Corona Updates You Must Track: India COVID-19 Tally Nears 50-Lakh Mark, Global Count Close To 3 Crore

India cases and toll: India registered a slight drop in daily cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. As per the data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 83,809 fresh cases and 1,054 deaths were reported between 8 am Monday and 8 am Tuesday.

With this, India’s coronavirus tally has climbed to 49,30,236, which includes 9,90,061 active cases, 38,59,399 recoveries and 80,776 fatalities. India has reported the maximum COVID-19 deaths globally in September—nearly 1,000 daily deaths were reported all through this month. On Monday, India conducted 10,72,845 tests for COVID-19.

Where Delhi stands: The national capital reported 3,229 cases of coronavirus and 26 deaths in the last 24 hours. Delhi’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 2,21,533 with 28,641 active cases, 1,88,122 recoveries and 4,770 deaths.

Delhi Chief Minister on Monday said that Delhi is conducting maximum COVID-19 tests per day per million population globally. “Today, the maximum number of tests, across the world, is conducted by Delhi. Around 60,000 tests are conducted daily, which is 3,000 tests per million people...while the national average is 819,” a Hindustan Times report quoted the CM as saying.

Where Maharashtra stands: Maharashtra’s coronavirus count rose to 10,77,374 on Tuesday morning. The state reported 17,066 cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a significant drop compared to 22,543 cases reported the previous day. Maharashtra’s active caseload is close 3 lakh while more than 7.5 lakh people have recovered from the illness. The western state has reported 29,894 COVID-19 deaths so far, with 363 people succumbing to the disease in the last 24 hours.

The Maharashtra government on Monday said that vehicles carrying oxygen cylinders should be treated on par with ambulances for a year to ensure timely treatment for COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 tracker for 15 September. Source: Twitter/@COVIDNewsByMIB

States face oxygen shortage: With a surge in coronavirus cases, several states are facing an oxygen shortage, reported The Times of India. Correspondingly, the price of oxygen per cubic metre has also increased significantly. The Health Ministry has now issued a letter, asking states to not restrict the movement of oxygen to other states.   

Tracking COVID-19 vaccine progress: The CEO of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said that by October-end the company could know if its vaccine for COVID-19 is effective. In an interview to CBS, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company has already started manufacturing doses in bulk so that if the results are positive, the vaccine can be rolled out early. Pfizer is collaborating with German biotech firm BioNTech on the experimental vaccine, which is undergoing clinical trials in the US.   

Global corona update: The global coronavirus count has reached 2,94,45,688 with 72,33,111 active cases, 2,12,79,833 recoveries and 9,32,744 deaths, according to Worldometer. Of the currently infected patients, 60,798 are in serious or critical condition. The US, so far, remains the worst-affected country by the pandemic, with 67,49,289 cases and 1,99,000 deaths.

With a gradual reopening of economy, several countries in Europe are witnessing a surge in COVID-19 infections. The UK has been reporting more than 3,000-plus cases of coronavirus on daily basis since the last few days. The number of people at any indoor or outdoor gathering has been capped at six in England and Scotland.