Coronavirus News highlights | Delhi reports 6,224 fresh COVID-19 cases, 109 deaths

Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | No fresh COVID-19 lockdown in Maharashtra but curbs in offing: Rajesh Tope

There will be no fresh lockdown in Maharashtra but some restrictions will be introduced to keep a check on the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on November 24.

Maharashtra has seen a steady rise in COVID-19 cases in the last one week, increasing the woes of the state administration and fuelling talks of fresh curbs on public life as happening in some other states which have imposed night curfews in select cities to stem the infection spread.

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Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | Delhi reported 6,224 new COVID-19 cases (out of 61,381 tests), 4,943 recoveries, and 109 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to Delhi Health Department. Total cases: 5,40,541; Total recoveries: 4,93,419; Active cases: 38,501; Death toll: 8,621. 

Coronavirus in South Africa LIVE Updates | South Africa confirms going for COVAX vaccine scheme for 10% of population

The South African government is going with the COVAX global COVID-19 vaccine distribution scheme, with a committed purchase for 10% of its population of 58 million, a senior health official said on Tuesday.

Khadija Jamaloodien, director of affordable medicines at the health ministry, told Reuters South Africa had not yet signed the commitment agreement to participate in the COVAX facility but would do so once officials had completed the necessary administrative processes. 

The country's initial strategy is to protect the vulnerable, including healthcare workers and priority groups, she said.

Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | Covaxin shots reach Ahmedabad hospital for phase-3 trials: Official

A consignment of Covaxin, one of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates, reached Sola civil hospital here in Gujarat on Tuesday for the phase-III clinical trials, a senior official said.

The Sola civil hospital is one of the 130 centres across the country where the third phase of clinical trials of Covaxin would be conducted, said H G Koshia, Commissioner, Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA).

"Covaxin is being developed indigenously by vaccine maker Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)," Koshia said.

Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE Updates | West Bengal reported 3,545 new COVID-19 cases, 3,646 discharges, and 49 deaths in last 24 hours, says State Health Department. Total cases: 4,63,463; Active cases: 24,880; Death toll: 8,121; Total discharges: 4,30,462. 

Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates | Punjab reported 614 new COVID-19 cases, 439 discharges and 22 deaths today, says Govt of Punjab. Total cases in the state rise to 1,47,665, including 1,36,178 recoveries and 4,653 deaths. Active cases stand at 6,834.

Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Dogs can sniff COVID-19 infection before symptoms set in, research suggests

Several studies conducted since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic have suggested that dogs can sniff out the novel coronavirus to perfect accuracy. Scientists say that the superior sense of smell of canines may even aid in containing the spread of the deadly disease that has infected millions worldwide.

Trials are presently being conducted at airports in the United Arab Emirates, Finland, and Lebanon. Sniffer dogs stationed at these airports were being used to detect COVID-19 in sweat samples of passengers.

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Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates | Karnataka reports 1,870 new COVID-19 cases, 1,949 discharges and 17 deaths today, as per State Health Department Total cases: 8,76,425 Active cases: 24,612 Total recoveries: 8,40,099 Death toll: 11,695. 

Coronavirus in Jaipur LIVE Updates | 3,000 weddings slated to take place in Jaipur in November; officials fear COVID surge

Notwithstanding the recent spurt in COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan, more than 3,000 weddings are scheduled to take place in the capital city Jaipur over the next few days, posing a grave threat to people's lives amid the pandemic outbreak.

Officials fear that the infection may spread rapidly in the city due to such events.

"We have received applications for permission to more than 3,000 weddings in the month of November. The permission is being given offline and online," Additional District Collector-Jaipur, Shankar Lal Saini told news agency PTI.

Saini said the situation is alarming because the infection is spreading at a fast pace.

Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates | Rajasthan reported 3,314 new COVID-19 cases, 2,214 recoveries/discharges, and 19 deaths and today, as per State Health Department .Total cases: 2,50,482; Total recoveries: 2,23,085; Active cases: 25,197; Death toll: 2,200. 

Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LIVE Updates | Tamil Nadu records 1,557 new COVID-19 cases

Tamil Nadu logged 1,557 new COVID-19 cases, taking the overall infection count to 7,73,176,while 17 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 11,639, the health department said on Tuesday.

Recoveries continued to eclipse new infections with 1,910 people walking out of health care facilities, taking the overall tally to 7,49,662 till date, a bulletin said.

Active cases in the State stood at 11,875.

Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE Updates | State Health Dept: Gujarat reports 1,510 new COVID19 cases, 16 deaths and 1,286 recoveries. The state's case tally reaches 2,00,409 including 1,82,473 recoveries and 3,892 deaths till now. Total active cases are 14,044.