Coronavirus: India is the second worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic after US. (File)
India's COVID-19 case count rose to 67.57 lakh with 72,049 new cases in a day, while 57,44,693 people have recovered so far pushing the national recovery rate to 85.02 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data this morning.
The total coronavirus cases rose to 67,57,131, while the death count climbed to 1,04,555 with the coronavirus killing 986 lives in the last 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed. The COVID-19 case mortality rate has further declined to 1.55 per cent.
There are 9,07,883 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 13.44 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
Here are the LIVE updates on Coronavirus cases:
COVID-19: 2,151 new cases in Rajasthan
A total of 2,151 new cases of COVID-19 cases were reported in Rajasthan on Wednesday taking the total count of cases to 1,50,467 in the state.
According to the state government, 16 patients succumbed to the virus in the state taking the death toll to 1,590 and 2,078 recoveries and 2,068 discharges were also reported.
The state has seen 1,27,526 recoveries and 1,26,476 discharges and has 21,351 active cases.
COVID-19: Tamil Nadu reports 5,447 new cases
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday reported 5,447 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 6,35,855 while the death count mounted to 9,984 with 67 more fatalities.
The active cases stood at 45,135 with 5,524 patients getting discharged from various hospitals and cumulatively, 5,80,736 people have got cured.
Of the fresh infections, Chennai shared 1,369, Coimbatore 473, and Chengelpet 324 while the others were scattered over the state, a health department bulletin said.
Coronavirus news: Odisha to provide compensation to families of COVID Warriors who died on dutyThe Odisha government on Wednesday said it will provide compensation to the families of COVID Warriors who died on duty in the state, an official said.
This was decided at the review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Though the Centre had earlier announced to make provision of Rs 50 lakh compensation for each family sacrificing a member in the fight against COVID-19, it accepted only one death case from Odisha, the official said.
"As many as 60 COVID Warriors including health service staff, police, teachers and others laid down their lives while on COVID management duty and became martyrs," an official release issued by the Chief Ministers Office said.
However, it said: The state had sent the list of 60 martyrs to the Government of India for giving compensation assistance of Rs 50 lakh as per the announcement, but the Centre accepted only 1 case."
COVID-19: Highest single-day spike of 10,947 cases in KarnatakaKarnataka on Wednesday reported its highest single-day spike of over 10,900 COVID-19 cases and 113 fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 6,68,652 and the count to 9,574.
The day also saw 9,832 patients getting discharged after recovery and the active cases stood at 1,16,153, the health department said.
The number of samples tested in the state crossed the 55 lakh mark. On Wednesday a total of 1,04,348 tests were done, taking the cumulative to 55,24,302.
Out of the 10,947 cases reported on Wednesday, 5,000 were from Bengaluru Urban alone.
The previous biggest single-day spike was recorded on September 29 with 10,453 cases.
Cumulatively 6,68,652 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 9,574 deaths and 5,42,906 discharges, the department said in its bulletin.
COVID-19: 188 new cases, 272 recoveries in Gujarat's Ahmedabad; four die The COVID-19 tally in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat rose to 38,185 after 188 new cases were reported on Wednesday, the state health department said.
As the virus claimed four more lives, the district's death count rose to 1,851, it said.
The number of recovered patients in the district outstripped the new infections. A total of 272 patients recovered during the day, the department said in a release.
The number of recoveries in the city on Wednesday was 249 as against 173 new cases, while this number from rural parts was 23 as against 15 new cases. A total of 32,679 patients have recovered so far in the district.
Of the four deaths, three were reported from areas in Ahmedabad city, while one from rural areas.
The city's west zone has 593 active cases, closely followed by the north-west zone with 574 cases, and south zone with 504 cases.
COVID-19: Delhi records 35 new deaths taking count to 5616; case tally 2.98 lakhThe national capital recorded 35 fresh casualties due to COVID-19 on Wednesday and the death count mounted to 5,616, while 2,871 new cases took the tally to over 2.98 lakh, authorities said.
These fresh cases were detected after 51,505 tests were conducted the previous day.
Thirty-five new fatalities have been recorded, taking the death count to 5,616, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.
COVID-19: 14,578 new cases, 355 deaths, 16,715 recover in MaharashtraMaharashtra's coronavirus tally on Wednesday reached 14,80,489 with 14,578 fresh cases coming to light, a state health official said.
With 355 new fatalities being reported, the death count in the state reached 39,072, he said.
But on the other hand, 16,715 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the tally of recovered patients in the state to 11,96,441.
There are 2,44,527 active cases in the state now.
Mumbai city reported 2,848 new cases which pushed its overall case count to 2,19,961, while death count in the city rose to 9,248 with 46 new fatalities.
Pune city added 966 cases, which took its case tally to 1,62,096, while 13 deaths took toll to 3,662.
The state has so far conducted 73,24,188 coronavirus tests.
19 more deaths, 1,283 new COVID-19 cases in HaryanaHaryana reported 19 more fatalities linked to COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising the death count to 1,528 while 1,283 fresh cases pushed the infection count to 1,37,398 in the state, according to a health department bulletin.
Of the new deaths, five were reported from Panchkula, three from Hisar; two each from Faridabad, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar while one death each was reported from Gurugram, Palwal and Nuh districts, according to the state health department''s daily bulletin.
Among the districts which reported a big spike in cases included Gurugram (293) and Faridabad (178).
Haryana has 11,029 active COVID-19 cases and a recovery rate of 90.86 per cent, the bulletin said.
Coronavirus: PM Modi to launch campaign for COVID appropriate behaviour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a ''jan andolan'' campaign for COVID appropriate behaviour on Thursday in view of upcoming festivals, winter season and opening up of the economy.
The prime minister will launch the campaign by way of a tweet, a release issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said.
The campaign will be launched with the aim to encourage people''s participation (Jan Andolan) and it endeavours to be a low-cost high-intensity campaign with the key message of ''wear mask, follow physical distancing, maintain hand hygiene''.
The campaign will be launched in view of the upcoming festivals and winter season as well as the opening up of the economy, the statement said.
COVID-19: 1,304 new COVID-19 cases reported in Bihar
As many as 1,304 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Bihar on October 7, taking the active cases in the State to 11,148, the State Health Department informed on Wednesday.
A total of 1,79,351 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the state with 1,422 recoveries reported on Wednesday.
According to the State Health Department, a total of 79,95,594 samples have been tested till date and the recovery rate stands at 93.69 per cent.
Meanwhile, with a spike of 72,049 new cases and 986 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count on Wednesday reached 67,57,132, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Coronavirus news: People should not be under false impression about improvement in COVID-19 situation, says Tripura CourtA division bench of the Tripura High Court has said people of the state shuld not be under any
false impression that there is "dramatic improvement" in the COVID-19 situation and life can get back to normal.
The top court's observation came following an ''action taken report'' submitted by the state government on the recommendations of a central expert team, which had recently visited the state.
"The people of the state should not get a false idea that there is a dramatic improvement in the coronavirus spread and that life should go back to normal. This would be a serious mistake with serious consequences," the bench, comprising Chief Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice Subhashish
Talapatra, said.
It also said the positivity rate in Tripura has been quite high.
COVID-19: Truck originating from other states potential carriers of coronavirus, says Mamata Banerjee
Expressing concern over the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Bengal's Jhargram, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during an administrative meeting in the district on Wednesday, said trucks and lorries originating from other states might be carriers of coronavirus.
Ms Banerjee also said that there was no clear idea yet over the modes of virus transmission, and it was necessary to conduct "forensic tests" on truck tyres to ensure they were not infected.
"We should not forget that Jhargram shares border with Jharkhand. There are trucks from Mumbai, Chennai and other states passing through the district. We can conduct forensic tests on the tyres of a couple of lorries that pass through the toll plaza to see if the virus is spreading through these," she maintained.
Gujarat reports 1,311 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 1,46,673; fatalities go up to 3,531 with nine more deaths: News agency PTI quoting Health Department.
Coronavirus news: Freedom Fighter, 96, Wins Battle Against COVID-19 In Odisha
A 96-year-old freedom fighter has won the battle against COVID-19 and was released from the designated coronavirus hospital in the city where he was under treatment on Wednesday after testing negative, an officia said.
Loknath Nayak had tested positive for coronavirus on September 29 and was admitted to SUM COVID Hospital on the same day with fever, weakness and breathing problems, a hospital statement said.
He was discharged from the hospital, the largest COVID-19 facility in the state, on Wednesday, it said.
Mr Nayak had joined the freedom movement at a very young age and had later served the state government as an officer till his retirement in the mid-eighties.
COVID-19: 213 new cases, tally at 14,377 in UP's NoidaUttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar registered 213 new COVID-19 patients on Wednesday that pushed the district's case tally to 14,377, official data showed.
The district's number of active cases rose to 1,533 from 1,434 on Tuesday even as 115 more patients got discharged, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period.
The district has so far recorded 12,778 recoveries, seventh highest in the state, according to the data.
The death count stood at 56 with a mortality rate of 0.38 per cent, down from 0.39 per cent on Tuesday, it stated.
Coronavirus news: By 2021, 150 Million People May Be In Extreme Poverty Due To Covid , Says World BankThe World Bank today warned that by 2021, as many as 150 million people are likely to be in extreme poverty because of the coronavirus pandemic and countries will have to prepare for a "different economy" post-COVID by allowing capital, labour, skills and innovation to move into new businesses and sectors.
The COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to push an additional 88 million to 115 million people into extreme poverty this year, with the total rising to as many as 150 million by 2021, depending on the severity of the economic contraction, according to the Washington-based global lender.
This would represent a regression to the rate of 9.2 per cent in 2017, according to the biennial Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report.
Delhi's COVID-19 death count rises to 5,616 with 35 new fatalities; 2,871 fresh cases take tally to 2.98 lakh: News agency PTI quoting authorities.
Another Kerala Minister tests positive for COVID-19Kerala Power Minister M M Mani tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, becoming the fourth member of the Pinarayi Viijayan cabinet to be affected by the pathogen.
The 75-year old minister, who himselfannounced the development through a Facebook post, has been admitted to the government Medical College Hospital.
Mr Mani requested all those who had come in contact with him in the past few days to be on guard.
COVID-19: No free test in Meghalaya from October 16With the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) withdrawing subsidy on testing kits, the Meghalaya government has announced that COVID-19 tests will be charged from next week, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Wednesday.
The samples for COVID-19 test will be examined on payment from October 16.
The deputy chief minister also said that plans are afoot to charge inmates at government Corona Care Centres for meals.
The state government has initiated the process for identifying hotels and guest houses where people who are currently in institutional quarantine can be lodged, if they are willing to undergo paid isolation.
"Testing, be it RT-PCR, CBNAAT, Truenat or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), will be done on payment from October 16. BPL families or beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and high risk contacts are totally exempted," the deputy chief minister told PTI.
Coronavirus: High Court Rejects Plea For Charging Only Tuition Fees By Universities During COVID-19The Delhi High Court today declined to entertain a PIL seeking guidelines to universities and such institutions to charge only the tuition fee, that too in installments, in view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, and said "concessions are not a matter of right".
A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan instead asked the concerned authorities to treat the plea as a representation and take a decision in accordance with law, rules, regulations and government policy applicable to the facts of the case.
With the direction the petition, by a fourth year law student, was disposed of.
Coronavirus news: Indian mother survives COVID-19, delivers baby in UAEAn Indian woman in the UAE gave birth to a baby after having contracted COVID-19 in the final trimester of her pregnancy that resulted in a near-death experience.
Asfia Samreen delivered the baby boy in September, after she contracted coronavirus in May, Gulf News reported on Tuesday.
"Congratulations to Asfia Samreen, who after a long and difficult battle with COVID-19 in the final trimester of her pregnancy, delivered a healthy baby boy," the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) announced on its social media platforms on Wednesday.
It was a miraculous escape for the Indian homemaker from a series of troubles started with her expired medical insurance, the much-needed protection during the pregnancy. Her husband, an electrical engineer, could not get his family's medical insurance renewed as his employer was going through a crisis, reported WAM, the official news agency of the UAE.
"This was all possible thanks to Mrs Samreen''s perseverance, and the hard work, dedication and care of the medical teams at both Corniche Hospital and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC)," SEHA said.
Ms Samreen, who is from Hyderabad, was in the 24th week of her pregnancy when she tested positive on May 6. She was admitted to Cornich Hospital, the capital''s premier public maternity hospital, on May 7.
"At one point, the doctors had thought of inducing an early delivery of the baby as they were not sure of saving my life," Ms Samreen said.
Coronavirus news: Rights panel urges action to protect victims of COVID-19
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has released an advisory suggesting urgent action to protect the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, including children.
"Urgent action is required taking into account the constitutional obligations, domestic laws, the UNCRC's general principles and the SDGs to safeguard the lives and dignity of 39 per cent of India''s population which was impacted due to the pandemic," the NHRC said.
According to the Commission, there are reports of increased violence against children, both physical and sexual, child marriage, and child trafficking. Cases of child abuse and safety have also increased manifold during the lockdown is evidenced by the increase in calls to helplines. Concerns regarding the health and safety status of children in Child Care Institutions (CCIs) including the specific risk of being infected with Corona as well as barriers to children''s access to justice as imposed by the lockdown were also reported.
"State action must balance out the discriminatory impact of COVID-19 on children such that increased vulnerabilities are addressed promptly," NHRC reiterated
COVID-19: Cabinet aunch public awareness campaign on coronavirus, says Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that the Cabinet has decided to launch a public awareness campaign on coronavirus beginning October 8.
Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, he said that wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands are the only weapons to remain safe, in the absence of a Covid-19 vaccine.
"The Cabinet decided to launch a public campaign from tomorrow on coronavirus. Mask, social distancing, and washing hands are the only weapons to remain safe, in the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine. Campaign to raise awareness about these measures in public places will be kicked off soon," Mr Javadekar said.
"Posters and banners for awareness will be put at Railway stations, planes, autorickshaw, metro, petrol pumps, school colleges, Anganwadi centres, housing societies, markets, police stations and government offices etc. A social media campaign will also be launched," he said.
"The Council of Ministers expressed gratitude to PM Modi for being head of the government for 20 years. He ensured that electricity, gas, toilet, immunisation, Ayushman Bharat, bank accounts, water to the last person in the society. He gave the corruption-free government to the nation, fulfilled long-awaited pending schemes. He made foundational reforms for development," he said.
COVID-19: Tripura reports 237 new cases, tally rises to 27,545At least 237 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Tripura on Wednesday, pushing the
tally in the state to 27,545, a health department official said.
The death count remained at 298 with no fresh fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, he said.
West Tripura district, comprising state capital Agartala, has accounted for 161 COVID-19 deaths so far, the official said.
Tripura now has 4,624 active cases, while 22,600 people have recovered from the disease. Twenty-three people have migrated to other states, the official said.
Coronavirus news: World Bank Praises Efforts To Contain COVID-19 Spread In Mumbai's DharaviThe World Bank today praised the efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Mumbai's Dharavi, one of the world's largest slums, saying its success stemmed from a combination of customised solutions , community involvement and perseverance.
Dharavi is spread over an area of 2.5 square kilometres and has a population of 650,000. People live in shanties and dilapidated buildings with narrow lanes and open sewers.
The first COVID-19 patient in Dharavi was detected on April 1, nearly three weeks after Mumbai recorded its maiden positive case on March 11.
The Washington-based global lender, in its biennial Poverty and Shared Prosperity report, said that in the space of three months, by July 2020, reported cases in the area had been cut to 20 per cent of their peak in May
COVID-19: Fall in containment zones count in Delhi after steady rise since August last week
After rising steadily for over 40 days, the number of containment zones in the national capital fell to 2,697 on October 6, a marginal dip compared to the figures the previous day, according to official data.
Since last week of August, there has been an upward trend in the number of containment zones till October 5 when the count stood at 2,707.
However, on Tuesday, it slipped to 2,697, the fall being registered after a gap of more than 40 days.
The national capital recorded 39 COVID-19 fatalities on Tuesday, as the death toll mounted to 5,581 while 2,676 fresh cases took the tally to over 2.95 lakh, authorities said.
Both the number of fresh cases and containment zones recorded a gradual rise in September, with September 16 reporting 4,473 cases, the highest single-day spike till date.
On that day, the containment zone figure had climbed to 1,637.
COVID-19: Dasara festival likely to be confined to Mysuru Palace and Chamundi Hills in Karnataka
As part of checking the spread of COVID-19, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said on Wednesday there is a general view that the Dasara festival should be confined to the Mysuru Palace and Chamundi Hills this year.
"We have discussed the safety measures that should be taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection during the Dasara festival in Mysuru.
There is a general view in the meeting that the Dasara should be confined to the Mysuru Palace and the Chamundi Hills," Sriramulu tweeted after a meeting with the Mysuru district authorities.
According to him, a panel of technical experts will formulate the action plan on behalf of the district administration for the ''State festival''.
The action plan will be finalised after discussing with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, he said.
Every year thousands of people throng Mysuru from all over the globe to witness the 10-day Dasara festival during Navaratri, marked with regality when the ritualistic private military along with the caparisoned elephants march before the titular Maharaja and gives him gun salute.
COVID-19: India's recovery rate leaps past 85%
India''s COVID-19 recovery rate leaps past 85 per cent
India's COVID-19 recovery rate leapt past 85 per cent on Wednesday with 82,203 confirmed recoveries in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) informed.
The total number of recoveries in the country now stands at 57,44,693, while 72,049 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases to 9,07,883 which is 13.44 per cent of the positive cases in the country.
As per a statement from the MoHFW, the number of recovered cases is 6.32 times the number of active cases, ensuring that the recoveries are on a consistent rise.
As many as 18 States and Union Territories have a recovery rate higher than the national average, while about 75 per cent of the new recovered cases are reported from ten states - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Delhi.
Maharashtra continues to be one of the worst-affected states with the 370 newly reported fatalities comprising 37 per cent of the national figure, followed by Karnataka with 91 deaths.
UN refugee chief tests positive for COVID-19
The UN refugee chief said Wednesday that he had tested positive for Covid-19, after leading the first two days of the agency's main annual meeting in person.
Filippo Grandi, who kicked off UNHCR's week-long Executive Committee meeting in Geneva Monday, told participants via video-link that he would need to continue following the event from home.
"I am engaging with UNHCR's Executive Committee from home as I have to isolate after testing positive to #COVID19," he said in a tweet.
Tripura COVID-19 case tally rises to 27,545
At least 237 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Tripura, pushing the tally in the state to 27,545, a health department official said.
The death count remained at 298 with no new deaths reportedtoday, he said.
West Tripura district, comprising state capital Agartala, has accounted for 161 COVID-19 deaths so far, the official added.
Russia's COVID-19 case count rises to 1,248,619: Report
Russia has registered 11,115 COVID-19 cases, taking the cumulative case total to 1,248,619, the country's coronavirus response center said.
"In the past 24 hours, Russia has confirmed 11,115 COVID-19 cases in 85 regions, of which 3,019 (27.2 percent) were detected actively, with people showing no clinical symptoms," the response center said in a statement, specifying that the total count has reached 1,248,619.
Green panel asks Delhi to ensure steps for disposal of bio-medical waste amid pandemic
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Delhi government to take appropriate steps in the matter relating to the disposal of bio-medical waste in wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A bench of the NGT, headed by its chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, on October 5 directed the Delhi government to take appropriate steps in the matter and furnish a compliance report before the next date of hearing on January 12, 2021.
Odisha reports 2,995 new COVID-19 cases, count rises to 2,40,998
Odisha's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,40,998 as 2,995 more people tested positive for the infection, while record 18 deaths pushed the state's coronavirus death count to 958, a health official said.
The state had reported 17 coronavirus deaths on October 5, he said.
Four new deaths were reported in Balasore district, two each in Nayagarh, Puri and Sundergarh, and one each in Boudh, Deogarh, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Khurda, Koraput, Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur, the official said.
COVID-19 case count in Puducherry rises to 30,161
The overall COVID-19 caseload in Puducherry rose to 30,161 following addition of 490 new cases while two more died due to coronavirus.
Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release that two people belonging to Puducherry died during the last 24 hours ending 10 am on Wednesday. He said three patients from Mahe region, who died in neighbouring Kerala, were listed as cases of deaths of Puducherry.
The total number of deaths stands at 551 while of the 30,161 new cases, 4,680 were active and 24,930 patients have recovered.
Around 150 million may be in extreme poverty by next year due to Covid: World Bank
The World Bank warned that by 2021, as many as 150 million people are likely to be in extreme poverty because of the coronavirus pandemic and countries will have to prepare for a "different economy" post-COVID by allowing capital, labour, skills and innovation to move into new businesses and sectors.
The COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to push an additional 88 million to 115 million people into extreme poverty this year, with the total rising to as many as 150 million by 2021, depending on the severity of the economic contraction, according to the World Bank.
Arunachal Pradesh Covid case count rises to 11,007
Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 case tally rose to 11,007 as 222 more people, including three Army jawans, tested positive for the infection.
One death today pushed the northeastern state's coronavirus death count to 20, a health official said.
As many as 189 more people have recovered from the disease, taking the total number of recoveries to 7,965.
US agency wants 2 months safety data before approving vaccine
The US Food and Drug Administration made public its guidance for issuing emergency approval for a Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday, making it clear it wants to see follow-up two months after trial volunteers have their second dose.
It is therefore unlikely for US President Donald Trump's administration to have a vaccine on the market before the November 3 election, something the president frequently says is on the cards.
"Data from Phase 3 studies should include a median follow-up duration of at least two months after completion of the full vaccination regimen to help provide adequate information to assess a vaccine's benefit-risk profile," the document said.
Himachal Pradesh BJP MLA Tests Positive For COVID-19Himachal Pradesh BJP MLA Surender Shourie on Tuesday said he tested positive for COVID-19 on October 2, a day before he was supposed to attend the inauguration of the Atal Tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
China's experimental COVID-19 vaccine appears safe: Study
A Chinese experimental coronavirus vaccine being developed by the Institute of Medical Biology under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was shown to be safe in an early stage clinical trial, researchers said.
In a Phase 1 trial of 191 healthy participants aged between 18 and 59, vaccination with the group's experimental shot showed no severe adverse reactions, its researchers said on Tuesday in a paper posted on medRxiv preprint server ahead of peer review.
COVID-19 case count in Andaman and Nicobar Islands rises to 3,912
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 3,912 as 13 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
Five new patients have travel history, while eight fresh infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Nineteen more people have been cured of the disease, the official said.
Donald Trump working from residence due to Covid: Officials
US President Donald Trump is working from makeshift office space in the White House residence rather than the Oval Office, with only a few senior staff gaining face-to-face access while he receives treatment for COVID-19, officials said on Tuesday.
They said aides were looking at potential West Wing work spaces while he recover, with the Oval Office, where Trump normally works, off limits now that several staffers have been infected and forced to work from home.
White House COVID-19 infections could have been prevented, says US health expert
Top US infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci, whose advocacy of public health guidelines to fight the coronavirus has conflicted with US President Donald Trump's downplaying of the pandemic, said on Tuesday the recent rash of infections at the White House could have been prevented.
Several close aides to Trump and senior Republican politicians have tested positive for the coronavirus since the Republican president announced on Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump had contracted the virus.
Mexico's economy needs years to recover from coronavirus: IMF
Mexico faces a years-long struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels of employment, income and poverty after an expected economic contraction of 9.0 percent in 2020, the IMF warned Tuesday.
The International Monetary Fund urged the Mexican authorities to do more to boost Latin America's second-largest economy with fiscal and monetary stimulus. The IMF said that the country's gains over the past decade have been set back, and now "Mexico's long-standing challenge of low growth appears set to worsen."
"There Is Hope" COVID-19 Vaccine May Be Ready By Year-End: WHO Chief
A vaccine against COVID-19 may be ready by year-end, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, 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."
Nine experimental vaccines are in the pipeline of the WHO-led COVAX global vaccine facility that aims to distribute 2 billion doses by the end of 2021.
4 In 5 Covid Patients In Hospital Show Neurologic Symptoms: StudyAbout 4 out of 5 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 suffer neurologic symptoms such as muscle pain, headaches, confusion, dizziness and the loss of smell or taste, new research shows.
The most severe condition listed was encephalopathy, "characterized by altered mental function ranging from mild confusion to coma," said Igor Koralnik, the chief of neuro-infectious disease at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago and one of the study's authors. The study outlined the frequency and severity of neurologic symptoms in 509 patients hospitalized for Covid-19 in the Chicago-based health system at the start of the pandemic.
Twitter Raises Red Flag As Trump Compares COVID-19 To Flu In Tweet
US President Donald Trump played down the COVID-19 pandemic again, comparing it to the flu in a tweet on Tuesday, and Twitter responded by putting a warning label on the tweet, saying the post included potentially misleading information.
"Flu season is coming up! Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu. Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!" Trump had tweeted.