Coronavirus LIVE Update: India's Cases Rise To 59,92,532; 94,503 Dead

Respiratory Vaccines Are Not Always 100% Effective: ICMR

Addressing a question about the Drug Controller General of India's guidelines about COVID-19 vaccine development, Dr. Balrama Bhargava, Director General of the ICMR said that vaccines are not always 100% effective. 

Dr. Bhargava even cited the WHO's response wherein it states that vaccines against COVID-19 with a 50-100% effectiveness will be helpful to fight the virus. 

Safety, effectiveness, and immunogenicity of the vaccine are the most important aspects of vaccine production. 

India Tested 1 Cr Tests In 9 Days

India took only 9 days to increase its total tests from 5 crore to 6 crore, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed in a press conference. 

While the country crossed the 1 cr total test mark on July 7, it has now increased its testing capacity, highlighted the Ministry. 

CDC Reverses Guidelines On Aerosol Transmission, Says Draft Updated

Three days after stating that COVID-19 primarily spreads through aerosol and airborne transmission, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reversed its guidelines. In an edit note, the CDC said that a draft version of its guidelines on airborne transmission was erroneously updated on the website. 

It further stated that the research body is working on its recommendations on airborne and aerosol transmission. 

India's Active Cases Falls Below 10 Lakhs

India's active COVID-19 cases has fallen to 9,75,861 while the recovered cases have risen to 44,97,867. The total number of cases has risen to 55,62,663. The death toll has risen to 88,935 after 1,053 patients died due to the disease.

CDC Changes Guidelines, Includes Aerosol As Routes Of Transmission

The US Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention has updated its COVID-19 transmission guidelines to finally include aerosol transmission. The CDC modified its guidelines three months after the WHO acknowledged the possibility of airborne transmission. 

Droplets containing the virus that are smaller than 5 microns in size, linger in the air longer and can spread at a distance of more than 6m were included by the WHO as a probable route of transmission on July 9.

This acceptance that COVID-19 is airborne came after a group of scientists wrote an open letter citing evidence supporting that the virus spreads through aerosols. 

New Zealand To Lift Restrictions Everywhere Except Auckland

New Zealand has decided to lift COVID-19 restrictions across the country except in Auckland. Auckland will continue to be at Level -2 for one transmission cycle of 14 days and its restrictions will be reviewed on October 5, announced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a press conference. 

Auckland did not report any new cases on Sunday. Earlier, the country had lifted all restrictions in June but had to reimpose them after a new cluster outbreak was reported in Auckland. 

Seoul Resumes In-Person Classes

South Korean capital Seoul resumed in-person classes in schools after the country reported a dip in cases. The country reported 70 cases on Sunday, its lowest daily cases since mid-August. 

Students are expected to attend in-person classes once or twice a week while the online medium of conducting classes will also remain operational. 

Fearing a surge in cases during the three-day Chuseok holiday, the country may impose stricter restrictions on September 28. 

Taj Mahal, Agra Fort Reopen

Taj Mahal and Agra Fort have now reopened for tourists from September 21. Both the monuments were not permitted to reopen with the other monuments in the city on September as they fell within the containment zones. 

After being closed for six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the monument will only allow around 5,000 visitors per day. Tickets will have to be booked through the Archaeological Survey of India's mobile application as ticket counters at the monument will remain shut. Visitors are expected to follow social distancing norms. 

The Agra Fort will allow around 2,500 visitors per day. 

More Recoveries Than New Cases For Third Day

India reported 86,961 new cases and 93,356 recovered cases in the last 24 hours. This is the third day wherein India reported more recoveries than new cases. 

The total number of cases are now at 54,87,580. 43,96,399 patients have recovered. The active cases stand at 10,03,299. The death toll has reached 87,882 after the country reported 1,132 new deaths. 

ICMR Completes Second Round Of Sero-Survey

The Indian Council of Medical Research has completed the second round of the nation-wide sero-survey which assesses the spread of COVID-19 in India. 

The second round begun on August 24 and covered the same 70 districts as the first round. 

In the first round, there was a 0.73 per cent prevalence of COVID-19 in the population. ICMR director general Dr.Balrama Bhargava said that approximately 6.4 million people were exposed to the virus in early May.