The number of cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has surpassed 7.76 million in India with 695,509 active cases while the toll from the infection has gone up to 117,306, according to the Union ministry of health and family welfare as on Friday.
The recovery figures, however, continue to bind hopes of the nation. As many as 6,948,497 people have recovered from Covid-19 in home isolation or have been discharged from the hospital.
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Meanwhile, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI’s) Expert Committee has recommended granting permission to conduct Phase III clinical trials for Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin. The panel added that the recommendation is after assessing data from Phase I & II as well as animal challenge study.
The global infection tally has reached 41,595,980 while 1,135,880 people have died of the disease.
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Maharashtra reports 7,347 new Covid-19 cases, 184 deaths
Maharashtra reports 7,347 new Covid-19 cases, 184 deaths and 13,247 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per the state's Public Health Department.
Total cases in the state rise to 16,32,544, with 43,015 deaths and 14,45,103 recovered patients. Active cases stand at 1,43,922.
Tamil Nadu reports 3,057 new cases of Covid-19
3,057 new infections and 33 deaths reported in Tamil Nadu
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.
Kerala reports 8,511 new Covid-19 cases
Kerala reports 8,511 new Covid-19 cases, active cases now stand at 95,657.
Puducherry reports 158 new Covid-19 cases
Puducherry reported 158 new Covid-19 cases, 216 discharges and 2 deaths today.
Total positive cases in the Union Territory rise to 33,986 till date, including 3,975 active cases, 29,427 recoveries & 584 deaths.
Europe’s economy risks new contraction from virus curbs
The resurgence of the coronavirus has knocked Europe’s economic recovery back a step and raised the possibility of another contraction.
IHS Markit’s monthly measure of business activity fell to a four-month low of 49.4 in October from 50.4 in September. Within the report is a clear, divergent trend of manufacturing strength being offset by damage to services from the second wave of the pandemic.
Asymptomatic children have low coronavirus levels compared to those with symptoms: Study
An analysis of over 800 pediatric cases of the novel coronavirus infection has revealed that most asymptomatic children have significantly low levels of the virus compared to those who experience symptoms, findings which raise concern about the use of low sensitivity diagnostic tests for screening the pediatric population.
Philippine Covid-19 cases drop as testing falls below target
The Philippines reported fewer coronavirus cases this week amid a slowdown in testing, with the Red Cross suspending most of its Covid-19 operations after it wasn’t paid by the state health insurer.
Authorities reported nearly 1,500 new cases on Wednesday --- the lowest since 1,442 on July 20 -- with the daily tally below 2,000 in the past three days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
As Covid-19 cases spike, pneumonia vaccine demand rockets in Europe
With Covid-19 cases on the rise, people seeking to avoid one lung disease compounding another are queuing up to get inoculated against bacterial pneumonia, causing shortages of a Merck & Co vaccine in parts of Europe.
Demand for Merck's Pneumovax 23, which is used to prevent pneumococcal lung infections, has hit record highs across the world, the firm was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
Bihar CM thanks PM Modi for Centre's assistance in fighting Covid-19
During an election rally in the poll-bound state, chief minister Nitish Kumar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the assistance provide to the state during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 11,242
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 11,242 to 403,291, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Friday. The death toll rose by 49 to 9,954, the tally showed.
Jharkhand reports 549 fresh Covid-19 cases
Covid-19 cases in Jharkhand have risen to 98,610 as 549 more people tested positive, while 8 fatalities pushed the death toll to 859, a health official said on Friday. Ranchi district reported the highest number of new cases at 151, followed by West Singhbhum (61) and Dhanbad (60).
India's caseload mounts to 7.76 mn, recoveries over 6.94 mn
The cases of coronavirus disease in India reached 7,761,312 on Friday. A total of 54,366 cases and 690 fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours. Recoveries from the infection are nearing seven million.
Covid-19 vaccine ready, coming within weeks: Trump
US president Donald Trump on Thursday said that a Covid-19 vaccine is "ready" and going to be announced "within weeks" He was speaking at the final presidential debate against his opponent Joe Biden.
France extends curfew as Covid-19 second wave surges in Europe
France extended curfews to around two thirds of its population on Thursday and Belgium's foreign minister was taken into intensive care with COVID-19, as the second wave of the pandemic surged across Europe, according to news agency Reuters.
Europe daily coronavirus cases double in 10 days
Europe's reported coronavirus cases more than doubled in 10 days, crossing 200,000 daily infections for the first time on Thursday, according to a Reuters tally, with many Southern European countries reporting their highest single-day cases this week.
First published: Oct 23, 2020 08:28 IST