Coronavirus LIVE: Kerala reports 6,316 fresh Covid-19 positive cases

Coronavirus live updates: At 1,828,826, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 886,227, Andhra Pradesh 868,000, Tamil Nadu 783,319 and Kerala 608,357

2:06 AM

UK records another 16,170 coronavirus cases with 648 deaths

Another 16,170 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,659,256, according to official figures released on Wednesday. The coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose by 648 to 59,699, the data showed, Xinhua news agency reported. The figures came as a new tier system of coronavirus restrictions replaced the month-long national lockdown in England which ended on Wednesday. Under the new system, shops will be allowed to re-open across England, giving a Christmas bonanza to the struggling retail sector, but all bars and restaurants in the toughest Tier 3 areas will remain closed.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of British Retail Consortium, said as billions of pounds were lost in sales during the lockdown, businesses were looking forward to welcoming back customers. "Every purchase we make is a retailer helped, a job protected and a local community supported," Dickinson told the BBC. Putting about 98 per cent of England into Tier 2 and 3 restrictions, the new tier system was backed Tuesday by 291 votes to 78 in the House of Commons (lower house of the British Parliament). Under Tier 1, people in the areas will be urged to work from home wherever possible.

In Tier 2 areas, pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals along with alcoholic drinks. In Tier 3 areas, all pubs, bars and restaurants must close except for delivery, takeaway and drive-through. Hotels and indoor entertainment venues must also close in these areas. To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the US are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.

2:02 AM

US Covid vaccine tipped to begin before Dec 15; 100 mn to get shots by Feb

The chief advisor of the US Covid-19 vaccine development programme is confident that at least 100 million people would have got coronavirus shots by the end of February 2021 and this operation would have covered the entire "at risk" population comprising the elderly, frontline workers and those with comorbidities. Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Moncef Slaoui said he hopes to have emergency use authorization for at least one vaccine by December 10 or 11.

Slaoui pointed to "exceptionally good data" from both the vaccines which have applied for emergency use authorization - Pfizer and Moderna. He is hoping for a "breakthrough" from a Johnson and Johnson vaccine that has now recruited more than 28,000 subjects. "Now the breakthrough that we hope with this vaccine is that it's a one shot vaccine, with very fast efficacy achieved and 100 per cent compliance, so to speak, since everybody will get one shot and get the full vaccination schedule." Warp Speed CEO General Gustave Perna, confirmed his team is ready to ship vaccines "within 24 hours" of approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

1:22 AM

Pfizer confident there will be more doses than needs by end of 2021

 Pfizer's chief executive Albert Bourla said on Wednesday he was confident that by the end of 2021 there would be more vaccine doses than required to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. "I feel very comfortable that by the end of 2021 we'll have more doses that we will need," Bourla told a virtual conference hosted in Athens.

"We are doing everything we can to increase the manufacturing capacity ... but the challenge is that we need to increase it in the next few months."

1:08 AM

Moderna Inc’s Covid-19 vaccine could be approved for emergency use within 24 to 72 hours after the US health regulator’s advisory committee meeting: Reuters

1:07 AM

1,648 new coronavirus cases in Chhattisgarh, tally 241,000, active cases 19,749; toll 2,919 with 27 deaths: health official

12:53 AM

Police check vehicles of commuters in Amritsar as night curfew imposed from Dec 1

11:57 PM

Govt making 'U-turn' on PM's assurance that every citizen will get Covid vaccine: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday attacked the Central government for saying that every person in the country does not need to be inoculated against COVID-19, while dubbing it a "U-turn Sarkar" and seeking clarity on who all will be administered the coronavirus vaccine. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the opposition party said while he had announced that every Indian will get vaccinated against the novel contagion, the Health ministry later announced that everyone in country need not be immunized.

"The Prime Minister said every Indian will get the Covid vaccine. But, the Prime Minister's statement was turned into a 'jumla' after the Health ministry said the entire country will not be inoculated," the Congress said on its official Twitter handle. "Can the Indian people get some clarity? Will they be getting a vaccine or do they have to be Atmanirbhar when it comes to surviving this deadly virus," the party asked in another tweet.

The Congress accused the government of being a 'U-turn sarkar', alleging that while the Prime Minister announced that every Indian will get the COVID-19 vaccine, a few days later the Health ministry said the government never spoke about vaccinating all citizens in the country.

11:57 PM

5 new cases in Andaman & Nicobar, total at 4,723

5 new Covid-19 cases reported in Andaman and Nicobar today; the total number of cases in the UT is 4,723 including 4,583 recoveries, 79 active cases and 61 deaths: UT Administration

11:24 PM

West Bengal reported 3,271 new Covid-19 cases, 3,275 discharges

11:23 PM

National curbs ended, vaccnation to vulnerable will take months: Boris Johnson

There are immense logistical challenges. The vials are going to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius, each person needs two injections, three weeks apart. So it will inevitably take some months before almost vulnerable are protected. It's vital that we are not carried away with over-optimism or fall into the naive belief that the struggle is over. Today, in England, we have ended national restrictions, opening up significant parts of the economy: UK PM Boris Johnson

10:15 PM

Since its outbreak, coronavirus pandemic claimed lives of 102 survivors of 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy: Madhya Pradesh govt

10:08 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 403 new cases in Nashik district; 6 fatalities

The Covid-19-tally in Nashik district of Maharashtra rose to 1,01,822 on Wednesday with the addition of 403 fresh cases, health officials said. With six more patients succumbing to the viral infection, the toll mounted to 1,804, they said. t the same time, 208 patients were discharged after treatment during the day, taking the count of recoveries to 96,996, the officials said.

9:52 PM

Maharashtra reports 5,600 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday; tally rises to 18,32,176; death toll reaches 47,357 with 111 fatalities: health official

8:59 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Nagpur reports 453 new coronavirus cases; 11 die

Nagpur district in Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 453 fresh coronavirus positive cases, taking the tally of infections to 1,12,733, an official release said.

 

With 11 deaths due to COVID-19, the overall toll rose to 3,692. A total of 264 patients were discharged during the day, taking the number of recoveries to 1,03,830. The district has 5,211 active cases.

8:49 PM

Jammu and Kashmir Covid-19 caseload rises to 111,130 with 452 fresh infections

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 452 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the union territory's tally to 1,11,130, while six more fatalities pushed the death toll to 1,708. Of the fresh cases, 258 are from the Jammu division and 194 from the Kashmir division, they said.

 

Jammu district recorded the highest number of fresh cases at 127, followed by 81 in Srinagar, according to the officials. There are 4,951 active cases in the union territory, while 1,04,471 patients have recovered so far, the officials said. Of the six fresh deaths, three each were reported from Jammu and Kashmir regions.