4 years ago
New Delhi:
India continues to witness a steady decline in daily new coronavirus cases as 23,950 new COVID-19 cases were reported in last 24 hours taking the total count to 1,00,99,066.
The total recoveries have gone up to 96,63,382 with 26,895 new recoveries recorded on Wednesday. The recovery rate stands at 95.69 per cent.
There are 2,89,240 active coronavirus cases in the country. According to the Health Ministry, active cases are less than 3 lakh after 164 days. The active cases are less than three per cent of overall cases.
The ministry said 333 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours taking the death count to 1,46,444.
Meanwhile, a night curfew has been announced in Karnataka - between 10 PM to 6 AM - till January 2. Karnataka has become the second state after Maharashtra to announce new restrictions this week as concern grows over the new strain, which is believed to be 70 per cent more infectious. It was first found in the United Kingdom.
All passengers coming from the UK will have to undergo COVID-19 RT-PCR tests within 72 hours, the state government has said.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases:
Covid-19: Maharashtra registers 3,913 new cases, 93 deaths
As many as 3,913 new coronavirus cases and 93 fatalities were reported in Maharashtra on Wednesday, according to the State Health Department.
With this, the tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the state has reached 19,06,371, including 54,573 active cases and 48,969 deaths.
Besides, 7,620 people also reportedly recovered on Wednesday in Maharashtra, pushing the total number of recoveries to 18,01,700.
As many as 3,913 new coronavirus cases and 93 fatalities were reported in Maharashtra on Wednesday, according to the State Health Department.
With this, the tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the state has reached 19,06,371, including 54,573 active cases and 48,969 deaths.
Besides, 7,620 people also reportedly recovered on Wednesday in Maharashtra, pushing the total number of recoveries to 18,01,700.
Covid-19: Maharashtra registers 3,913 new cases, 93 deaths
As many as 3,913 new coronavirus cases and 93 fatalities were reported in Maharashtra on Wednesday, according to the State Health Department.
With this, the tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the state has reached 19,06,371, including 54,573 active cases and 48,969 deaths.
Besides, 7,620 people also reportedly recovered on Wednesday in Maharashtra, pushing the total number of recoveries to 18,01,700.
As many as 3,913 new coronavirus cases and 93 fatalities were reported in Maharashtra on Wednesday, according to the State Health Department.
With this, the tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the state has reached 19,06,371, including 54,573 active cases and 48,969 deaths.
Besides, 7,620 people also reportedly recovered on Wednesday in Maharashtra, pushing the total number of recoveries to 18,01,700.
Coronavirus news - One Million Americans Vaccinated Against COVID-19: Official
More than a million people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Robert Redfield said Wednesday.
"The United States achieved an early but important milestone today -- jurisdictions have now reported that more than one million people have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine since administration began 10 days ago," he said.
More than a million people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Robert Redfield said Wednesday.
"The United States achieved an early but important milestone today -- jurisdictions have now reported that more than one million people have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine since administration began 10 days ago," he said.
"Umbrella Of Protection" Against Covid By Next Summer: Top US Expert
If the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines proceeds smoothly, it might be possible to achieve widespread population immunity in the United States by next summer, top scientist Anthony Fauci has said.
In an interview with WebMD that was posted Wednesday, the infectious disease official suggested people could host weddings as early as June or July.
Fauci said he believed priority populations, such as nursing home residents, health care workers, critical workers, the elderly, people at high risk etc. should receive their shots by March or early April.
"We could start in April doing what I call 'open season' on vaccinations -- namely anybody in the general population who wants to get vaccinated will get vaccinated."
If the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines proceeds smoothly, it might be possible to achieve widespread population immunity in the United States by next summer, top scientist Anthony Fauci has said.
In an interview with WebMD that was posted Wednesday, the infectious disease official suggested people could host weddings as early as June or July.
Fauci said he believed priority populations, such as nursing home residents, health care workers, critical workers, the elderly, people at high risk etc. should receive their shots by March or early April.
"We could start in April doing what I call 'open season' on vaccinations -- namely anybody in the general population who wants to get vaccinated will get vaccinated."
Hard-hit Mexico gets first coronavirus vaccines
Mexico on Wednesday became the first Latin American country to receive coronavirus vaccines for mass immunization against a disease that has had a devastating impact across much of the region.
The government plans to start inoculations on Thursday after the first doses produced by US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech arrived by courier plane from Belgium.
The vaccines were whisked to a military installation in the south of Mexico City, guarded by a security escort to prevent them falling into the hands of the country's powerful criminal gangs.
"Today is the beginning of the end of this pandemic," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told reporters at the airport.
Mexico on Wednesday became the first Latin American country to receive coronavirus vaccines for mass immunization against a disease that has had a devastating impact across much of the region.
The government plans to start inoculations on Thursday after the first doses produced by US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech arrived by courier plane from Belgium.
The vaccines were whisked to a military installation in the south of Mexico City, guarded by a security escort to prevent them falling into the hands of the country's powerful criminal gangs.
"Today is the beginning of the end of this pandemic," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told reporters at the airport.
COVID-19: Assam reports 95 new cases, 5 fresh fatalities
Assam's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,15,680 on Wednesday as 95 more people tested positive for the infection, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Five more patients succumbed to the infection, pushing the state's coronavirus death count to 1,029, he said.
The fresh fatalities were reported in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Bishwanath, Nalbari and Kamrup Metropolitan districts, Mr Sarma said.
As many as 103 more people have been cured of the disease, taking the recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state to 97.91 per cent, he said.
Britain, Swiss Firm Say Covid Tests Can Detect Mutant Virus Strain
Britain and drugmaker Roche on Wednesday offered reassurances that the accuracy of diagnostic tests used to detect COVID-19 was unlikely to be affected by a fast-spreading mutant strain of the virus.
Public Health England said that rapid lateral flow tests being deployed in the country's mass-testing programme can identify the variant.
Separately, Roche said neither its molecular test for COVID-19 nor a combination COVID-19/Influenza molecular test used on its high-throughput diagnostic machines was likely to be impacted by the mutations.
The reason, the Swiss company said, was that the mutations occurred on different regions of the new coronavirus than the regions that are targeted for the tests.
Taiwan Cancels, Curbs Gatherings After New Local Covid Case: Report
Taiwan's tourism department on Wednesday cancelled an annual New Year celebration at the northeastern tip of the island, the Xinhua news agency reported, after a report of the first locally transmitted COVID-19 case since April 12.
The tourism department is also considering banning other mass gatherings at tourist sites, Xinhua said.
Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention methods and widespread use of masks, with all new cases for more than the last 250 days among travellers arriving on the island.
But the government was jolted into action 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 this week after flying routes to the United States
Taiwan has so far reported a total of 777 cases - mostly imported - and seven deaths. Around 130 people remain in hospital for treatment.
New More Infectious Coronavirus Strain From South Africa Found In UK
A new, potentially more infectious variant of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been found in Britain in cases linked to South Africa, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Wednesday.
South Africa's health department said last week that a new genetic mutation of the virus had been discovered and might be responsible for a recent surge in infections there.
Delhi Records 871 Coronavirus Cases, Lowest Death Figures In 3 Months
Delhi reported less than 1,000 fresh cases of coronavirus for the third straight day today -- 871. The number of deaths over the last 24 hours -- 18 -- is the lowest recorded in the last three months. The last time the 24-hour tally of deaths was this low was on September 8, when 19 deaths were reported.
The daily positivity rate has dropped to .99 per cent - lower than the national rate of 1.5 per cent.
Over the last 24 hours, 87,861 tests were conducted, around half of which were the more accurate RT-PCR tests. More than 42,000 Rapid Antigen tests and 45,816 RTPCR tests have been conducted in this period.
Canada Approves Moderna As Second COVID-19 Vaccine
Canada has approved the Covid-19 vaccine developed by American biotech firm Moderna, the health department announced Wednesday, two weeks after authorizing immunizations with the Pfizer/BioNTech shot.
Canada has approved the Covid-19 vaccine developed by American biotech firm Moderna, the health department announced Wednesday, two weeks after authorizing immunizations with the Pfizer/BioNTech shot.
UK Announces South Africa Travel Restrictions Over New Covid Strain
Britain on Wednesday introduced restrictions on travel from South Africa over the spread of another new variant of coronavirus, UK Health Minister Matt Hancock said.
"We're placing immediate restrictions on travel from South Africa," Hancock said, adding that two cases of the "highly concerning" new virus strain had been discovered in Britain.
16,000 Medical Staff Trained In Maharashtra For Vaccine Drive: Minister
The Maharashtra government has completed the preliminary task of training 16,000 medical staff for mass vaccination against COVID-19 and a vaccine, when it is made available, will be administered in two dosages, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.
He said there is no need to panic over the new strain of the novel coronavirus detected in the UK and the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) is studying the variant which is said to be highly infectious.
Medicines being used currently for treating COVID-19 patients will be used against the new strain of coronavirus, he told reporters.
Mr Tope said the state government has taken a slew of measures like mandatory institutional quarantine for passengers returning from Britain and night curfew in cities to deal with the emerging situation.
Each person who enrolls for COVID-19 vaccination will have to take two dosages of the vaccine. Bharat Biotech and Pune-based Serum Institute of India have sought nod for mass scale vaccine distribution.
"The ball is in the Centre's court. Once approval is given, states will be allocated to the companies to distribute their vaccines," the minister said.
US Purchases Additional 100 Million Doses Of Pfizer Covid Vaccine
The US has purchased an additional 100 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19, with the shots set to be delivered by July, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.
That brings the current US supply of Covid-19 vaccine to 400 million doses -- half from Pfizer and half from Moderna -- allowing it to immunize 200 million people under the two-shot regimens.
"Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30, 2021, with the balance of the 100 million doses to be delivered no later than July 31, 2021," the defense department said in a statement.
The agreement, which comes after reports the Trump administration had passed on the opportunity to secure more supply of the shot, "also includes options for an additional 400 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine," the defense department statement added.
The US is hoping to immunize 20 million people this month, with long-term care residents and health workers at the front of the line.
16 On UK-India Flights Covid Positive, Samples Sent For Advanced Test
At least 16 people who came to India from the UK in the past few days have tested positive for COVID-19 amid alarm over a mutant strain of the coronavirus that is believed to be more contagious and was first identified in Britain.
Eight people who came from or via the UK have tested positive in Amritsar, five in New Delhi, two in Kolkata and one in Chennai, authorities said. There have been no confirmed instances of the mutant strain anywhere in India so far, the government has said.
Over the last two days, before the ban on flights from the UK kicked in on Wednesday, all passengers from the country have been subjected to RT-PCR tests for the coronavirus and made to wait at the airports till the results came in.
Institutional Quarantine In Maharashtra For Covid Positive UK Arrivals: Report
Amid concerns over the new coronavirus strain, all passengers from the UK who test positive for COVID-19 will be kept under institutional quarantine, a Maharashtra government official said on Wednesday.
This is as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Centre, he said.
The other passengers, who test negative, will be home quarantined along with daily updates by district surveillance officers, the official said.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday issued SOPs for epidemiological surveillance and response for the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
The SOPs are for all passengers who returned to India from the UK between November 25 and December 23.
Passengers testing positive for COVID-19 through RT-CR will be again tested for detection of the new virus strain.
If the passenger's test is found consistent with the new strain, then such a passenger will be isolated from other COVID-19 positive patients for further treatment.
Such a patient will undergo COVID-19 test again after 14 days, as per the SOPs.
Ninety-Year-Old Woman First In Switzerland To Get COVID-19 Shot
The woman who received the shot lives in a care home outside of the city of Lucerne.
A 90-year-old woman in the canton of Lucerne on Wednesday became the first person in Switzerland to be vaccinated against the new coronavirus, as the Swiss military distributed just over 100,000 doses of the COVID-19 shots around the country.
Lucerne and the small rural canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden were the first of Switzerland's 26 cantons to begin inoculations after regulators approved the vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech over the weekend.
"Residents of nursing and care homes will be the first to get vaccines," Lucerne said on its website on Wednesday.
The woman who received the shot lives in a care home outside of the city of Lucerne. Her name was not released.
Switzerland's decentralised system of government has left it up to its cantons to individually develop plans to vaccinate the nation of 8.6 million people.
Switzerland Start Covid-19 Vaccinations
Switzerland started its Covid-19 vaccine rollout on Wednesday, with a care home resident in her 90s becoming the first person to receive an approved shot.
The woman, who lives in the Lucerne region in central Switzerland, was given the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine just four days after it was approved by national regulators.
Switzerland is battling stubbornly high coronavirus cases.
"I am very satisfied that we have now been able to start vaccinations in the canton of Lucerne," the region's health services chief Guido Graf said in a statement.
"These vaccinations are an important element in the fight against the coronavirus."
Britain was the first country in the world to deploy the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with 90-year-old grandmother Margaret Keenan receiving the jab on December 8.
Passengers From UK Wait At Delhi Airport For Over 8 Hours To Get Covid Reports
Passengers arriving from the United Kingdom had to wait for more than eight hours at the Delhi airport today to get their COVID-19 test reports.
As per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), passengers from the UK are being permitted to exit the airport only after all the Covid reports are released.
Airport officials said that the delay was due to the procedural system for UK passengers.
"As per the SOPs set by the administration, the sample of the Covid collection in a mass level of the UK passengers but allow them to exit the airport only when the reports of all passengers are out," an airport official told news agency ANI.
Maharashtra COVID-19 Task Force Head Doubts Vaccine Potential
Maharashtra COVID-19 task force head Dr Sanjay Oak on Wednesday said vaccines currently available in some countries may not be 100 per cent effective against the new variant of coronavirus found in UK.
Talking to reporters, Mr Oak also said mass gatherings were acting as COVID-19 super-spreaders and should be avoided.
He said there was a need to be careful, and that he feels people need to wear masks for the next one year.
Referring to the new COVID-19 variant detected in Britain, he said "a minor change in themRNA has created a new strain of the coronavirus".
The vaccines which are in approval stage or have been approved in some countries were developed on the earlier strains of coronavirus, he said.
"Even a minor change in the mutated COVID-19 strain could challenge the efficacy of the vaccines which are recently developed," Mr Oak said.
The outer layer of the virus has spikes which look like a coronavirus, hence the virus is called as coronavirus. "Even a change in one spike could increase or decrease its severity," the official said.
UP Chief Minister Directs Covid Tests For Those Who Came To UP From Abroad Between November 25 and December 8
Amid concerns over a new variant of the coronavirus detected in the United Kingdom, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday that those who came to the state from abroad between November 25 and December 8 should undergo tests for detection of COVID-19.
Those who arrived in UP from abroad after December 9 must undergo RT-PCR test, he told officials at a review meeting.
India has suspended all passenger flights connecting the United Kingdom from Wednesday till December 31 or till further orders in the wake of the emergence of a mutated strain of the virus there, joining several other countries that have imposed a similar flight ban.
The Union Health Ministry also issued a standard operating procedure advising states to ensure that passengers coming from the UK should undergo RT-PCR test and be isolated in a separate unit of an institutional facility if found positive.
"We have to remain alert keeping in mind new strain of coronavirus. All those who came to the state from abroad between November 25 and December 8 should be tested and compulsory RT-PCR test should be done for those coming after December 9," the chief minister was quoted as saying in a statement.
Serbia To Start COVID-19 Vaccinations On December 24
Serbia will begin vaccinating people against Covid-19 on Thursday, President Aleksandar Vucic said Wednesday, making the Balkan state one of the first in Europe to launch a campaign with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.
Officials said Serbia has received nearly 5,000 doses of the vaccine, which is already in use in the United States and Britain.
Meanwhile European Union countries plan to roll out the vaccine on December 27.
"Vaccination starts tomorrow in Serbia," Vucic told the press, adding that the first jabs would go to the elderly in retirement homes.
"It is important to protect these people... more than 80 percent of the people who have died from this terrible virus are the elderly and they are most at risk," he said.
Serbia, an EU candidate country home to seven million people, has lost almost 2,800 to the novel coronavirus while more than 300,000 have been infected.
Madhya Pradesh: 33 Recent UK Returnees Asked To Be In Home Isolation
Amid growing concerns over the detection of a new coronavirus strain in the UK, the Madhya Pradesh health department has asked 33 people who returned to Indore from that country in the last 15 days to remain in home isolation, an official said on Wednesday.
Indore district nodal officer for COVID-19 prevention, Amit Malakar, told PTI that health of these passengers was being closely monitored.
The list of these passengers was received from the state government, he said.
"These 33 people had returned from the UK in the last fortnight. They have been told to keep themselves isolated in their homes for 15 days after their arrival in Indore," he said.
Mr Malakar said, as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), samples of these 33 people were being tested by RT-PCR method.
Indore district was worst-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in Madhya Pradesh.
COVID-19 strain: Gujarat for strict compliance with Central SOP
The Gujarat health department has directed officials to ensure "strict" compliance with the Central guidelines regarding passengers arriving from the UK, where a new mutated strain of coronavirus has been detected.
As per a circular issued on Tuesday, all chief district health officers and medical officers of eight municipal corporations in Gujarat have been directed to follow these guidelines.
On Tuesday, four passengers, including a British national who landed in Ahmedabad in an Air India flight from London tested positive for coronavirus, officials had said.
As per the guidelines issued by the Union government "those international travellers from the UK who arrived in India from November 25 to December 8 will be contacted by district surveillance officers and advised to self-monitor their health. If anyone amongst them develops symptoms, they will be tested by RT-PCR test.
COVID-19: Total tests in India nearing 16.5 crore
India's total tests conducted for detection of COVID-19 are nearing 16.5 crore, the Union Health ministry said on Wednesday highlighting that an average of more than 10 lakh tests conducted daily has ensured that the cumulative positivity rate is sustained at low levels.
The share of COVID-19 active cases in the total infections has further shrunk to 2.86 per cent with 26 states and UTs having less than 10,000 active cases, the ministry said.
India's tests per million population (TPM) are 1,19,035. Twenty-three states and UTs have better tests per million than the national average, the ministry said.
Sixteen states and UTs have weekly positivity rate less than the national average.
Fifteen states and UTs have cumulative positivity rate less than the national average, the ministry said.
Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine Induces Immune Response In Mid-Stage Tests
A coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was found to be safe and triggered immune responses in early and mid-stage trials, researchers said on Tuesday. Read more
Odisha reports 364 new COVID-19 cases, 3 fresh deaths
Odisha's COVID-19 caseload on Wednesday mounted to 3,27,279 after 364 more people tested positive for infection, while three fresh fatalities pushed the coronavirus death toll to 1,846, a health department
official said.
The new cases were detected in 25 of the state's 30 districts, with 210 cases reported from different quarantine centres, while the remaining 154 are local contact cases.
Sundergarh district recorded the highest 64 cases followed by Khurda (42) and Mayurbhanj (26).
Five districts - Boudh, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Dhenkanal and Deogarh - did not register any new case in the last 24 hours, the official said, adding that 10 districts reported cases in single digit.
Masks Alone May Not Stop COVID-19 Spread, Physical Distancing Key: Study
Simply wearing a face mask may not protect you from catching the novel coronavirus, that causes COVID-19, if you are not maintaining physical distancing, according to a study. Read more
Update| COVID-19 positivity rate has fallen below 1 percent in Delhi. Over 80,000 tests are being conducted every day: Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain
Haryana gears up for COVID-19 vaccination, 1.9 lakh healthcare workers on priority
Haryana Government has prepared data of 1.9 lakh health care workers (HCWs) from both private and government sectors on the Co-WIN portal for successful implementation of COVID-19 vaccination drive, whenever the vaccine is made available in the country.
Sharing details of the preparedness of COVID-19 vaccine rollout Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Rajeev Arora said that the Department has already identified 1,800 vaccination session sites and more than 5,000 vaccinators have been mapped for the process of administering the vaccine.
In order to ensure that the vaccine reaches every district, the health department has 22 Vaccine Vans (insulated) for transporting vaccines across the state.
"Haryana Government has meticulously prepared the vaccine rollout plan and is all set to introduce it. The health department is preparing for the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine and will expeditiously roll it out when available. The platform of the existing Universal Immunisation program of the state with enhanced capacity is being used for the COVID-19 vaccine," Mr Arora stated.
JustIn| Karnataka imposes night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am until January 2 amid COVID-19
Chhattisgarh Government issues guidelines for passengers travelling from UK
Amid rising concerns over the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK, the Chhattisgarh Government on Tuesday issued guidelines for passengers travelling from the UK to Chhattisgarh via international flights.
As per an official release, the RTPCR test report of the passengers (conducted at the airport on arrival in India or Chhattisgarh via flight or other routes) should be properly checked.
"If the report is positive then as per the standard operating procedure (SOP), institutional quarantine at COVID care centre or hospital should be ensured. The SOP should be followed for the passengers who have come in contact with the COVID positive passenger," the release stated.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Jharkhand reports 209 new COVID-19 cases, three more deaths
Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally rose to 1,13,407 as 209 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said on Wednesday.
The death toll increased to 1,014 as three persons have succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, he said.
Of the fresh fatalities, two were recorded in Dhanbad and one in Dumka.
Ranchi district registered the maximum number of new cases at 104, followed by East Singhbhum at 49 and Bokaro at 18.
Jharkhand now has 1,635 active coronavirus cases, while 1,10,758 people have been cured of the disease so far, the official said.
JustIn| Tamil Nadu government grants permission to hold Jallikattu event, with following restrictions:
- Number of players not to exceed 150
- COVID-19 negative certificate mandatory for players
- No more than 50% of the gathering to be allowed as spectators
COVID-19 tally in Andamans rises to 4,893 with five new cases
Five more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, raising the tally in the Union Territory to 4,893, a health department official said on Wednesday.
The death toll remained at 62 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported.
All the new patients have travel history, the official said.
Nine people were cured of the disease on Tuesday, taking the total number of recoveries in the archipelago to 4,749, he said.
The Union Territory now has 82 active cases.
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar holds a meeting of Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19; night curfew, reopening of schools on agenda of the meeting.
New SOP For UK Arrivals, Separate Isolation For Those With Mutant Strain https://t.co/sd2KlV4ksI
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 23, 2020
NDTV's Sukirti Dwivedi reports pic.twitter.com/oDWwahfZZB
Coronavirus News: Mexico to start Covid-19 vaccinations on Thursday: government
Mexico will begin Covid-19 immunizations on Thursday, a day after the country receives its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, Undersecretary of Health Hugo Lopez-Gatell said.
"Tomorrow (Wednesday) the first consignment of the Pfizer vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 arrives," he said Tuesday on Twitter.
"There will be a press opportunity and then the vaccine will be safeguarded until its use on Thursday, December 24, the day vaccinations start," Lopez-Gatell said.
Telangana adds 635 COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths
Telangana registered 635 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to nearly 2.83 lakh while four fatalities pushed the toll to 1,522.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 115, followed by Rangareddy 57 and Medchal Malkajgiri 49, a government bulletin said on Wednesday providing details as of 8 pm on December 22.
Over 2.74 lakh people recovered from the disease so far. As many as6,627 patients are under treatment and45,609 samples were tested on Tuesday.
Cumulatively, over 65.66 lakh samples have been tested. The samples tested per million population was nearly 1.76 lakh, the bulletin said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: 369 new COVID-19 cases in Thane; 8 more deaths
Thane has reported 369 new cases of COVID-19, raising the tally in the Maharashtra district to 2,39,776, an official said on Wednesday.
The COVID-19 death toll in the district has reached 5,892 as eight more patients succumbed to the viral infection, he said.
Currently, there are 4,266 active COVID-19 cases in the district, while 2,29,618 patients have recovered.
The COVID-19 recovery rate in the district is 95.76 per cent, while the mortality rate stands at 2.46 per cent.
The active cases comprise 1.78 per cent of the total cases reported so far in the district, the official said.
Among cities in the district, Kalyan has so far reported 56,630 COVID-19 cases, Thane-54,515, Navi Mumbai- 50,358 and Mira Bhayander-25,134.
Coronavirus Reaches End Of Earth As First Outbreak Hits Antarctica
The coronavirus has landed in Antarctica, the last continent previously free from COVID-19, Chile's military said this week, as health and army officials scrambled to clear out and quarantine staff from a remote research station surrounded by ocean and icebergs.
Chile's armed forces said at least 36 people had been infected at its Bernardo O'Higgins base, including 26 army personnel and 10 civilian contractors conducting maintenance at the base.
The permanently staffed research station, operated by Chile's army, lies near the tip of a peninsula in northernmost Antarctica, overlooking a bay often dotted with icebergs.
Base personnel "are already properly isolated and constantly monitored" by health authorities in Magallanes, in Chilean Patagonia, the army said, adding there had so far been no complications.
JustIn| 23,950 fresh COVID-19 cases in India, 22% higher than yesterday; 1,00,99,066 total cases, 1,46,444 deaths
Coronavirus News: Delhi Hospital Prepares For Covid Vaccine Storage: Report
From installing freezers to cold chain equipment set up, arrangements are being made at a Delhi government hospital in Delhi in anticipation of storing COVID-19 vaccine, sources said on Tuesday. Read more
Preparations underway at vaccine storage centre in Patna's Nalanda Medical College & Hospital to handle COVID-19 vaccines.
"Around 35 lakh vials can be stored at the centre," said Dr Vinod Kr Singh, NMCH Superintendent.
Fast-Spreading Covid Strain Found In UK Not Seen In India So Far: Centre
A mutated and more aggressive strain of the novel coronavirus - which was first identified in the United Kingdom in September - has not been seen in India so far, the government said Tuesday. Read more
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Top US Doctor Anthony Fauci Receives COVID-19 Vaccine In "Symbol" For US
Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious disease specialist, received his Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday along with other senior officials and six health workers at a live streamed event at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The widely-respected scientist rolled up his left shirt sleeve, and said he was taking the shot "as a symbol to the rest of the country that I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine.
"I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so that we could have a veil of protection over this country, that would end this pandemic," he added.
He then gave a thumbs-up sign and clapped for his colleagues as he left the stage of an auditorium at the NIH's headquarters in Bethesda, a Washington suburb.
Boris Johnson's India Trip "May Not Be Possible": Senior British Doctor
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's India visit - he is to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in Delhi next month - may not take place because of concerns over the rapidly-spreading mutated version of the novel coronavirus in that country, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the Chair of the Council of the British Medical Association, told NDTV Tuesday. Read more
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's India visit - he is to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in Delhi next month - may not take place because of concerns over the rapidly-spreading mutated version of the novel coronavirus in that country, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the Chair of the Council of the British Medical Association, told NDTV Tuesday. Read more
Coronavirus news: Joe Biden Says Will Push Congress For Another Covid Relief Bill
President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday he will ask the US Congress to pass another Covid-19 relief bill after taking office in January.
"Congress did its job this week. And I can and I must ask them to do it again next year," Biden said in a pre-holiday address to the American people.
Biden was speaking a day after lawmakers approved a $900 billion relief package that will provide a long-sought boost for millions of Americans and businesses battered by the pandemic.
The Democratic president-elect, who takes office January 20, applauded Congress for finally reaching a long-sought bipartisan compromise on the vital aid.
President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday he will ask the US Congress to pass another Covid-19 relief bill after taking office in January.
"Congress did its job this week. And I can and I must ask them to do it again next year," Biden said in a pre-holiday address to the American people.
Biden was speaking a day after lawmakers approved a $900 billion relief package that will provide a long-sought boost for millions of Americans and businesses battered by the pandemic.
The Democratic president-elect, who takes office January 20, applauded Congress for finally reaching a long-sought bipartisan compromise on the vital aid.
Covid-19: 75 new cases take Assam's tally to 2,15,585
With 75 new cases reported on Tuesday, the tally for coronavirus cases in Assam reached 2,15,585, according to the State Health Department.
There are 3,483 active Covid-19 cases in the state.
While 1,024 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in the state, 2,11,075 persons have recovered from the infection till December 22.
Meanwhile, India continues to witness a steady decline in daily new coronavirus cases as 19,556 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total count to 1,00,75,116.
With 75 new cases reported on Tuesday, the tally for coronavirus cases in Assam reached 2,15,585, according to the State Health Department.
There are 3,483 active Covid-19 cases in the state.
While 1,024 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in the state, 2,11,075 persons have recovered from the infection till December 22.
Meanwhile, India continues to witness a steady decline in daily new coronavirus cases as 19,556 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total count to 1,00,75,116.
Coronavirus news: Top US Doctor Anthony Fauci Receives COVID-19 Vaccine In "Symbol" For US
Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious disease specialist, received his Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday along with other senior officials and six health workers at a live streamed event at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The widely-respected scientist rolled up his left shirt sleeve, and said he was taking the shot "as a symbol to the rest of the country that I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine.
"I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so that we could have a veil of protection over this country, that would end this pandemic," he added.
He then gave a thumbs-up sign and clapped for his colleagues as he left the stage of an auditorium at the NIH's headquarters in Bethesda, a Washington suburb.
Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious disease specialist, received his Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday along with other senior officials and six health workers at a live streamed event at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The widely-respected scientist rolled up his left shirt sleeve, and said he was taking the shot "as a symbol to the rest of the country that I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine.
"I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so that we could have a veil of protection over this country, that would end this pandemic," he added.
He then gave a thumbs-up sign and clapped for his colleagues as he left the stage of an auditorium at the NIH's headquarters in Bethesda, a Washington suburb.
