India has recorded over 3.3 crore Covid cases since the start of the pandemic.
India recorded 34,973 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, 19 per cent lower than yesterday. The country's active caseload accounts for 1.18 per cent of the total cases (3,31,74,954).
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Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated across India today amid Covid curbs. In Maharashtra, the state government last night issued an order that celebrations won't be allowed in public places.
In Karnataka, the festival, which is usually observed for 10 days, will be celebrated for three days. No processions are allowed for idol immersions. Pandals can allow only 20 people at a time.
The government on Wednesday said that one dose of vaccine is 96.6 per cent effective in preventing death and two Covid shots are 97.5 per cent effective. "Vaccination is the most important shield against the virus," said VK Paul, who heads the Covid task force.
On reopening of schools, he said: "No scientific body, epidemiology, no evidence suggests that vaccination against COVID-19 should be a condition to reopen schools. However, inoculation of teachers, other school employees and parents is desirable."
The daily positivity rate - number of people testing positive for every 100 tests conducted - stood at 1.96 per cent this morning; it has been less than 3 per cent for the last 11 days, according to the Health Ministry.
According to the government, more than 5.72 crore vaccine doses are still available with the government and over 71.94 crore vaccine doses have been provided to states and union territories since the country began the world's largest vaccine drive.
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday extended a ban on public festivities and any gathering of a religious, political or cultural nature till October 31 amid fears of a third Covid wave. The DMK-led state government pointed towards Kerala's battle with the pandemic.
Kerala continues to see the highest number of cases recorded by a state. In the last 24 hours, 26,200 fresh cases were recorded.
Worldwide, over 22 crore coronavirus cases have been registered since the start of the pandemic; over 46 lakh people have died.
In the United States, President Joe Biden is trying to take new measures to vaccinate the country's entire population. Slamming those who are still hesitant to take vaccines, he said: "This is not about freedom, or personal choice, it's about protecting yourself and those around you, people you work with, people you care about the people you love."
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