Coronavirus LIVE: WHO warns vaccines no magic bullet to contain virus

Coronavirus live updates: At 1,842,587, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 890,360, Andhra Pradesh 870,675, Tamil Nadu 787,554, and Kerala 625,767

5:43 PM

No regular classes for students of classes 1 to 8 in Madhya Pradesh till March 31: CM

5:31 PM

Moscow opens dozens of coronavirus vaccination centers

Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for Covid-19 vaccinations in Moscow starting Saturday, a precursor to a sweeping Russia-wide immunization effort.

 

The vaccinations come three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a large-scale Covid-19 immunization campaign even though a Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols.

 

The Russian leader said Wednesday that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V jab will be available in the next few days, allowing authorities to offer jabs to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week.

5:26 PM

No new Covid cases reported in Mizoram over the last 24 hours, while 16 patients recovered in the state

4:17 PM

Covaxin trials a two-dose schedule: Bharat Biotech on Anil Vij testing positive

3:14 PM

573 more cases reported yesterday in Bihar, taking the total count of active cases in the State to 6,145

3:01 PM

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain wishes Anil Vij speedy recovery from Covid-19

2:56 PM

Russia reports all-time high daily Covid-19 cases

At least 28,782 additional people in Russia have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which marked the highest single-day spike in the number of confirmed cases since the onset of the pandemic earlier this year, health authorities said on Saturday.

 

The new figure recorded in the last 24 hours has increased the country's overall caseload to 2,431,731, TASS News Agency quoted the anti-coronavirus crisis centre as saying in its latest update.

2:54 PM

Plea in SC seeks refund of 'exorbitant money' charged for RT-PCR test to detect coronavirus

2:18 PM

Telangana reported 596 new Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths and 921 recoveries on 4th December

2:09 PM

Vaccine should be given free to everyone: Nawab Malik

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an all-party meeting on COVID-19 vaccination in the country, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has said that COVID-19 vaccine should be given free to every citizen of the country.

 

Speaking to ANI, Malik said, "The Prime Minister held an all-party meeting and now they are saying State and Centre will decide the price, how can it be? In Bihar, they have given the assurance that vaccination will be free. We demand vaccine should be given to each Indian free of cost."

1:56 PM

Odisha's caseload mounts to 320,803 after 409 people test positive, 5 more fatalities push death toll to 1,765

1:35 PM

India's total Covid active caseload drops to 409,689 -- lowest in 136 days

1:30 PM

India's total COVID-19 active caseload lowest in 136 days: Health ministry

India's total COVID-19 active caseload dropped to 4,09,689 on Saturday, the lowest in 136 days, according to the Union health ministry.

India's present active caseload comprises 4.26 per cent of the total positive cases, and new recoveries have led to a net decline of 6,393 in the total active cases, the ministry said in a statement.

"India's total active caseload has dropped below 4.10 lakh (4,09,689) today. This is the lowest after 136 days. The total active cases were 4,11,133, on July 22," it said.

The ministry said that for the past eight days, the daily new recoveries recorded in the country have been more than the daily cases.

1:29 PM

Odisha's COVID-19 death toll rises to 1,765, tally at 3,20,803

Odisha's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 3,20,803 on Saturday after 409 people tested positive for the virus, while five more fatalities pushed the death toll to 1,765, a health department official said.

The fresh cases were detected in 27 of the state's 30 districts, of which 234 came from quarantine centres and the remaining were local-contact infections.

Sundergarh district recorded the highest of 53 positive cases, followed by Khurda (44) and Angul (35). Three districts - Gajapati, Kandhamal and Subarnapur - did not register any fresh coronavirus case during the last 24 hours, he said.

12:28 PM

Poonawalla of Serum Institute among 6 named 'Asians of the Year' by Singapore daily

Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive of the world's largest vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India, is among six people named "Asians of the Year" by Singapore's leading daily, The Straits Times for their work in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has collaborated with the University of Oxford and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for making the COVID-19 vaccine, ''Covidshield'', and is conducting trials in India.