Coronavirus news highlights: Telangana forms committees from state to mandal level for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

India's Covid-19 tally crossed 98.26 lakh with 30,006 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases currently stands at 98,26,775. The country's death toll reached 1,426,28 with 442 new fatalities. Over 33,000 were discharged taking India's recovery tally to 93.24 lakh. Globally, the United States registered a record of over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours -- the highest daily toll since April. Stay tuned for more updates.

1,204 new coronavirus cases in Gujarat, 12 deaths

Gujarat reported 1,204 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, raising its tally to 2,26,508, the state health department said.

With 12 fatalities, Covid-19 death toll in the state reached 4,160, it said.

Recoveries outnumbered new cases, with 1,338 patients gettingdischarged from hospitalon Saturday. The number of recovered cases thus rose to 2,08,867, said the department in its release.

The state's recovery rate improved to 92.21 per cent.

Total 60,423 tests were conducted for the virus in the last 24 hours at the rate of 929.58 tests per day per million population.

Gujarat Covid-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 2,26,508, new cases 1,204, death toll 4,160, recovered: 2,08,867, active cases 13,481 and people tested so far 86,13,587.

(PTI)

Telangana govt forms committees from state to mandal level for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

Gearing up for distribution of Covid-19 vaccine when it is made available, the Telangana government has constituted committees at the state, district and mandal levels for planning and execution, with priority to high risk groups, followed by others.

The committees would undertake a structured review of all aspects related to preparedness and implementation of Covid-19 vaccination, a Government Order said.

The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the committee, during the preparatory phase, include ensuring active engagement of "line departments" for various activities related to the vaccine introduction as and when it is made available, among others.

The various ToR of the panel include oversight on overall micro planning and other operational aspects of Covid-19 vaccine introduction.

(PTI)

Free Covid-19 vaccine for all in Kerala: CM Vijayan

Covid-19 vaccinewill be made available free of cost to all people in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday.

No one will be charged for the vaccine. This is the stand of the government," he told reporters at Kannur.

Kerala is the latest to announce free of cost Covid-19 vaccine for its people. States, including Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, have already made a similar announcement.

The Centre on Tuesday said three Covid-19 vaccines, developed by Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute of India and Pfizer, are under active consideration of India's drug regulator and there is hope that early licensure is possible for all or any of them.

Five vaccine candidates are under different phases of clinical trials in the country. Vijayan said the quantity of the vaccine that would be allotted to the state by the Centre was not yet known.

"The fact is that the number of Covid-19 cases are decreasing, which is a matter of relief. However, it needs to be seen if the local body polls, two phases of which are over, would contribute to increase in cases.

That will be known only in the days to come," he said. If the cases do not increase,this trend (of cases declining) will continue, the chief minister added. Kerala on Saturday recorded 5,949 Covid-19 cases and 32 deaths, taking the caseload to 6.64 lakh and the toll to 2,594. The active cases stood at 60,029.

Ladakh records another Covid-19 death, 41 new cases

Ladakh recorded one more fatality linked to the novel coronavirus and 41 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 123 and the infection tally to 9,112, officials said on Saturday.

The new fatality was reported from Leh, pushing the death toll from the pandemic to 80 in the district, while the remaining 43 were registered in Kargil district, the officials said.

Of the fresh Covid-19 cases, 35 were registered in Leh and six in Kargil, they said.

The recovery count in the Union Territory of Ladakh rose to 8,189 after 17 more patients were discharged in Leh, the officials said. They said the number of active Covid-19 cases in Ladakh stands at 800 -- 683 in Leh and 117 in Kargil.

(PTI)

Dutch Covid-19 cases rise at fastest pace since October

The number of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands jumped by more than 9,000 in 24 hours, the biggest daily increase since October, data released by the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) on Saturday showed.

The latest confirmed cases took the total number during the pandemic to more than 600,000, with more than 10,000 deaths in the country.

Members of the Dutch government meet on Sunday to review tougher lockdown measures ahead of Christmas.

Maharashtra reports 4,259 new Covid-19 cases, 3,949 discharges, and 80 deaths today, as per State Health Department

Total cases 18,76,699

Total recoveries 17,53,922

Death toll 48,139

Active cases 73,542

Manipur reported 177 new Covid-19 cases, 116 recoveries, and 2 deaths today, says State Health Department, Manipur

Total cases so far: 27,036

Total recoveries: 23,657

Active cases: 3,057

Total Deaths till date: 322

Recovery rate: 87.50%

Uttarakhand reported 728 new Covid-19 cases, 435 recoveries, and 10 deaths today: State Health Department, Govt of Uttarakhand

Total cases: 81,939

Total recoveries: 73,422

Death toll: 1,351

Active cases: 6,207

Karnataka reports 1,203 new Covid-19 cases, 1,531 discharges, and 11 deaths today

Total cases: 9,00,214

Active cases: 18,254

Total recovered cases: 8,70,002

Death toll: 11,939

Tamil Nadu reported 1,218 new Covid-19 cases, 1,296 discharges, and 13 deaths in the last 24 hours: State Health Department, Govt of Tamil Nadu

Total positive cases: 7,97,693

Total discharges: 7,75,602

Death toll: 11,883

Active cases: 10,208

Delhi reports 1935 new Covid-19 cases,3191 recoveries and 47 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 6,05,470

Total recoveries 5,78,116

Death toll 9981

Active cases 17,373

Andhra Pradesh reports 510 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases in the State to 8,75,025 as per State Health Department Total active cases stand at 5,078.

5949 new Covid-19 positive cases, 5268 recoveries, 32 deaths reported in Kerala today. Active cases : 60,029 Total deaths: 2594

Scientists develop smartphone-read saliva testing method for Covid-19

Scientists have developed a portable saliva-based smartphone testing platform for Covid-19 which they claim can provide results within 15 minutes without the need for resource-intensive laboratory methods.

The new approach, described in the journal Science Advances, pairs a fluorescence microscope readout device with a smartphone to determine the quantity of virus in a patient sample.

In the study, the scientists, including Bo Ning from Tulane University School of Medicine in the US, used an assay made of CRISPR/Cas12a molecules to test 12 people infected with the novel coronavirus and six healthy controls, which was then read out using the smartphone platform.

According to the researchers, the technique works as effectively as the well-established RT-PCR method.

Haryana writes to Centre to include public representatives in priority groups for Covid-19 vaccination

The Haryana government has written to the Centre to have public representatives including MPs and MLAs listed among the priority groups for Covid-19 vaccination once it begins, Health Minister Anil Vij on Saturday.

He also said the state government is making all preparations in terms of building database of priority groups, cold chain infrastructure; identification and training of vaccinators for rolling out vaccination.

He said while those on the frontline of fight against coronavirus such as doctors, nurses, paramedics etc are on the priority list for vaccinations, the Haryana Health Department has written to the Union Health Ministry recommending that public representatives who come into contact with masses during their work also be included in the list.

Pfizer clinical trial for Covid-19 vaccine lacks sufficient data on Asians: Report

On Friday, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) gave the go-ahead for the emergency roll out for the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, making the USA the the sixth country to approve the two-dose vaccine, after the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Israel, Canada, and Mexico.

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A mask-wearing man looks out of a train as it arrives at a platform amid the spread of Covid-19, at a railway station in Mumbai. Credit: Reuters Photo

Uttar Pradesh reports 1,520 new Covid-19 cases, 1,761 discharges, and 32 deaths

Total cases: 5,64,132

Total recoveries: 5,35,985

Active cases: 20,091

Death toll: 8,056

Italy's staggering coronavirus toll poses uncomfortable questions

Italy could soon reclaim a record that nobody wants — the most coronavirus deaths in Europe — after the health care system again failed to protect the elderly and the government delayed imposing new restrictions.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Italy was the first country in the West to be slammed by Covid-19 and, after suffering a huge wave of death in spring, brought infections under control.

Italy then had the benefit of time and experience heading into the fall resurgence because it trailed Spain, France and Germany in recording big new clusters of infections. Yet the virus spread fast and wide, and Italy has added 28,000 dead since Sept. 1.

Schools in Pune city to remain closed till January 3 2021, Pune Municipal Corporation postpones reopening of schools in its jurisdiction.

Here is DH's Covid-19 India Tracker

India's active Covid-19 caseload continues to decline, drops below 3.6 lakh

India's total Covid-19 active caseload has dropped to below 3.6 lakh (3,59,819), and comprises just 3.66 per cent of the total coronavirus infections, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said the drop has been possible due to recoveries exceeding daily new cases and the low number of fatalities per day.

“India's trajectory of active cases continues to follow a steadily dipping path. The total active caseload has dropped below 3.6 lakh (3,59,819) today (Saturday),” the ministry said.

"India's present active caseload consists of just 3.66 per cent of India's total positive cases. The new recoveries of 33,494 in the last 24 hours have led to a net decline of 3,930 in the total active cases,” it said.

The rolling average for the last week shows the sustained decline in the daily cases for the six most affected states - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, it said.

Post-Covid-19 world order offers limitless opportunity for India: N Chandrasekaran

The post-Covid-19 new world order offers limitless opportunity for India but for the country to be ready to participate in it, there is a need to establish regulatory standards on data and taxation in general, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on Saturday.

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Uttarakhand Minister Rekha Arya tests positive for Covid-19. She is asymptomatic and has isolated herself.

Puducherry reports 38 new Covid-19 cases, infection tally rises to 37,444.

Safely separated by a storefront window, a person dressed as Santa speaks via telephone to greet four-year-old Kinsley Hayslette amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Martinsburg, West Virginia, US. Credit: Reuters Photo

Joe Biden urges people to have confidence in Covid-19 vaccine

US President-elect Joe Biden has urged Americans to have confidence in the Covid-19 vaccine developed by first-rate scientists without political influence, after it was allowed for emergency use in the country, worst-hit by the pandemic.

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India prioritised saving lives during pandemic; policies, actions oriented towards that: PM at FICCI event

Jharkhand reports 174 new Covid-19 cases, two more deaths

Jharkhand's Covid-19 caseload rose to 1,11,177 as 174 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said on Saturday. The Covid-19 death toll increased to 995 after two more patients succumbed to the disease, he said.

(PTI)

South Korea reported a record 950 daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, exceeding the late February peak of 909, with the president calling the country's third wave of Covid-19 an "emergency".

Of the Friday cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 928 were locally transmitted and 22 were imported, bringing the total to 41,736 infections with 578 deaths.

(Reuters)

Telangana reported 635 new Covid-19 cases, 4 deaths and 565 recoveries, on December 11.

Total cases: 2,77,151

Active cases: 7,670

Total recoveries: 2,67,992

Death toll: 1,489

Total recoveries surged to 93,24,328 with 33,494 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

India's active cases dropped to 3,59,819.

India's death toll reached 1,426,28 with 442 new fatalities.

India reports 30,006 new Covid-19 cases; tally crosses 98.26 lakh.

Mizoram reported 16 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, as per the state govt.

Total cases: 4,024

Active cases: 197

Discharges: 3,820

Deaths: 7

A total of 15,26,97,399 samples tested for Covid-19 up to 11th December. Of these, 10,65,176 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

US FDA clears Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine; millions of doses to be shipped right away

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use Friday, according to two people with knowledge of the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. The action means millions of highly vulnerable people will begin receiving the vaccine within days.

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Karnataka gears up for possible second Covid-19 wave; Purchases equipment, drugs

Anticipating a second wave of Covid-19 infections, the state government has got into a preparatory mode. The Covid-19 task force on Friday resolved to ramp up testing and ensure adequate supply of oxygen and medicine to district and taluk hospitals across the state.

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A man water plants next to a mural depicting Covid-19 frontline workers in New Delhi. Credit: AFP Photo

Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on December 12

Total number of confirmed positive cases in India reaches 98,26,691; death toll stands at 142,618 as of December 12

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Snow leopards are the latest cats to be infected with the coronavirus

Snow leopards at the Louisville Zoo are the latest animals to be infected with the coronavirus.

One female cat, NeeCee, has tested positive, and two males, Kimti and Meru, are presumed positive, based on tests at a regional veterinary diagnostic center that must be confirmed at a national lab.

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WHO warns Christmas celebrations could turn to tears

The World Health Organization warned Friday that Christmas celebrations could turn to tears if people fail to keep up their guard against Covid-19 during the festive season.

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