Coronavirus LIVE: 6,185 new Covid-19 cases in Kerala in past 24 hours
Coronavirus live updates: At 1,886,807, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 903,425, Andhra Pradesh 876,336, Tamil Nadu 801,161, and Kerala 677,255
 "Coronavirus test, vaccine")
A health worker in a PPE kit collects swab samples from a man to conduct tests for the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at New Delhi Railway Station in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Coronavirus live updates: India has reported 26,401 fresh Covid-19 cases. With this, its case tally now stands at 9,933,997. The country's death toll has mounted to 144,144. With 1,886,807 cases, Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus cases, followed by Karnataka 903,425, Andhra Pradesh 876,336, Tamil Nadu 801,161, and Kerala 677,255. At 1.9 per cent, Delhi reported the lowest incidence of new Covid-19 cases recorded so far, with its test positivity rate on 85,105 samples tested in the last 24 hours. It reported 1,617 positive cases.
Covid-19 cases and deaths were declining in India which was very reassuring, the Centre said on Tuesday but cautioned against any laxity saying an overwhelming proportion of the country's population was still "very very susceptible" to the virus and the situation might escalate unexpectedly.
World coronavirus update: The global tally of coronavirus cases stands at 74,001,936. While 51,978,746 have recovered, 1,645,672 have died so far. The US, the worst-hit country, has 17,118,847 cases, and 310,648 have died from the disease there. It is followed by India, which has 9,932,908 cases, Brazil (6,974,258), Russia (2,707,945), France (2,391,447).
Stay tuned for the latest coronavirus-related news.
1:49 AM
Vaccinations reach nursing homes, as California faces crisis
The first Covid-19 vaccinations are underway at US nursing homes, where the virus has killed upwards of 110,000 people, even as the nation struggles to contain a surge so alarming that California is dispensing thousands of body bags and lining up refrigerated morgue trailers.
With the rollout of shots picking up speed Wednesday, lawmakers in Washington closed in on a long-stalled coronavirus relief package that would send direct payments of perhaps $600 to most Americans.
Meanwhile, the US appeared to be days away from adding a second vaccine to its arsenal.
At the same time, a major snowstorm pushing its way into the Northeast raised fears it could disrupt distribution of the first vaccine.
Nursing home residents in Florida began receiving shots Wednesday, after nearly 2,000 such vaccinations were administered in West Virginia on Tuesday.
12:39 AM
France to get 1.16 million Covid vaccine doses by year end, says Prime Minister
11:31 PM
Jharkhand coronavirus update
Jharkhand reported 190 new coronavirus cases, 180 recoveries and 3 deaths in last 24 hours
10:33 PM
Chhattisgarh sees 1,661 new cases
1,661 new coronavirus cases reported in Chhattisgarh in last 24 hours. With these additions, tally reached 262,000. Active cases stand at 17,468, while toll rose to 3,145, according to the state health department
10:18 PM
Mumbai reports 795 new Covid-19 cases; 12 deaths
The tally of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai went up to 284,404 with the addition of 795 new cases on Wednesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
With 12 more patients succumbing to the Covid-19 disease in the last 24 hours, the death toll rose to 11,007, it said.
A day before, Mumbai had recorded 521 new cases and seven fatalities.
10:16 PM
Boris Johnson resists calls for more curbs
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday resisted calls to tighten coronavirus restrictions over Christmas, as London faced stricter measures and concern mounted about rising infections
9:36 PM
Tamil Nadu reports 1,181 new Covid cases
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday reported 1,181 new Covid-19 cases taking the tally to 8,02,342 and the death toll touched 11,931 with 12 more fatalities.
The active cases stood at 9,880 with 1,240 patients getting discharged from various hospitals and cumulatively 7,80,531 people have got cured till date.
8:34 PM
Coronavirus LIVE: Goa sees 91 fresh Covid-19 cases, 104 recoveries
Goa on Wednesday reported 91 new COVID-19 cases, taking the count of infections to 49,657, a health department official said. With three more patients succumbing to the infection, the overall toll reached 713 in the state, he said.
A total of 104 people were discharged during the day, taking the tally of recoveries to 47,965, the official said. The state has 979 active cases. A total of 1,758 samples were tested during the day, he added. Goa's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 49,657, new cases 91, death toll 713, discharged 47,965, active cases 979, samples tested till date 3,75,678.
8:08 PM
6,185 new Covid-19 cases and 5,728 recoveries reported in Kerala today
7:37 PM
Covid patients at higher risk of death than those with flu: Study
While many earlier reports stressed that seasonal flu is more dangerous than Covid-19, a new study suggests that Covid-19 can also be more deadly or the flu's equal. The study, published in the journal The BMJ, revealed a clearer distinction between the two contagious viruses.
Among hospitalized patients, Covid-19 was associated with an increased need for ventilators, more admissions into intensive care units (ICUs), longer hospital stays and nearly five times the risk of death than faced by those with the flu.
"And although both illnesses attack the lungs, the analysis showed Covid-19 can also damage other organs," said the study authors from Washington University in the US.
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First Published: Dec 16 2020 | 6:54 AM IST