As countries across the world debate reopening of schools, a new study has found that children younger than five years with mild to moderate COVID-19 have much higher levels of the novel coronavirus genetic material in the nose compared to older children and adults.
The findings, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, shed light on the possibility that the youngest children transmit the virus as much as other age groups.
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here. A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
2: 00 p.m. | Telangana
Emulate Delhi model in fight against COVID-19, Union Minister tells States
All the states in the country need to emulate the “Delhi model” for controlling the spread of the coronavirus, Union Minister of state from Home G. Kishan Reddy said here on Saturday.
“I am requesting the state government (Telangana) to focus on testing, tracing and treatment. There is a need to increase the number of tests (in Telangana),” he added.
— PTI
1: 40 p.m. | Karnataka
H.C. Mahadevappa demands probe on alleged corruption by State govt. in purchasing COVID-19 equipment
Former Minister H.C.Mahadevappa has demanded judicial probe on the alleged corruption by the State government in purchasing equipments to deal with COVID 19 pandemic and also urged to publish white paper.
He was addressing at a joint press conference with another former minister and MLA Priyank Kharge in Yadgir on Saturday.
— Staff Reporter
1: 20 p.m. | Tokyo
Tokyo reports 3rd day of record numbers with 472
Japan’s capital recorded 472 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the third straight day of record numbers.
Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike issued a warning Saturday in an online video, urging people to wash their hands, wear masks and visit those businesses that display the special city-backed stickers with the image of a rainbow, which indicates good social distancing.
— AP
1: 10 p.m. | Puducherry
Two elderly persons succumb to COVID-19 in Puducherry; 139 new cases take overall tally to 3,593
Two elderly persons succumbed to COVID-19 in Puducherry while 139 fresh cases were reported on Saturday, a top Health department official said.
The 139 new cases took the overall tally in the union territory to3,593, Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a press release.
— PTI
1: 00 p.m. | Delhi
Second round of sero survey begins in Delhi
The second round of sero-prevalence survey began in the national capital on Saturday, with the five-day exercise set to cover all districts and various demographic segments.
The exercise is being undertaken for a comprehensive assessment of the COVID-19 situation in Delhi.
— PTI
12: 50 p.m. | Washington
Fauci confident virus vaccine will get to Americans in 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that he remains confident that a coronavirus vaccine will be ready by early next year, telling lawmakers that a quarter-million Americans already have volunteered to take part in clinical trials.
But if the future looks encouraging, public health alarms are still going off in the present.
— AP
12: 40 p.m. | Mumbai
Mumbai hospital devises ‘kavach’ to move COVID-19 patients
In a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection among its medical staff, the state-run J J Hospital here has developed a transport