Coronavirus News Updates: Covaxin displaying encouraging results in clinical trial, claims Bharat Biotech

41 fresh COVID-19 cases in UP’s Muzaffarnagar

Forty-one fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Muzaffarnagar, taking the number of active patients to 383 in the district on Wednesday, officials said.

According to DM Selvakumari J, 1,154 samples were received of which 41 tested positive while 77 recovered from the infection.

The total recoveries have gone up to 7,330 in the district with the latest discharges while the total cases now stands at 7,812.

Night curfew on 31 Dec in Rajasthan’s cities

The Rajasthan government has imposed a night curfew on 31 December in all cities having a population of over one lakh. The restrictions will remain in place from 8 pm on 31 December to 6 am on 1 January, according to an order issued by the home department. No New Year party will be organised on the occasion while bursting of firecrackers will be banned. According to the order, markets will be closed at 7 pm.

Health secretary reviews status of passengers from UK

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed the status of passengers coming from the UK to India and found positive in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa, Punjab, Gujarat and Kerala and their response measures in a meeting held through video-conferencing.

ICMR DG; health secretaries of states and union territories; NHM MD; Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health; Dr Sujeet Singh, Director, NCDC, and other senior health officials were also present in the meeting, a health ministry statement said.

The Standard Operating Procedure issued by the ministry on 22 December for Epidemiological Surveillance and Response in the context of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in the UK was discussed in detail in the meeting.

Covaxin shows encouraging results in clinical trials: Research paper

Covaxin, a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech, showed long-term antibody and T- cell (immune) memory responses three months after the shot in Phase 1 volunteers and tolerable safety outcomes in Phase 2 study, the city-based company has said, suggesting the antibodies may persist for six to 12 months.

In Phase 2, it also showed enhanced humoral and cell- mediated immune responses and the results were found in the safety and immunogenicity clinical trial of the vaccine candidate. Memory T cells are antigen-specific T cells that remain over a long term after an infection has been eliminated.

Covaxin, being developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology, is now undergoing Phase 3 trials.

Canada approves second COVID vaccine

Canada has approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by American biotech firm Moderna, the health department announced Wednesday, two weeks after authorising immunisations with the Pfizer/BioNTech shot.

The decision makes Canada the second country to greenlight the Moderna vaccine, after the US.

“Health Canada… has determined that the Moderna vaccine meets the department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements,” it said in a statement.

The authorisation is a “critical step,” the statement continued.

Britain announces travel curbs on South Africa

Britain on Wednesday introduced restrictions on travel from South Africa over the spread of another new variant of coronavirus, reported news agency AFP. UK Health Minister Matt Hancock said. “We’re placing immediate restrictions on travel from South Africa,” Hancock said, adding that two cases of the “highly concerning” new virus strain had been discovered in Britain.  According to _the BBC , b_oth people had travelled to South Africa, where the variant has been linked to a surge in cases. Persons with recent travel history to South Africa or those who came in contact with them have been asked to quarantine immediately, said the report.

No public gathering during Christmas and New Year in Gujarat

In view of COVID-19 pandemic,  public prayers or gatherings will not be allowed in Gujarat during Christmas and New Year, the state government said on Wednesday. At the same time, the government allowed local authorities to take a call on allowing celebrations at public places “in special cases”.

“In view of the coronavirus situation in the state, no religious public gatherings, rallies, prayers in public places or public procession will be allowed during Christmas and New Year,” a release quoted Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja as saying. If permission is granted in special cases, the
administration must ensure full compliance with COVID-19 related guidelines at such places and ensure that only a limited number of people attend such events," the release said.

PTI

Qatar starts vaccinating priority groups

Qatar began inoculating a prioritised group of citizens and residents against the coronavirus with the vaccine created by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. Qatar state-run media reported that several health centres across the tiny energy-rich country started providing the Pfizer vaccine free of charge on Wednesday to older adults, healthcare workers, people in nursing homes and those with underlying health conditions.  Authorities approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use earlier this week. The government has also signed a supply agreement with American drugmaker Moderna.

AP

Delhi HC directs AAP govt to frame SOPs for post-COVID complications

The Delhi High Court directed the AAP government to frame standard operating procedures (SOPs) to deal with post COVID-19 complications relating to the lungs and other vital organs in those who have recovered from the coronavirus infection. The high court further said that in view of the new coronavirus strain in the UK, from where a large number of people arrived before the Centre suspended the flights between the two countries, the Delhi government should “ensure prompt and adequate testing and follow up in respect of those found positive with all seriousness to avoid another spate of infection in the city”. The new strain can spread faster. The directions were issued by a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad while hearing a PIL by advocate Rakesh Malhotra seeking increase in the COVID-19 testing numbers in the national capital and getting speedy results.

PTI

NIV studying new coronavirus strain, says Tope

The Maharashtra health minister said there is no need to panic over the new strain of the novel coronavirus detected in the UK and the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) is studying the variant, which is said to be highly infectious.  Medicines being used currently for treating COVID-19 patients will be used against the new strain of coronavirus, he told reporters . Tope said the state government has taken a slew of measures like mandatory institutional quarantine for passengers returning from Britain and night curfew in cities to deal with the emerging situation.

PTI

Maharashtra health minister says 16,000 medical staff trained for vaccine drive

The Maharashtra government has completed the preliminary task of training 16,000 medical staff for mass vaccination against COVID-19 and a vaccine,
when it is made available, will be administered in two dosages, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.  “The ball is in the Centre’s court. Once approval is given, states will be allocated to the companies to distribute their vaccines,” the minister said adding that all requirements for the vaccine drive have been completed in the state. “They are ready to scale up the vaccination drive whenever the Centre permits. Cold chain required for transportation and storage of vaccine doses has been also put in place,” Tope said.

Workplaces requiring night operations allowed to operate with 50% staff in Karnataka

 According to the Karnataka government order imposing night curfew, while movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 11 pm to 5 am, except for essential activities. There shall be no restriction in movement of all types of goods through trucks, goods vehicles or any goods carriers, including empty vehicles. It said all industries/companies/organisations which require operations at night shall be permitted to operate with 50 percent staff, and movement of employees of such organisations shall be allowed on producing valid ID cards issued by their respective organisation/institution.

Infected people should also take COVID-19 vaccine, says Bharat Biotech chairman

People who are infected should also take a vaccine,and India is well prepared regarding the logistics for the vaccine distribution, Bharat Biotech Chairman and MD Krishna Ella said at a virtual session on ‘Sero surveillance significance in immunogenicity and safety in pre and post vaccination era’ organised by industry body CII. “For the people who are infected, should they take a vaccine, “the answer is yes”, because they may not have a good T-cells response…,” Ella said.  On the distribution of vaccines in India, he said India is well prepared and added that the Indian immunisation system is very robust, Ella said.

Maharashtra’s caseload climbs to 19,06,371

With 3,913 new COVID-19 cases Maharashtra’s coronavirus caseload increases to 19,06,371 and toll mounts to 48,969 with 93 fatalities, reports news agency PTI quoting a health official.

Kerala records 6,169 new cases, 22 deaths

 Kerala’s COVID-19 tally touched 7,21,510 on Wednesday with the addition of 6,169 new cases, while the toll rose to 2,892 with 22 deaths, reported news agency PTI. A total of 4,808 people recovered from the disease taking the total number of those cured from the disease to 6,55,644, state health minister K K Shailaja said.  Currently,62,802 patients are undergoing treatment for COVID-19 in the state. “Out of the total infected, 5,349 were cases of local transmission and the source of infection was unknown for 662. Of those diagnosed,98 arrived from outside the state.  Sixty health workers were among those infected,” she said
in a release.

11 passengers in four UK flights test positive in Delhi: reports

A total of 11 people, who travelled from the UK to Delhi in four flights, have tested positive for coronavirus, reported The Hindu , quoting Genestrings Lab which is conducting the mandatory RT-PCR tests for passengers at the Delhi airport. As per India Today , over 950 persons have been tested so far and the samples which tested positive have been sent to the NCDC for genome sequencing.

Toll in Uttar Pradesh rises to 8,245 with 22 deaths

With 22 fresh COVID-19 fatalities, the toll in the state rose to 8,245, while the tally climbed to 5,77,642 with 1,233 new COVID-19 cases reported in the state in the past 24 hours. In a statement, the Uttar Pradesh government said that of the 22 fresh COVID-19 deaths, four were reported from state capital Lucknow, three from Kanpur and two deaths were reported from Varanasi. Of the 1,233 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in the state, Lucknow registered 252 new cases. In the past 24 hours, 1,102 COVID-19 patients have been discharged. So far, 5,53,019 patients have recovered from the disease, and have been discharged in the state. The number of active COVID-19 cases in the state stands at 16,378, the statement said. 

PTI

Night curfew in Karnataka to be enforced from tomorrow

Night curfew (from 11 pm to 5 am) in Karnataka will be enforced from Thursday (24 December) instead of Wednesday, said the Chief Minister’s Office in a tweet. The night curfew will be enforced till 5 am on 2 January.  “During the night curfew, special rituals (Midnight Mass) can be held without interruption on the night of 24 December,” the CMO said in another tweet .

Puducherry LG urges Narayansamy to ban new year celebrations in UT

Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has objected to the Congress government’s decision allowing new year celebrations in the Union Territory next week, flagging concerns in view of the coronavirus pandemic and urged Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to ban the revelries, reported news agency PTI.  Bedi, in a letter to Narayanasamy, said as neighbouring Tamil Nadu has banned new year celebrations in public places, the UT will draw people from there and the good work done to contain the spread of COVID-19 spread was likely to be at peril.
    
In his reply, Narayanasamy said Puducherry was a “tourism state” where a lot of people’s livelihood depended on the industry and that curbing such festivities will ‘severely’ and asserted that the festivities will go on following all guidelines. He also asked Bedi to refrain from “interfering in the day to day administration” of the UT.

Andhra Pradesh record 379 fresh COVID-19 cases, three deaths

Andhra Pradesh reported 379  fresh cases of COVID-19, 490 recoveries and three deaths in 24 hours ending 9 am on Wednesday. The state’s COVID-19 tally now showed 8,79,718 total positives, 8,68,769 recoveries and 7,085 deaths so far. A health department bulletin said the number of active cases fell to 3,864.  So far, 1.14 crore sample tests have been completed that turned out an overall infection positivity rate of 7.71 percent.

PTI

Pfizer to supply another 100 million vaccine doses to US

Pfizer and BioNTech will supply an additional 100 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to the US under a new agreement, reported news agency The Associated Press. The drugmakers said on Wednesday that they expect to deliver all the doses by 31 July.  Pfizer already has a contract to supply the government with 100 million doses of its vaccine.

745 passengers quarantined after landing in Mumbai in two days

As many as 1,688 passengers arrived at the Mumbai international airport from the UK and other countries since Monday midnight and 745 of them were quarantined in the city, a civic official said on Wednesday. In the wake of detection of a new variant of coronavirus in the UK, a new Standard Operating Procedure has been issued for dealing with passengers arriving from Europe and the Middle-East. It could not be ascertained if any of these 745 passengers were found to have COVID-19 symptoms.

PTI

Annaathe shoot halted after four crew members test positive

The shooting for Rajinikanth’s Annaatthe has been postponed after four members from the film’s crew tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Sun Pictures, which is producing the film, tweeted the information adding that the 70-year-old actor and the rest of the crew have tested negative.

Announcement : During routine testing at #Annaathe shoot 4 crew members have tested positive for Covid19. Superstar @rajinikanth and other crew members have tested negative. To ensure utmost safety #Annaatthe shooting has been postponed.

— Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) December 23, 2020

Maharashtra to keep COVID-19 positive passengers from UK in institutional quarantine

Amid concerns over the new coronavirus strain, all passengers from the UK who test positive for COVID-19 will be kept under institutional quarantine, Maharashtra government official said on Wednesday. This is as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Centre, he said. The other passengers, who test negative, will be home quarantined along with daily updates by district surveillance officers, the official said.

PTI

Adityanath orders compulsory tests for foreign arrivals in UP between 25 Nov and 8 Dec

Amid concerns over a new, more infectious variant of the coronavirus detected in the United Kingdom, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday that those who came to the state from abroad between 25 November and 8 December should undergo tests for detection of COVID-19. Those who arrived in UP from abroad after December 9 must undergo RT-PCR test, he told officials at a review meeting. “We have to remain alert keeping in mind the new strain of coronavirus. All those who came to the state from abroad between 25 November and 8 December should be tested and compulsory RT-PCR test should be done for those coming after 9 December,” the chief minister was quoted as saying in a statement.

PTI

33 UK returnees asked to home quarantine in Indore

Amid growing concerns over the detection of a new coronavirus strain in the UK, the Madhya Pradesh health department has asked 33 people who returned to Indore from that country in the last 15 days to remain in home isolation,reports news agency PTI quoting an official. Indore district nodal officer for COVID-19 prevention, Amit Malakar, told PTI that health of these passengers was being closely monitored. The list of these passengers was received from the state government, he said.

“These 33 people had returned from the UK in the last fortnight. They have been told to keep themselves isolated in their homes for 15 days after their arrival in Indore,” he said. Malakar said, as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), samples of these 33 people were being tested by RT-PCR method.

Class 10, 12 board exams in West Bengal to be held in June, says education minister

Board examinations for class 10 and 12 will be held in June one after another, West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said on Wednesday. The class 10 (Madhyamik) exams will be held first and the class 12 (Ucchya Madhyamik) examinations after that, he said. The exams are usually held between February and March every year.

PTI

Maharashtra allows water sports, amusement parks to resume

 The Maharashtra government has  allowed water sports as well as activities like boating and entertainment/amusement parks to resume as part of phase-wise

easing of lockdown restrictions in the state. A government circular, dated 21 December, said all norms of social distancing and precautions to check the spread

of COVID-19 will have to be followed during these activities. It said water sports and other activities like boating will be allowed outside the COVID-19 containment zones. “Entertainment/amusement parks including indoor entertainment activities, tourist places will be allowed to function provided the same are outside containment zones,” the circular further said. The standard operating procedures for these activities will be issued by the departments concerned, it added.

PTI

Situation in Delhi under control, says Satyendar Jain

“Delhi situation is under control as of now with less than 1,000 cases being reported for the third successive day… the positivity rate has dropped to less than one percent which is the lowest in the last eight months. We will do everything to keep this situation under control,” said state health minister Satyendar Jain.

Delhi has fought difficult battles with COVID-19 and all efforts will be made to ensure that the gains made in the management of the pandemic are “not reversed” due to the new situation in the UK,  Jain had said on Tuesday.

PTI

People arriving from UK being rigorously traced, says Delhi health minister

 Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said people who have arrived in tha National Capital from the UK are being rigorously traced and tested for any COVID-19-like symptoms. Interacting with reporters, Jain said the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom was a prompt move by the Centre and will help in containing the spread of the new coronavirus strain detected in that country. “We are alert and watchful at our end. People who have arrived here from the UK in the last several days are being rigorously traced and tested for slightest of COVID-like symptoms,” Jain said. “A team has been made and house-to-house tracing is being done… they (UK returnees) are being advised self-isolation too,” he added.  

PTI

Avoid mass gatherings, advises Maharashtra COVID-19 task force head 

Talking to reporters,  Maharashtra COVID-19 task force head Dr Sanjay Oak also said mass gatherings were acting as COVID-19 super-spreaders and should

be avoided. He said there was a need to be careful, and that he feels people need to wear mask for next one year.

PTI

Vaccines developed earlier may not be 100% effective against new strain: Maharahstra COVID taskforce head

 In the wake of a new coronavirus strain detected in the UK, Maharashtra COVID-19 task force head Dr Sanjay Oak on Wednesday said vaccines currently

available in some countries may not be 100 percent effective against the new variant. Referring to the new COVID-19 variant detected in Britain, he said “a minor change in the mRNA has created a new strain of the coronavirus”. The vaccines which are in approval stage or have been approved in some countries were developed on the earlier strains of coronavirus, he said. “Even a minor change in the mutated COVID-19 strain could challenge the efficacy of the vaccines which are recently developed,” Oak said. The outer layer of the virus has spikes which look like a corona, hence the virus is called as coronavirus. “Even

a change in one spike could increase or decrease its severity,” the official said. “Because of the new strain, the currently available vaccines may not have 100 percent impact on the virus (variant),” he said.

PTI

Maharashtra authorises collectors to clamp night curfew

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday widened the scope of the night curfew, which was imposed in municipal limits on Tuesday amid growing concerns over the emergence of a new coronavirus strain in UK, authorising collectors to issue similar orders, subject to approval of chief secretary.

As a precautionary step amid growing concerns over the mutated COVID-19 variant, the state government clamped a curfew from 11 pm to 6 am in the limits of 27 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, from 22 December to 5 January.

“District collectors are authorised to impose a night curfew in their jurisdiction subject to approval from the state chief secretary,” the state government said in an order issued on Wednesday.

Total tests in India nearing 16.5 crore

India’s total tests conducted for detection of COVID-19 are nearing 16.5 crore, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday highlighting that an average of more than 10 lakh tests conducted daily has ensured that the cumulative positivity rate is sustained at low levels.

The share of COVID-19 active cases in the total infections has further shrunk to 2.86 per cent with 26 states and UTs having less than 10,000 active cases,the ministry said.

India’s tests per million population (TPM) are 1,19,035. Twenty-three states and UTs have better tests per million than the national average, the ministry said.

Companies hopeful of economic recovery in 2021

Sanitaryware makers to manufacturers of consumer durables remain optimistic about an economic revival in 2021 but cautious as the risk of COVID-19 pandemic still exists, officials said on Wednesday.

Many companies across sectors are looking to make their balance sheets strong after they have experienced market disruptions in the current calendar year due to the raging global coronavirus outbreak, they said.

“Firms ranging from tourism, food and beverage sectors to sanitaryware industry are focusing on the health and hygiene segment and strengthen their digital presence to overcome the challenges, the officials said, adding that the economic revival is expected in the second half of the next year,” they said.

– PTI

Recovery rate jumped to 95.69 percent, says Centre

Total number of COVID-19 recoveries stand at 9,663,382 and the recovery rate has also increased to 95.69 percent, said the health ministry on Wednesday. Moreover, 75.87 percent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states/UTs.

Tamil Nadu govt allows Jallikattu celebrations in 2021 with COVID-19 guidelines

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday allowed Jallikattu celebrations in the state amid the coronavirus disease. As per the advisory, the event will held with 50 percent audience.

While for participants, negative certificate for COVID-19 is mandatory.

COVID-19 reaches Antarctica as Chile’s navy confirms 58 cases at its military bases

The pandemic has finally reached every continent on Earth. Chilean authorities announced that at least 58 people that were at two military bases in Antarctica or on a navy ship that went to the continent tested positive for the new coronavirus.

So far no other country with a presence in Antarctica has publicly reported any other cases.

Rahul Gandhi asks PM about COVID-19 vaccinations, says ‘when will India’s turn come’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said 23 lakh people in the world had already received the COVID-19 vaccine and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi when India’s turn would come.

Taking to Twitter, the former Congress president also shared a ‘COVID-19 vaccinations’ chart showing China ahead followed by the United States, United Kingdom and Russia. “China, US, UK, Russia have started. India ka number kab ayegaa, Modi ji?,” Rahul tweeted.

23 lakh people in the world have already received Covid vaccinations.

China, US, UK, Russia have started...

India ka number kab ayegaa, Modi ji? pic.twitter.com/cSmT8laNfJ

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 23, 2020

Night curfew in Karnataka from today till 2 Jan: BS Yediyurappa 

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday announced that night curfew will be imposed in the state from tonight 10 pm to 6 am for nine days till 2 January.

“In view of the new strain of COVID-19 and as per the advise of Government of India and state’s COVID-19 technical advisory committee, it has been decided to impose night curfew from tonight 10 pm till 2 January,” said Yediyurappa.  “It will be applicable for the entire state.. I request all public to cooperate to prevent and contain the new COVID- 19 strain.”

Eminent Malayalam poet-activist Sugathakumari dies of COVID-19 complications

Acclaimed Malayalam poet and environmental activist Sugathakumari passed away Wednesday following COVID-19 complications at the Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. She was 86.

For the past one week, the Padma Shri awardee had been hospitalised with severe pneumonia after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

Delhi govt likely to scrap nursery admissions in 2021

Delhi government has considered scrapping nursery admissions for the academic session 2021-22. Sources said senior government officials have discussed the option, which will now be proposed to private schools. 

Meanwhile, Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia told The Indian Express that there was “very little possibility” of schools reopening before July.

“Even if we start vaccinating people by February, we will be able to vaccinate a sizeable chunk only by July. There is no possibility of reopening schools before that. We also have to look at how examinations will be conducted without putting teachers and students at risk,” he said.

Karnataka unlikely to postpone plan to reopen schools from 1 Jan 

The Karnataka government is unlikely to immediately change the plan to reopen schools from 1 January for some classes, The Hindu reported.

The state’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that met on Tuesday in the light of the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 emerging, has recommended that the government should wait and watch the situation for the next four weeks and then take a call.

WHO to convene meet on new virus variant

The World Health Organization (WHO) will convene a meeting of members to discuss strategies to counter a new, more infectious coronavirus strain that emerged in Britain, its European chief said on Tuesday. He did not give a date for the meeting.

“Limiting travel to contain spread is prudent until we have better info. Supply chains for essential goods & essential travel should remain possible,” WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge said on Twitter, urging increased preventive measures.

Awaiting COVID-19 vaccine arrival, Delhi hospital working on storage facility

From installing freezers to cold chain equipment set up, arrangements are being made at a Delhi government hospital for storage of COVID-19 vaccine, anticipating its arrival, sources said on Tuesday.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had recently said work was underway to build storage and transportation logistics so that once the vaccine arrives, the next process can begin soon.

The sources at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH), a dedicated COVID-19 facility with 650 beds, said a total of 90 freezers are to arrive, many of which have already arrived and being installed.

Bhutan announces 7-day nationwide lockdown 

Bhutan will go on lockdown for seven days starting from Tuesday amid rising case of COVID-19 cases, announced Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering.

In a statement, Tshering announced that a nationwide lockdown will be enforced for seven days, starting 23 December, adding that the lockdown will enable the government to control the spread of the disease and also discern the extent of transmission in the communities.

Active COVID-19 cases remain below 3 lakh for second consecutive day

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 96,63,382 pushing the national recovery rate to 95.69 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 percent.

The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh for the second consecutive day. There are 2,89,240 active cases of coronavirus infections in the country which comprise 2.86 percent of the total caseload, the data stated.

Thane reports 369 new COVID-19 cases, 8 more deaths

Thane has reported 369 new cases of COVID-19, raising the tally in the Maharashtra district to 2,39,776, an official said on Wednesday. The COVID-19 toll in the district has reached 5,892 as eight more patients succumbed to the viral infection, he said.

Currently, there are 4,266 active COVID-19 cases in the district, while 2,29,618 patients have recovered.

Peru surpasses one million confirmed COVID-19 cases 

Peru surpassed 1 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus, health officials said on Tuesday, as concerns about a potential second wave of infections began to grow in the hard-hit Andean nation.

The world’s No. 2 copper producer has recorded 1,000,153 total cases since the outbreak began in March, officials said, and 37,218 deaths, according to a daily briefing on the pandemic.

Jagannath temple in Puri reopens for devotees after 9 months

Odisha: Following all COVID-19 related protocols, Jagannath Temple in Puri reopens for devotees after nine months. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/jMS8OQzAtb

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

BBMP chief Manjunath Prasad tests COVID-19 positive

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Manjunath Prasad has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

A press release issued by the BBMP said Prasad is under quarantine. “The commissioner has requested those who came in contact with him during events and other programmes as well as media persons to undergo COVID-19 tests,” stated the release.

He is said to have fever and other mild symptoms. He has been admitted to Mallige Hospital in the city.

According to BBMP officials, Commissioner Manjunath Prasad had slight fever and related symptoms and has been admitted to Mallige Hospital in the city. @IndianExpress https://t.co/G3xjvXXOPG

— Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) December 23, 2020

Over 16.42 cr COVID-19 samples tested so far: ICMR

A total of 16,42,68,721 COVID-19 samples have been tested up to 22 December. Of these, 10,98,164 samples were tested on Tuesday alone, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

India reports 23,950 fresh COVID-19 cases

India reported 23,950 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus and 333 deaths in the past 24 hours, said the Union health ministry on Wednesday, as the country continued to witness a declining trend in average daily infections.

Preparations underway at Patna’s vaccine storage centre

Preparations at vaccine storage centre in Patna’s Nalanda Medical College and Hospital to handle COVID-19 vaccines are underway. “Around 35 lakh vials can be stored at the centre,” said Dr Vinod Kr Singh, NMCH Superintendent. 

Bihar: Preparations underway at vaccine storage centre in Patna's Nalanda Medical College & Hospital to handle #COVID19 vaccines.

"Around 35 lakh vials can be stored at the centre," said Dr Vinod Kr Singh, NMCH Superintendent. (22.12.2020) pic.twitter.com/Unn7IjYdk8

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2020

Delhi hospital working on arrangements for storage awaiting arrival of vaccine

From installing freezers to cold chain equipment set up, arrangements are being made at a Delhi government hospital in anticipation of storing COVID-19 vaccine, sources said on Tuesday.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain recently had said that work was underway to build storage and transportation logistics so that once the vaccine arrives, the next process can begin soon.

The sources at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH), a dedicated COVID-19 facility with 650 beds, said a total of 90 freezers are to arrive, many of which have already arrived and being installed.

South Korea sees spike in COVID-19 cases, deaths

South Korea has added another new 1,092 infections of the coronavirus in a resurgence that is erasing hard-won epidemiological gains and eroding public confidence in the government’s ability to handle the outbreak.

The figures released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Wednesday brought the national caseload to 52,550, with more than 13,130 cases added in the last two weeks alone.

Seventeen COVID-19 patients died in the past 24 hours, bringing the toll to 739 as concerns grow about a shortage in intensive care beds. At least 284 of the country’s 15,085 active patients were in serious or critical condition.

Trump threatens to torpedo COVID relief with new demands

President Donald Trump late Tuesday threatened to torpedo Congress’ massive pandemic relief package in the midst of a raging pandemic and deep economic uncertainty, suddenly demanding changes fellow Republicans have opposed.

Trump assailed the bipartisan $900 billion package in a video he tweeted out Tuesday night and suggested he may not sign it. He said the bill would deliver too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans.

The bill provides for a $600 payment to most Americans, but Trump said he is asking Congress to amend the bill and “increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple. I am also asking Congress to get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill.”

AstraZeneca vaccine will be effective against new coronavirus variant: Report

British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc has told Reuters that its COVID-19 vaccine should be effective against the new coronavirus variant, adding that studies were underway to fully probe the impact of the mutation.

“AZD1222 (AstraZeneca’s vaccine candidate) contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein, and the changes to the genetic code seen in this new viral strain do not appear to change the structure of the spike protein,” an AstraZeneca spokesperson said in an email.

India likely to approve Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine by next week: Report

India is likely to approve Oxford/AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency use by next week after its local manufacturer submitted additional data sought by authorities, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

This could be the first country to give the regulatory green light for the British drugmaker’s vaccine as the British medicine regulator continues to examine data from the trials.

New COVID-19 variant not found in India yet, says govt

There is no need to panic over the mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2 detected in the UK, the government said on Tuesday, asserting that no such variant or any significant mutation in the coronavirus strain has been seen in India yet.

NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul, during a press briefing, also said the mutated SARS-CoV-2 strain detected in the UK will have no impact on the potential of emerging vaccines which are being developed in India and other countries.

“As of now, based on our discussions, deep understanding of data available and our deep assessment, there is no need to panic but it is a cause to be more vigilant,” he said.

Paul said that “this new challenge, we have to counter with our comprehensive efforts”. “We will be safe if we suppress the genomic sequence,” he said.