably in September after the government lifted some coronavirus restrictions, but demand continued to contract, prompting firms to cut more jobs, a private business survey showed on Tuesday.

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New York closes schools in coronavirus-hit areas amid fears of second wave

New York will temporarily close schools in nine neighborhoods experiencing an uptick in coronavirus infections, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday, highlighting the difficulty of keeping children in classrooms during the pandemic.

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Telangana recorded 1,983 Covid-19 cases, 2,381 recoveries and 10 deaths yesterday, taking total cases to 2,02,594 including 1,74,769 recoveries, 1,181 deaths and 26,644 active cases: State Health Department.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan releases 'Ayush Standard Treatment Protocol', via virtual conference. (ANI)

A medical worker collects a swab sample from a staff member of the Burnhall school inside a classroom for a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for coronavirus, in Srinagar. Credit: AFP Photo.

Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chattopadhyay tests coronavirus positive

It is compulsory to show a minute-long film/announcement before a show as well as before & after interval, to spread awareness among people about Covid-19: Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.

2,673 new Covid-19cases, 4,098 recoveries and 16 deaths reported in Odisha till October 5. The total number of cases rises to 2,38,003 including 2,06,400 recoveries, 30,610 active cases and 940 deaths: State Health Department

'Political will' needed to end coronavirus outbreak, say Nobel laureates

Technological advancements and international cooperation have accelerated scientific understanding of Covid-19 but it will take political will to end virus outbreaks, the new Nobel laureates in medicine said Monday.

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Parental consent, face masks must; no assessment for 3 weeks as schools reopen

As schools gear up for gradual re-opening, the Education Ministry on Monday recommended a smooth transition from home-based schooling with special instructions to prioritise the needs of students directly affected by Covid-19.

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Nearly 16,000 Covid-19 cases in United Kingdom unreported as test fails

The British government has launched an investigation into how nearly 16,000 new coronavirus infections went unreported as a result of a technical glitch, a failing that could have given fresh impetus to an outbreak that critics say could easily get out of control.

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Cinema halls to open with 50% capacity from October 15

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday announced that cinema halls will reopen Oct 15 onwards with 50 per cent capacity. Unveiling details of Unlock 5, the minister said that all theatres must maintain one-seat distance.

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As per orders of the Central Government, cinemas/ theatres/multiplexes will be reopening from 15th October. Halls have been directed to operate with up to 50% of their seating capacity: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Prakash Javadekar.

Joe Biden urges Donald Trump to support nationwide mask mandate

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday urged President Donald Trump to support a nationwide mask mandate to effectively launch a fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

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White House nixes tougher FDA guidelines on vaccine approval for Covid-19

The White House has blocked new Food and Drug Administration guidelines on bringing potential vaccines for Covid-19 to market that would almost certainly have prevented their approval before the November 3 election.

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HIV treatment has no benefit for hospitalised Covid-19 patients: Study

A combination of antiviral drugs usually used to treat HIV has no beneficial effect in patients hospitalised with Covid-19, a peer-reviewed study said on Monday, confirming the initial results of a large-scale randomised trial of the drug.

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Nearly one-third of Covid-19 patients show altered mental state, says study

Nearly a third of hospitalised Covid-19 patients experienced some type of altered mental function — ranging from confusion to delirium to unresponsiveness — in the largest study to date of neurological symptoms among coronavirus patients in a US hospital system.

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India reports a spike of 61,267 new Covid-19 cases and 884 deaths in the last 24 hours.

A staff member greets customers at a restaurant after it reopened, during Unlock 5, amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Thane. Credit: PTI Photo.

According to the ICMR, 10,89,403 were samples tested for Covid-19on 5th October. Total of 8,10,71,797 samples tested in the country up to 5th October.

8 new Covid-19 cases reported in Mizoram, taking the total tally to 2,128.

The number of active cases is at 291 while 1,837 people have been discharged so far. No death reported in the State till date: Government of Mizoram. (ANI)

One in 10 may have caught Covid-19, as world heads into difficult period, says WHO

Roughly 1 in 10 people may have been infected with the novel coronavirus, leaving the vast majority of the world's population vulnerable to the related Covid-19 disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

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Twitter bans Donald Trump death wishes, sparks debate

Twitter is removing tweets hoping for the demise of US President Donald Trump -- a move which opened up the social platform to criticism that it should enforce the same policy for everyone.

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Dr Reddy's asked to re-apply for both phase 2,3 trials of Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine

An expert panel at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has asked Dr Reddy's Laboratories to submit a revised protocol for conducting both phase 2 and phase 3 human clinical trials for the Russian vaccine against Covid-19, Sputnik V, in India, sources said Monday.

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Donald Trump returns to White House after 4-day treatment at hospital for Covid-19

US President Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday night after spending four days at a military hospital where he was treated for coronavirus.

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People wearing facemasks as a preventative measure against Covid-19 make their way along a street in New Delhi. Credit: AFP Photo.

'Don't let it dominate your life', Trump tells Americans as he leaves hospital

President Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday night after three days in the hospital with the coronavirus in a defiant, made-for-television moment in which he ripped off his face mask and then urged the nation to disregard the risks of the virus that has swept through his own team and return to work.

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Punjab Health Department issues order to close all Covidlevel-1 facilities due to drop in occupancy. (ANI)

Covid-19: Social distancing unheard of inside these packed private buses

Unregulated for years, private bus operators in the city have crossed another dangerous barrier in Covid times.

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Karnataka faces Covid-19 contacts challenge

Asmuch as 60% of primary and secondary contacts of Covid-19 patients in the state are refusing calls to get tested, creating a serious impediment in the government's efforts to control the raging outbreak.

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

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Donald Trump returns to White House after 4-day Covid-19 treatment, removes mask immediately

US President Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday night after spending four days at a military hospital where he was treated for coronavirus.

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