Covid-19 Cases in India: The recovery rate was recorded at 98.07 per cent.
India recorded 18,987 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally to 3,40,20,730, while the national Covid recovery rate increased to 98.07 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry's data at 8 am.
The numbers of deaths reached 4,51,435 with 246 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 30,000 for 20 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 109 consecutive days now.
The active cases have declined to 2,06,586 comprising 0.61 per cent of the total infections while the national Covid recovery rate was recorded at 98.07 per cent, the ministry said.
A decrease of 1,067 cases has been recorded in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours.
A total of 13,01,083 tests were conducted on Wednesday, taking the number of cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 58,76,64,525.
Here are Highlights on Coronavirus Cases In India :
Gujarat registers 34 new COVID-19 cases, no death
Gujarat registered 34 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking its cumulative tally to 8,26,244, while no fresh death due to the infection was reported in the state.
Indian epidemiologist in scientific advisory group for origins of Covid-like pathogens
Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, a leading Indian epidemiologist, has been named to an expert group launched by the WHO that will examine origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential, including SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Tamil Nadu lifts weekend curbs on places of worshipTamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin today permitted all places of worship to open on all days of the week. He also announced that playschools, kindergarten schools, and anganwadis in the state would be allowed to open from November 1.
India's nationwide COVID-19 vaccination coverage reaches 97 croreIndia's nationwide COVID-19 vaccination coverage on Thursday reached 97 crores, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
Andhra Pradesh records 540 new Covid cases in last 24 hours
Andhra Pradesh reported 540 new cases of COVID-19, according to the government bulleting released at 9am on Thursday. Two districts in the state added over 100 fresh cases each.
Andhra Pradesh now has a total of 20,59,122 positives, 20,38,248 recoveries and 14,286 deaths.
Over 50% of Covid survivors experience symptoms for up to 6 months: StudyA study by researchers in the US has found that more than half the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 experience post-Covid symptoms for as long as six months.
The researchers at Penn State College of Medicine in the US noted that governments, health care organisations and public health professionals should prepare for the large number of COVID-19 survivors who will need care for a variety of psychological and physical symptoms.
Russia reports record daily virus cases, deaths
Russia on Thursday reported a pandemic high for both new coronavirus infections and fatalities from the virus over 24 hours, with the country's vaccination drive at a standstill.
An official government tally showed 31,299 new infections and 986 deaths, bringing Russia's total fatalities to 220,315 -- the highest toll in Europe.
COVID-19: Ladakh reports 5 fresh casesWith five fresh cases, Ladakh's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 20,861, while the number of active cases of the infection has gone up to 42 in the Union Territory, officials said on Thursday.
No death due to the coronavirus infection was reported in Ladakh in a 24-hour period, they added.
The death toll due to the viral disease in Ladakh stands at 208 -- 150 in Leh and 58 in Kargil.
Nine coronavirus patients were cured and discharged from hospitals in Leh, thereby taking the tally of cured patients to 20,611 in the Union Territory, the officials said.
All the five fresh cases were reported from Leh, they added.
Coronavirus Updates: Puducherry reports 49 new Covid-19 cases, overall tally rises to 1,27,259
Puducherry logged 49 fresh coronavirus cases and zero fatalities during the last 24 hours, a senior Health Department official said on Thursday.
The 49 new infections pushed the overall tally to 1,27,259, Director of the Department of Health G Sriramulu said in a release here.
The new cases were identified at the end of the examination of 3,714 samples during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM Thursday. They were spread over Puducherry (33), Karaikal (12), Yanam (3) and Mahe (one).
The Health department Director said there were 647 active cases in the union territory with 96 in hospitals and the remaining 551 in home isolation.
"COVID situation is better in Delhi. In my view, we should permit Chhath Puja following all the COVID protocol," writes Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Delhi LG Anil Baijal over Chhath celebration in the National Capital.
Active COVID-19 cases in India lowest in 215 days
India logged 18,987 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally to 3,40,20,730 on Thursday, while the national Covid recovery rate increased to 98.07 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry's data.
The death toll climbed to 4,51,435 with 246 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 30,000 for 20 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 109 consecutive days now.
The active cases have declined to 2,06,586, the lowest in 215 days, comprising 0.61 per cent of the total infections while the national Covid recovery rate was recorded at 98.07 per cent, the ministry said.
A decrease of 1067 cases has been recorded in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours.
A total of 13,01,083 tests were conducted on Wednesday, taking the number of cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 58,76,64,525.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Andaman and Nicobar reports 2 new COVID-19 cases
The union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported two new cases, one more than the previous day, pushing the tally to 7,637, a health department official said on Thursday.
One new case was detected during testing of passengers at the Airport here while another was found during contact tracing, he said.
The archipelago now has nine active COVID-19 cases and all the patients are in the South Andaman district which also includes the capital city Port Blair, he said.
One more person recuperated from the disease, taking the total number of COVID-19 recoveries to 7,499.
The COVID-19 death toll remained at 129 as no fresh fatality has been reported in the last 24 hours, he said.
Coronavirus Updates: India conducts over 13 lakh COVID-19 tests in last 24 hours
With over 13 lakh COVID-19 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, the cumulative tests conducted so far crossed 58.76 crores, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday.
As per the research body, a total of 13,01,083 samples were tested on Wednesday. With this, the total samples tested up to October 13 touched 58,76,64,525.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry informed 18,987 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the last 24 hours.
Just In| 18,987 fresh Covid cases in India in 24 hours, 20% higher than yesterday
Update| A total of 58,76,64,525 samples tested up to October 13. Of these, 13,01,083 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Coronavirus Updates: New Zealand Reports Biggest Rise In COVID-19 Cases In Six Weeks
New Zealand reported on Thursday its biggest rise in COVID-19 infections in six weeks, with all cases detected in Auckland, raising prospects of a further extension of lockdown restrictions in the country's largest city beyond next week.
Some 1.7 million people in Auckland are under strict stay-home orders until Monday as officials look to stamp out the highly infectious Delta outbreak, the first major spate of community cases in the country since early in the pandemic.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said the surge in case numbers in Auckland was not unexpected "but they are rising more quickly," and blamed illegal home gatherings for the spike.
"Now is not the time for complacency," Robertson said during a media conference in Wellington, urging residents in Auckland to strictly follow the level-three rules, under which most people are required to stay at home unless they have urgent reasons to go out.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Melbourne set for COVID lockdown exit despite record cases as vaccinations spike
Melbourne will exit months of COVID-19 lockdown next week helped by a faster-than-expected vaccine uptake, Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday, ahead of schedule even though daily infections hit a record the same day.
In the worst day of an outbreak of the Delta variant coronavirus that began in early August, Victoria logged 2,297 new cases on Thursday, up from 1,571 the day before and the highest for any Australian state or territory since the pandemic began. Eleven people died, bringing the total toll in the latest outbreak to 125.
But the surge comes as Victoria also nears the 70% threshold for double-dose vaccination among eligible adults - the level at which authorities have promised to end strict stay-home restrictions. That target was originally expected to be met on Oct. 26, and the vaccination level was 62% as of Thursday.
"We will deliver the (reopening) road map ... You get vaccinated and we will open up and I do what I say," Victoria Premier Andrews said, speaking during a media briefing in Melbourne, the state capital.
Indonesia's Bali reopens to international tourists, but with no flights
Indonesia's holiday island of Bali reopened to foreign tourists after 18 months of pandemic hiatus on Thursday, but the island is lacking one crucial ingredient: international flights.
Tourism-reliant Bali is scheduled to reopen on Thursday and though its Ngurah Rai international airport has carried out simulations preparing for tourists to return, it is not expecting much to happen soon.
"So far there is no schedule," said Taufan Yudhistira, a spokesman for the airport.
Indonesia's tight immigration measures during the pandemic have devastated the island, with widespread closures of hotels, shops and businesses.
An NGO serves food to the needy in an air-conditioned facility for Rs 10/person near Delhi's Maujpur- Babarpur metro station
"The initiative aims to provide relief to people affected by COVID-19. Charge of Rs 10 is to ensure that food is not wasted," NGO founder Kiran Verma says.
Centre Plans Outreach To Mark 100 Crore Jabs, Focus On Poll-Bound States With India inching closer to the 100-crore Covid vaccination milestone, the government has chalked out a plan to showcase it as a major achievement in its fight against the pandemic.
More than 96.75 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, as per figures on the CoWIN website.
Under the mega outreach plan, the BJP has asked its ministers, MPs and MLAs, and national and state functionaries to attend events in pockets across the country, sources in the party have said.
The focus of the outreach plan would be states that go to polls next year, including the politically significant Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf Gujarat and Punjab, where the Congress is battling internal crises one after another.
According to the sources, the 100 crore milestone is expected to be reached by Monday or Tuesday. The sources said the immunisation exercise has slightly slowed down due to the festivals of Durga Puja and Navratri. The government now plans to step up the exercise after Dussehra to reach the 100 crore mark at the earliest.
WHO Says Approval Process For Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine "Still On Hold"
The World Health Organization said on Wednesday the Emergency Use Listing process for Russia's Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine was on hold pending some missing data and legal procedures, which the U.N. body hopes will be "sorted out quite soon" reported news agency Reuters.
"We are working almost on a daily basis with the ministry of health in Russia to address the remaining issues to be fulfilled by the Russian Direct Investment Fund," said Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products.
28 COVID-19 cases In Punjab
Punjab reported 28 more COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the tally of infections in the state to 6,01,938, according to a medical bulletin.
No Covid-related death was reported in the state in a 24-hour period, it showed. The number of deaths stands at 16,532.
Among the new cases, five were reported from Pathankot and four each from Bathinda, Mohali and Jalandhar, the data showed. The number of active cases of the disease in the state now stands at 223.
Sixteen more people have recovered from the infection, taking the number of those who have been cured to 5,85,183, as per the bulletin.
Chandigarh, meanwhile, reported no new infection on Wednesday. The count of cases in the union territory stands at 65,285, and the deaths 820. The number of active cases in the city is 37, while the number of recoveries is 64,428.
Nine crore people in Maharashtra got at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far: Government
As many as nine crore people in Maharashtra have received at least the first dose of anti-coronavirus vaccines so far, which is the highest in the country, the state government said on Wednesday.
"Till Wednesday evening, Maharashtra has been able to vaccinate nine crore people. The number of those, who have received both the doses is as high as 2.76 crore. These figures are the highest as compared to other states in the country," state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.
The state government is trying hard to vaccinate more number of people at the earliest, he added.