Many States and Union Territories have organised mass vaccination camps across the country to reach target vaccinations, and to pre-empt the emergence of third wave of COVID-19.
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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 :
ICMR’s drone-based vaccine delivery model launched
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach in North East (i-Drone) here on Monday. The delivery model is aimed at ensuring that life-saving vaccines reach everyone.
“This is for the first time that a ‘Make in India’ drone has been used in South Asia to transport COVID vaccine over an aerial distance of 15 km in 12-15 mins from the Bishnupur district hospital to Loktak lake, Karang island in Manipur for administration at the primary health centre. The actual road distance between these locations is 26 k.m. Today, 10 beneficiaries will receive the first dose and 8 will receive the second dose at the PHC,’’ said the Minister.
Don't see third wave coming: BMC tells HC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) told the Bombay High Court that it does not apprehend a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city as the vaccination drive is going on smoothly, with over 42 lakh people fully vaccinated and over 82 lakh people having received the first dose.
BMC counsel Anil Sakhare also told the HC that 2,586 bed-ridden people have so far been administered both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine while 3,942 such people have got the first jab.
“The work is on. It is going on smoothly. Now, there is no shortage of vaccines too. Mumbai is safe. We do not see a third wave [of the COVID-19] coming,” Mr. Sakhare said. - PTI
Final rites for nearly 950 COVID-19 victims performed at Srirangapatna
The post-death rituals of COVID-19 victims, whose unclaimed ashes were immersed in the Cauvery river in June this year, were performed by the Karnataka government, at Srirangapatna on October 4.
Revenue Minister R. Ashok participated in the ceremony (pinda pradhana), which was conducted by some priests at Gosai Ghat on the banks of the river under the supervision of head priest Bhanuprakash Sharma.
No State should deny ₹50,000 ex-gratia to kin of those who lost lives to COVID-19: SC
The Supreme Court on Monday said no State should deny the ex-gratia compensation of ₹50,000, as recommended by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), to the kin of persons who died of COVID-19 on the sole ground that death certificate does not mention it as the cause of death.
The Bench said that the compensation would be disbursed from State disaster relief funds within 30 days of submitting application and cause of death being certified as of COVID-19. -PTI
Kerala HC quashes the reduction of prices for RT-PCR tests in private labs
The Kerala High Court on October 4 set aside the State government's order reducing the price of RT PCR tests from ₹1700 to ₹500 in all the private diagnostic labs in the State.
Justice T.R. Ravi also directed the State government to take up within three weeks, a fresh call on the price of RT PCR tests being conducted in private laboratories after holding a discussion with the owners or representatives of the lab.
'70% of India's adult population administered first dose COVID-19 vaccine'
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that 70% of India's adult population has been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
"Strong Nation, Rapid Vaccination: India has administered the first dose of #COVID19 vaccine on 70% of the population. Under PM @NarendraModiji, India is achieving new landmarks in the fight against the pandemic. Keep it up India, let us fight Corona," the minister said in a tweet.
With the administration of 23,46,176 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, the cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered has exceeded 90.79 crore as per provisional reports till 7 am. -PTI
New Zealand extends Auckland lockdown but eases some curbs
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended the level 3 lockdown in its biggest city Auckland on Monday, but said some restrictions will ease.
Ardern said from Wednesday Aucklanders will be able to connect with loved ones outdoors with no more than two households gathering at a time, up to a maximum of 10 people. -Reuters
Active COVID-19 cases in country lowest in 200 days
Daily cases of coronavirus in the country remained below 30,000 for the tenth straight day with 20,799 fresh infections recorded in a single day, while the active cases declined to 2,64,458, the lowest in 200 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on October 4.
With the fresh cases, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,38,34,702, while the death toll climbed to 4,48,997 with 180 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am. The active cases comprise 0.78% of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.89%, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said. -PTI
After 18 months, schools reopen across Maharashtra for physical classes
Schools across Maharashtra resumed physical sessions for classes 5 to 12 on Monday after being shut for over 18 months in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until now, schools were conducting physical classes only in those areas which were reporting relatively fewer COVID-19 cases.
Haryana govt. extends lockdown by fortnight
The Haryana government on Sunday extended the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the State for another fortnight to continue the precautionary measures to contain the pandemic.
In a three-page-order, Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan, who is also the chairperson, Haryana State Executive Committee, said the lockdown, rechristened as “Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana”, would remain in place from October 4 to 18.
Shops near educational institutions to ensure that employees are vaccinated
In an attempt to prevent COVID-19 clusters in schools, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has directed all shops and eateries around educational institutions to ensure that their staff are vaccinated.
This decision was taken in the wake of around 60 students of Sri Chaitanya Girls’ Residential School, near Electronics City, testing positive for COVID-19 last week. “All the school staff are vaccinated, but students during short breaks or after school hours often visit general stores and eateries to grab some refreshments. We want to ensure that people working there too are vaccinated so that the possibility of students contracting the virus is reduced,” said D. Randeep, Special Commissioner (Health), BBMP.
Pune city schools gear up for classroom teaching from October 4
Schools for classes VIII to XII will start in physical mode from October 4 for the first time in 18 months in Pune city, and those running these institutions said all COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Maharashtra government will be adhered to strictly.
Physical distancing norms in the classrooms, mask usage, vaccination of teachers, thermal and oximeter screening of students, getting written consent from parents, and ensuring cleanliness, hand hygiene of students etc will be followed completely, Mahendra Ganpule, state spokesperson, Maharashtra Headmaster Association, told PTI. -PTI
Zydus Cadila wants ₹1,900 for its COVID-19 vaccine
With talks under way between the Central government and Zydus Cadila over the pricing of the COVID-19 vaccine , the pharma company is learnt to have proposed ₹1,900 for its three-dose jab that can be given to those above 12 years of age.
However, the government is negotiating for a reduction in price and a final decision on it is likely to be taken this week, sources in the know of the developments said.
Israel requires COVID-19 booster shots for stricter "green pass"
Israel on October 4 piled pressure on its vaccinated citizens to get a booster shot by making only those who received their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine eligible for a "green pass" allowing entry to restaurants, gyms and many other venues.
Israel was an early adopter of Pfizer/BioNtech booster shots -- administering them to members of risk groups in July and by the end of August to anyone above the age of 12. Its campaign is being watched closely by other countries. -Reuters
Karnataka order on travellers from Kerala challenged in Supreme Court
A Kerala legislator has appealed to the Supreme Court challenging the validity of a Karnataka government order restricting the free movement of people from neighbouring Kerala.
Karnataka has mandated that people from Kerala travelling into the State should possess a negative RT-PCR certificate. The test should have been done within 72 hours of travel, irrespective of having taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, A.K.M. Ashraf, a Indian Union Muslim League MLA, said.
Exporters seek rethink on British visitors’ quarantine mandate
Even as the 10-day quarantine norm for British nationals kicks in on Monday, a leading export promotion body has urged the government for a rethink as it could curtail the entry of U.K. buyers and hit new orders just when business is returning to some normalcy.\
The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signalling that the mandatory quarantine for visiting British nationals could hurt efforts to attain the government’s record $400 billion target for exports this year.
Colleges in Kerala re-opening on October 4
After remaining closed for over one-and-a-half years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and other higher educational institutions in Kerala are to re-open on October 4 as was announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan subject to the condition that all final year students, faculty and staff receive at least the first dose of vaccination. State Higher Education Minister R Bindhu today, in a video message, welcomed the students to the colleges and reminded them to give up violence while he referred to an incident of a girl murdered by her estranged boyfriend on a college campus at Pala in Kottayam two day ago.
Classes for the final year/final semester students would start on October 4 while rest of the classes from October 18. -PTI
Rs. 15.30 crore distributed among 306 COVID-19 orphans
A sum of Rs.15.30 crore has been deposited in the bank accounts of 306 children orphaned by COVID-19 in 24 districts of Maharashtra, State Women and Child Development minister Yashomati Thakur said on October 3.
The money was disbursed as part of the State government's decision to give Rs. 5 lakh each to such children, who number around 600, she said.
The rest of the children would also get money in their accounts soon, the minister added. -PTI
