Coronavirus India News highlights: Today is the 182nd day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown, to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 54,87,580 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 87,882 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 80.1 percent. 'Unlock 4.0' is underway. Globally, there have been over 3.09 crore confirmed cases of COVID-19. More than 9.58 lakh people have died so far. Catch the latest updates here:
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 in Pune, Maharashtra on Monday, a senior official said.
"We have started the phase-III trials of the vaccine (candidate Covishield). We will administer dose to 150 to 200 volunteers," said Dr Muralidhar Tambe, Dean, Sassoon General Hospital.
More than 150 nations join WHO-led global plan for COVID-19 vaccines
A total of 156 countries have joined the global COVAX scheme intended to ensure fair distribution of supplies of future vaccines against COVID-19, an alliance led by the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
The list includes 64 wealthier, self-financing countries, and accounts for about two-thirds of the global population, a statement issued by the WHO and GAVI vaccine alliance said, after a deadline of last Friday to make binding commitments.
Mumbai reported 1,837 new COVID-19 cases, 2,728 recoveries and 36 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 1,86,150 including 1,50,535 recoveries, 8,502 deaths and 26,735 active cases.
Maharashtra reports 15,738 new COVID-19 cases, 32,007 discharges and 344 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 12,24,380 including 9,16,348 discharges, 33,015 deaths and 2,74,623 active cases.
Punjab records 2,247 new COVID-19 cases, 2,811 recoveries and 47 deaths, taking total cases to 99,930 including 75,409 recoveries and 2,860 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 21,661.
Madhya Pradesh reported 2,523 new COVID-19 cases, 2,244 recoveries and 37 deaths today, taking total cases to 1,08,167 including 83,618 recoveries and 2,007 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 22,542.
Jammu and Kashmir registered 1,036 new coronavirus cases and 23 deaths, taking total number of infections to 65,026 and toll to 1,024 on Monday, officials said.
It was for the 18th consecutive day that the cases in a 24-hour period have crossed 1,000.
Karnataka reports 7,339 COVID-19cases, 9925 discharges and 122 in the last 24 hours. The total cases in the state rise to 5,26,876, including 4,23,377 discharges and 8,145 deaths. Active cases stand at 95,335.
Kerala reports 2,910 new COVID-19cases today. Active cases are at 39,285 and 98,724 people have recovered so far.
TheCOVIDepidemic in Britain is doubling roughly every seven days and if it continues to do so there would be about 50,000 new cases per day by the middle of October, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser PatrickVallancesaid on Monday.
"At the moment we think the epidemic is doubling roughly every seven days" he said during a televised briefing.
"If, and that's quite a big if, but if that continues unabated ... you would end up with something like 50,000 cases in the middle of October, per day," he said, adding that this would lead a month later to more than 200 deaths per day.
Andhra Pradesh reports 6,235 new COVID-19 cases today. The total number of cases now at 6,31,749 including 5,51,821 recoveries, 74,518 active cases, and 5,410 deaths.
A drug used to treat deadly coronavirus infections in cats could potentially be an effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the global coronavirus pandemic, according to a study.
The finding, published in the journal Nature Communications, paves the way for human clinical trials of the drug, a protease inhibitor called GC376.
"This drug is very likely to work in humans, so we are encouraged that it will be an effective treatment for COVID-19 patients," said JoanneLemieux, a professor at the University of Alberta in Canada.
However, the researchers said clinical trials will need to run their course before anyone can be sure that the drug is both safe and effective for treating COVID-19 in humans.
