Coronavirus LIVE: India's cumulative Covid-19 tests inch closer to 150 mn

Coronavirus live update: At 1,859,367, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 895,284, Andhra Pradesh 872,839, Tamil Nadu 792,788, and Kerala 644,696

2:00 PM

Foreign envoys take a tour of Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad

1:44 PM

SC seeks reply from Centre, states on Covid-19 guidelines, fire safety in hospitals

The Supreme Court Wednesday sought "detailed" response from the Centre as well as states on issues ranging from adhering to COVID-19 guidelines on wearing of face masks and social distancing norms to implementation of fire safety guidelines in hospitals and nursing homes across India. The top court was hearing a suo motu case registered by it to ensure proper treatment of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and dignified handling of dead bodies there.

 

Recently, it also took cognisance of the fire incident in a designated COVID-19 hospital in Gujarat's Rajkot in which several patients had died, raising the issue of lack of proper fire safety measures in hospitals across the country.

 

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Gujarat government, to file detailed affidavits within three days on the issues such as enforcing of COVID-19 guidelines and fire safety measures in hospitals and nursing homes. The bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, directed the states as well to file affidavits by Friday on steps taken on these issues and fixed the suo motu case for hearing on December 14.

12:59 PM

Coronavirus update: 73 new cases reported in Ladakh, one more person dies

One more person died due to coronavirus in Ladakh, which reported 73 fresh cases pushing the virus caseload to 8969 and fatalities to 122 in the union territory, an official bulletin said on Wednesday.

 

With the fresh death, fatalities in Leh district has gone up to 79. The rest of the 43 deaths due to the infection had taken place in Kargil district, according to the bulletin issued by directorate of health services, Ladakh.

 

Out of the new cases, it said 49 persons tested positive for coronavirus in Leh and 24 others in Kargil.

12:41 PM

EM investors' hopes of market rally extending to 2021 ride on Covid vaccine

Emerging-market watchers may be confident the rally will continue into 2021, but it’s the roll-out of vaccination programs that concerns them the most.

 

A Bloomberg survey of 63 investors, strategists and traders found the efficacy of coronavirus vaccines is likely to be the biggest market driver for next year, beating out worries about the fiscal laxity of governments and China’s economic growth path. China still emerged as the overwhelming favorite across currencies and stocks, while investors were most optimistic for Latin American bonds, the Nov. 18-25 poll found. Argentina remained a source of unease. Read on...

12:37 PM

Pondy adds 30 more Covid-19 cases, tally reaches 37,339

12:16 PM

Arunachal Pradesh reports 22 new Covid-19 cases, 37 recoveries. Infection tally rises to 16,437

The state now has 692 active cases of the disease

12:10 PM

Chiranjeevi Sarja's wife Meghana Raj and their newborn son test Covid-19 positive

Actress Meghana Raj and her newborn baby son have both tested positive for coronavirus. Her parents have tested Covid-19 positive, too.

 

The wife of late actor Chiranjeevi Sarja took to her Instagram page and penned a note requesting their fans not to worry after hearing the news. She assured that her son, who is lovingly called Junior Chiru by fans of the Kannada actor, is fine and keeping her occupied the whole time.

11:56 AM

At 9.9% GDP growth, India could be fastest-growing Asian economy in 2021

India could well be the fastest-growing Asian economy in calendar year 2021 (CY21) if Nomura’s forecasts are to be believed. The foreign research and brokerage house expects the Indian economy – as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) – to grow at 9.9 per cent in 2021, eclipsing China (2021 GDP growth pegged at 9 per cent) and Singapore (at 7.5 per cent) during this period.

 

Nomura has turned positive on India's cyclical outlook for 2021, and believes the country is on the cusp of a cyclical recovery. The change in stance comes after nearly two years (end-2018), when it had turned negative on India’s growth. Read on...

11:11 AM

No need to affix posters outside the homes of Covid-19 patients, says SC

Supreme Court says that affixing posters by state authorities outside the homes of Covid-19 patients, divulging their identities, is not required unless there is a direction from a competent authority.

10:41 AM

India Covid-19 vaccine review: Drug body to submit report to DCGI

10:05 AM

Coronavirus update: Delhi has added 3,188 cases to take its tally to 597,112

10:05 AM

Andhra Pradesh, the third-most-affected state by total cases, added 551 cases to take its tally to 872,839

9:27 AM

With sharp drop in active cases, India now 9th-worst-hit globally by this measure

9:16 AM

Coronavirus India update: Summary of MoHFW data (December 9)

Active cases: 378,909 (Net reduction: 4,957)

Deaths: 141,360 (Net increase: 402)

Cured: 9,215,581 (Net increase: 36,635)

Total cases: 9,735,850 (Net increase: 32,080)

9:14 AM

Coronavirus vaccine boost helps send Wall Street to record levels

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as each of the major averages touched record levels in part due to a boost from the healthcare sector on positive COVID-19 vaccine news, while uncertainty over fresh fiscal stimulus held gains in check.

 

Johnson & Johnson gained 1.67% to help lift both the Dow and S&P 500 after the company said it could obtain late-stage trial results of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine it is developing in January, earlier than expected.

 

Pfizer Inc also advanced 1.67% as it cleared the next hurdle in the race to get its COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use, after the U.S. health regulator released documents raising no new safety or efficacy issues. Read on...