World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries and companies controlling the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to prioritise supply to the vaccine sharing programme COVAX in order to meet vaccination targets.
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:
Goa schools permitted reopen for Classes 9 to 12 from October 18
Schools in Goa have been permitted to reopen for physical classes for Classes 9 to 12 from October 18 with COVID-19 guidelines and standard operating procedures in place, an official said on Friday.
In a circular issued on Thursday, state Director of Education Bhushan Savaikar said the state government decided to reopen schools for physical classes after consultation with an expert committee.
“Schools may, if required, initially follow a hybrid mode of teaching, that is, online as well as offline classes,” the circular stated.
Italy's mandatory COVID health pass for work sees untroubled launch
COVID-19 health passes became mandatory for all workers in Italy from Friday, with the measure being applied mostly peacefully across the country despite some scattered protests.
At the major port of Trieste, where some labour groups had threatened to block operations in protest against the rule, the situation appeared largely calm, with some workers demonstrating but others being allowed to carry on as usual. - Reuters
2021 Covid outbreak in Delhi shows herd immunity against Delta variant difficult: study
The severe outbreak of COVID-19 in Delhi this year showed that the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 can infect previously exposed people through a different variant of the coronavirus, highlighting the challenges of reaching herd immunity against the variant, according to an international team of scientists. The study, published in the journal Science on October 14, also found that the Delta variant was between 30-70% more transmissible than previous SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Delhi. - PTI
Physical classes for 8, 11 standard students to resume from October 21
The Odisha government on October 15 announced resumption of physical classes for students of 8th and 11th standards from October 21 as the State is witnessing a declining trend in COVID-19 cases.
Classroom teaching for students of classes 9 and 12 has already been resumed in the state with strict adherence to health safety guidelines. -PTI
Over 100 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses provided to States, UTs: Centre
The Union Health Ministry said on Friday that over 10.53 crore (10,53,11,155) balance and unutilised vaccine doses are still available with the States and UTs to be administered. - PTI
Active COVID-19 cases in country lowest in 216 days
India logged 16,862 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,40,37,592, while the active cases declined to 2,03,678, the lowest in 216 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on October 15.
The death toll climbed to 4,51,814 with 379 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 a.m.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 30,000 for 21 straight days and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 110 consecutive days now. - PTI
South Korea eases coronavirus gathering curbs before switch to 'living with COVID'
South Korea said on Friday it would lift stringent anti-coronavirus curbs on social gatherings next week, as the country prepares to switch to a 'living with COVID-19' strategy amid rising vaccination levels.
A new panel established this week is drawing up a plan for a gradual return to normalcy in the long term, eventually lifting sweeping restrictions and reopening the economy in November on the expectation that 80% of the adult population will be fully vaccinated. - Reuters
England eases COVID-19 testing rules for most incoming passengers from October 24
Fully vaccinated passengers arriving in England from low-risk countries from October 24 will no longer have to take expensive COVID-19 tests, the British government said on Thursday.
Last month the government simplified the rules for international travel to England in a boost to the tourism industry, which has blamed the testing and complicated rules for the slowness of a recovery in air travel over the summer. Reuters
India has faced Covid crisis with resilience and fortitude: Sitharaman
India has not only faced the COVID-19 crisis with great resilience and fortitude but has also played a major role and "walked the talk" on the global fight against it, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.
Pointing out the fast recovery of India’s economy, Sitharaman in her address to the Development Committee of the World Bank said the Modi Government, besides taking economic relief measures, has also undertaken significant structural reforms to turn the crisis into an opportunity and emerge stronger.
“The measures undertaken by the government have set a strong foundation for India’s sustained economic growth,” she said. - PTI
Sydney to end COVID-19 quarantine for international travellers
Sydney will end its COVID-19 quarantine for fully vaccinated international travellers from November 1, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Friday, foreshadowing the full return of overseas travel after more than 19 months.
"We want people back, we are leading the nation out of the pandemic ... we are opening Sydney and New South Wales to the world," Mr. Perrottet told reporters in Sydney, the State capital. - Reuters
India reiterates demand for finding origin of COVID-19
India's Raman Gangakhedkar, a renowned epidemiologist and Dr. C.G. Pandit National Chair at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is among 26 members of the Scientific Advisory Group for determining the origins of the virus, according to the WHO.
"Let me just reiterate what we have stated till now. We have our interest in further studies and data on this issue of the origin and the need for understanding and cooperation by all concerned," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing. - PTI
Biden to meet with Pope Francis to discuss COVID-19, climate
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet Pope Francis when he visits the Vatican later this month as part of a five-day swing through Italy and the UK for global economic and climate change meetings.
Mr. Biden plans to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, the climate crisis and poverty during his meeting with the pope, according to the White House.
The meeting will take place on October 29, and Mr. Biden will then attend two-day summit of G-20 leaders in Rome, before heading to Glasgow, Scotland for the UN climate conference known as COP26. - AP
FDA panel endorses lower-dose Moderna COVID-19 shot for booster
U.S. health advisers said on October 14 that some Americans who received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine should get a half-dose booster to bolster protection against the virus.
The panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously to recommend a booster shot for seniors, adults with other health problems, jobs or living situations that put them at increased risk for COVID-19.
The recommendation is non-binding but it’s a key step toward expanding the U.S. booster campaign to millions more Americans. Many people who got their initial Pfizer shots at least six months ago are already getting a booster after the FDA authorised their use in September. - AP
