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

India's Total Case Count Crosses 50 Lakhs

India's COVID-19 total case count has crossed 50 lakhs, only the second country after the USA to do so. The case count stands at 50,20,359 after 90,123 people tested positive for COVID-19. The active case count has risen to 9,95,933 while 39,42,360 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll has risen to 82,066 after 1,290 patients succumbed to the disease.

61 Claims Settled So Far Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Scheme

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme, the Rs. 50 lakh cover for healthcare workers including private hospital staff, daily wage and outsourced staff has so far processed 61 claims across the country. The Central scheme which was launched on March 30 for 90 days has been extended twice. First, it was extended till September 25. Now, it has been extended for another 6 months. 

The New India Assurance company has received 282 claims so far and has rejected 65. 

"No Oxygen Deficiency For COVID-19 Patients In The Country": MoHFW

Even as many states reported that they were running out of oxygen cylinders, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that there was no deficiency in production of oxygen in the country. 

India produces 6900 metric tonnes of oxygen daily and is using only 5000 metric tonnes - 2200 for industrial purposes and 2800 for COVID and non-COVID essential health services. 

Bhushan stated that the country has a surplus of over 1900 metric tonnes daily. He urged the states to be more vigilant about the rational use of oxygen and tie up with oxygen manufacturers and the steel industry. Oxygen is released as a by-product in the steel industry. 

A national committee comprising of members from the MoHFW, Department of Industries and Department of Pharmaceuticals, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, and the Drugs Controller General of India will ensure that all states have sufficient oxygen to cater to the health needs at their disposal.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu Should Ramp Up Testing: MoHFW

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi to ramp up their testing as the positivity rate of COVID-19 is higher than the national average. The country's positivity rate is at around 8.4% 

Maharashtra with over 51 lakh cases reports a positivity rate of 21.5%. The state has conductd the third highest number of tests in the country. Uttar Pradesh with the highest number of tests at 70 lakh has a positivity rate of 4.5%

Delhi with 22.69 lakh tests has a 8.9% positivity rate, Andhra Pradesh with 46.9 lakh tests has a positivity rate of 12.9%, Tamil Nadu with 58 lakh tests has a positivity rate of 9.2 and Karnataka with 38.59 lakh tests has a positivity rate of 12.1%

India's Role In COVID-19 Vaccine Production Critical: Bill Gates

In a conversation with PTI, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has stated that India will play a crucial role in the production and manufacturing of vaccines owing to its large manufacturing capacity. 

"It's very likely that roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine will take place in fairly big volume (in India) sometime next year," Bill Gates said.

Gates also is optimistic that by the first quarter of 2021, the world will have effective COVID-19 vaccines. 

Oxford And Imperial To Test Inhaled Versions Of Vaccines

British researchers plan to test the Oxford and Imperial vaccine candidates by introducing them through the nasal route to check if they are acting on the upper respiratory tract, reported Reuters. 

Currently, both the vaccine candidates are being administered through intramuscular injections.

The new trials of the vaccines will see volunteers receive aerosolised vaccines through a nebulizer, wherein the vaccine will be delivered as airborne droplets through a mouthpiece. A total of 30 people will be recruited to the trials. 

India Reports 83,000 New COVID-19 Cases

After reporting more than 90,000 cases for the last five days, India has reported 83,809 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count has risen to 49,30,236 with the active caseload at 9,90,061 while 38,59,399 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll has risen to 80,776 after 1,054 patients died due to the disease.

Delhi Deputy CM Tests Positive

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19 through his Twitter account. He is currently asymptomatic but has isolated himself. He got himself tested after he was down with fever for a few days. 

Several MPs Test Positive Prior To The Monsoon Session Of Parliament

Several members of Parliament tested positive for COVID-19 on the day the monsoon session of the Parliament commenced on September 14. New Delhi MP Meenakashi Lekhi, Jalpaiguri MP Dr. Jayanta Roy, Balurghat MP Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh took to Twitter to announce that they had tested positive. 

Lekhi announced that she received her positive test results after undergoing the routine test conducted at the Parliament. 

Maharashtra Has More COVID-19 Cases Than Russia

Maharashtra with 10,60,308 cases surpassed the total case count of Russia which has the fourth highest case load globally. From India's 48 lakh cases, cases from Maharashtra makes up for almost 22% of the case load. Pune, Mumbai, Thane- three cities from the state are a part of the five cities reporting the highest cases in the country.