India’s coronavirus tally is set to cross the 93-lakh mark today at a time when active cases — which have been declining since mid-September — are on the rise again.
India reported 44,489 new cases in 24 hours, taking the total tally over 92.6 lakh in the world’s second-worst infected country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m. on Nov. 26. That includes nearly 86.8 lakh recoveries and more than 1.35 lakh deaths.
Authorities reported 36,367 recoveries in a day, that was significantly lower than fresh cases, raising concerns of a renewed surge.
Even the central government has acknowledged the signs by allowing for regional Covid-19 regulations and night curfews. However, under the new “Surveillance, Containment and Caution” guidelines for the month of December, states will will have to consult the Centre before imposing any lockdown outside the containment zones, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Wednesday.
There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods including those for cross-land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission, approval, e-permit will be required for such movements.
The threat of a second wave comes at a time when most western countries are dealing with renewed rise in infections and consequently restrictions, albeit not at the same level as seen earlier this year. India remains the country with second highest confirmed Covid-19 cases in the world, behind the U.S. which has around 36 lakh more cases.
India’s Covid-19 tally is likely to top a crore in mid-December.
Global Update
In New York, new infections hit a seven-month high, while hospitalizations rose to their highest level since June. In Europe, the total number of cases in Germany topped 1 million, and the number of patients in intensive care rose to record levels. Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to do more to rein in the pandemic and called on Europe’s ski resorts to close.
Elsewhere, London will avoid the toughest coronavirus restrictions when England’s partial lockdown ends next week, the number of severely ill French patients in intensive care fell to the lowest level in more than three weeks and Argentines mourning the death of soccer icon Diego Maradona ignored virus restrictions. In Australia, Victoria reported a 28th straight day without any new cases.
The global tally topped 60.7 million with more than 1.4 million dead.
Vaccine Update
AstraZeneca’s new trial would evaluate a lower dosage that performed better than a full amount in Astra’s studies, according to the company’s chief executive officer, after current studies raised questions over its level of protection.
The company’s acknowledgment that the lower level was given in error fueled concerns. CEO Pascal Soriot said he didn’t expect the additional trial to hold up regulatory approvals in the U.K. and European Union.
Clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may take longer because the regulator is unlikely to approve the vaccine on the basis of studies conducted elsewhere, especially given the questions over the results, he said.
