New Delhi: Amid global fears over the new mutant strains of coronavirus, detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa, India recorded 20,549 fresh infections in the last 24 hours taking the COVID-19 caseload to 1,02,44,852. The recoveries crossed 98 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death count increased to 1,48,439 with 286 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 978,34,141 pushing the national recovery rate to 95.99 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent.
Twenty cases of a mutant strain of coronavirus that first surfaced in the UK, have been detected in the country. The new strain is believed to be 70 per cent more infectious, but doctors have said there is no reason yet to believe that it is more lethal or will not be controlled by a vaccine.
Meanwhile, the Indian government on Wednesday extended the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom till January 7 amid alarm over the new highly contagious strain of the coronavirus.
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Here are the Highlights on Coronavirus Cases:
Dec 30, 2020 23:37 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Eight Samples Taken In Delhi Positive With UK Virus Strain, 7 In Quarantine In City
Samples of eight of 14 UK returnees, who arrived in Delhi between December 21 and 22, have tested positive for the new strain of the coronavirus detected in that country, official sources said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. The samples were tested at National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Delhi, they said. Among these eight UK returnees was a woman who left the Delhi airport and travelled to Andhra Pradesh by train last week, they said.
Dec 30, 2020 23:28 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Nagpur Records 368 COVID Cases, 6 UK Returnees In Hospital
Nagpur district on Wednesday registered 368 new coronavirus cases, taking its tally to 1,23,374, while six people who returned from the UK recently are undergoing treatment after testing positive, said officials, reported news agency PTI.
Dec 30, 2020 23:06 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Ladakh Records One More COVID-Related Death, 25 New Cases
Ladakh recorded one more coronavirus-related death and 25 new cases of the disease, taking the infection count to 9,436 in the Union Territory, officials said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. Twelve patients have also recovered from the disease after successful treatment, bringing down the number of active cases in Ladakh to 210, they said.
Dec 30, 2020 22:27 (IST)
Coronavirus News: UK Returnee Detected With New Strain In Noida
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded 47 new cases of coronavirus that pushed the district's inflection tally to 24,917 on Wednesday, official data showed, reported news agency PTI. Also, a person who returned to Gautam Buddh Nagar from the United Kingdom was detected to be infected with the new strain of the coronavirus which is stated to have a high transmissibility, government officials in Lucknow said.
Dec 30, 2020 20:30 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Maharashtra Logs 3,537 New Cases, 4,913 Recoveries, 70 Deaths
Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally rose to 19,28,603 today with the addition of 3,537 fresh cases, the state health department said, reported news agency PTI. With 70 more fatalities, the overall death count in the state went up to 49,463, it said. 4,913 people were discharged after treatment during the day, taking the cumulative count of recoveries in Maharashtra to 18,24,934, the department said in a release. Maharashtra now has 53,066 active cases, it siad.
Dec 30, 2020 20:23 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Prior Permission Mandatory For Organising Events On New Year's Eve In Kangra
Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Prajapati today said social gatherings on New Year's Eve in the district have been limited to a maximum of 50 people to control the spread of coronavirus, reported news agency PTI. In addition, according to the Disaster Management Act, only environmental-friendly firecrackers will be sold in the district and the duration to burst them will be from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am on New Year's Day. He said that prior permission of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate concerned will be mandatory for New Year's Eve events.
Dec 30, 2020 20:11 (IST)
Coronavirus News: 29 UK Returnees Test Positive In Kerala; Over 6,000 New Cases In State
As many as 29 people who recently returned to Kerala from the UK have tested positive, Health Minister KK Shailaja said on Wednesday, as the State recorded over 6,268 new cases and 5,707 recoveries, reported news agency Press Trust of India. The samples of the UK returnees have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune to ascertain if it is the new variant, the minister said in a press release.
Dec 30, 2020 20:04 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Madhya Pradesh Adds 866 New Cases, 13 Deaths
Madhya Pradesh today reported 866 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the count of infections to 2,40,947, health officials said, reported news agency PTI. With 13 more fatalities, the overall death count in the state rose to 3,595, they said. 1,061 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative count of recoveries in Madhya Pradesh to 2,27,965.
Dec 30, 2020 19:24 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Need To Develop Covid Medicine In Homeopathy, Says Karnataka Health Minister
Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar today said there is a need to develop medicine for COVID-19 in Homeopathy also, reported news agency PTI. Arsenicum album is said to be effective in controlling COVID-19, but there is a need to develop proper medicine for the virus in Homeopathy, Mr Sudhakar was quoted as saying by his office in a release. "We should encourage homeopathy practice. It was widely used when typhoid was detected," he said, adding that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has given more importance to Ayush.
Dec 30, 2020 19:11 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Strict Measures In Place In Bengaluru, Rest Of Karnataka Ahead Of New Year
Strict measures will be in place in Bengaluru and across Karnataka to restrict the large gatherings for New Year celebrations in view of the prevailing pandemic situation, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said today, reported news agency PTI. The minister said he has spoken to the Director General of Police and the police commissioner on the restrictions and guidelines that have issued for the state and the capital city and its strict implementation.
Dec 30, 2020 18:36 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Sabarimala Temple Opens For Makaravilakku Festival Even As Chief Priest Is In Quarantine
Marking the beginning of the second phase of the annual pilgrimage season, the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala opened this evening for the Makaravilakku festival, even as the chief priest quarantined himself after coming in contact with three Covid positive people, reported news agency PTI. Though the portals of the hill shrine were opened at 5 pm, devotees will be allowed to enter from Thursday morning, officials of the Tranvancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the shrine, said.
Dec 30, 2020 17:51 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Danger Of Coronavirus Has Not Subsided, Says BS Yediyurappa
The danger of coronavirus has still not subsided and there should be no lowering of the guard against the pandemic, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said today, as he ruled out any change in the safety guidelines for now, reported news agency PTI. Urging citizens to follow all guidelines and take the required precautions, he also called on the UK returnees who are untraceable so far to get the necessary health check or tests done to control the spread of the new variant of coronavirus that is prevalent in the United Kingdom.
Dec 30, 2020 17:38 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Jammu And Kashmir Extends Lockdown Till January 31
Jammu and Kashmir has extended the coronavirus lockdown restrictions till January 31, reported news agency ANI.
