Coronavirus cases in India: India had recorded a daily rise of 26,567 cases on December 8 (File)
India recorded less than 30,000 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the second time this month, which pushed its caseload to 97.96 lakh, while the total number of recoveries rose to 92.90 lakh, according to the Union health ministry data.
The total coronavirus cases mounted to 97,96,769 with 29,398 fresh infections, while the death count rose to 1,42,186 with 414 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
India had recorded a daily rise of 26,567 cases on December 8, PTI reported.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 92,90,834 on Friday, pushing the national recovery rate to 94.84 per cent. The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent.
The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 4 lakh for the fifth consecutive day.
Here are the updates on coronavirus (COVID-19) cases:
Coronavirus News: State Well Prepared For Possible 2nd Wave Of Pandemic, Says Karnataka Health Minister
Karnataka Health Minister, Dr KSudhakar, on Friday said hospitals are well prepared for COVID-19 treatment in case the second wave of pandemic arises. Speaking to news agency ANI, the minister said, "State is well prepared for the possible second wave of the pandemic. 10 district hospitals and 30 taluk hospitals have been provided with Rs. 37.72 crores for procuring oxygen generator and other types of equipment."
Coronavirus News: Noida Recorded 100 New COVID Cases On Friday, Tally Nears 24,000
Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded 100 new COVID-19 cases that pushed the district's infection tally to 23,938 on Friday, official data showed, reported news agency PTI. The number of active cases in the district came down to 899 from 937 the previous day, according to the data released by the UP Health Department for a 24-hour period. The active COVID-19 case count in Gautam Buddh Nagar is the fifth highest in the state. 138 patients were discharged during the period with the overall recoveries reaching 22,954, the fifth highest in the state.
Coronavirus News: Bihar Reports 618 New Covid Cases, 5 Deaths
Five more patients died due to COVID-19 in Bihar pushing the death count in the state to 1,312, while 618 new cases took the tally 2,42,151, a health department bulletin said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. Of the five deaths, Patna registered three deaths while Aurangabad and Bhojpur reported one death each, it said.
COVID-19 Live News: Hospitals Prepared If Second Wave Arises, Says Karnataka Health Minister
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar, on Friday said hospitals are well prepared for COVID-19 treatment in case the second wave of pandemic arises.
"State is well prepared for the possible second wave of the pandemic. 10 district hospitals and 30 taluk hospitals have been provided with Rs. 37.72 crores for procuring oxygen generator and other types of equipment," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Coronavirus Latest Updates: Chhattisgarh Reports 1,491 New COVID-19 Cases, 14 Deaths
Chhattisgarh reported 1,491 fresh COVID-19 cases, 14 more fatalities, raising infection count to 2,54,129 and number of deaths to 3,068 today. The number of active cases stands at 18,346, PTI reported quoting health official.
COVID-19 Live News: West Bengal Reports 2,753 New Cases, 2,873 Recoveries And 50 Deaths Today
Madhya Pradesh Reports 1,222 New COVID-19 Cases, 1,347 Recoveries And 9 Deaths
COVID-19 Updates: Himachal Pradesh Reports 651 New Cases, 770 Recoveries And 29 Deaths In The Last 24 Hours
Haryana Records 1,065 New Cases, 1,812 Recoveries And 23 Deaths In The Last 24 Hours
Coronavirus Latest News: Tamil Nadu Records 1,235 New COVID-19 Cases, Active Cases Decline
The active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu continued to decline with the number of people under treatment sliding to 10,299 on Friday, while the infection count inched toward the eight lakh mark.
The state added 1,235 fresh infections and 17 more deaths, taking the infection tally to 7,96,475 and the toll to 11,870, a health department bulletin said.
As many as 1,311 people got cured of the contagion with the total recoveries climbing to 7,74,306
COVID-19 Live Updates: Maharashtra Reports 4,268 New Cases, 2,774 Discharges And 87 Deaths
COVID-19 Latest Updates: Punjab Gears Up With Cold Chain Points For Coronavirus Vaccine
As Punjab gears up for the mega exercise with a total of 729 cold chain points, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday directed the Health Department to incorporate the results of the second sero survey in the strategy for Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, so that the high-risk population is covered first.
In a virtual meeting to review the covid situation in the state, the Chief Minister noted the state's readiness for the vaccine rollout in terms of database of priority lists, infrastructure for cold chain management, identification and training of vaccinators, etc.
Coronavirus Live News: Dharavi Records Four New Cases, Total Count Rises To 3,745
The number of COVID-19 cases in slum-dominated Dharavi area of Mumbai rose by four to reach 3,745 on Friday, a civic official said.
On Thursday, the area had added five cases.
Active cases stood at 15 with 3,419 people having recovered from the infection so far, the official said. The civic body does not publish the number of COVID-19 fatalities from the area.
COVID-19 Latest News: Karnataka Reports 1,210 New Cases, 1,807 Recoveries And 16 Deaths
Coronavirus Live News: Jammu And Kashmir Reports 434 New Cases, 422 Recoveries And 11 Deaths
COVID-19 Latest News: Uttarakhand Reports 725 New Cases, 508 Recoveries And 9 Deaths
Coronavirus Live Updates: Delhi Reports 2,385 New COVID-19 Cases, 60 Deaths
2,385 new COVID-19 cases take Delhi's tally to over 6.03 lakh, PTI reported quoting officials. The number of deaths rose to 9,934 with 60 more fatalities.
Coronavirus Latest Updates: Goa Records 104 New COVID-19 Cases, 130 Recoveries
The coronavirus caseload in Goa reached 49,235, after 104 persons tested positive for the infection on Friday, an official from the state health department said.
At least 130 patients were discharged from various hospitals, while no casualties were reported during the day, the official said.
With this, the number of recoveries in the state rose to 47,345 and the number of deaths stood at 703, he said.
Ahmedabad Civic Body Reduces Charges In Private Hospitals For Covid Treatment
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Friday reduced COVID-19 treatment charges in around 60 designated private hospitals by 10 to 20 per cent, officials said.
Under the agreement between AMC and private hospitals, some facilities can utilise 50 per cent of their beds to treat COVID-19 patients referred there by the civic body, while some facilities can use its entire bed capacity to treat "private quota" patients.
For hospitals having 50:50 quota arrangement, the AMC has announced a 10 per cent reduction for patients admitted on private quota, bringing down the daily charge for a general ward bed from Rs 9,000 to Rs 8.100, a release said.
The new daily charges will be Rs 16,200 and 19,600 instead of 18,050 and 21,850 for ICU without ventilator and ICU with ventilator respectively, it added.
Coronavirus Latest Updates: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma Tests Positive For COVID-19
Mandatory COVID-19 Testing For Tourists Visiting Nainital, Mussoorie: Uttarakhand High Court
Uttarakhand High Court has ordered mandatory COVID-19 testing for tourists visiting Nainital and Mussoorie, PTI reported.
COVID-19 LIVE News: 50% Drop In Home Isolation Cases In Last 15 Days In Delhi
The number of COVID-19 patients under home isolation in the national capital has steadily fallen to 11,541, registering a drop of 50 per cent in the last 15 days, according to official figures.
The number of containment zones, which had been rising in this period, also registered a marginal fall in its count to 6,430 on Thursday compared to 6,460 on Wednesday.
Coronavirus cases had spiralled since October 28 when 5,673 fresh cases were recorded and on November 8, the daily infection tally was 7,745. In this period, a staggering over 74,000 new cases had been reported.
COVID-19 Latest News: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Extends Night Curfew Till January 1
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered extension of night curfew and curbs on number of people at gatherings till January 1, 2021, with directives to the state police to ensure strict compliance, especially at marriage palaces, ANI reported quoting the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
24.19% Of Punjab Population Infected By Covid-19: Punjab Health Secretary Hussan Lal
Punjab Health Secretary Hussan Lal today informed a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, that a total of 24.19 per cent of Punjab's population has been infected by COVID-19, as per the second Sero Survey conducted in 12 districts of the state, ANI reported.
COVID-19 Live Updates: Andhra Pradesh Reports 520 New Cases In The Last 24 Hours
Coronavirus Latest News: 32 New COVID-19 Cases In Nagaland, Total Count Rises To 11,634
32 new coronavirus cases were reported in Nagaland today. The total number of cases in the state is now at 11,634, including 629 active cases and 10,812 recovered cases, ANI reported quoting Nagaland Health Minister.
Coronavirus LIVE News: COVID-19 tally in Andamans rises to 4,791 with eight new cases, PTI reported.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Telangana adds 612 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths push count to 1,485 in the state, PTI reported.
Thane district records 528 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths, PTI reported.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Nigeria's health minister warns on second wave of COVID-19
Nigeria's health minister has warned of a second wave in the coronavirus pandemic following a sudden rise in infections in the vast west African nation, his office said Thursday.
Osagie Ehanire said 1,843 cases were recorded last week compared with 1,235 two weeks ago, AFP reported.
"We may just be on the verge of a second wave of this pandemic," the minister said.
Coronavirus Latest News LIVE: Australia ends COVID-19 vaccine trials due to HIV antibody positives
Australia on Friday stopped the further development of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate as several participants in the early-stage trials generated antibodies for HIV after receiving the potential therapeutic.
There were no serious adverse events or safety concerns reported in the 216 participants of the phase 1 trial of the v451 COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by the University of of Queensland (UQ) in collaboration with biotech company CSL, according to a statement.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Kazakhstan reports 836 COVID-19 cases
Kazakhstan on Friday reported 836 new COVID-19 cases, taking its total caseload to 139,995, the country's Health Ministry said.
Among the new infections, 118 cases were recorded in the capital city of Nur-Sultan, the ministry said. To combat the case surge, city officials vowed to take more restrictive measures, ANI reported.
Coronavirus LIVE: Mongolia's COVID-19 cases top 900
Mongolia recorded seven new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total infections to 905, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Friday.
The latest new cases were locally transmitted, the NCCD said in a statement, ANI reported.
COVID-19 News: Australia reports 9 new COVID-19 cases
Australia reported nine new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the national total to 28,000, according to the latest data released by the Department of Health on Thursday.
Meanwhile, with no new death reported, the country's death count remains at 908, according to the department's data, ANI reported.
coronavirus news: Sanofi, GSK Covid Vaccine To Be Ready Only At The End Of 2021France's Sanofi and Britain's GSK said Friday their Covid-19 vaccines will not be ready until the end of 2021, after interim results showed a low immune response in older adults, AFP reported.
"Sanofi and GSK announce a delay in their adjuvanted recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine programme to improve immune response in older adults," a statement said, adding that the vaccine's potential availability had been pushed back "from mid-2021 to Q4 2021".
coronavirus news: Odisha is ready with logistics for COVID-19 vaccination, says Naveen Patnaik
Odisha government is fully prepared for COVID-19 vaccination in the state, and logistics system has been set up for its smooth conduct, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday.
"The vaccination process in the country is likely to start soon and for that complete database has been prepared in Odisha and a logistics system has been set up for smooth conduct of the Vaccination process," said Mr Patnaik during the review of COVID-19 situation in the state, as quoted by the state government's press release.
coronavirus news: Germany registers record 29,875 new COVID-19 cases over past day
Germany has confirmed 29,875 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours marking the largest daily increase since the start of the outbreak, with the total count reaching 1,272,078, the Robert Koch Institute said on Friday.
The death count has grown by 598 to 20,970 people within the same period of time. More than 942,000 people have recovered since the start of the outbreak, ANI reported.
coronavirus news: Singapore Approves COVID-19 Test Using Saliva From Inside Throat
Singapore has approved Advanced MedTech Holdings' COVID-19 kit for use in testing saliva from deep within the throat, the company said, as the country looks to ramp up testing to help re-open its borders and resume more economic activity.
The test is the first of its type to receive approval from Singapore's Health Sciences Authority, Advanced MedTech, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore state investor Temasek, said in a statement on Thursday.
coronavirus news: France reports 13,750 new COVID-19 cases, total tops 2.3 million
France reported on Thursday 13,750 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its tally to 2,337,966, according to the country's health authorities.
The health ministry confirmed 292 new fatalities from the virus over the past day, taking the national count to 56,940, ANI reported.
coronavirus news: First doses of Pfizer's Covid vaccine set to arrive in Canada in few days, says Justin Trudeau
The first 30,000 doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine are due to arrive in Canada in a matter of days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters.
"The first 30,000 doses are expected to arrive on Canadian soil in just a few days," Trudeau said on Thursday, a day after health regulators approved the country's first vaccine against the novel coronavirus, granting emergency authorization to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine candidate, ANI reported.
Covid news: Americans get stern holiday warning: 'No Christmas parties' due to COVID-19
A top coronavirus adviser to President-elect Joe Biden delivered a stern holiday message to Americans on Thursday - "no Christmas parties" - and warned they face a COVID-19 siege for weeks to come despite the latest moves toward U.S. government approval of a vaccine.
"The next three to six weeks at minimum ... are our COVID weeks," Dr. Michael Osterholm, a member of Biden's coronavirus advisory board, told CNN. "It won't end after that, but that is the period right now where we could have a surge upon a surge upon a surge."
Osterholm stressed that it would be several months before the nation sees widespread availability of vaccines, the first of which cleared a key U.S. regulatory hurdle on Thursday, Reuters reported.