Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala records 6,820 new Covid-19 positive cases

Coronavirus update: Maharashtra has 1,698,198 coronavirus cases, Karnataka 835,773, Andhra Pradesh 833,208, Tamil Nadu 734,429 and UP 489,502. Stay tuned for coronavirus India LIVE updates

8:11 PM

Domestic flights' cap would be increased to 70-75% of pre-Covid levels as traffic surges: Govt

The cap on the number of domestic flights that Indian airlines are permitted to operate would be increased to 70-75 per cent of their pre-COVID levels as the passenger traffic surges, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) said on Thursday. The ministry had said last week that the Indian airlines can operate maximum 60 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic passenger flights till February 24 next year due to the prevailing coronavirus situation.

 

In a press release on Thursday, the ministry said, "MOCA is monitoring traffic everyday, and it is expected that the traffic would further pickup because of the festival season and as passenger traffic increases, the upper cap would be revised to 70-75 per cent of normal capacity in the coming days."

 

The MOCA said 2.05 lakh passengers travelled in domestic flights on November 1.

 

The ministry had informed the airlines about the aforementioned 60 per cent limit through an official order on September 2 but it had not told them the period for which the cap would remain in place. Last Thursday, the ministry issued a new order clarifying that the September 2 order "shall remain in force until 2359 hrs on February 24, 2021 or until further orders" due to the "prevailing situation of COVID-19".

8:00 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala records 6,820 new Covid-19 positive cases

Kerala reported 6,820 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday taking the caseload in the state to 4,45,467, while 7,669 persons recovered from the disease pushing the total recoveries to3,80,650. The state also reported 26 deaths today, pushing the death toll to 1,613, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

 

The state tested 61,388 samples in the last 24 hours,taking the tally of specimens tested to 49,22,200 samples till date. Currently, there are84,087 active cases in the state, Vijayan said, adding that the state was witnessing a dip in the number of positive cases since last week.

 

"On October 24, the state had 97,417 active cases but it has come down to 84,087.That does not mean that we can lower our guard.We must continue with our health protocol," Vijayan said.

7:27 PM

UGC notifies guidelines for reopening of universities, colleges

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday notified guidelines for reopening of universities and colleges across the country which have been closed since March in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. For central universities and other centrally funded higher education institutions, the decision for reopening of campuses has been left to the Vice Chancellors and heads. However, for state universities and colleges, the respective state governments will have to take a call, the guidelines said.

 

"For centrally funded higher education institutions, the head should satisfy herself or himself regarding the feasibility of opening of physical classes and decide accordingly," the guidelines said. "For all other institutions including state universities, private universities, and colleges, opening of physical classes to be done as per the decision of the respective state governments," they said.

 

The universities and colleges have been asked to plan the opening of campuses in a phased manner, with such activities that adhere to COVID-19 norms including social distancing, use of face masks and other protective measures.

 

"The universities and colleges shall only be allowed to open if they are outside the containment zones. Further, students and staff living in containment zones will not be allowed to attend the colleges," the guidelines said.

7:12 PM

LIVE: India bravely fought the global Covid-19 pandemic, says PM Modi

7:12 PM

Air pollution increases risk of mortality from Covid-19, NGT informed

Air pollution is an important cofactor increasing the risk of mortality from COVID-19 as per latest research, the National Green Tribunal was informed on Thursday. Senior advocate Raj Panjawani and advocate Shibhani Ghosh, who have been appointed by the tribunal as amicus curiae in a case related to ban on fire crackers, told a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel that particulate air pollution contributed 15 per cent to COVID-19 mortality worldwide.

 

The latest research on exposure to air pollution and risk of death from COVID-19 infection suggests that 'air pollution is an important cofactor increasing the risk of mortality from COVID- 19'," they said.

 

The study also states that this finding should provide 'extra motivation for combining ambitious policies to reduce air pollution with measures to control the transmission of COVID- 19'. The study estimates that particulate air pollution contributed 15 per cent to COVID-19 mortality worldwide, they added.

7:03 PM

Delhi govt moves SC against HC order staying its decision to reserve 80 pc ICU beds for Covid-19 patients

6:51 PM

Rise in Covid-19 positivity rate across six districts key point of concern: Health Minister

6:36 PM

Covid-19 LIVE: 524 new coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir

6:30 PM

Coronavirus latest update: 28 more deaths, 1,879 new cases in Uttar Pradesh

The COVID-19 death toll in Uttar Pradesh reached 7,131 after 28 more people succumbed to the disease, while 1,879 fresh cases pushed the tally to 4,91,354, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Alok Kumar said on Thursday. There are 23,150 active cases in the state, of which 10,303 are in home isolation, he said.

 

A total of 4,61,073 people have recuperated from the infection so far and the state's recovery rate stands at 92 per cent. Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Navneet Sehgal said though the number of positive cases being detected from most places in UP is gradually coming down, there are reports of rise in cases in districts adjoining Delhi.

 

He said there is an urgent need to take all necessary precautions, including frequent hand washing, use of masks and social distancing, especially during the festive season. According to a health department bulletin, 11 fresh deaths have been reported from Lucknow, where 221 new cases have also been detected.

6:13 PM

Dharavi reports single Covid-19 case on second consecutive day

The COVID-19 tally in Mumbai slum colony of Dharavi increased to 3,570 with the addition of one new case on Thursday, a senior BMC official said. This was the second consecutive day when the slum- dominated area has reported just one COVID-19 case.

 

The official said 3,182 COVID-19 patients in Dharavi have already recovered and discharged from hospitals, leaving just 78 active cases in the densely populated area. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stopped sharing COVID-19 death figures from the locality. Spread across 2.5 square km, Dharavi has a population of over 6.5 lakh.

5:43 PM

Bangladesh signs deal with India for 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine

Bangladesh signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India on Thursday to buy 30 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by British drugmaker AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca's experimental COVID-19 vaccine is seen as one of the most advanced candidates in the race against the novel coronavirus.

 

"Whenever the vaccine is ready, the Serum Institute will give us 30 million doses in the first phase," health minister Zahid Maleque told reporters after the deal was signed in Dhaka.

 

He said 5 million doses of vaccine per month would be purchased through Bangladesh's drug maker, Beximco Pharmaceuticals. "We'll be able to vaccinate 15 million people as two shots of vaccine are required for each person 28 days apart," Maleque said. He said Serum Institute would provide the vaccine at a price similar to that which India pays. Sources said the cost could be $4 to $5 per dose.

 

5:11 PM

Culture Ministry issues standard operating procedures to contain Covid-19 spread

5:02 PM

Australia signs Covid-19 vaccine deals with Novavax, Pfizer

The Australian government has signed agreements on Thursday with pharmaceutical company Novavax and a consortium of companies, Pfizer and BioNTech, to supply 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

 

"Under the agreements, Novavax will supply 40 million vaccine doses and Pfizer/BioNTech will provide 10 million vaccine doses, should the vaccines be proven safe and effective," the statement on the Australian government website said.

 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government's COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy had now secured access to four types of vaccines and over 134 million doses. "By securing multiple COVID-19 vaccines we are giving Australians the best shot at early access to a vaccine, should trials prove successful," the prime minister said.

 

Vaccines from Novavax and Pfizer-BioNTech are expected to be available in Australia starting in early 2021.

4:55 PM

631 rescued children test positive for Covid-19 in Andhra Pradesh

As many as 631 rescued children among the 2,195 tested from the total 16,457 children rescued as part of Andhra Pradesh police department's 'Operation Muskaan' have tested positive for Covid-19.

 

"A total of 2,195 kids have already been tested for Covid until now, tests for the rest of them are underway. Unfortunately, out of those whose results have been declared, 631 kids have tested positive and are being given necessary medical attention," said a police official. 'Operation Muskaan' was not only aimed at rescuing the lost and wayward children but also to check if they had contracted Coronavirus.

 

In less than a week's time, the Andhra police saved 16,457 children in coordination with Child-Line and Child Welfare Committee (CWC), along with district police departments at all transit points such as railway stations, bus stations, parks, hotels and others. Director General of Police (DGP) Gautam Sawang supervised the rescue operation, deploying 794 police teams.

4:41 PM

10 States/UT account for 78% of the total active cases in India