India's COVID-19 Tally Crosses 66.85 Lakh

India reported a sharp drop in new COVID-19 cases recorded in the last 24 hours, with the Health Ministry data released this morning showing 61,267 fresh cases of coronavirus. With this, the total Covid cases in India have crossed 66.85 lakh with total deaths at 1,03,569, including 884 in 24 hours. According to the Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world, there has been a slight fall in India's 7-day-average of new cases confirmed each day. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday released guidelines for the reopening of cinema halls across the country. The Centre had allowed the opening of movie theatres starting October 15 with 50 per cent capacity and one seat distance on September 30. India reported 61,267 coronavirus cases and 884 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Tuesday. With this, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country rose to 66,85,083 while the toll soared to 1,03,569. At present, India has 9,19,023 active cases while as many as 56,62,491 people have recovered. India’s recovery rate has now risen to 84.70 per cent, while the fatality rate has further dropped to 1.55 per cent.

Therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines for the whole world is the only way out of this pandemic: Dr Harsh Vardhan 

Therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines for the whole world is the only way out of this pandemic, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan  said while presiding over the fifth special session of Bureau of the Executive Board as Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), virtually. The agenda of the meet included focus on the measures necessary to ensure the full and effective implementation of the terms of resolution WHA 73.1 on COVID-19 response. The resolution WHA 73.1 titled “COVID-19 response” was co-sponsored by more than 130 countries and calls for the intensification of efforts to control the pandemic and for equitable access to and fair distribution of all essential health technologies and products to combat the virus. At the outset, Dr Harsh Vardhan welcomed the participants, and expressed his deepest condolences for those who have sacrificed their lives to the pandemic and those who are continuing to fight relentlessly and selflessly.

COVID-19 could spread by airborne transmission: CDC

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in an updated guidance on Monday, said COVID-19 can spread through airborne transmission, a month after it took down a similar warning. It said some people could get infected by exposure to the novel coronavirus in small droplets and particles, or aerosols, that can linger in the air for minutes to hours.

Centre Advisories / Policies / Updates

ICMR allows states to carry on with off-label plasma therapy for now

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday said states could continue using off-label plasma till issuance of any fresh norms. The ICMR’s study on convalescent plasma, which is not associated with reduction in mortality or Covid progression, has been peer reviewed and published in a British journal. “Though the paper has been peer reviewed and published in a British journal, we have not issued any guidelines yet to states,” a senior ICMR scientist told TOI. The scientist said till any further guidelines are issued on the subject, “states can continue using off-label plasma”.

Harsh Vardhan to release Ayush standard treatment protocol to battle Covid

Union Health Minister Harsh VardhanI will be releasing 'Ayush Standard Treatment Protocol' today, via video conference. The 'Ayush Standard Treatment Protocol' will detail Ayurveda and Yoga interventions in dealing with the novel coronavirus. In his fourth edition of Sunday Samvaad, Harsh Vardhan had stressed on practising yoga which would help to improve immunity in fight against Covid-19.

Global Advisories/Policies/Updates

10% of World Population May Have Been Infected With COVID-19: WHO

Roughly 1 in 10 people may have been infected with the novel coronavirus, leaving the vast majority of the world's population vulnerable to the related COVID-19 disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. Mike Ryan, the WHO's top emergency expert, told the agency's Executive Board that outbreaks were surging in parts of southeast Asia and that cases and deaths were on the rise in parts of Europe and the eastern Mediterranean region.

WHO Says 70% COVID-19 Cases in Just 10 Countries, Terms Pandemic ‘wake Up Call’

During a special meeting, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that 70 per cent of the COVID-19 cases are located in just 10 countries and 50 per cent cases are located in just 3 countries. He said, “Not all countries have responded the same way, and not all countries have been affected the same way”. Taking to Twitter and terming the pandemic as a ‘wake up call’, he thanked all the nations that have come forward with suggestions on battling the pandemic.

Harsh Vardhan calls for shared response from WHO members to tackle challenges such as Covid-19

Challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic demand a shared response, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan told WHO members on Monday and urged them to work with the global community of partners for an efficient, effective and responsive discharge of public health obligations. Presiding over the fifth special session of the Bureau of the Executive Board as Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation (WHO), he expressed his deepest condolences for those who died fighting the pandemic and those who are continuing to fight relentlessly and selflessly.

State Advisories / Policies / Updates

Ink used for COVID-19 quarantine stamp at Delhi airport raises concern

Congress leader Madhu Goud Yakshi has shared a picture showing the ink used at Delhi airport for COVID-19 quarantine stamping smudged on his hand. The Former Congress MLA from Nizamabad tweeted, "Dear @HardeepSPuri ji, can you please look into the chemical being used at Delhi airport for stamping on passengers coming from abroad? Yesterday I was stamped at @DelhiAirport and this is how my hands look now."

Delhi's "War Against Air Pollution" Amid Covid: Plans For 13 Hotspots, App

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched a mega anti-air pollution campaign, saying polluted air can be life threatening in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the campaign "Yudh Pradushan ke Virudh", separate plans have been prepared for each of the 13 pollution hotspots in the city, Kejriwal said during a digital press conference. "Polluted air can be life threatening in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both affect lungs," he said. 

Mumbai: 'No direct hospital admission of Covid positive cases'

Civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal has warned all hospitals government, municipal, private and nursing homes that no direct admission of Covid positive patients will be done without intimating local ward war rooms. Chahal said hospitals continued to directly admit patients without intimating the war rooms. In an order late on Monday night, Chahal said in view of increasing Covid-19 patients and very high occupancy of ICU beds in municipal hospitals, support of private hospitals had become imperative in larger public interest, "especially to cater to requirements of critical Covid patients". He said hospitals with facilities for Covid-19 treatment shall admit patients with moderate to severe symptoms with reference from the war room.

COVID-19 tracker: 1,812 new coronavirus cases, 47 deaths in Mumbai in last 24 hours

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to remain high in the maximum city. On Monday, 1,812 patients tested positive for the virus. With the spike in new cases, the tally has increased to 2.15 lakh. However, on a positive note, 3,502 patients were discharged after recovery. So far, 1.79 lakh patients have recovered. 47 patients also lost their lives, taking the overall toll to 9,152. Among those who died, 35 people had co-morbidities, whereas, 39 deceased were above 60-years-old.

Bengaluru: Less than 1,000 active cases in 5 districts

At a time when Bengaluru is dealing with 55,000 active Covid cases, five districts in the state have less than 1,000 active cases as on Oct 4, reports Sunitha Rao R. Bidar has 482 active cases, lowest in the state, followed by Kodagu 609, Gadag 651, Ramanagara 905 and Bagalkot 939. The recovery rate is highest in Gadag (91%), while Bidar is a close second at 90%.

Pune: Active case count drops to August low in PMC area but deaths increase by 50 pc

After peaking on September 25 for the second time, the number of fresh Covid-19 cases recorded every day continues to decrease in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits even as the number of deaths has increased by 50 per cent over the past few days. The PMC registered 14,841 active cases on October 5 as opposed to 14,940 on August 26.

Industry Updates

Government announces amendment in export policy of Personal Protection Equipments/Masks

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended the Export Policy of Personal Protection Equipments (PPE)/Masks to the extent that the export policy of N-95 / FFP-2 masks or its equivalent is amended from “Restricted” to “Free” category making all types of masks freely exportable

Netanyahu speaks to Modi; emphasises on continued cooperation in fight against Covid-19

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi spoke on Monday and agreed to advance bilateral cooperation on handling the coronavirus pandemic and to hold a digital conference on innovation in the field of solar energy. "The two leaders agreed to continue and advance bilateral cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus with emphasis on technological cooperation and tests," Israeli PM's official twitter handle said. 

Govt issues 24 SOPs for exhibition of films in theatres

The total number of people affected worldwide in the Covid-19 pandemic has gone past 35 million, even as WHO said it estimates roughly 1 in 10 people worldwide may have been infected by the coronavirus — more than 20 times the number of confirmed cases Total case tally in India has now breached the 66-lakh mark with over 1 lakh tests. 

Prepared by Impact Health Research Team

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