Coronavirus live updates: India follows the United States in the list of countries most affected by COVID-19. (File)
New Delhi:
Coronavirus cases in India have crossed the 62 lakh mark, with the total number of cases reaching 62,25,764, including 9,40,441 active cases and 51,87,825 recoveries. A total of 97,497 people have died from COVID-19. The number of new cases was 80,472 as of Wednesday and 1,179 deaths were reported, data from the Ministry of Health shows.
India, which follows the United States in the list of countries most affected by the coronavirus, has recorded the world‘s highest daily Covid peak since August 8.
While announcing the next phase of lifting the coronavirus restrictions, the Center said schools and colleges, closed since March when the lockdown was announced across the country, would be allowed to reopen from October 15. The last call, however, was left to the states and institutions involved. Online and distance learning will remain the preferred mode of teaching and will be encouraged, the Center said.
The government has also given the green light to cinemas, multiplexes and exhibition halls, but their reopening will be tempered by certain restrictions.
Here are the live updates on the coronavirus cases:
The pandemic has taken “unprecedented devastation” on economies: UN
The UN chief said the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked “unprecedented devastation” especially on the economies of many developing countries and that the world has not responded with “the massive and urgent support these countries and communities need ”.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that in the United States, Canada, Europe and most developed countries, governments have passed double-digit GDP packages to help fight the coronavirus crisis and its impact.
“The problem is to mobilize the resources to enable developing countries to do the same,” he said.
International passenger flights will remain suspended until October 31
The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended until Oct. 31, said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India’s aviation regulatory authority.
“However, regular international flights may be authorized on routes selected by the competent authority on a case-by-case basis,” added the DGCA.
Regular international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operated within the framework of the Vande Bharat mission since May and within the framework of bilateral “air bubble” agreements with certain countries since July.
UN needs $ 15 billion ‘immediate infusion’ for global vaccine fund
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an “immediate injection” of $ 15 billion to a global pool for the purchase and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines at a virtual summit hosted by the global body.
The ACT-Accelerator, led by the World Health Organization, received approximately $ 3 billion of the $ 38 billion needed to meet the goal of producing and delivering two billion doses of vaccine, 245 million treatments and 500 million diagnostic tests over the next year.
Notable new pledges include an additional 100 million euros ($ 117 million) from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, beyond the 675 million euros already committed by Germany.
