India Reports Record One-day Spike In New COVID-19 Cases
India has reported 97,570 new COVID-19 cases, a record one-day rise, as the total case count rose to 46,59,984. The active caseload stands at 9,58,316 while 36,24,196 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll has risen to 77,472 after 1,201 people died from the disease.
ICMR COVID-19 Sero-Survey Says 6.4 Million Likely To Be Infected In May
In May, India could have had as many as 6.4 million infections of COVID-19, according to the findings of the Indian Council of Medical Research's sero-survey published on Thursday.
Conducted between May 11 and June 4, the sero-prevalence showed that 0.73% of the surveyed 28,000 people from the 700 villages in 70 districts from the 21 states had been exposed to the virus and had developed antibodies. Males as well as people living in urban slums were seen to have increased chances of seropositivity.
India Reports Record 96,551 New COVID-19 Cases
India has reported a record one-day rise in new COVID-19 cases after 96,551 patients tested positive for the disease. The total case count has risen to 45,62,414 of which 9,43,480 are active cases while 35,42,663 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll has risen to 76,271 after 1,209 people died due to the disease.
Serum Institute Of India Stops Trials, Will Wait For DCGI Approval
Serum Institute of India will stop its COVID-19 Oxford vaccine trials till further notice by the Drug Controller General of India, the company stated. On September 9,the DCGI issued a show cause notice to the company after it stated that it would continue trials even after AstraZeneca, the primary manufacturer said that they were halting their trials.
A patient in UK developed a suspected adverse reaction and AstraZeneca is set to review whether the illness was due to the vaccine.
Centre Urges States To Retest Symptomatic Patients Who Tested Negative In Rapid Antigen Tests
The Centre has urged states to conduct RT-PCR tests for restesting symptomatic patients who have tested negative for COVID-19 through Rapid Antigen tests. According to the ICMR testing guidelines, symptomatic patients who have tested negative in the RAT tests have to mandatorily be retested through the RT- PCR tests.
The Union Health Ministry has observed that some states are not following this order. Retesting these patients will ensure that positive cases are not going undetected. The centre believes retesting will assist in curbing the spread of the disease.
Britain Adopts Operation Moonshot For Mass Testing
Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Operation Moonshot for mass testing across UK and plans to conduct 10 million tests daily by 2021. Johnson discussed tests would collect saliva and provide results in 15 minutes but scientists are sceptic about these tests. Pilot testing of these tests is going to be conducted in Saltford beginning next week.
The decision for mass testing has arisen after UK has started reporting a surge in cases. The country reported 2,659 new cases on Wednesday.
India Adds Record 95,735 COVID-19 Cases
India reported a record one-day spike in new COVID-19 cases after 95,735 people tested positive for the disease. The total case count has risen to 44,65,863, the active caseload has increased to 9,19,018 while 34,71,783 patients have been cured or discharged.
The death toll has risen to 75,062 after 1,172 patients died due to the disease.
PLACID Trial Suggests Convalescent Plasma Does Not Reduce Mortality For COVID-19
Convalescent Plasma was not found to reduce mortality in patients suffering from COVID-19, found the PLACID trial conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research. The study found that there was no significant difference in the progression of the disease irrespective of patients receiving or not receiving convalescent plasma.
This is the first completed trial on convalescent plasma but still needs to be peer reviewed.
India Reports Nearly 90,000 New COVID-19 Cases
India has reported 89,706 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours taking the total case count to 43,70,128. The active caseload has risen to 8,97,394 while 33,98,844 patients have been cured or discharged so far. The death toll has risen to 73,890 after 1,115 patients succumbed to the disease.
India's Cases Increase As Testing Increases: Dr. Paul
India is witnessing an increase in cases as the country's testing capacity has strengthened, according to Dr. Vinod Paul, member of India's Niti Aayog.
He also stated that the Centre has received reports from states suggesting that people are not getting lax about social distancing and hygiene norms,
Dr. Paul emphasised that the country is now providing on-demand testing services. At the beginning of the pandemic in March, while the World Health Organisation was weighing on testing, India was focusing on isolation. When asked about this particular change in India's testing strategy, Dr. Paul highlighted that India was earlier importing test kits and did not have the testing capacity. Currently, there are over 1600 laboratories in the country and test kits are indigeniously developed.