Coronavirus News highlights: Today is the 246th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 91,77,841 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,34,218 deaths. A total of 86,04,955 people have recuperated from COVID-19 so far. There are 4,38,667 active cases in the country as of date, which comprises 4.78 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have reported the highest number of cases. However, infections are rising rapidly in states like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. India's recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 93.76 percent. Globally, more than 5.87 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 13.95 lakh have died so far. Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for all the latest updates:
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.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates |
Delhi reported 6,224 new COVID-19cases (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-19cases, 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-19cases, 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.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates |
Karnataka reports 1,870 new COVID-19cases, 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-19cases, 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.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates |
5,420 new COVID19 cases were reported in Keralatoday. At the same time, 5,149 patients have recovered. Meanwhile, 24 recent deaths were confirmed, taking the death toll in the State to 2,095.
Coronavirus in Nepal LIVE Updates | Nepal's COVID-19 tally reaches 224,078
Nepal's COVID-19 tally jumped to 224,078 on Tuesday after the country reported 1,790 new cases in the past 24 hours.
The country reported 24 more COVID-19-related fatalities in the past 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 1,361, the Ministry of Health and Population said.There are currently 17,859 active cases across the country.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Saurabh Rao, Divisional Commissioner, Pune:
About 100 ambassadors of different countries were supposed to visit Pune's Serum Institute of India andGenova Technologies on Nov 27. It has now been postponed by a week, to 4th Dec or 5th Dec. We're expecting PM's visit here after this.
Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | Oxford COVID-19 results reason for hope but early days yet, caution scientists
Given its low pricing and higher temperature storage, Oxford University's COVID-19 vaccine candidate holds promise for India and is a more viable option than the Moderna, Pfizer or Sputnik V vaccines under development, say scientists while cautioning that the data presented is still preliminary.
There is plenty to be hopeful about and the Oxford AstraZeneca is a good option to begin with, but it is also important to remember the numbers are tentative and a full analysis is difficult, several scientists said on Tuesday.
Tempering the excitement that the announcement created, virologist Upasana Ray said we should be happy but vigilant.
The interim results look promising but it would be difficult to analyse it fully without the full peer reviewed report, the senior scientist at Kolkata's CSIR-IICB added.
Coronavirus in Bihar LIVE Updates |
Bihar reports 653 new COVID-19 cases and 746 recoveries in last 24 hours, says State Health Department Total cases: 2,31,697. Total recoveries: 2,25,447. Total deaths: 1,233.Active cases: 5,016.
Coronavirus in Japan LIVE Updates | Japan pauses domestic travel push in two cities as COVID spreads
Japan paused its domestic "Go To Travel" promotion campaign in two cities following sharp rises in COVID-19 infections, a government minister said on Tuesday, a blow to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's plan to help prop up regional economies.
"We have agreed to temporarily exclude trips destined for the cities of Sapporo and Hokkaido from the travel campaign," Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Tuesday.
"Although we have tried to balance both economic revitalization as well as virus containment, we have made this decision at the local governors' request," Nishimura told reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Suga and Tourism Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba.
Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates |
Sputnik V shows 91.4% efficacy in second interim analysis on day 28 after first dose
Gamaleya Center and Russia’s sovereign wealth fund RDIF onNovember 24announced that their coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V has demonstrated 91.4 percent efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infection in the second interim analysis on day 28 after the first dose, and over 95 percent following 21 days after the second dose in phase-3 trials.
In the first interim analysis, which was done after 20 people contracting COVID-19, the vaccine had shown 92 percent efficacy.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates | After devotees, COVID-19 negative report mandatory for shop employees in Sabarimala
After Lord Ayyappa pilgrims, a COVID-19 negative test report has been made mandatory for those working in temporary shops operating in Sabarimala and the temple premises now.
With the annual pilgrimage season progressing at the Lord Ayyappa temple here, a high level committee, which reviewed the arrangements made for devotees, took a decision in this regard on Monday.
The meeting, led by Additional District Magistrate Arun K Vijayan and Police Special Officer B Krishnakumar, evaluated that the pilgrimage was progressing well adhering to COVID-19 protocols and the hill temple was fully prepared for more devotees arriving here in the coming days.
Among many significant decisions taken, the high level committee resolved to make stringent the COVID-19 protocols at Sannidhanam (temple complex) and premises of the shrine.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates |
NESCO facility in Mumbai plans to start free post-COVID OPD: Report
The NESCO jumbo centre in Mumbai's Goregaon area, run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city's civic body, will start post-COVID Out Patient Department (OPD) for those recovering from the infection and who need attention due to health complications.
According to asenior official, specialists from various hospitals run by the civic body will attend to the patients, particularly those who have developed long-term complications due to the infection.
Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | The Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia:
Second interim analysis of clinical trial data showed a 91.4 percentefficacy for the Sputnik V vaccine on day 28 after the first dose; vaccine efficacy is over 95 percent42 days after the first dose.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | PM Modi says COVID-19 vaccine dosage, pricing not decided yet; will finalise distribution plan with states soon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 24 said distribution strategy for COVID-19 vaccines will be chalked out in 'collective coordination' with the states. He met chief ministers and representatives of various states to review the COVID response plan.
PM Modi said states should have a Steering Committee on vaccines and that distribution should be done according to scientific parameters. States should focus on additional cold storage, he said.The prime minister said the development of potential vaccines was being monitored closely and that the Centre was in touch with global regulators, companies and other governments. Continue reading...
COVID-19 vaccination: India atmanirbhar for syringes, says industry
An industry body of syringe and needle manufacturers on Tuesday said that it has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering an additional capacity of over 350 million syringes per month depending upon the requirements during the vaccination programme against the COVID-19.
This capacity is already built up by the manufacturers taking learning from mask and PPE kits experience India faced in March and April 2020, All India Syringe & Needle Manufacturers Association (AISNMA) said in the letter. Continue reading...
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE updates | NESCO facility in Mumbai plans to start free post-COVID OPD
The NESCO jumbo centre in Mumbai's Goregaon area, run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city's civic body, will startpost-COVID Out Patient Department (OPD) for those recovering from the infection and who need attention due to health complications. Continue reading..
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan:
We are ready with cold chain storage facilities for the vaccine. Training of healthcare workers who'll administer vaccine is underway. As soon as we get the vaccine, vaccination will be started. Appeal to people to continue following all COVID19 guidelines.
Coronavirus India News LIVE updates | PM Narendra Modi:
I urge states to send detailed plans soon on how they plan to take the COVID-19 vaccine to lowest levels. It'll help us in making decisions as your experiences are valuable. I hope for your pro-active participation. Vaccine work is ongoing but I request you there should be no carelessness
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on COVID-19 vaccine:
Safety is as important as speed for us, whichever vaccine India will give to its citizens will be safe on all scientific standards. Vaccine distribution strategy will be chalked out in collective coordination with states. States must also start working cold storage facilities
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | PM Narendra Modi:
Seeing good recovery rates, many think coronavirus is weak and they'll recover soon, this has led to rampant carelessness. We need to focus on ensuring that people are alert and transmission is curbed. We have to bring positivity rate under 5 percent
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | PM Narendra Modi:
As a result of joint efforts, today India is in a better situation than other countries when it comes to recovery and fatality rates. There is also a focus on making oxygen and ventilators available. We are trying to make the medical colleges and district hospitals self-sufficient in oxygen generation. Efforts underway to establish more than 160 oxygen generation plants in the country
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | PM Narendra Modi:
It is not certain whether there will be one, two or three doses of a vaccine. It is also not decided what will be the price of the vaccine. We still don't have answers to these questions.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
Government of India is keeping a track of each development in vaccine development. We are in touch with Indian vaccine developers and manufacturers. We are also in touch with global regulators, governments of other countries, multinational organizations and international companies
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
During a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked CMs of all states to share detailed plan on the preparedness of COVID-19 vaccine delivery, distribution and administration measures.
Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates | COVID-19 situation under control in Gujarat: CM tells PM Modi
The COVID-19 situation inGujarat is under control and enough number of beds areavailable for patients, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Tuesday during his virtual interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rupani also informed about various initiatives to curb the coronavirus transmission during a meeting of chief ministers of eight states, which have reported higher number of COVID-19 cases, addressed by the PM via video conferencing, an official release said.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Health Ministry:
77.04% of the new casesare from 10 States and UTs. Delhi continues to report the highest daily new cases at 4,454. Delhi is followed by Maharashtra with 4,153 new cases.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Hong Kong to shut bars, nightclubs for third time as new COVID-19 cases jump
Hong Kong will close bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues for the third time this year, Health Secretary Sophia Chan said on Tuesday as authorities scramble to tackle a renewed rise in coronavirus cases. Authorities are also reopening a temporary COVID-19 treatment hall near the city's airport.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong reported 80 new coronavirus cases, taking the total since late January to 5,782 COVID-19 infections and 108 deaths. Over 180 of the latest cases are linked to dance clubs. "There are multiple transmission chains in the community," Chan told a news conference.
Coronavirus India News LIVE updates | Increased testing, improved infrastructure to tackle coronavirus: Gehlot tels PM Modi
In a video conference with PM Narendra Modi over coronavirus on Tuesday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said his government has increased testing and strengthened infrastructure to tackle the infection. Highlighting the steps taken by the state government to contain the infection, the chief minister told the PM about the ban on firecrackers, law on wearing of masks, night curfew in worst-hit districts and the restrictions on gatherings, according to sources.
He also shared with the prime minister inputs about the strengthening of infrastructure like oxygen generation plants, increase in the number of ICUs and oxygen beds in hospitals, the sources added. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Daily positivity rate dips below 4 percent in India
India has conducted over 13.36 crore tests so far to detect COVID-19 cases, including 10,99,545in a day, while the cumulative positivity rate in the country is sustained at low levels and the daily positivity rate has fallen below four per cent, the health ministry said on Tuesday.
The country registered less than 40,000 fresh coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours after six days. Since November 8, the number of daily cases has been sustained below the 50,000-mark, the ministry said.
Karnataka is well prepared for COVID-19 vaccine delivery: Health Minister K Sudhakar
The Karnataka government hasinitiated measures for delivery, distribution andadministration of the COVID-19 vaccine whenever it arrives as advised by the Centre, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Tuesday.The State Task Force on COVID-19 recently met and reviewed preparations made for vaccine storage and delivery, he said.
"The government has identified 29,451 session sites(vaccination sites) and 10,008 vaccinators as per the norms of the Universal Immunization Programme," Dr Sudhakar said in a statement.
Coronavirus Daily Update: COVID-19 cases explained in charts
India reported 480 new deaths and 42,314 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the latest release show. Active cases slipped to 4,38,667 with a fall of 4,819 cases in a day.Delhi reported the most (4,454) new cases in the last 24 hours, followed by Maharashtra (4,153), Kerala (3,757), West Bengal (3,557) and Rajasthan (3,232). These top five states account for half of all the new cases in India. C
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE updates | West Bengal COVID-19 situation being addressed aptly: Mamata tells PM Modi
The COVID-19 situation in WestBengal is being addressed aptly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference on Tuesday, an official said. The prime minister reviewed the COVID-19 situation invarious states through video conferencing with chief ministers.
"The chief minister briefed the PM that the COVID-19 situation in West Bengal is under control," the official told PTI. She apprised the PM about the discharge rate among the COVID-19 patients in the state and informed him that the number of new infections is on the decline, he said.
Coronavirus vaccine update | Hopefully, DCGI will give EUA for Oxford's vaccine immediately after MHRA nod: Mazumdar-Shaw
Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Tuesday said hopefully drugs regulator DCGI will give Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it gets approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
"100 Million Doses By January," Says Adar Poonawalla On Oxford Vaccine - hopefully,DCGI will give EUA immediately after MHRA in December to start vaccination in India which is the need of the hour," Mazumdar-Shaw said in a tweet.
Coronavirus in Pakistan: Pak provincial authorities introduce new COVID-19 restrictions; national tally reaches 379,883
The provincial authorities in Pakistan have introduced new guidelines to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, including restricting office attendance and shutting down indoor gathering places like cinemas and shrines, as the national tally of infected cases reached 379,883 on Tuesday after 2,954 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | One crore healthcare workers to get first shots of COVID-19 vaccine
At least one crore frontlineworkers have been identified to receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available, reports said, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a crucial meeting on vaccine administration with chief ministers today. Read more here...
Coronavirus in Russia LIVE updates | Russia reports record 491 coronavirus deaths, 24,326 new infections
Russia reported a record 491 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the official death toll to 37,031. Authorities also reported 24,326 new coronavirus infections in the space of 24 hours, including 5,838 in the capital Moscow, bringing the national cumulative tally to 2,138,828. (Reuters)
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates |
Five vaccines are under different phases of clinical trials in India. The Serum Institute of India is conducting the phase-three trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, while Bharat Biotech and ICMR have already started the phase-three trial of the indigenously developed COVAXIN jab.
An indigenously developed vaccine by Zydus Cadila has completed the phase-two clinical trial in the country. Dr Reddy's Laboratories will soon start combining phase two and three trials of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India. Click here to know more..
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | Task force set up in Maha to manage vaccine distribution: CM
The Maharashtra government hasformed a task force to manage the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine and how vaccination will be carried out in the state, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday. According to an official statement, Thackeray made the remarks during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting via video conferencing with chief ministers of eight states which have reported higher number of COVID-19 cases.
"A task force has been set up to manage the distribution and vaccination in Maharashtra and the government is in constant touch with Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India to track development of the coronavirus vaccine," the statement said quoting Thackeray.
Coronavirus LIVE updates | Experts point out 'gaps' in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine data
Vaccine experts have noted "several glaring absences" in the data released by AstraZeneca when it claimed its vaccine candidate, being developed with Oxford University, showed an average efficacy of 70 percent, media reports have said.
Among the experts who have raised questions about the gap in information released on November 23 include those from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read more here...
