Coronavirus LIVE: Phase 2/3 trials of Sputnik V vaccine starts in India

Coronavirus LIVE update: At 1,828,826, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 884,897, Andhra Pradesh 868,064, Tamil Nadu 781,915 and Kerala 602,982

6:56 PM

Delhi govt unlikely to go for night curfew as Covid-19 positivity rate declining

The Delhi government is unlikely to go for a night curfew as the COVID-19 case positivity rate in the city has been showing a declining trend for the last few weeks, PTI reported on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said in a media briefing that Delhi's positivity rate has fallen by a margin of nearly 55 per cent since early November and it should reduce further in the next two weeks.

 

"Positivity rate in Delhi has decreased to 7.35 per cent from 15.26 per cent on November 7. There were 3,726 new cases in Delhi yesterday with a positivity rate of 7.35 per cent," he said.

 

Last week, the Delhi government had informed the High Court that it may decide in three to four days whether to impose night curfew in the national capital to contain the spread of COVID-19. The government's decision to decide about curfew was tied to positivity rate. Since positivity rate has declined considerably meaning decreased infection, it is unlikely that the government will favour night curfew.

6:24 PM

Delhi reports 4,006 new coronavirus cases, 5,036 recoveries, and 86 deaths

Delhi recorded 4,006 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the infection tally in the national capital to over 5.74 lakh, while 86 new fatalities pushed the toll from the disease to 9,260, authorities said.

 

These fresh cases came out of the 58,456 COVID-19 tests conducted the previous day, including 30,297 RT-PCR tests, while the positivity rate stood at 6.85 per cent, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi Health Department.

 

The active COVID-19 case count stood at 31,769 in Delhi on Tuesday. The bulletin said the total number of novel coronavirus cases has climbed to 5,74,380 in the national capital.

6:08 PM

Govt never spoke about vaccinating the entire country: Health Ministry

5:50 PM

Delhi reports 4,006 new coronavirus cases, 5,036 recoveries, and 86 deaths

5:34 PM

More than one-third of kids with Covid-19 show no symptoms: Study

More than one-third of kids infected with the novel coronavirus are asymptomatic, according to a study which confirms that children diagnosed with COVID-19 may represent just a fraction of those infected. The research, published in the journal CMAJ, analysed results for 2,463 children in Alberta, Canada, who were tested during the first wave of the pandemic -- March to September -- for COVID-19 infection.

 

"The concern from a public health perspective is that there is probably a lot of COVID-19 circulating in the community that people don't even realise," said Finlay McAlister, a co-author of the study from the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in Canada.

 

"When we see reports of 1,200 new cases per day in the province of Alberta, that's likely just the tip of the iceberg -- there are likely many people who don't know they have the disease and are potentially spreading it," he said.

 

Of the 2,463 children, 1,987 had a positive test result for COVID-19 and 476 had a negative result, and of those who tested positive, 714 -- about 36 per cent --reported being asymptomatic.

5:08 PM

Delhi's Covid-19 positivity rate should decelerate in next two weeks: Satyendar Jain

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the national capital has fallen by a margin of nearly 55 per cent since early November and it should reduce further in the next two weeks, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday.

 

Interacting with reporters, he also said the labs taking samples are being operated at their full capacity, hence there are some delays in test outcomes and this matter was being taken up with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Delhi recorded 3,726 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, the lowest in 15 days, while the daily death toll crossed the 100-mark again and stood at 108.

 

The positivity rate stood at 7.35 per cent on Monday. It was 15.26 per cent on November 7. There has been a reduction of nearly 55 per cent since then. In the coming one-two weeks, it should further reduce and come under control, Jain said.

 

While a total of 50,670 tests for the detection of coronavirus cases were conducted on Sunday, the number of RT-PCR tests surpassed that of rapid antigen ones, according to a bulletin issued by the Delhi health department on Monday.

5:08 PM

Govt never spoke about vaccinating the entire country: Health Ministry

4:38 PM

On average 10,55,386 coronavirus tests conducted daily: Health Ministry

4:29 PM

Pfizer-BioNTech apply for EU emergency authorization for Covid-19 vaccine

Pfizer Inc and BioNTech have applied to the European drugs regulator for conditional authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine, following similar steps in the United States and Britain, the companies said on Tuesday. The application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) comes after the companies applied for U.S. approval on Nov. 20, taking them a step closer to launching their vaccine.

 

In their pursuit of a European launch, potentially this year, the partners are neck-and-neck with rival Moderna, which said on Monday it would ask the EU regulator to recommend conditional approval for its shot.

 

US drugmaker Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech reported final trial results on Nov. 18 that showed their vaccine candidate was 95% effective in preventing COVID-19, with no major safety concerns, raising the prospect of U.S. and European approval as early as December.

 

4:25 PM

Number of recoveries more than number of new Covid-19 cases: Health Ministry

3:57 PM

77.79% of new Covid-19 cases concentrated in 10 States and UTs: Health Ministry

3:36 PM

HC asks AAP govt about protocols for disposal of used Covid-19 test kits

The Delhi High Court Tuesday asked the AAP government as to what guidelines or protocols were in place for disposal of used COVID-19 testing kits and whether they were being followed by the hospitals, clinics and doctors under its jurisdiction. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan asked the Delhi government additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose and advocate Naman Jain to find out the guidelines or protocols in place, the authority which issued them and whether they were being implemented.

 

"Come with instructions," the bench said to the Delhi government counsels and listed the matter for hearing on December 3.

 

The direction came on a PIL by a lawyer alleging improper disposal of used swabs from Rapid Antigen testing for COVID-19 at the office of the District Magistrate (South East Delhi) at Lajpat Nagar.

 

The petitioner, Pankaj Mehta, has alleged that used swabs were being "thrown out in public" and "tests were being carried out over a pile of used swabs for COVID-19" at the DM's office.

3:11 PM

Serum says AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine safe, no co-relation with side-effects

Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, on Tuesday denied allegations that a COVID-19 trial volunteer suffered serious side effects from a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, saying that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic.

 

"We would want to assure everyone that the vaccine won't be released for mass use unless it is proven immunogenic, and safe," it said in a blog.

 

Last week, a volunteer in Chennai claimed to have suffered serious neurological and psychological symptoms after taking the experimental shot and has sued the company along with others and a sought compensation of Rs 5 crore.

 

"The incident with the Chennai volunteer though highly unfortunate was in no way induced by the vaccine and Serum Institute of India is sympathetic with the volunteer's medical condition," the Pune-based institute said. Serum is conducting trials of AstraZeneca's vaccine in India as part of a manufacturing agreement.

2:20 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Mizoram reports 22 new Covid-19 cases

As many as 22 new COVID-19 were reported in Mizoram in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the state to 3,847, the state Information and Public Relations Department informed on Tuesday.

 

The total figure includes 343 active cases and 3,499 recoveries. The state has witnessed five COVID-19 fatalities so far. With India reported 31,118 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, the tally has surged to 94,62,810, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

 

Of these, 4,35,603 are active cases, and 88,89,585 have recovered. With 482 new deaths, the cumulative toll mounted to 1,37,621.

1:56 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: India's Covid-19 recovery rate improves to 93.94%