Coronavirus India Updates: Tally Nears 80 Lakh; Recovery Rate  Over 90%

India has extended its fifth set of guidelines of reopening the economy till Nov. 30, 2020.

Under the 'Unlock 5.0' guidelines, the country had allowed cinemas and multiplexes to reopen with 50% of capacity. It had also opened up swimming pools for the training of sportspersons and exhibition halls for business-to-business events.

International air travel of passengers will be allowed as permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The country has also extended strict lockdown in containment zones till Nov. 30. It said that states cannot enforce a lockdown outside containment zones without consulting the central government.

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs.

At least 105 drivers and conductors of the MSRTC's Sangli division, who were deployed in BEST buses in Mumbai earlier this month, have tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to Sangli, an official said on Tuesday.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, the Mumbai civic body's transport wing, had hired buses, drivers and conductors from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation on contract for easing the woes of commuters in the state capital. As part of the contract, nearly 400 drivers and conductors and 100 buses were sent to Mumbai from the MSRTC's Sangli division in the second week of October.

As part of the contract, nearly 400 drivers and conductors and 100 buses were sent to Mumbai from the MSRTC's Sangli division in the second week of October.

"Out of these 400 staff members, 105 drivers and conductors have tested positive for Covid-19 so far. All these employees underwent the antigen test after they returned to the division on October 25," the official from the MSRTC's Sangli division said.

A driver who tested positive for coronavirus complained that they faced issues related to accommodation and food during their stay in Mumbai. "For a couple of days, we had to sleep on road as there are no restrooms in their depots," the driver said.

"Some of our drivers and conductors caught cold and fever, but they were not allowed to return home. After we complained, we were shifted to a lodge in Goregaon," he said on condition of anonymity.

Sangli's divisional transport superintendent Alam Desai said the drivers and conductors faced some issues only on the first day of their stay in Mumbai, but they were shifted to lodges from the second day.

Source: PTI

Total 10,44,20,894 samples tested for #COVID19 up to 26th October. Of these 9,58,116 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) pic.twitter.com/ERv3MslH96

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2020

Global Update

Eli Lilly & Co. said a U.S.-run clinical trial of its experimental antibody therapy will end after data suggested the treatment is unlikely to help hospitalized patients recover from advanced disease. AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine candidate produced a robust immune response in elderly people.

New research from the U.K. suggests antibody responses to Covid-19 may diminish over time as the World Health Organization said Europe might be able to avert a return to national lockdowns.

Globally, Covid-19 infections rose past 43.3 million with over 1.15 million dead.

Track all coronavirus related news updates in India, here.