Coronavirus December 21 highlights: India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,00,55,560 with 24,337 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 96 lakh, according to Union health ministry data updated on Monday. The death toll increased to 1,45,810 with 333 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 96,06,111, pushing the national recovery rate to 95.53 percent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 percent, according to the data. The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 4 lakh for the 15th consecutive day. There are 3,03,639 active coronavirus cases in the country which comprise 3.02 percent of the total caseload, the data stated.
Dec 21, 2020
20:39
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: 772 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, seven deaths
Karnataka added 772 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, taking the total number of infections to 9,10,241 and the toll to 12,016, the health department said on Monday. The day also saw 1,261 patients getting discharged after recovery, leaving 14,001 active cases.
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Dec 21, 2020
20:27
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Gujarat reports 960 COVID-19 cases, 1,268 recoveries; 7 die
Gujarat recorded 960 new coronavirus cases on Monday, taking its tally to 2,36,259, the state health department said. The state has recorded the daily COVID19 cases in three digits after a gap of over one month.
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Dec 21, 2020
20:24
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Maha sees 6,053 recoveries against 2,234 new cases
Maharashtra on Monday reported 2,234 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the count of infections to 18,99,352, the state health department said. With 55 more people succumbing to the viral disease, the overall death toll in the state mounted to 48,801, it said.
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Dec 21, 2020
20:21
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Muzaffarnagar's COVID-19 tally rises to 7,752 with 53 fresh cases
The COVID-19 caseload in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district climbed to 7,752 on Monday as 53 fresh infections were recorded, a senior official said. The number of active cases in the district now stands at 439.
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Dec 21, 2020
19:40
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: EMA conditionally okays the coronavirus vaccine made by BioNTech and Pfizer
European Medicines Agency recommends conditional OK to coronavirus vaccine made by BioNTech and Pfizer.
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Dec 21, 2020
19:28
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Our focus is on getting the right vaccine, says Dr Jayaprakash Muliyil
India's leading epidemiologist Dr Jayaprakash Muliyil & Dr John Nicholls, who helped isolate the SARS virus in 2003, spoke to CNBC-TV18 on the new COVID-19 strain. Dr Muliyil said India is in a much more comfortable position as far as the vaccine is concerned. According to him, the focus should be on getting the right vaccine. He said there is no urgency to get the vaccine in India as the virus is coming down. India's mortality rate has gone down in India the last few days, and a backlash in terms of a wrong vaccine could be very dangerous, he added. Mutations need to be observed, and they are expected in the case of viruses. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the mutated virus is dangerous, Dr Muliyil added. The current mutation has only increased the transmissibility of the virus, making it more contagious than before. Vaccine development is an effort that goes on for years, he said.
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Dec 21, 2020
19:17
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Dr John Nicholls to CNBC-TV18 on the discovery of new coronavirus strain
Hours after the UK reported a new coronavirus strain in some of its patients, the world began announcing travel restrictions with the country. And while people are worried about whether or not vaccines will be effective against this strain, Epidemiologist Dr Nicholls told CNBC-TV18 that vaccines could be tweaked a little to be effective on mutations. He added that he is not much worried about vaccine progress in the light of recent developments. "Public access to media is far greater today than ever, which is why we need to differentiate between what's new and what's true," he said. According to reports, the new strain is much more contagious than the existing ones; however, experts have assured that they are limited to South East England. Experts have also confirmed that the new strain is not deadlier than the existing one.
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Dec 21, 2020
19:11
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Vaccines can be tweaked a little to be effective on mutation, says Dr John Nicholls
Public access to media is far greater today. Need to differentiate between what’s new and what’s true, says Professor John Nicholls pic.twitter.com/p4NmD0yTKQ
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Abundant caution to stop flights to stop the entry of this virus variant, says John Nicholls
Epidemiologist Dr John Nicholls, who helped isolate the SARS virus in 2003, spoke to CNBC-TV18 on the new virus strain discovered in the UK. He said that he had seen evidence that these mutations may affect the transmissibility. The new coronavirus strain is more contagious than the previous one. However, he added that more studies would further highlight the impact of the mutation on the virus. In light of this discovery, countries around the world have started announcing travel bans with the UK. India, too banned flights to and from the UK till December 31. Dr Nicholls backed countries' decision of flight restrictions.
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Dec 21, 2020
18:42
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Maharashtra announces curfew from 11 PM To 6 AM till January 5
Maharashtra government has imposed a night curfew in Mumbai and major cities from 11 PM to 6 AM till January 5. The curfew has been imposed in the light of situation in the UK. UK discovered a new strain of coronavirus, which is more contagious than the existing one. The new strain has already caused new restrictions in the UK, while the rest of the world is announcing travel restrictions with the UK. India has also banned flights from UK till December 31. However, virologists have said that even though the new coronavirus strain is more contagious, it is not more deadlier.
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Dec 21, 2020
18:38
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Don't think the new virus mutation have traveled out of the UK, Prof. Polly Roy to CNBC-TV18
India's leading virologist, Prof. Polly Roy told CNBC-TV in an interview on Monday that she has studied the mutation only in South East England. She said she doesn't think the mutation has traveled outside of UK. On Monday some reports emerged about a new coronavirus strain that can spread faster than the current strain. The new strain has already caused new restrictions in the UK, while the rest of the world is announcing travel restrictions. India has also banned flights from UK till December 31 over new coronavirus strains. However, Prof. Roy clarified that neither antibodies nor vaccination are likely to be different.
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Dec 21, 2020
18:14
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Investor wealth tumbles Rs 6.59 lakh cr as new COVID-19 strain jolts markets
Investor wealth eroded by Rs 6.59 lakh crore on Monday as equities tanked after the UK reported a new strain of the COVID-19 virus. The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 1,406.73 points or 3 per cent to close at 45,553.96. The benchmark hit an all-time high of 47,055.69 during the session. Following the sharp selling, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms plummeted by Rs 6,59,313.65 crore to Rs 1,78,79,323.05 crore. "Brutal bloodbath witnessed in today's session after a new coronavirus strain was found in Britain. Market extended losses in late afternoon session, tracking sell-off in the European markets amid concern of fresh travelling lockdown restrictions across countries. "Uncertainties over the Brexit deal also dented the investors' sentiments," said Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director, Choice Broking. Global markets were knocked off highs after the UK government reported a new strain of the coronavirus that was up to 70 per cent more contagious. The UK imposed a fresh lockdown in London and southeast England, warning that the potent new strain of the COVID-19 virus was "out of control".
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Dec 21, 2020
17:36
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: President Kovind praises KGMU for its leading role in battling COVID-19
Lucknow's King George's Medical University (KGMU) on Monday came in for the fulsome praise from President Ram Nath Kovind, who said public hospitals like it have played a leading role in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. President Kovind praised Lucknow's prestigious hospital during his address to its 16th convocation. "Public hospitals such as King George's Medical University have played a leading role in the fight against Covid-19. Due to their efforts, millions of countrymen are able to face the challenges of Covid-19 despite conditions like dense population and limited income," the President said. The President specially thanked doctors, nurses, and other health workers of public health institutions like KGMU who have been the frontline warriors battling the pandemic.
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Dec 21, 2020
16:22
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Ladakh records nine new COVID cases
Nine fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Ladakh where 78 patients recovered from the infection during the past 24 hours, bringing down the number of active cases in the union territory to 355, officials said on Monday. Ladakh had recorded a total of 9,279 virus caseload since the outbreak of the pandemic in March, out of which 124 patients, including 81 in Leh and 43 in Kargil, have succumbed to the infection. All the nine new cases surfaced in Leh district, which had of late witnessed a surge in the positive cases, the officials said. With the recovery of 71 patients in Leh and seven in Kargil on Sunday, the recovery figure had gone up to 8,800, which is 95 per cent of the total cases, they said.
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Dec 21, 2020
16:07
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: New, more contagious coronavirus strain in UK does not appear to be deadlier, says Vivek Murthy
Indian-American physician Vivek Murthy, US President-elect Joe Biden's pick for Surgeon General, has said there is no evidence to suggest that a new and more contagious coronavirus variant reported in the UK is any deadlier. Murthy, 43, said that there was no reason to believe that the coronavirus vaccines that have already been developed would not be effective against the new strain as well. "We do not have evidence yet that this is a more deadly virus to an individual who acquires it," Murthy told NBC News on Sunday. The bottom line is if you're at home and you're hearing this news, it does not change what we do in terms of precautions as individuals that can reduce the spread of this virus. It turns out that masking, that keeping physical distance, washing our hands - these are still the pillars of preventing COVID transmission, he added.
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Dec 21, 2020
16:00
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Health secy writes to Aviation secy on new strain of COVID, mandates seven-day isolation period
Any interjection of COVID variant=19 virus via passengers with air travel history could pose critical risks
Seven-day isolation advisable for arriving Passengers from UK who test negative in RT-PCR
Institutional quarantine or isolation for arriving Passengers from UK who test positive in RT-PCR
Alert- RT-PCR tests for all passengers Arriving from the UK in transit flights by Dec 22
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Dec 21, 2020
15:43
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: For hospitality and tourism sector, 2021 is all about survival, recovery
As the uninvited guest coronavirus pandemic checked in, India's hospitality and tourism sector suffered three quarters of economic wipeout estimated to be up to Rs 15 lakh crore, and the industry is desperately looking forward to government support to survive and recover in 2021. With business coming almost to a standstill, the travel and tourism industry players want the government to provide targeted support to the sector till vaccinebased confidence comes, to help them meet their operating costs and retain jobs.
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Dec 21, 2020
15:27
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: UK holds crisis talks as France closes border on virus fears
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee later Monday after France closed its borders to the U.K. to stem the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus circulating in London and the southeast of England.
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Dec 21, 2020
15:12
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: India bans flights from UK till Dec 31 effective tomorrow night
India bans flights originating from UK until Dec 31. This suspension will start w.e.f. 23.59 hours, December 22, 2020.
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Dec 21, 2020
15:03
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: New COVID-19 strain inflicts pain on global stocks, sterling, threatens more volatility
European shares fell 2% on Monday, the dollar strengthened and market volatility surged amid growing unease over the economic impact of a new coronavirus strain in Britain which has seen several European countries shut their borders to the UK.
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Dec 21, 2020
14:45
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Sydneysiders race for drive-through COVID tests as outbreak looms over Christmas
With Sydney's beachside suburbs in lockdown due to a growing coronavirus outbreak, residents of Australia's largest city flocked in record numbers to get tested for COVID19, hoping to hold back tougher restrictions over Christmas.
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Dec 21, 2020
14:32
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Australia's most populous state says COVID-19 cases at three-day low
Australia's most populous state on Monday reported its lowest oneday rise in new COVID19 cases in three days, stoking cautious optimism that authorities have contained an outbreak in Sydney's northern beachside suburbs.
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Dec 21, 2020
14:19
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: EU regulator meets to discuss approval of COVID-19 vaccine
The European Medicines Agency is meeting Monday to consider approving a coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer that would be the first to be authorized for use in the European Union.
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Dec 21, 2020
14:08
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Rajasthan CM asks Centre to ban all flights from UK, other European countries
Expressing concern over the new coronavirus strain in the UK, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday asked the Centre to take prompt action, prepare a contingency plan and immediately ban all flights from the UK and other European countries. In a tweet, Gehlot said India was late in banning international flights when COVID19 had started spreading, leading to a drastic spike in cases in the country. "The new strain of novel coronavirus emerging in the UK is a matter of great concern. GoI must take prompt action, prepare a contingency plan to contain the same & also immediately ban all flights from the UK & other European countries," he tweeted.
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Dec 21, 2020
13:52
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Govt alert, no need to panic: Vardhan on new coronavirus strain in UK
The government is alert and there is no need to panic, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday amid concerns over the new coronavirus strain in the UK. He said the government had done everything that was important to handle the COVID19 situation in the last one year. Responding to a question on the panic over the new strain and a demand to ban flights from the UK, Vardhan told reporters, "Iwould say this to all that all these imaginary situations, imaginary talks, imaginary panic... don't involve yourself in this." "The government is fully conscious about everything. If you ask me, there is no reason to panic the way we are seeing in this press conference," the minister added.
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Dec 21, 2020
13:40
Coronavirus News LIVE updates: Kenyan doctors go on strike protesting inadequate benefits, PPE
Kenyan doctors working in government hospitals began a countrywide strike on Monday over inadequate insurance benefits and lack of protective equipment while treating COVID19 patients, their union said.
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Dec 21, 2020
13:30
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: Housing sales to fall 47% in 2020 across 7 top cities due to COVID-19, says report
Housing sales across seven major cities are estimated to fall 47 per cent year-on-year to 1.38 lakh units this year on lower demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to property consultant Anarock. New housing supply, too, is likely to fall 46 per cent to 1.28 lakh units in 2020 in seven cities -- Delhi-NCR, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Releasing its data 10 days before the end of this year, Anaraock said the total home sales in seven cities are estimated at over 1.38 lakh units in 2020 against 2.61 lakh units in 2019. New housing supply in 2020 declined to 1.28 lakh units this year from about 2.37 lakh during 2019.
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Dec 21, 2020
13:12
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: New strain of COVID-19: Kejriwal asks Centre to ban all flights from UK
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday demanded that the Centre ban all flights from the UK immediately in view of the emergence of a mutated variant of the coronavirus there. The Union Health Ministry has called an urgent meeting of its Joint Monitoring Group on Monday to discuss the emergence of the new strain in the UK, which has led to a surge in the infection rate there. "New mutation of coronavirus has emerged in the UK, which is a super-spreader. I urge the central govt to ban all flights from the UK immediately," Kejriwal tweeted. A number of European countries have banned flights from the UK as the British government warned that the potent new strain of the virus was "out of control" and imposed a stringent new stay-at-home lockdown from Sunday.
Coronavirus News LIVE Updates: 2 new COVID-19 cases in Mizoram
Two more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram on Monday, taking the state's tally to 4,124, an official said. The two cases were detected at Lunglei and Saitual district hospitals, the official said. Both the patients have travel history and they are asymptomatic, he said. Mizoram now has 154 active COVID-19 cases, of which Aizawl district has 65, Lunglei (38), Lawngtlai (29), Serchhip (7), Kolasib (8), Champhai (4), Saitual (2) and Hnahthial (1) active case. Six more patients were discharged from COVID-19 Care Centres, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 3,963, he said. Mizoram has so far reported seven COVID-19 deaths.
