Coronavirus LIVE: Govt panel advises sustainable pricing model at hospitals

Coronavirus update: US is the worst-hit country with 12,268,678 coronavirus cases, followed by India, which has 9,050,442 cases, Brazil (5,912,903), France (2,109,170), Russia (2,039,926)

8:52 PM

Lack of testing facilities in rural areas resulted in underreporting of Covid cases: Parl panel

A parliamentary panel has lauded the ramping up of COVID-19 testing facilities in the country but noted that the testing facilities are mainly limited to bigger districts and cities and "lack of testing facilities in rural areas has also resulted in the underreporting of cases". The committee observed that initially only NIV-Pune was equipped to carry out COVID-19 testing and by April 1, testing facilities were increased to 151 labs. It said that testing capacity was expanded to 1,321 labs by July 31 and to 2,082 labs by November 10.

"This ramping up is commendable. However, the Committee finds that the testing facility is only limited to bigger districts and cities. Lack of testing facilities in rural areas has also resulted in the underreporting of cases. The PHCs and CHCs are still largely devoid of any testing facilities and the required technical workforce," the panel said. Ram Gopal Yadav, the Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, virtually presented 121st, 122nd, 123rd and 124th reports to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. While 121st, 122nd and 124th reports are action taken reports, the 123rd report is a subject report on 'Outbreak of Pandemic COVID-19 and its Management', an official release said.

The committee strongly recommended to the Health Ministry "to establish a strong network of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories in the country to tackle the constantly increasing incidence of COVID-19 cases and enhance the efficacy plan of containment of the pandemic".

8:36 PM

57 officer trainees have tested positive for Covid-19 National Academy of Administration in Uttarakhand

57 officer trainees have tested positive for Covid-19 at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Uttarakhand, since yesterday: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

8:20 PM

Covid-19 infection offers protection from reinfection for at least 6 months: Study

A new UK study on Saturday suggests that individuals who have previously had COVID-19 are highly unlikely to contract the illness again for at least six months following their first infection. The study, done as part of a major collaboration between the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS
Foundation Trust involving frontline healthcare workers, suggests that most people are unlikely to get COVID-19 again if they have already had it in the previous six months.

This is really good news because we can be confident that, at least in the short term, most people who get COVID-19 won't get it again, said Professor David Eyre of the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Population Health, one of the authors of the paper which is in pre-print stages. This ongoing study involving a large cohort of healthcare workers has shown that being infected with COVID-19 does offer protection against reinfection for most people for at least six months we found no new symptomatic infections in any of the participants who had tested positive for antibodies, while 89 of those who had tested negative did contract the virus, he said.

Prof Eyre explained that we know from a previous study that antibody levels fall over time, but this latest study shows that there is some immunity in those who have been infected.

7:50 PM

Himachal Pradesh: Shimla district administration orders closure of shops/markets on Sunday; shops selling groceries, milk, fruits, vegetables, meat, medicines, & restaurants exempted.

7:49 PM

Delhi Police issued 1,306 challans for not wearing facemask in public places

Delhi Police issued 1,306 challans for not wearing facemask in public places, one challan for spitting, and 51 challans for violation of social distancing norms today (till 4 pm). 735 facemasks were distributed to needy persons

7:29 PM

Gujarat records highest single-day spike of 1,515 coronavirus cases

Gujarat records highest single-day spike of 1,515 coronavirus cases, tally rises to 1,95,917; death toll reaches 3,846 with nine new fatalities: Health Department

7:27 PM

Phase 3 trialsto determine Covaxin's effectiveness: Principal investigator

In phase 3, we'll see if COVAXIN is effective enough to prevent the disease. Out of 1000 people recruited, we'll give vaccine to 50% of them & placebo to others: Dr E Venkata Rao, Principal investigator of COVAXIN trial at Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar

7:13 PM

Bengal govt to come out with guidelines on Covid-19 follow-up treatment

The West Bengal health department will soon come out with guidelines on follow-up treatment of those who have recovered from Covid-19, amid rising cases of people falling sick or dying shortly after being cured of the disease, a senior official said on Saturday. Depending on their present health parameters after recovering from COVID-19, the department would divide them into two groups and continue the necessary treatment for a period of at least two months, he said.

"There are reports that several of those who recovered from COVID-19 are falling sick again. There are cases where people have even died. So, we have decided that those who have recovered must continue follow-up treatment," the official said. The decision was taken following an expert-committee meeting held on Friday.

7:11 PM

Noida limits gatherings at social functions to 100

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing unabated across the country, Uttar Pradeshs Noida district has reduced the number of persons allowed at a social gathering to a maximum of 100. The national Capital and neighbouring states Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have reported a sudden spike in corona cases during the last few days. Recently, the Kejriwal-led Delhi government reduced the number of persons to 50 from the earlier limit of 200 allowed to attend a wedding or other social events in Delhi.

Noida District Magistrate (DM) Suhas L. Y. has appealed to all residents of the district to comply with the new U.P government order which says, "In the wake of the rise in spread of Covid-19 pandemic, not more than 100 persons will be allowed to attend any function, marriage and other social event whether held outdoors or indoors." The DM said that strict action would be taken as per law against those found violating the new order by the state government.

6:55 PM

Delhi govt directs district officials to visit Covid-19 patients under home isolation

Delhi government directs district officials to visit Covid-19 patients under home isolation and ensure that they follow isolation rules, a move that comes amid instances of such people flouting norms in national capital

6:29 PM

Rajasthan reports 3,007 new Covid-19 cases

Rajasthan reports 3,007 new Covid-19 cases, 16 deaths and 1,963 recoveries/discharges today. Total cases in the state rise to 240,676  including 2,146 deaths and 216,579  recoveries/discharges. Active cases stand at 21,951

5:55 PM

Obese people at higher risk of contracting coronavirus, suggests study

The effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection have been investigated through a novel approach by researchers at Queen Mary University of London. Several observational studies have reported the link between cardiovascular risk factors and COVID-19 severity. However, these studies could not ascertain the cause and effect relationship due to the observational design.

The new study, published in the science journal Frontiers in Genetics, used a novel approach called 'Mendelian Randomisation', which leveraged the individual genetic information, to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection. Lead author Dr Nay Aung from the Queen Mary University of London said: "Our results show that individuals with high body mass index (BMI), a marker of obesity, and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as 'bad' cholesterol) are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19. Other cardiovascular risk factors (high blood pressure and diabetes) do not appear to elevate the COVID-19 risk.

5:46 PM

Andhra Pradesh reports 1,160 new Covid-19 cases

Andhra Pradesh reports 1,160 new Covid-19 cases taking the total positive cases in the State to 8,61,092. There are 14,770 active cases and 8,39,395 recovered cases in the State; the death toll is at 6,927, as per the State Health Department

5:24 PM

411 ICU beds added for Covid-19 patients in hospitals in last 5 days: Delhi govt

Following Delhi CM's order, 411 ICU beds have been added for Covid-19 patients in hospitals of state and Central governments in last 5 days. This includes beds in several private hospitals to increase reservation for ICU beds in private hospitals up to 80%: Delhi government

5:20 PM

US reports over 194,000 new Covid-19 cases, sets new record

The United States on Friday made a new record after reporting over 194,000 new COVID-19 cases, and the hospitalisation of over 82,000 people, reported New York Times. Over the past week, there has been an average of 166,272 cases per day, an increase of 73 percent from the average two weeks earlier, NYT further reported.

California is the latest to issue an overnight curfew, according to the New York Times. Governor Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, issued the order for most of the state's counties on Thursday, requiring that, beginning Saturday, people do not leave their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. except for essential reasons. However, Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, a Republican, issued a similar curfew that went into effect on Thursday.