Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi past 2nd wave peak, situation mostly controlled: CM

Coronavirus update: Maharashtra has 1,453,653 coronavirus cases, Andhra Pradesh 723,512, Karnataka 647,712, Tamil Nadu 625,391 and UP 417,437. Stay tuned for coronavirus India LIVE update

2:01 AM

US FDA safety guidelines likely to push Covid-19 vaccine authorization past election

The US Food and Drug Administration told coronavirus vaccine developers on Tuesday it wants at least two months of safety data from half of their trial volunteers in order to authorize emergency use, a requirement that would likely push any US vaccine availability past the Nov.3 presidential election.
 

The FDA released the guidance laying out more stringent recommendations for drugmakers hoping to apply for an emergency use authorization (EUA) for their experimental vaccines.

10:15 PM

Compulsory Covid tests, physical checks of tourists being considered by Karnataka govt

Compulsory Covid-19 tests and physical checks of visitors to tourist destinations in Karnataka are among the guidelines being considered to prevent spread of the virus, Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said here on Tuesday.
 

"Instructions have been given to officials to introduce new and improved guidelines to ensure that Coronavirus does not spread due to people visiting tourist spots in the state," he told reporters.
 

The Minister was speaking after reviewing the Covid-19 situation in the district headquarters town of Kodagu and the steps taken by the administration to prevent its spread.
 

"Guidelines like compulsory Covid-19 tests and physical checking of tourists, with the help of police, health and revenue department staff at tourist spots, are under consideration for framing new guidelines," Sudhakar added.
 

To a question on reopening school as per the Centre's guidelines, he said the state was not considering it now in view of the surge of infections in Karnataka.

On the Covid situation in the district, the minister there were certain shortcomings in the health services, which would be sorted out.
 

Referring to the mortality rate in the district, it was earlier in the green zone, but was now in the red zone due to increase in Covid-19 deaths after unlock relaxations The minister directed the officials to ensure that the that a death audit be conducted every day.
 

He also recommended that local people be inducted in the booth level task force committee.
 

9:00 PM

Covid-19: Goa govt announces safe service to cater to needs of patients

The Goa government on Tuesday announced that it would be providing helpers to cater to the needs of COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at state-run ESI Hospital in Margao.

This would be the country's first-ever service for safe patient handling, state health minister Vishwajit Rane claimed.

Taking to Twitter, the minister said, "In addition to the treatment of patients, providing drug therapy, nutrition, etc, patients also require assistance in the ward with numerous things, to cater to the same, we have started Patient Handling Services at ESI Hospital for COVID patients."

8:44 PM

Maharashtra: Nashik's Covid-19 count goes up by 983; tally at 81,895

With single-day addition of 983 new infections, the Covid-19 tally in Maharashtra's Nashik district rose to 81,895 on Tuesday, a health official said.

At least 12 persons died of the infection, taking the toll to 1,463, the official said.

Of the latest casualties, seven were reported from the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits and five from other parts of the district.

Among the cases reported so far, 55,077 were from Nashik city, 22,371 from other parts of the district, 3,882 from Malegaon and 545 from outside the district, the official said.

8:34 PM

Delhi records 39 new Covid-19 deaths, toll 5581 now; nearly 2700 fresh cases push tally to 295,000

The national capital recorded 39 Covid-19 fatalities on Tuesday, pushing the toll to 5,581, while 2,676 fresh cases took the tally to over 295,000, authorities said.

These fresh cases came out of the 53,591 tests conducted the previous day.

Thirty-nine new fatalities have been recorded, taking the death toll to 5,581,according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.

The active cases tally on Tuesday stood at 22,720.

The bulletin said the total number of cases has climbed to 2,95,236

8:28 PM

Italy prepares to make masks outdoors mandatory to fight coronavirus

Italy's health minister says the government is examining a proposal to make masks mandatory outdoors as the country enters a difficult phase of living alongside Covid-19, with the number of infections growing steadily for the last nine weeks.

Roberto Speranza told the lower house of parliament on Tuesday that as infections spread, it is necessary to return to restrictions that were gradually loosened over the spring and summer months after Italy's strict nearly three-month lockdown.

''We must raise our guard with the awareness that our county is better off than others,'' Speranza said.

8:15 PM

8:10 PM

48% of Covid-19 deaths concentrated in 25 districts of 8 states: Health Ministry

About 48 per cent of total Covid-19 deaths in the country are concentrated in 25 districts of 8 states, out of which 15 districts are in Maharastra alone, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press briefing, Union Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said India has recorded the highest number of recoveries from COVID-19 at over 56 lakh and India has also conducted the second highest number of tests in the world at 8.10 crore.

"New recoveries have been more than new cases over the last two weeks. New cases being reported in last 14 days are below previous highs of 90,000 cases per day," Bhushan said.

Giving figures on Covid deaths, Bhushan said about 48 per cent of total Covid-19 deaths in the country are concentrated in 25 districts of 8 states.

7:57 PM

Over 65% of beds for Covid-19 patients vacant at Delhi hospitals

With coronavirus cases here witnessing a decline in the last few days, over 65 per cent of beds for Covid-19 patients in the city hospitals are vacant, data on Delhi Corona app showed.

However, the bed occupancy is higher in private hospitals as compared to government-run facilities.

At the LNJP Hospital, which is the Delhi government's biggest COVID facility, 1545 of 2000 beds are vacant, while the GTB Hospital has a vacancy of 1321 beds against its strength of 1500, according to Delhi Corona app.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has 110 out of 300 beds vacant, while only 53 out of 250 beds are unoccupied in Max Smart Saket. At Sir Gangaram Hospital, 60 beds are vacant out of 200 beds earmarked for coronavirus patients.

7:51 PM

Covid-19 vaccine may be ready by year-end, says WHO's Tedros Adhanom

A vaccine against Covid-19 may be ready by year-end, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, without elaborating.

 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressing the end of a two-day meeting of its Executive Board on the pandemic, said: “We will need vaccines and there is hope that by the end of this year we may have a vaccine. There is hope.”