Coronavirus: Gujarat’s tally crosses 2-lakh mark with 1,510 new infections

10.24 pm: Delhi’s tally rises to 5.40,541 with 6,224 new cases. The Capital’s toll climbs to 8,621 with 109 deaths.

10.11 pm: Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded 152 new Covid-19 cases and three more deaths, pushing the district’s tally to 21,801 and the toll to 80, reports PTI.

10.03 pm: Gujarat’s Covid-19 tally crosses the 2-lakh mark, after 1,510 new cases took the state’s total to 2,00,409, PTI reports. This is the second time in three days that the state has reported over 1,500 new cases in a day. The toll climbs to 3,892 with 16 more deaths reported in 24 hours.

10.01 pm: Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday said schools in rural areas of the state will reopen from December 1 for students of Class 6 onwards, PTI reports. Schools in urban areas will resume normal classes for students of Class 9 to Class 12, he said.

10.00 pm: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the number of Covid-19 cases in the state were showing a declining trend since the second week of October, reports PTI.

9.58 pm: Chandigarh reports two more coronavirus deaths and 79 new cases on Tuesday, pushing the Union Territory’s tally to 16,848, reports PTI. The toll stands at 265.

9.54 pm: New cases and deaths in more states/ Union Territories, according to ANI:

• Himachal Pradesh: 948 new cases, total rises to 35,729. The toll rises by 12 to 562.
• Manipur: With 290 new cases, the tally rises to 23,940. The toll rises by two to 240.
• Madhya Pradesh: 1,766 new cases, total climbs to 1,96,511. The toll rises by 11 to 3,183.

9.48 pm: In West Bengal, cases rise to 4,63,463, after 3,545 new Covid-19 infections were recorded in 24 hours, reports ANI. The toll rises by 49 to 8,121.

9.46 pm: With 939 new coronavirus cases, Mumbai’s tally rises to 2,77,446, reports PTI. The toll climbs to 10,706 with 19 deaths recorded in 24 hours.

8.48 pm: The Delhi High Court has asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to explain in an affidavit why spas were not being allowed to open even though other public places, like markets, gyms, restaurants, metro and buses have been operating in the city, reports PTI.

“Why? Why only spas,” Justice Navin Chawla asked. “What is so special about spas? You have opened everything else.”

8.44 pm: According to a new test strategy unveiled by the United Kingdom, international travellers coming to England will soon have the option to pay for a coronavirus test after five days of self-isolation to at least halve the current 14-day compulsory quarantine if they test negative, reports PTI. The new plans will come into effect from December 15 for passengers not currently exempt under the UK’s travel corridor rules.

8.41 pm: Maharashtra records 5,439 new coronavirus cases, taking the total count of infections to 17,89,800, reports PTI. With 30 more casualties, the toll rises to 46,683. A total of 4,086 patients were discharged in the day after treatment, taking the tally of recoveries in the state to 16,58,879. The number of active patients now stands at 83,221.

8.40 pm: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launches a door-to-door campaign to screen people for coronavirus symptoms, reports PTI. The chief minister says that not only Covid-19 symptomatic patients would be detected, but people with other ailments like tuberculosis, leprosy and high blood pressure would also be listed during the door-to-door campaign from November 25 to December 27.

8.35 pm: New cases and deaths in more states/ Union Territories, according to ANI:

• Punjab: 614 new cases, total rises to 1,47,665. With 22 deaths, the toll is at 4,653.
• Jammu and Kashmir: 431 new cases, total rises to 1,07,330. With 10 deaths, the toll is at 1,651.  
• Karnataka: 1,870 new cases, total rises to 8,76,425. With 17 deaths, the toll is at 11,695.
• Rajasthan: 3,314 new cases, total rises to 2,50,482. With 19 deaths, the toll is at 2,200.   

6.26 pm: The Centre has asked states to take steps to strengthen monitoring adverse effects of coronavirus vaccination, reports PTI.

In its letter dated November 18, the health ministry listed initiatives which it said are essential to further strengthen the existing adverse events following immunisation surveillance system of India. “I request that these initiatives are implemented at the earliest so that required changes take place well before the Covid-19 vaccine is introduced in the state and district,” the letter by Dr Manohar Agnani, additional secretary in the ministry, read.

6.22 pm: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan says about 30 vaccines are in different stages of development in India, reports ANI. “Two of them, Covaxin and Covishield, are in the most advanced stage of development,” he adds.

6.20 pm: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tells NDTV that there is no chance of opening schools any time soon in the national Capital due to the coronavirus pandemic. “No parent would want to send their children until they are assured that they will be safe,” Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said.

4.18 pm: Russian developers say that the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, reports AFP. The second interim analysis of clinical trial data showed a 91.4% efficacy for the vaccine on day 28 after the first dose, with its efficacy being over 95%. The calculations are based on preliminary data obtained 42 days after the first dose. The cost of one dose of the vaccine will be less than $10 (approximately Rs 740) for international markets, according to CNBC.

3.33 pm: The prime minister asks the states to submit their plans for vaccine distribution, ANI reports.

3.30 pm: Modi says that India’s situation is better than other countries, in terms of both the recovery rate and fatality rate. He emphasises on the expansion of testing and treatment networks.

3.27 pm: The prime minister tells the states that they must set up cold-storage facilities for the vaccine.

3.24 pm: Modi assures the chief ministers that the Centre is keeping a close watch on the development of vaccines and is in contact with Indian developers and manufacturers, along with global regulators.

3.21 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tells the chief ministers that the coronavirus positivity rate has to be brought below 5%, ANI reports.

2.12 pm: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar says the government has initiated measures for delivery, distribution and administration of the Covid-19 vaccine, whenever it arrives, as advised by the Centre, reports PTI. Sudhakar says the state task force on Covid-19 recently met and reviewed preparations made for vaccine storage and delivery.

2.06 pm: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tells Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the coronavirus situation in the state is being handled aptly, reports PTI. Modi is holding a review of the Covid-19 situation in various states through video conferencing with chief ministers.

1.43 pm: The Delhi High Court asks the Aam Aadmi Party government why it kept spas in the city closed but allowed markets, gyms and restaurants to resume services, PTI reports.

The court asked the question after the central government said it had permitted the reopening of spas through an order November 18.

1.32 pm: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray tells PM Modi that he is holding discussions about the vaccine with Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla ANI reported, citing his office. Thackeray adds that he had formed a task force for timely distribution of the vaccine.

1.29 pm: The Supreme Court asks the Centre to respond to a petition asking for the price of RT-PCR tests to be capped at Rs 400 across the country, ANI reports.

11.55 am: Odisha registered 642 new cases on Monday, which took its tally to 3,15,271, ANI reports. The toll stood at 1,671.

11.38 am: Kejriwal also requests Modi to reserve 1,000 more ICU beds in central government hospitals till Delhi’s third wave of coronavirus lasts, ANI reports, citing the chief minister’s office. He asks for the prime minister’s intervention in handling pollution.

11.34 am: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel attends the video meeting with Modi.

11.29 am: PM Modi’s meeting with the chief ministers begins, ANI reports. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tells Modi that Delhi saw its peak of 8,600 cases on November 10 and that the positivity rate and cases were steadily decreasing after that. He adds that third wave was more severe due to pollution and other factors.

9.31 am: The World Health Organization on Monday said that its experts would soon be able to travel to China to help investigate the origins of Covid-19, AFP reports.

“We fully expect and have reassurances from our Chinese government colleagues that the trip to the field... will be facilitated, and as soon as possible,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said at a press briefing. “We need to be able to have the international team join our Chinese colleagues... and look at the results and the outcomes of (their) studies and verify the data on the ground.”

9.28 am: National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah will be in self-isolation for another week, as a member of their household staff tested positive for Covid-19, PTI reports.

9.25 am: Policemen in Gurugram will now attend weddings to keep a check on violation of safety norms, The Tribune reports. They will also impose fines for the violation of rules.

9.20 am: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, meanwhile, directed officials to make preparations for vaccination drives, including setting up the cold chain by December 15, Hindustan Times reports.

9.17 am: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday reviewed the coronavirus situation in the state and noted that even the slightest carelessness could be dangerous, according to PTI.

9.08 am: India’s coronavirus tally rises to 91,77,840 as it reports 37,975 new cases in 24 hours. The toll rises by 480 to 1,34,218. India’s recovered cases stand at 86,04,955.

9.05 am: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal orders the immediate procurement of 1,200 BiPAP machines for new intensive care unit beds in the Capital, ANI reports. A BiPAP machine helps push air into patients’ lungs.

8.20 am: Several states have begun to tighten rules as the pandemic situation worsens. Even though the number of daily cases has remained below 50,000 for a few weeks, several cities have witnessed a surge in cases, leading to stricter restrictions.

The Himachal Pradesh government has imposed night curfew in Mandi, Shimla Kullu and Kangra, between November 24 and December 15. Only 50% class 3 and class 4 government employees will attend offices till December 31.

The Maharashtra government on Monday said that people coming from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa will be turned back if they have symptoms of the coronavirus. “The passengers without symptoms will be allowed entry,” the government said in an order. “Passengers with symptoms shall have the option of turning back and going to their home to recuperate.”

The Uttar Pradesh government revised its guidelines for public gatherings and limited the number of guests at wedding ceremonies to a maximum of 100. This is down from 200 guests, which the government had permitted on October 15, but with proper safety protocols.

Several areas in Gujarat are also facing night curfews.

8.15 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet the chief ministers of eight worst-hit states on Tuesday to review the coronavirus situation, NDTV reports. He is also expected to meet the chief ministers of all states and Union Territories later to talk about the delivery of vaccines.

The meetings are expected to begin around 10.30 am.

8.10 am: Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 5.91 crore people and killed 13,95,176, according to the Johns Hopkins University. More than 3.78 crore people have recovered from the infection.

8 am: Here are the top updates from Monday:

• India’s coronavirus tally rose to 91,39,865 on Monday morning as it reported 44,059 new cases in 24 hours. The toll rose by 511 to 1,33,738. As many as 85,62,641 people have recovered so far.
  
• Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca on Monday said that its coronavirus vaccine candidate showed an average efficacy of about 70%.
• After the announcement, Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla said a minimum of 100 million doses of the vaccine would be available by January.
• The Supreme Court on Monday directed the governments of Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Assam to submit status reports within two days on the coronavirus situation in their respective states. A three-judge bench of Justices RS Reddy, Ashok Bhushan and MR Shah was hearing a suo motu case on Covid-19 treatment and dignified handling of the dead, amid a surge in infections in multiple states. The court noted that the coronavirus situation in the country was likely to become worse and that all states must be prepared for it.
  
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman on Monday assured the industry that the momentum of economic reforms will continue to make India a hotspot of global investment.“India has turned the crisis created by Covid-19 pandemic into an opportunity to push the economic reforms, which remained pending for decades,” Sitharaman said.
  
• Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain says stubble burning made the coronavirus situation worse in the national Capital and contributed to increased deaths.
• The Delhi High Court on Monday asked Air India to consider paying at least one month’s salary to its contractual pilots, whose services were suspended in April and eventually terminated in August. The court told the airline that it cannot leave its employees to “hang high and dry”.
  
• Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi died on Monday. He was 86. Gogoi had been admitted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital since November 2 with post-Covid complications and was on non-invasive ventilation. He had tested positive for Covid-19 on August 25 and was discharged from the hospital on October 25.