Coronavirus news highlights: India's Covid-19 tally nears 95-lakh mark, recoveries near 89 lakh

India's total Covid-19 cases rise to 94,91,514. The death toll amounted to 1,38,059. A total of 88,89,585 people recovered with 41,985 new discharges in the last 24 hours.

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Sabarimala Ayyappa temple to allow more pilgrims

The Kerala government has decided to allow 2,000 pilgrims atSabarimalaAyyappa temple on weekdays and 3,000 on Saturdays and Sundays during the ongoing pilgrimage. Earlier it was fixed as 1,000 and 2,000 respectively.

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Covid-19 patients on some cancer therapies may be contagious for months: Study

Covid-19 patients who received cancer treatments that suppress their immune system may remain contagious and able to spread the coronavirus for two months or more, according to a study published on Tuesday.

The USCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends that when patients have compromised immune systems, healthcare workers follow extra precautions such as wearing respirators instead of face masks and isolate patients for up to 20 days after symptoms appear. -Reuters

First US Covid-19 shots could be given 24-to-48 hours after FDA nod

Healthcare workers and others recommended for the first Covid-19 inoculations could start getting shots within 24 hours after the vaccine receives regulatory authorisation, the chief adviser for the US government's Operation Warp Speed program said on Tuesday.

Moncef Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive overseeing the vaccine portion of the US program, said he hopes 20 million people will have been vaccinated by the end of this year. -Reuters

Mumbai reports 724 new Covid-19 cases, 1,280 recoveries/discharges and 9 deaths -ANI

Mumbai reports 724 new Covid-19 cases, 1,280 recoveries/discharges and 9 deaths today.

Total cases rise to 2,84,184 including 2,57,915 recoveries/discharges and 10,819 deaths.

Active cases stand at 12,440

Vardhan, ICRS chairman distribute masks, soaps at Old Delhi Railway Station

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) distributed masks and soaps at the Old Delhi Railway Station on Monday, stating it was the biggest weapon to fight Covid-19. -PTI

Lockdown: Indian Railways to gradually increase passenger train service

The central government on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring ticket booking pattern in passenger trains and will gradually increase the number of such train services.

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Serum Institute of India to continue two full dose regimen in Covid-19 trials

Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca to manufacture its Covid-19 vaccine, will continue to test a two full dose regimen of the shot despite it showing a lower success rate than a half and full dose regimen in pivotal trials, a top executive told Reuters.

France aiming for broader Covid-19 vaccination campaign in spring - Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that France should be in a position to embark on a broader Covid-19 vaccination campaign between April and June next year, after initially targeting a smaller group of people. -Reuters

Dr Reddy's, RDIF commence clinical trials for Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in India

Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Tuesday said they have commenced adaptive phase 2/3 clinical trials for the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in India.

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Gujarat reports 1,477 new coronavirus cases, 15 deaths

Gujarat recorded 1,477 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, taking its Covid-19 case tally to 2,11,257, the state health department said.

As many as 15 patients died of the viral infection in the state on Tuesday, raising the fatality count to 4,004, it said.

With 1,547 patients getting discharged, the number of recovered cases in the state went up to 1,92,368. -PTI

Covid-19 pandemic's long-term impact could lead to more new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths: UN

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has created additional setbacks for the global AIDS response and there could be an estimated 123,000-293,000 additional new HIV infections and 69,000-148 000 additional AIDS-related deaths between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic's long-term impact, according to a new report.

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Covishield won't be released till safe for mass use: Serum Institute of India

With the Chennai vaccine trial volunteer issue compounding into a big issue, the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) – which is world’s largest vaccine maker, said that the vaccine will not be released for mass use unless it is safe and immunogenic. -DHNS

Tamil Nadu reported 1,404 new Covid-19 cases, 1,411 discharges, and 10 deaths -ANI

Tamil Nadu reported 1,404 new Covid-19 cases, 1,411 discharges, and 10 deaths in the last 24 hours: State Health Department, Govt of Tamil Nadu

Total cases: 7,83,319

Total discharges: 7,60,617

Death toll: 11,722

Active cases: 10,980

Karnataka reports 1,330 new Covid-19 cases, 886 recoveries, and 14 deaths -ANI

Karnataka reports 1,330 new Covid-19 cases, 886 recoveries, and 14 deaths, according to the State Health Department

Total cases: 8,86,227

Total recoveries: 8,50,707

Total deaths: 11,792

Active cases: 23,709

Madhya Pradesh reports 1,357 new Covid-19 cases, 1,683 discharges, and 10 deaths -ANI

Madhya Pradesh reports 1,357 new Covid-19 cases, 1,683 discharges, and 10 deaths today, according to State Health Department

Total cases: 2,07,485

Total recoveries: 1,89,780

Active cases: 14,435

Death toll: 3,270

Maharashtra reports 4,930 new Covid-19 cases, 6,290 recoveries/discharges, & 95 deaths -ANI

Maharashtra reports 4,930 new Covid-19 cases, 6,290 recoveries/discharges, & 95 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per State Health Department

Total cases: 18,28,826

Total recoveries: 16,91,412

Active cases: 89,098

Death toll: 47,246

Delhi unlikely to go under night curfew as Covid-19 positivity rate declining

The Delhi government is unlikely to go for a night curfew as the Covid-19 case positivity rate in the city has been showing a declining trend for the last few weeks, sources said on Tuesday.

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Bangladesh expects to receive first Covid vaccines by February

Bangladesh expects to receive its first batch of coronavirus vaccines by February which people will receive free of charge, the health secretary said on Tuesday.

The South Asian country of more than 160 million last month signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India to buy 30 million doses of the vaccine developed by British drugmaker AstraZeneca. -Reuters

European regulator to decide on 1st coronavirus vaccine on December 29

The European Medicines Agency will convene a meeting on December 29 to decide if there is enough data about the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for it to be approved, the regulator said Tuesday. -AP

Lewis Hamilton 'devastated' to miss Sakhir Grand Prix

World champion Lewis Hamilton said he was devastated to miss this weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain having tested positive for coronavirus.

"I am devastated that I won't be racing this weekend," he said in a statement. - AFP

Salman Khan exempted from appearance in blackbuck poaching case hearing after counsel cites Covid risk

Actor Salman Khan was on Tuesday given exemption from appearance by a court here during the hearing of an appeal by him against the five-year sentence in the October 1998 blackbuck poaching case.

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Hamas Gaza chief tests positive for Covid-19, spokesman says

Hamas'Gaza leader, Yehya Al-Sinwar, has tested positive for Covid-19, a spokesman for the Islamist militant group, which runs the Palestinian territory, said on Tuesday.

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Kerala reports 5,375 new Covid-19 cases, 6,151 recovered cases & 26 deaths -ANI

Kerala reported 5,375 new Covid-19 cases, 6,151 recovered cases & 26 deaths today. There are 61,092 active cases, 5, 44,864 recoveries & 2,270 deaths in the state till date: Govt of Kerala

Andhra Pradesh reports 685 new Covid-19 cases -ANI

Andhra Pradesh reports 685 new Covid-19 cases taking the total number of cases in the state to 8,68,749.

There are 7,427 active cases in the State and 8,54,326 people have recovered so far.

The death toll is at 6,996

Rajasthan reports 2,347 new Covid-19 cases, 3,007 recoveries/discharges, & 19 deaths -ANI

Rajasthan reports 2,347 new Covid-19 cases, 3,007 recoveries/discharges, & 19 deaths, as per State Health Department

Total cases: 2,70,410

Total recoveries: 2,40,105

Active cases: 27,974

Death toll: 2,331

31 new cases push Tripura's Covid-19 tally to 32,726

Tripura's Covid-19 tally rose to 32,726 on Tuesday as 31 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

The state now has 595 active coronavirus cases, while 31,741 people have recovered from the disease, 367 people have succumbed to the infection and 23 patients have migrated to other states so far. -PTI

Gujarat BJP MP Abhay Bharadwaj dies during Covid-19 treatment

BJP MP from Gujarat Abhay Bharadwaj died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at a Chennai hospital, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.

Bharadwaj (66) was a prominent lawyer and was elected to Rajya Sabha in June this year. He had tested coronavirus positive in August, after attending party meetings and a roadshow in Rajkot. -PTI

Delhi reports 4,006 new Covid-19 cases, 5,036 recoveries, and 86 deaths -ANI

Delhi reports 4,006 new Covid-19 cases, 5,036 recoveries, and 86 deaths, as per Delhi Health Department

Total cases: 5,74,380

Total recoveries: 5,33,351

Death toll: 9,260

Active cases: 31,769

Centre never said entire country will be vaccinated against Covid-19, says Union Health Secretary

While the nation is desperately waiting for a Covid-19 vaccine, Union Health Secretary on Tuesday said that the entire country might not be vaccinated against the virus.

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Community service for mask rule breach 'hard to implement', says Gujarat govt

The Gujarat government told the High Court on Tuesday that it is unable to figure out how those caught not wearing a mask can be made to do community service at Covid centres, as proposed.

It would be difficult to keep track of whether the person has been actually peforming community service as directed, said Advocate General Kamal Trivedi. -PTI

Wockhardt in discussions with Covid-19 vaccine developers to offer drug substance

Drug firm Wockhardt on Tuesday said it is in discussions with a number of global Covid-19 vaccine developersto offer drug substance as well as fill and finish manufacturing facilities to them.

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More than one-third of kids with Covid-19 show no symptoms, says study

More than one-third of kids infected with the novel coronavirus are asymptomatic, according to a study which confirms that children diagnosed with Covid-19 may represent just a fraction of those infected.

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Vaccination would depend on the efficacy of the vaccine & our purpose is to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission. If we're able to vaccinate critical mass of people & break virus transmission, then we may not have to vaccinate the entire population: ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava. -ANI

I just want to make this clear that the government has never spoken about vaccinating the entire country. It's important that we discuss such scientific issues, based on factual information only: Health Secretary on being asked how much time it will take to vaccinate the entire country. -ANI

Moderna files for European authorisation of Covid-19 vaccine candidate

The European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday it has received an application for marketing authorisation for Moderna Inc's Covid-19 vaccine candidate. -Reuters

Data Safety Monitoring Board also monitors clinical trial from day to day basis & keep an eye on adverse events & report it. Drug Controller General analyses all reports & finds out whether there's a one-to-one co-relation between adverse event & vaccination: Rajesh Bhushan. -ANI

Clinical trials are multi-centric & multi-site. Each site has an Institutional Ethics Committee, which is independent of manufacturer or govt. In case of any adverse event, this Committee takes note & gives its report to Drug Controller General of India: Rajesh Bhushan. -ANI

Cumulative positivity rate has decreased in India from 7.15% to 6.69% during Nov 11-Dec 1 period: Ministry of Health

Cumulative positivity rate has decreased in India from 7.15% to 6.69% during Nov 11-Dec 1 period. In November 2020, the number of recoveries has been more than the number of new Covid-19 cases: Rajesh Bhushan. -ANI

Average daily positivity rate last week was 3.72%: Ministry of Health

Average daily positivity rate last week was 3.72%. Among all the big nations in world, cases per million in India (at 211 cases/mn) are the lowest. Last 7 days trends shows that European nations are witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases: Rajesh Bhushan. -ANI

BioNTech/Pfizer file for EU approval of Covid-19 vaccine

Germany's BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer said on Tuesday they had applied for EU regulatory approval for their Covid-19 vaccine, raising hopes that the first jabs could be administered in December. -AFP

Positivity rate in Delhi should decelerate in next two weeks: Satyendar Jain

The Covid-19 positivity rate in the national capital has fallen by a margin of nearly 55 per cent since early November and it should reduce further in the next two weeks, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday.

Interacting with reporters, he also said the labs taking samples are being operated at their full capacity, hence there are some delays in test outcomes and this matter was being taken up with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). -PTI

HC asks AAP government about protocols for disposal of used Covid-19 test kits

The Delhi High Court Tuesday asked the AAP government as to what guidelines or protocols were in place for disposal of used Covid-19 testing kits and whether they were being followed by the hospitals, clinics and doctors under its jurisdiction.

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China gave Covid-19 vaccine candidate to North Korea's Kim

China has provided North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family with an experimental coronavirus vaccine, a US analyst said on Tuesday, citing two unidentified Japanese intelligence sources.

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UN sees emergency aid needs exploding due to Covid-19

The UN said Tuesday that $35 billion would be needed for aid in 2021, as the pandemic leaves tens of millions more people in crisis, and with the risk of multiple famines looming.

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Puducherry reports 53 new Covid-19 cases, 72 discharges & 1 death -ANI

Puducherry reported 53 new Covid-19 cases, 72 discharges & 1 death today.

Total positive cases in the Union Territory rise to 37,020 till date, including 439 active cases, 35,970 recoveries & 611 deaths: Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Puducherry

Pandemic fills ranks of extreme poverty worldwide

The coronavirus pandemic is pushing the number of people worldwide who need humanitarian assistance to survive to new highs, the United Nations said on Tuesday, dramatically increasing the ranks of extreme poverty in just one year.

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Gujarat govt slashes RT-PCR test price to Rs 800

TheGujaratgovernment on Tuesday reduced the price of RT-PCR tests conducted by private laboratories for Covid-19 to Rs 800 from Rs 1,500.

Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel told reporters here that since the prices of test kits have come down, the state government decided to pass on this benefit to people.

Russia reported a record 569 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the official death toll to 40,464.

Authorities also reported 26,402 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, including 6,524 in the capital Moscow, bringing the national cumulative tally to 2,322,056.

Serum Institute says, 'Chennai volunteer incident no way induced by vaccine'

With the Chennai vaccine trial volunteer issue compounding into a big issue, the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII),which is world’s largest vaccine-maker, on Tuesday clarified that the Covishield vaccine is safe and immunogenic. The companyhas assured that the vaccine won’t be released for mass use unless it is proven immunogenic, and safe.

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Pakistan's coronavirus tally crosses 400,000-mark

Pakistan's Covid-19 tally crossed the 400,000-mark on Tuesday as a second wave of thecoronavirusbuilds momentum and officials struggle to counter public indifference to the pandemic.

The death toll rose to 8,091 with 67 more people succumbing to the deadly viral infection overnight, the health ministry said.

With the detection of 2,458 newcoronaviruscases in the last 24 hours, the nationwide tally now stands at 400,482.

F1 racer Lewis Hamilton tests positive for Covid-19

Odisha's Covid-19 caseload mounted to 3,19,103 on Tuesday as 378 more people tested positive for the disease, while five fresh fatalities pushed the state'scoronavirusdeath toll to 1,744.

Thane reported 492 new coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the tally to 2,29,080

The Covid-19 cases rose by 8.30 per cent in Maharashtra's Thane district during the last month, an official said on Tuesday.

At the end of October, the district's Covid-19 tally was 2,11,521 and it reached 2,29,080 on November 30, adding 17,559 new cases in the last month.

Arunachal Pradesh's Covid-19 tally rose to 16,282 on Tuesday as 13 more people tested positive for the infection

The cost of RT-PCR tests have decreased from Rs 24,000 to Rs 800: Delhi Health Minister

The positivity rate is gradually declining. The rate of RT-PCR test has also been decreased from Rs 2400 to Rs 800 while home sampling will cost Rs 1200. Central govt. allotted labs are taking more than 24 hrs in providing reports, saysDelhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Jakarta governor contracts Covid-19

Anies Baswedan, the governor of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, said on Tuesday he had tested positive for Covid-19, as the world's fourth most populous country struggles to contain a spike in the number of infections.

With more than 530,000 infections and nearly 17,000 deaths, the country has the highest tallies in Southeast Asia, though some health experts say limited testing and contact tracing is masking a far higher caseload.

Allow smaller parties to air their views during the all-party meeting on Covid-19: CPI's Binoy Viswam to PM Modi

Mizoram reported 22 new Covid-19 cases, tally at 3,847

Mizoram reported 22 new Covid-19cases, total cases at 3,847. Total recoveries amounted to 3,499. The death toll is at5 while active cases are at 343.

Telangana reported 502 new Covid-19 cases, tally at 2.7 lakh

Telangana reported 502 new Covid-19cases, 3 deaths and 894 recoveries on 30th November. Total cases in the state rise to 2,70,318 including 1,461 deaths and 2,59,230 recoveries. Active cases stand at 9,627

India's Covid-19 caseload at 94.6 lakh with 31,118 new infections

With 31,118 new Covid-19infections, India's total cases rises to 94,62,810. Death toll amounted to1,37,621with 482 new deaths. Total active cases at 4,35,603. A total of88,89,585 people recovered with 41,985 new discharges in last 24 hours.

Australia hosts first group of overseas students since Covid-19

Australia has welcomed its first group of international students to arrive since thecoronaviruspandemic began, with more due to follow.

A charter flight carrying 63 students from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia landed Monday in the northern city of Darwin.

The students will all attend Charles Darwin University, with some new to the campus and others previously enrolled.

They are part of a pilot program aimed at boosting the local economy and providing a template for international students to arrive in other parts of Australia.

Scott Atlas, Trump’s coronavirus adviser, resigns

DrScott W. Atlas, the former Stanford University radiologist who espoused controversial theories and rankled government scientists while advising President Donald Trump on thecoronaviruspandemic, resigned his White House position Monday.

The move was not entirely unexpected. Atlas joined the White House in August as a special government employee for a limited term after he caught Trump’s eye with his frequent appearances on Fox News over the summer. Atlas’ term was set to expire this week.

Mexico reports 6,472 new coronavirus cases, 285 more deaths

Mexico's health ministry on Monday reported 6,472 new confirmed cases ofcoronavirusinfection and 285 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1,113,543 cases and 105,940 deaths.

The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.

49 HIV patients in Karnataka contracted Covid-19, 5 died

Prior to December 1, marked as World AIDS Day, data revealed that 49 people with HIV were affected with Covid-19 and five of them have died. Doctors said HIV patients regularly taking antiretroviral therapy or ART will have as good achance of survival as those who are HIV negative.

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Karnataka recorded the steepest decline in the number of active Covid-19 cases in the last one month followed by Maharashtra, while north-west India saw a marginal rise in such cases during the same period.

Ayurveda, Siddha medicines effective in fighting Covid-19, finds study

Ayurveda and Siddha medicines like Kabasura Kudineer tablets, Chyawanprash and others have helped inhibit the SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, a German study has found.

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Americans face new Covid-19 restrictions after Thanksgiving

Los Angeles County imposed a stay-at-home order for its 10 million residents, and Santa Clara County, in the heart of Silicon Valley, banned high school, college and professional sports and decreed a quarantine for those who have travelled more than150 miles outside the county.

WHO alarmed by Covid-19 surge in Brazil, Mexico

The World Health Organization voiced alarm Monday over a rapid worsening of the Covid-19 situations in Brazil and Mexico, urging them to be "very serious" about halting the spread. Both countries had seen both cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus surge in recent weeks as a second wave of the pandemic has hit.

Brazil has been one of the countries hit hardest by the pandemic, with more than 172,000 people killed -- the second-highest number in the world, following the United States.

Good morning readers, welcome to DH's live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.