COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS| TN MP Su Venkatesan tests positive; state reports 3,057 new infections, 33 deaths

Total cases in the state are now 7,03,250 out of which 32,960 are active cases. 6,59,432 patients have discharged while the death toll stands at 10,858.
For representational purposes
For representational purposes

COVID-19 recoveries in India have crossed 69 lakh, while the number of coronavirus infections reported in a span of 24 hours remained below 60,000 for the fifth consecutive day as the country's caseload rose to 77,61,312, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

A total of 54,366 new infections were reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 1,17,306 with 690 fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Fifteen states and union territories, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Chandigarh, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Delhi, are exhibiting higher COVID-19 positivity rate compared to the national figure, indicting the need for higher levels of comprehensive testing in these regions, the ministry underscored.

Arunachal, Andaman Covid updates

  • Arunachal Pradesh reports 68 new #COVID19 cases, 206 discharges/recoveries and one death. Total number of cases now at 14,145 including 11,613 recoveries/discharges, 2,499 active cases and 33 deaths.
  • Andaman and Nicobar reported 23 new #COVID19 cases and 8 recoveries today. Total number of cases rise to 4,207 including 204 active cases, 58 deaths and 3,945 recoveries
  • Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviews Covid situation in UP

    Social distancing norms violated in Hyderabad as people gather to board buses for hometown visits for Dusshera

    Puducherry govt will provide free vaccination for all, says CM Narayanasamy

    Assam and Jharkhand Covid updates

  • Assam reports 427 new cases and 2184 discharges today. Total cases in the state rise to 2,03,709, including 1,79,843 discharges and 900 deaths. Active cases 22,963
  • Jharkhand reported 435 new COVID-19 cases, 499 recoveries and 3 deaths today. Total number of cases now stands at 99,045 including 92,128 recoveries, 862 deaths and 6,055 active cases
  • Himachal reports 196 new cases

    Devotees offer prayers at Durga Puja pandal in Guwahati following social distancing norms

    Maharashtra government allows carrying of passengers with full capacity in BEST buses

    DCGI gives nod for phase 3 trial of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine

    In a major development, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday gave permission to Bharat Biotech for conducting Phase-III clinical trial for the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine - Covaxin.

    "The DCGI thoroughly analyzed recommendation of the Subject Expert Committee for Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccine. On Friday, the top drug regulator granted approval to the pharma giant to conduct phase 3 clinical trial in India for Covaxin," a government official said.

    Delhi reports 4086 new cases

    7347 new cases, 184 deaths reported in Maharashtra

    TN MP Su Venkatesan tests positive

    3057 new cases, 33 deaths reported in TN in last 24 hours

    Bhopal hospital under-reporting COVID-19 deaths: Gas tragedy survivors group

    Organisations working with the survivors of the 1984 gas leak disaster on Friday said Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) officials were not giving proper data on COVID-19 deaths to district and state government authorities. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Covid updates from Chandigarh, Punjab, Manipur, Gujarat

  • Chandigarh reports 72 new cases taking the total number to 13,920.
  • Punjab reported 481 new cases, 580 discharged cases & 23 deaths. Total number of cases stand at 1,30,157 till date, including 1,21,735 discharges, 4,327 active cases & 4,095 deaths.
  • Manipur reports 156 new #COVID19 cases, taking total confirmed cases to 16,777 out of which 4,083 are active patients. Five new deaths reported taking toll to 132.
  • Gujarat reports 1,112 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths & 1,264 discharges.Total number of cases stand at 1,65,233, including 1,47,572 recoveries & 3,676 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 13,985.
  • UP reports 2298 new cases, 40 deaths

    IN PICS | Health workers on duty!

    Sports update | England cricket team takes 15 per cent pay cut during pandemic

    Players with contracts from the England and Wales Cricket Board will get reduced income in "retainers, match fees and win bonuses" for one year, the governing body said in a statement.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Karnataka COVID-19 tally nears 8-lakh mark

    Pandemic woes: Locked at home, Bengaluru seniors at high risk of falling, fractures

    The pandemic has restricted the movement of people, with many -- particularly the elderly – remaining indoors for fear of contracting Covid-19. It has meant a suspension of their daily exercise, leading to an increased incidence of falls, and hip and spine fractures.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Puducherry eases COVID-19 lockdown restrictions

    Man accused of shooting medical store owner in UP tests COVID positive, not sent to police remand

    An accused in the murder case of a medical store owner, who was shot dead at his residence last month, could not be sent to police remand here as he had tested positive for COVID-19, police said on Friday.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Coronavirus tally in Andhra Pradesh crosses 8-lakh mark

    Kerala reports 8,511 new cases in last 24 hours

    Global update | US airlines still piling up losses but say demand is rising

    Airlines are piling up billions of dollars in additional losses as the pandemic chokes off air travel, but a recent uptick in passengers, however modest, has provided some hope.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Cumulative COVID-19 positivity rate continues to decline as total tests cross 10 crore

    India has crossed the 10 crore-mark in conducting tests for detection of COVID-19 with 14,42,722 tests being done in a span of 24 hours, even as the cumulative positivity rate continues to decline, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Social distancing and wearing masks: The new normal in Durga Puja 2020

    (Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)

    COVID-19 lockdown reduced sleep quality, mental health: Study

    "The stay-at-home orders did result in one major health positive. Overall, healthy eating increased because we ate out less frequently. However, we snacked more. We got less exercise. We went to bed later and slept more poorly. Our anxiety levels doubled," read the study.
    (READ FULL STUDY HERE)

    IN PICS | COVID-19 awareness rally in Andhra

    Odisha designer crowdfunds 2,000 pandemic-hit weavers, craftspersons

    While the government provided free ration to some extent, the majority of the artisans who earn on a daily basis working for bigger weavers or traders found it extremely difficult to sustain their families. As the fear of the unknown loomed large, Pankaja Sethi, stepped up to ensure that the artisans pulled through this crisis.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    IN PICS | Hospitals in Belgium are under pressure as COVID-19 cases rise

    'Hyderabad is third most impacted city in terms of income due to COVID', reveals survey

    Hyderabad is the third most impacted city among the top six metros by the Covid pandemic in terms of loss of income and loan repayment capacity.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Made of Steel: Odisha home guard puts aside personal tragedy to join Covid-19 duty

    On August 24, Gauri Behera was on Covid duty enforcing lockdown restrictions in Pipili when she received a call. She grabbed her bicycle, pedaled 10 km to her home in Sompur village. There she was, her 13-year-old daughter Lopamudra, lying lifeless in her bed.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    'Give us salary': Hindu Rao workers continue protest in New Delhi

    Chhattisgarh Minister praises SRK for providing 2000 PPE kits to frontline warriors

    Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's NGO, Meer Foundation, recently provided 2000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to Chhattisgarh for its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    A masked Golu: Festivals in time of COVID-19 pandemic!

    (Photo | P Jawahar, EPS)

    Global update | China defends its COVID-19 vaccine after Bolsonaro's guinea pig jibe

    China defended its vaccine research and development capabilities, a day after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro cancelled plans to buy a potential COVID-19 vaccine from it with a jibe that the Brazilian people will not be 'anyone's guinea pig'.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    November 17: Karnataka to reopen colleges

    Plasma therapy for COVID-19 treatment will continue in Goa due to good results: Vishwajit Rane

    The Goa government on Friday said it would continue to perform plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients as it has yielded goods results in the state so far, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    India creates testing landmark!

    Only those who vote for BJP to get COVID vaccine shows it's discriminatory nature: Raut

    Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut slammed Bharatiya Janata party for promising free COVID-19 vaccine to those who vote for BJP in Bihar elections through its manifesto and said it shows discriminatory nature of the party.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    IN PICS | Arvind Kejriwal lays foundation stone for new block at Delhi's LNJP Hospital

    Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal lays foundation for new block at LNJP Hospital, hails COVID-19 warriors

    The chief minister also hailed the "corona warriors" of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, who have either lost their lives or continue to serve in the frontline.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Best out of waste: Assam artist creates Durga idol with expired medicines, injection vials

    Sanjib Basak, has, over the past few years, come up with various innovative and eco-friendly ideas to design the idol, but this year, amid the COVID-19 crisis, he wanted to make a difference.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Karnataka govt decides to reopen degree, diploma and engineering colleges from November 17

    The Karnataka government on Friday decided to reopen engineering, diploma and degree colleges that were shut for students due to the COVID-19 pandemic from November 17.
    (READ FULL REPORT HERE)

    Masks, face shields, sanitisers: Durga Puja 2020 might be different due to COVID-19, but still has its charm

    (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS)

    Ivermectin drug not to be used: ICMR

    Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, being touted as a possible treatment for the coronavirus infection will not be included in the Health Ministry's Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19, sources said. (READ MORE)

    Active caseload now below 7 lakh

    More cases in Puducherry

  • Puducherry registered 158 fresh coronavirus cases taking the overall tally in the union territory to 33,986, a top Health department official said on Friday.
  • The new cases in the last 24 hours were identified at the end of the examination of 3,784 samples, Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release.
  • The overall tally of infections rose to 33,986 (after transfer of four cases to Tamil Nadu).
  • No more extended bails in Delhi

    All undertrials whose bail period was extended have to surrender in a phased manner between November 2 and November 13. (READ MORE)

    China defends its vaccine

    China on Thursday defended its vaccine research and development capabilities, a day after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro cancelled plans to buy a potential vaccine from it with a jibe that the Brazilian people will not be 'anyone's guinea pig'. (READ MORE)

    Scenes from Vijayawada

    Oxford vaccine update

    The Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine undergoing Phase III clinical trials with British pharma giant AstraZeneca is doing "everything expected" which means good news in the fight against the deadly virus, an independent analysis said. (READ MORE)

    Arunachal reports 165 new case

  • At least 165 people, including three Army men, tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, pushing the caseload in the state to 14,077, a senior official said on Friday.
  • Barring 29, all new patients are asymptomatic and have been shifted to COVID care centres, he said.
  • A 59-year-old man succumbed to the infection on Thursday, taking the total number of fatalities to 32, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
  • Effigy makers in trouble

    India reports 690 deaths

    A total of 54,366 new infections were reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 1,17,306 with 690 fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. (READ MORE)

    Enough ICU beds in Kerala

    Jharkhand reports 549 fresh cases

  • Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally rose to 98,610 on Friday as 549 more people tested positive for the virus, while 8 fatalities pushed the death toll to 859, a health official said.
  • Ranchi district reported the highest number of new cases at 151, followed by West Singhbhum (61) and Dhanbad (60).
  • The deaths were reported from Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Koderma districts, he said.
  • Jharkhand now has 6,122 active coronavirus cases, while 91,629 people have been cured of the disease so far, the official said.
  • West Bengal BDO succumbs

  • Wangdi Gyalpo Bhutia, who was posted as Sitalkuchi block development officer (BDO) in Cooch Behar, lost his battle against the disease in the morning, the sources said.
  • Condoling his demise, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "We have lost yet another colleague in the battle against Covid. He has been suffering from the disease for quite some time and succumbed to it this morning."
  • Telangana adds 1,421 new cases

  • Telangana reported 1,421 new COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 2,29,001 while six more deaths pushed the toll to 1298, the state government said on Friday.
  • In a milestone, the state has conducted over 40 lakh COVID-19 tests so far.
  • Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 249, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri (111) and Rangareddy (97) districts, it said in a bulletin, providing data as of 8 PM on October 22.
  • 18 new cases in Mizoram

    Testing update

    National tally

    14 states & UTs have positivity rate higher than national average

    DTC buses to have boards showing seat availability

    The conductor will display the placards/ boards to the passengers when the bus arrives at a bus stop, said an official. (READ HERE)

    People attended the Ramlila event

    Diamond industry hit

    Puducherry logs 212 fresh cases

  • Puducherry reported 212 new COVID-19 cases and two related fatalities which pushed the toll in the union territory to 582, a top Health department official said on Thursday.
  • The 212 fresh infections saw the overall tally rise to 33,832, a release from the Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said.
  • A 65-year old woman from Karaikal was among the deceased, the release said.
  • The new cases were identified after the examination of 3,847 samples, it added.
  • Pandemic to push 150-175 mn more people into extreme poverty

  • Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Olivier De Schutter said that between 150 million and 175 million more people will fall into extreme poverty, due to the epic fallout from COVID-19.
  • Schutter told the UN General Assembly Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) Wednesday as delegates raised concerns about the plight of the world's most vulnerable in a series of interactive dialogues.
  • "We must rethink our development model," De Schutter said, adding that most of those who will fall into extreme poverty will be workers in the informal sector or in precarious employment conditions ? most of them women.
  • In order to emerge from the worst crisis since the 1929 Great Depression, "we cannot count, as we did in the 20th century, on economic growth as usual," he said.
  • Environmental sustainability and social justice must be considered prerequisites for shaping the economic recovery that countries envision, he said.
  • De Schutter was one of five independent experts participating in virtual dialogues with delegates, which covered topics ranging from extreme poverty and internal displacement, to the human rights to education, safe drinking water and adequate housing.
  • Experts described the interplay between conflict and climate change, and recommended ways to ensure that students can access water and sanitation in school during the pandemic.
  • Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, said the intersecting risks of climate change and armed conflict can push people into displacement.
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