U.S. President Donald Trump, the most recent addition to a slew of world leaders who have been infected by coronavirus, has been moved to a military hospital on Saturday. Mr. Trump said that the treatment is "going well, I think."
India, meanwhile, saw a single-day spike of 79,476 infections and 1,069 fatalities on Monday, according to the Union Ministry update. 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:
COVID-19 situation in Delhi better, cases showing downward trend: Satyendar Jain
The COVID-19 situation in the city is far better now as compared to September and the daily cases have also begun to show a downward trend, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Saturday.
Delhi was at number two but now has come down to the sixth spot in the country in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases, he told reporters.
The Minister reiterated that the city government had significantly ramped up testing capacity due to which a rise in COVID-19 cases was recorded for a long period in September.
“But now cases have begun to come down and it’s sort of stabilised. Also, the positivity rate has fallen to less than 5.5% from 8.5-9% recorded earlier. So the situation is far better now,” he said.
The national capital recorded 37 more COVID-19 fatalities on Friday as the toll climbed to 5,438, while 2,920 fresh cases took the tally to over 2.85 lakh, authorities said.
Decision on re-opening Kartarpur corridor to be taken considering COVID-19 protocols: MEA
India on Saturday said a decision to re-open the Kartarpur corridor would be taken in accordance with the protocols relating to COVID-19 and easing of restrictions.
The comments by spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava came in the wake of Pakistan’s proposal to reopen the corridor which was shut in March in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
In November last year, the two countries threw open the corridor linking Dera Baba Sahib in Gurdaspur in India and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, in a historic people-to-people initiative.
“A decision on re-opening of the corridor would be taken in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols and easing of restrictions,” Mr. Srivastava said.
Highest single-day recoveries of 4,476 COVID-19 patients in Kerala
Kerala reported the highest single day recoveries of 4,476 COVID-19 patients on Saturday, and 7,834 fresh cases.
The death toll climbed to 813 with 22 more fatalities.
“Samples of 4,476 people returned negative today, the highest recoveries on a single day so far,” Health minister K K Shailaja said in a press release.
In the last 24 hours, 54,563 samples have been sent for testing.
On Friday, the State’s COVID-19 count had crossed the 9,000-mark for the first time.
- PTI
Oxford University vaccine could be rolled out within six months: Report
There is growing hope that a vaccine against coronavirus may be given the green light by health regulators by the end of this year to be rolled out for a vaccination programme in six months’ time or even less, according to a U.K. media report.
The vaccine candidate under trial by University of Oxford scientists in collaboration with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is the furthest in the process of trials and, according to a report in ‘The Times’, it could be given the required clearances by Christmas in December.
The newspaper quoted U.K. government sources involved in the making and distribution of vaccines as saying that a full vaccine roll-out programme for adults could take six months or less after approval.
WHO calls on Turkey to follow its COVID-19 reporting guides
The World Health Organization’s office in Turkey has reiterated its call for reporting COVID-19 data in line with WHO guidances to harmonise data collection and response measures. WHO’s statement comes days after Turkey’s health minister revealed that the daily COVID-19 figures published by the ministry since July 29 reflected only patients with symptoms, excluding asymptomatic positive cases.
The WHO statement commended Turkey on its increased testing capacity and contact tracing efforts. It said, Turkey has been isolating all COVID-19 positive cases, regardless of their symptoms. It added that the WHO has been consulting with members, including Turkey, to improve reporting and data collection.
Nepal PM Sharma Oli’s three key advisors contract COVID-19
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s chief advisor and his other two aides have contracted coronavirus that has claimed 528 lives and infected over 84,500 people in the country.
During the tests conducted on October 2, Mr. Oli’s chief advisor Bishnu Rimal, press advisor Surya Thapa, and foreign affairs advisor Rajan Bhattarai tested positive for COVID-19.
The key advisors confirmed the development through their social media accounts. Posting on Twitter and Facebook, they requested all those who came in their contact to be cautions.
Nepal’s COVID-19 tally jumped to 84,570 on Saturday as 2,120 new coronavirus cases were detected in the country. A total of 2,044 people have been discharged from different health facilities after their full recovery from the infection. The total number of recoveries has reached 62,740 in the country. With the death of eight more COVID-19 patients, Nepal’s number of fatalities has gone up to 528.
Maharashtra issues guidelines for restaurants which are set to reopen
The Maharashtra Government on Saturday issued COVID-19 safety guidelines for restaurants and other eateries which have been allowed to reopen from October 5.
Hotels, food courts and restaurants can operate from Monday at 50 per cent of their seating capacity.
As per the guidelines, customers should be screened at the entry point for coronavirus symptoms such as high temperature, cough, and cold.
Only asymptomatic customers will be allowed inside.
Also, putting on face masks will be mandatory, except while eating, the guidelines said.
Customers must follow social distancing while waiting for service.
Consent should be obtained from visitorsfor sharing their details with administrative and health authorities for contact-tracing related activities, the guidelines said.
Hand sanitizers must be made available, and payment through digital mode should be encouraged while precautions should be taken during cash transactions.
Rest rooms and hand-wash areas must be cleaned regularly.
Delhi Prisons department urges Govt. to extend convicts’ emergency parole
The Delhi Prisons department has requested the city government to extend the emergency parole granted to convicts by one month in view of the existing COVID-19 situation, officials said on Saturday.
In a letter to the home department, it said the emergency parole can be given considering the current pandemic situation.
According to the officials, there are currently 4,250 such inmates, comprising 3,100 undertrials on interim bail and 1,150 convicts on emergency parole, who are out of jails as part of the prisons department’s recent decongestion drive.
“We have written to the government to extend emergency parole of convicts by one month,” a senior jail official said.
- PTI
India maintains top global ranking with maximum COVID-19 recoveries, lowest mortality rate
India continues to occupy the top global position with the maximum number of COVID-19 recoveries and accounts for 21% of the recovered cases worldwide, while its share in the total cases stands at 18.6%, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.
India has also maintained its global position with one of the lowest COVID-19 case fatality rates (CFR) when compared to several other countries.
While the global CFR stands at 2.97% as on date, the comparative figure for India is 1.56%, it said.
The deaths per million population in India is one of the lowest in the world. While the global average is 130 deaths per million population, India is reporting 73 deaths per million population, the ministry said.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 54,27,706, with 75,628 recovering in a span of 24 hours, pushing the national recovery rate to 83.84%, according to the ministry data updated at 8 a.m. on Saturday. - PTI
Trump doing well, undergoing Remdesivir therapy: WH doctor
US President Donald Trump, who was shifted to a military hospital after being tested positive for COVID-19, is undergoing Remdesivir therapy and is “doing well”, the White House physician has said.
The Trump administration had issued an emergency use authorisation for Remdesivir earlier this year after the drug showed moderate effectiveness in improving outcomes for patients who were hospitalised with the coronavirus.
“This evening, I am happy to report that the President is doing well, Conley said in a health bulletin on Friday night, the first after the president was moved to the military hospital as a precautionary measure.
He is not requiring any supplemental oxygen, but in consultation with specialists we have elected to initiate Remdesivir therapy. He has completed his first dose and is resting comfortably, he said. - PTI
UP Deputy CM tests positive for coronavirus infection
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has tested positive for COVID-19.
After testing positive for the infection, the Minister urged everyone, who came in his contact in the last few days, get themselves tested for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves.
Maurya, 51, who holds the portfolio of PWD ministry, said in a tweet, "After the initial symptoms of corona infection, I got myself tested. My report has come positive today. I request you all who came in my contact in the last few days to go to the nearest health centre and get yourself tested and follow the COVID rules." - PTI
Dr Reddy’s seeks DCGI nod for conducting phase-3 clinical trial of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V
The Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has applied to the Drugs Controller General of India for permission to conduct phase-3 human clinical trials of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V against COVID-19 in India, sources said.
The Indian pharma giant has collaborated with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V as well as its distribution.
Upon regulatory approval in India, RDIF will supply to drugmaker Dr Reddy’s 100 million doses of the vaccine, the firm said last month.
Sources said it would be multi-centre, observer-blind, randomised controlled study.
The phase-3 trial of Sputnik V is underway in Russia since September 1 on around 40,000 subjects, they added. - PTI
