Coronavirus news highlights: India's tally of positive Covid-19 cases inches towards the 53-lakh mark

India's Covid-19 case tally crosses 52-lakh mark with a spike of 96,424 new cases and 1,174 deaths in last 24 hours. According to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the total case tally stands at 52,14,678 including 10,17,754 active cases, 41,12,552 cured/ discharged/ migrated & 84,372 deaths. Stay tuned for more updates.

Thanks for following this liveblog on the Covid-19 pandemic

Thanks for following this liveblog. For the latest updates of the coronavirus outbreak on September 19, 2020, click here.

Covid-19: Record 3,842 case jump in Chhattisgarh, count over 81k

Chhattisgarh on Friday recorded its highest single-day spike since the Covid-19 outbreak began, with 3,842 people being detected with the infection, an official said.

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Trump says he expects to have coronavirus vaccine for every American by April

President Donald Trump said on Friday he expects to have available enough doses of a coronavirus vaccine for every American by April.

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Odisha reports 4,180 new Covid-19 cases, recovery of 4,101 patients

Odisha's Covid-19 tally rose to 1,71,341 on Friday as 4,180 more people tested positive for the infection, while 13 fresh fatalities took the state's coronavirus death toll to 682, a health official said.

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No data on medics who died due to Covid-19: Govt

Data on the number of healthcare workers who are infected by the coronavirus infection or have lost their lives during Covid-19 duty is not maintained at the central level by the health ministry, the government told Lok Sabha on Friday.

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6,05,65,728 samples tested for Covid-19 from March 23 to September 16, testing capacity enhanced manifold: Govt

A total of 6,05,65,728 samples were tested for Covid-19 in India between March 23 and September 16, and the testing capacity increased manifold with over 1,700 laboratories conducting these tests as against one in January, Union Minister Ashwini Choubey told Parliament on Friday.

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No dearth of beds, ventilators for Covid-19 patients in Centre-run hospitals: Health Ministry

Sufficient number of beds and ventilators for coronavirus infected patients were available after March 24 in AIIMS and other central government-run hospitals of the country, Ministerof State for Health Ashwini Choubey told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

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Don't restrict supply of oxygen outside: MHA to states

With restrictions imposed on the movement of medical oxygen in some parts of the country due to increasing Covid-19 cases, the Centre on Thursday asked states not to prevent such movements or restrict manufacturers and suppliers to limit the supplies only to hospitals in the state where they are located.

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West Bengal reports 3,192 new Covid-19 cases and 59 deaths today, taking total cases to 2,18,772 including 1,90,021 discharges, 24,509 active cases and 4,242 deaths: State Health Department.

Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik makes a sand sculpture with a message 'Wear Mask Properly', amid coronavirus pandemic, at Puri beach. Credit: PTI

Germany won't buy vaccines through WHO's COVAX scheme: Sources

Germany has joined France in deciding against buying potential Covid-19 vaccines through a World Health Organization (WHO) programme, although it supports the scheme, government sources told Reuters on Friday.

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Gujarat sees over 1,400 Covid-19 cases; highest in a day

Gujarat reported its highest single-day spike of 1,410 new coronavirus positive cases on Friday, which pushed its overall infection count to 1,20,498, the state government said.

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4,101 Covid-19 recoveries reported in Odisha in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases rise to 1,71,341 including 1,37,567 recoveries, 33,039 active cases and 682 deaths: State Health Department, Govt of Odisha.

Karnataka reported 8,626 new Covid-19 cases, 10,949 discharges and 179 deaths today.

Karnataka reported 8,626 new Covid-19 cases, 10,949 discharges and 179 deaths today, taking total number of cases to 5,02,982 including 1,01,129 active cases, 3,94,026 discharges and 7,808 deaths. 3,623 cases reported in Bengaluru today: State Health Department, Govt of Karnataka.

Covid-19: Govt not keen on curtailing Monsoon Session

However, the government has not agreed to the demand citing that it has important legislative agenda to complete and it could not send a wrong signal. The Session began on September 14 and is scheduled to end on October 1.

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6,584 new Covid-19 cases, 6,806 recovered cases and 98 deaths reported in last 24 hours in Uttar Pradesh

6,584 new Covid-19 cases, 6,806 recovered cases and 98 deaths reported in last 24 hours in Uttar Pradesh. Total number of positive cases in the state stands at 3,42,788 till date, including 2,70,094 recoveries, 67,825 active cases and 4,869 deaths so far: Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Maharashtra reported 21,656 new coronavirus cases, 22,078 recoveries and 405 deaths today, taking total cases to 11,67,496 including 8,34,432 recoveries, 31,791 deaths and 3,00,887 active cases: State Health Department.

Kerala: Covid-19 positive sexual abuse survivor tries to end life

According to sources, the girl made a hanging bid at the hospital in Kottayam district where she is under Covid-19 treatment. Owing to the timely intervention of the hospital staff, she was saved. The incident took place on Thursday evening.

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2817 new Covid-19 cases, 2,645 recoveries and 62 deaths, reported today in Punjab. Total number of cases in the state stands at 92,833, including 21,662 active cases, 68,463 discharged cases and 2,708 deaths: State Health Department.

868 new Covid-19 cases detected in Uttarakhand today. Total positive cases in the state are now 38,007 including 11,293 active cases and 26,095 recovered cases: State Health Department.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi rises to 2,38,828 with 4,127 new cases and 30 deaths reported today. The numbers of active and recovered cases are 32,250 and 2,01,671 respectively. The death toll is at 4,907: Delhi Government.

177 new Covid-19 cases, 90 recoveries and 1 death reported in Manipur over the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the state stands at 8,607, including 1,926 active cases, 6,629 recovered cases & 52 deaths. Recovery rate is 77.01%: State Health Department, Govt of Manipur.

Global virus cases top 30 million, tally shows

The worldwide count of known Covid-19 infections climbed past 30 million on Thursday, with more than half of them from just three countries: the U.S., India and Brazil, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins researchers.

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5,488 new Covid-19 cases, 5,525 discharges and 67 deaths reported in Tamil Nadu today. Total number of positive cases now at 5,30,908 including 46,506 active cases, 4,75,717 discharged cases and 8,685 deaths: State Health Department.

Chandigarh reports 260 new Covid-19 cases today, taking the total number of cases to 9,506 including 2,978 active cases, 110 deaths and 6,415 cured cases: Health Department.

Jammu and Kashmir reported 1,330 new Covid-19 cases, 784 recoveries and 15 deaths today, taking total cases to 61,041 including 39,305 recoveries and 966 deaths: J&K Administration.

Kerala reported 4,167 fresh Covid-19 cases today, taking the total number of active cases till date to 35,724. Number of recovered cases so far is 90,089: Kerala government.

Safer UV light can effectively kill coronavirus without harming humans, say scientists

Scientists have shown for the first time that a form of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is safer to use around humans, can effectively kill the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, an advance that may lead to a potent disinfection system for occupied public spaces including hospitals.

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Is India under-reporting Covid-19 death toll? What are the actual figures?

India has reported over 90,000 Covid-19 cases daily in the past week, and the country accounts for 1 in every 6 confirmed cases worldwide. The data on daily infections are suspected to be under-reported too as asymptomatic persons go undetected, and Covid-19 precautionary measures are flouted.

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Andhra Pradesh reports 8,096 new Covid-19 cases, 11,803 recoveries and 67 deaths, taking total cases to 6,09,558 including 5,19,891 recoveries, 5,244 deaths and 84,423 active cases: State Health Department.

Former Gujarat CM Keshubhai Patel tests positive for Covid-19

He underwent a Covid-19 test as one of his attendants was detected with the infection on Thursday after which samples of the former were taken for antigen and the RT-PCR process, said Gandhinagar Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Niyati Lakhani.

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All schools will remain closed for students in Delhi till October 5, 2020. Online classes & teaching-learning activities will continue as usual: Directorate of Education, Delhi.

UK study finds new Covid-19 rapid test that gives result within 90 minutes

The study, led by Imperial College London scientists and published in ‘The Lancet Microbe’ this week, involved high-speed tests on 386 National Health Service (NHS) staff and patients and were found to have over 94 per cent sensitivity and 100 per cent specificity.

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Stroke scans may help diagnose Covid-19: Study

Covid-19 may be diagnosed on the same emergency scans used to diagnose stroke, according to a new study that may help in the early identification of Covid-19 in patients with suspected brain injury, and the subsequent limitation of disease transmission.

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Haridwar Kumbh to be numerically restricted: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat

Rawat said he had discussed the matter with saints and seers and they were in agreement with the idea of reducing the scale of the event numerically owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Delight for some, dismay for others as work from home here to stay for many companies

The days blurred into weeks, then months. Now, almost six months later, the pandemic still rages, and the work from home arrangement that started as a temporary fix is set to continue in many companies, to the delight of some and dismay of others.

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Lockdown, visa expiry hold up return of 11 Sindhi men from Pakistan

These 11 men are stranded in Pakistans Sindh and Balochistan provinces along with their wives after their marriage (in the neighbouring country) over six months ago.

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Covid-19 may lead to declines in life expectancy globally, study finds

Guillaume Marois Associate professor, Asian Demographic Research Institute, Shanghai University, China told PTI that the impact of Covid-19 on life expectancy is probably already felt at the sub-national level, in regions that have been severely affected.

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FIFA backs countries over clubs for coronavirus-delayed World Cup qualifier games

The decision could cause unease at European clubs with prominent South American players. The region is still seeing high Covid-19 infection rates, and some European countries require people arriving from South America to go into quarantine.

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Russia's R-Pharm secures approval of coronavir for outpatients

Coronavir, manufactured at R-Pharm's facility in Yaroslavl, will be available in pharmacies, the company added without elaborating. (Reuters)

Rajasthan records 810 new Covid-19 cases, tally at 1,10,283

The state also reported 810 new cases, bringing the infection count to 1,10,283. A total of 18,282 people are currently under treatment for Covid-19 in Rajasthan, the bulletin said.

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Union Health Ministry has decided to depute a high-level Central team to Jammu. The district has reported a rise in the number of new Covid-19 cases in recent days: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. (ANI)

States with highest active Covid-19 cases report highest recoveries too, says health ministry

With a record 87,472 patients having recuperated or having been discharged from home or facility-supervised care and hospitals in a span of 24 hours, the total number of Covid-19 recoveries has surged to 41,12,551 in the country, taking the recovery rate to 78.86 per cent, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.63 per cent, it added.

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Union Health Ministry has decided to depute a high-level Central team to Jammu. The district has reported a rise in the number of new Covid-19 cases in recent days: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare - ANI

The team will support efforts towards strengthening containment, surveillance, testing & efficient clinical management of the positive cases. The Central team shall also guide in effectively managing the challenges related to timely diagnosis & follow up: Union Health Ministry

Covid-19 may lead to declines in life expectancy globally, study finds

The Covid-19 pandemic could cause a short-term decline in life expectancy in the severely affected areas of the world, unless the spread of the disease is contained, according to a study.

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China to take decision on WHO vaccine programme snubbed by Donald Trump

China faces a major test in its vaccine diplomacy, with a deadline fast approaching on whether it will officially join a World Health Organization-backed effort to ensure everyone across the globe is inoculated against Covid-19.

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Roactemra drugs reduce the need for ventilator for Covid-19 patients, says Roche

Roche's Actermra/Roactemra drugs reduces the likelihood patients with Covid-19 related pneumonia need mechanical ventilation, the company said on Friday.

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Himachal Pradesh records 100 new Covid-19 cases

Himachal Pradesh records 100 new Covid-19cases and15 recoveries today, taking the total positive cases in the state to 11,290 so far, including 4,221 active cases, 6,934 recoveries & 104 deaths: State Health Department, Govt of Himachal Pradesh

Monsoon session: Mandatory daily antigen test for reporters, Parliament staff

Amid fresh cases of coronavirus among MPs, reporters and parliamentary staff entering the Parliament complex will have to undergo mandatory antigen test on a daily basis, according to a new protocol put in place.

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A health worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) collects a swab sample from a woman, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease, at a vegetable market, in New Delhi, India, September 18, 2020. Credit: Reuters Photo

Why insult corona warriors: Rahul Gandhi on government’s 'no data on deaths of healthcare worker' Rajya Sabha reply

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the government for stating that data on healthcare staff who were affected by Covid-19 or had died from it is not maintained centrally and alleged that "corona warriors" are being insulted.

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Delhi Capitals to thank Covid warriors throughout IPL campaign

IPL team Delhi Capitals on Friday said its players will don jerseys bearing the message "Thank You COVID Warriors" during the entire tournament in UAE, calling the initiative a "small token of gratitude" towards the frontline workers fighting during the entire tournament in UAE, calling the initiative a "small token of gratitude" towards the frontline workers fighting the pandemic.

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Jharkhand readies itselft for the State Legislative Assembly amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

BJP was the only political party which supplied 25 crores food packets, 5 crores ration kits & 1 crore masks to the needy during the lockdown. Other political parties were into lockdown mode themselves, they didn't do anything for the poor: J P Nadda, BJP National President

Goa to prepare SOP on providing oxygen to Covid-19 patients

The Goa government will prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that all Covid-19 patients, whether with mild, moderate or severe symptoms, get oxygen on time in state-run facilities, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has said.

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New Zealand reports zero Covid-19 cases for the first time in 5 weeks

New Zealand has reported no new confirmed cases of the coronavirus for the first time in more than five weeks as hopes rise that an outbreak discovered in Auckland last month has been stamped out.

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Karnataka: Periyapatna MLA Mahadev tests positive for Covid-19

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of persons discharged is 41,12,551.

How the Covid-19 pandemic has altered the conversation about money

Before the coronavirus, Tara Beier and her husband, Dennis, rarely discussed money. They kept separate bank accounts and divided their household responsibilities. Her husband, 42, covered the mortgage on the two properties they own, while Beier, 38, managed and took care of a rental home. It worked fine for their 12 years of marriage.

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Covid-19: Section 144 extended in Mumbai

William Barr under fire over comparison of coronavirus lockdown to slavery

Attorney General William Barr drew sharp condemnation Thursday for comparing lockdown orders during the coronavirus pandemic to slavery.

In remarks Wednesday night at an event hosted by Hillsdale College, Barr had called the lockdown orders the “greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history” since slavery.

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Delhi HC directs private unaided schools to supply gadgets, internet connection to poor kids for online classes during Covid-19

Six million white-collar jobs lost during coronavirus lockdown, says CMIE

Unemployment rates amongst white-collar professionalsdropped to the levels of 2016, with over 6 million jobs lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a CMIE data showed.

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China to make decision on WHO vaccine program snubbed by Donald Trump

China faces a major test in its vaccine diplomacy, with a deadline fast approaching on whether it will officially join a World Health Organization-backed effort to ensure everyone across the globe is inoculated against Covid-19.

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Maharashtra’s Energy Minister Nitin Raut tests Covid-19 positive

Dr Raut is the eighth minister in the MVA govt to have tested positive for coronavirus.

1 out of 7 Russian vaccine volunteers complained of side effects: Report

As Dr Reddy's Laboratories readies to receive 10 crore doses of Russia's coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, nearly one in seven volunteers to whom the vaccine was given have reported side effects, Russian news agency TASS cited the country's health minister saying.

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Police detained people who were allegedly not wearing face masks, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Solapur. Credit: PTI Photo

Seoul seeks $4 mn in damages from church over new Covid-19 outbreak

The metropolitan government in South Korea's capital Seoul said on Friday it would seek 4.6 billion won ($4 million) in damages against a church for causing the spread of the coronavirus by disrupting tracing and testing efforts.

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Biden rejects Trump claim that Covid-19 vaccine is imminent

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Thursday bluntly contradicted President Donald Trump's suggestion that a coronavirus vaccine may be only weeks away, warning Americans they cannot trust the president's word.

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Donald Trump bungled virus; she's for Joe Biden, says Ex-Pence adviser

A former adviser to Vice President Mike Pence who served on the White House coronavirus task force says President Donald Trump once suggested that Covid-19 might be a good thing because it would stop him from having to shake hands with "disgusting people". Picture Credit: Reuters Photo

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US CDC testing guidance was published against scientists' objections

Guidance about novel coronavirus testing posted last month on the website of the USCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was not written by the agency's scientists and was posted over their objections, the New York Times reported citing people familiar with the matter and internal documents.

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Coronavirus Worldometer | 15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic

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Rajathan reports 810 new Covid-19 cases, tally crosses the 1.1-lakh mark

The total number of Covid-19cases in Rajasthan rises to 1,10,283 with 810 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases is 18,282 and the death toll is at 1,301, says theState Health Department.

All operation of Air India Express to Dubai Airports suspended for 15 days till Oct 2 after a Covid-19positive passenger was found onboard a Jaipur-Dubai flight on September 4. It was 2nd such instance: SA Kankazar, Air Transport & International Affairs Sector, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

Arunachal Pradesh's Covid-19 tally crosses 6,800 with 159 new cases

Arunachal Pradesh's Covid-19 tally rose to 6,851 on Friday as 159 more people, including 15 security personnel, tested positive for the infection, a senior health official said.

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A man disguised as The Mad Hatter and wearing a protective mask works as a living statue at the colonial area in Santo Domingo, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Credit: AFP Photo

Moderna, Pfizer reveal secret blueprints for coronavirus vaccine trials

Two drug companies that are leading the race to develop coronavirus vaccines bowed to public pressure Thursday, abandoning their traditional secrecy and releasing comprehensive road maps of how they are evaluating their vaccines.

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Karnataka: Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian tests Covid-19 positive

Informing the same on Twitter, he said “I had undergone a test for Covid-19 and have been tested positive for covid-19. I am undergoing treatment for the same. With the blessings of God and my friends, I am confident of getting recovered from the infection shortly.”

Active Covid-19 cases in country stand at 10,17,754, while over 41 lakh have recovered from the disease: Union Health Ministry

Jordan to jail organisers of large social events to stem Covid-19 spike

Jordan announced on Thursday jail sentences of up to a year for anyone organising weddings, parties, funerals or social gatherings where more than 20 people attend, in the latest measures aimed at heading off a resurgence in coronavirus cases.

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Wear mask, follow social distancing: What PM Modi asked for on his birthday

Noting that many people have asked him what he wants on his birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that he would want Covid-19 guidelines like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing to be followed and that everyone should workto make "our planet healthy".

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India reports 96,424 new Covid-19 cases, 1,174 deaths

India's Covid-19case tally crosses 52-lakh mark with a spike of 96,424 new cases & 1,174 deaths in last 24 hours. The total case tally stands at 52,14,678 including 10,17,754 active cases, 41,12,552 cured/discharged/migrated & 84,372 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Covid-19: What is it with Donald Trump and face masks?

Donald Trump has apparently decided to spend the final weeks of his re-election campaign deriding and discouraging mask-wearing and other anti-pandemic precautions.
Trump’s behavior on this and other issues is sometimes described as a rejection of science, which is true as far as it goes.

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Jharkhand reports 1,026 fresh Covid-19 positive cases, 11 fatalities

Jharkhand's Covid-19tally climbs to 67,100 as 1,026 more people test positive, 11 fresh fatalities push death toll to 590; active case count 13,703: Health official

A health worker wearing Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) gets ready inside an ambulance to conduct a coronavirus screening in Mumbai. Credit: AFP Photo

India’s economy heads for double-digit decline as coronavirus cases spike

India’s economic recovery prospects have gone from bad to worse after the nation emerged as a new global hotspot for the coronavirus pandemic with more than 5 million infections.

Economists and global institutions like the Asian Development Bank have recently cut India’s growth projections from already historic lows as the virus continues to spread. Goldman Sachs Group Incnow estimates a 14.8% contraction in gross domestic product for the year through March 2021, while the ADB is forecasting -9%. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development sees the economy shrinking by 10.2%.

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WHO warns of 'alarming' coronavirus spread in Europe

The World Health Organization on Thursday warned of "alarming rates of transmission" of Covid-19 across Europe and cautioned against shortening quarantine periods as countries in the region scrambled to find ways to reduce infections without resorting to new lockdowns.

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10,06,615 Covid-19 samples tested in the last 24 hours: ICMR

6,15,72,343 samples tested up to 17th September for Covid-19. Of these, 10,06,615 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

A Covid-19 surcharge on restaurant checks?

Like most restaurants in Manhattan’s tourist-dependent Little Italy, Da Nico Ristorante has been hit hard by concern over the coronavirus. The neighborhood’s two-week Feast of San Gennaro, where visitors from around the world gather each September for cannoli and cacciatore, has been canceled.

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Bengaluru sees record Covid-19 cases for two days

The city recorded 3,799 Covid cases on Thursday, the highest to date. This comes a day after setting the highest single-day record for fresh cases on Wednesday, when 3,571 cases were revealed.
“We are in a situation where migrant workers are coming back to Bengaluru and moving around freely. Many cases are cropping up in middle-class and upper-class homes that have household help who are helping to drive up the infection,” the official said.
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60% of active cases in the five most affected states: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Around 60 per centof the active cases are concentrated in only 5 most affected states. There are 13 states and UTs thathave less than 5,000 active cases: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

How to get a coronavirus test result in New York City in 48 hours or less

Coronavirus testing in New York City has been plagued with problems since the early days of the pandemic.First, limited supplies meant most New Yorkers couldn’t get tested. Once capacity increased, many people experienced long delays in getting results, as national labs couldn’t meet the increased demand while the virus spread across the country.

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Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on September 18

Coronavirus in India: Total number of positive cases (including deaths): 52,05,044 as of September 18

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Devotees receive free protective face masks as they arrive to perform Tarpana on the banks of the Ganges river to honour the souls of their departed ancestors during the auspicious day of Mahalaya in Howrah. Credit: Reuters Photo

Rajya Sabha member Ashok Gasti dies of Covid-19

Newly elected Rajya Sabha member Ashok Gasti dies of Covid-19 in Bengaluru, says hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

Delhi’s LNJP hospital opens children-friendly Covid-19 ward

A Covid-19 ward for children was inaugurated at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in national capital on September 17.
Hospital's MD said, “It's a unique concept in public sector hospitals where children can play, watch TV, paint inside hospital & be happy. It will be helpful in recovery.”

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No relief for private doctors dying on Covid-19 duty

A doctor from Hassan became the 42nd medical practitioner from a private hospital to die of Covid in the state on Wednesday. Yet, his family will receive no compensation under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for health workers fighting Covid-19 because private doctors are not eligible for it.

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Karnataka reports 9,366 new Covid-19 cases, 93 deaths

As many as 9,366 cases new cases and 93 Covid deaths were reported on Thursday. But the data logjam continued due to the doctors' strike as 15 districts reported zero discharges and seven districts reported new cases in double digits.

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Assam reports 1380 Covid-19 cases out of 20557 tests. Positivity rate is at 6.71%. Total number of cases now at 1,50,349 including 1,19,364 discharges, 30,454 active cases and 528 deaths.

US CDC reports 196,277 deaths from coronavirus

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday reported 6,613,331 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 41,464 cases from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 1,224 to 196,277.

The CDC's tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as Covid-19, caused by the new coronavirus, was as of 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 16 versus its previous report a day earlier.

The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.