INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: The Serum Institute of India (SII) on Saturday said, 'Once DCGI (Drugs Controller General of
Institute of India (SII) on Saturday said, "Once DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) gives us permission to restart the trials in
India, we will resume the trials."Its British partner in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca, on Friday said it had restarted its
trials.A statement by AstraZeneca was quoted by reports as saying that the British drugmaking company was going to resume clinical trials of
the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing in partnership with the Oxford University."Clinical trials for the AstraZeneca Oxford coronavirus
vaccine, AZD1222, have resumed in the UK following confirmation by the Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) that it was safe to do
so," the company said in a statement.Delhi on Saturday reported 4,321 new COVID-19 cases, which is the highest single-day spike so far
The total number of cases rose to over 2.14 lakh, while the toll rose to 4,715.The COVID-19 fatality rate in Maharashtra is 2.8 percent,
nearly one percent above the national mortality rate of nearly 1.7 percent.Sixty percent of the total recovered cases are reported from five
states - Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, the health ministry said on Saturday.Bharat Biotech said that
the results showed "remarkable immunogenicity and protective efficacy" in the Phase I clinical trials in India.DCGI Dr V G Somani on Friday
also directed Serum Institute of India to increase the safety monitoring of the subjects already vaccinated as part of the trial, and submit
the plan and report.Of the 1,201 new COVID-19 deaths, 442 were reported from Maharashtra, 130 from Karnataka, 77 each from Andhra Pradesh
and Tamil Nadu, and 76 in Uttar Pradesh.With 36,24,197 COVID-19 patients being cured so far, India's recovery rate has reached 77.77
While, the mortality rate dropped to 1.66 percent after 77,472 fatalities were registered.With over 1,200 deaths being reported in the past
24 hours, the COVID-19 toll has risen to 77,472, said the health ministry on Saturday.After a hiatus of close to six months, Delhi Metro on
Saturday became fully operational after the resumption of Airport Express Line
The entire Metro rail network is now available from 6 am to 11 pm, confirmed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).India witnessed another
record spike in its tally of coronavirus cases, with 96,551 new cases being reported on Friday, according to the Union health ministry's
The total number of cases rose to 45,62,415, the ministry said, adding that 1,299 new deaths were also reported.The total caseload includes
worst-affected state by the pandemic, crossed a grim milestone in its count of COVID-19 cases on Friday
The tally crossed 10 lakh-mark with 24,886 new cases on Friday, while 393 new deaths were reported
The total number of cases in the state includes 7,15,023 discharged, 2,71,566 active cases and 28,724 deaths, the state health department
said.ICMR sero-survey shows 6.4 mn people were infected in MayThe first nationwide sero-survey conducted by the ICMR indicates that 0.73
percent adults in India were exposed to SARS-CoV-2, amounting to a total of 6.4 million infections by early MayThe survey was conducted from
11 May to 4 June and covered 28,000 individuals whose blood samples were tested for IgG antibodies using COVID Kavach ELISA kit.Also,
seropositivity was the highest in the age group of 18-45 years (43.3 percent), followed by those between 46-60 years (39.5 percent) and it
was the lowest among those aged above 60 (17.2 percent).It is estimated that there were a total of 64,68,388 infections in India by early
indicated that the overall seroprevalence in India was low, with less than one percent of the adult population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 by
mid-May 2020."The low prevalence observed in most districts indicates that India is in early phase of the epidemic and the majority of the
Indian population is still susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection," the survey report stressed.It highlighted the need to continue to implement
context-specific containment measures, including testing of all symptomatics, isolating positive cases, and tracing high-risk contacts to
slow down transmission and prevent overburdening of the health system.Delhi govt directs mohalla clinics to begin COVID-19 testsMohalla
clinics in Delhi have been instructed to start COVID-19 testing with immediate effect as part of the Delhi government's strategy to ramp
up testing amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the National Capital, PTI reported.According to an order issued on 10 September by Dr
Shalley Kamra, state nodal officer of the Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic (AAMC), tests will be conducted on all working days between 2 pm and 5
pm.There are nearly 450 mohalla clinics in Delhi."In order to augment the COVID testing drive, it has been decided to initiate COVID testing
at all AAMCs from 2 pm to 5 pm on all working days with immediate effect
All CDMO-cum-mission directors are requested to ensure that AAMC-empanelled staff is trained for the testing procedure," the order said.It
said testing will happen as per the Delhi government's protocol, and the guidelines shall be shared by the chief district medical officers
(CDMOs) with the AAMC staff
All tests done shall be updated on the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) portal, it added.The order also said the required logistic
support for conducting the tests shall be provided by the CDMO-cum-Mission Directors, including PPEs, testing kits and management support
It requested that AAMCs conducting COVID-19 tests be sanitised at the end of each day.Maharashtra govt releases SOPs for hotels to resume
operationsThe Maharashtra government on Friday released a standard operating procedure and guidelines for hotels, lodges and resorts, which
have been permitted to resume operations at 100 percent capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Hotels, resorts, homestays, farm stays etc in
all areas except containment zones will be allowed to operate
As per the guidelines, which have been circulated to all stakeholders, all travellers will be screened at entry points of the establishment
using thermal guns to record their body temperature and will be checked for symptoms of cough and cold.Only asymptomatic tourists will be
permitted to stay, it was stated
Mandatory practises like wearing masks, social distancing and use of hand sanitisers must be followed at all times.Punjab govt cancels
Sunday curfew in view of NEET examPunjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Friday announced that there will be no curfew in the state this
Sunday to facilitate free movement of students appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)
However, shops selling non-essential items will remain closed, he clarified.All cities and towns in the state are under a curfew on Sundays
positiveSeveral ministers in the state and Centre tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, who
said he has tested positive for COVID-19, was admitted at the AIIMS Trauma Centre
The 65-year-old member of Lok Sabha from Belagavi constituency in Karnataka was admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, which is a dedicated
COVID-19 facility, around 6.30 pm.Earlier, Angadi had tweeted, "I have tested COVID-19 positive today
Taking the advice of doctors
Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any
Sahu became the fifth minister in the state to be infected by coronavirus.Kerala minister EP Jayarajan and his wife also tested positive for
He is the second member of the Pinarayi Vijayan government to test positive."Jayarajan and his wife, who has also contracted the disease,
was admitted to the Pariyaram Medical college hospital in Kannur, government sources said," The Indian Express reported.With inputs from
