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

Sputnik V May Be Available For Civilian Use By September 10-13, Defence Minister Already Innoculated

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has already been inoculated with Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against COVID-19, Spuntik News has reported. Another Russian news agency TASS reported that the vaccine may be sanctioned for civilian use by September 10-13. 

The Russian researchers published the findings of their Phase I/ Phase II in the Lancet where 76 people were administered the vaccine. 

Congress MP Deepender Hooda Tests Positive

Congress MP from Haryana and Rajya Sabha Member Deepender Hooda announced on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He has asked people who came in contact with him to quarantine themselves. 

Actor Arjun Kapoor Tests Positive

Indian actor Arjun Kapoor took to Instagram to announce that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He is currently following home isolation. 

COVID-19 To Widen Gender Poverty Gaps: UN Report

Women are facing more adverse economical and health effects due to COVID-19 which will lead to an increase in the number of females living in poverty, says a United Nations Report titled "From Insights To Action".

In 2021, the report surmises that the difference between men and women living in abject poverty on less than $1.90 per day will be approximately 11 million. Around 247 million women will be a part of this cadre while 236 men will be living on the same money. This divide will worsen in the upcoming years, says the report. 

Record One-Day Spike In India

India reported 90,432 new cases of COVID- 19 in the last 24 hours, the highest one-day spike witnessed globally. The total number of cases now stand at 41,13,811.

The death toll crossed 70,626 as 1065 new deaths were reported. The number of active cases increased to 8,62,320 while the number of recoveries stand at 31,80,865. 

ICMR Issues Advisory For On Demand Testing

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued an advisory to allow testing on demand for individuals, reports PTI. The ICMR has left it to the states to modify the process as per their discretion. The ICMR has also asked states to test everyone living in containment zones by rapid antigen tests.

India's Total Case Count Crosses 40 Lakhs

India's total COVID-19 case count has crossed 40 lakhs, only the third country to do so after the USA and Brazil. The case count stands at 40,23,179 after a record 86,432 people tested positive for the disease. The active caseload has risen to 8,46,395 while 31,07,223 people have been cured or discharged so far.

The death toll has risen to 69,561 after 1,089 people succumbed to the disease.

Russian Sputnik V Phase 1 And 2 Trials Results Published

The preliminary results of the phase 1 and 2 trials of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine have been published in The Lancet. Researchers found that the vaccine produced anti-bodies in all 72 participants within 21 days and has a good safety profile. It was on the basis of these initial results that Russia announced their vaccine as safe for use on August 11.

Widespread COVID-19 Vaccination Unlikely Until Mid-2021: WHO

The World Health Organization said it does not expect widespread COVID-19 vaccinations until mid-2021, reports Reuters. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Margarat Harris said, "We are not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year. This phase 3 must take longer because we need to see how truly protective the vaccine is and we also need to see how safe it is,” she added referring to vaccine clinical trials."

US CDC Asks States To Be Ready To Distribute Potential COVID-19 Vaccine By November

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked public health officials to be ready to distribute the potential COVID-19 vaccines as early as late October.

 This, however, is not a sign that a vaccine will be ready by then according to director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr Francis Collins. Dr Collins sees it as the public health officials being prepared for the eventuality. According to CDC documents, healthcare professionals, essential workers, national security "populations" and long-term care facility residents and staff will be vaccinated first.