Coronavirus News highlights: Kerala reports 6,268 fresh COVID-19 cases, 28 deaths

New COVID Strain LIVE Updates | 8 samples taken in Delhi positive; 7 in quarantine at LNJP

Of the 14 samples, including those of UK returnees, sent for testing to the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi, eight have tested positive for the new strain of the coronavirus detected in that country, official sources said on Wednesday.

These eight people also included a woman who left the Delhi airport and travelled to Andhra Pradesh by train last week, they said.

The remaining seven are in quarantine at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, the sources said.

Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 677 new COVID-19 cases, 940 recoveries and 21 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Delhi Health Department. Total cases: 6,24,795; Total recoveries: 6,08,434; Death toll: 10,523; Active cases: 5,838.

Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu reported 945 new COVID-19 cases, 1,060 discharges, and 17 deaths in the last 24 hours: State Health Department. Total cases: 8,17,077; Total discharges: 7,96,353; Death toll: 12,109; Active cases: 8,615.

Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates | Karnataka reported 973 new COVID-19 cases, 1,217 discharges and 7 deaths today. Total cases: 9,18,544; Total discharges: 8,94,834; Death toll: 12,081; Active cases: 11,610.

Coronavirus vaccine news LIVE Updates | Expert panel to meet on January 1 to review data on Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccines

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India's drug regulator, will be meeting on January 1 to further review the emergency use applications of Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccines.

The SEC which met on December 30 couldn't take a decision on SII's COVID-19 vaccine, as it needed more data.

"The additional data and information presented by SII and Bharat Biotech was perused and analysed by the SEC. The analysis of the additional data and information is going on. SEC will convene again on 1 January 2021 (Friday)," the CDSCO said in a statement.

Read more here.

Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | Vaccinated U.S. nurse contracts COVID-19, expert says Pfizer shot needed more time to work: ABC

A nurse in California tested positive for COVID-19 more than a week after receiving Pfizer Inc's vaccine, an ABC News affiliate reported on Tuesday, but a medical expert said the body needs more time to build up protection.

Matthew W., 45, a nurse at two different local hospitals, said in a Facebook post on December 18 that he had received the Pfizer vaccine, telling the ABC News affiliate that his arm was sore for a day but that he had suffered no other side-effects.

Six days later on Christmas Eve, he became sick after working a shift in the COVID-19 unit, the report added. He got the chills and later came down with muscle aches and fatigue.

Christian Ramers, an infectious disease specialist with Family Health Centers of San Diego, told the ABC News affiliate that this scenario was not unexpected.

Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE Updates | Odisha government prohibits the congregation at public places including hotels, restaurants, clubs, convention halls etc. during New year celebrations on 31st and 1st January in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | Russia to distribute over 1 million Sputnik V shots at home by year-end: Minister

Russia will have supplied more than 1 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V to its own national inoculation programme by the end of this year, a government minister said on Wednesday.

Russia, which began rolling out the vaccine in early December, has so far produced over 2 million doses in total, Industry Minister Denis Manturov told state television.

The Sputnik V vaccine is administered in two doses, which use different components, 21 days apart.

Read more here.

Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates | Punjab Govt decides to lift night curfew (10 pm to 5 am) and restrictions on gatherings, and on timings of hotels, restaurants, marriage halls from January 1.

Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | COVID-19 tally in Maharashtra rises to 19,28,603 with addition of 3,537 new cases; 70 deaths push toll to 49,463, according to the state health department. 

Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates | Rajasthan reported 770 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths and 1,142 recoveries/discharges today. Total cases: 3,07,554; Death toll: 2,689; Total recoveries/discharges: 2,95,030; Active cases: 9,835.

SII, Bharat Biotech Applications For Emergency Approval 'not Considered' In Expert Panel Meeting: Report

The Subject Expert Committee has sought more information from both.