Coronavirus India News Highlights: Today is the 197th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown, to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 66,85,082 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,03,569 deaths. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have reported the highest number of cases. However, infections are rising rapidly in states like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Yet, India’s recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 84.7 percent. 'Unlock 5.0' is underway. Globally, there have been over 3.52 crore confirmed cases of COVID-19. More than 10.36 lakh people have died so far. Catch the latest updates here:
This LIVE blog session has concluded. Stay tuned to Moneycontrol for the latest news, views and updates.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | India to operate two more Vande Bharat flights to China
India plans to operate two Vande Bharat flights from Delhi and the Chinese city of Guangzhou on October 23 and 30 to facilitate the travel of Indians stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Air India is planning to operate two flights on Guangzhou-Delhi Sector onOctober23and 30,2020. Passage on these flights would be made available on payment basis as per fares to be decided by the airline, an Indian Embassy press release said on October 6.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | DCGI nod to Phase-1 human trials of 'antisera' with potential to treat COVID-19
The Drugs Controller General of India has given permission for conducting Phase-1 human clinical trial for an 'antisera'that was developed by injecting inactivated SARS-CoV-2 in horses and can be a potential treatment for COVID-19, ICMR officials said on October 6. The 'antisera' has been developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with a Hyderabad-based bio-pharmaceutical firm.
"With Biological E Limited we have developed an horse 'antisera' and we have just got clearance for conducting clinical trials for that," ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said at press briefing on October 6. The 'antisera' is yet to undergo human clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy. The 'antisera' is yet to undergo human clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Mumbai reports 1625 new COVID-19 cases, 47 deaths and 1966 recoveries/discharges
Mumbai's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,17,090 with the addition of 1,625 new cases, while 47 fresh deaths took the toll to 9,199 on October 6, the city civic body said.
This was the second consecutive day that the city has reported less than 2,000 COVID-19 cases. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | 7,671 COVID cases in Kerala, toll now 884 with 25 fatalities
Kerala's COVID-19 count is inching towards the 2.50 lakh mark as 7,871 new cases were added on October 6 and the toll climbed to 884 with 25 more fatalities, as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cautioned that the number of deaths could rise in the coming days. With 4,981 people testing negative today, the recoveries so far touched 1,54,092 and active cases stood at 87,738 . (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | MP records 1,570 COVID-19 cases, 2,161 recoveries; 25 die
Madhya Pradesh on October 6 recorded 1,570 fresh coronavirus infections, pushing its caseload to 1,38,668, while a higher number of 2,161 patients were discharged following recovery, an official said. With 25 more patients succumbing to the infection, the toll increased to 2,488, he said.
Five deaths were reported in Indore, three each in Bhopal and Jabalpur, two each in Gwalior and Sehore, one each in Khargone, Sagar, Narsinghpur, Ratlam, Betul, Damoh, Satna, Chhindwara, Raisen and Anuppur, the official said.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | COVID-19 vaccine may be ready by year-end: WHO’s Tedros Adhanom
A vaccine against COVID-19 may be ready by year-end, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on October 6, without elaborating.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressing the end of a two-day meeting of its Executive Board on the pandemic, said: “We will need vaccines and there is hope that by the end of this year we may have a vaccine. There is hope.” (Reuters)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
West Bengal reports record 3,370 fresh COVID-19 cases, tally
West Bengal reported its highest single-day spike of 3,370 COVID-19 cases on October 6, pushing the state''s tally to 2,77,049, a bulletin issued by the health department said.The death toll rose to 5,318 after 63 more patients succumbed to the virus, it said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | External affairs minister S. Jaishankar attends second India-Australia-Japan-USA Ministerial Meeting
Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs participated in the Second India-Australia-Japan-USA Ministerial Meeting on 6 October 2020 in Tokyo. The Foreign Ministers followed up on their discussions in September 2019 and discussed the post COVID-19 international order, statedMinistry of External Affairs in a press release.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | J&K reports 739 new COVID-19 cases, 16 deaths
Jammuand Kashmir on October 6 recorded 738 fresh COVID-19 cases, while 16 deaths took place in the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 80,476 and the death toll to 1,268, officials said. Srinagar district reported the highest number of 183 new COVID-19 cases, followed by 91 inJammudistrict, they said.
"The Union Territory recorded 738 fresh COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours -- with 290 inJammuand 448 in the Kashmir Valley," they said. There are 13,712 active coronavirus cases, while 65,496 patients have recovered so far, the officials said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
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. Vora (91) is recovering well and his condition is stated to be stable, they said.
The Congress leader was a Rajya Sabha member from Chhattisgarh till April this year. He was also the AICC general secretary (administration) before the recent party reshuffle by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Health Minister releases COVID-19 management protocol based on Ayurveda, Yoga
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on October 6 released a protocol for the clinical management of COVID-19, that lists dietary measures, yoga and Ayurvedic herbs and formulations such as Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 for prevention of coronavirus infection and treatment of mild and asymptomatic cases.
The ''National Clinical Management Protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga for Management of COVID-19'' was released by Vardhan in the virtual presence of Shripad Naik, Minister of State for AYUSH.
The protocol suggests use of medicines such as Ashwagandha, Guduchi Ghana Vati or Chyawanaprasha as prophylactic care for high risk population and primary contacts of patients.
It recommends consumption of Guduchi Ghana Vati, Guduchi and Pippali or AYUSH 64 for asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients for prevention of disease progression to symptomatic and severe forms and to improve recovery rate.
Guduchi and Pippali, and AYUSH 64 tablets can be given to mild coronavirus infected patients, it said. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | India continues to report declining trend of active COVID cases: Health Ministry
India's active cases comprise merely 13.75 percent of the total positive cases of the country standing at 9,19,023 and the country continues to report a trend of steadily declining active cases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said onOctober 6.
"The declining trend of the percentage active cases is commensurately supported by rising percentage of recovered cases," it stated.
So far, 56,62,490 people have recovered from the novel coronavirus in the country. (ANI)
Coronavirus News LIVE updates | Italy prepares to make masks outdoors mandatory
Italy is considering making the use of masks outdoors mandatory nationwide to fight the coronavirus, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Tuesday.
Infections in Italy, the first European country to be hit by the virus, have risen steadily over the past two months and two regions, Lazio around Rome and Campania around Naples, have already made mask wearing mandatory outside.
“We are working on a proposal to make the use of masks compulsory,” Speranza told the Chamber of Deputies. (Reuters)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | 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.
Festive events shall be permitted only outside the containment zones, while people residing in the restricted areas may be encouraged to observe all festivals inside their homes and not move out, according to the ministry. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Government removes export curbs on N-95 masks
The government on October 6 removed export curbs on N-95 masks, to promote outbound shipments of the product.
“The export policy of N-95/FFP-2 masks or its equivalent is amended from restricted to free category, making all types of masks freely exportable,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
In August, a monthly export quota of 50 lakh units was fixed for N-95/FFP2 masks or its equivalent for issuance of export licences to eligible applicants. (PTI)
Coronavirus News LIVE updates | UP reports 61 more COVID-19 deaths, 3,500 new cases
Uttar Pradesh reported 61 fresh COVID-19 deaths on October 6, taking their number to 6,153, while 3,500 new cases pushed the infection tally in the state to 4,20,937.The number of active cases in the state stands at 44,031, of which 20,647 are in home-isolation, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said. (PTI)
Coronavirus News LIVE updates | EU reviewing Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in real time
The European health regulator is reviewing a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech in real time, days after launching a similar assessment process for AstraZeneca's vaccine.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on October 6 its human medicines committee was evaluating the first batch of data on the vaccine, and would continue to do so until enough data is available for a final decision. (Reuters)
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE updates | Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu tests positive
Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu tested positive for COVID-19 on October 6. Sidhu attended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Sangrur on October 5 and shared the stage with chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and all state ministers, reported The Indian Express.
Coronavirus impact |
The Centre is considering relief measures for sectors which have been the worst-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal told Moneycontrol in an exclusive interview.
Sanyal said there may be a case of positive GDP growth in Q4 FY21 and a substantial uptick in FY22 due to a low base effect.
Read — Some sectors, worst hit by pandemic, 'require special love and care': Sanjeev Sanyal
Coronavirus News LIVE updates | Confirmed cases in SAARC countries
> India: 66,85,082 confirmed cases (includes recoveries, deaths and active cases)
> Afghanistan: 39,341 cases
> Bangladesh: 3,68,690 cases
> Bhutan: 298 cases
> Maldives: 10,530 cases
> Nepal: 86,823 cases
> Pakistan: 3,15,727 cases
> Sri Lanka: 3,402 cases
(Source: MoHFW India, news reports and Reuters tracker, as of 3.35 pm IST on October 6)
Coronavirus in Haryana LIVE updates | Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala says he has tested positive for COVID-19
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has tested positive for COVID-19. In a video post on Twitter, Chautala has said that he is self-isolating despite not witnessing any symptoms, and has urged all those who came in contact with him in the last week, to get themselves tested for the infectious disease.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Health Ministry’s guidelines for festive season
> The guidelines issued for theatre and cinema artists will apply to stage performers.
> Adequate supplies of sanitisers, thermal guns and physical distancing floor markings to be ensured by organisers.
> Pre-identification of space/site in each event venue for isolation of suspect cases.
> Close circuit cameras etc. may be considered to monitor compliance of physical distance norms, wearing of masks at each venue.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Health Ministry’s guidelines for festive season
The Union Health Ministry has released guidelines for celebration of festivals and organising of fairs, rallies, exhibitions, cultural functions, processions and plays/concerts associated with festivities. Authorities have been asked to identify “spatial boundaries” and prepare a detailed site plan which would facilitate compliance with thermal screening, physical distancing, sanitisation and other safety measures.
“In case of events that run for days or weeks, the crowd density does not remain the same throughout and usually peaks around certain hours of the day and some previously known auspicious days. Planning for the event should specifically factor this so that crowds are regulated and managed to ensure physical distance and frequent sanitisation,” the ministry has stated.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Countries with the highest confirmed cases
> United States: 74,42,663 confirmed cases (includes recoveries, deaths and active cases)
> India: 66,85,082 cases
> Brazil: 49,27,235 cases
> Russia: 12,25,889 cases
> Colombia: 8,55,052 cases
> Peru: 8,29,999 cases
> Argentina: 7,98,486 cases
> Spain: 7,89,932 cases
> Mexico: 7,65,082 cases
> South Africa: 6,79,729 cases
(Sources: MoHFW India and Reuters tracker, as of 2.45 pm IST on October 6)
Coronavirus impact | Australia to pay businesses to employ young people after COVID-19 shutdowns
Australia will spend A$4 billion over the next year to pay businesses that hire those under the age of 35, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said today, as part of an ambitious plan to boost jobs and growth.
Australia has been widely lauded for limiting the spread of COVID-19, but strict lockdown measures forced shut entire sectors of the economy, sending unemployment to a 22-year high of 7.5 percent in July. The impact on younger Australians is even worse, with recent data showing the unemployment rate for 15- to 24-year olds was hovering near 20 percent. (Input from Reuters)
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates | Maharashtra Police:
104 more COVID-19 cases and two deaths were reported in the police force in the last 24 hours. Total confirmed cases in the department stand at 24,254, including 21,423 recoveries, 2,578 active cases and 253 deaths.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
India’s recovery rate has risen to 84.7 percent, according to the Union Health Ministry. Total recoveries stand at 56.6 lakh.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Philippines records 2,093 new cases, 25 more deaths
The Philippines' health ministry has confirmed 2,093 novel coronavirus infections and 25 more deaths, the lowest number of fatalities reported in 15 days.
The ministry said total confirmed cases in the Philippines have increased to 326,833, the highest in Southeast Asia, while deaths have reached 5,865. (Input from Reuters)
Coronavirus impact | IMF urges infrastructure investment to boost post-COVID growth
The International Monetary Fund has said member governments should seize a low interest rate opportunity to invest in infrastructure to drive recovery from the pandemic and a shift toward greener energy.
The IMF said in chapters from it fiscal monitor that its research shows public investment in infrastructure, including investments in health care systems, digital infrastructure and addressing climate change can pay back more than two to one in economic growth within two years.
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE updates | Odisha reports 2,673 new COVID-19 cases, 16 fatalities
At least 2,673 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha today, taking the tally to 2.38 lakh, while 16 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 940, a health department official said.
Odisha currently has 30,610 active cases, while 2.06 lakh have recovered so far. (Input from PTI)
Coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh LIVE updates |
Health Department: 36 new COVID-19 cases and 198 recoveries have been reported in the state since 9.00 pm yesterday. Total confirmed cases have risen to 16,069, including 12,831 recoveries, 2,991 active cases and 222 deaths.
Coronavirus LIVE updates |
US President Donald Trump may have been infected by COVID-19 prior to the Rose Garden event at White House and may have transmitted the coronavirus to others at the celebration — a classic a ‘super-spreader’ case.
Read: What's a super-spreader and is US President Donald Trump one?
Coronavirus LIVE updates | China reports 12 new COVID-19 cases
China (mainland) reported 12 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, down from 20 a day earlier, according to the country's national health authority.
The National Health Commission said in a statement that all new cases were imported infections involving travellers from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not count as confirmed COVID-19 cases, rose to 31 from 27 reported a day earlier.
Total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 85,482, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634. (Input from Reuters)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
Active COVID-19 cases in the country have remained under the 10-lakh mark for 15 consecutive days, Union Health Ministry has said.
Active cases currently stand at 9,19,023. About 75,787 recoveries were registered in the country in the last 24 hours.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has released standard operating procedure for exhibition of films in cinema halls and multiplexes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Seating arrangement inside the auditorium must be in a way that adequate physical distancing is maintained. Seats that are “not to be occupied” shall be marked accordingly during booking. Staggered show timings shall be followed for multiple screens to avoid crowding, the ministry said. The auditorium will have to be sanitised after every screening.
Coronavirus impact | Hotel occupancies show a spike in August as lockdown restrictions are lifted
Hotel room occupancies in August trebled in large gateway markets such as Mumbai and Delhi, while leisure destinations like Goa and Rajasthan showed marked improvement as tourists ventured out, seeking a relief from the six-month-long lockdown.
A tourist gateway (sometimes called a Tourism Gateway or Gateway City) is a place or settlement through which tourists typically first visit on their way to a tourist attraction or tourism region.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Clinical trials for children 'should begin now', says Oxford study
Phase 2 COVID-19 vaccine trials for children should “begin now” to not delay “potential direct and indirect benefits of paediatric vaccine”, a recent study published on the Oxford website said.
The study noted that all clinical trials in the United States so far have been on adults, and “moved quickly” into Phase 3, but trials in children have yet to begin despite direct impact on them being “bigger”, The Hindu BusinessLine reported.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that 8,10,71,797 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till yesterday (October 5). Of these, 10,89,403 were tested yesterday.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | India’s 5 worst-affected states:
Maharashtra: 14,53,653 (includes recoveries, deaths and active cases)
Andhra Pradesh: 7,23,512
Karnataka: 6,47,712
Tamil Nadu: 6,25,391
Uttar Pradesh: 4,17,437
(Source: Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as of 9.45 am on October 6)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
As many as 61,267 new COVID-19 cases and 884 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Union Health Ministry. India’s COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 84.7 percent.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
Reported active COVID-19 cases in India now stand at 9,19,023. As many as 56,62,490 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the Union Health Ministry has said in its latest update.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
The death toll in India due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has risen to 1,03,569, the Union Health Ministry has said.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 66,85,082, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. This number includes cases involving foreign nationals, patients who have recovered and the death toll.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Pandemic disrupted mental health services in 93% countries: WHO
The novel coronavirus pandemic has disrupted mental health services in 93 percent countries worldwide, a World Health Organization (WHO) survey released on October 5 revealed.
The WHO survey was conducted in 130 countries across the world from June 2020 to August 2020.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Mexico reports record daily increase in COVID-19 cases, deaths
Mexico yesterday reported a sharp increase in the daily number of coronavirus infections and deaths, breaking previous records due to what the government said was a change in methodology.
The country’s health ministry reported a jump of 2,789 deaths and 28,115 cases, far outstripping the prior daily records of 1,092 deaths and 9,556 cases. Total confirmed cases now stand at 789,780, with a reported death toll of 81,877. (Input from Reuters)
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE updates | 10,000 COVID-19 beds remain vacant in Delhi as fresh cases drop
With the number of new coronavirus positive cases being reported daily declining over the past 10 days in Delhi, more than 10,000 dedicated COVID-19 beds are lying vacant.
As per the Delhi Corona app, as many as 10,028 beds earmarked for treating COVID-19 patients are lying vacant as of yesterday. Only 36.6 percent of total coronavirus beds are currently occupied.
Coronavirus LIVE updates |
In the United Kingdom, nearly 16,000 people who tested positive for COVID-19 disappeared from the records, another embarrassing failure for a much-criticized effort.
Read – In UK’s test and trace: Now you see them, now you don’t
Coronavirus impact | FC Barcelona post 97 million euros loss for 2019-20 due to COVID-19
FC Barcelona have announced a loss of 97 million euros ($114.28 million) after tax for the 2019-20 financial year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, while a projected estimate of breaking the one billion euro mark in revenues was also scuppered.
The Catalan club also said in a statement yesterday that they had made revenue of 855 million euros, 14 percent down on the 990 million they posted in 2018-19, while their overall net debt has more than doubled to 488 million euros.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE updates | COVID-19 infection rate increased among people aged 31-40 years after unlocking, says state government
Data released by Maharashtra government’s Medical Education and Drugs Department has revealed that people aged between 31 and 40 years are more prone to contracting COVID-19.
A Hindustan Times report citing state government data stated that people belonging to this age group also reported the highest percentage of cases at 21.34 percent. What is more alarming is that the percentage of infection in people aged between 31 and 40 years increased further after lockdown restrictions started getting lifted in a phased manner.
