Coronavirus news Highlights: 3,156 new Covid-19 cases, 31 deaths in Karnataka

India's coronavirus tally crossed 83 lakh while the death toll stood at 1.2 lakh with 704 fatalities in 24 hours. The single-day spike was over 50,000 after nearly 10 days, whereas the rise in Covid-19 deaths was over 700 after 14 days. Over 76 lakh people have recovered from the disease in India so far with a recovery rate of 92.09 per cent — the highest in the world. Several European countries reported record number of infections as United Kingdom enters the second coronavirus lockdown starting November 5.

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217 new coronavirus cases in Surat district

As many as 217 new cases of coronavirus infection were found in the Surat district of Gujarat in the last 24 hours, a release by the state Health Department said on Thursday evening.

Surat's tally of cases thus went up to 36,976.

While 156 persons tested positive in Surat city, 61 cases were reported from rural areas in the last 24 hours, said the release.

India can be US' great partner in fighting Covid-19 pandemic: Experts

India can be a "great partner" for the US in combatting the coronavirus pandemic and rebuilding the economy, and the two countries' relationship is about how they can influence regional and global challenges, leading Indian-American experts have said.

Speaking during a virtual post-election political analysis hosted by leading nonprofit Indian diaspora organisation ‘Indiaspora’, former Assistant Secretary of State, South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal said that in the eventuality that Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden becomes the President, he will bring to the relationship a “global scope and a global impact”.

3,156 new Covid-19 cases, 31 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka reported 3,156 new cases of Covid-19 and 31 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 8,38,929 and the toll to 11,312, the health department said on Thursday.

The day also saw 5,723 patients getting discharged after recovery, leaving 33,095 active cases. Of the fresh cases, as many as 1,627 cases were from Bengaluru urban district alone.

As of November 5 evening, cumulatively 8,38,929 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state and it included 11,312 deaths and 7,94,503 discharges, the health department said in a bulletin.

City centres deserted as England enters new lockdown

City centres reverted to ghost towns as England's 56 million people entered a second coronavirus lockdown on Thursday, amid scepticism that the stringent curbs will work to arrest the worst death toll in Europe.

World-famous tourist destinations such as London's Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square were deserted, and normally bustling cities including Manchester and Liverpool likewise fell quiet.

In the hours before the lockdown took effect at midnight, some revellers clashed with police outside packed pubs, including in parts of London and the northern city of Leeds.

Punjab reports 22 more Covid-19 deaths, 541 new cases

Twenty-two more coronavirus-related fatalities were reported in Punjab, taking the death toll to 4,281 on Thursday, while 541 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 1,35,834, according to a medical bulletin.

Covid-19 positivity rate remained contained at 8.23% even after Durga Puja: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that Covid-19 positivity rate in the state could be contained at 8.23 per cent during Durga Puja and has remained so even after the festival.

Positivity rate is the percentage of people who are found to be infected by the virus from those who are being tested. This parameter indicates how widespread the disease is.

During an administrative review meeting held at the state secretariat, Banerjee said, "The positivity rate is 8.23 per cent even after Durga Puja. We will try to maintain it even after rail services are resumed.

Avoid firecrackers as pollution can affect Covid-19 patients: Maharashtra govt

People should avoid bursting firecrackers during this Diwali as air pollution could pose a problem for coronavirus patients, the Maharashtra government said on Thursday.

The state home department came out with guidelines ahead of the festival of lights, which will be celebrated under the shadow of the pandemic.

No new Covid-19 fatality reported in Chandigarh in last 24 hrs

Ninety-six new Covid-19 cases were recorded in Chandigarh, pushing the tally to 14,794, while no coronavirus-related death was reported in the Union Territory in the last 24 hours, a health department bulletin said on Thursday.

There are 703 active cases in the city as of now, while a total of 13,862 patients have recovered from the infection so far.

According to the bulletin, 229 people have died due to the disease in the UT till now.

92 new Covid-19 cases in Meghalaya; tally rises to 9,893

At least 92 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Meghalaya on Thursday pushing the coronavirus tally in the state to 9,893, a senior health department official said.

With the 92 new cases, the total active Covid-19 cases in the state has risen to 989, Health Services Director Aman War said.

One more Covid-19 patient died in the state, pushing the death toll to 91, he said.

173 new coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad district

Ahmedabad district of Gujarat recorded 173 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the state Health Department said on Thursday evening.

It took the tally of cases in the district to 43,381.

Two patients died due to the infection during this period, taking the death toll in the district to 1,928.

Madhya Pradesh records 734 new Covid-19 cases, 817 recoveries; 5 die

The number of Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh rose to 1,74,825 on Thursday with 734 more people testing positive, while five fresh fatalities took the toll to 2,992, a health official said.

A total of 817 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the state's overall recovery count to 1,64,067, he said.

Of the new fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, two each were recorded in Indore and Rajgarh and one in Bhopal, the official said.

Nepal reports 3,051 new Covid-19 cases

Nepal reported 3,051 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the country's COVID-19 caseload to 185,974.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Health said 3,430 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours. In total, 148,408 people have recovered from the disease in the country.

Noida's Covid-19 tally rises to 18,829, death toll 68

Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar registered 148 new Covid-19 infections on Thursday which pushed its virus count to 18,829, eight months since the district recorded its first case of coronavirus, official data showed.

The number of active cases also climbed to 1,470 from 1,443 on Wednesday, the third highest in the state, according to the data released by the state health department.

990 new Covid-19 cases in Gujarat, seven deaths

Gujarat recorded 990 new cases of coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 1,77,598, the state health department said on Thursday evening.

The death toll due to coronavirus in the state stands at 3,747 with seven more persons succumbing to the infection, it said.

At the same time, 1,055 patients also recovered during this period.

Gujarat's Covid-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 1,77,598, new cases 990, death toll 3,747, discharged 1,61,525, active cases 12,326 and people tested so far 63,13,668.

Covid-19: Vardhan presses for mandatory retesting of all symptomatic RAT negative cases

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday expressed concern over the surge in Covid-19 cases in Delhi and pressed for mandatory retesting of all persons who test negative in rapid antigen tests and develop symptoms of Influenza-like illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) later.

He said false negative results of the disease might give way to complacency among the coronavirus infected.

Six more deaths, 524 new Covid-19 cases in J-K

Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded 524 fresh Covid-19 cases and six fatalities linked to the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the infection count to 97,224 and the death toll to 1,517, officials said.

Of the fresh cases, 185 were from the Jammu division and 339 from Kashmir valley, they said.

The officials said Srinagar district recorded a maximum of 155 new cases, followed by 99 in Jammu

Sweden registers record 4,034 new Covid-19 cases, deaths rise above 6,000

Sweden, whose pandemic strategy of avoiding lockdowns has gained international attention, registered 4,034 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic, Health Agency statistics showed.

The increase compared with a high of 3,254 daily cases reported on Oct. 29. Sweden has repeatedly set new daily records in recent weeks while hospitalisation and deaths among those stricken by the disease have also begun increasing.

Delhi battling dual crises of pollution and coronavirus

India's capital is reeling from the double impact of the coronavirus and severe air pollution, New Delhi's chief minister warned Thursday, as the megacity reported a record jump in cases and its worst smog in a year.

With fears growing about rising infections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also banned firecrackers from being used this month during Diwali, the biggest festival on the Hindu calendar.

A cafe is boarded up in central London as England enters a second coronavirus lockdown on November 5

Gujarat education dept to prepare SOPs for schools, colleges

Before taking a final decision on reopening schools and colleges in Gujarat, the state education department will prepare a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be followed by students and authorities in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama on Thursday held an urgent meeting with department officials and asked them to start preparing SOPs for educational institutions.

Culture Ministry issues guidelines for reopening museums, art galleries, exhibitions

While it has made sanitization of premises at regular intervals and wearing of masks by all visitors mandatory, the standard operating procedures (SoPs) have also barred the use of audio guides unless they can be disinfected after every use.

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India sees early vaccine launch as AstraZeneca deliveries run late

India raced ahead with work on its coronavirus vaccine while Britain's AstraZeneca said its deliveries were running "a little bit late" as countries around the world sought to conquer the pandemic and rescue their economies.

A vaccine is seen as the world's best bet for taming a virus that has infected more than 48 million people, led to more than 1.2 million deaths, roiled economies and disrupted billions of lives since it was first identified in China in December.

Bangladesh signs deal with India for 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine

Bangladesh signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India on Thursday to buy 30 million doses of potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by British drugmaker AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca’s experimental Covid-19 vaccine is seen as one of the most advanced candidates in the race against the novel coronavirus.

"Whenever the vaccine is ready, the Serum Institute will give us 30 million doses in the first phase," health minister Zahid Maleque told reporters after the deal was signed in Dhaka.

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Denmark to lock down regions after mutated coronavirus traced to minks

Parts of Denmark will face new, tougher lockdown measures after health authorities discovered a mutated coronavirus strain in minks and people in the country's northern regions.

The government said on Wednesday it would cull all minks in the Nordic country to prevent human contagion with a mutated coronavirus, which authorities said could be more resistant against future vaccines for people.

The move to cull up to 17 million animals, which could cost the state more than $800 million, has prompted some lawmakers to demand to see the evidence behind the decision.

English weekly Covid cases up 8 per cent, contacts traced still at record lows

Positive Covid-19 cases in England are up 8 per cent on the previous week, the country's test and trace scheme said on Thursday, slower that the previous week's 23 per cent rise, but the proportion of contacts of the cases reached stayed near record lows.

Of the 327,203 people identified as coming into close contact with someone who had tested positive between Oct 22 and 28, 59.9 per cent were reached and asked to self-isolate, little changed from the record low proportion of 59.6 per cent reported two weeks ago.

Malaysia reports 1,009 new coronavirus cases, six deaths

Malaysia's health ministry reported 1,009 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the total to 36,433 infections.

The Southeast Asian country also recorded six new fatalities, raising the death toll from the pandemic to 277

Is it safe to stay in hotels during the coronavirus pandemic?

Is it safe to stay in hotels during the pandemic? In a recent travel update, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes it clear: Staying home is the best way to protect yourself against the coronavirus.

If you do travel, the CDC says, sharing a rental home with people from your own household is safer than staying with friends or family who aren't from your household or staying at a hotel where you would encounter more people.

Read more here

Greece to re-enter virus lockdown from Saturday

Greece will re-enter a lockdown from Saturday for three weeks to battle a second wave of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced.

"It was a difficult decision" but "measures must be taken for three weeks to overcome this second wave", he told a videoconference on Thursday. Under the measures, Greeks can only leave their homes with authorisation.

Delhi can soon become ‘corona capital’, AAP govt going haywire on pandemic: HC

The Delhi High Court Thursday expressed displeasure over the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the national capital and observed that the city could soon become ‘corona capital of the country’.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said the Delhi government has gone completely “haywire” on the pandemic.

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Poland reports record rise in daily coronavirus cases

Poland reported a record 27,143 new Covid-19 infections and 367 deaths on Thursday, a day after it announced new restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The health ministry said that, as of Thursday, Covid-19 patients occupied 19,114 hospital beds and were using 1,615 ventilators, out of a total availability of 28,010 and 2,144 respectively.

Czech Republic reports record daily tally for Covid-19 infections

The Czech Republic reported a record daily tally of new coronavirus cases on Thursday following several days of slowdowns in infections.

Czech laboratories identified 15,729 new coronavirus cases for Wednesday, Health Ministry data showed.

The country of 10.7 million had seen fewer cases on a weekly comparison on a string of days over the past week although it still faces one of Europe's highest infection rates.

China on Thursday defended a ban on non-Chinese arrivals from Britain, Belgium and the Philippines as "reasonable and fair" as it guards against a resurgence of the coronavirus.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that the coronavirus situation in Russia was alarming, but that it was nonetheless still under control.

Russia reported 19,404 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, close to a record high that included 5,255 infections in Moscow and took the national tally to 1,712,858.

Norwegians should avoid travelling within the Nordic country, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Thursday, as part of a fresh round of recommendations and restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Indonesia tumbles into first recession after two decades

Indonesia's virus-hit economy contracted in the third quarter, plunging it into its first recession since the archipelago was mired in the Asian financial crisis more than 20 years ago.

The Czech Republic reported 15,729 new coronavirus cases for November 4, its highest daily tally since the pandemic started, Health Ministry data showed on Thursday.

he number of active cases of Covid-19 have been less than 6 lakh for seven consecutive days with 27 states and UTs having less than 20,000 active cases, the Health ministry said on Thursday.

Russia reported 19,404 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, close to a record high that included 5,255 infections in Moscow and took the national tally to 1,712,858.

Nearly 2 crore in Karnataka were Covid-19 infected: State govt survey

An estimated 1.93 crore people or 27% of the population in Karnataka are currently infected with Covid-19 or had contracted the disease in the past, a government-backed study has said.

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Why no nationwide guidelines against affixing posters outside houses of Covid-19 patients? SC asks Centre

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre why no nationwide guidelines were put in place to do away with practice of pasting posters outside homes of Covid-19 patients.

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SC directs Centre to ban Covid-19 disinfection tunnels

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to ban within a month the use and installation of disinfection tunnels involving spraying or fumigation of chemicals on people at workplaces and public places due to its harmful effects.

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Covid-19 situation is deteriorating in Delhi due to rising air pollution: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Odisha's Covid-19 tally mounts to 2,97,274 with 1,385 new cases; 14 fresh fatalities push death toll to 1,378

Australia has agreed to purchase another 50 million doses of two more Covid-19 vaccines, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, as Canberra aims to complete a mass inoculation programme within months.

Jharkhand's Covid-19 tally rose to 1,03,188 on Thursday as 301 more people tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 894, a health official said.

The Covid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 4,389 on Thursday as 17 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

A health worker conducts Covid-19 RAT test at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal, as coronavirus cases surge across the national capital, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

China has imposed fresh travel bans on non-Chinese arrivals from Britain and Belgium, as it guards against a resurgence of the coronavirus by refusing entry to people from two of Europe's worst-hit nations.

Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally rose to 15,160 on Thursday as 77 more people tested positive for the infection, a senior health official said.

Chelsea's Havertz tests positive for coronavirus

Chelsea forward Kai Havertz has gone into self-isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Covid-19: Four Italian regions, including Milan, under lockdown

Four Italian regions are being put under "red-zone" lockdown, with severe limits imposed on the circumstances under which people can leave home, Premier Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday night.

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Covid-19: Harsh Vardhan advises caution in Karnataka's 6 worst-hit districts

With half-a-dozen districts in the state performing below par on the Covid-19 front, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday held a detailed review meeting with Health Minister K Sudhakar and state officials, flagging the needs to plug the gaps, particularly in those districts during the festival season and the winter that follows.

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Telangana reports 1,539 new Covid-19 cases, taking tally to 2,45,682 as five more deaths push toll to 1,362

55,331 recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total recoveries to over 77 lakh

India's Covid-19 deaths reached 124,315 with over 700 deaths.

India reports 50,210 new Covid-19 cases; tally crosses 83 lakh

India's Covid-19 tally stands at 8,364,086.

US sees record single-day spike of 1.02 lakh new Covid-19 cases after election

The United States set a one-day record for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday with at least 102,591 new infections and as hospitals in several states reported a rising tide of patients, according to a Reuters tally.

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Denmark to cull millions of minks over mutated Covid-19

Denmark, the world's biggest producer of mink fur, said Wednesday it would cull all of the country's minks after a mutated version of the new coronavirus was detected at mink farms and had spread to people.

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More than 99,000 coronavirus cases were recorded in the United States in the past 24 hours

OPINION | Will handshakes become history?

To shake or not to shake hands? That is the Hamletian dilemma most of us will be facing until the Covid-19 pandemic ends.

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OPINION | Vaccination strategy? Go figure

Dismissing an RTI activist’s complaint, the Election Commission of India (ECI) recently held that the BJP’s electoral promise of free Covid-19 vaccination for all people in Bihar was not a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). At the time of writing, neither the complaint nor the ECE's decision is available in the public domain, despite the RTI Act turning 16 last month.

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UK's Boris Johnson insists new lockdown will end on December 2

Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted Wednesday that a looming new coronavirus lockdown for England would end "automatically" in four weeks, as he tried to placate party critics over the spiralling economic fallout.

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How we can avoid a 'twindemic' of Covid-19 and flu

The official end of winter in the Southern Hemisphere has brought a glimmer of hope on the pandemic front. According to the World Health Organization, countries ranging from Chile to Australia to South Africa experienced one of the mildest flu seasons on record. In a typical year, Australia registers anywhere between 80,000 and 250,000 laboratory-confirmed cases; this year, the figure barely inched above 20,000, leading government officials to confirm the “minimal impact on society due to influenza circulation in the 2020 season.”

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India poised to recover at fast pace: Finance Ministry

Indian economy is poised to recover at a fast pace and reach pre-Covid-19 levels by the end of the year, the finance ministry said in its monthly report but also cautioned about the possibility of "fatigue with social distancing norms" triggering a second wave of coronavirus infections.

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At 76,56,478, the percentage of total cured cases are 92.09%. Active cases 6.42% of the total cases, stand at 5,33,787: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare