Covid LIVE: Kerala sees 12,161 new cases, 155 fatalities in last 24 hrs

Covid-19 live updates: Pfizer submits research on the effectiveness of its vaccine in children; Japan to lift a state of emergency at the end of September.

11:09 PM

Delhi LG chairs 25th DDMA meeting to review Covid situation

A meeting of Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) chaired by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday emphasized the need to strictly follow and enforce COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) in wake of the upcoming festive season to prevent any resurgence of infection.

 

It was suggested that community engagement and support to this effect should be ensured by way of an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign, particularly in the vernacular languages.

 

The LG chaired the 25th meeting of DDMA to review the COVID-19 situation in the capital.

 

Delhi Government ministers Satyendra Jain, Kailash Gahlot, AIIMS Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria and senior officers of NITI Aayog, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) were among present at the meeting.

10:52 PM

Punjab eases restrictions on public gatherings

The Punjab government on Wednesday decided to ease restrictions on public gatherings in the wake of improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the state.

 

According to the decision, the government has allowed an indoor gathering of 300 people and outdoor gathering of 500 people.

 

Earlier, it was 150 for indoor and 300 for outdoor gatherings.

 

While reviewing the Covid situation in the state, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi asked the School Education Department to encourage students to attend classes by following necessary health protocols, according to a government release.

 

Likewise, he also asked the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department to reopen 'anganwadi' centres while strictly following the prescribed Covid safety norms.

9:46 PM

Maharashtra logs 3,187 new Covid-19 cases, 49 deaths, 3,253 recoveries

Maharashtra reported 3,187 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and 49 fresh deaths, taking the infection tally to 65,47,793 and the toll to 1,39,011, a health department official said.

 

The official said with 3,253 patients getting discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, the number of recovered cases rose to 63,68,530. Maharashtra now has 36,675 active cases. On Tuesday, the state had reported 2,844 coronavirus cases and 60 deaths. The state has 2,52,309 people in home quarantine and another 1,453 in institutional quarantine, according to the official. He said Maharashtra's COVID-19 recovery rate is 97.26 per cent, while the fatality rate is 2.12 per cent.

9:36 PM

Delhi reports 41 new Covid cases, no fatality

The national capital on Wednesday reported 41 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total tally to 14,38,821, but there were no new fatalities, as per the Delhi Health Department bulletin.

 

The Covid infection rate in the national capital has climbed to 0.06 per cent, as the active case tally has went up to 392, while 22 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 14,13,342 so far, it said.

 

A total of 107 Covid patients are being treated in home isolation at present.

 

The Covid recovery rate was 98.23 per cent, while the active Covid cases rate stands at 0.027 per cent, and the death rate continues to be at 1.74 per cent.

 

With zero deaths, the toll remains 25,087. Meanwhile, 71,983 new tests - 49,688 RT-PCR tests and 22,295 Rapid Antigen - were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 2,75,96,473. As many as 1,80,663 vaccine shots - 81,572 first doses and 99,091 second - were administered in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 1,75,57,752, as per the bulletin.

9:12 PM

Nashik sees 155 new COVID-19 cases; three more casualties

With the addition of 155 new cases of coronavirus, the tally of infections in Maharashtra's Nashik district reached 4,08,370 on Wednesday, an official said.

 

At least 87 patients were discharged from hospitals, while three died of the infection during the day, the official said.

 

With this, the count of recoveries rose to 3,98,789 and the toll stood at 8,631, he said.

 

Of the total number of casualties, 357 were reported from Malegaon, 3,982 from Nashik city and 4,166 from other parts of the district, it was stated.

 

As many as 25,78,186 swabs have been tested till date, of which 5,444 were tested during the day, the official added.

8:39 PM

Madhya Pradesh reports eight new cases, two deaths; active tally 115

The coronavirus infection tally in Madhya Pradesh grew to 7,92,519 on Wednesday with the addition of eight cases, a health department official said.

The death toll increased by two to reach 10,522.

The COVID-19 recovery count stands at 7,81,882, leaving the state with 115 active cases.

8:26 PM

245 new Covid-19 cases, one death in Telangana

Telangana on Wednesday reported 245 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 6,65,749, while the toll rose to 3,916 with one more fatality.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 73, followed by Karimnagar (21) and Warangal Urban (16) districts, a state government bulletin said, providing details as of 5.30 PM.

8:00 PM

57 new cases push Sikkim's COVID-19 tally to 31,412

Sikkim's COVID-19 tally rose to 31,412 on Wednesday as 57 more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said.

The Himalayan state's coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 387 as no fresh fatality was registered.

Sikkim now has 600 active cases, while 30,111 people have been cured of the disease, and 314 patients have migrated to other states so far. The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state stood at 96.8 per cent.

7:56 PM

Nagaland registers 24 new Covid-19 cases, 1 fresh fatality

Nagaland's COVID-19 tally rose to 31,219 on Wednesday as 24 more people tested positive for the infection, while one fresh fatality pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 665, a health bulletin said.

Dimapur district recorded the highest number of new cases at 13, followed by Peren (four) and Mokokchung (three), it said, adding that the fresh fatality was registered in Phek.

7:38 PM

Delhi records 41 Covid-19 cases, zero fatality; positivity rate at 0.06%

The national capital recorded 41 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 0.06 per cent and zero fatality due to the infection on Wednesday, according to a health bulletin issued by the city government.

With the new cases, the overall infection tally in the city climbed to 14,38,821. Over 14.13 lakh patients have recovered from the disease, and the death toll stood at 25,087.

Delhi has recorded only five fatalities due to the infection in September so far.

7:21 PM

Sri Lanka to end Covid-19 lockdown on October 1

Sri Lanka will end its COVID-19 lockdown enforced last month on October 1, health minister Keheliya Rambukwella said on Wednesday, even as the medical professionals warned against the unrestricted re-opening of the country.

The lockdown that was imposed on August 20 following a spike in COVID-19 cases will be lifted at 4 am (local time) on October 1 and new guidelines aimed at curbing the further spread of coronavirus will be announced, he said.

7:02 PM

UP reports 8 Covid-19 cases, 1 death

Uttar Pradesh recorded eight COVID-19 cases and one fatality due to the disease on Wednesday, taking the state's death toll to 22,892 and the infection tally to 17,09,800.

The single death was reported from Raebareli, an official statement issued here said.

The count of active COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 159, it added.

6:55 PM

Mizoram logs 1,380 new Covid-19 cases, 3 fresh fatalities

Mizoram's COVID-19 tally rose to 91,919 on Wednesday as 1,380 more people, including 248 children, tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed the northeastern state's coronavirus death toll to 306, a health official said.

The state had registered its highest single-day spike of 1,846 cases on Tuesday.

6:30 PM

Tamil Nadu to conduct fourth mega vaccination camp against Covid-19 on Oct 10

Tamil Nadu will conduct its fourth mega Covid-19 vaccination camp on October 10, after three successful previous efforts on September 12, September 19, and September 26, it was announced on Wednesday.

State Health Minister, Ma Subramanian, in a statement, said that the mega vaccine camp will have a target of 15 lakh inoculations. The previous camps had, however, seen administrations of far more vaccines than the target.

6:26 PM

Kerala reports 12,161 new Covid-19 infections

6:18 PM

We are reopening schools for classes 8th to 12 in Mumbai with effect from Oct 4: BMC Commissioner

5:33 PM

Over 91% of Kerala population is covered by first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: State health min

5:17 PM

Seven symptoms jointly predict Covid-19 diagnosis: Study

A set of seven symptoms, considered together, can be used to maximise detection of COVID-19 in the community, according to a study.

The research, published ON Wednesday in the journal PLOS Medicine, found that loss or change of smell, loss or change of taste, fever, new persistent cough, chills, appetite loss, and muscle aches are the jointly predictive symptoms.

The rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the community is key to ensuring efficient control of transmission, the researchers said.

4:59 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 1,084 new cases, 13 deaths

Andhra Pradesh's cumulative Covid-19 positive cases increased to 20,49,314 with the addition of 1,084 fresh infections on Wednesday.

The total recoveries rose to 20,23,496 after 1,328 infected persons got cured in the 24 hours ending 9 am today.

The state saw 13 fresh deaths, taking the overall toll to 14,163, the latest bulletin said.

4:39 PM

Philippines logs 12,805 new Covid-19 cases

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 12,805 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 2,535,732.

"The relatively low cases today is due to lower laboratory output (on) Monday," the DOH said.

4:28 PM

Maha govt approves over Rs 138 cr aid for kin of police Covid-19 martyrs: RTI

The Maharashtra government has approved a financial assistance of over Rs 138 crore for the families of state police officers and other staff members who died while on COVID-19 duty, the government's response to an RTI query has revealed.

Nagpur resident Sanjay Thul had sought details under the Right to Information (RTI) Act about the total number of deaths in the police force due to the coronavirus and assistance provided by the government to the families of the deceased.

4:01 PM

V K Paul urges for safe festivities

3:40 PM

Govt gives nod to start PM POSHAN scheme to provide mid-day meal: Anurag Thakur

3:38 PM

Govt approves infusion of Rs 1,650 crore in National Export Insurance Account scheme

3:37 PM

Govt approves listing of Export Credit Guarantee Corporation through IPO: Piyush Goyal

3:16 PM

Target is to vaccinate eligible population with at least 1st dose till year-end: Odisha vaccination in-charge

2:43 PM

Odisha logs 565 new Covid-19 cases, administers over 3 crore vaccines

Odisha on Wednesday registered 565 new COVID-19 cases taking the state's tally to 10,25,874 while five fresh fatalities pushed the coronavirus death toll to 8,192, a health department official said.

Odisha also achieved another milestone in its fight against the pandemic as the state administered over 3 crore vaccine doses including over 82 lakh beneficiaries being fully inoculated.

Taking to twitter, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: "Glad to share that #Odisha has crossed yet another significant milestone in the fight against #COVID19 by administering 3 crore vaccines doses. Commend the hard work & commitment of our healthcare workers in ensuring a swift vaccination to save precious lives."

2:16 PM

Over 854.2 mn vaccine doses provided to states, UTs so far: Centre

More than 854.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

Further, more than 8.38 million doses are in the pipeline.

Over 45.7 million balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered, the ministry said.

2:00 PM

Ladakh records highest single-day recovery of 56 Covid patients

Ladakh recorded its highest ever single-day recovery of 56 coronavirus patients, taking the tally of recoveries to 20,487 and bringing down active cases to 94, officials said on Wednesday.

Two new cases of COVID-19 pushed the infection tally to 20,788, officials said, adding both the cases were reported from Leh.

Of the total active cases in Ladakh, 90 are in Leh and 4 in Kargil, officials said.

1:53 PM

60 students of residential college near Bengaluru test Covid-19 positive

A residential college on the city outskirts has been shut after 60 students tested positive for the COVID-19.

"We tested 195 students after one of them got fever. Results showed that 60 of them had COVID. The results of the remaining are yet to come," District Health Officer of Bengaluru Urban district, G Srinivas told PTI on Wednesday.

While 59 students are asymptomatic and quarantined, the student with high fever has been admitted to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital.