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 275th day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 1,00,75,116 (over 1 crore) confirmed COVID- 19 cases, including 1,46,111 deaths. A total of 96,36,487 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 95.65 percent. However, there are 2,92,518 active cases in the country, which comprise 2.9 percent of the total caseload. Globally, more than 7.79 crore people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 17.14 lakh have died so far, as per data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre.
Russia stopped taking in new volunteers in the trial of its first vaccine against COVID-19 on Wednesday, with developers saying it was unethical to administer a placebo to participants now that the shot was increasingly available to the public.
Russia began rolling out the Sputnik V vaccine as part of a national inoculation programme in early December as the final, phase III trial continued in the capital at the same time.
Now the trial will be cut short, with only 31,000 volunteers taking part rather than the planned 40,000, the health ministry said in a statement.
Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Institute which developed the vaccine, was cited by the RIA news agency as saying that the decision was based on previous trial results, which showed the vaccine was safe.
In view of COVID-19 pandemic, public prayers or gatherings will not be allowed in Gujarat public prayers or gatherings will not be allowed in Gujaratduring Christmas and New Year, the state government said on Wednesday.
At the same time, the government allowed local authorities to take a call on allowing celebrations at publicplaces "in special cases". "In view of the coronavirus situation in the state, noreligious public gatherings, rallies, prayers in public places or public procession will be allowed during Christmas and New Year," a release quoted Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja as saying.
It said local administration will not grant permission for celebrations in public places, except in special cases.
As many as 1,299 inmates have tested positive for coronavirus in 28 jails of Chhattisgarh so far and six have died of the infection, the state government informed the legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a question by senior BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal, state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu informed about COVID-19 cases among jail inmates and funds spent on their treatment.
At least 217 inmates had contracted the infection in Durg Central Jail, followed by 202 and 196 in the district jails of Dantewada and Ramanujganj respectively, the reply stated.
Karnataka reported 958 new COVID-19cases, 1,206 discharges and 9 deaths today. Total cases: 9,12,340; Total discharges: 8,86,547; Death toll: 12,038; Active cases: 13,736.
Maharashtra reported 3,913 new COVID-19cases, 7,620 discharges, and 93 deaths today, as per State Health Department. Total cases: 19,06,371; Total recoveries: 18,01,700; Death toll: 48969; Total active cases: 54,573.
Delhi reports 871 new COVID-19cases, 1,585 recoveries and 18 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Delhi Health Department. Total cases: 6,19,618; Total recoveries: 6,01,268; Death toll: 10,347; Active cases: 8,003.
Britain on Wednesday approved the exceptional use of the National Health Service test and trace COVID-19 self-test kit to detect asymptomatic coronavirus cases, as it mulls a stricter lockdown to stem the spread of a highly infectious variant of the virus.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that the kit uses an antigen lateral flow test (antigen LFT), which can give a result in 30 minutes.
Tamil Nadu reported 1,066 new COVID-19cases, 1,131 discharges, and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours.Total positive cases: 8,10,080; Total discharges: 7,88,742; Death toll: 12,024; Active cases: 9,314.
Rajasthan reported 992 new COVID-19cases, 8 deaths and 937 recoveries/discharges today. Total cases: 3,01,708; Death toll: 2,642; Total recoveries/discharges: 2,87,418; Active cases: 1,736.
Pfizer and BioNTech will supply the US with an additional 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine under a new agreement, news agency Reuters has reported.
Puri’s famous Jagannath temple opened for devotees on December 23, after remaining closed for nine months due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The temple, which is among Odisha’s top tourist attractions, will reopen in a graded manner. For the first five days, only locals will be allowed inside. From January 3, 2021, the Jagannath temple is expected to be open for all.
The authorities have decided to keep the temple closed for all on January 1 and 2 to avoid a rush of devotees on New Year’s Day.
