Coronavirus LIVE: 'First vaccine administered in the US, says Donald Trump

Coronavirus live updates: At 1,883,365, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 901,410, Andhra Pradesh 875,531, Tamil Nadu 798,888, and Kerala 669,330

1:33 AM

Recoveries outnumber new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka

With 2,164 people discharged in a day, recoveries outnumbered 830 new cases in Karnataka, taking its Covid-19 tally to 9,02,240, including 16,065 active cases till Sunday, said the state health bulletin on Monday.

 

"Recoveries have increased to 8,74,202 till date, with 2,164 discharged in the last 24 hours. With 10 patients succumbing to the infection, the state's death toll rose to 11,954 till date," said the bulletin.

 

As epicentre of the pandemic, Bengaluru registered 369 fresh cases, taking its tally to 3,78,898, including 10,852 active cases, while recoveries rose to 3,63,807, with 1,576 discharged in the last 24 hours.

1:06 AM

Turkey announces 4-day curfew over New Year's to fight virus

Turkey's president has announced a four-day lockdown starting New Year's Eve to curb the spread of Covid-19.

 

Speaking after a cabinet meeting Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the curfew would begin the evening of Dec. 31 and go until the morning of Jan. 4 The government this month re-introduced weekend lockdowns as well as nighttime curfews amid a spike in infections and deaths. It has avoided a full lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic to keep the country's beleagured economy running.

1:06 AM

Top US officials expected to get Covid-19 vaccine this week

Senior US officials will begin receiving coronavirus vaccines this week as part of updated federal continuity of government plans that now include terrorism and pandemics as threats to the nation, and its leaders.

 

The effort comes after President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that White House aides should receive the Covid-19 vaccine somewhat later in the program. Still, doses are expected to be administered at the White House, Capitol Hill and other facilities within the week, according to senior administration officials.

12:04 AM

Conducting large-scale testing for Covid-19, issued directions for compliance of SOP: Delhi govt tells HC

11:10 PM

Teachers should be among first for Covid jabs: UN

The United Nations agency for education, UNESCO, on Monday called on governments to give teachers priority access to the new Covid-19 vaccines and be treated like "frontline" workers.

 

The call came as the United States, the country worst hit by the virus, kickstarted the biggest vaccination drive in its history by giving the jab to a nurse in New York.

 

"As we see positive developments regarding vaccination we believe that teachers and education support personnel must be considered a priority group," UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said in a joint video message with the head of the Education International (EI) teachers' organisation, David Edwards.

10:54 PM

Israel set to start second phase of human trials of its coronavirus vaccine candidate

10:16 PM

MP sees 1,058 new Covid-19 cases

Madhya Pradesh on Monday reported 1,058 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the infection count to 2,24,636, health officials said.

 

Three people died in Indore, two in Bhopal and one each in Khargone, Mandsaur and Mandla to take the toll to 3,412.

 

Officials said 1,084 people were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the state's overall recovery count to 2,08,421.

9:52 PM

We have an opportunity to position India globally as post-Covid care hub: Tourism minister

9:39 PM

Punjab reports 464 new Covid-19 cases, 21 deaths and 633 discharges today.

9:32 PM

Ahmedabad sees 247 coronavirus cases, 7 deaths in last 24 hours; 238 recover

9:09 PM

Haryana reports 993 new Covid-19 cases, 1,744 recoveries, and 16 deaths in the last 24 hours

8:58 PM

Largest vaccination drive in US history begins with Pfizer's Covid-19 shots

The biggest vaccination drive in American history got underway on Monday as health care workers started receiving Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, providing a glimpse of hope as the nation nears the grim milestone of 300,000 coronavirus deaths. A nurse in New York City was among the first people to receive the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on Monday morning.

 

"I feel hopeful today," said Sandra Lindsay, the critical care nurse at New York's Long Island Jewish Medical Center, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo watched via livestream.

 

The news comes as the United States approaches 300,000 deaths from Covid-19. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said he would be among those getting a vaccine. "People will believe much more in the vaccine if the CEO is getting vaccinated," he said Monday on CNN. READ ON...

8:45 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: At 2.1%, Delhi records lowest Covid-19 positivity rate so far

At 2.15 per cent, Delhi on Monday reported the lowest positivity rate of new Covid-19 cases recorded so far. The positivity rate came out of 63,94 samples tested in the last 24 hours, wherein 1,376 turned out positive. Meanwhile, 2,854 patients recovered from the disease while 60 succumbed to it in the same duration. The case positivity rate on Sunday stood at 2.74 per cent, authorities said. It was 4.96 per cent on December 3, 4.78 per cent on December 4, 4.2 per cent on December 5, 3.68 per cent on December 6 and 3.15 per cent on December 7.

 

However, on December 8, the positivity rate rose to 4.23 per cent, but again fell to 3.42 per cent on December 9 and 2.46 per cent on December 10. It had risen to 3.33 per cent again on December 11 before falling to 2.64 per cent on December 12.

 

The tally of cases has reached 6,08,830 while the toll has risen to 10,074. Of the tests conducted in the last 24 hours, 36,176 were done through RT-PCR and 27,768 were Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT). The capital city has conducted 72,86,847 tests so far, according to the bulletin by the Delhi Health Department.

8:35 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Covid-19 vaccine to be available in India soon, says govt

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday that the Coronavirus crisis is now "on its way out" and "soon" vaccines would be available in India too. He was speaking at the International Coronavirus Short Film Festival. He took the opportunity to caution people against letting the guard down before antibodies are created and second dose of the vaccine administered.

 

Javadekar said that the pandemic has caused major upsets in countries across the globe. However, he noted, that India has been able to handle the crisis well under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, who, he said, recognised the crisis early.

 

Calling the idea of organising a film festival to celebrate short films made on coronavirus as wonderful, Javadekar said that the Film Festival witnessing participation of 2,800 films from 108 countries on a single topic is an example of people's immense talent.

8:06 PM

'First vaccine administered in the US, tweets President Donald Trump