Kerala recorded 5,516 fresh coronavirus infections on Tuesday.
India recorded 10,197 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, 15 per cent higher than the previous day when it had recorded 8,865 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 287 days.
At least 12,134 people recovered from the infection in a day while the country recorded 301 deaths in the last 24 hours.
The active coronavirus caseload stands at 1,28,555 - lowest in 527 days.
The daily positivity rate is 0.82 per cent, less than 2 per cent for the last 44 days while the weekly positivity rate is 0.96 per cent -- less than 2 per cent for last 54 days.
Here are the LIVE Updates on Coronavirus Cases In India:
Ladakh Reports 24 New COVID-19 CasesLadakh has recorded 24 fresh COVID-19 cases, raising its tally to 21,229, officials said on Wednesday.
The active cases in the union territory as of now stand at 197 -- 192 in Leh district and five in Kargil district, they said.
Ladakh has registered 211 Covid-related deaths -- 153 in Leh and 58 in Kargil -- since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.
Tamil Nadu Records 782 New COVID-19 Cases, 13 DeathsTamil Nadu on Wednesday recorded 782 new coronavirus cases and 13 deaths, as the declining trend of fresh infections and active ones in the state continued.
The active cases dropped to 9,211 from the 9,349 on Tuesday, according to a government bulletin.
Kerala Reports 6,849 New COVID-19 Cases, 61 DeathsKerala reported 6,849 new COVID-19 cases and 61 deaths in the past 24 hours, said a bulletin from the Kerala health department.
With 61 deaths, the death count touched 36,475.
Karnataka Reports 308 New Cases, 8 DeathsKarnataka logged 308 fresh COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Wednesday, taking the total number of infections to 29,92,584 and the count to 38,161.
The day also saw 384 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,46,985, a health department bulletin said.
Delhi Records 44 New COVID-19 Cases, Zero DeathDelhi recorded 44 new coronavirus cases and zero death while the positivity rate stood at 0.07 per cent, according to data shared by the health department on Wednesday.
Fifty five patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, it said.
The national capital has recorded four deaths due to the infection in November so far. Four people had succumbed to the viral disease in October and five in September.
Mumbai Reports 275 New COVID-19 Cases, 2 DeathsMumbai on Wednesday reported 275 new coronavirus cases and two fresh fatalities, taking the infection tally to 7,60,270 and the death count to 16,299, a civic official said.
The financial capital has witnessed a marginal rise in COVID-19 cases and fatalities from a day ago. On November 16, the city had reported 218 COVID-19 cases and only one fatality.
The official said the city is left with 2,821 active COVID-19 cases after 256 recovered patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours.
Actors Like Salman Khan Should Encourage Muslims For Covid Vaccination: Mumbai MayorExpressing concerns over "religious apprehensions among Muslims" on COVID-19 vaccination, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Wednesday hoped that celebrities like Salman Khan will help raise awareness among Muslims to get vaccinated.
"Whenever vaccination happened there were religious apprehensions in Muslims, which delayed it slightly. Hoping that Muslims will take jabs and actors like Salman Khan should encourage them," said Mumbai Mayor on the issue of the Muslim community not in favour of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
Germany's Covid "Dramatic", Says Angela Merkel, Urges Vaccine Sceptics Germany's coronavirus situation is dramatic, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday, calling for a push to distribute booster shots faster and appealing to those sceptical of vaccination to change their minds.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Robert Koch Institute reported that confirmed cases had increased by 52,826 as the pandemic's fourth wave tightened its grip on Europe.
"It is not too late to opt for a first vaccine shot," she told a congress of German city mayors. "Everyone who gets vaccinated protects himself and others. And if enough people get vaccinated that is the way out of the pandemic."
How COVID-19 Became A 'Boon' For Battered Bihar HospitalAt the height of the first COVID-19 wave in India last year, the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH) in Bhagalpur exemplified the sorry state of healthcare in most of the countryside.
Wards and ICUs were so swamped with patients and relatives that armed escorts went with doctors on their rounds, in case violence erupted. Doctors said when a second wave pummelled India this year, the government hospital with some 800 beds and meant to serve millions of people, barely pulled through.
But thanks to the misery the pandemic brought, JLNMCH is getting a new lease of life as authorities try to address chronic under-investment in health, especially in Bhagalpur's home state of Bihar where healthcare infrastructure is among the worst in the country.
The hospital has now set up its own oxygen generators that will meet nearly all its demand, hired dozens of new nurses, nearly doubled its ICU capacity, and linked hundreds of beds to piped oxygen for the first time in years. Its pink, badly-peeling exterior also might get a fresh coat of paint, the hospital superintendent said.
Number of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 surpasses those partially vaccinated
The number of fully vaccinated individuals against COVID-19 has surpassed the partially vaccinated eligible population for the first time in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. This feat has been made possible due to the prime minister's vision of 'Jan-Bhagidari' and "Whole of Government Approach", people's faith and confidence in the government, and the ongoing 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign which has seen a tremendous response from various parts of the country, Mr Mandaviya said.
100% Covid vaccination for eligible population by November 30
Himachal Pradesh has administered over one crore doses of Covid vaccine and the entire eligible population of the state will be vaccinated by November 30, said Chief Minister Jairam Thakur. It has become the first state in the country to achieve 100 per cent administration of the first dose COVID vaccine to its eligible population, Mr Thakur said.
Puducherry reports 25 new COVID-19 cases
Puducherry registered 25 fresh cases of coronavirus during last 24 hours, raising the overall caseload to 1,28,520. The new cases identified at the end of examination of 2,425 samples were spread over Puducherry 15, Karaikal 7, Yanam one and Mahe two. One more person died due to the infection in Puducherry taking the count to 1,867, Director of Health Department, G Sriramulu said the active cases were 317 and they comprised 92 patients in hospitals and the remaining 225 in home isolation.
Brazil to give all adults COVID-19 booster shots: ReportsAll Brazilians aged above 18 will be eligible to get booster shots against COVID-19, Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said Tuesday. "Thanks to the information we have from scientific studies, we have decided to extend the booster shot to everyone over 18 years of age who received the second dose five months ago," said Queiroga.
Prior to the announcement, only people aged over 60 or with a weakened immune system and healthcare workers were eligible to get booster shots.
Active COVID-19 cases in India decline to 1,28,555: Health Ministry
The active COVID-19 cases in India have declined to 1,28,555, the Union Health Ministry said.
COVID-19: Night curfew imposed in JammuA night curfew has been imposed in Jammu from Wednesday due to the rising COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate has increased beyond 0.2 per cent, informed District Magistrate Jammu Anshul Garg.
In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in Jammu, the district administration has imposed a Corona curfew under section 144 CRPC from 10:00 PM to 06:00 AM instead of 11:00 PM to 05:00 AM in the territorial jurisdiction of the district from Wednesday (November 17, 2021), he said.
Pfizer Allows Others To Make Its Covid Pill, 53% Of The World To Benefit
US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Tuesday announced a deal to make its prospective antiviral Covid-19 pill available more cheaply in the world's least wealthy countries.
Pfizer will sub-licence production of its promising Paxlovid pill to generic drug manufacturers for supply in 95 low- and middle-income nations covering around 53 percent of the world's population.
Under the deal struck with the global Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), Pfizer -- which also produces one of the most widely-used Covid vaccines with German lab BioNTech -- will not receive royalties from the generic manufacturers, making the treatment cheaper.
The agreement is subject to the oral antiviral medication passing ongoing trials and regulatory approval.