LIVE: PM's US visit allowed for high-level interactions, says Foreign Secy

Development should be all-inclusive, universal and one that nurtures all, says PM Modi at 76th Session of UNGA

11:34 AM

Thane's infection count rises by 307; four more die

The coronavirus infection tally in Thane district of Maharashtra went up by 307 to reach 557,743, while the death of four patients took the fatality count to 11,394, an official said on Saturday.

 

These cases and deaths were reported on Friday, he said.

 

Thane's COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.04 per cent at present.

11:17 AM

Daily Covid cases in Seoul top 1,000 for first time

Daily coronavirus cases in Seoul has surpassed the 1,000 mark for the first time following this week's 'Chuseok' (harvest festival) holiday, South Korean health authorities said on Saturday.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 1,222 new Covid19 cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, reports Yonhap News Agency.

 

Of them, 1,217 were local infections and five were imported cases.

 

 

10:48 AM

Covid-19: Quad countries pledge to donate 1.2 billion vaccine doses globally

The Quad countries - United States, India, Japan and Australia - have pledged to donate more than 1.20 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses globally, in addition to the vaccines financed through COVAX.

 

In a joint statement, released by the White House on Friday (local time) the countries said that 79 million coronavirus vaccine doses have already been collectively delivered to the Indo-Pacific region.

 

"In addition to doses financed through COVAX, Australia, India, Japan, and the United States have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion doses globally of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines," the Quad joint statement said. Read on...

9:52 AM

At meet with PM Modi, Biden appreciated India's decision to resume Covid vaccine exports: MEA

During his first in-person meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden appreciated the decision of the Government of India to resume exports of COVID-19 vaccines from October, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

 

Biden hosted PM Modi at the Oval Office in the White House for the first in-person bilateral meeting.

 

Addressing a special press briefing on PM Modi's second day of engagements in the US, Shringla said the discussions were wide-ranging including discussions on vaccines.

9:48 AM

Coronavirus in India: Latest update by MoHFW

Summary of MoHFW data (September 24)

Active cases: 301,442 (Net increase: 1,280)

Deaths: 446,658 (Net increase: 290)

Cured: 32,876,319 (Net increase: 28,046)

Total cases: 33,624,419 (Net increase: 29,616)

Total vaccination: 848,929,160 (Increase over previous day: 7,104,051)

9:42 AM

India to make available 8 mn doses of J&J Covid vax: PM Modi at Quad Summit

India will make available 8 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine by the end of October under the Quad vaccine partnership, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday informed.

 

Shringla said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement in the regard at the Summit. The Foreign Secretary added that the Quad nations, including India, will pay for the vaccines.

 

The leaders of the US, India, Australia and Japan held the first in-person Quad leaders meeting in Washington. During the meeting, they reaffirmed their commitment to work together to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

8:23 AM

Iran reports 15,294 daily Covid cases, tally over 5.5mn

Iran's Health Ministry on Friday reported 15,294 new Covid-19 cases, taking the country's total infections to 5,508,885.

 

The pandemic has so far claimed 118,792 lives in the country, after 284 new deaths were registered in the past 24 hours, said the update by Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

A total of 4,897,876 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 6,502 remain in intensive care units, according to the ministry.

7:25 AM

Karnataka allows 100% occupancy in cinemas, auditoriums from Oct 1

Cinema halls and auditoriums in Karnataka will be allowed to operate at full capacity from October 1, months after being run at half capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, informed the state government.

 

The order by the state government instructed the cinema halls, auditoriums to operate with 100 per cent capacity from October 1 while adhering to COVID norms.

 

The guidelines mandate a minimum of one dose of vaccine along with other social distancing norms.

 

Pubs have also been permitted to operate from October 3.

7:25 AM

Karnataka allows 100% occupancy in cinemas, auditoriums from Oct 1

Cinema halls and auditoriums in Karnataka will be allowed to operate at full capacity from October 1, months after being run at half capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, informed the state government.

 

The order by the state government instructed the cinema halls, auditoriums to operate with 100 per cent capacity from October 1 while adhering to COVID norms.

 

The guidelines mandate a minimum of one dose of vaccine along with other social distancing norms.

 

Pubs have also been permitted to operate from October 3.

7:04 AM

Singapore reports 1,650 new Covid-19 cases, says hospital resources under "serious strain"

Singapore said hospital resources were under "serious strain" as cases have spiked to 1,650 new COVID-19 cases including 277 from foreign worker dormitories and deaths of three Singaporeans linked to the deadly diseases.

 

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases is of concern and is putting "serious strain" on hospital resources despite the shift to community and home care, said co-chair of the multi-ministry task force, Gan Kim Yong Friday.

 

To ensure that the healthcare system continues to cope with the spike, Singapore has to take action to protect the hospital system, Channel News Asia quoted Gan, who is the Minister for Trade and Industry.

 

Working from home will also be the default for employees while the home-based learning period for primary and special education schools has also been extended.

12:12 AM

Quad vaccine initiative will help people of Indo-Pacific nations: PM Modi

Quad vaccine initiative will help people of Indo-Pacific nations: PM Modi

12:05 AM

Haryana reports 12 fresh Covid cases, no new death

Haryana recorded 12 fresh Covid cases, pushing the infection tally to 7,70,796 on Friday, while no new fatality was reported in the state and the death toll remained at 9,809, according to the Health Department's bulletin.

 

Of the fresh cases, Gurgaon and Kurukshetra districts reported four cases each, among others.

 

There are 106 active cases in the state, while 7,60,651 people have recovered from the infection so far.

 

The recovery rate is 98.68 per cent, the bulletin said.

11:27 PM

Over 1.87 lakh vaccinated against Covid in Delhi: Data

Over 1.87 lakh people were vaccinated against coronavirus in Delhi on Friday, and over 1.02 lakh of them got the second dose, according to official data.

 

According to the CoWIN portal, over 1.69 crore doses have been administered in the city since the inoculation exercise started on January 16. A total of 52.81 lakh people have received both the doses.

 

According to the Delhi government's data, the city had over 10 lakh vaccine doses - 2.78 lakh Covaxin and 7.39 lakh Covishield -- left on Friday morning.

 

The bulletin said the stock can last up to five days.

 

There sare 1,029 vaccination centres operational in the city which can administer around 2.75 lakh doses daily.

11:06 PM

Religious places and places of worship to open for the public from October 7 Maharashtra

10:46 PM

Gujarat records 17 COVID-19 cases, no deaths; over five lakh vaccinated

Gujarat reported 17 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours which took the state's infection tally to 8,25,814, a health official said on Friday evening. No fatality on account of the viral infection was reported, so the death toll remained unchanged at 10,082. With 12 persons getting discharged from hospitals, the recovery count rose to 8,15,587.

 

The state has 145 active cases, of which four are on ventilator support.

 

A government release said 5.88 crore coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in the state so far, including 5.24 lakh during the day. Neighbouring Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu had no active cases as of Friday evening, an official from the Union Territory said. Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 8,25,814, new cases 17, total deaths 10,082, recovered 8,15,587, active cases 145.