Coronavirus Latest Updates: India's death count climbed to 4,49,856
Indians who are fully vaccinated with Covishield or any other UK-approved vaccine will not be quarantined when they arrive in Britain from October 11, the High Commissioner to India said on Thursday, ending a row over what was perceived as unfair imposition of COVId-19 quarantine rules.
"No quarantine for India travellers to United Kingdom fully vaccinated with Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine from 11 October. Thanks to Indian government for close cooperation over last month," British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted on Thursday.
On October 1, in response to the UK quarantine rules for Indians and citizens of several nations, including those vaccinated with UK-approved Covishield, India had imposed mandatory 10-day quarantine for British citizens irrespective of vaccination status.
Meanwhile, with 22,431 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,38,94,312, while the active cases declined to 2,44,198, the lowest in 204 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death count climbed to 4,49,856 with 318 fresh fatalities, according to the data.
Here are Highlights on Coronavirus Cases In India :
At current vaccination rate, 36 per cent of population is expected to be fully vaccinated by December
Hungary and Serbia recognise COVID-19 vaccination certificates from India
Kerala To Add 7,000 Undocumented Covid Deaths To Official ListAmid protest by the opposition alleging under-reporting of COVID deaths in Kerala, the state government on Friday decided to include 7,000 more victims of the pandemic in its official death list.
State Health Minister Veena George said 7,000 more deaths, which occurred before the hospitals started uploading the data of such deaths online, will be added to the COVID death list in the state.
The hospitals started uploading the COVID-19 deaths online in June this year.
These are deaths that have not been documented and added to the official death list, she told reporters.
Russia Records Over 49,000 Covid Deaths In August: Federal AgencyRussia's Federal Statistics Agency Rosstat said on Friday that 49,389 people died of coronavirus in August -- more than double the official government figure.
This would bring the agency's tally of Covid-19 deaths in Russia to over 400,000.
Russia -- the fourth worst-hit country in the world in terms of Covid-19 cases -- has struggled with the aggressive Delta variant and sluggish vaccination rates.
"Agriculture sector remained resilient even during worst phases of pandemic": Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman at G20 Speaker's Summit in Rome
COVID-19 News Updates: Gujarat night curfew extended till 10th November in Ahmedabad and several other citiesIn the midst of the Covid pandemic, Gujarat night curfew has been extended by a month in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Junagadh and Bhavnagar.
The curfew is between 12 am and 6 am, till 10th November, 2021.
Maharashtra logs 2,620 fresh Covid cases, 59 related deaths in past 24 hoursMaharashtra today reported 2,620 new coronavirus infections which took the state's total caseload to 65,73,092, the health department said.
As many as 59 patients died during the day, raising the death toll on account of the pandemic to 1,39,470.
As of Friday there were 33,011 active cases in Maharashtra.
Mumbai reported 529 new infections and eight deaths. The total tally of cases in the country's financial capital rose to 7,47,685, and total deaths reached 16,149.
Tamil Nadu reports 1,359 fresh coronavirus cases, 20 deaths in past 24 hours
Delhi reports 39 new Covid cases, zero deaths in the last 24 hours
Sikkim adds 33 new COVID-19 cases, no related deaths in last 24 hoursSikkim reported 33 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the total infection tally to 31,636, a health department bulletin said today.
The state now has 326 active cases, while 30,606 people have recovered. Sikkim's COVID-19 death count stands at 388 as no fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours.
Alzheimer's and COVID-19 share a genetic risk factor, shows studyScientists have identified a gene that impacts the risk of both Alzheimer's disease and severe COVID-19, a finding that could pave the way for new targets for drug development for both the diseases.
The researchers estimate that one genetic variant of the OAS1 gene increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by about three to six per cent in the population as a whole, while related variants on the same gene increase the likelihood of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
The findings, published in the journal Brain, could open the door for new targets for drug development or tracking disease progression in either disease.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asks people to abide by COVID-19 protocols while inaugurating Durga puja pandalsWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated several Durga Puja pandals in the city for the third consecutive day today and urged people to maintain COVID-19 protocols during the festive season.
She chanted shlokas invoking the deity at Samajsebi Sangha Puja pandal in Ballygunje area, shortly after the inauguration.
"Please follow all COVID guidelines, wear masks while moving around pandals," Ms Banerjee requested one and all.
Kerala Health Minister rejects charges that the state is denying compensation to families of Covid victimsKerala Health Minister Veena George today rejected the opposition charge that a large number of families of COVID-19 victims in the state were being denied the compensation ordered by the Supreme Court and said no deserving family would be excluded from the financial aid in the southern state.
Ms George said Kerala was the first in the country to set up COVID-19 Death Assessment Committees as per the revised guidelines of the Centre and expedited proceedings to provide Covid death certificates to the family members of the victims hassle-free.
Centre to issue fresh guidelines for travellers from UK amid resolution of India-UK travel rowThe Centre will issue fresh guidelines for foreign nationals from the UK after the British government decided to discontinue previously mandatory COVID-19 testing and quarantine norms for travellers from India to the UK who are vaccinated with Covishield, sources said today.
This comes a day after the UK government made the announcement that ended the row over what was perceived to be a "discriminatory" and even "colonialist" imposition of COVID-19 quarantine rules.
Karnataka aims to vaccinate 70 per cent of its eligible population with second dose by December-endThe Centre has assured it will supply more COVID-19 vaccines to Karnataka as the state targets to inoculate 70 per cent of its eligible population with the second dose by December-end, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said today after meeting Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The Union minister in the meeting said he was happy with the vaccination drive undertaken by the state, which has achieved 1.48 crore doses of vaccination last month, he told reporters.
"The minister assured us that he will give more (vaccines) if required. We have a stock of 51 lakh doses and a special drive is being undertaken. We are focusing on giving the second dose to people," Mr Bommai said.
Odisha records 524 new COVID-19 cases, 4 new deathsOdisha registered 524 new COVID-19 cases including 75 children which took the state's caseload to 10,30,518 while four fresh fatalities pushed the coronavirus death count to 8,238, a health department official said.
Though there has been significant improvement in the COVID-19 situation across the state, two coastal districts - Khurda and Cuttack -, continued to remain as points of concern as they together accounted for 62 per cent of the state's daily caseload.
Puducherry adds 87 new coronavirus cases, 1 deathPuducherry logged 87 fresh Covid-19 cases during the last 24 hours pushing the cumulative caseload to 1,26,893, a senior official of the Department of Health said.
According to the Director of Health G Sriramulu, the number of active cases in the union territory stood at 646 with 107 in hospitals and the remaining 539 in home isolation.
Arunachal Pradesh records 32 new cases
Arunachal Pradesh recorded 32 new infections which took the case count to 54,844. A total of 54,146 people have recovered from COVID-19 so far, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
Maharashtra's Thane district records 267 new COVID-19 cases, zero death
With the addition of 267 coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 5,61,128, an official said. As no fresh death due to the virus was reported in the district, the fatality count remained unchanged at 11,427.
Active Covid cases in IndiaThe daily rise in coronavirus infections has been below 30,000 for 14 straight days.
The number of active cases has declined to 2,40,221, accounting for 0.71 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.96 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said.
A decrease of 3,977 cases has been recorded in the active caseload in a span of 24 hours.
Also, 13,85,706 tests were conducted on Thursday taking the total number of tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 58,00,43,190.
2 new COVID-19 cases in Andamans, tally rises to 7,629
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 7,629 as two more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. The Union territory now has 11 active cases, while 7,489 people have been cured of the disease, and 129 patients have died due to the infection so far, it said.
Australia's Sydney readies to exit Covid lockdown amid concerns over faster reopening plans
Australian doctors warned a too-rapid easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Sydney could put pressure on health systems and risk lives, as the country's biggest city prepares for an end to more than 100 days in lockdown next week. Stay-at-home restrictions are due to be lifted on Monday after New South Wales state hit a targeted 70% for full vaccination of its adult population. Authorities on Thursday bumped up permitted limits for home gatherings, weddings and funerals.
Brazil in talks to buy up to 150 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for 2022Brazil is in talks to buy up to 150 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for next year, according to a document sent by the Health Ministry to a Senate inquiry on Thursday. The document was shared with the inquiry, which is probing Brazil's handling of the pandemic, after senators requested information on plans for the country's vaccination campaign next year.
The Health Ministry said it was negotiating the purchase of 100 million doses with Pfizer, with a possibility of acquiring another 50 million doses.
WHO Set To Restart Sputnik Covid Vaccine AnalysisThe World Health Organization said on Thursday it was about to restart the process of approving Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine following a series of problems with the dossier.
WHO authorisation has been sought for the Sputnik V jab created by Russia's Gamaleya research institute, which is already being used in 45 countries, according to an AFP count.
Several Covid-19 vaccines have been given the WHO green light for emergency use during the pandemic: Pfizer-BioNTech, Janssen, Moderna, Sinopharm, Sinovac and AstraZeneca in various plants.