New COVID Strain Highlights: A number of European and other countries around the world are restricting travel from Britain as a new variant of the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom. India has also suspended flights from the UK until the end of the year over fears of a new strain of the coronavirus. Today is the 276th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 1,01,23,778 (over 1 crore) confirmed COVID- 19 cases, including 1,46,756 deaths. A total of 96,93,173 patients have recovered or been discharged, as per the latest data from the Union Health Ministry. India's recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 95.75 percent. However, there are 2,83,849 active cases in the country, which comprise 2.8 percent of the total caseload. Globally, more than 7.85 crore people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 17.27 lakh have died so far, as per data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre.
Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LIVE Updates | 1,038 new COVID-19 cases reported in MP
Madhya Pradesh reported 1,038 new COVID 19 cases, 1,118 recoveries, and 10 deaths in past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the total number of cases reach 2,35,369 in MP, with 2,21,169 recoveries. Death toll reached to 3,524
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates | 1,063 new COVID-19 cases reported in Delhi
Delhi reports 1,063 new COVID-19 cases, 1,120 recoveries and 37 deaths in past 24 hours, as per Delhi Health Department. Meanwhile, the total number of case reach 6,20,681 in Delhi, with 6,02,388 recoveries. Death toll reached to 10,384.
Coronavirus in Goa LIVE Updates | 90 new coronavirus cases reported in Goa
Goa's coronavirus caseloadreached 50,454 with 90 new infections coming to light on Thursday, a health department official said.One patient died, taking the death toll to 728, he added.
The number of recovered patients in the state rose to 48,725 with 88 patients getting discharged from hospitals on Thursday.
The number of active cases is now 1,001, the official said.
Coronavirus in Pune LIVE Updates |
Schools for students of 9th to 12th standard to reopen from 4 January in the jurisdiction of Pune Municipal Corporation. All schools will have to follow the COVID19 SOPs.
Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh LIVE Updates |
Andhra Pradesh reported 357 new COVID-19cases, 355 recoveries and 4 deaths today, according to the State Health Department. Total cases: 8,80,075; Active cases: 3,862; Total recoveries: 8,69,124; Death toll: 7,089.
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates |
Rajasthan reported 1,001 new COVID-19cases, 8 deaths and 970 recoveries/discharges today. Total cases: 3,02,709; Death toll: 2,650; Total recoveries/discharges: 2,88,388; Active cases: 11,759.
Coronavirus in South Africa LIVE Updates | South Africa reports 14K new cases in single day
South Africa's health minister says the country has seen more than 14,000 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the past day, with a positivity rate of 26 per cent, as overall cases edge toward 1 million.
Heath Minister Zwelini Mkhize says the alarming rate of spread of infections is much faster than during the first wave in midyear. His daily report doesnt say how many of the new infections are attributed to the new variant of the virus in South Africa.
The country has more than 950,000 confirmed cases, including more than 25,000 deaths. More than 400 people have died in the past day.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates |
5,177 new COVID-19 cases and 4,801 recoveries reported in Keralatoday. Total active cases: 63,155; Total recovered cases: 6,60,445.
Coronavirus in England LIVE Updates | English COVID-19 infections rise again, 1-in-85 people infected, says survey
The prevalence of COVID-19 cases in England jumped again in the week to Dec. 18, with around 645,800 people, or 1-in-85, estimated to be infected, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday.
"The percentage of people testing positive has continued to increase sharply in London, the East of England, and the South East; London now has the highest percentage of people testing positive," the ONS said.
Prevalence in the preceding week was 1-in-95, the ONS had estimated.
Separately on Thursday, England's Test and Trace service said it had recorded a 58% week-on-week increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases detected.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates | Karnataka CMO:
Night curfew order, issued earlier, has been withdrawn after reviewing the situation on the suggestion of Technical Advisory Committee.
Karnataka had earlier imposed night curfew in the entire state fromDecember 23 till January 2, 2021 over fears of a new strain of the coronavirus spreading in the United Kingdom.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Country's first oldest COVID-19 survivor dead
The country's first oldest COVID-19 survivor Thomas Abraham died of age-related ailments on Thursday, his family said.The 93-year-old died in Ranni village in the district and the funeral would be held at a church at Aithala on Friday.
The recovery of the 93-year-old Abraham and his 88-year-old wife after a battle against coronavirus in March this year was dubbed by the medical community as a miracle cure.
They were discharged from the Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, on April 3.
Coronavirus in Israel LIVE Updates | Israel imposing third national COVID-19 lockdown
Israel will impose a third national lockdown to fight climbing COVID-19 infections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
The curbs will come into effect on Sunday evening and last for 14 days, pending final cabinet approval, a statement from Netanyahu's office said.The restrictions include the closure of shops, limited public transport, a partial shutdown of schools and a one-kilometre restriction on travel from home, except for commuting to workplaces that remain open and to purchase essential goods.
On Wednesday, the Health Ministry said it had found four people infected with the new variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain.
The lockdown comes with Israel's vaccination drive already underway. Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told Army Radio he expected the campaign would be completed within months.
New COVID Strain LIVE Updates |
11 UK returnees in December have tested COVID-19 +ve in Goa:VishwajitRane
Eleven passengers among those who arrived in Goa from the UK after December 9 have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Thursday, amid concerns over detection of a new coronavirus variant in Britain.
Talking to PTI, Rane also said that RT-PCR testing of 979 passengers, who came to Goa from the UK after December 9, is currently going on.
The state government has decided to designate the ESI Hospital in South Goa district for the purpose of keeping all the patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 after their arrival from the UK, he said.
Samples of these patients have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for further testing, said Rane, who is in Mumbai for his health checkup.
New COVID strain LIVE Updates | UP CM Yogi Adityanath asks authorities to remain vigilant
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today directed authorities to maintain extra vigil especially at airports amid concerns over a new strain of coronavirus spreading in the UK. Adityanath held a high-level meeting with senior officials and directed that arrangements be made for proper treatment of COVID-19 patients, according to an official release.
The Central government on Monday had directed testing of all passengers coming from the UK on arrival at Indian airports. It had issued a stringent set of SOPs mandating RT-PCR tests at airports for each traveller from the country and isolation in a separate unit of an institutional facility for positive cases. India suspended all passenger flights connecting the UK from yesterday till December 31 or till further orders. (PTI)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Taiwan fines EVA Air $35,000 after pilot blamed for COVID infection
Taiwan's Transport Ministry today fined EVA Airways Corp T$1 million ($35,000) after the government blamed one of its pilots for a rare locally transmitted case of COVID-19 because he failed to follow disease prevention rules. Taiwan had until this week not reported domestic transmission since April 12, thanks to early and effective moves to stop the virus, including mass mask wearing and strict quarantines for all arrivals. But the government was jolted by Tuesday's announcement of the domestic infection of a woman who is a friend of a New Zealand pilot confirmed to have been infected earlier this week having flown routes to the United States.
EVA Air has sacked the pilot, who has not been named and is being treated in hospital. (Reuters)
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | Athletes, coaches going for Japan Olympics should be in priority group for COVID-19 vaccine: Panel
A parliamentary panel today recommended putting athletes, coaches and support staff going for the 2021 Japan Olympics in the priority group for the COVID-19 vaccination process. The committee also voiced concern over a large number of vacancies of coaches, saying they should be filled up in a time-bound manner so that Olympic preparations do not suffer. The Japan Olympics are slated to be held from July next year. The panel has also recommended identifying training facilities, stadia and sports centres for Olympic qualified athletes which have not opened yet. It said the closed centres should be reopened "at the earliest" or theathletes should berelocated to alternate centres which have opened. (PTI)
New COVID Strain LIVE Updates | China to suspend UK flights indefinitely - foreign ministry
China will suspend direct flights to and from the United Kingdom indefinitely over fears of a new strain of the coronavirus, Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
"After much consideration, China has decided to take reference from other countries and suspend flights to and from UK," Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.
"China will closely monitor relevant developments and dynamically adjust control measures depending on the situation," Wang said.
There are currently eight weekly flights between mainland China and the United Kingdom, according to aviation data provider Variflight, including one each by Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.
Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | Priority list for COVID-19 vaccine ready, 21,000 personnel getting trained to deliver shots, says Tamil Nadu govt
A list of people who should be inoculated on priority in Tamil Nadu is ready and 21,000 personnel were being trained and 46,000 centres identified in the state for the rollout of the immunisation exercise after the vaccine is made available, a top state health official said here on Thursday.
The comprehesive list, including about five lakh health workers, all other frontline personnel like those from municipal administration, revenue and police, the elderly and those with co-morbidities is ready, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said.
Referring to a meeting with Secretary, Union Health Ministry via a virtual link on Wednesday, the top official said 21,000 personnel who could give vaccination shots have been identified and they were being trained.
Also, he said 46,000 centres for the purpose of vaccination has been identified and requisite infrastructure to handle the immunisation drive like cold chain facilities was ready, he told reporters.
Coronavirus in Goa LIVE Updates | Goa set for Christmas celebration with COVID-19 norms in place
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Goa is all set to usher in Christmas festivities from Thursday midnight with beaches already crowded and markets abuzz with last-minute shopping by parishioners.
Churches and chapels in Goa, which comprises about 30 percent people of Christian faith, are geared up for the midnight masses, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, while adhering to the standard operating procedures laid down by the state government.
Residents of Nuvem village in South Goa district have put up Christmas stars along the three-km stretch on a national highway connecting capital city Panaji with Margao.
However, post-midnight dances have been cancelled at various places, officials said.
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE Updates | Odisha reports 263 new COVID-19 cases, four fresh fatalities
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload rose to 3,27,542 after 263 more people tested positive forinfection, while four fresh fatalities took the coronavirus death toll to 1,850, a health department official said today. Currently, Odisha has 2,991 active COVID-19 cases, while as many as 3,22,648 patients have recovered from the highly infectious disease. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
As many as 24,712 new cases of novel coronavirus were reported in the last 24 hours, pushing India’s total COVID-19 cases to over 1 crore, as per the health ministry’s December 24 update. India also registered 312 new deaths and 29,791 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the latest release shows. Active cases, however, dropped to 2,83,849 with a fall of 5,391 cases in a day. Twenty states now have fewer than 5,000 active COVID-19 cases.
Read more |COVID-19 cases explained in charts
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates |
Currently, we have storage capacity for 74 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine; which will be scaled up to 1.15 crore within a week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates |
Each priority category person will be given two doses; total 1.2 crore doses will be required in the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates |
Delhi govt completed all preparations and is ready for vaccination. There are around 51 lakh people including healthcare and frontline workers who would get COVID-19 vaccine in the first phase. The process of identification of all such people is almost complete, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates |
The Delhi government is fully prepared for COVID-19 vaccination, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | SpiceJet inks MoU with GHAC for COVID-19 vaccine delivery from Hyderabad
SpiceJet said today it has signed an agreement with the GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GHAC) to ensure seamless delivery of the coronavirus vaccine from the Hyderabad airport to domestic and international markets. Hyderabad and its surrounding districts have a number of pharmaceutical companies. The Hyderabad airport, which is managed and operated by the GMR group, is expected to be a key hub in transportation of COVID-19 vaccine domestically and globally. In a press release, SpiceJet said as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the GHAC will provide required space at the Hyderabad airport "on priority" for the airline's vaccine shipments and it will also train the airline's personnel. (PTI)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | 40 new COVID-19 infections in Pondy, no fresh fatality
Puducherry reported 40 fresh COVID-19 positive cases today pushing the total positivecount to 37,885, a top government official said. The toll remained 629 as no deaths were reported. Director of Health and Family welfare S Mohan Kumar said the new cases were identified at the end of the screening of3,008 samples and the cases are spread over Puducherry 22, Karaikal 3, Yanam 2 and Mahe 13. While active cases were 364, as many as 36,892 patients were treated and discharged so far, the Director said.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates | 427 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, tally crosses 2.40 lakh
The COVID-19 caseload in Thane district of Maharashtra has reached 2,40,203 with the detection of 427 new cases of the viral infection, reported news agencyPTIciting an official.Nine more people have also died of the disease in the district, raising the toll to 5,901, he said. As of now, there are 4,240 active COVID-19 cases in the district, while 2,30,062 patients have recovered.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,01,23,778 with 24,712 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries surged to 96.93 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated today. The death toll increased to 1,46,756 with 312 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 96,93,173 pushing the national recovery rate to 95.75 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 percent.
New COVID strain LIVE Updates |
The Delhi Health Department asks Lok Nayak Hospital to set up a separate isolation unit for people testing positive for COVID-19 after returning from the United Kingdom. A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in the UK. (ANI)
New COVID strain LIVE Updates |
Northern Ireland on Wednesday confirmed a positive test for the highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain. Northern Ireland's Department of Health said in a statement that the variant is likely to have been present in the British-run region for a period of time. There was no evidence to suggest the variant causes more serious illness or a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments, it added.
Read more | Northern Ireland confirms positive case of COVID-19 variant
New COVID strain LIVE Updates | UK returnee tests COVID-19 positive in Nagpur
A 28-year-old man who recently returned from the UK has tested positive for coronavirus atNagpur in Maharashtra, an official said today. After the government earlier this week imposed travelrestrictions to and from the UK, the Nagpur MunicipalCorporation (NMC) appealed to those having recent travelhistory to that country to inform the civic body about it.
New COVID strain LIVE Updates |
Moderna Inc said it expects that the immunity induced by its COVID-19 vaccine would be protective against the coronavirus variants reported in the UK. The company said it plans to run tests to confirm the vaccine's activity against any strain. Moderna's comments came amid the British government's plan to place huge swathes of England under its strictest COVID-19 restrictions as a highly infectious virus variant sweeps the country.
Read more | Moderna expects its COVID-19 vaccine to protect against UK coronavirus variant
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 1,01,23,778, according to the latest update by from the Union Health Ministry. This number includes cases involving foreign nationals, patients who have recovered and the death toll.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
As many as 96,93,173 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the Union Health Ministry has said in its latest update.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
The reported active COVID-19 cases in India stand at 2,83,849, according to the Union Health Ministry.
Coronavirus in India LIVE updates | JUST IN:
The death toll in India due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has risen to 1,46,756, the Union Health Ministry has said.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 16,53,08,366 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to December 23 with 10,39,645 samples being tested on Wednesday.
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | South Korea to import J&J, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for 16 million people
South Korea has signed deals with Pfizer Inc and Johnson & Johnsons Janssen to import coronavirus vaccines to cover up to 16 million people, as it grapples with the third wave of infections, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a televised briefing today. The government has been facing growing public pressure over their COVID-19 vaccine procurement plans as the country struggled to contain a third wave of the pandemic, reporting its second-highest daily tally of cases yesterday. (Reuters)
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates |
The crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic has stimulated innovation and enterprise in India, and a comprehensive mapping of the entire startup ecosystem has been done to identify and support relevant technology solutions, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan has said. Addressing the Overseas S&T Minister and Diplomats Conclave at the India International Science Festival, Vardhan said as many as 51 startup-driven innovative products are being financially supported to accelerate their market readiness and deployment.
Read more | COVID crisis stimulated innovation and enterprise in India: Harsh Vardhan
Coronavirus Vaccine LIVE Updates | Russia cuts size of COVID-19 vaccine study, stops enrolment
Russia's Health Ministry agreed yesterday to cut the size of a study of a domestically developed coronavirus vaccine and to stop the enrolment of volunteers. (AP)
Coronavirus in United States LIVE Updates | One million Americans vaccinated for COVID-19
Tennessee emerged alongside California yesterday as an epicenter of the latest COVID-19 surge even while more than 1 million Americans have been vaccinated as US political leaders sought to guard against a highly contagious coronavirus variant sweeping across Britain. Tennessee averaged nearly 128 new infections per 1,00,000 people over the last week, the highest of any US state, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. California stood second at 111 new cases per 100,000 residents. (Reuters)
Coronavirus in Rajasthan LIVE Updates |
The Rajasthan government has decided to impose a night curfew between 8 pm of December 31 and 6 am of January 1 in all cities having a population of over one lakh. (ANI)
Coronavirus in West Bengal LIVE Updates | Bengal's COVID-19 death toll rises to 9,473, tally at 5,41,624
West Bengal reported 34 more COVID-19 fatalities yesterday, pushing the death toll to9,473, while a total of 1,628 fresh cases took the tally to 5,41,624, the health department said in a bulletin. Altogether, 5,16,462 people have recovered from the disease so far, including 2,153 since Tuesday, it said.The state's recovery rate stands at 95.35 percent. (PTI)
New COVID strain LIVE Updates | People who arrived from UK being rigorously traced; COVID situation under control in Delhi: Jain
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain yesterday said people who have arrived here from the UK are being rigorously traced and those showing even the slightest of COVID-19 symptoms are being tested, even as he asserted that the situation in the city was under control with the positivity rate plummeting to below one percent. Interacting with reporters, he also said Delhi now has "the lowest positivity rate in the entire country". The ceasing of flight services to and from the UK was a prompt move by the Centre and will help in containing the spread of the new coronavirus strain detected in that country, he said. (PTI)
New COVID strain LIVE Updates | UK returnee tests COVID-19 positive in Odisha
A 34-year-old United Kingdom returnee has tested positive for COVID-19 and hospitalised inBhubaneswar, officials said yesterday. The man returned to the state on December 18 amid concerns over the detection of a mutated and more infectious strain of COVID-19 in the European country, BhubaneswarMunicipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner PC Chaudhury said. (PTI)
Hello and welcome to Moneycontrol’s LIVE coverage of the novel coronavirus pandemic and its socio-economic impact.
The COVID-19 outbreak has spread across 191 countries and territories. Today is the 276th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown.
Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for the latest updates through the day.
