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Coronavirus India Updates: Tally Nears 75 Lakh; Community Transmission Limited To Certain Districts

Track the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in India, here.

A worker sanitizes a film theater in the PVR Icon cinema at the DLF Promenade Mall in New Delhi. (Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg)
A worker sanitizes a film theater in the PVR Icon cinema at the DLF Promenade Mall in New Delhi. (Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg)
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Coronavirus cases continue to rise, even though at a slower pace, with the total tally near the 75-lakh mark now.

India reported over 61,000 cases in 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry’s update at 8 a.m. on Oct. 18. The total tally includes nearly 66 lakh recoveries and over 1.14 lakh deaths.

The slower pace of daily infections and an improved recovery rate has pushed active cases in India below the 8 lakh mark for the first time yesterday since Sept. 2. India's active caseload had crossed 10 lakh in mid-September.

Key figures:

  • Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 74,94,551
  • Active cases: 7,83,311
  • Cured/discharged/migrated: 6597209
  • Deaths: 1,14,031
  • Fresh cases in 24 hours: 61,871
  • One-day recoveries: 72,614
  • One-day deaths: 1,033

Over a thousand people died due to the virus in the last 24, authorities reported -- for the first time in 15 days.

Meanwhile, the central government has initiated the fifth phase of reopening the economy.

Cinemas in several parts of the country opened after seven months on Thursday with a few film enthusiasts venturing warily into movie watching in a Covid-19 contact-less era of alternate seating, 50% capacity and packaged snacks.

Global Update

Daily cases in France rose to a record 32,427. Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed to Germans to stay home and meet with fewer people whether inside or outside. China reported 13 new infections on Oct. 17, all of which were imported, while New Zealand reported the first community case in three weeks.

Globally, cases surged past 39.6 million with over 1.1 million dead.

Track the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in India, here.

Covid-19 Community Transmission Limited To Certain Districts, Not Happening Across Country: Vardhan

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said community transmission of the coronavirus infection is restricted to certain districts in a limited number of states, clarifying that "this is not happening across the country".

The minister said this during an interaction with his social media followers on the sixth episode of "SundaySamvaad".

He was responding to a question from a participant, who cited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark that there are instances of community transmission in her state and asked the minister which are the states that have witnessed community transmission of the disease.

"In different pockets across various states, including West Bengal, community transmission of Covid-19 is expected to occur, especially in densely-populated areas.

Source: PTI

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Possibility Of Second Wave Of Coronavirus Infections In Winter Season Cannot Be Ruled Out: Expert Panel Chief

The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths have declined in the last three weeks as the spread of the pandemic has stabilised in most of the states, Niti Aayog Member VK Paul said on Sunday but did not rule out the possibility of a second wave of infections in the winter season.

Paul, who is also the chief of an expert panel coordinating efforts to tackle the pandemic in the country, said that once the Covid-19 vaccine is available, there will be enough resources to deliver as well as make it accessible to citizens.

"In India, the new coronavirus cases and number of deaths have declined in the last three weeks and the pandemic has stabilised in most of the states.

"However, there are five states (Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal) and 3-4 Union Territories, where there is still a rising trend," Paul told PTI in an interview.

He is heading the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19.

According to him, India is in a somewhat better position now but the country still has a long way to go because 90% of the people are still susceptible to coronavirus infections.

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Recovery Rate At 88%, Says Health Ministry

Maintaining a "steady declining trend", the number of active Covid-19 cases in India stayed below eight lakh for the second consecutive day on Sunday and comprised 10.45% of the total caseload, the Union Health Ministry said.

The recovery rate in the country has improved to 88.03%, the ministry said.

As many as 22 states and Union Territories, including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, have less than 20,000 active cases.

Also, 10 states and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Telangana, Rajasthan and Odisha have over 20,000 but less than 50,000 active cases, while three states -- Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala have more than 50,000 active infections, the ministry said.

Source: PTI

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