Coronavirus India Updates: Active Cases Cross 10 Lakh As Covid-19 Spreads At Record Pace

India now has more than 10 lakh active cases of Covid-19, after the country reported the highest single-day spike in coronavirus infections recorded by any country.

Asia's third-largest economy added nearly 98,000 confirmed cases in a matter of 24 hours, taking the total case count to above 50 lakh, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on Sept. 17. This includes more than 40 lakh patients who've recovered and over 83,000 deaths.

Key figures:

• Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 51,18,253
• Active cases: 10,09,976
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 40,25,079
• Deaths: 83,198
• Number of fresh cases in last 24 hours: 97,894
• One-day recoveries: 82,719
• One-day deaths: 1,132

The share of active cases, however, has fallen below 20%, as recoveries now account for more than 78% of the total case load and the fatality rate remains less than 1.7%

Global Update

Global coronavirus cases are nearing 30 million, with the death toll approaching 1 million. South Korea reported its biggest jump in cases in six days, while Spain is struggling to control a fresh outbreak.

President Donald Trump said a coronavirus vaccine could be distributed widely to the public as early as October, contradicting statements by some of his top health officials that ranged from the spring to the end of 2021.

The Shiv Sena on Thursday asked the Centre to release money to states from the PM CARES Fund and also clear GST dues to help them deal with the pandemic.

During the second day of discussion in Rajya Sabha on the pandemic and steps taken by the Centre, Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) took exception to the criticism by some BJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, of the measures taken by the Maharashtra government to control the pandemic.

“More than 30,000 people have recovered from Covid in Maharashtra, " he said, adding that all states were doing their best to deal with the pandemic.

Raut said that from September 1, the Centre has stopped supplies of medical equipment like PPE Kits and masks, putting an additional burden of Rs 350 crore on the Maharashtra government.

If the Centre wants the states to fight the Covid battle on their own, it should clear all GST dues, he demanded. The PM CARES Fund too is for all states, and money should be released to them, he said.

Source: PTI

Nine out of the 11 coronavirus-infected members of the primitive Great Andamanese tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have recovered, the government told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

“The 11 infected members of the Great Andamanese tribe are among those who were either themselves engaged or had families working in government establishments. Except two, all of them have fully recovered and moved back to their settlement in Strait Island,” Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda told the Upper House.

There are only around 50 surviving members of the Great Andamanese tribe.

The minister also said that the particularly vulnerable tribal groups of Onges, Jarawas and Shompens are safe from the virus.

“The samples of the entire Onges population in Little Andaman Island have tested negative. Testing of Jarawas in three different areas has also confirmed their COVID free status. The Shompens are also safe in the Great Nicobar Island,” he said.

Source: PTI

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said India's Covid-19 mortality rate at 1.64% is the lowest in the world, and that the government aims to bring it down to less than 1%.

Replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha, he said India’s recovery rate of 78-79% is one of the highest in the world.

He said though total cases may have crossed 50 million, active cases are less than 20%.

Deaths in India due to the coronavirus are less than many nations in Europe, he said, adding the government was determined to cross the U.S. in testing rate as well.

Source: PTI