Coronavirus live updates: Cinema halls to reopen in Bengal from October 1, says CM Mamata

4,476 recoveries and 46 deaths were recorded today, taking total cases to 2,67,822 including 2,32,912 recoveries, 5,193 deaths and 29,717 active cases

India's COVID-19 case tally spiked by 85,362, said Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. As many as 1,089 deaths were reported during the same period, taking the toll to 93,379. As per the Ministry, the total case tally in the country stands at 59,03,933 including 9,60,969 active cases, 48,49,585 cured/discharged/migrated cases and 93,379 deaths.

Cinema halls and open air theatres will be allowed to operate in West Bengal from October 1 with limited number of participants, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday. She also said musical, dance and magic shows would be permitted in the state from next month.

More than 32.53 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 986,655 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

The total number of positive coronavirus cases to 11,380, said the Union Territory Government. Out of the total coronavirus cases, the active cases stand at 2,298. While 8,937 recoveries were reported, 145 deaths were recorded in Chandigarh.

The COVID-19 death toll in West Bengal on Saturday went up to 4,721 with 56 more people succumbing to the disease, the state health department said in a bulletin. The tally increased to 2,44,240 after 3,181 people tested positive for the infection. In the last 24 hours, 2,955 patients recovered from coronavirus taking the states discharge rate to 87.61 per cent, the bulletin said. The number of active patients is now 25,544.

The number of active patients in the state stands at 57,086. Currently, 29,266 patients are under home isolation. On Friday, over 1.56 lakh samples were tested, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the state to over 94 lakh.

Uddhav Thackeray expressed concerns over asymptomatic patients, allowed to remain at home, stepping out without proper precautions and infecting others. He said the focus should be on reducing the mortality rate. Thackeray directed officials to ensure that people follow health norms like wearing masks, and that violators be fined.