Covid LIVE: Kerala CM rules out complete lockdown for economic reasons

Coronavirus LIVE updates: India's active Covid-19 cases increase to 400,000. Delhi reported 39 Covid-19 cases and no fatality. Stay tuned for corona updates

11:22 PM

13 Delhi govt hospitals get nodal officers to oversee preparations for possible third wave

The Delhi government on Friday appointed nodal officers for 13 hospitals run by it to oversee preparations for a possible third COVID-19 wave.

 

The nodal officers have been directed to immediately start monitoring the preparations, including bed escalation, sourcing of requisite human resource, oxygen supply, procurement and storage (of) sufficient drugs and engineering works if any.

 

They will also coordinate with agencies such as the Public Works Department and district magistrates concerned.

 

Thehospitals include Lok Nayak Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital and Burari Hospital among others.

10:44 PM

1,568 new Covid infections, 19 deaths in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu recorded a marginal rise in fresh COVID-19 infections for the second consecutive day, adding 1,568 cases, including five returnees from Kerala, pushing the overall caseload to 26.19 lakh till date. The fatality count mounted to 34,980, with 19 people succumbing to the virus, a health department bulletin said.

 

After witnessing a declining trend over the past few weeks, the number of cases have gone up since Thursday.

 

Meanwhile, recoveries eclipsed new infections with 1,657 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 25,68,161, leaving 16,370 active cases. A total of 1,60,742 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 4,27,93,906 till date.

9:36 PM

Over 67.65 crore Covid vaccines administered in India: Govt

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 67.65 crore on Friday, the Union health ministry said. As many as 51,88,894 vaccine doses were administered on Friday, it said.

 

This is according to the 7 pm provisional report. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.

 

Cumulatively, 26,66,03,686 individuals in the 18-44 age group across states and union territories have received their first dose and 3,20,41,597 have received their second dose since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive, according to health ministry data.

 

The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry underlined.

9:11 PM

Kerala Govt to take action against violators of COVID-19 quarantine, isolation norms

Amid a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, the Kerala government on Friday issued an order stating that strict action will be taken against those violating the COVID-19 quarantine and isolation norms.

 

The order also stated that provisions of the Disaster Management Act, Kerala State Epidemic Act and other relevant legal provisions will be invoked.

 

The order issued by the Disaster Management Department of the Kerala Government read, "The government of Kerala issues guidelines from time to time regarding the quarantine and isolation norms for the COVID positive patients, COVID suspected and contact persons. The undersigned in his capacity as Chairman of the State Executive Committee of Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, in the exercise of the powers conferred under Sec.20(3) of the DM Act-2005, orders that the quarantine and isolation norms stipulated therein shall be strictly enforced throughout the state by the implementing agencies.

9:02 PM

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has ruled out a complete lockdown in the state

8:56 PM

Over 153,000 Covid vaccine doses administered in Delhi on Sept 2: Govt

Over 1.53 lakh anti-Covid vaccine jabs were administered in Delhi on September 2 and the present stock of doses will last another two days, according to the city government's vaccination bulletin issued on Friday.

As on Friday morning, Delhi had a balance stock of 5,16,720 coronavirus vaccine doses, of which 3,73,370 are Covishield and 1,43,350 are Covaxin, according to the government data.

8:45 PM

Maharashtra reports 4,313 Covid-19 cases, 92 deaths

Maharashtra on Friday reported 4,313 new coronavirus infections and 92 fatalities, which pushed the caseload to 64,77,987 and death toll to 1,37,643, the state health department said.

Pune region recorded the highest 35 deaths during the day.

8:42 PM

1,220 new Covid-19 cases, 19 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka reported 1,220 fresh COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths on Friday, pushing the total number of infections to 29,53,064 and the toll to 37,380.

The day also saw 1,175 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 28,97,254.

8:20 PM

India's Covid R-value rises sharply to 1.17 in second half of August: Study

The R-value which reflects how rapidly coronavirus pandemic is spreading, has sharply risen close to 1.2 over the last fortnight, mainly driven by cases in states like Kerala and Maharashtra, say researchers.

The R-value calculated between August 24-29 stood at 1.17 as against 0.89 between August 14-17, according to the researchers at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai.

8:20 PM

Nagaland logs 40 new Covid-19 cases, 2 fresh fatalities

Nagaland's COVID-19 tally rose to 30,244 on Friday as 40 more people tested positive for the infection, while two fresh fatalities pushed the northeastern state's coronavirus death toll to 626, a health bulletin said.

Dimapur district registered the highest number of new cases at 15, followed by Kohima (11), and Mokokchung and Phek (three each), it said, adding that the fresh fatalities were registered in Dimapur and Kohima districts.

7:54 PM

84 days gap between doses of Covishield providing best protection: Centre to Kerala HC

The Central government has submitted in the Kerala High Court on Friday that the duration of 84 days between 1st and 2nd doses of Covishield vaccine is providing the best protection against COVID-19.

This was stated in the counter-affidavit filed by the Central government while replying to a writ petition by Kitex Garments Ltd, Kochi, seeking a directive to the State Government to allow it to administer the second dose of Covishield vaccine to its workers before the completion of the 84-day gap.

7:41 PM

Telangana logs 318 Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths

Telangana on Friday logged 318 COVID 19 cases, taking the tally to over 6.59 lakh while the toll rose to 3,880 with two casualties.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation accounted for the highest number of cases with 82, followed by Karimnagar-23 district, a state government bulletin said.

7:34 PM

Goa sees 104 Covid-19 cases, 1 death, 120 recoveries

The number of COVID-19 cases in Goa increased by 104 on Friday to reach 1,74,250, while the day also saw one death and 120 people getting discharged from hospitals, an official said.

The state's toll stands at 3,203 and the recovery count is 1,70,151, leaving it with 896 active cases, he said.

7:26 PM

Country's economy is booming after second Covid wave, that's what we have read: SC

Economy is booming in the country after the second COVID wave, said the Supreme Court on Friday as it refused to entertain a batch of pleas seeking contempt action against Governor of Reserve Bank of India and senior officials of other banks for declaring the loan accounts as Non-Performing Assets (NPA).

The top court said that contempt is between court and contemnor and it is not inclined to initiate contempt action against senior officials of banks.

7:18 PM

West Bengal reports 686 fresh Covid cases