Covid cases in India: Around 80.43 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far in India. (File)
India reported 30,773 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, 13.7% lower than yesterday, while active cases increased to 3,32,158, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. Besides, 309 deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours.
The active cases now comprise 0.99 per cent of the total infections while the recovery rate has been recorded at 97.68 per cent, it said. As many as 38,945 recoveries were reported in the 24 hours that increased the total recovery figures to 3,26,71,167.
Around 80.43 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive, of which 85,42,732 were administered in the last 24 hours.
Here are the updates on coronavirus (COVID-19) cases:
Brazil Reports Over 1,50,000 Coronavirus Cases In A DayBrazil reported 935 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday and some 150,106 additional cases, according to data released by the nation's Health Ministry, an unusually large number due to what officials said was an adjustment in how case numbers are tabulated.
Some 92,614 cases occurred in Rio de Janeiro in recent months, but only entered into the official count in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said.
UK To Roll Out Life-Saving Covid Drug Given To Donald TrumpThousands of vulnerable health service patients in the UK hospitals due to COVID-19 are set to benefit from a life-saving new antibody treatment called Ronapreve, which was given to former US president Donald Trump.
A combination of two monoclonal antibodies, Ronapreve, will be targeted initially at those in hospital who have not mounted an antibody response against the coronavirus.
The treatment was used as part of the suite of experimental medicines given to Trump when he tested positive for COVID-19 last year.
Stringent lockdown where COVID spread is critical, says Kerala
Special intensified, stringent lockdown restrictions will be enforced in areas of Kerala, where the spread of COVID-19 is at critical-levels, the State government said on Sunday.
The stringent lockdown restrictions would be in force in areas where the weekly infection population ratio (WIPR) is above 10 and the affected places would be notified by the district disaster management authority (DDMA) on a weekly basis, said an order from Chief Secretary V P Joy.
The order said the affected areas would be publicised through websites and other media.
The District Collectors shall further notify micro-containment zones as per guidelines and enforce the lockdown restrictions therein, the order read.
It said contact tracing and quarantine shall also be monitored and strengthened in all districts.
Delhi reports 28 new Covid cases, 0 deaths in last 24 hours
Covid vaccination drive intensifies in Delhi's rural areas and urban slums A massive Covid-19 vaccination drive has now been stepped up in slum and rural areas of the national capital.
Besides government initiatives, organisations like AZB & Partners has launched a free Covid-19 vaccination drive in collaboration with Akshaya Patra Foundation and Hope oncology clinic.
AZB & Partners' managing partner Ajay Bahl commented, "In some cases, people believe that there is a lack of easy access. All this reinforces our responsibility to supplement the government's vaccination effort."
Since its launch on June 26 till August 26, a total number of 6,200 people were vaccinated and the drive continues in areas like Harkesh Nagar, Okhla phase 2, Madangir, Indira camp near Andrews Ganj and Jharera village in Delhi Cantonment area.
Markets remain closed in Coimbatore amid sharp rise in Covid cases
All shops, business establishments and fish and meat shops have been closed in Coimbatore on Sunday due to a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases.
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had issued a notice for all malls and showrooms to remain closed for weekends but due to the sudden spike in cases in Coimbatore, all shops were also ordered on Friday to remain closed during the weekend.
Despite the order issued by the government, fish sellers sold fish in vehicles outside the fish market, which resulted in a heavy crowd emerging outside the fish market.
Puducherry reports fresh 79 COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths
Puducherry logged 79 fresh COVID-19 cases and two more deaths on Sunday, taking the caseload to 1,25,463 and the fatalities to 1,831.
78 patients recovered and were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the overall number of recoveries to 1,22,709.
Decision On Allowing Foreign Tourists To Visit India In 10 Days: ReportAmid a decline in Covid cases in the country, India may soon reopen its doors for foreign tourists for the first time in one-and-a-half years, officials said.
First five lakh foreign tourists will be issued visas free of cost, in an attempt to revive the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors, badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic since the first nationwide lockdown in March 2020.
A formal announcement allowing foreign tourists to visit India may come within the next 10 days, an official from the Home Ministry said.
COVID-19 India News: 230 New Cases, 2 More Deaths Reported In Maharashtra's ThaneWith the addition of 230 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 5,56,101, an official said on Sunday, according to PTI. Besides these new cases reported on Saturday, two more people also died of the viral infection, which raised the death count in the district to 11,368, he said. The COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane stood at 2.04 per cent, he added.
In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 1,35,352, while the death count stands at 3,273, another official said.
WHO Emergency Approval For Covaxin Delayed Till October 5World Health Organisation's (WHO) approval for the emergency use authorisation (EUA) to COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, developed by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, is likely to be delayed till October 5. As per WHO, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) will be meeting on October 5 to granting EUA to Covaxin. Read here.
Assam reports 365 new COVID cases, two more fatalities
Assam reported two more COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, raising the count to 5,790, while the coronavirus tally mounted to 5,97,709 with 365 fresh cases, a National Health Mission bulletin said.
The two fatalities due to the infection were recorded in Jorhat and Nagaon, it said.
The current death rate is at 0.97 per cent, and 1,347 COVID-positive patients have died due to other ailments.
Of the new cases, 97 were reported from Kamrup Metro, 32 from Jorhat, 27 from Golaghat and 21 from Barpeta.
The state now has 3,716 active cases, down from the previous day's 3,818, and 465 people were cured of the disease during the day, taking the total number of recoveries to 5,86,856.
Over 80 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India
With the ongoing Nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, India has administered over 80 crore vaccine doses so far, the official government data said in a statement.
Out of these 80 crore vaccine doses, the country had made a historic move by administering around 2.5 crore vaccine doses, only on Friday.
According to the official data, India has recorded 35,662 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the active caseload to 3,40,639 at present.
Presently, the daily positivity rate stands at 2.46 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate is 2.02 per cent.