Coronavirus Cases in India: With 564 new deaths, the count mounted to 1,32,726.
India's coronavirus tally crossed the 90.5 lakh-mark on Saturday with 46,232 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.
The total cases in the country now stands at 90,50,597 including 4,39,747 active cases and 84,78,124 recoveries. With 564 new deaths, the count mounted to 1,32,726.
This is the 14th consecutive day when India reported less than 50,000 cases in a day. The last time daily new cases crossed the 50,000-threshold was on November 7.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday held a virtual meeting with top officials including those from the centre's think-tank NITI Aayog on India's strategy for developing a COVID-19 vaccine and making it accessible to the masses.
"Held a meeting to review India's vaccination strategy and the way forward. Important issues related to progress of vaccine development, regulatory approvals and procurement were discussed," PM Modi tweeted.
Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases:
Cooronavirus: Moderna To Charge $25-$37 Per Dose Of COVID-19 vaccine, Says CEO
Moderna will charge governments between $25 and $37 per dose of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, depending on the amount ordered, Chief Executive Stephane Bancel told German weekly Welt am Sonntag (WamS).
"Our vaccine therefore costs about the same as a flu shot, which is between $10 and $50," he was quoted as saying.
On Monday, an EU official involved in the talks said the European Commission wanted to reach a deal with Moderna for the supply of millions of doses of its vaccine candidate for a price below $25 per dose.
"COVID-19 Biggest Challenge Since World War 2": PM Modi At G20 Summit
Terming the COVID-19 pandemic an important turning point in history of humanity and the biggest challenge the world is facing since World War II, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit on Saturday called for a new global index based on talent, technology, transparency and trusteeship towards the planet in the post-corona world.
PM Modi also said that "Work from Anywhere" is a new normal in the post-COVID world and suggested creation of a virtual G20 secretariat as a follow up and documentation repository.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman opened the Group of 20 Summit as the coronavirus pandemic overshadowed this year' s gathering of heads of state that is being held in the virtual format. India is scheduled to host the G20 summit in 2022.
US surpasses 12 million Covid-19 cases
The United States surpassed 12 million Covid-19 cases Saturday, according to the Johns Hopkins University real-time tracker.
The world's largest economy currently has 12,019,960 cases and 255,414 deaths, both by far the worst global tolls. The new toll comes just six days after the US crossed the 11-million case threshold.
Cases have been surging in the US at an alarming rate, forcing many cities to re-impose punishing lockdown measures.
Health authorities have urged people to stay home for next week's Thanksgiving holiday, when Americans usually travel from coast to coast to be with their families.
New York City has shut down schools for its 1.1 million students, while California began imposing a 10:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew from Saturday.
COVID-19 : G20 leaders pledge to fund fair distribution of vaccines
Leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies on Sunday will pledge to pay for a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and tests around the world so that poorer countries are not left out, and to extend debt relief to them, a draft G20 communique showed.
"We will spare no effort to ensure their affordable and equitable access for all people, consistent with members' commitments to incentivize innovation," the leaders said in the draft G20 statement, seen by Reuters. "We recognize the role of extensive immunization as a global public good."
The leaders said the global economy was starting to pick up but the recovery remained "uneven, highly uncertain and subject to elevated downside risks."
COVID-19: Bengal reports 53 more deaths, 3,639 new casesThe COVID-19 death count in West Bengal rose to 7,976 after 53 more people succumbed to the disease on Saturday, the state health department said in a bulletin.
It said that 3,639 new cases of infection took thetally to 4,52,270.
Since Friday, 3,794 recoveries from the disease were reported and the discharge rate in the state now is 92.63 percent. Altogether 4,19,403 people have been cured of COVID-19 till date.
The number of active cases stood at 25,391, the bulletin said.
COVID-19: Mumbai reports 1092 new cases
Mumbai reported 1,092 new cases of COVID-19, taking the tally of infected people in the metropolis to 2,74,572.
According to a report by the Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai, the city reported 1,565 recoveries/discharges and 14 COVID-related fatalities on Tuesday.
As many as 2,51,509 recoveries/discharges and 10,654 deaths due to the deadly pathogen have been reported so far, while the active cases stand at 9,325.
COVID-19: Rajasthan reports 3,007 new cases
Rajasthan reported 3,007 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,40,676.
The state reported 16 deaths and 1,963 recoveries and discharges today.
There are 18,684 cases in the state while 2,07,224 people have recovered from the viral infection.
Tamil Nadu records 1,663 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths
Tamil Nadu added 1,663 new COVID- 19 cases, taking the overall infection tally to 7,68,340, while 18 more deaths took the count to 11,586. Recoveries continued to outnumber new infections with 2,133 people getting discharged from various health facilities, totalling 7,43,838, a health department bulletin said. Active cases stood at 12,916.
Haryana reports 2,666 fresh COVID-19 cases, 25 deaths
Haryana reported another big spike of 2,666 fresh coronavirus cases taking the caseload in the state to 2,15,021 while 25 more fatalities took the COVID-19 death count to 2,163. Of the fresh cases, the maximum 939 were reported from the hardest-hit Gurgaon district, the second highest single-day spike so far, according to the state health department's daily bulletin.
China says ready to boost global COVID-19 vaccine cooperation
President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that China is ready to step up global COVID-19 vaccine cooperation, and called for better international coordination on policies to facilitate movement of people. Pharmaceutical companies and research centres around the world are working on potential COVID-19 vaccines, with large global trials of several of the candidates involving tens of thousands of participants underway. China has five home-grown candidates undergoing Phase III trials.
"China is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the research and development, production, and distribution of vaccines," Xi told the G20 Riyadh Summit via video link.
Madhya Pradesh adds 1,700 new COVID-19 cases; 11 die
Madhya Pradesh recorded 1,700 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 1,91,246, while 11 fatalities pushed the count to 3,149, health officials said. A total of 899 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, raising the state's count of recoveries to 1,76,905.
116 new COVID-19 cases in Goa take count to 46,748
Goa's coronavirus caseload went up by 116 to reach 46,748, while the death count increased to 675 as three people died due to COVID-19, a health official said. He said 147 people were discharged during the day, taking the total of such cases to 44,812, leaving the coastal state with 1,261 active cases.
3,007 people in Rajasthan test positive for COVID-19
Rajasthan reported 3,007 fresh cases of the coronavirus, the highest in a single-day, and 16 deaths, according to an official report. The COVID-19 tally in the state now stands at 2,40,676 and the death count at 2,146. The number of active cases in the state is 21,951, it said.
G20 leaders must work towards equitable access to vaccines: Saudi Arabia's King Salman
Saudi Arabia's King Salman said in his opening remarks to G20 leaders on Saturday that they must work towards affordable and equitable access to vaccines and other tools to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. "Although we are optimistic about the progress made in developing vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics tools for COVID-19, we must work to create the conditions for affordable and equitable access to these tools for all peoples," he said, opening the meeting of the leaders of the 20 biggest world economies.
Visit patients under home isolation, ensure they follow Covid rules: Delhi government asks officials
The Delhi government has directed district officials to visit COVID-19 patients under home isolation and ensure that they follow isolation rules, a move that comes amid instances of such people flouting norms in the national capital. In an order, the health department said contact tracing should be paid proper attention and it should be ensured that the contacts traced be subjected to immediate testing and be kept under effective isolation until test result comes.
Andhra Pradesh records 1,160 new coronavirus cases
Andhra Pradesh reported 1,160 new coronavirus cases, taking the caseload to 8,61,092 in the 24 hours ending 9 am. The overall COVID-19 positivity rate stood at 9 per cent and so far 95.43 lakh sample tests have been conducted. The latest bulletin said 1,765 patients had
recovered and another seven died.
24 new COVID-19 deaths in Uttar Pradesh, count rises to 7,524
With 24 fresh COVID-19 deaths in Uttar Pradesh, the count due to the disease rose to 7,524 in the state, while the total cases surged to 5,24,223 with 2,326 new infections, officials said. Additional Chief Secretary Medical and Health Amit Mohan Prasad said that in the past 24 hours 2,326 fresh cases were reported from the state.
Goa government to review SOPs to monitor travellers from Delhi amid pandemic
The Goa government will study the standard operating procedures (SOPs) adopted by states like Maharashtra to monitor people travelling from Delhi in view of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital. State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said he has written to the state health secretary asking him to consult his counterpart in Maharashtra about steps taken for people arriving from Delhi.
Bihar reports 278 COVID-19 new cases
As many as 278 new cases were reported in Bihar, taking the total number of cases in the state to 5,881, the state's health department has said. "278 more COVID19 positive cases have been reported on November 20, taking the total count of active cases in Bihar to 5,881," the department said in a statement. As per the report, as many as 13 new cases were reported from Bhagalpur, 6 in Araria and Jehanabad each, 8 in Gaya, among others.
Private hospitals charged high fees for Covid treatment: Parliamentary panel
Amid rising COVID-19 cases, inadequate beds in government hospitals and absence of specific guidelines for COVID-19 treatment resulted in private hospitals charging exorbitant fees, a parliamentary panel said, asserting that a sustainable pricing model could have averted many deaths. Chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on health Ram Gopal Yadav submitted the report on "Outbreak of Pandemic Covid-19 and its Management", to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.
Coronavirus crisis to dominate G20 summit
Saudi Arabia hosts the G20 summit in a first for an Arab nation, with the virtual forum dominated by efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and the worst global recession in decades. The two-day meeting of the world's wealthiest nations comes as President Donald Trump refuses to concede a bitter election and campaigners criticise what they call the G20's inadequate response to the crippling economic crisis. World leaders will huddle virtually as international efforts intensify for a large-scale roll out of coronavirus vaccines after a breakthrough in trials, and as calls grow for G20 nations to plug a $4.5 billion funding shortfall.
13 crore COVID-19 tests done so far, cumulative positivity rate falling steadily: Health Ministry
The total number of tests conducted in India for the detection of COVID 19 infection has crossed the 13-crore mark with last one crore done in just 10 days, while the cumulative positivity rate remained low and continues a downward trajectory, the Union Health Ministry said.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), over 13.06 crore samples have been tested till November 20 with 10,66,022 being tested on Friday.
Coronavirus LIVE: One-Fourth Of UP's Active COVID-19 Cases Are In Its Eight NCR Districts
Uttar Pradesh's eight districts that lie in the National Capital Region (NCR) account for over 25 per cent or one-fourth of the state's active COVID-19 cases and nearly 11 per cent of the deaths linked to the disease, according to official data.
UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat and Shamli districts are a part of the NCR, a wider region that also comprises districts from Haryana, Rajasthan and entire Delhi.
According to UP''s official data updated till Friday, there were a total of 5,21,988 COVID-19 cases in the state, while the number of active cases stood at 23,357, of which 5,863 (25.10 per cent) were in its NCR districts.
Meerut has the highest number of 2,102 active cases among these eight districts, followed by Gautam Buddh Nagar (1,401), Ghaziabad (1,195), Muzaffarnagar (431), Bulandshahr (304), Shamli (168) Hapur (167) and Baghpat (149), according to the data.
The state has so far recorded 7,500 deaths linked to COVID-19, with 819 (10.92 per cent) of them being recorded in the NCR districts, it showed.
JustIn| Hong Kong postpones Singapore travel bubble after virus spike: official to Agence France- Presse
Coronavirus LIVE News: Recent Breakthroughs On COVID-19 Vaccines Offer Ray Of Hope: UN Chief Guterres
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described the recent breakthroughs towards development of COVID-19 vaccines as a "ray of hope" that needs to reach everyone and called on the G-20 nations to support the global collaboration to accelerate development of coronavirus treatments and drugs.
This week, global drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech said their COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 95 per cent effective, including in adults over 65 years of age.
"The recent breakthroughs on COVID-19 vaccines offer a ray of hope. But that ray of hope needs to reach everyone," Guterres said at a news conference on Friday.
"That means ensuring that vaccines are treated as a global public good - accessible and affordable to everyone, everywhere. A people's vaccine. This is not a 'do-good'' exercise. It is the only way to stop the pandemic dead in its tracks," he said.
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE: Officials at Delhi-Noida border imposing fine of Rs 2,000 on people for not wearing masks while travelling
"We've received fresh guideline for Rs 2,000 fine. There has been a decrease in challans but people are casual. They wear mask only at check posts," says an officer.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Arunachal Pradesh Reports More COVID-19 Recoveries Than Fresh Cases For 7th Consecutive Day
Arunachal Pradesh for the seventh consecutive day reported more COVID-19 recoveries than fresh cases as 70 patients were cured of the disease while 25 new infections pushed the tally to 16,001, a health department official said on Saturday.
A total of 14,870 people have been discharged from hospitals so far, implying a recovery rate of 92.93 per cent, State Surveillance Officer (SSO), Dr Lobsang Jampa said.
Arunachal Pradesh now has 1,082 active cases with positivity rate at 7.07 per cent, while 49 people have succumbed to the infection so far with a fatality rate in the state at 0.30 per cent, he said.
Of the 25 new COVID-19 cases, five were reported from West Kameng, four each from the Capital Complex region and West Siang and three from Changlang, the official said.
Farmers at various places in Kottayam district using drones for spraying fertilisers due to shortage of labourers in the wake of COVID-19.
"With help of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kumarakom, we're using drones for spraying fertilisers in agricultural lands," says a local.
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE: Goa Schools Reopen For Classes 10, 12 Amid COVID-19 Protocols
Schools for Classes 10 and 12 in Goa reopened on Saturday after being shut for nearly eight months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
The state government has asked the schools to strictly observe the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) like thermal screening of students, hand sanitising, wearing of masks, social distancing in classrooms, they said.
The government had decided to allow the schools to reopen from November 21 onwards for Classes 10 and 12 in the initial phase.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio, had announced on November 4 that all the COVID-19 safety protocols would have to be followed by these institutions.
Sabarimala devotees reach the Sannidhanam to offer prayers to Lord Ayappa during the Mandala Pooja (a ritual of the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage).
The temple premises look deserted compared to other years, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Coronavirus LIVE: Telangana Clocks 925 New COVID-19 Cases, 3 Deaths
Telangana reported 925 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to over 2.62 lakh while three related fatalities pushed the toll to 1,426.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 161, followed by Medchal Malkajgiri 91 and Rangareddy 75, a government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 pm on November 20.
As many as 12,070 patients are under treatment and over 40,000 samples were tested on November 20.
Cumulatively, nearly 51 lakh samples have been tested so far.
The samples tested per million population was 1.36 lakh, the bulletin said.
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE: Jharkhand Reports 185 New COVID-19 Cases, 2 Deaths
Jharkhand's coronavirus caseload rose to 1,07,157 on Saturday as 185 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department official said.
Two more persons succumbed to the infection in the last 24-hours, pushing the COVID-19 death toll in the state to 939, he said.
Ranchi district reported the highest number of new cases at 74, followed by East Singhbhum (25) and Dhanbad (17), the official said.
One fatality each was reported in Gumla and Dhanbad districts, he said.
The state now has 2,594 active coronavirus cases, while 1,03,624 people have been cured of the disease so far, the official said.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Indian-American Doctor Identifies Possible COVID-19 Treatment
An Indian-American scientist has discovered a potential strategy to prevent life-threatening inflammation, lung damage and organ failure in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
Published online in the journal Cell, the research coming from the lab of Dr Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, an Indian-born researcher working at St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital in Tennessee, identified the drugs after discovering that the hyperinflammatory immune response associated with COVID-19 leads to tissue damage and multi-organ failure in mice by triggering inflammatory cell death pathways.
The researchers detailed how the inflammatory cell death signaling pathway worked, which led to potential therapies to disrupt the process.
"Understanding the pathways and mechanism driving this inflammation is critical to develop effective treatment strategies," said Dr Kanneganti, vice chair of the St Jude Department of Immunology.
JustIn| 46,232 fresh COVID-19 cases in India, 0.7% higher than yesterday; 90.5 lakh total cases so far, 1,32,726 deaths
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Wisconsin Governor Renews Mask Mandate Despite Court Challenge As Pandemic Worsens
Wisconsin's governor on Friday extended a statewide mask mandate despite a legal challenge from conservatives, renewing an emergency health order requiring face coverings in public spaces to curb an alarming surge in COVID-19 infections.
The new decree from Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, came six months after a coronavirus stay-at-home order issued last spring was invalidated by the state Supreme Court in a lawsuit that Republican lawmakers brought against the lockdown.
The same court heard oral arguments on Monday in a similar lawsuit brought by a prominent Wisconsin conservative donor contesting Evers' authority to impose an earlier face-covering mandate, which is due to expire on Saturday.
Although medical experts insist that masks are one of the most effective means for breaking the transmission cycle of the highly contagious respiratory virus, mask-wearing has become deeply politicized.
WHO Removes Remdesivir From List Of Medicines Used As Benchmark
The World Health Organization said on Friday it has suspended Gilead's remdesivir from its so-called prequalification list, an official list of medicines used as a benchmark for procurement by developing countries, after issuing guidance against its use in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.
"Yes we have suspended it from the PQ (prequalification list)," Tarik Jasarevic said in an emailed response to Reuters.
"The suspension is a signal to countries that WHO, in compliance with the treatment guidelines, does not recommend countries procure the drug for COVID."
COVID-19: Rajasthan Home Department advises district administrations to impose Section 144
Rajasthan Home Department on Friday advised district administrations across the state to impose restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure(CrPc) in view of rising cases of COVID-19 in the state.
Rajasthan reported 2,762 new COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths, and 1,993 recoveries on Friday.
COVID-19: 40 million vaccine doses to be available by the end of the year, says White House
The Trump administration is ready with a plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccine across the country as soon as the US Food and Drug Administration gives the necessary Emergency Use Authorisation to them, the White House said on Friday.
As many as 40 million doses of such vaccine will be available by the end of the year, it said.
"With regard to the vaccine, we believe that there will be 40 million doses available by the end of the year. Again, this is extraordinary. This is the fastest vaccine in history by fivefold," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters at a news conference here.
"It was only made possible because of this President, who said at the same time, 'I am pursuing a vaccine; I am going to do something novel. I am going to manufacture it''. So, many American lives will be saved thanks to President Trump and the great work of Operation Warp Speed," she said.
COVID-19: FDA panel to discuss emergency use of Pfizer vaccine on Dec 10
Food and Drug Administration's outside advisers will meet on Dec 10 to discuss whether to authorize the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech for emergency use, the agency said on Friday.
The move comes after Pfizer applied for the authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine earlier in the day, the first such application in a major step toward providing protection against the new coronavirus.
"While we cannot predict how long the FDA's review will take, the FDA will review the request as expeditiously as possible," FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement.
The meeting of Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will discuss the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine candidate.
COVID-19: Donald Trump's Son Tests Positive For Coronavirus
US President Donald Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been quarantining without symptoms, a spokesman said Friday.
"Don tested positive at the start of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin since the result," his spokesman said.