Coronavirus LIVE updates: India cases at 8,728,795; active cases at 484,547

Coronavirus update: Maharashtra has 1,736,329 coronavirus cases, Karnataka 855,912, Andhra Pradesh 849,705, Tamil Nadu 752,521 and Kerala 508,256. Stay tuned for coronavirus India LIVE updates

11:44 AM

Diwali's message carries special significance this year as world responds to COVID-19: Australia PM Scott Morrison

Extending Diwali greetings to Indians across the globe and in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the festival's message carries "a special significance" this year as the world is responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, the most dramatic shock in generations.

Diwali, which symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, will be celebrated on Saturday.

"Most years, we often think of this dispelling of darkness as a theoretical concept rather than something that is experienced and overcome. This year, Diwali's message has a special significance," Morrison said in a video message released recently.

"Every nation on earth is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lives and livelihoods have been lost as we have witnessed the most dramatic shock in generations. Despite this, we have a common hope. Throughout 2020, despite our own fears, we have supported each other, encouraged each other, and stood with each other.

"We have drawn strength and inspiration from our medical professionals, teachers, cleaners, retail staff, police and defence force personnel and so many more who have responded to the crisis with compassion and professionalism," he said.

11:29 AM

Coronavirus vaccine update: Pfizer shot said to cause face pain, hangover

Volunteers on the Pfizer vaccine trial have compared the jab's side effects to a 'severe hangover' and said it left them with headaches, fever and muscle aches similar to the flu vaccine, the Daily Mail reported.

One 45-year-old volunteer said the first dose left her suffering side effects similar to the flu jab but that her symptoms were 'more severe' after her second jab.

Another volunteer, 44-year-old Glenn Deshields, said Pfizer's vaccine made him feel like he had a 'severe hangover' but that symptoms quickly cleared up. Read on...

10:58 AM

Uttarakhand coronavirus update: BJP MLA Surendra Singh Jeena dies of covid-19

BJP MLA from Salt in Almora district, Surendra Singh Jeena, who was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a hospital in New Delhi, died early Thursday, a party leader said.

The 50-year-old Jeena was admitted to the Sir Gangaram Hospital nearly a week ago. He breathed his last at around 4 am, Pradesh BJP vice president Devendra Bhasin said.

10:56 AM

Coronavirus data story: Delhi suffers over 100 Covid deaths in a day for the first time

Amid a surge in its daily addition to confirmed cases, contrary to the nationwide trend of cooling off, national capital Delhi on Friday also suffered its highest single-day fatalities, at 104. Witnessing a third wave of surge in infections, Delhi added 7,953 cases in a day, taking its tally to 467,028. Read on...

10:52 AM

Maharashtra coronavirus update: Thane district registers 535 new Covid-19 cases, 12 deaths

As many as 535 new coronavirus cases were reported in Thane district of Maharashtra, taking its tally to 2,18,000, an official said on Friday.

The official said Covid-19 deaths in the district rose to 5,501 after 12 more patients succumbed to the infection on Thursday.

He said the recovery rate in the district was 94.35 per cent (2,05,686) and mortality rate 2.52 per cent (5,501).

The district's active cases stood at 6,813.

10:44 AM

Andhra Pradesh coronavirus cases: The third-most-affected state adds 1,728 cases in 24 hours

Andhra Pradesh, the third-most-affected state by total cases, has added 13,752 cases in the past seven days. On Friday it added 1,728 cases to take its tally to 849,705.

10:42 AM

Coronavirus India update: Kerala replaces UP as 5th worst-hit state

Kerala has added 5,537 cases to take its tally to 508,256.

10:41 AM

Delhi coronavirus update: Delhi suffers its highest single-day jump in fatalities, at 104

Delhi has added 7953 cases to take its tally to 467028. Also, the city has suffered its highest single-day jump in fatalities, at 104.

9:52 AM

Coronavirus India update: Summary of MoHFW data (November 13)

Active cases: 484,547 (Net reduction: 4,747)

Deaths: 128,668 (Net addition: 547)

Cured: 8,115,580 (Net addition: 49,079)

Total cases: 8,728,795 (Net addition: 44,879)

9:36 AM

China suspends fish imports from Indian firm after coronavirus detected

China's customs office said on Friday it will suspend imports from India's Basu International for one week after detecting the novel coronavirus on three samples taken from the outer packaging of frozen cuttlefish.

Imports will resume automatically after one week, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement.

9:28 AM

Coronavirus overhauls decades of aviation boom; a third of 50,000 routes shut

Before the coronavirus, a decades-long aviation boom spawned a network of nearly 50,000 air routes that traversed the world. In less than a year, the pandemic has wiped almost a third of them off the map.

Border closures, nationwide lockdowns and the fear of catching Covid-19 from fellow passengers have crippled commercial travel. As thousands of domestic and international connections disappear completely from airline timetables, the world has suddenly stopped shrinking. Read on...

9:24 AM

EU agency: Coronavirus spread in minks could speed mutations

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has issued new guidance to curb the spread of the coronavirus between minks and humans, warning that the transmission of Covid-19 among animals could speed up the number of mutations in the virus before it potentially jumps back to people.

In a statement on Thursday, the ECDC said that when Covid-19 starts spreading on a mink farm, the large numbers of animal infections means the virus can accumulate mutations more quickly in minks and spread back into the human population.

9:24 AM

Assam reports three more coronavirus deaths, 328 new cases

Assam reports three more coronavirus deaths, 328 new cases. Infection tally rises to 2,09,835, death toll reaches 957. The state currently has 4,799 active cases of the disease.

9:05 AM