As a part of Unlock 5, cinema halls, entertainment parks, and swimming pools for sportspersons are being reopened on Thursday after months of uncertainty triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
While theatres and multiplexes will remain closed in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Chhattisgarh, they will open this week in several places, including Delhi and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, with stringent dos and don’ts in keeping with the new COVID-19 normal.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here . A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
Cold response on day one at cinema halls
After six months, theatres and multiplexes have been allowed to resume operations as per guidelines issued under Unlock 5 but the day one got cold response from cinema goers. Theatre owners are hopeful of getting back the business during festival season when new release of multi starrer movies are scheduled.
To make the visit safe and comfortable all theatres and multiplexes staff have maintained that auditorium occupancy will not be more than 50 percent. Adjacent seats on either sides will be left vacant. Floor markers will be placed at ticket counter and food counters. Digital modes of transactions have been encouraged. Availability of PPE kits for purchase have been made at all of the places.
- Saurabh Trivedi
Doctors asked not to leave Kolkata during Durga Puja
Amid apprehensions of a probable surge of COVID-19 cases in the State during Durga Puja, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) has asked doctors not to leave the city during the four days of the festival.
The WBCERC has also urged private hospitals to keep a note of the contact details of the doctors so that they can be reached in case of emergency, its chairman Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Banerjee said.
COVID-19 doubling time improves: Health ministry
The doubling time of COVID-19 infection has improved to almost 73 days (72.8 days) currently from 25.5 days in mid-August, as per data released by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. The country reported 680 case fatalities in the past 24 hours.
Presently, the active cases comprised 11.12% of the total positive cases of the country standing at 8,12,390. This had been below the 9-lakh mark for a week now.
Libraries gear up to reopen doors to readers
With the Maharashtra government allowing reopening of libraries from Thursday as part of its ’Mission Begin Again’, many of these establishments in Mumbai are working out modalities to resume operations after over a six-month-long break.
Authorities of some libraries said that in view of the pandemic, they would implement measures like allowing only a limited number of people inside at a time and restricting the entry of senior citizens and children.
As per the guidelines issued by the government, all the state-run and private libraries have been allowed to reopen.
Few Bengal cinemas reopen after nearly 7-month hiatus
Only a few multiplexes and cinema halls in West Bengal reopened for movie-goers on Thursday after nearly a seven-month hiatus.
Authorities of the cinemas said they are strictly maintaining the COVID-19 protocol.
Other facilities will reopen gradually from Friday till October 21, a day before the commencement of the Durga Puja festivities. - PTI
Ensure all official meetings begin with messages on COVID-19 precautions: Govt to all depts
All central government departments have been asked to ensure that official meetings begin with messages on COVID-19 precautions so as to sensitise officers and staff about the pandemic, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
The government has issued several instructions to contain the spread of the coronavirus, it said.
“In continuation, it has since been decided that all central government offices shall ensure that every meeting commences with messages on COVID-19 related precautions, so as to sensitise officers and staff about the pandemic,” said the order issued on Wednesday.
The messages may be focused on creating awareness relating to wearing of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene and strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it said. - PTI
World experiencing one of the deepest recessions since Great Depression due to COVID-19: World Bank
The world is experiencing one of the deepest recessions since the Great Depression in the 1930s owing to the novel coronavirus, World Bank President David Malpass has said, terming the COVID-19 pandemic a “catastrophic event” for many developing and the poorest countries.
He told reporters that given the extent of the economic contraction, there was a rising risk of disruptive debt crises in countries.
Responding to a question, Mr. Malpass said that the world was currently experiencing a K-shaped recovery.
67,735 new cases take India’s virus tally to 73,07,097
India’s COVID-19 tally of cases climbed to 73.07 lakh with 67,735 new cases in a day, while 63,83,441 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 87.35% on Thursday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 73,07,097 and the death toll climbed to 1,11,266 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 680 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed. - PTI
Russia approves 2nd coronavirus vaccine after early trials
Russian authorities have given regulatory approval to a second coronavirus vaccine after early-stage studies, two months after a similar move prompted widespread criticism from scientists both at home and abroad.
Watch | All about Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine
The peptide-based, two-shot vaccine, EpiVacCorona, was developed by the Vector Institute in Siberia and tested among 100 volunteers in early-stage, placebo-controlled human trials, which lasted more than two months and were completed two weeks ago. The volunteers were between 18 and 60 years old.
The scientists have yet to publish the results of the study. In comments to the media, scientists developing the vaccine said that it produced enough antibodies to protect the person who had it from the virus and that the immunity it creates could last for up to six months.
Focusing on protecting people, health of population remain a priority for India: IMF
India’s priorities should be to protect the most vulnerable people, well targeted support and protecting small and medium sized enterprises so that they do not collapse as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva has said.
A day earlier, the IMF in its annual World Economic Report said that the forecast are particularly large for India, where Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted much more severely than expected in the second quarter. - PTI
Published - October 15, 2020 09:22 am IST
