Coronavirus News highlights: Maharashtra reports 2,498 fresh COVID-19 cases, 50 deaths

Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | Skyways Air Services ties up with SpiceJet for COVID-19 vaccine transportation across India

Air freight forwarder Skyways Air Services on Monday said it has joined hands with budget carrier SpiceJet for transporting COVID-19 vaccine across India.

Under the collaboration, Skyways will provide cold chain transportation and storage along with dedicated last-mile connectivity, while SpiceJet will provide connectivity across its pan-India network with full temperature mapping controls, a release said.

The two partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect, Skyways Air Services Pvt Ltd said. 

Read more here.

Coronavirus in Haryana LIVE Updates | Haryana recorded 351 new cases of COVID-19, 571 recoveries, and 8 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the State Health Department. Total cases: 2,61,258; Total recoveries: 2,54,336; Active cases: 4,040; Death toll: 2,882.

COVID-19 Vaccine | Adar Poonawalla Of SII Expects AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid Vaccine Approval 'very Soon'

The subject expert committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India's drug regulator, is likely to meet later this week to examine SII's emergency-use authorisation (EUA)…

Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | In this tweet from ANI: Dry run for COVID-19 vaccine rollout held at a centre in Adalaj, Gandhinagar.

Gujarat: Dry run for #COVID vaccine rollout held at a centre in Adalaj, Gandhinagar

"Today we mapped out everything, dummy vaccines will be administered tomorrow to 25 people,"says Superintendent of the Centre

Two-day dry run being held in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat&Punjab. pic.twitter.com/M4G6X8ftNw

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2020

Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates | Mumbai reports 557 new COVID-19 cases, 720 recoveries/discharges and 12 deaths today. Total cases rise to 2,91,471 including 2,71,348 recoveries/discharges and 11,088 deaths. Active cases stand at 8,178.

Coronavirus in Japan LIVE Updates | Ex-minister dies of COVID as Japan closes to foreigners

A 53-year-old former Japanese minister has died of COVID-19, his party said on Monday, becoming the first incumbent lawmaker to succumb to the disease in a nation scrambling to shut its doors to foreign travellers.

Yuichiro Hata, who was transport minister in 2012 and is the son of former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hatawho, died on Sunday, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan said.

Japan on Monday started banning non-resident foreign nationals from entering following the detection of a new, highly infectious coronavirus variant linked to a rapid rise in infections in Britain.

Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu reported 1,005 new COVID-19 cases, 1,074 discharges, and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total cases: 8,15,175; Total discharges: 7,94,228; Death toll: 12,080; Active cases: 8,867. 

Coronavirus in Bengaluru LIVE Updates | Kamal Pant, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru: Section 144 CrPC to be imposed in Bengaluru from 6pm on 31st December till 6am on 1st January. 'No-man' zones will be created at MG Road, Church Street, Brigade Road, Koramangala and Indiranagar; only those with advance reservation coupons for pubs, bars, restaurants allowed. 

Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | Maharashtra reports 2,498 new COVID-19 cases, 4,501 discharges, and 50 deaths today, as per State Health Department. Total cases: 19,22,048; Total recoveries: 18,14,449; Total active cases: 57,159. 

Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates | Karnataka reported 653 new COVID-19 cases, 1,178 discharges and 8 deaths today. Total cases: 9,16,909; Total discharges: 8,92,273; Death toll: 12,070; Active cases: 12,547. 

Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | Delhi reports 564 new COVID-19 cases, 959 recoveries and 21 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Delhi Health Department Total cases: 6,23,415; Total recoveries: 6,06,644; Death toll: 10,474; Active cases: 6,297. 

Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Ministry of Home Affairs: While there has been a continuous decline in the active and new COVID-19 cases, there is need to maintain surveillance, containment and caution, keeping in view the surge in cases globally, and the emergence of a new variant of the virus in the United Kingdom.