Coronavirus live updates: Union minister Nitin Gadkari tests positive

He was unwell for over a week and under isolation. Advises all who recently came in his contact to go for Covid-19 tests.

The Covid pandemic has taken anxiety among Indians to record levels with a recent survey showing one in every four persons is so stressed that he or she actually requires medical intervention. Every second Indian shows some signs of anxiety, reveals the survey conducted on a web-based platform between April and May by the department of mental health and behavioural sciences at Max Healthcare, Saket. It involved 1,069 individuals, mostly from Delhi, UP, Haryana and Maharashtra.

The severity of Covid-19 in people with obesity and diabetes may be explained by the combined effects of the novel coronavirus and the body's natural community of bacteria -- the microbiota -- working together in the lungs, according to a new study. The review research, published in the journal eLife, assessed mechanisms linking obesity and diabetes to Covid-19, and suggested that interactions between the novel coronavirus and existing bacterial conditions may explain why people with the co-morbid conditions may often require hospitalisation and ventilation.

As per the data from the Health Ministry, Maharashtra which is the most affected by the pandemic has 2,92,174 active cases of Covid-19. Karnataka has 98,555 active cases, Andhra Pradesh (92,353), Uttar Pradesh (67,335), and Delhi (29,787).

Gymnasiums in the national capital started reopening for their patrons on September 14th, five months after they were closed, following the outbreak of Covid-19 and measures taken by the government to curb its spread.

The landmark 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly has commenced amidst the devastating coronavirus pandemic, with the world leaders set to meet virtually for the first time in the UN's 75-year history for the annual high-level session as they confront some of the most serious threats facing humanity. Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir assumed charge as the President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, succeeding Nigeria's Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr V G Somani has gave permission to Serum Institute of India to resume clinical trial of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine candidate in the country while revoking its earlier order of suspending any new recruitment for phase two and three trial. The DCGI has, however, put certain conditions like taking extra care during screening, providing additional information in informed consent and close monitoring for adverse events during follow-up of the study which have to be "scrupulously" followed by Serum Institute of India (SII).