COVID-19 news from across the nation

So far, India has recorded 84,11,724 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,24,985 deaths. A total of 77,65,966 people have recuperated from COVID-19 so far. There are 5,20,773 active cases in the country as of date, which comprises 6.19 percent of the total caseload. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday that there was a need to promote the wearing of face masks as a movement to check the spread of the virus. Maharashtra minister says no class 10,12 exams before May 2021. 84 schools in Uttarakhand closed after 80 teachers test Covid positive.

Hyderabad: India has reported 670 COVID-19 case fatalities in the past 24 hours, with ten States/UTs accounting for nearly 86% of the cases. More than 38% of the new fatalities reported are from Maharashtra (256 deaths), and Delhi follows with 66 new deaths, noted a release issued by the Health Ministry, on Friday. International air travellers will now not only be permitted to land at airports in India without a RT-PCR negative test certificate but also to seek exemption from institutional quarantine by availing the RT-PCR facility available at the airports.

COVID-19 news from across the nation

Delhi

New Delhi:With Delhi facing the third wave of COVID-19, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday that there was a need to promote wearing of face masks as a movement to check the spread of the virus.

Inaugurating a PWD project to strengthen Rohtak road in Mundka, the chief minister said he hoped that just as people faced the first two waves of coronavirus, they would face the third wave too and that it will end soon.

"Till there is a medicine for corona, face masks are the medicine. These are the biggest protection against COVID-19 infection. We need to promote wearing face masks as a movement," he said.

Maharashtra

Mumbai:Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad on Friday said the examinations of Class X and XII conducted by the state board will not be held before May 2021 due to the prevailing coronavirus situation. She told this to reporters here. "The current situation of coronavirus is likely to last for a longer period. We have discussed the issue of completion of syllabus and holding of exams," she said.

Maharashtra government on Friday issues fresh guidelines on preventive measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in the state during Diwali celebrations. It also urged citizens to avoid bursting crackers to curb noise and air pollution.

Karnataka

Bengaluru:Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said the state government will be issuing an order banning the use of firecrackers during Deepavali, due to prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation. "We have discussed it (cracker ban), we are taking a decision to ban the use of firecrackers during Deepavali..the government will soon be issuing an order to this effect," Yediyurappa said.

Uttarakhand

Dehradun: 84 schools in five blocks of Uttarakhand's Pauri district (Garhwal division) have been closed after 80 teachers test positive for the novel coronavirus infection. State health secretary Amit Negi says, "District Magistrates of all the 13 districts have been directed to conduct covid tests of on-duty school teachers."

Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati:The Andhra Pradesh government will set up counselling cells in educational institutions to assist students who may be facing psychological issues to the Covid-19 situation.

“The psychological impact of the Covid-19 outbreak and the consequential lockdown has been a topic of discussion internationally for the past few months. The student community happens to be one of the most vulnerable sections of the society when it comes to these tough times,” Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh said in a statement.

Odisha

Bhubaneswar:The Odisha government has decided not to reopen schools in the State till December 31, 2020 in view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation.

In a notification issued on Friday evening, the School and Mass Education Department informed that all schools in the State shall remain closed till the above mentioned period in view of the second wave of Covid-19 infection being experienced in some States.