Coronavirus India News highlights: Today is the 181st day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown, to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 54,00,619 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 86,752 deaths. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have reported the highest number of cases. However, infections are rising rapidly in states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Yet, India’s recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 79.7 percent. 'Unlock 4.0' is underway. Globally, there have been over 3.07 crore confirmed cases of COVID-19. More than 9.53 lakh people have died so far. Catch the latest updates here:
After a gap of 11 days,UttarPradesh'sGautamBuddhNagarrecorded one more fatality linked to COVID-19 on Sunday as 125 new infections surfaced, pushing the total numbers to 11,342 in the district.
So far, 49 people have died from the infection in the district, according to data released by the UP Health Department.
The number of active cases, however, came down to 1,678 from 1,840 on Saturday, it showed.
West Bengal reports 3,177 new COVID-19cases, 2958 new discharges and 61 deaths today. The total cases in the state rise to 2,25,137, including 1,95,972 discharges and 4,359 deaths. Active cases 24,806.
Mumbai reported 2,236 new COVID-19 cases, 5,038 recoveries and 44 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 1,84,313 including 1,47,807 recoveries, 8,466 deaths and 27,664 active cases.
407 new COVID-19 cases, 537 recoveries and9 deaths reported in Goa in the last 24 hours. Goa's positive case tally rises to 28,429 including 5,781 active cases, 22,297 recovered cases and 351 deaths.
Delhi reports 3,812 new COVID-19cases, 37 deaths and 3,742 recovered/discharged/migrated today. The total cases in the national capital rise to 2,46,711, including 4,982 deaths and 2,09,632 recovered/discharged/migrated.
No significant mutation of coronavirus in India: Harsh Vardhan
No significant or drastic mutation in strains of SARS-CoV-2 has been found in India till now, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday during an interaction with his social media followers.
He also said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been conducting large-scale sequencing of nationally representative strains collected over a few months and detailed results on mutations of the virus will be available in early October.
The second round of countrywide serosurvey led by ICMR has been successfully completed. The final phase analysis of the survey is now underway and will offer a comparison with the results of the first survey.ICMRhas been continuously communicating with the respective state authorities. The findings of the previous survey from the dynamic containment zones were communicated to the states for further action.
Kerala reported 4,696 fresh COVID-19cases today, taking the total number of active cases till date to 39,415. Number of recovered cases so far is 95,702.
Andhra Pradesh reported 7,738 new coronavirus cases, 10,608 recoveries and 57 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 6,25,514 including 5,41,319 recoveries, 5,359 deaths and 78,836 active cases.
Russia is slow to administer virus vaccine despite Kremlin’s approval
More than a month after becoming the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, Russia has yet to administer it to a large population outside a clinical trial, health officials and outside experts say.
The approval, which came with much fanfare, occurred before Russia had tested the vaccine in late-stage trials for possible side effects and for its disease-fighting ability. It was seen as a political gesture by President Vladimir Putin to assert victory in the global race for a vaccine.
Disposal of biomedical waste including PPE kits worn by healthcare professionals and public became a challenge during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Union Health Ministry told the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.
As informed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), disposal of bio-medical waste including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit worn by healthcare professionals as well as general public became a challenge during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey said.
The minister was responding to a query by BJP MP Mahesh Poddar in the Upper House over the disposal of biomedical waste during the coronavirus crisis in the country.
