Coronavirus LIVE updates: India cases at 8,728,795; active cases at 484,547

Coronavirus update: Maharashtra has 1,736,329 coronavirus cases, Karnataka 855,912, Andhra Pradesh 849,705, Tamil Nadu 752,521 and Kerala 508,256. Stay tuned for coronavirus India LIVE updates

4:46 PM

Covid-19 threatening India's gains in protecting children against pneumonia, diarrhea: Report

Although India has made significant progress in ensuring that children under five years of age are protected against pneumonia and diarrhea through immunisation, the Covid-19 pandemic threatens these hard-won gains, according to the latest annual Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report.

4:15 PM

As restrictions lift, Covid gathers new steam worldwide

Covid-19 cases are rising again the world over. Seven of the 10 most affected countries currently have reported surge in cases in the past seven days with the US alone reporting over 140,000 new cases a day.

3:42 PM

Hope Sri Lanka will revisit policy to ban burials of Covid-19 victims: UN

The UN has expressed hope that the Sri Lankan government will revisit their policy to ban burials for the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic that has so far claimed the lives of 48 people in the island nation.

3:20 PM

Covid-19: Expert committee to assess vaccines

Singapore has appointed an expert committee to assess the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, and give advice to the government on its vaccine strategy, the Ministry of Health said on Friday

2:49 PM

Covid to come under control in 7-10 days: Delhi CM

Even as Delhi reels under a third wave of the novel Coronavirus pandemic, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday assured the situation will likely be under control within a few days

2:22 PM

66 Indian nationals tested Covid-19 positive in Sri Lanka

Sixty-six Indian nationals, all workers at a construction site in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, have tested positive for Covid-19, a top health official said on Friday.

1:57 PM

Covid-19 test mandatory for people coming to Lucknow from other states on Diwali

People coming to Lucknow from other states, particulary Delhi and its adjoining areas, for Diwali will have to mandatorily undergo Covid-19 test at bus stands, railway stations and the airport, an official said on Friday

1:05 PM

Delhi coronavirus update

The coronavirus situation in Delhi should come under control in the next 7 to 10 days. We are taking all the necessary measures: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

12:44 PM

No let up in Covid-19 tests, 2nd wave likely in Jan-Feb: Maharashtra

Anticipating a second COVID-19 wave in January-February, the Maharashtra government has asked the authorities to ensure there is no complacency in testing and said labs should be functional in every district and municipal corporation limits.

A circular from the government's health services directorate dated November 11 said a second wave of the pandemic is likely in January-February.

The second wave is expected based on what is happening in Europe, it said.

The circular said since October, the number of COVID- 19 cases in Maharashtra has showed signs of decline.

The second wave of the virus has hit many countries, especially those in Europe, it said.

The circular said there should be no complacency in coronavirus testing and all labs will remain functional as per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

12:37 PM

Puducherry adds 75 new Covid-19 cases, toll rises to 608 as elderly woman succumbs

Puducherry reported 75 fresh coronavirus cases while a 68-year old woman succumbed to the infection taking the toll in the union territory to 608, a top Health department official said on Friday.

The 75 new cases took the overall tally in the union territory to 36,252 after transfer of two cases to Tamil Nadu, Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release.

As many as 70 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, he added.

The fatality and recovery rates were 1.68 per cent and 95.36 per cent respectively.

As many as 3.55 lakh samples have been tested so far and it was found that 3.13 lakh samples were negative.

 

12:24 PM

South Korea reports 191 more Covid-19 cases, 28,133 in total

South Korea reported 191 more cases of Covid-19 as of midnight Thursday local time compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 28,133.

 

The daily caseload hovered above 100 for the sixth consecutive day due to small cluster infections in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province as well as imported cases.

 

Of the new cases, 74 were Seoul residents and 36 were people residing in Gyeonggi province.

 

Twenty-nine cases were imported, lifting the combined figure to 4,065.

12:21 PM

Telangana logs 997 new Covid-19 cases, 4 deaths; Chiranjeevi tests negative

Telangana reported 997 fresh coronavirus cases taking the tally to 2.56 lakh while three fatalities pushed the toll to 1,397, the state government said on Friday.

 

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 169, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri (85) and Rangareddy (66), it said in a bulletin, providing details as of 8 PM on November 12. Read on...

12:12 PM

France sees slowdown in Covid-19 cases, 'fragile' downward trend of spread

Two weeks into its second nationwide lockdown, France has witnessed a slowdown in the number of new Covid-19 cases and a "fragile" downward trend of the viral circulation, official data revealed.

 

But "it would be irresponsible to lift or relax the lockdown now", Xinhua news agency quoted Prime Minister Jean Castex as saying at a news conference on Thursday.

 

"The gains are fragile," he added. Read on...

12:05 PM

Coronavirus particles piggyback on PM 2.5 leading to deadly cocktail'

The record high number of new Covid-19 cases being reported in Delhi is a “direct effect of air pollution”, says Arvind Kumar, chairperson, Centre for Chest Surgery at Sir Gangaram Hospital (SGRH), New Delhi.

 

Virus particles piggyback on particulate matter in the air, and enter the lungs, Kumar explains, adding that pollution is also related to heart disease, hypertension, etc., all of which increase the risk of mortality from Covid-19.

 

“If this deadly cocktail--the festivities which will occur over the next few days, coupled with the steep rise in pollution--has an effect on COVID and we see a massive spike, it will be disastrous for the people as well as for the healthcare sector because the ICUs are almost choked, at least in all Delhi hospitals,” Kumar says. Read on...

11:56 AM

Blacks, Asians at larger risk of contracting Covid-19: UK study

Black and Asian people are significantly more likely to be infected with novel coronavirus than white people, a major UK-based study has revealed.

 

Black people are twice as likely to contract Covid-19 as white people, and people from Asian backgrounds are one and a half times as likely, researchers at the universities of Leicester and Nottingham found after analyzing 50 studies in the UK and the US that involved nearly 19 million coronavirus patients.

 

The disproportionate impact of coronavirus on different social groups are believed to be attributed to various factors, such as greater levels of deprivation, living in larger, multi-generational households, and having more public-facing jobs where working from home is not an option, Xinhua news agency quoted the study issued on Thursday as saying.