US President Donald Trump talked about "real test" in the coming days as he received treatment for COVID-19 on Sunday (Indian time). Trump is currently receiving treatment for his coronavirus infection. He posted a four-minute video on Twitter.

"Over the next period of a few days, I guess that`s the real test, so we`ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days," Trump said into the camera, seated in front of an American flag and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt.

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Trump's sudden illness has brought his election campaign to a screeching halt. US Presidential elections are due on November 3.

Trump's illness has also brought the focus on his administration's handling of coronavirus pandemic in America. He has already received a lot of flak for his statements in past. Trump has in past has given on-record statements like coronavirus was "just a flu". He has also advocated medicines that were not comprehensively and scientifically proven to cure or treat coronavirus infection.

Trump recently said that he gave such statements to prevent panic among public. But even considering this argument, his past statements have been considering too over the top to be made during a deadly pandemic.

Differing assessments of Trump`s health from administration officials on Saturday left it unclear how ill the president had become since he tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night.

A White House team of doctors said on Saturday morning Trump`s condition was improving and that he was already talking about returning to the White House.

Within minutes, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gave reporters a less rosy assessment, saying, "The president`s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We`re still not on a clear path to a full recovery."

Meadows, whose initial comments were delivered on condition that he not be identified, altered his tone hours later, telling Reuters that Trump was doing "very well" and that "doctors are very pleased with his vital signs."

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/even-the-white-houses-testing-regime-couldnt-stop-coronavirus-332226"> Even the White House’s testing regime couldn’t stop coronavirus</a> 
 
Meadows did not clarify the discrepancy in his comments. A Trump adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president was not happy to learn of Meadows` initial remarks.

Administration officials have described the move to Walter Reed as precautionary and said Trump would stay for several days.

Another source who was briefed on Trump`s condition said the president was given supplemental oxygen before he went to the hospital. The decision to hospitalize Trump came after he had experienced difficulty breathing and his oxygen level dropped, according to a source familiar with the situation.

White House doctor Sean P. Conley told reporters outside the hospital on Saturday that Trump had not had trouble breathing, and was not given oxygen at Walter Reed.

"The team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made," Conley said. 
He declined to give a timetable for Trump`s possible release from the hospital, and later had to issue a statement saying he misspoke after appearing to suggest Trump had been diagnosed as early as Wednesday.

In a statement on Saturday evening, Conley said the president was "not yet out of the woods" but his team remained cautiously optimistic.

"Today`s spectacle - doctors saying one thing, White House sources saying another thing, and both later amending their statements - only reinforces the credibility problems of this administration," said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia`s Center for Politics.

Trump campaign reshaped

With Trump off the campaign trail indefinitely, his campaign announced "Operation MAGA," based on his slogan "Make America Great Again," which will see high-profile allies including Vice President Mike Pence and Trump`s elder sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, take over in-person campaigning this week.

Pence, who tested negative on Friday, is scheduled to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday.

Biden, who largely avoided direct criticism of Trump during a campaign trip to Michigan on Friday, took a more aggressive tone on Saturday while speaking to a transit workers` union, even as he wished the president well.

"I`m in a little bit of a spot here, because I don`t want to be attacking the president and the first lady now," Biden said, adding he hoped Trump and his wife Melania, who also has the illness, make a full recovery.

But he quickly turned to Trump`s response to the pandemic, calling it "unconscionable" and blasting Trump`s comment in an interview this summer that "it is what it is" when asked about the death toll.

"I find this one of the most despicable things that I`ve encountered in my whole career," Biden said. 
Trump has repeatedly played down the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, even as it has killed more than 208,000 Americans and hammered the U.S. economy.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself was seriously ill with COVID-19 earlier this year, said on Sunday he was sure Trump would be fine.

"He`s got the best possible care... He just needs, I mean, the most important thing to do is to follow his doctors` advice, he`s got superb medical advice," Johnson said during an interview on BBC television.

Biden, who tested negative on Friday, told reporters he would next be tested on Sunday. His campaign will begin releasing the results of each test, a spokesman said.

Conley said Trump had received the first two doses of a five-day course of Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays.

He is also taking an experimental treatment, Regeneron`s REGN-COV2, as well as zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin, Conley has said.

A number of other prominent Republicans have also tested positive for coronavirus since Trump`s announcement, including Republican senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

(With inputs from Reuters)

US President Donald Trump talked about "real test" in the coming days as he received treatment for COVID-19 on Sunday (Indian time). Trump is currently receiving treatment for his coronavirus infection.

US President Donald Trump talked about "real test" in the coming days as he received treatment for COVID-19 on Sunday (Indian time). Trump is currently receiving treatment for his coronavirus infection. He posted a four-minute video on Twitter. "Over the next period of a few days, I guess that`s the real test, so we`ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days," Trump said into the camera, seated in front of an American flag and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt. pic.twitter.com/gvIPuYtTZG — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2020 × Trump's sudden illness has brought his election campaign to a screeching halt. US Presidential elections are due on November 3. Trump's illness has also brought the focus on his administration's handling of coronavirus pandemic in America. He has already received a lot of flak for his statements in past. Trump has in past has given on-record statements like coronavirus was "just a flu". He has also advocated medicines that were not comprehensively and scientifically proven to cure or treat coronavirus infection. Trump recently said that he gave such statements to prevent panic among public. But even considering this argument, his past statements have been considering too over the top to be made during a deadly pandemic. Differing assessments of Trump`s health from administration officials on Saturday left it unclear how ill the president had become since he tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night. A White House team of doctors said on Saturday morning Trump`s condition was improving and that he was already talking about returning to the White House. Within minutes, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gave reporters a less rosy assessment, saying, "The president`s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We`re still not on a clear path to a full recovery." Meadows, whose initial comments were delivered on condition that he not be identified, altered his tone hours later, telling Reuters that Trump was doing "very well" and that "doctors are very pleased with his vital signs." ALSO READ | Even the White House’s testing regime couldn’t stop coronavirus Meadows did not clarify the discrepancy in his comments. A Trump adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president was not happy to learn of Meadows` initial remarks. Administration officials have described the move to Walter Reed as precautionary and said Trump would stay for several days. Another source who was briefed on Trump`s condition said the president was given supplemental oxygen before he went to the hospital. The decision to hospitalize Trump came after he had experienced difficulty breathing and his oxygen level dropped, according to a source familiar with the situation. White House doctor Sean P. Conley told reporters outside the hospital on Saturday that Trump had not had trouble breathing, and was not given oxygen at Walter Reed. "The team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made," Conley said. He declined to give a timetable for Trump`s possible release from the hospital, and later had to issue a statement saying he misspoke after appearing to suggest Trump had been diagnosed as early as Wednesday. In a statement on Saturday evening, Conley said the president was "not yet out of the woods" but his team remained cautiously optimistic. "Today`s spectacle - doctors saying one thing, White House sources saying another thing, and both later amending their statements - only reinforces the credibility problems of this administration," said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia`s Center for Politics. Trump campaign reshaped With Trump off the campaign trail indefinitely, his campaign announced "Operation MAGA," based on his slogan "Make America Great Again," which will see high-profile allies including Vice President Mike Pence and Trump`s elder sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, take over in-person campaigning this week. Pence, who tested negative on Friday, is scheduled to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Biden, who largely avoided direct criticism of Trump during a campaign trip to Michigan on Friday, took a more aggressive tone on Saturday while speaking to a transit workers` union, even as he wished the president well. "I`m in a little bit of a spot here, because I don`t want to be attacking the president and the first lady now," Biden said, adding he hoped Trump and his wife Melania, who also has the illness, make a full recovery. But he quickly turned to Trump`s response to the pandemic, calling it "unconscionable" and blasting Trump`s comment in an interview this summer that "it is what it is" when asked about the death toll. "I find this one of the most despicable things that I`ve encountered in my whole career," Biden said. Trump has repeatedly played down the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, even as it has killed more than 208,000 Americans and hammered the U.S. economy. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself was seriously ill with COVID-19 earlier this year, said on Sunday he was sure Trump would be fine. "He`s got the best possible care... He just needs, I mean, the most important thing to do is to follow his doctors` advice, he`s got superb medical advice," Johnson said during an interview on BBC television. Biden, who tested negative on Friday, told reporters he would next be tested on Sunday. His campaign will begin releasing the results of each test, a spokesman said. Conley said Trump had received the first two doses of a five-day course of Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays. He is also taking an experimental treatment, Regeneron`s REGN-COV2, as well as zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin, Conley has said. A number of other prominent Republicans have also tested positive for coronavirus since Trump`s announcement, including Republican senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump talks of 'real test' ahead in his fight against coronavirus infection

President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he had contracted the coronavirus upended the presidential race in an instant, leaving both sides to confront a wrenching set of strategic choices and unexpected questions that will help shape the final month before Election Day.

As the president boarded Marine One to fly to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment, his aides announced that they were suspending his campaign events and those of his family members, who are his most ubiquitous surrogates. Privately, his top advisers expressed shock at the turn of events and hoped that Trump’s symptoms would remain mild and he could at least begin appearing on television next week.

At the same time, Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic rival, disclosed that he had tested negative for the virus and continued to campaign, beginning with a previously scheduled campaign trip Friday to Michigan.

With Biden already leading in the polls, and Trump’s electoral prospects dependent on his ability to campaign, the president has little time to change the trajectory of the race. The fate of his reelection bid increasingly seemed to hinge on his own health — and whether he would be able to overcome the disease and persuade voters to give him another four years.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-having-trouble-breathing-at-hospital-report-332269">Trump having 'trouble breathing' at hospital: Report</a>

The split-screen between the candidates Friday represented a striking reversal from the last few months, during which Trump pushed on with his rallies and belittled Biden for adhering to health protocols and running a “basement campaign.”

The former vice president was careful to avoid anything that could be perceived as exploiting the situation Friday; at an appearance in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he did not criticize Trump for his handling of the virus and closed his remarks by calling on God to “protect the first family, and every family that is dealing with this virus.”

Biden’s campaign also moved to take down negative television commercials Friday that lashed Trump for his handling of the virus, according to a Democratic official familiar with the ad traffic. And Biden’s campaign manager, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, emailed the entire campaign urging its members to “refrain from posting about the situation on social media.”

Biden’s aides said he had no plans to step away from his travels — at least for now.

The president’s illness is certain to keep the coronavirus pandemic front and center in the remaining weeks before the election, a development that would appear to favor Biden, whose campaign message is focused on criticism of Trump’s stewardship of the deadly disease.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-several-days-and-events-the-virus-swirled-around-trump-332306">Over several days and events, the virus swirled around Trump</a>

In the White House, advisers to the president acknowledged that the positive test would remind voters of how dismissive Trump had been about the virus, not only with the neglect of his own safety but also in his overly rosy assessments about a pandemic that has killed more than 208,000 Americans. Trump’s recklessness, one adviser acknowledged, amounted to a political “disaster.”

As it became clear late Friday that a number of attendees at last week’s Rose Garden announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination had also tested positive, the White House was also confronting accusations it had hosted a so-called “super spreader” event.

For all the drama 2020 has delivered, the presidential race has been largely impervious to even momentous events, whether it was impeachment, the virus, unrest over racism and severe economic distress. Biden has enjoyed a steady lead in the polls since effectively claiming the nomination in April.

But an incumbent president testing positive for a potentially deadly disease is of a greater order of magnitude.

Republicans worried Friday that Trump would have to remain in the hospital for a significant period of time, imagery they fear would be damaging at a moment when millions of Americans are already voting.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/internet-explodes-with-memes-after-trump-who-called-covid-19-a-hoax-tests-positive-331985">Internet explodes with memes after Trump, who called COVID-19 a 'hoax', tests positive</a>

GOP officials were also concerned that a race with very few undecided voters would freeze in place. Multiple party strategists said their polling in the two nights after the presidential debate had revealed substantial slippage, and not just at the top of the ticket.

“This limits Trump’s opportunity to turn this thing around and drive a winning message,” said Terry Sullivan, a Republican consultant. “He’s lost any ability to control the narrative.”

Should the final weeks of the campaign be dominated by the coronavirus, Trump’s challenge will be intensified by his casual approach to the disease and its deadliness.

The president spent months disregarding and mocking the basic precautions, such as wearing a mask, that his health advisers were urging Americans to take to protect themselves.

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Still, few Democrats had any degree of confidence on how the final weeks of the race would play out.

Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada said Biden should proceed. “I don’t see why he should quit campaigning unless something really bad happens,” Titus said. “And then all bets are off.”

What some Democrats feared, and Republicans hoped, is that there would be a rallying around Trump and he would garner sympathy from voters. Yet even the most optimistic Republican allowed that those sentiments wouldn’t automatically translate into votes.

At the very least, Republicans said they hoped Trump’s illness would prompt him to refrain from the inflammatory rhetoric that has alienated many voters and make the election less of a referendum on his behavior.

“Peace and calm helps him,” said Alex Castellanos, a longtime Republican strategist. “He is the polarizing element, not the direction he would like to take the country.”

Trump’s political fortunes will depend in large part on the severity of his illness. Other world leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, have been sickened by the virus and returned to lead their countries.

The 74-year-old president is older than his counterparts who have contracted COVID-19, however, and they were not on the ballot when they tested positive.

In any event, the effect of even seemingly cataclysmic events on the race are hard to predict. After all, when the “Access Hollywood” video emerged just weeks before the election in 2016, it was widely thought that Trump’s boast of grabbing women’s genitals would effectively end his chances of winning.

Democratic lawmakers on Friday urged Biden to remain on the campaign trail and tailor his remarks to reflect the seriousness of the moment.

“It’s proof that we need to be vigilant and we need mature leadership,” said Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio. “He doesn’t even need to bring up Trump by name, just say it’s very serious, even the president can get it.”

While Biden aides are being careful not to appear publicly insensitive, they suspect that Trump had already contracted the virus by the time of his caustic performance in Tuesday’s debate, a campaign official said Friday. And they are angry that members of Trump’s family refused to wear masks in the debate hall and appeared to rebuff the efforts of an employee of the Cleveland Clinic to get them to wear one, the official said.

It is almost certain that the remaining two debates between Trump and Biden will be affected. The next one is scheduled for less than two weeks from now, on Oct. 15, and the president may be isolated until then.

The nature of the campaign will be disrupted as well. And after having gone forward with the large rallies he craves, despite rules against large gatherings in many states, Trump will not be able to leave Washington during a final, crucial stretch of the campaign.

Moreover, one of his central arguments against Biden, that the 77-year-old former vice president is enfeebled and unfit to lead the country, has now been undermined by questions about the president’s own health.

“Trump is now in the position of becoming exhibit No. 1 for the failure of his leadership on coronavirus, and he runs the risk that his supporters will feel misled by his dismissiveness of the virus and the need for precautions,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster.

The president was already lagging in the polls in part because of his difficulties with older voters, a constituency that leans Republican but is also at the highest risk from the virus.

Some of Trump’s aides began the day Friday discussing ways for him to be seen by the public. But it became clear by the afternoon that was not possible, and they released a statement from his doctor acknowledging he was fatigued and was taking an experimental antibody drug combination.

In private conversations, members of his staff were also candid that the president had some underlying conditions that could make him more susceptible to a severe bout of the virus.

No modern president has publicly endured a health crisis this close to a reelection attempt. Ronald Reagan was shot and convalesced in 1981, just over two months after he was first sworn in. And Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while in office, but it was more than a year before he faced the voters for a second time.

Some Republicans hoped his ill-fated June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he couldn’t come close to filling the arena and some of his own staff members got the virus, would serve as a wake-up call.

But while the event put an end to his rallies for a period, it did not make Trump more sober about the threat of the virus.

The president restarted the rallies during the Democratic convention in August. The events have been mostly, but not always, outdoors, often in hangars at smaller airfields. Yet his supporters, journalists, White House staff members, security workers and others are around one another for hours at the rallies. And many of those who attend, including Trump and members of his staff, have not worn masks.

President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he had contracted the coronavirus upended the presidential race in an instant, leaving both sides to confront a wrenching set of strategic choices and unexpected questions that will help shape the final month before Election Day.

President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he had contracted the coronavirus upended the presidential race in an instant, leaving both sides to confront a wrenching set of strategic choices and unexpected questions that will help shape the final month before Election Day. As the president boarded Marine One to fly to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment, his aides announced that they were suspending his campaign events and those of his family members, who are his most ubiquitous surrogates. Privately, his top advisers expressed shock at the turn of events and hoped that Trump’s symptoms would remain mild and he could at least begin appearing on television next week. At the same time, Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic rival, disclosed that he had tested negative for the virus and continued to campaign, beginning with a previously scheduled campaign trip Friday to Michigan. With Biden already leading in the polls, and Trump’s electoral prospects dependent on his ability to campaign, the president has little time to change the trajectory of the race. The fate of his reelection bid increasingly seemed to hinge on his own health — and whether he would be able to overcome the disease and persuade voters to give him another four years. Also Read | Trump having 'trouble breathing' at hospital: Report The split-screen between the candidates Friday represented a striking reversal from the last few months, during which Trump pushed on with his rallies and belittled Biden for adhering to health protocols and running a “basement campaign.” The former vice president was careful to avoid anything that could be perceived as exploiting the situation Friday; at an appearance in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he did not criticize Trump for his handling of the virus and closed his remarks by calling on God to “protect the first family, and every family that is dealing with this virus.” Biden’s campaign also moved to take down negative television commercials Friday that lashed Trump for his handling of the virus, according to a Democratic official familiar with the ad traffic. And Biden’s campaign manager, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, emailed the entire campaign urging its members to “refrain from posting about the situation on social media.” Biden’s aides said he had no plans to step away from his travels — at least for now. The president’s illness is certain to keep the coronavirus pandemic front and center in the remaining weeks before the election, a development that would appear to favor Biden, whose campaign message is focused on criticism of Trump’s stewardship of the deadly disease. Also Read | Over several days and events, the virus swirled around Trump In the White House, advisers to the president acknowledged that the positive test would remind voters of how dismissive Trump had been about the virus, not only with the neglect of his own safety but also in his overly rosy assessments about a pandemic that has killed more than 208,000 Americans. Trump’s recklessness, one adviser acknowledged, amounted to a political “disaster.” As it became clear late Friday that a number of attendees at last week’s Rose Garden announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination had also tested positive, the White House was also confronting accusations it had hosted a so-called “super spreader” event. For all the drama 2020 has delivered, the presidential race has been largely impervious to even momentous events, whether it was impeachment, the virus, unrest over racism and severe economic distress. Biden has enjoyed a steady lead in the polls since effectively claiming the nomination in April. But an incumbent president testing positive for a potentially deadly disease is of a greater order of magnitude. Republicans worried Friday that Trump would have to remain in the hospital for a significant period of time, imagery they fear would be damaging at a moment when millions of Americans are already voting. Also Read | Internet explodes with memes after Trump, who called COVID-19 a 'hoax', tests positive GOP officials were also concerned that a race with very few undecided voters would freeze in place. Multiple party strategists said their polling in the two nights after the presidential debate had revealed substantial slippage, and not just at the top of the ticket. “This limits Trump’s opportunity to turn this thing around and drive a winning message,” said Terry Sullivan, a Republican consultant. “He’s lost any ability to control the narrative.” Should the final weeks of the campaign be dominated by the coronavirus, Trump’s challenge will be intensified by his casual approach to the disease and its deadliness. The president spent months disregarding and mocking the basic precautions, such as wearing a mask, that his health advisers were urging Americans to take to protect themselves. × Still, few Democrats had any degree of confidence on how the final weeks of the race would play out. Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada said Biden should proceed. “I don’t see why he should quit campaigning unless something really bad happens,” Titus said. “And then all bets are off.” What some Democrats feared, and Republicans hoped, is that there would be a rallying around Trump and he would garner sympathy from voters. Yet even the most optimistic Republican allowed that those sentiments wouldn’t automatically translate into votes. At the very least, Republicans said they hoped Trump’s illness would prompt him to refrain from the inflammatory rhetoric that has alienated many voters and make the election less of a referendum on his behavior. “Peace and calm helps him,” said Alex Castellanos, a longtime Republican strategist. “He is the polarizing element, not the direction he would like to take the country.” Trump’s political fortunes will depend in large part on the severity of his illness. Other world leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, have been sickened by the virus and returned to lead their countries. The 74-year-old president is older than his counterparts who have contracted COVID-19, however, and they were not on the ballot when they tested positive. In any event, the effect of even seemingly cataclysmic events on the race are hard to predict. After all, when the “Access Hollywood” video emerged just weeks before the election in 2016, it was widely thought that Trump’s boast of grabbing women’s genitals would effectively end his chances of winning. Democratic lawmakers on Friday urged Biden to remain on the campaign trail and tailor his remarks to reflect the seriousness of the moment. “It’s proof that we need to be vigilant and we need mature leadership,” said Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio. “He doesn’t even need to bring up Trump by name, just say it’s very serious, even the president can get it.” While Biden aides are being careful not to appear publicly insensitive, they suspect that Trump had already contracted the virus by the time of his caustic performance in Tuesday’s debate, a campaign official said Friday. And they are angry that members of Trump’s family refused to wear masks in the debate hall and appeared to rebuff the efforts of an employee of the Cleveland Clinic to get them to wear one, the official said. It is almost certain that the remaining two debates between Trump and Biden will be affected. The next one is scheduled for less than two weeks from now, on Oct. 15, and the president may be isolated until then. The nature of the campaign will be disrupted as well. And after having gone forward with the large rallies he craves, despite rules against large gatherings in many states, Trump will not be able to leave Washington during a final, crucial stretch of the campaign. Moreover, one of his central arguments against Biden, that the 77-year-old former vice president is enfeebled and unfit to lead the country, has now been undermined by questions about the president’s own health. “Trump is now in the position of becoming exhibit No. 1 for the failure of his leadership on coronavirus, and he runs the risk that his supporters will feel misled by his dismissiveness of the virus and the need for precautions,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster. The president was already lagging in the polls in part because of his difficulties with older voters, a constituency that leans Republican but is also at the highest risk from the virus. Some of Trump’s aides began the day Friday discussing ways for him to be seen by the public. But it became clear by the afternoon that was not possible, and they released a statement from his doctor acknowledging he was fatigued and was taking an experimental antibody drug combination. In private conversations, members of his staff were also candid that the president had some underlying conditions that could make him more susceptible to a severe bout of the virus. No modern president has publicly endured a health crisis this close to a reelection attempt. Ronald Reagan was shot and convalesced in 1981, just over two months after he was first sworn in. And Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while in office, but it was more than a year before he faced the voters for a second time. Some Republicans hoped his ill-fated June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he couldn’t come close to filling the arena and some of his own staff members got the virus, would serve as a wake-up call. But while the event put an end to his rallies for a period, it did not make Trump more sober about the threat of the virus. The president restarted the rallies during the Democratic convention in August. The events have been mostly, but not always, outdoors, often in hangars at smaller airfields. Yet his supporters, journalists, White House staff members, security workers and others are around one another for hours at the rallies. And many of those who attend, including Trump and members of his staff, have not worn masks.

Trump’s positive coronavirus test upends campaign in final stretch

Region near French-Italian border is battling floods as storm Alex hit the area on Saturday. The storm has caused heavy flooding. The floods have damaged homes and swept away roads. Storm Alex ravaged several villages around Nice on the French Riviera.

Meteo France said that 450mm (17.7 inches) of rain was recorded over 24 hours in some areas, which is the equivalent of close to four months of rain at this time of the year.

A fireman died and 19 people were missing in France and Italy

Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi called it the worst flooding disaster in the area for more than a century after flying over the worst-hit area by helicopter.

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"The roads and about 100 houses were swept away or partially destroyed," he told French news channel BFM.

At least eight people were missing in France, authorities said. These included two firemen whose vehicle was carried away by a swollen river, according to local witnesses cited by several French media.

A fireman was killed by a falling tree in the Valle d'Aosta region, while three people travelling in a van were swept away by floodwaters in Val Roya on the border with France.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/storm-alex-batters-southeastern-france-several-go-missing-332251">Storm Alex batters southeastern France, several go missing</a> 
 
Six German trekkers were among the missing after failing to return from a trip in the mountains in the province of Cuneo.

In northwest Italy, several roads and bridges have been swept away.

Eric Ciotti, a member of French parliament who is from one of the worst affected villages in the area, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, said several villages were cut off as they are located in steep-sided valleys of the mountainous region.

Lockdown in Paris

France is having to battle floods just as it moves to impose lockdown to contain coronavirus. Although French President Emmanuel Macron has said that there would not be any nationwide lockdown,&nbsp;

Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday the Paris region was set to be placed on maximum COVID-19 alert from as soon as Monday as cases rise.

Veran said the Paris region had passed all three of the government’s criteria for being put on the highest level of alert. In the past 24 hours, the coronavirus infection rate had surpassed 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

(With agency inputs)

Region near French-Italian border is battling floods as storm Alex hit the area on Saturday. The storm has caused heavy flooding. The floods have damaged homes and swept away roads.

Region near French-Italian border is battling floods as storm Alex hit the area on Saturday. The storm has caused heavy flooding. The floods have damaged homes and swept away roads. Storm Alex ravaged several villages around Nice on the French Riviera. Meteo France said that 450mm (17.7 inches) of rain was recorded over 24 hours in some areas, which is the equivalent of close to four months of rain at this time of the year. A fireman died and 19 people were missing in France and Italy Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi called it the worst flooding disaster in the area for more than a century after flying over the worst-hit area by helicopter. × "The roads and about 100 houses were swept away or partially destroyed," he told French news channel BFM. At least eight people were missing in France, authorities said. These included two firemen whose vehicle was carried away by a swollen river, according to local witnesses cited by several French media. A fireman was killed by a falling tree in the Valle d'Aosta region, while three people travelling in a van were swept away by floodwaters in Val Roya on the border with France. Also Read | Storm Alex batters southeastern France, several go missing Six German trekkers were among the missing after failing to return from a trip in the mountains in the province of Cuneo. In northwest Italy, several roads and bridges have been swept away. Eric Ciotti, a member of French parliament who is from one of the worst affected villages in the area, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, said several villages were cut off as they are located in steep-sided valleys of the mountainous region. Lockdown in Paris France is having to battle floods just as it moves to impose lockdown to contain coronavirus. Although French President Emmanuel Macron has said that there would not be any nationwide lockdown, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday the Paris region was set to be placed on maximum COVID-19 alert from as soon as Monday as cases rise. Veran said the Paris region had passed all three of the government’s criteria for being put on the highest level of alert. In the past 24 hours, the coronavirus infection rate had surpassed 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. (With agency inputs)

France battles floods, Paris stares at COVID-19 lockdown

US President Donald Trump is not the only COVID denier who ended up testing positive for coronavirus there are two other world leaders. Watch Video

When COVID deniers caught the virus

10 months into 2020 - and there is no respite from the Wuhan Virus. As more countries reimpose movement restrictions and lockdowns - China is celebrating, traveling, and repressing Hong Kong. WION's Palki has the details.

Gravitas: China is celebrating in the middle of the Pandemic

The British government tightened restrictions on socialising in parts of northeast England in response to high and increasing COVID-19 infection rates in the region.

WION Dispatch: UK govt imposes new COVID restrictions, ban on indoor meeting in Liverpool

Written by: Sanjeev Roy

Before Covid (BC) brand collaboration meant that two or more non-competing brands would come together – this was often done purely for promotional gains. &nbsp;

The Covid Era (CE) has, however, brought with it a new wave of not just inter-category but also intra-category brand collaborations – brands that were historically considered “competitors” are actually working together now. Consider this, rival pharma companies in India are working in tandem to ensure that life-saving drugs reach all markets even as they knowingly give up on a part of their competitive advantage.&nbsp;

Or consider this, Apple and Google (both in the past, made too much effort in finding innovative ways of blocking each other’s services) decided to collaborate to create contact tracing solutions.

Examples are aplenty: AstraZeneca and GSK, arch-rivals in the UK pharma industry, collaborating with the University of Cambridge to assist the government in COVID-19 testing efforts; beverage rivals Pernod Ricard, Budweiser, Carlsberg, Remy Martin, have collaborated in launching online clubbing experience in China.

Or consider the many volunteer groups cropping up, where individuals located all over the country were working in tandem to help people in various crises such as the migrant crisis during the lockdown, or floods in Assam and Kerala, cyclone in Bengal – a group of people having never met in-person before and having no common connection except a passion and willingness to make a change.&nbsp;

Perhaps it is one more of the CE paradoxes that we are now seeing: the physical coming together of people has been largely limited due to lockdowns and safety concerns and yet virtual collaborations – driven by common passion and innovative solutions, are on the rise.&nbsp;

On the one hand are governments and organizations who are erecting bigger and thicker walls and on the other are the academia, businesses and individuals who are collaborating, sharing and creating innovative solutions, more than ever before.

At first glance, it might appear almost counterintuitive that brands in times of such economic difficulty - instead of pushing harder to outdo the competitors – are collaborating with them.&nbsp;

Why&nbsp;Now? 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>For many it might simply be self-interest.&nbsp;With bars and restaurants closed and e-commerce on the rise, the beverage companies, a music label and an ecom site, found that together they could achieve more than they could individually. Carlsberg and Budweiser, who in any case sit in the same bar shelf, found more joy in raising a toast together than in clashing swords.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The pharma companies found their distribution networks totally disrupted during the first lockdown. Cries of help from kidney transplant patients in Ranchi for the lifesaving drug of one company or a cancer patient in Dharamshala for the drugs of the other company, could only be met if they relied on each other to share costs of a chartered airplane or use each other’s distribution strengths in different areas. Not only did they save lives, but they also managed to retain valuable customers. These are big chasms that have been crossed and organisations could start seeing long term merit in collaborating on certain aspects rather than competing.</li>
	<li>Homo Sapiens are social animals. For us, connecting with others is a natural urge. We have been forced into isolation and fear and uncertainty is high. At a time like this, seeking out others is natural.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>At Future Forward, the virtual group&nbsp;of scenario planning&nbsp;enthusiasts (who co- authored Here Today Here Tomorrow), seeking answers and trying to make sense of the future, is our way of coping with uncertainty and fear. We do it as a collective instead of individually. Instinct has driven collaboration, on what is primarily an intellectual pursuit.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Consider this analogy: Onam Sadya (traditional vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf in Kerala for Onam) reimagined as a mélange of Malayali and Bengali vegetarian dishes to create a new, unique experience; conceived as one meal but cooked by two chefs specializing in each cuisine. The Malayali Chef and the Bengali Chef, looking to remain interesting and relevant in a changed market, seek each other out and create an experience that stands out. Alone is scary, together is less so.</li>
</ul>

This is a time that needs us to be together. The problem is large and those with muscle have to unite and contribute. The solutions are needed fast. This is beyond profits. Glaxo, AstraZenaca, Oxford, Serum Institute of India, WHO and a whole host of others have to pull together to solve a global problem, fast. Apple and Google have to combine resources.

&nbsp;

Is this sustainable?

The biggest benefit is that of survival – not being a part of the solution will mean that customers will write off the brands sooner rather than later.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/chinese-scientist-says-covid-19-was-created-by-chinas-military-327862">Chinese scientist says covid-19 was created by China’s military</a> 
 
Innovative outputs, synergies, new markets, engaged consumers, solutions at scale are the benefits that can outlive the pandemic. To keep it working though organisations and individuals have to be mindful of what has worked so far:

<ul>
	<li>Shared purpose, the will to make a difference and common goals have never been more important. Apple and Google sit at the same table because they both share the same purpose of finding solutions for dealing with the pandemic. This is what their stakeholders want as well. At Future Forward we are united by our common enthusiasm for scenario planning and making sense of the future. We had common goals, a paper on trends first and then the book.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Say bye to ego and welcome humility. If AstraZeneca were to try to steal the thunder for itself and not acknowledge its partners, the collaboration is bound to run into trouble. For corporations and nations, this is a new muscle to exercise. Individuals collaborating would also do well to remember this. The edifice of success has been built around claiming the glory and the spoils. Implicit in collaboration is sharing and generosity. The belief that as each collaborator gets stronger, the entire collaboration benefits.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The virus while creating a distanced world, has opened the doors on many new connections. Nature has once again knocked us hard on the head, teaching us lessons that can create a more beautiful, just and happy world.

Sanjeev Roy is an Executive Coach, OD Consultant and Co-Author of ‘Here Today Here Tomorrow’&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Written by: Sanjeev Roy Before Covid (BC) brand collaboration meant that two or more non-competing brands would come together – this was often done purely for promotional gains.

Written by: Sanjeev Roy Before Covid (BC) brand collaboration meant that two or more non-competing brands would come together – this was often done purely for promotional gains. The Covid Era (CE) has, however, brought with it a new wave of not just inter-category but also intra-category brand collaborations – brands that were historically considered “competitors” are actually working together now. Consider this, rival pharma companies in India are working in tandem to ensure that life-saving drugs reach all markets even as they knowingly give up on a part of their competitive advantage. Or consider this, Apple and Google (both in the past, made too much effort in finding innovative ways of blocking each other’s services) decided to collaborate to create contact tracing solutions. Examples are aplenty: AstraZeneca and GSK, arch-rivals in the UK pharma industry, collaborating with the University of Cambridge to assist the government in COVID-19 testing efforts; beverage rivals Pernod Ricard, Budweiser, Carlsberg, Remy Martin, have collaborated in launching online clubbing experience in China. Or consider the many volunteer groups cropping up, where individuals located all over the country were working in tandem to help people in various crises such as the migrant crisis during the lockdown, or floods in Assam and Kerala, cyclone in Bengal – a group of people having never met in-person before and having no common connection except a passion and willingness to make a change. Perhaps it is one more of the CE paradoxes that we are now seeing: the physical coming together of people has been largely limited due to lockdowns and safety concerns and yet virtual collaborations – driven by common passion and innovative solutions, are on the rise. On the one hand are governments and organizations who are erecting bigger and thicker walls and on the other are the academia, businesses and individuals who are collaborating, sharing and creating innovative solutions, more than ever before. At first glance, it might appear almost counterintuitive that brands in times of such economic difficulty - instead of pushing harder to outdo the competitors – are collaborating with them. Why Now? For many it might simply be self-interest. With bars and restaurants closed and e-commerce on the rise, the beverage companies, a music label and an ecom site, found that together they could achieve more than they could individually. Carlsberg and Budweiser, who in any case sit in the same bar shelf, found more joy in raising a toast together than in clashing swords. The pharma companies found their distribution networks totally disrupted during the first lockdown. Cries of help from kidney transplant patients in Ranchi for the lifesaving drug of one company or a cancer patient in Dharamshala for the drugs of the other company, could only be met if they relied on each other to share costs of a chartered airplane or use each other’s distribution strengths in different areas. Not only did they save lives, but they also managed to retain valuable customers. These are big chasms that have been crossed and organisations could start seeing long term merit in collaborating on certain aspects rather than competing. Homo Sapiens are social animals. For us, connecting with others is a natural urge. We have been forced into isolation and fear and uncertainty is high. At a time like this, seeking out others is natural. At Future Forward, the virtual group of scenario planning enthusiasts (who co- authored Here Today Here Tomorrow), seeking answers and trying to make sense of the future, is our way of coping with uncertainty and fear. We do it as a collective instead of individually. Instinct has driven collaboration, on what is primarily an intellectual pursuit. Consider this analogy: Onam Sadya (traditional vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf in Kerala for Onam) reimagined as a mélange of Malayali and Bengali vegetarian dishes to create a new, unique experience; conceived as one meal but cooked by two chefs specializing in each cuisine. The Malayali Chef and the Bengali Chef, looking to remain interesting and relevant in a changed market, seek each other out and create an experience that stands out. Alone is scary, together is less so. This is a time that needs us to be together. The problem is large and those with muscle have to unite and contribute. The solutions are needed fast. This is beyond profits. Glaxo, AstraZenaca, Oxford, Serum Institute of India, WHO and a whole host of others have to pull together to solve a global problem, fast. Apple and Google have to combine resources. Is this sustainable? The biggest benefit is that of survival – not being a part of the solution will mean that customers will write off the brands sooner rather than later. Also Read | Chinese scientist says covid-19 was created by China’s military Innovative outputs, synergies, new markets, engaged consumers, solutions at scale are the benefits that can outlive the pandemic. To keep it working though organisations and individuals have to be mindful of what has worked so far: Shared purpose, the will to make a difference and common goals have never been more important. Apple and Google sit at the same table because they both share the same purpose of finding solutions for dealing with the pandemic. This is what their stakeholders want as well. At Future Forward we are united by our common enthusiasm for scenario planning and making sense of the future. We had common goals, a paper on trends first and then the book. Say bye to ego and welcome humility. If AstraZeneca were to try to steal the thunder for itself and not acknowledge its partners, the collaboration is bound to run into trouble. For corporations and nations, this is a new muscle to exercise. Individuals collaborating would also do well to remember this. The edifice of success has been built around claiming the glory and the spoils. Implicit in collaboration is sharing and generosity. The belief that as each collaborator gets stronger, the entire collaboration benefits. The virus while creating a distanced world, has opened the doors on many new connections. Nature has once again knocked us hard on the head, teaching us lessons that can create a more beautiful, just and happy world. Sanjeev Roy is an Executive Coach, OD Consultant and Co-Author of ‘Here Today Here Tomorrow’ (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Collaborate, not compete – lessons from the new normal

This is Gundam, a robot from Japanese fiction. Till about a few months ago, Gundam was only confined to Manga, films, merchandise and plastic models. Gundam has now come to life in Yokohama. It can walk, bend a knee. point at the sky and do a host of other things.

But what's Gundam's job? This life-size robot is the centrepiece of the brand's Yokohama factory. It's 18 metres tall. It was supposed to be opened to public on October 1. But the plans were changed and now Gundam fans will have to wait for sometime before they can meet their hero in real-time.

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Life-sized Gundam in Yokohama is now in testing mode.<a href="https://t.co/51HVoraPb7">pic.twitter.com/51HVoraPb7</a>
— Catsuka (@catsuka) <a href="https://twitter.com/catsuka/status/1308068858541023232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The giant above is a showpiece. But there are robots half its size that are fighting real-life enemies. Robots are fighting the Wuhan virus at one of London's biggest train stations. Their weapon of choice is UV light.

The robots work by moving into a room. They automatically map out a room and take a route around the room that is most effective in cleaning and disinfecting that room or a particular room.

The same type of robot is lending a helping hand to Wuhan virus patients in Egypt.

Halfway across the world. Mitra too is doing a fine job. It is helping Wuhan virus patients in India speak to their loved ones. Mitra means friend in Hindi.

Another robot, or rather a dog robot is helping humans avoid high-risk areas. It can be a dangerous terrain or mines, the robot Scar can go anywhere. Scar has 5 camera modules. The robot can observe the environment, take measurements, and even map an area.

Fantasy and reality can easily be fused in the amusing world we live in. It took a pandemic for us to shed our fear of these robots. Not all of them are here to steal our jobs. Some of them are here just to make our lives a little easier.

This is Gundam, a robot from Japanese fiction. Till about a few months ago, Gundam was only confined to Manga, films, merchandise and plastic models. Gundam has now come to life in Yokohama.

This is Gundam, a robot from Japanese fiction. Till about a few months ago, Gundam was only confined to Manga, films, merchandise and plastic models. Gundam has now come to life in Yokohama. It can walk, bend a knee. point at the sky and do a host of other things. But what's Gundam's job? This life-size robot is the centrepiece of the brand's Yokohama factory. It's 18 metres tall. It was supposed to be opened to public on October 1. But the plans were changed and now Gundam fans will have to wait for sometime before they can meet their hero in real-time. Life-sized Gundam in Yokohama is now in testing mode.pic.twitter.com/51HVoraPb7 — Catsuka (@catsuka) September 21, 2020 × The giant above is a showpiece. But there are robots half its size that are fighting real-life enemies. Robots are fighting the Wuhan virus at one of London's biggest train stations. Their weapon of choice is UV light. The robots work by moving into a room. They automatically map out a room and take a route around the room that is most effective in cleaning and disinfecting that room or a particular room. The same type of robot is lending a helping hand to Wuhan virus patients in Egypt. Halfway across the world. Mitra too is doing a fine job. It is helping Wuhan virus patients in India speak to their loved ones. Mitra means friend in Hindi. Another robot, or rather a dog robot is helping humans avoid high-risk areas. It can be a dangerous terrain or mines, the robot Scar can go anywhere. Scar has 5 camera modules. The robot can observe the environment, take measurements, and even map an area. Fantasy and reality can easily be fused in the amusing world we live in. It took a pandemic for us to shed our fear of these robots. Not all of them are here to steal our jobs. Some of them are here just to make our lives a little easier.

Fantasy and reality fuse, with robots in tow

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said there is no shortage of oxygen in Delhi hospitals and that enough stock is available for the next six to seven days.

The minister also the COVID-19 positivity rate in the national capital has plateaued out a bit and a downward trend is expected in a week or two.

"There is no shortage of oxygen in Delhi hospitals. I took stock of the situation. There is a slight issue, but there is enough oxygen for 7 days in Delhi government-run hospitals," he said.

Delhi gets oxygen from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Some suppliers in those states have been told to first supply oxygen there. These issues are being sorted, Jain told reporters here.

He said Delhi reported a positivity rate of 6.47 per cent on Tuesday. The average positivity rate for the last 7 days stood at 7 per cent.

It was 8.5-9 per cent in the recent past. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the cumulative positivity rate has come down from 12 per cent to 9 per cent.

"The positivity rate has plateaued out a bit and a downward trend will there in a week or two," he said.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said there is no shortage of oxygen in Delhi hospitals and that enough stock is available for the next six to seven days.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said there is no shortage of oxygen in Delhi hospitals and that enough stock is available for the next six to seven days. The minister also the COVID-19 positivity rate in the national capital has plateaued out a bit and a downward trend is expected in a week or two. "There is no shortage of oxygen in Delhi hospitals. I took stock of the situation. There is a slight issue, but there is enough oxygen for 7 days in Delhi government-run hospitals," he said. Delhi gets oxygen from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Some suppliers in those states have been told to first supply oxygen there. These issues are being sorted, Jain told reporters here. He said Delhi reported a positivity rate of 6.47 per cent on Tuesday. The average positivity rate for the last 7 days stood at 7 per cent. It was 8.5-9 per cent in the recent past. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the cumulative positivity rate has come down from 12 per cent to 9 per cent. "The positivity rate has plateaued out a bit and a downward trend will there in a week or two," he said.

Delhi hospitals have enough oxygen for 6-7 days: Satyendar Jain

The filming of the third chapter of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', the Harry Potter prequel spin-off, has resumed with safety measures in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, series lead Eddie Redmayne confirmed. 
 
The actor, who plays Newt Scamander in the fantasy franchise based on JK Rowling's books, said the cast and crew have been shooting since "two weeks", getting used to the new normal. 
 
"It's interesting because we've started shooting now. We're two weeks in, and again, it's a whole new process. It's a whole new normal. Testing frequently, masks. 
 
"And I wondered, actually, whether the masks would affect creativity, in some ways. Maybe that was a bit ignorant, but I just thought, as humans, do we need interaction to spark from each other?" Redmayne told Cinema Blend. 
 
Despite working under a different process, the Oscar winner said, it is reassuring that "everyone is working at the top of their game". 
 
"You're always trying to make the best work possible, so I feel like it has been helpful in some ways," he added.

Warner Bros put the production on 'Fantastic Beasts 3' on hold in March due to the pandemic. 
 
Also starring Jude Law, Johnny Depp, Katherine Waterston and Dan Fogler, the film is still slated to be released on November 12, 2021.

The filming of the third chapter of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', the Harry Potter prequel spin-off, has resumed with safety measures in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, series lead Eddie Redmayne confirmed.

The filming of the third chapter of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', the Harry Potter prequel spin-off, has resumed with safety measures in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, series lead Eddie Redmayne confirmed. The actor, who plays Newt Scamander in the fantasy franchise based on JK Rowling's books, said the cast and crew have been shooting since "two weeks", getting used to the new normal. "It's interesting because we've started shooting now. We're two weeks in, and again, it's a whole new process. It's a whole new normal. Testing frequently, masks. "And I wondered, actually, whether the masks would affect creativity, in some ways. Maybe that was a bit ignorant, but I just thought, as humans, do we need interaction to spark from each other?" Redmayne told Cinema Blend. Despite working under a different process, the Oscar winner said, it is reassuring that "everyone is working at the top of their game". "You're always trying to make the best work possible, so I feel like it has been helpful in some ways," he added. Warner Bros put the production on 'Fantastic Beasts 3' on hold in March due to the pandemic. Also starring Jude Law, Johnny Depp, Katherine Waterston and Dan Fogler, the film is still slated to be released on November 12, 2021.

'Fantastic Beasts 3' resumes production amid COVID-19

Watch the exclusive interview with Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan.

Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan speaks to WION's Palki Sharma Upadhyay

France have rolled out new measures to combat coronavirus amid reports of a flareup of COVID-19 across Europe.

Video: Europe announces new COVID-19 restrictions

Russia has approved R-Pharm’s Coronavir treatment for outpatients with mild to moderate Covid-19 infections and the antiviral drug could be rolled out to pharmacies in the country as soon as next week, the company said on Friday.

Video: Russia approves first Covid-19 prescription drug for sale in pharmacies

French health authorities reported 13,498 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, setting another record in daily additional infections since the disease started to spread in the country.

The number of people in France who have died from COVID-19 infections was up by 26, at 31,274, and the cumulative number of cases now totals 442,194. 
&nbsp;

French health authorities reported 13,498 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, setting another record in daily additional infections since the disease started to spread in the country.

French health authorities reported 13,498 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, setting another record in daily additional infections since the disease started to spread in the country. The number of people in France who have died from COVID-19 infections was up by 26, at 31,274, and the cumulative number of cases now totals 442,194.

France reports new daily record in COVID-19 cases

A study conducted in Cambridge University has drawn inference that 'nudges' from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were important during India's fight against coronavirus pandemic. The paper, authored by Ramit Debnath and Ronita Bardhan said that these nudges from the PM played a large part in creating herd effect on locdown and social distancing norms across India.

India was under lockdown from March 25 to May 31 in four phases. The announcements about the lockdown were made by PM Modi himself via his national television address.

The Cambridge Univeristy study said that PM Modi's addresses effected changes in various sectors like "public health (e.g., masks in public spaces; Yoga and Ayurveda for immunity), transport (e.g., old trains converted to isolation wards), micro, small and medium enterprises (e.g., rapid production of PPE and masks), science and technology sector (e.g., diagnostic kits, robots and nano-technology), home affairs (e.g., surveillance and lockdown), urban (e.g. drones, GIS-tools) and education (e.g., online learning)" 
&nbsp; 
The study has been published in scientific journal PLOS One

Primary data for the study was taken from Press Information Bureau (PIB) in form of press releases of government plans, policies, programme initiatives and achievements.

"A text corpus of 260,852 words was created from 396 documents from the PIB. An unsupervised machine-based topic modelling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm was performed on the text corpus. It was done to extract high probability topics in the policy sectors. The interpretation of the extracted topics was made through a nudge theoretic lens to derive the critical policy heuristics of the government.." says the study 
&nbsp;

A study conducted in Cambridge University has drawn inference that 'nudges' from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were important during India's fight against coronavirus pandemic.

A study conducted in Cambridge University has drawn inference that 'nudges' from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were important during India's fight against coronavirus pandemic. The paper, authored by Ramit Debnath and Ronita Bardhan said that these nudges from the PM played a large part in creating herd effect on locdown and social distancing norms across India. India was under lockdown from March 25 to May 31 in four phases. The announcements about the lockdown were made by PM Modi himself via his national television address. The Cambridge Univeristy study said that PM Modi's addresses effected changes in various sectors like "public health (e.g., masks in public spaces; Yoga and Ayurveda for immunity), transport (e.g., old trains converted to isolation wards), micro, small and medium enterprises (e.g., rapid production of PPE and masks), science and technology sector (e.g., diagnostic kits, robots and nano-technology), home affairs (e.g., surveillance and lockdown), urban (e.g. drones, GIS-tools) and education (e.g., online learning)" The study has been published in scientific journal PLOS One Primary data for the study was taken from Press Information Bureau (PIB) in form of press releases of government plans, policies, programme initiatives and achievements. "A text corpus of 260,852 words was created from 396 documents from the PIB. An unsupervised machine-based topic modelling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm was performed on the text corpus. It was done to extract high probability topics in the policy sectors. The interpretation of the extracted topics was made through a nudge theoretic lens to derive the critical policy heuristics of the government.." says the study

'Nudges' from Modi were important in India's fight against COVID-19: Cambridge study

US Presidents have been prone to embarrassing remarks in public in past. But current President Donald Trump is considered by many to be the one to have made more than many. Latest in the series is his assertion that coronavirus pandemic will go away due to 'herd mentality'

"...you'll develop, you'll develop herd like a herd mentality. It's going to be, it's going to be herd developed and that's going to happen. That will all happen," said Trump as he was being interviewed by George Stephanopolous.

Herd mentality refers to tendency of individuals to mindlessly follow a behaviour taken up by large number of people around them.

Does this sound like a strategy to effectively combat coronavirus pandemic? Certainly not.

The correct words Donald Trump appeared to not remember were Herd Immunity.

Herd Immunity refers to resistance to a contagious disease (like coronavirus) developed in population. If herd immunity against a particular disease is developed in a population, it is considered to be safe from the disease.

In his interview with George Stephanopoulos, Trump even said that the pandemic would "go away" without a vaccine.

He repeated his claim even as startled Stephanopolous asked,"It will go away without a vaccine?"

Trump then hastily added that coronavirus would go away "quickly" if a vaccine was made available.

Donald Trump has often given extremely conflicting statements about coronavirus pandemic.

President of the US, whose decisions have global ramifications, is expected to be well informed and measured before making public statements.

However, Trump's past statements on coronavirus pandemic in the US have been surprising

He statements include 'It's just a flu', 'It will go away on its own' and many more that were unscientific and even misleading. Trump has even laughed off wearing a mask.

The US has seen 195,000 deaths due to coronavirus so far.

US Presidents have been prone to embarrassing remarks in public in past. But current President Donald Trump is considered by many to be the one to have made more than many.

US Presidents have been prone to embarrassing remarks in public in past. But current President Donald Trump is considered by many to be the one to have made more than many. Latest in the series is his assertion that coronavirus pandemic will go away due to 'herd mentality' "...you'll develop, you'll develop herd like a herd mentality. It's going to be, it's going to be herd developed and that's going to happen. That will all happen," said Trump as he was being interviewed by George Stephanopolous. Herd mentality refers to tendency of individuals to mindlessly follow a behaviour taken up by large number of people around them. Does this sound like a strategy to effectively combat coronavirus pandemic? Certainly not. The correct words Donald Trump appeared to not remember were Herd Immunity. Herd Immunity refers to resistance to a contagious disease (like coronavirus) developed in population. If herd immunity against a particular disease is developed in a population, it is considered to be safe from the disease. In his interview with George Stephanopoulos, Trump even said that the pandemic would "go away" without a vaccine. He repeated his claim even as startled Stephanopolous asked,"It will go away without a vaccine?" Trump then hastily added that coronavirus would go away "quickly" if a vaccine was made available. Donald Trump has often given extremely conflicting statements about coronavirus pandemic. President of the US, whose decisions have global ramifications, is expected to be well informed and measured before making public statements. However, Trump's past statements on coronavirus pandemic in the US have been surprising He statements include 'It's just a flu', 'It will go away on its own' and many more that were unscientific and even misleading. Trump has even laughed off wearing a mask. The US has seen 195,000 deaths due to coronavirus so far.

COVID-19 will go away because of 'herd mentality', says Donald Trump

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has allowed Serum Institute of India (SII) to restart its phase two and three clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine after the pharma major submitted the recommendations of the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), UK and DSMB India and requested permission to restart enrolment in the subject clinical trial of the vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

DCGI VG Somani, in a letter to SII, has said that the institute's reply has been "carefully examined" as also the recommendations of the DSMB in India and in UK.

"You (SII) may recommence the clinical trial dated August 2, 2020, as recommended by the DSMB, India as per already approved protocol and the provisions laid down under New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 subject to the conditions mentioned which are to be scrupulously followed such as extra care during screening, additional information in the informed consent and close monitoring for similar events during the study follow-up," the letter said.

The DCGI has also asked SII to submit the details of the medication used as per protocol for the management of the adverse events.

AstraZeneca had earlier paused the ongoing trial of nCoV19 coronavirus vaccine (recombinant) as a volunteer developed an unexplained illness. It was reported that the clinical trial had been put on hold in the US, UK, Brazil and South Africa.

Following this, the country's top drugs regulator had September 11 ordered the SII to suspend any new recruitment in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for vaccine"&gt;COVID-19 vaccine till further orders.

AstraZeneca has already resumed trials in the UK for the vaccine.

A government official said that Serum Institute of India submitted the recommendations of the DSMB, UK and DSMB India on September 15 and requested permission to restart enrolment in the subject clinical trial.

"The DSMB, UK recommended that investigators recommend all immunizations in their clinical trials subject to certain conditions. The DSMB, India recommended to continue the study and enroll the remaining participants in the clinical trial as per protocol subject to three conditions to the scrupulously followed," the official said.

These recommendations include revised participant information sheet, revised informed consent form (ICF) and additional safety monitory plans for the enrolled participants incorporating the latest SUSAR and indicating the specific contact numbers for participants for seeking assistants in case of any problem or question.

India's top drugs regulator had in August granted permission to SII to conduct a phase II/III clinical trial of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine (recombinant) at various clinical trial sites in the country to determine its safety and immunogenicity.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has allowed Serum Institute of India (SII) to restart its phase two and three clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine after the pharma major submitted the recommendations of the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), UK and DSMB India and requested permission to restart enrolment in the subject clinical trial of the vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has allowed Serum Institute of India (SII) to restart its phase two and three clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine after the pharma major submitted the recommendations of the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), UK and DSMB India and requested permission to restart enrolment in the subject clinical trial of the vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. DCGI VG Somani, in a letter to SII, has said that the institute's reply has been "carefully examined" as also the recommendations of the DSMB in India and in UK. "You (SII) may recommence the clinical trial dated August 2, 2020, as recommended by the DSMB, India as per already approved protocol and the provisions laid down under New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 subject to the conditions mentioned which are to be scrupulously followed such as extra care during screening, additional information in the informed consent and close monitoring for similar events during the study follow-up," the letter said. The DCGI has also asked SII to submit the details of the medication used as per protocol for the management of the adverse events. AstraZeneca had earlier paused the ongoing trial of nCoV19 coronavirus vaccine (recombinant) as a volunteer developed an unexplained illness. It was reported that the clinical trial had been put on hold in the US, UK, Brazil and South Africa. Following this, the country's top drugs regulator had September 11 ordered the SII to suspend any new recruitment in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine till further orders. AstraZeneca has already resumed trials in the UK for the vaccine. A government official said that Serum Institute of India submitted the recommendations of the DSMB, UK and DSMB India on September 15 and requested permission to restart enrolment in the subject clinical trial. "The DSMB, UK recommended that investigators recommend all immunizations in their clinical trials subject to certain conditions. The DSMB, India recommended to continue the study and enroll the remaining participants in the clinical trial as per protocol subject to three conditions to the scrupulously followed," the official said. These recommendations include revised participant information sheet, revised informed consent form (ICF) and additional safety monitory plans for the enrolled participants incorporating the latest SUSAR and indicating the specific contact numbers for participants for seeking assistants in case of any problem or question. India's top drugs regulator had in August granted permission to SII to conduct a phase II/III clinical trial of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine (recombinant) at various clinical trial sites in the country to determine its safety and immunogenicity.

DCGI gives go-ahead to Serum Institute for Covid-19 vaccine trials in India

Around 50,000 people, across several countries, are participating in phase 3 clinical trials of a COVID vaccine developed by the China National Biotec Group

Tracking COVID-19 vaccine: China's phase 3 vaccine proceedings going smooth

Protesters in Melbourne defied coronavirus lockdown for a second weekend on Sunday. The city has been under hard lockdown for last six weeks.

Video: Protests against coronavirus lockdown erupt in Melbourne

Pharma giant AstraZeneca on Saturday said it had resumed a Covid-19 vaccine trial after getting the all-clear from British regulators, following a pause caused by a UK volunteer falling ill.

"Clinical trials for the AstraZeneca Oxford coronavirus vaccine, AZD1222, have resumed in the UK following confirmation by the Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) that it was safe to do so," the company said in a statement.

The vaccine, which is known as Covishield in India, is being develped by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical giant, had "voluntarily paused" clinical trials of the Coronavirus vaccine after a volunteer developed an unexplained illness. AstraZeneca called it a routine action but this pause in the clinical trials made headlines everywhere.

The vaccine, being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca is considered to be the frotrunner in the race to develop vaccine against coronavirus. If all goes as per the requirements, teh vaccine may be available to public as early as Janury 2021.

In India, the vaccine will be manufactured by Serum Institute of India, the third largest manufacturer of vaccines in the world.Just after&nbsp;AstraZeneca decided to resume vaccine trails, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute said that it was a good news

"As I’d mentioned earlier, we should not jump to conclusions until the trials are fully concluded. The recent chain of events are a clear example why we should not bias the process and should respect the process till the end. Good news, @UniofOxford" he tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As I’d mentioned earlier, we should not jump to conclusions until the trials are fully concluded. The recent chain of events are a clear example why we should not bias the process and should respect the process till the end. Good news, <a href="https://twitter.com/UniofOxford?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UniofOxford</a>. <a href="https://t.co/ThIU2ELkO3">https://t.co/ThIU2ELkO3</a>
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) <a href="https://twitter.com/adarpoonawalla/status/1304800907327016960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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After Astrazeneca paused the trails, Serum Institute had said that its trials in India would not stop as they had not encountered any problem. However, Serum Institute paused the trials and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) served a notice to it.

(With inputs from AFP)

Pharma giant AstraZeneca on Saturday said it had resumed a Covid-19 vaccine trial after getting the all-clear from British regulators, following a pause caused by a UK volunteer falling ill.

Pharma giant AstraZeneca on Saturday said it had resumed a Covid-19 vaccine trial after getting the all-clear from British regulators, following a pause caused by a UK volunteer falling ill. "Clinical trials for the AstraZeneca Oxford coronavirus vaccine, AZD1222, have resumed in the UK following confirmation by the Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) that it was safe to do so," the company said in a statement. The vaccine, which is known as Covishield in India, is being develped by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical giant, had "voluntarily paused" clinical trials of the Coronavirus vaccine after a volunteer developed an unexplained illness. AstraZeneca called it a routine action but this pause in the clinical trials made headlines everywhere. The vaccine, being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca is considered to be the frotrunner in the race to develop vaccine against coronavirus. If all goes as per the requirements, teh vaccine may be available to public as early as Janury 2021. In India, the vaccine will be manufactured by Serum Institute of India, the third largest manufacturer of vaccines in the world.Just after AstraZeneca decided to resume vaccine trails, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute said that it was a good news "As I’d mentioned earlier, we should not jump to conclusions until the trials are fully concluded. The recent chain of events are a clear example why we should not bias the process and should respect the process till the end. Good news, @UniofOxford" he tweeted. As I’d mentioned earlier, we should not jump to conclusions until the trials are fully concluded. The recent chain of events are a clear example why we should not bias the process and should respect the process till the end. Good news, @UniofOxford. https://t.co/ThIU2ELkO3 — Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) September 12, 2020 × After Astrazeneca paused the trails, Serum Institute had said that its trials in India would not stop as they had not encountered any problem. However, Serum Institute paused the trials and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) served a notice to it. (With inputs from AFP)

AstraZeneca resumes trials of coronavirus vaccine in UK

Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has issued a show-cause notice to Serum Institute, the world's third largest vaccine manufacturer over safety issues in COVID-19 vaccine trials. DGCI has asked Serum Institute why trials of Covishield were not stopped in India even when the same vaccine-candidate caused illness in one of the participants of the trials.

Trials of the vaccine in the UK were put on hold after after one of the participants developed an unexplained illness. The vaccine is being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford Univesrity.

"As part of the ongoing randomized, controlled global trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine, our standard review process was triggered and we voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of safety data by an independent committee," a spokesperson said earlier on Wednesday.

 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/oxford-university-covid-19-vaccine-trials-in-india-to-continue-despite-pause-in-uk-serum-institute-326243">Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine trials in India to continue despite 'pause' in UK: Serum Institute</a> 
&nbsp;

The company spokesperson also added that in large trials, illnesses will sometimes happen by chance but must be reviewed independently.

Serum Institute, which has been conducting trials of the vaccine in India, said on Wednesday (September 9) that they encountered "no issues".

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We can't comment much on the UK trials, but they have been paused for further review and they hope to restart soon. As far as Indian trials are concerned, it is continuing &amp; we have faced no issues at all: Serum Institute of India on reports on AstraZeneca halting the trials. <a href="https://t.co/gL7IirfnXy">https://t.co/gL7IirfnXy</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1303631201157042176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"We can't comment much on the UK trials, but they have been paused for further review and they hope to restart soon. As far as Indian trials are concerned, it is continuing &amp; we have faced no issues at all: Serum Institute of India on reports on AstraZeneca halting the trials," Serum Institute was quoted as saying by ANI.

Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has issued a show-cause notice to Serum Institute, the world's third largest vaccine manufacturer over safety issues in COVID-19 vaccine trials.

Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has issued a show-cause notice to Serum Institute, the world's third largest vaccine manufacturer over safety issues in COVID-19 vaccine trials. DGCI has asked Serum Institute why trials of Covishield were not stopped in India even when the same vaccine-candidate caused illness in one of the participants of the trials. Trials of the vaccine in the UK were put on hold after after one of the participants developed an unexplained illness. The vaccine is being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford Univesrity. "As part of the ongoing randomized, controlled global trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine, our standard review process was triggered and we voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of safety data by an independent committee," a spokesperson said earlier on Wednesday. Also Read: Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine trials in India to continue despite 'pause' in UK: Serum Institute The company spokesperson also added that in large trials, illnesses will sometimes happen by chance but must be reviewed independently. Serum Institute, which has been conducting trials of the vaccine in India, said on Wednesday (September 9) that they encountered "no issues". We can't comment much on the UK trials, but they have been paused for further review and they hope to restart soon. As far as Indian trials are concerned, it is continuing & we have faced no issues at all: Serum Institute of India on reports on AstraZeneca halting the trials. https://t.co/gL7IirfnXy — ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2020 × "We can't comment much on the UK trials, but they have been paused for further review and they hope to restart soon. As far as Indian trials are concerned, it is continuing & we have faced no issues at all: Serum Institute of India on reports on AstraZeneca halting the trials," Serum Institute was quoted as saying by ANI.

Why haven't COVID-19 vaccine trials stopped? DCGI asks Serum Institute over safety concerns

The number of people recovered from COVID-19 in India has surged to 33,98,844, further improving the recovery rate to 77.77 per cent, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.69 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said Wednesday.

It also said five states have contributed 61 per cent of the total active cases.

A record 74,894 patients recovered from COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.

The total number of recoveries on a weekly basis has increased from 1,53,118 during the third week of July to 4,84,068 in the first week of September, the ministry said.

A total of 89,706 new cases have been reported in a span of 24 hours, of which Maharashtra has contributed more than 20,000 and Andhra Pradesh more than 10,000 cases.

Sixty per cent of the new cases are reported from only five states, it said.

There are 8,97,394 active cases of COVID-19 in the country which comprises 20.53 per cent of the total caseload, it said.

Maharashtra is leading this tally with more than 2,40,000 active cases whereas Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh follow with more than 96,000 each.

"Five states -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu -- contribute 61 per cent of the total active cases of coronavirus infection," the ministry said.

A total of 1,115 deaths have been registered in a day.

Maharashtra has reported 380 deaths followed by Karnataka with 146 deaths, whereas Tamil Nadu has logged 87 deaths, it said.

With 89,706 infections being reported in a day, India's COVID-19 tally of cases mounted to 43,70,128, while the death toll rose to 73,890 with 1,115 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of people recovered from COVID-19 in India has surged to 33,98,844, further improving the recovery rate to 77.77 per cent, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.

The number of people recovered from COVID-19 in India has surged to 33,98,844, further improving the recovery rate to 77.77 per cent, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.69 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said Wednesday. It also said five states have contributed 61 per cent of the total active cases. A record 74,894 patients recovered from COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am. The total number of recoveries on a weekly basis has increased from 1,53,118 during the third week of July to 4,84,068 in the first week of September, the ministry said. A total of 89,706 new cases have been reported in a span of 24 hours, of which Maharashtra has contributed more than 20,000 and Andhra Pradesh more than 10,000 cases. Sixty per cent of the new cases are reported from only five states, it said. There are 8,97,394 active cases of COVID-19 in the country which comprises 20.53 per cent of the total caseload, it said. Maharashtra is leading this tally with more than 2,40,000 active cases whereas Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh follow with more than 96,000 each. "Five states -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu -- contribute 61 per cent of the total active cases of coronavirus infection," the ministry said. A total of 1,115 deaths have been registered in a day. Maharashtra has reported 380 deaths followed by Karnataka with 146 deaths, whereas Tamil Nadu has logged 87 deaths, it said. With 89,706 infections being reported in a day, India's COVID-19 tally of cases mounted to 43,70,128, while the death toll rose to 73,890 with 1,115 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed.

COVID-19 recoveries near 34 lakh, fatality rate has drops to 1.69 per cent: Health Ministry

India's COVID-19 tally went past 43 lakh on Wednesday, while 33,98,844 people have recuperated from the disease so far pushing the national recovery rate to 77.77 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry.

On Wednesday, as many as 89,706 new infections were reported.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 43,70,128, while the death toll rose to 73,890 with 1,115 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.69 per cent.

There are 8,97,394 active cases of COVID-19, which is 20.53 per cent of the total caseload in the country, the data stated.

Meanwhile, the metro train services resumed in most of the cities on Monday started on a cautious note amid a slew of measures for the safety of passengers and staff.

With the Centre issuing guidelines for their resumption under Unlock 4, the rapid transit networks started operations in a graded manner in Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, but were still closed in Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkata and Jaipur.

(With inputs from agencies)

India's COVID-19 tally went past 43 lakh on Wednesday, while 33,98,844 people have recuperated from the disease so far pushing the national recovery rate to 77.77 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry.

India's COVID-19 tally went past 43 lakh on Wednesday, while 33,98,844 people have recuperated from the disease so far pushing the national recovery rate to 77.77 per cent on Wednesday, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry. On Wednesday, as many as 89,706 new infections were reported. The total coronavirus cases mounted to 43,70,128, while the death toll rose to 73,890 with 1,115 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed. The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.69 per cent. There are 8,97,394 active cases of COVID-19, which is 20.53 per cent of the total caseload in the country, the data stated. Meanwhile, the metro train services resumed in most of the cities on Monday started on a cautious note amid a slew of measures for the safety of passengers and staff. With the Centre issuing guidelines for their resumption under Unlock 4, the rapid transit networks started operations in a graded manner in Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, but were still closed in Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkata and Jaipur. (With inputs from agencies)

India registers 89,706 fresh Covid cases in a day, total crosses 43 lakh

Speaking loudly can also lead to spread of coronavirus, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar said today as he asked MLAs to strictly abide by the COVID-19 protocol, especially during the Assembly session.

On Monday, the BJP MLA Reeta Devi tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the MLA, she attended the Assembly session before her COVID-19 test was conducted on Monday evening, but maintained physical distance from other MLAs in the Assembly complex.

At the beginning of the Assembly session on the second day, Mr Parmar said, "As per standard operating procedure, speaking loudly could also lead to the spread of the virus. So, talk in a normal way to check spread of novel coronavirus."

At this remark, MLAs burst into laughter and several of them even spoke loudly while participating in the discussion on the adjournment motion moved by the Leader of Opposition on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Speaker welcomed back BJP's Doon MLA Paramjeet Singh Pammi, who joined the session today after recovering from COVID-19. He had tested positive for the viral infection on August 17.

State Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary also attended the session both on Monday and Tuesday following his recovery from the disease. He had tested positive for coronavirus on August 6 and following his recovery on August 23, he remained in home quarantine.

Currently three legislators - Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, Reeta Devi and Nalagarh Congress MLA Lakhvinder Singh Rana have COVID-19.

The Assembly Speaker urged all MLAs that instead of attending the session, they should home quarantine themselves if they experience any influenza-like illness (ILI) symptom. Mr Parmar also urged them to get themselves to undergo thermal screening while entering the Assembly complex.

Speaking loudly can also lead to spread of coronavirus, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar said today as he asked MLAs to strictly abide by the COVID-19 protocol, especially during the Assembly session.

Speaking loudly can also lead to spread of coronavirus, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar said today as he asked MLAs to strictly abide by the COVID-19 protocol, especially during the Assembly session. On Monday, the BJP MLA Reeta Devi tested positive for COVID-19. According to the MLA, she attended the Assembly session before her COVID-19 test was conducted on Monday evening, but maintained physical distance from other MLAs in the Assembly complex. At the beginning of the Assembly session on the second day, Mr Parmar said, "As per standard operating procedure, speaking loudly could also lead to the spread of the virus. So, talk in a normal way to check spread of novel coronavirus." At this remark, MLAs burst into laughter and several of them even spoke loudly while participating in the discussion on the adjournment motion moved by the Leader of Opposition on Monday. Meanwhile, the Speaker welcomed back BJP's Doon MLA Paramjeet Singh Pammi, who joined the session today after recovering from COVID-19. He had tested positive for the viral infection on August 17. State Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary also attended the session both on Monday and Tuesday following his recovery from the disease. He had tested positive for coronavirus on August 6 and following his recovery on August 23, he remained in home quarantine. Currently three legislators - Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, Reeta Devi and Nalagarh Congress MLA Lakhvinder Singh Rana have COVID-19. The Assembly Speaker urged all MLAs that instead of attending the session, they should home quarantine themselves if they experience any influenza-like illness (ILI) symptom. Mr Parmar also urged them to get themselves to undergo thermal screening while entering the Assembly complex.

Speaking loudly could spread covid-19, says Himachal speaker; MLAs laugh

India's covid-19 case count touched 42,80,422 on Tuesday with 75,809 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;

The death toll was at 72,775,with the disease claiming a record 1,133 lives over the past 24 hours, theUnion health ministry data showed.&nbsp;

Recoveries surged to 33, 23,950 pushing the recovery rate to77.65%.

Meanwhile, the metro train services resumed in most of the cities on Monday started on a cautious note amid a slew of measures for the safety of passengers and staff.

With the Centre issuing guidelines for their resumption under Unlock 4, the rapid transit networks started operations in a graded manner in Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, but were still closed in Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkata and Jaipur.

(With inputs from agencies)

India's covid-19 case count touched 42,80,422 on Tuesday with 75,809 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. The death toll was at 72,775,with the disease claiming a record 1,133 lives over the past 24 hours, theUnion health ministry data showed.

India's covid-19 case count touched 42,80,422 on Tuesday with 75,809 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. The death toll was at 72,775,with the disease claiming a record 1,133 lives over the past 24 hours, theUnion health ministry data showed. Recoveries surged to 33, 23,950 pushing the recovery rate to77.65%. Meanwhile, the metro train services resumed in most of the cities on Monday started on a cautious note amid a slew of measures for the safety of passengers and staff. With the Centre issuing guidelines for their resumption under Unlock 4, the rapid transit networks started operations in a graded manner in Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, but were still closed in Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkata and Jaipur. (With inputs from agencies)

75,809 new cases, 1,133 deaths in last 24 hours take India tally near 43-lakh mark

Patients involved in early tests of a Russian coronavirus vaccine developed antibodies with "no serious adverse events", according to research published in The Lancet Friday, but experts said the trials were too small to prove safety and effectiveness.

COVID-19: Russia vaccine 'passes early trial test'

The coronavirus pandemic kept more than 250 million children away from school. Is reopening of schools during pandemic the right move?

COVID-19: Is reopening of schools during pandemic the right move?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked state public health officials to prepare to distribute a potential coronavirus vaccine to high-risk groups as soon as late October, documents published by the agency showed on Wednesday.

US CDC tells states to prep for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

Local Administrations of Kathmandu Valley has decided to continue the ongoing lockdown by another one week following the continuous surge in COVID-19 cases.In the virtual meeting between Chief District Officers of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur on Wednesday evening, it was decided to extend the lockdown, which was imposed 2 weeks before, till September 9.

"Analysing the ongoing situation and recorded cases on daily basis, we decided to extend it for another week. The risk of further spread is still high, so we opted to lengthen it by another week," Janakraj Dahal, Chief District Officer of Kathmandu told ANI over phone.Enlisted as a major hotspot of coronavirus infection, Kathmandu Valley currently hosts a total of 6,112 active cases, as per the data from the Ministry of Health and Population.

Kathmandu Valley in last 24 hours recorded a total of 388 cases out of 1,120 reported throughout the nation.The Local Authorities of Kathmandu Valley had first imposed lockdown from August 20 for a week which has been extended for the second time today.&nbsp;

Local Administrations of Kathmandu Valley has decided to continue the ongoing lockdown by another one week following the continuous surge in COVID-19 cases.In the virtual meeting between Chief District Officers of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur on Wednesday evening, it was decided to extend the lockdown, which was imposed 2 weeks before, till September 9.

Local Administrations of Kathmandu Valley has decided to continue the ongoing lockdown by another one week following the continuous surge in COVID-19 cases.In the virtual meeting between Chief District Officers of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur on Wednesday evening, it was decided to extend the lockdown, which was imposed 2 weeks before, till September 9. "Analysing the ongoing situation and recorded cases on daily basis, we decided to extend it for another week. The risk of further spread is still high, so we opted to lengthen it by another week," Janakraj Dahal, Chief District Officer of Kathmandu told ANI over phone.Enlisted as a major hotspot of coronavirus infection, Kathmandu Valley currently hosts a total of 6,112 active cases, as per the data from the Ministry of Health and Population. Kathmandu Valley in last 24 hours recorded a total of 388 cases out of 1,120 reported throughout the nation.The Local Authorities of Kathmandu Valley had first imposed lockdown from August 20 for a week which has been extended for the second time today.

Lockdown extended in Kathmandu Valley with spike in COVID-19 cases

US: CDC asks states to prepare for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

The ‘wet markets’ on the mainland have been slammed internationally as the coronavirus roils the world, with the disease having seemingly emerged from stalls selling live game in Wuhan late last year. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijings-second-coronavirus-wave-puts-wet-markets-back-in-focus-306902">Also read: Beijing's second coronavirus wave puts wet markets back in focus</a>

The government has since banned the sale of wildlife for food, but the reopening of markets has drawn criticism from around the world as the death toll from the pandemic continues to mount.

According to a report published by US-based idahoreporter.com, in Wuhan Tiansheng Street Vegetable Market and Changchun Road Vegetable Market, many merchants are selling wild frogs.Capturing, selling, and eating wild frogs violates many Chinese laws and regulations. The “Wild Animal Protection Law” stipulates that “terrestrial wild animals with important economic and scientific value” should be protected, and frogs are one of them.

Scientists and Chinese officials believe the deadly illness jumped to humans from wild animals, most likely via an intermediary species like bats. Close contact with wild animals at the Wuhan wet market has been widely blamed for the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic, set to enter its 10th month, has till now infected over 25.1 million people around the globe. Twenty million cases were added in about three weeks. The virus has killed at least 842,633​people till now. Over 16 lakh people have recovered after testing positive. 
&nbsp; 
(With inputs from agencies)

The ‘wet markets’ on the mainland have been slammed internationally as the coronavirus roils the world, with the disease having seemingly emerged from stalls selling live game in Wuhan late last year.

The ‘wet markets’ on the mainland have been slammed internationally as the coronavirus roils the world, with the disease having seemingly emerged from stalls selling live game in Wuhan late last year. Also read: Beijing's second coronavirus wave puts wet markets back in focus The government has since banned the sale of wildlife for food, but the reopening of markets has drawn criticism from around the world as the death toll from the pandemic continues to mount. According to a report published by US-based idahoreporter.com, in Wuhan Tiansheng Street Vegetable Market and Changchun Road Vegetable Market, many merchants are selling wild frogs.Capturing, selling, and eating wild frogs violates many Chinese laws and regulations. The “Wild Animal Protection Law” stipulates that “terrestrial wild animals with important economic and scientific value” should be protected, and frogs are one of them. Scientists and Chinese officials believe the deadly illness jumped to humans from wild animals, most likely via an intermediary species like bats. Close contact with wild animals at the Wuhan wet market has been widely blamed for the outbreak. Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic, set to enter its 10th month, has till now infected over 25.1 million people around the globe. Twenty million cases were added in about three weeks. The virus has killed at least 842,633people till now. Over 16 lakh people have recovered after testing positive. (With inputs from agencies)

Wuhan food markets are selling wild animals, again

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