Coronavirus News highlights: Today is the 283rd day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded more than 1.02 crore confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1.48 lakh deaths. A total of 98.60 lakh 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 96.04 percent. However, there are 2.57 lakh active cases in the country. Globally, more than 8.2 crore people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 17.9 lakh have died so far. Many countries have granted emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines and have started the process of vaccinating healthcare workers and high-risk groups. India's regulator is expected to grant a similar approval soon.
Coronavirus in Mumbai LIVE Updates |
Mumbai reports 631 new COVID-19cases, 628 recoveries/discharges and 9 deaths today. Total cases rise to 2,94,067 including 2,74,072 recoveries/discharges and 11,125 deaths. Active cases stand at 8,005.
Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates |
Subject Expert Committee (SEC) meeting concludes. According to sources quoted by News18,the expert panel did not approve Covaxin and asked Bharat Biotech to present more data.
News agency PTI has alsoreported that it also asked the company to expedite volunteer recruitment and recommended interim efficacy analysis for Covaxin.
Coronavirus in India LIVE Updates | Schools reopen in Kerala, Karnataka, Assam amid strict COVID-19 regulations
The chatter was back on campuses as schools in Kerala, Karnataka and Assam reopened after several months with strict COVID-19 regulations such as wearing masks, thermal screening, washing hands and mandatory social distancing.
Though many students attended school, with letters of consent from their parents, some chose to continue education online with their guardians anxious about the pandemic situation and the emergence of a new strain of the novel coronavirus.
In Karnataka and in Kerala, classroom studies for classes 10 and 12 resumed on the first day of the new year, while in Assam children studying in classes one to five attended schools.
Staggered classroom schedules were followed by schools in these states, with the Centre recommending only 50 per cent of students be allowed at a time in educational institutes. Attendance of students is also not mandatory and they can choose to continue classes online, the central government had recommended.
Coronavirus in Gujarat LIVE Updates | 734 new coronavirus cases in Gujarat, three deaths
Gujarat recorded 734 new coronavirus cases and only three deaths in the last 24 hours, the state health department said on Friday evening.
The state's caseload thus went up to 2,45,772 while the death toll stands at 4,309, it said.
Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 2,45,772, new cases 734, death toll 4,309, discharged 2,31,800, active cases 9,663, and people tested so far 97,06,300.
Coronavirus in Delhi LIVE Updates |
Delhi reports 585 new COVID-19cases, 717 recoveries and 21 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Delhi Health Department. Total cases: 6,25,954; Total recoveries: 6,10,039; Death toll: 10,557; Active cases: 5,358.
Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | SII's COVID-19 vaccine: What is emergency approval, what does the data show, what next after clearance and more
The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India's drug regulator, which met onJanuary 1, has recommended conditional use of Serum Institute of India's (SII) COVID-19 vaccine, sources said.The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)would take the final decision on the vaccine on the basis of the SEC recommendation.
The SEC is also reviewingthe emergency use applications of Bharat Biotech and Pfizer for their COVID-19 vaccines.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates |
Karnataka reported 877 new COVID-19cases, 1,084 discharges and 6 deaths today. Total cases: 9,20,373; Total discharges: 8,97,200; Death toll: 12,096; Active cases: 11,058.
New COVID Strain LIVE Updates | Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri:
It has been decided that flights between India & UK will resume from 8th January, 2021. Operations till 23 Jan will be restricted to 15 flights per week each for carriers of two countries to & from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad only.
Coronavirus in Maharashtra LIVE Updates |
Maharashtra reports 3,524 new COVID-19cases, 4,279 discharges, and 59 deaths today, as per State Health Department. Total cases: 19,35,636; Total recoveries: 18,32,825; Total active cases: 52,084; Total Deaths: 49,580.
Coronavirus in Punjab LIVE Updates |
Punjab reports 253 new COVID-19cases, 408 discharges, and 8 deaths today, says Govt of Punjab. Total cases in the State rise to 1,66,770 including 1,57,904 discharges and 5,349 deaths. Active cases stand at 3,517.
Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh LIVE Updates | AP reports 'zero' deaths after 7 months, 326 fresh cases
For the first time in almost seven months, Andhra Pradesh did not report a single death due to COVID-19, even as 326 fresh cases and 350 recoveries were reported in the 24 hours ending 9 am on Friday.
The states Covid-19 chart now showed the caseload at 8,82,612, 8,72,266 recoveries and 7,108 deaths.
The number of active cases was 3,238.
The state completed 1,18,84,085 sample tests, at the rate of 2,22,548 per million population, turning out an overall infection positivity rate of 7.43 percent so far.
Coronavirus in Kerala LIVE Updates | CM Pinarayi Vijayan:
4,991 new COVID-19cases, 5,153 recoveries and23 deaths reported in Kerala today. Total number of active casesnow at 6,5054.
Coronavirus in Dharavi LIVE Updates | Dharavi records two new COVID-19 cases; tally at 3,813
With the addition of two new COVID-19 cases on the first day of the year, the count of infections in Mumbai's Dharavi area reached 3,813, a senior official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.
As many as 3,482 patients from the slum-dominated area have already recovered from the infection, the official said.
There are only 19 active COVID-19 cases left in the locality, he added.
Coronavirus in Norway LIVE Updates | Norway lifts ban on flights from Britain introduced due to virus variant
Norway is lifting its ban on flights from Britain, introduced to stop the spread of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, the health ministry said on Friday, with planes allowed to land from Jan. 2 at 1600 GMT.
Following the lead of other European nations, Norway on Dec. 21 halted travel from Britain after news that the new variant of the virus was rapidly spreading.
Oslo announced on Thursday it would introduce from Jan. 2 mandatory COVID-19 tests for all people arriving in the Nordic country from abroad, either directly upon arrival or up to 24 hours after.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | Rashtrapati Bhavan:
Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, which was closed for public viewing due to COVID-19 since March 13, 2020, will re-open from January 5, 2021. It will be open on all days (except on Monday and government holidays).
Coronavirus vaccine LIVE Updates | State Health Minister:
Dry run for COVID-19vaccination to be done in five districts of Jharkhand — Ranchi, East Singhbhum, Chatra, Palamu and Pakur on January 2. All necessary preparations have been completed. 7000 vaccinators have been trained for vaccination drive.
New COVID Strain LIVE Updates | Health Ministry:
4 more persons have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus taking the total number of new COVID-19strain cases to 29.
Coronavirus in Thailand LIVE Updates | Bangkok to close schools for two weeks as number of COVID-19 cases rise
The Thai capital of Bangkok will close all schools for two weeks after the New Year holiday as it tightens measures to control a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the city said on Friday.
Thailand confirmed 279 new coronavirus cases on Friday, with the majority of them linked to a cluster among migrant workers in Samut Sakhon province south of Bangkok, and another cluster linked to illegal gambling dens that started in the eastern province of Rayong.
These new clusters have started to spread into Bangkok, prompting the city's administrator to tighten measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Coronavirus vaccine news India LIVE Updates |
Govt allows import/export of COVID-19 vaccine without any value limitation
The government has allowed import and export of Covid-19 vaccines without any value limitation, in order to ensure speedy clearance and distribution.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has amended the regulations to facilitate the import/export of Covid-19 vaccines through courier, at locations where the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) is operational.
"Imports of and exports of vaccines in relation to Covid-19 has been allowed without any value limitation," said the amended Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Amendment Regulations, 2020.
Coronavirus in Odisha LIVE Updates | Odisha reports 245 new COVID-19 cases, 3 fresh fatalities
Odisha's COVID-19 tally rose to 3,29,866 on Friday as 245 more people tested positive for the infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed the state's coronavirus death toll to 1,876, a health official said.
As many as 139 new cases were reported in quarantine centres, while 106 infections were detected during contact tracing, he said.
The state now has 2,505 active coronavirus cases, while 3,25,432 people have recovered from the infection so far, he said.
Coronavirus in Karnataka LIVE Updates | Schools, Pre-University Colleges reopen for students in Karnataka
After a gap of over nine months, schools and pre-university colleges in Karnataka reopened for students on Friday with strict COVID-19 safety norms.
While regular classes began on Friday for class 10 and second year PUC (class 12) students, who will be facing board exams; students from grades 6-9 came to campuses for the Vidyagama programme, which enables continued schooling.
Wearing masks, students with consent letters from their parents were seen entering the classes after thermal checks and sanitising their hands at schools and PU colleges across the state.
Inside the classes too, students were seen seated maintaining social distancing.
Coronavirus Live updates: Puducherry adds 32 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 38,164
Puducherry logged 32 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours while no fresh fatality was reported, a top Health department official said on Friday.
The new cases were identified at the end of testing of 3,068 samples taking the overall tally in the union territory to 38,164, Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release.
The 32 fresh cases were spread over Puducherry (16), Mahe (10) and Karaikal and Yanam (three each). As many as 50 patients were discharged from hospitals during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM Friday. No fresh fatality was reported from any of the four regions-Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam- and the death toll remained at 633.
Mohan Kumar said that fatality and recovery rates were 1.66 percent and 97.38 percent respectively. He said that as many as 4.88 lakh samples were tested so far and it was found that 4.45 lakh samples were negative. While there were 366 active cases, 37,165 patients had recovered and were discharged so far, he added.
Coronavirus Live updates: Bangkok to close schools for two weeks as number of COVID-19 cases rise
The Thai capital of Bangkok will close all schools for two weeks after the New Year holiday as it tightens measures to control a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the city said on Friday.
Thailand confirmed 279 new coronavirus cases on Friday, with the majority of them linked to a cluster among migrant workers in Samut Sakhon province south of Bangkok, and another cluster linked to illegal gambling dens that started in the eastern province of Rayong.
These new clusters have started to spread into Bangkok, prompting the city’s administrator to tighten measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Coronavirus Live updates: Govt allows import/export of COVID-19 vaccine without any value limitation
The government has allowed import and export of Covid-19 vaccines without any value limitation, in order to ensure speedy clearance and distribution.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has amended the regulations to facilitate the import/export of Covid-19 vaccines through courier, at locations where the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) is operational.
"Imports of and exports of vaccines in relation to Covid-19 has been allowed without any value limitation," said the amended Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Amendment Regulations, 2020.
Coronavirus Live updates: Singapore to block entry to visitors from South Africa
Singapore will stop allowing entry to visitors with a recent travel history to South Africa, its health ministry said on Friday, citing reports of a potentially more contagious strain of the novel coronavirus circulating in the country.
The new border restrictions for travellers from South Africa will effectively be in place from January 4.
Coronavirus Live updates | Budget, Covid-19 vaccine: 5 factors which will drive investor sentiments in 2021
The global COVID-19 situation, rollout of vaccines, geopolitical trends, Union Budget and economic recovery would be the major factors driving investor sentiments in 2021 after a tumultuous year which saw both 'the worst of times and the best of times' for the stock market, said analysts.
Coronavirus Live updates: Chelsea confirm 32.5 million pound profit despite COVID-19 hit on revenue
Chelsea recorded a profit of 32.5 million pounds ($44.44 million) in the last financial year despite the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Premier League club said.
Chelsea said turnover for the year ended June 30, 2020 was 407.4 million pounds, down from 446.7 million pounds in the previous year.
But the west London club were able to post a profit off the back of their qualification to the Champions League and money made from player sales.
Chelsea sold Belgian winger Eden Hazard to Real Madrid last summer in a deal worth a reported 100 million euros ($122.12 million)and also offloaded Ola Aina, Tomas Kalas and David Luiz among others.
Coronavirus Live updates: Budget to set course for economic pick up after COVID carnage
Indian economy is now expected to see a faster turnaround given the impending rollout of vaccine, increased mobility and less disruptions to business operations as the economy opens up but a lot will also depend on the upcoming Budget for 2021-22 to steer its course.
India, which had in 2019 overtaken the UK to become the fifth-largest economy in the world, was knocked off course somewhat due to the carnage that the pandemic and the ensuing strict lockdown unleashed -- businesses were shut, consumption slumped, investments took a hit and jobs were lost.
The combined effect being that the economy got relegated to the sixth spot in 2020.
The Budget for the next fiscal starting April 2021 that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present a month from now will be the starting point for picking up the pieces after the economic destruction.
Coronavirus Live updates: COVID-19 cases explained in charts
The total number of COVID-19 cases in India is now at 1,02,86,709, with 98,83,461 recoveries and 1,48,994 deaths. The country's mortality rate is 1.4 percent, with Punjab reporting the highest (3.2 percent). More than 10 lakh daily tests were reported on December 31, with more than 17.31 crore tests carried out till date.
While India reports high cases and deaths overall, it ranks low in terms of cases and deaths per million population.
Coronavirus Live updates: COVID-19 cases explained in charts
Maharashtra reported the most (58 or 23 percent) deaths followed by Kerala (30), West Bengal (29), Chhattisgarh (21), Delhi (13) and Tamil Nadu (13). These six states account for 64 percent of the new deaths reported India.
About 11 states and union territories—like Andaman and Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli/Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Pudduchery, Sikkim and Tripura—did not report any deaths.
India’s recovery rate stands at 96.1 percent. Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have the highest recovery rate at (99.6 percent, while Sikkim has the lowest at 88.9 percent. Kerala recorded 5,376 recoveries, the most, followed by Maharashtra (3,612), West Bengal (1,537), Chhattisgarh (1,518) and Karnataka (1,282).
Coronavirus Live updates: COVID-19 cases explained in charts
As many as 20,035 new coronavirus infections were reported in the last 24 hours, taking India's COVID-19 case count to above 1.02 crore, as per the health ministry’s January 1, 2021 update.
India reported 256 new deaths, the seventh day that the toll stayed below 300, and 23,181 recoveries in the last 24 hours. Active cases continue to decline and fell to 2,54,254 with a drop of 3,402 cases in a day.
Kerala reported the most (5,215 or 26 percent) new cases followed by Maharashtra (3,509), West Bengal (1,170), Chhattisgarh (1,035) and Karnataka (952). These five states account for 59 percent of all the new cases in the country.
Coronavirus Live updates: Maharashtra to conduct dry run for COVID-19 vaccination in four districts
Maharashtra will conduct a dry run of the covid-19 vaccine tomorrow. Pune,Nagpur, Jalna and Nandurbar have been selected for the dry run.
Coronavirus Live updates: 'Vaccine, COVID situation, geopolitical trends, Budget to be major drivers for Indian equities in 2021'
The global COVID-19 situation, rollout of vaccines, geopolitical trends, Union Budget and economic recovery would be the major factors driving investor sentiments in 2021 after a tumultuous year which saw both ''the worst of times and the best of times'' for the stock market, said analysts.
Coronavirus Live updates: 12 new cases push Mizoram's COVID-19 tally to 4,216
Mizoram's COVID-19 tally mounted to 4,216 on Friday as 12 more people, including eight security personnel, tested positive for the infection, a health official said. Lunglei district reported six new cases, Aizawl five and Kolasib one, he said.
Five Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, two CRPF jawans and an Army man are among the new patients, the official said.Mizoram now has 110 active coronavirus cases, while 4,098 people have recovered from the disease and eight patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said.
The recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state stands at 97.21 percent, the official said. The state has so far tested 1.8 lakh samples for COVID-19, including 926 in the last 24 hours, he added.
Coronavirus Live updates: 4 new cases push COVID-19 tally of Andamans to 4,945
The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 4,945 on Friday as four more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.
All the new cases were detected during contact tracing, he said.
Six more people have recovered from the infection, the official said. The archipelago now has 57 active cases, while 4,826 people have been cured of the disease and 62 patients have succumbed to the infection so far, he said. The administration has so far tested over 1.8 lakh samples for COVID-19, the official added.
Coronavirus Live updates: Telangana logs 461 new COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths take toll to 1,544
Telangana recorded 461 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total positives to over 2.86 lakh while three fatalities pushed the toll to 1,544, the state government said on Friday. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 108, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri with 44 and 41 respectively, it said in a bulletin, providing details as of 8 PM on December 31.
The total number of cases stood at 2,86,815 while recoveries were at 2,79,456. As many as 5,815 patients are under treatment and 42,013 samples were tested on Thursday. Cumulatively, over 69.24 lakh samples have been tested.
The samples tested per million population was over 1.86 lakh, the bulletin said. The case fatality rate in the state was 0.53 per cent, while it was 1.4 per cent at the national level. The recovery rate in Telangana was 97.43 per cent, while it was 96.1 per cent in the country.
Coronavirus Live updates: Thane district's COVID-19 count rises by 343, death toll by 4
With 343 new coronavirus positive cases, the infection count in Thane district of Maharashtra mounted to 2,43,178, an official said on Friday. These new cases were reported on Thursday, he said. As the virus claimed the lives of four persons during the day, the death toll in the district rose to 5,958.
Thane district's mortality rate is 2.45 percent, he added. So far, 2,33,168 patients have recuperated from the infection, which took the recovery rate to 95.88 percent. There are 4,052 active cases in the district at present, the official said. In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 44,278, while the death toll is 1,186 now, he said.
Coronavirus Live updates: New daily cases in India remain below 30,000; recovery rate above 96%
The daily new coronavirus infections in India remained below 30,000 for the 19th consecutive day taking the COVID-19 caseload to1,02,86,709, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98.83 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
A total of 20,035 new infections were reported in a day, while the death toll increased to 1,48,994 with 256 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98,83,461 pushing the national recovery rate to 96.08 percent,while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 percent.
Coronavirus Live updates: Anthony Fauci calls COVID-19 vaccine rollout in US as 'disappointing'
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci on Thursday said that the coronavirus vaccine rollout hasn't gone as he expected adding that it has been 'disappointing'.
"We would have liked to have seen it run smoothly and have 20 million doses into people today by the end of 2020, which was the projection," Fauci said during an appearance on "Today", as quoted by The Hill and added, "Obviously, it didn't happen, and that's disappointing."
Coronavirus Live updates: Canada to require air travelers to test negative for COVID-19
Canada will require air travelers aged 5 and up to test negative for COVID-19 before arrival, starting January 7, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said on Thursday, as the country tightens travel restrictions amid soaring cases of the coronavirus.
Passengers will need to have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to their scheduled departure to Canada, the country said on Wednesday, after social media images of maskless Canadian tourists abroad prompted calls for stricter measures to curb the virus.
Documentation showing a negative result must be shown to the airline before boarding a flight to Canada, Garneau said in a statement that offers additional details about the requirement, like the starting date.
Coronavirus Live updates: Sikkim reports 12 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 5,889
Sikkim reported 12 fresh COVID- 19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally in the Himalayan state to 5,889, an official said on Thursday. The state Information Education and Communication (IEC) member Sonam Bhutia said that East Sikkim district registered seven positive cases followed by three in South Sikkim and two in West Sikkim district.
Sikkim now has 529 active COVID-19 cases, while 94 patients have migrated to other states and 5,139 people have recovered from the disease, he said. Bhutia said 127 people have died due to COVID-19 in the state.
Sikkim has so far tested 68,828 samples for COVID-19, including 154 samples in the last 24 hours, he added.
Coronavirus Live updates: India's active COVID tally drops to near 2.5 lakh as 23,181 recover in a day
India has reported 20,036 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,02,86,710, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
As many as 23,181 recoveries and 256 deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry.
Coronavirus Live updates: Chhattisgarh records 1,035 new coronavirus cases, 21 deaths
Chhattiagarh on Thursday recorded 1,035 new COVID-19 cases and 21 more deaths. The state's caseload thus rose to 2,79,575 and the death toll to 3,371, a health official said. The number of people who have recovered reached 2,64,769 after 133 people were discharged from hospitals while 1,232 patients completed home isolation during the day.
The state now has 11,435 active cases, the official informed. Raipur district reported 141 new cases, taking its total count to 52,670, including 722 deaths.Bilaspur reported 123 new cases, Rajnandgaon 117, Durg 110 and Janjgir-Champa 75, among other districts.
"Of the 21 fatalities recorded on Thursday, five took place on Thursday, 11 on Wednesday and five deaths had taken place earlier," the official said. With 28,690 samples tested on Thursday, the total number of tests conducted in the state went up to 35,14,708. Chhattisgarh'scoronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 2,79,575, New cases 1,035, Death toll 3,371, Recovered 2,64,769, Active cases 11,435, new tests 28,690, total tests 35,14,708.
Coronavirus Live updates: West Bengal logs 1,170 new COVID-19 cases, 29 more deaths
The COVID-19 death toll in West Bengal mounted to 9,712 on Thursday after 29 more people succumbed to the infection, a health department bulletin said. At least 1,170 fresh cases were detected, raising the tally to 5,52,063, it said.
The discharge rate further improved to 96.07 per cent with 1,537 more recoveries. Altogether 5,30,366 people in the state have recuperated from the disease so far. Bengal currently has 11,985 active cases.
Eight fresh fatalities were recorded in North 24 Parganas, five in Kolkata, three each in Howrah and Paschim Medinipur, the bulletin said. Of the 1,170 new cases, 292 were registered in the metropolis, and 290 in North 24 Parganas. As many as 71,10,430 samples have been examined for COVID-19 in the state so far, including 40,254 since Wednesday.
Coronavirus Live updates: Ahmedabad reports 160 COVID-19 cases, 163 recoveries; 3 die
Ahmedabad district of Gujarat recorded 160 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, while 163 patients recovered from the infection, said the state Health Department. With 160 fresh cases, Ahmedabad''s COVID-19 tally rose to 57,634, said a release by the department.
Three COVID-19 patients from the city died in the last 24 hours, taking the toll in the district to 2,249, it said. Also, 163 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, pushing the recovery tally to 52,466, said the release. Of the 160 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest for a district in the state, 154 were reported from the city and the rest from the rural areas, it added.
Coronavirus Live updates: More infectious COVID-19 variant found in Florida
A more infections variant of COVID-19 that has swept through the United Kingdom has been identified in Florida, state health officials said on Thursday, marking the third known U.S. state to identify such a case.
The Florida Department of Health said the case involved a male in his 20s in Martin County with no history of travel. Two other cases involving the UK variant have been identified in Colorado and California.
“The Department is working with the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) on this investigation,” it tweeted.
Coronavirus Live updates: World Health Organization lists Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use
The World Health Organization on Thursday listed the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech for emergency use, saying the move opens the door for countries to expedite their own approvals to import and give the shot.
“This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere,” said Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant-director general for Access to Medicines and Health Products.
Coronavirus Live updates: Pakistan says China assures it of providing over one million doses of coronavirus vaccine
Pakistan on Thursday said China has assured it of providing over one million doses of coronavirus vaccine, developed by Sinopharm, for emergency use.
Earlier in the day, China granted conditional approval to its first homegrown coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm. According to media reports, Pakistan has decided to pre-book the COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for healthcare workers.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and exchanged views on COVID-19, bilateral relations, and regional and international issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said.
During the conversation, Wang assured that China would work to provide over one million doses of the vaccine to Pakistan for emergency use, it said.
Qureshi underlined that both Pakistan and China were making efforts to contain and combat the coronavirus and have established various mechanisms which were playing a useful role in controlling the pandemic, resuming economic growth and restoring supply chains across the region.
