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Covid-19 update: 32,981 new cases take India’s tally to 96.77 lakh

By
Shivani Negi
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India has reported new 32,981 confirmed covid-19 cases in last 24-hour, taking the total over 96.77 lakh. With 391 fresh fatalities, the total deaths have crossed 3,96,729. As on date, the total cases stand at 96,77,203.

The total recoveries have crossed 91,39,901 with 39,109 more people being discharged in last 24 hours, pushing the recovery rat to 94.45 per cent. Meanwhile the fatality rate has further dropped to 1.45 per cent.

A total number of 14,77,87,656 samples have been tested so far since the onset of pandemic. Of these, 8,01,081 samples were tested on Sunday, said Indian Council of Medical Research.

Maharashtra has continued to be the worst-hit state by the pandemic in the country with 18,52,266 cases till date.

Here’re some more updates related to the pandemic:

*Telangana logged in 517 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths on Sunday, the state’s bulletin said on Monday. The state’s overall tally currently stands at  2,73,858, out of which 7,778 are active cases, reported ANI. 

*Odisha recorded 368 new coronavirus cases, 570 recoveries and 7 deaths yesterday, as per State Health Department

*Drug maker Serum Institute of India (SII) today said it has applied to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine Covishield.

*The Covid-19 fatality toll in Italy has surpassed the grim milestone of 60,000 with 564 patients died over the past 24 hours, the country’s health ministry said. A total of 60,078 people have died in Italy due to the covid-19.

*Researchers revealed that Covid-19 has led to a decrease in hospital-wide Hepatitis C (HCV) testing by 50 per cent, and a reduction in new HCV diagnoses by more than 60 per cent.

*Television actor Divya Bhatnagar died due to covid-19 on Monday. She was admitted to a hospital in Goreagon and was on ventilator.

Meanwhile, the overall global caseload and death toll due to covid-19 stands at 6,70,09,962 and 15,35,107, respectively. The US remained the worst-hit with 1,47,50,316 cases and 2,82,236 deaths. India in in the second spot in terms of number of cases contracted so far.

‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ actor Divya Bhatnagar passes away due to covid-19

By
Shivani Negi
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Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor Dibya Bhatnagar has passed away in the early hours of Monday while fighting covid-19 complications. According to several media reports, Divya had tested positive for covid-19 in the last week of November and was admitted to SRV Hospital Goregaon due to the same. She was in a critical state and was put on ventilator.

Television actor Devoleena Bhattacharjee confirmed the news and penned down an emotional post for the late actress on Instagram.

While sharing a picture with Divya, Devleena wrote, “Jab koi kisi k saath nahi hota tha toh bas tu hi hoti this… Divu tu hi toh meri apni thi jisse main daant sakti this, ruth sakti this, dil ki baat keh sakti thi… I know life was too hard on you..the pain is intolerable…but I know today you must be in a better place and free from all the sorrows, pains, sadness, cheats, lies…I will miss you divu and tu bhi jaanti thi I loved you and cared for you… Badi tu thi par bacchi bhi tu hi thi…God bless your soul. Jahan bhi hai tu abhi bas khush reh.You will be missed & remembered. I love you @divyabhatnagarofficial. Too soon to be gone, my friend… Om Shanti,”

Actress Shilpa Shirodkar also paid tribute to Divya’s and shared a picture along with her on Instagram . She wrote, “I’m so so so heartbroken. RIP my dearest Divya.”

Divya was earlier in news for her complicated marital status. Her mother had accuses her husband Gagan, an artiste manager, of fraud while the latter had claimed that Divya’s family is defaming him because they are against their marriage.

Meanwhile, earlier talking about Divya’s health, her mother had told ETimes, “Divya had a temperature since the last six days. She was feeling very uneasy. I came down from Delhi and got an oximeter home. We checked her oxygen levels, they had dropped to 71. She is on a ventilator now, her oxygen level is about 84, and her condition is critical. The reports have just come and she has tested positive for COVID.”

Mysterious disease breaks out in Andhra; 1 dead, 350 infected

By
Shivani Negi
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Amid the already existing fear of covid-19 infection, a new mysterious ailment has entered Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru town. According to latest reports that are coming in, at least
350 people have been infected with the unknown disease while one person has died.

The patient who died was reportedly undergoing treatment at Eluru government hospital. Meanwhile, local health authorities remain clueless about what may have led to the onset of the disease that has now infected hundreds of people.

As many as as 76 new people were infected with mysterious disease on Sunday alone. As on date, 186 people have been discharged while 164 are still undergoing treatment, reported India Today.

As the situation remains far from being controlled, the administration has declared a holiday in educational institute across Eluru. Different samples of milk and food are being tested to find the root cause that may have caused the disease.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will leave for Eluru today and visit the sick patients at the hospital. The Andhra CM is also expected to hold a meeting with district officials.

“We are watching the health condition of patients who fell sick at Eluru. Two kids admitted at the old government hospital in Vijaywada are doing well. We are waiting for test reports. In my 25 years of service, I have never seen such cases,” TOI quoted Dr Suhasini, DM & HO, Krishna as saying.

Meanwhile, doctors have said that all the patients tested negative for covid-19. To provide fast track services, a 24×7 control room has been set up in the Eluru Municipal Corporation office.

Joint Collector Himanshu Shukla said call centers have been set up at the Eluru municipal office and residents may call over phone numbers — 9154565529 and 9154592617– in case of any emergency.

“GGH superintendent A.V.R. Mohan and district coordinator of hospital services Dr. Mohan Rao are monitoring the situation round the clock,” said Mr. Shukla.

Deadlock between Farmers and government increases as Truckers and Taxi association calls for strike

By
Harshit
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The deadlock between the farmers and the central government has not been broken yet. All eyes now on the next round of talks on December 9th. The Farmers Union had called for a Bharat Bandh on December 8th.

Agitating farmers continue to camp at Delhi borders and as of now seven borders of national capital have been closed. The truckers and Taxi association has also called for strike in North India.

The protesters are getting continuous support from the opposition parties. Earlier today Telangana Chief Minister KCR has extended his support to the farmers and said that TRS leaders will be involved in Bharat Bandh on December 8th.

Kailash Vijayvargiya set for West Bengal polls, says CAA to be implemented from January

By
Harshit
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Kailash Vijayvargiya,

Senior BJP leader and West Bengal state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya have said that the Citizenship Amendment Act is likely to be implemented in the nation from January 2021.

The central government is keen on granting citizenship to the large numbers of the refugee population in West Bengal before the 2021 state assembly polls.

Vijayvargiya targeted the Trinamool Congress for not being sympathetic towards the refugees coming from the neighboring country.

Meanwhile, reacting to Vijayvargiya’s remark senior TMC leader and state minister Farid Hakim alleged that the BJP is trying to fool the people of West Bengal by making such a remark before the election.

Kerala Chief Minister writes to centre over Golwalkar row

By
Harshit
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Kerala CM, Golwalkar row,

A controversy has broken out after Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan announced the second campus of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) in Thiruvananthapuram will be renamed after RSS ideologue MS Golwalkar.

After the announcement the opposition raised objection.

Later the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinayari Vijayan had also written to Dr. Harsh Vardhan to reconsider his decision of naming the campus after RSS ideologue.

“The RGCB which was initially run by the state government and was handed over to the Government of India with the aim of developing it into a centre achieving the international standards in research and development. Keeping this in view, the government of Kerala is of the opinion that the campus be named after some eminent Indian scientist of international repute instead of the proposed name [sic],” Pinarayi urged in the letter.

Britain set to roll out COVID vaccine on Tuesday

By
Harshit
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UK vaccine, UK COVID vaccine,

Britain is preparing to become the first country in the world to roll out the PFIZER/BIONTech COVID-19 vaccine this week.

The first doses are set to be administered on Tuesday, with the National Health Service giving top priority to vaccinating the senior citizens and healthcare workers.

Britain gave emergency use approval for the PFIZER vaccine last week, jumping ahead in global race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation programme in history. Till now Britain has ordered 40 million doses out of which about 800 thousand doses are expected to be available in the first week itself.

According to the Britain Health Ministry initial doses that have arrived from Belgium are being stored in secure locations across the country, where they will be quality checked.

Pandya, Natrajan powers India to 6-wicket victory against Australia

By
Harshit
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India won the second T20 international against Australia 6 wickets. Australia batted first and set a massive target of 195 in front of the visitors.

Australian captain Aaron Finch was out of the game due to injury and in his absence the Australian team management had banked on Mathew Wade for the captaincy role. Captain Wade was playing his first match of the series and scored a quickfire 58 runs while opening the batting for the team.

Indian openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan gave a good start to the team with 56 runs opening stand. Dhawan went on scoring a half-century and later the heroics of Hardik Pandya and Indian captain Virat Kohli led India to win the match. As of now India won the three match t20i series with 2-0. The last match will be played on 8th December.

“I will return Khel Ratna if protesting farmers demands not met” Vijendra Singh 

By
Jyoti B
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Boxer Vijender Singh has joined the farmers’ agitation at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border). The farmers’ protest at the Singhu border, against Central Government’s Farm laws, entered 11th day today. Addressing the farmers, Vijender Singh said, he will return Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

Addressing a gathering of protestors, Singh said, “I came here today as our big brother Punjab is here, so how can people of Haryana lag behind. If the government doesn’t withdraw the black laws, I will return my Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award–the highest sporting honour of the nation.”

“The farmers’ unity was always there before it will also remain in the future,” he added.

“Enough is enough, if the government does not listen to the demands of the farmers, then I have decided that as a show of solidarity, I will return my Khel Ratna,” Vijender later told PTI.

“I come from a family of farmers and Army men, I can understand their pain and anxiety. It is high time that government pays heed to their demands,” added the celebrated boxer, whose brother has served in the Army.

Singh had shot to limelight in 2008 when he won the Bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics. The Indian boxer has also grabbed Bronze medals at the 2009 World Championship and 2010 Commonwealth Games. In 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, Singh won the second prize bagging the Silver medal. In 2010, he was also honoured with the Padma Shri – India’s fourth-highest civilian award.

Apart from Vijender Singh, former captain of the Indian hockey team and two-time Olympian Pargat Singh also decided to return the Padma Shri award he received in 1998. Arjuna awardees Sajjan Singh Cheema and Rajbir Kaur, Padma Shree awardee Kartar Singh, Olympic medallist Gurmail Singh and former cricket coach Rajinder Singh have also decided to return their awards back to the Union Government.

Bezos says his space company Blue Origin will take 1st woman to moon

By
Jyoti B
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Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin will take the first woman to the moon’s surface, the billionaire said on Friday as NASA nears a decision to pick its first privately built lunar landers capable of sending astronauts to the moon by 2024.

“This (BE-7) is the engine that will take the first woman to the surface of the Moon,” Bezos said in a post on Instagram with a video of the engine test this week at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Blue Origin leads a “national team” as the prime contractor that it assembled in 2019 to help build its Blue Moon lander. That team includes Lockheed Martin Corp, Northrop Grumman Corp and Draper.

Twelve men have walked on the Moon, but no women. Nasa aims to change that, administrator Jim Bridenstine saying last year the first woman to complete a lunar landing will be drawn from the current astronaut corps.

NASA is poised to pick two of the three companies “in early March” 2021 to continue building their lander prototypes for crewed missions to the moon beginning in 2024, an agency spokesperson has said.

But slim funds for the landing systems made available to NASA by Congress, as well as uncertainty over the incoming Biden administration’s views on space exploration, have threatened to delay NASA’s decision to advance the lunar lander contracts.

Pfizer seeks emergency use authorisation of its COVID-19 vaccine in India 

By
Jyoti B
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Pfizer India has become the first pharmaceutical firm to seek from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) an emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine in the country, after its parent company secured such clearance in the UK and Bahrain.

According to a report in PTI, the firm, in its application submitted to the drug regulator, has sought permission to import the vaccine for sale and distribution in the country, besides waiver of clinical trials on Indian population in accordance with the special provisions under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, official sources said.

“Pfizer India has submitted an application on December 4 to the DCGI seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in India,” a source said.

The approval for Pfizer’s vaccine candidate came in only 10 months since it started developing it, which is the fastest in the history of vaccines. Other countries like the US and the European Union are also vetting the Pfizer and BioNTech candidate and the one developed by Moderna Inc. 

Notably, Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, and Russia’s Sputnik V are the only vaccines that have claimed over 90 per cent efficacy of their respective candidates so far.

While Russia had already rolled out Sputnik V for the masses in August, the recently announced data results on the efficacy of Moderna, Pfizer, and BioNTech’s vaccines have also raised high hopes.

Besides, Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford’s vaccine candidate, being developed along with India’s Serum Institute, has also achieved 70 per cent efficacy during the preliminary analysis of its Covid-19 trial participants.

On Wednesday, the United Kingdom became the first western country to clear the Covid-19 shot developed jointly by Pfizer and German biotechnology partner BioNTech, which has reported an efficiency of over 90 per cent.

For a vaccine to be allowed in India it must clear clinical trials here, and sources had earlier told NDTV neither Pfizer nor its partner companies had asked to hold such trials. However, the Drugs Controller General of India has “discretionary power to waive localised clinical trials for a vaccine”, officials added.

Covid-19 update: India records 9,644,529 confirmed cases

By
Jyoti B
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So far, India reported 36,652 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total caseload to 9,644,529. As many as 140,216 people have died of the disease till now. as per data from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW).

India’s total COVID-19 active caseload dropped to 4,09,689 on Saturday according to the Union health ministry.

The ministry said that the present active caseload comprises 4.26% of the total positive cases, and new recoveries have led to a net decline of 6,393 in the total active cases, the ministry said in a statement.

Four days after reporting over 5,000 Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra on Saturday reported 4,922 cases and 95 deaths. With this, the total cases in the state stood at 18,47,509, and the fatalities rose to 47,694. The state had been reporting over 100 deaths for the last three days, but the trend was broken on Saturday.

Haryana recorded 1,557 new coronavirus cases, 2,551 recoveries, and 25 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to State Health Department.

Assam reported 157 new #COVID19 cases and 163 discharges on December 5, says Govt. of Assam

The tally of COVID-19 cases in Punjab rose to 1,55,424 on Saturday with 644 new cases of the infection, while 23 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,905, officials said. There are 7,727 active COVID-19 cases in the state, as of now, according to a medical bulletin.

Bihar’s Covid-19 tally rose to 2.38 lakh on Saturday as 573 more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said. Five more patients succumbed to the infection, pushing the state’s coronavirus death toll to 1,292, it said.

Here’re some more updates:

*A plea was filed on Saturday in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre to ensure refund of “exorbitant” amounts charged by private labs and hospitals for conducting RT-PCR tests to detect COVID-19.

*MASKS WORK & COST EFFECTIVE—within 20 days after becoming mandatory face masks, new infections lowered by 45% in Germany.

*Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for COVID19 vaccinations in Moscow starting from Saturday, a precursor to a sweeping Russia-wide immunisation effort.

*The CDC is urging Americans to postpone unnecessary, holiday travel. If we can all hang in there for a little while longer, we will be able to mitigate this surge in COVID19 cases.

*The Oxford team behind a successful COVID19 vaccine candidate are close to entering the final stage of human trials in their jab against malaria.



All states chooses option given by central for GST compensation

By
Neha Kumari
-

All the states opposing the options given by the central government for GST compensation, one by one, finally decided to choose the first option. Except Jharkhand, all the states of the country have chosen the first option. According to the information received by the central government, Chhattisgarh has also decided to go with the first option.

Under this, Chhattisgarh will get Rs 3,109 crore under a special borerowing window. Apart from this, 0.50 percent of Chhattisgarh’s GDP i.e. Rs 1,792 crore additional loan will also be made available to the state. Let us tell you that to compensate for the decline in GST collection in the current financial year 2020-21, the central government had put two options before the states.

The Central Government had given two options to the states with different terms to compensate for GST Compensation. The first option was of Rs 97,000 crore and the second option was of Rs 2.35 lakh crore. Later in the first option, the states’ borrowing limit was raised to Rs 1.1 lakh crore. The Central Government has agreed to transfer this amount by borrowing itself to the states.

Bahrain became second country to give nod to Pfizer vaccine

By
Neha Kumari
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Bahrain became the second country in the world after Britain to formally approve the emergency use of the corona virus vaccine developed by American pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. Bahrain’s official news agency announced this on Friday night.

The agency said that after an in-depth analysis and review of the available data, the Bahrain’s Health Regulatory Agency approved emergency use of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine. However, Bahrain did not say how many doses of the vaccine she had purchased and when the vaccination would begin. Bahrain authorities did not immediately respond to questions from the news agency Associated Press.

The Corona virus vaccine of Pfizer and BioNTech has been approved in the UK. The Corona vaccine will be available to the public from next week. According to the British regulator, this vaccine has been found to be more than 95 percent effective in preventing corona virus infection. UK pharmaceutical company Pfizer and BioNotech have become the first country in the world to approve the Covid-19 vaccine. This has paved the way for the introduction of wide-scale vaccination to control the deadly corona virus.

Schools to open in Madhya Pradesh? Read here all the details

By
Neha Kumari
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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has said that due to covid-19, classes from class I to VIII will be closed till March 31. Chief Minister Chouhan said in a review meeting of the School Education Department on Friday that schools from first to eighth will be closed till March 31 and the upcoming academic session will start from April 1, 2021 (school reopen in Madhya Pradesh 2021).

Classes I to VIII will be evaluated on the basis of project work. Board exams of class 10th and 12th will be taken and their classes will start soon. He further said that social distancing and other precautions will be followed completely in the classrooms. Students of class 9 and 11 will be called to school one or two days a week.

Chief Minister Chouhan has said that a radical change has to be brought in the field of school education in Madhya Pradesh so that the education here can be best. We have to make every government school perfect with the active support of society. A committee of academics should be formed for guidance in the field of education in the state. After studying the education system of other states of the country, the best education system should be implemented in the state.

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