Coronavirus LIVE: 30 vaccines in different stages of development in India

Coronavirus live update: At 17,84,361, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 874,555, Andhra Pradesh 862,758, Tamil Nadu 771,619 and Kerala 566,492

3:33 PM

Increased testing, improved infrastructure to tackle coronavirus: Rajasthan CM to PM Modi

In a video conference with PM Narendra Modi over coronavirus on Tuesday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said his government has increased testing and strengthened infrastructure to tackle the infection.

 

Highlighting the steps taken by the state government to contain the infection, the chief minister told the PM about the ban on firecrackers, law on wearing of masks, night curfew in worst-hit districts and the restrictions on gatherings. He also shared with the prime minister inputs about the strengthening of infrastructure like oxygen generation plants, increase in the number of ICUs and oxygen beds in hospitals, the sources added.

 

Gehlot said the state government is testing over 30,000 samples a day, which stood at 18,000 tests a day in the months of September and October.

3:15 PM

States required to establish cold storage facilities for Covid-19 vaccine: PM Modi

3:13 PM

SC seeks Centre's response on PIL seeking to fix maximum rate for RT-PCR test

The Supreme Court Tuesday sought the Centre's response on a PIL seeking direction for fixing the maximum rate for the RT-PCR test for COVID-19 uniformly all over India. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notice to the Health Ministry and listed the PIL filed by lawyer Ajay Agrawal for hearing after two weeks.

 

The bench, in a hearing conducted via video conferencing, said that the plea would be heard with another pending plea pertaining to the cost of treatment for COVID-19.

 

It took note of the submission of Agrawal that the plea needed an urgent hearing. The petition has sought a direction to the governments to fix the maximum rate for the RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test to Rs 400 uniformly across the country, instead of Rs 900 to Rs 2800 as fixed by different state governments, Union Territories and NCT of Delhi.

3:09 PM

Covid-19 LIVE: Madhya Pradesh govt extends parole of 4,000 prisoners by 60 days

The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to extend the parole of about 4,000 prisoners for another 60 days in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Tuesday.

 

Madhya Pradesh reported 1,798 and 1,701 fresh COVID-19 cases on Sunday and Monday, respectively, taking the total caseload in the state to 1,94,745.

 

"About 4,000 prisoners are currently out of jails on parole in the state. The government has decided to extend the parole of such prisoners for another 60 days in view of COVID-19 cases", Mishra, who also holds Jail portfolio, told reporters.

2:54 PM

PM Narendra Modi held virtual meeting with Chief Ministers over Covid-19 situation today

2:46 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Daily positivity rate dips below 4% in India

India has conducted over 13.36 crore tests so far to detect COVID-19 cases, including 10,99,545in a day, while the cumulative positivity rate in the country is sustained at low levels and the daily positivity rate has fallen below four per cent, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

 

The country registered less than 40,000 fresh coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours after six days. Since November 8, the number of daily cases has been sustained below the 50,000-mark, the ministry said. On an average, more than 10 lakh daily tests have ensured that the cumulative positivity rate is sustained at low levels, the ministry underlined, adding that it is presently following a downward trajectory.

 

The tests per million (TPM) figure has increased to 96,871, it highlighted. India's testing infrastructure has seen a significant boost with 2,134 laboratories across the country currently. In line with its commitment to conduct more than 10 lakh tests per day, 10,99,545 samples were tested in a span of 24 hours, the ministry said.

2:36 PM

Ten States/UTs account for 73.54% of new coronavirus deaths: Health Ministry

2:30 PM

Karnataka is well-prepared for Covid-19 vaccine delivery: Health Minister

The Karnataka government has initiated measures for delivery, distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine whenever it arrives as advised by the Centre, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Tuesday. The State Task Force on COVID-19 recently met and reviewed preparations made for vaccine storage and delivery, he said.

 

"The government has identified 29,451 session sites (vaccination sites) and 10,008 vaccinators as per the norms of the Universal Immunization Programme," Dr Sudhakar said in a statement.

 

The Health Care Workers' data has already been compiled for all the government facilities. At least 80 percent of the private health facilities have also shared their data. Compilation of data for the remaining 20 per cent private facilities is likely to be completed in a week, the minister added.

2:16 PM

PM-CM meet: Kejriwal blames Covid spike on pollution, Mamata demands GST dues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the Covid-19 situation of the eight worst-hit states in his first leg of PM-CM meeting on Tuesday. Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Gujarat are the 8 states that are plagued with risisng Covid cases as India intensifies its fight against the pandemic.

 

In the first leg of the meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the sudden spike on pollution. He said though the national capital saw a sudden spike of 8,600 cases on November 10, the positivity rate has been steadily decreasing since.

 

He urged for an additional 1,000 ICU beds in central government hospitals till the third wave lasts. A presentation was made during the meeting which said the national capital has seen an average 111 deaths in the last one week. Maharashtra's average death was found to be 93 in the last one week. Rajasthan's positivity rate was found to be 21 per cent in last week which was very high. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra's Udhhav Thackeray, Rajasthan's Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat's Vijay Rupani were also in attendance.

2:10 PM

Ready to work with Central and all other stakeholders to ensure speedy and universal vaccination: Mamata

2:03 PM

Hopefully DCGI will give EUA for Oxford's vaccine immediately after MHRA nod: Mazumdar-Shaw

Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Tuesday said hopefully drugs regulator DCGI will give Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it gets approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

 

"100 Million Doses By January," Says Adar Poonawalla On Oxford Vaccine - hopefully DCGI will give EUA immediately after MHRA in December to start vaccination in India which is the need of the hour," Mazumdar-Shaw said in a tweet.

 

On Monday, Poonawalla had said that by January, Serum Institute will have 100 milliondoses. It already has 40 million doses.

 

He had also expressed happiness at pharma major AstraZeneca's announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been found to be 70 per cent effective on average. Serum is conducting clinical trials of Oxford University-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate in India.

1:52 PM

Bengal Covid-19 situation being addressed aptly: Mamata to PM Modi

The COVID-19 situation in West Bengal is being addressed aptly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference on Tuesday. The prime minister reviewed the COVID-19 situation in various states through video conferencing with chief ministers. Banerjee is learnt to have reminded Modi of the non- payment of Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues to several states, he said.

 

"The chief minister briefed the PM that the COVID-19 situation in West Bengal is under control," the official told PTI.

 

She apprised the PM about the discharge rate among the COVID-19 patients in the state and informed him that the number of new infections is on the decline, he said. "Banerjee also reminded the PM of the GST dues," he added. West Bengal has reported 4,59,918 COVID-19 cases, including 8,072 fatalities, till Monday.

1:44 PM

Task force formed to ensure timely distribution of Covid-19 vaccine: Maharashtra CM informs PM Modi

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the state has formed a task force to ensure timely distribution of coronavirus vaccine and executing the vaccination programme. Thackeray is currently attending the meeting of the Prime Minister with chief ministers of various states over the coronavirus situation.

 

He said that State government is in touch with Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), which is the partner in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for coronavirus.

 

"Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray informed PM Narendra Modi that he is in constant touch with Adar Poonawalla of Serum Institute and that the state has formed a task force to ensure timely distribution of vaccine and executing the vaccination programme," according to the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

 

With an efficacy of around 90 per cent, positive results from an interim analysis of clinical trials of AZD1222 in the UK and Brazil the vaccine has proved to be highly effective in preventing COVID-19 said AstraZeneca on Monday.

1:27 PM

Brent hits highest since March, spurred by coronavirus vaccine hopes

Brent crude prices hit their highest levels since March as news of a third promising coronavirus vaccine candidate spurred hopes of a quicker recovery in oil demand, while U.S. President-elect Joe Biden received the go-ahead to begin his leadership transition.

 

Brent crude futures rose 45 cents, or 1%, to $46.51 a barrel by 0744 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude added 46 cents, or 1.1%, to $43.52.

 

Brent rose to a session high of $46.72 earlier on Tuesday, the highest level traded since early March before Saudi Arabia initiated a price war with Russia, which sent oil prices crashing. Both oil benchmarks settled up about 2% on Monday after gaining about 5% last week.

1:23 PM

Coronavirus India update: Five most affected states by cases

Maharashtra (1,784,361)

Karnataka (874,555)

Andhra Pradesh (862,758)

Tamil Nadu (771,619)

Kerala (566,452)