Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi records 3,797 fresh cases, 99 deaths in 24 hours

Coronavirus update: Maharashtra has 1,747,242 coronavirus cases, Karnataka 861,647, Andhra Pradesh 854,011, Tamil Nadu 758,000 and Kerala 525,580. Stay tuned for coronavirus India LIVE updates

Coronavirus update: India has reported 30,715 fresh Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. The total caseload now stands at 8,845,617. The country's death toll has mounted to 130,109. Delhi on Sunday withnessed 3,235 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the infection tally in the national capital to over 485,000, while the positivity rate climbed to 15.33 per cent. Ninety-five more fatalities pushed the death toll to 7,614, authorities said. Home Minister Amit Shah has asked the Delhi government to add up to 300 more ICU beds and double RT-PCR testing capacity as part of urgent steps to control the rising Civid-19 cases in the national capital.

World coronavirus update: The global tally of coronavirus cases stands at 54,802,832. While 38,128,912 patients have recovered, 1,324,025 have died so far. The US, the worst-hit country, has 11,363,699 cases, and 251,832 have died from the disease there. It is followed by India, which has 8,845,617 cases, Brazil (5,863,093), France (1,981,827), Russia (1,925,825).

Stay tuned for the latest coronavirus-related news. 

2:26 AM

US' New Mexico re-imposes 'most heightened' Covid-19 restrictions: Governor

The US state of New Mexico has re-imposed the strictest public health restrictions in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement on Monday. "Beginning Monday, for two weeks, New Mexico will re-enact the most heightened level of statewide public health restrictions," Grisham said.

The governor said she has instructed New Mexico residents to shelter in place with the exception of going out only on "essential" trips and avoid contacts outside their immediate household. Grisham said those businesses that have been deemed by the authorities to be essential may operate at limited occupancy, while other entities must fully stop in-person activities.

2:24 AM

WHO confirms 65 Covid cases among headquarters staff since start of pandemic

The World Health Organisation on Monday (local time) revealed that 65 members of staff have tested positive for coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. "Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 65 WHO staff stationed in Geneva-- working from home and onsite-- have tested positive for Covid-19. We have not yet established whether any transmission has occurred on campus, but are looking into the matter," WHO tweeted.

In the following tweet, it said, "WHO staff who were confirmed positive with Covid-19 in Geneva have received the necessary medical attention. WHO carried out full contact tracing and related protocols. Enhanced cleaning protocols were implemented in relevant offices." "Out of the 65 recorded Covid-19 cases among WHO HQ staff to date, 49 have occurred in the last eight weeks, in line with the epidemiological situation in Geneva and surrounding areas," WHO added.

 

1:43 AM

Mumbai, Delhi Covid testing strategies differ, say civic officials

Despite Mumbai and Delhi having almost the same positivity rate, civic officials here on Monday said the city does not require to increase its daily number of Covid-19 tests like in the national capital, which is witnessing a fresh wave of the infection. Testing strategies between the two cities also differ, the officials said, pointing out that while Delhi has adopted random testing methods, Mumbai is focusing on those showing symptoms or ones who are suspected to have come in contact with Covid-19 patients.

They said currently Mumbai is logging less than 1,000 cases daily, while Delhi is witnessing a third wave with over 6,000-7,000 coronavirus cases on single days.

Probably, this is because Mumbai followed a more cautious unlock strategy, wherein its lifeline - suburban trains - continues to be off-bounds for a majority of commuters more than eight months on as against Delhi's "liberal" attitude towards easing of curbs, said the officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

1:40 AM

Bihar's Covid-19 tally reaches 227,000, toll rises to 1189

Bihars Covid-19 tally rose to 227,000 on Monday with 517 fresh cases reported in the past 24 hours, while the recoveries surged to 220,461 pushing the states recovery rate to 96.93 per cent, a health department bulletin said on Monday.

The toll in the contagion reached 1189 with five fresh deaths being reported during the period in the state, the bulletin said. The states recovery rate has increased to 96.93 per cent, marginally up from 96.89 per cent which was reported on Sunday, it said.

The national recovery rate is at present 93.27 per cent.

1:27 AM

UK PM lauds British Hindu, Sikh, Jain communities for helping people during Covid

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has lauded the contribution of British Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities in helping the people during the coronavirus pandemic and responding to the crisis with compassion, community spirit and a can-do attitude. Johnson said this in his message during a virtual Diwali prayer meet organised by NRI entrepreneur G P Hinduja and his family on Sunday.

"Congratulations to everyone on this fantastic "Virtual Diwali" festival. This brings the spirit of Diwali into peoples homes while helping the people to remain safe," Johnson said. It is not easy when the people want to get together with their family or visit their friends or share with them the Diwali fun and Samosa or Gulab Jamun, he said.

"I want you to know that your sacrifices and your determination to do the right thing really are helping to save lives... I have been blown away by the inspirational way in which Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have responded to this crisis with compassion, community spirit and a can-do attitude," Johnson said.

He said he has the confidence that "together we will overcome this virus as Diwali teaches us that light triumphs over darkness and good over evil, knowledge over ignorance."

12:58 AM

Pak suspends political rallies to prevent spread of coronavirus

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday announced a temporary ban on political rallies and big gatherings to prevent the second wave of the coronavirus from wreaking havoc in the country but emphasised that businesses would not be closed. He urged the countrymen to follow coronavirus-related standard operating procedures (SOPs), warning that authorities have observed that infections in Pakistan have quadrupled over the past 10 days.
 

Khan's remarks came as he chaired the National Coordination Committee (NCC), Pakistan's top decision-making body on Covid-19. "So we have decided to cancel our political rallies and urge all others to stop political gathering, he said.

It was decided that marriage halls would be allowed to organise outdoor wedding events and limit the gatherings to 300 guests.

12:01 AM

Chhattisgarh records 1,110 new cases, 26 deaths in 24 hours

With 1,110 new Covid-19 cases and 26 more deaths, Chhattisgarhs infection count rose to 2,11,644 and the toll to 2,604 on Monday, a health official said.

The number of people who have recovered increased to 1,90,463 after 140 people were discharged from hospitals, while 1,174 patients completed their home isolation during the day, he said. The state now has 18,577 active cases, the official said.

11:32 PM

Delhi records 3,797 fresh Covid-19 cases, tally over 489,000

Delhi records 3,797 fresh Covid-19 cases, tally climbs to over 489,000; death toll 7,713 with 99 new fatalities, authorities sais. Further officials according to PTI said that thre government is working on revising its containment strategy and is likely to conduct survey in high-coronavirus incidence areas of city.

10:04 PM

EU strikes deal with CureVac for up to 405 million Covid vaccine doses

The European Commission will authorise a deal with German biotech firm CureVac on Tuesday to secure up to 405 million doses of its potential Covid-19 vaccine, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said.
 

"I am happy to announce a new agreement. Tomorrow will authorise a new contract to secure another Covid-19 vaccine for Europeans," she said, adding that the contract with the German firm follows EU funding to the company to develop its vaccine.

The Commission president also said she hoped to finalise a deal soon with Moderna for its Covid-19 vaccine. The deal with CureVac follows supply agreements the Commission has reached with AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, and Pfizer for the supply of their potential vaccines.

10:01 PM

EU seeks Moderna Covid vaccine deal at below $25 per dose: Report

The European Commission wants to reach a deal with Moderna for the supply of millions of doses of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate for a price below $25 per dose, an EU official involved in the talks said.
 

Moderna said on Monday its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing Covid-19, based on interim data from a late-stage clinical trial. The EU has been in talks with Moderna for its experimental Covid-19 vaccine at least since July, an internal EU document seen by Reuters shows.

9:26 PM

10 multi-disciplinary bodies to visit Delhi pvt hospitals, submit report in 2 days: MHA

The Centre has constituted 10 multi-disciplinary teams for visiting private hospitals treating COVID-19 patients in the national capital to check compliance with various directions issued by it and the Delhi government to contain the spread of the virus.

According to a Union Home Ministry order on Monday, the teams will start their visits immediately and will submit their reports within two days.

The multi-disciplinary teams are constituted to visit all private hospitals in National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi to check the status of compliance with various directions issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for testing and treating of COVID-19 patients and the Government of NCT of Delhi to contain the spread of the virus, the order said.

The multi-disciplinary teams were set up as per the decisions taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday in view of the recent spike in coronavirus cases in Delhi.

9:02 PM

84 new coronavirus cases in Gautam Buddh Nagar; tally 20,424

Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded 84 new COVID-19 cases that pushed the district's infection tally to 20,424 on Monday, official data showed.

 

Active cases came down to 1,209, the fourth highest in the state, from 1,221 the previous day, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period.

 

One hundred more patients got discharged during the period in Gautam Buddh Nagar with the overall recoveries reaching 19,142, the sixth highest in the state, it showed.

8:57 PM

Moderna's Covid vaccine 94.5% effective, edges over Pfizer on storage

Moderna's investigational vaccine candidate has proven to be 94.5 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19 infection based on the interim data from a large-scale late stage trial, the company said on Monday.

 

This makes Moderna the second US-based company to report late-stage efficacy data from vaccine trials together with Pfizer. Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine candidates were found to be over 90 per cent effective in interim analysis. Moderna's interim analysis was based on 95 infections among trial participants who received either a placebo or the vaccine. Of those, only five infections occurred in those who received the vaccine, which is administered in two shots 28 days apart.

 

Based on these interim safety and efficacy data, Moderna intends to submit for an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming weeks and anticipates having the EUA informed by the final safety and efficacy data (with a median duration of at least 2 months). Moderna also plans to submit applications for authorisations to global regulatory agencies. READ ON...

8:49 PM

Gujarat adds 926 fresh coronavirus cases; 1,040 recover

Gujarat on Monday reported 926 new coronavirus positive cases, taking the total count of infections to 1,89,236. With five more persons succumbing to the viral infection, the cumulative toll mounted to 3,808, it said.

 

At 1,040, recoveries exceeded fresh cases in the day. The count of recovered people has reached 1,72,972 in the state, which has improved the case recovery rate to 91.41 per cent. With 39,383 tests being conducted in the day, the total number of samples tested so far in the state rose to 68,76,665. Gujarat now has 12,456 active cases, the department said.

8:42 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Another Kolkata Police officer dies of Covid-19

Another officer of the Kolkata Police died of Covid-19 on Monday, taking the total number of deaths in the force due to the virus to 11. Manab Bandyopadhyay, a sub-inspector in the Special Branch, was recently hospitalised after being diagnosed with Covid-19. Bandyopadhyay, who was in his early 40s, died at the hospital in the morning, he said.

 

"We deeply mourn the untimely demise of Sub Inspector Manab Bandopadhyay, who was posted in the Special Branch. He was affected with Covid-19 and was at the forefront of our fight against corona," the Kolkata Police tweeted.